The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-25
A HANDBREADrH CLOUD.

The cloud that has appeared in the
British colonial sky at Newfoundland is
small, but it is dark and portentous. If
the controversy between that little colony
on the one hand, and the Dominion and
imperial governments on the other has
been correctly reported, the two latter
must yield or trouble must ensue, for the
colonists are evidently determined, and
have gone too far to think of taking the
back track.
In that case secession is foregone con-
clusion. And then whatf Will the Cana
dian, or the British government, or both,
attempt coercion? Or will the hand
breadth cloud spread until it covers the
whole Canadian armament? In that case
will the imperial government, with our
revolution in fresh remembrance, attempt
coercion? II so, in the light of that ex-
perience, and of present as compared with
the conditions that existed then, what
would be the probable result?
All of these questions were best and
most shortly answered by another, about
which it is difficult for an American mind
to perceive how there can be any differ
ence among Canadians, or any grave OBJ
lection to that answer among Englishmen
of liberal ideas: Why should the Cana
dian provinces, or any of them, be de-
pendent upon or attached TO either Eng
land or the United States: why should not
they be independent and united, and a
power in and Of themselves?
This is . question which the attitude of
Newfoundland must suggest to thoughtful
Canadians and Englishmen, and the
thought viii spread. In the little colony
the irritation of a present grievance may
he greater than elsewhere. but there has
been abundant evidence that the leaven
Of dissatisfaction has been working else
where, stimulating thirst for independ-
ence. The French of the Eastern prov
inces are almost unanimously opposed to
British rule, and the rapidly growing
democratic sentiment in the mother
country has aroused an echo throughout
the Dominion. which comparison of con-
ditions there and in this country has not
tended TO silence.
Looking below the surface, the result of
late elections in Canada was attributable
not so much TO . preference for depend
ence upon England as to q cunningly
manipulated scare concerning annexation
to the United States. The utter ground
lessness Of this scare has already become
apparent TO all intelligent Canadians.
They perceive that we are no more dis
posed to annex them than they are to be
annexed. On the other hand, they can
need no assurance that we would warmly
symrathize in their desire to become a
free and independent, friendly neighbor-
ing republic.
All of this is plainly apparent. 1t stands
to reason; it is, in fact, beyond peradven-
ture that such reflections as these are
actively working upon the minds of all
intelligent and freedom-loving Canadians.
Therefore, if Newfoundland's demands
are not acceded to, and if she maintains
her stand, it is far more likely that the
other provinces will unite with her in a
declaration of independence and the for
nation of new republic, than that the
little colony will be annexed TO the United
States or left TO stand alone. or that they
will join in efforts to coerce her.
Canada, even though she had not this
country for powerful and sympathetic
neighbor, is more populous and in every
way better prepared to maintain her indie
pendence than our original colonies were
when they inaugurated the revolution.
We were but three millions, which they
nearly double, and are possessed Of
wealth in larger proportion, and we were
hemmed in on all sides by powerful and
warlike Indian tribes, with the British
strongly intrenched all slong our northern
border.
These facts are so manifest that they
cannot fail to be taken into account in the
mother country, and taken in connection
with the great and growing democratic
sentiments that permeate all and particu-
larry the lower and middle classes there,
forbid the idea that Great Britain would
seriously attempt the clearly impossible
task of coercion. There is. especially in
England, strong trend Of enlightened