The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-14
mercial union. which he seems to regard ss
likely to stimulate tho movement toward an
neIatton.


It follows from what we have Just said that
the position taken by this writer is diametri-
caliy opposto TO that occupied by Mr.. Goodwin
Smith. who has labored for many years to
heal the rupture caused by the treaty Of 1888,
and to bring about fusion Of the Anglo Sa xon
race In the New World.
Mr.. Rowland speaks. however. OF Mr.. Gold
win Smith with hearty appreciation and
profound respect which are in refreshing CON-
trast to the vindictive and vituperative terms
In which tho foremost advocate Of commerce al
union Is assailed by the underlings Of the Con-
servative Government The author would par
tculariy regret. he says. the establishment OF
any irreconcilable difference between his opin-
ions those of one who deservedly bears tho
prominent name in Canadian literature. He
hopes that the young men OF Canada will
never forget the debt Of gratitude they owe to
the distinguished scholar and philosophical
historian who has devoted the ripest years OF
athoughtfu lie to the service OF the Domin-
ion. Nothing. to the authors mind. could be
more unjust and Inappropriate than the re-
proaoh cast In certain quarters against Mr..
Goodwin Smith. by way OF answer to some OF
his recent utterances. that he is not a Cana
dian" Mr.. Rowland IL unable to understand
how the title OF Canadian" can he denied to n
British subject who has been twenty years
resident OF Canada. and who has constantly
shown an ardent interest in the progress and
well-being OF the country which he has chosen
Tor his home. 1t Is pointed out that the rec.
ord OF his work presents tho most honora-
bio contrast to that OF the successful practi.
cal politician. Sir John Macdonald. The latter
was always Just sufficiently in advance OF
public opinion to be its standard bearer. and
was almost always successful in carrying out
policy which had already been approved by
the country. Yet his success was often ut.
tained by means which were OF questionable
probity aud OK mischievous effect on the
character OF the people. On the other hand. il
Mr.. Goodwin Smith has rarely carried tho PEG.
pie with him In any specific course which he
has advocated. yet It is freely acknowledged
BY Mr.. Rowland that men are still walking in
the daylight Of higher motive that no laboreL
lin the beginning almost single handedl to
scatter upon tho darksone surface OF party
morality
Nevertheless. the author o. these essays ad.
heres stoutly to his conviction that the MAORI
ty OF Canadians will prefer a closer union with
the mother country or. il that be unutta ina BILE.
their national lndepe ndence. TO INCORPORATION
with the United States He admits that Mr.
Goodwin Smith is the model Of dispassionate
observer. that his is the cool attitude and wide
outlook OF an historical scholar. but he insists
that passion emotion. IL an element which
should not be overlooked In forecasting
the future Of people. He thinks
that. apprehendtng with philosophical in
sight all the geographical. climatic, and
racial difficulties OF the situation. Mr.. Goodwin
Smith does not take sufficient account OF a
certain unknown quantity which often illog-
ically defeats the best reasoned predictions
There is. Mr.. Rowland says. Il force-a peoples
pride and faith in their own country-which
has often overcome. and may overcome again,
very great impediments Of situation and geog-
rnphy. 1t seems to us. however. that in point
ing OUT to MIR. Goodwin Smith the activity OF
an emotional factor in political evolution, the
author OF these essays is preaching to tho con-
verted. 1t is not necessary to share q COM
muntty's sentiment or prejudice In order to
recognize its existence and duly estimate its
intensity and probable duration. Not to share
it. indeed. is probably a sine qua non condition
OF prerequisite division concerning it. As a
matter OF fact Mr.. Goodwin Smith. far from
ignoring the sentiment OF loyalty which draws
perhaps majority Of the Canadians toward
the mother country. or the traditional feeling Of
dislike with which many Of them regard Ameri.
cans makes the existence Of such emotional
mercal union must precele the political
coalescence OF the two great English speaking
commonwealths in the New World. Whether
the sentiments Just mentioned are not in any
event doomed to extinction under the inilu-
ence OF an attractive force as irresistible as
that OF gravitation. Is a question upon which
Mr. Goodwin Smith Is better qualified than
most men to express an opinion. But, how
ever that question may be answered. he seems
to have no doubt that the fading O! the senti-
ments in question would he arrested rather
than promoted by o tariff war. or even by the
maintenance OF tariff wall. 1t is. in other
words. the old story Of the man with the cloak.
exposed by turns to the warm rays OF the sun
at MONDAY and to the bulletings Of an arctic
wind.
In n chapter dealing with the Fall OF the
Old Empire" the author argues at length and
with much earnestness in support OF the idea
that the successful assertion of independence
by the United States was good thing for Eng
land and her remaining colonies. This is q
proposition which has been very differently
received in different places and at different
times. 1t would have been secuted as prepos-
ferrous by Englishmen in 1888. but it has not
lacked defenders among Engl!shmen; Of the
present generation. On this side OF tho
Atlantic. up to the epoch Of our civil war;
il was taken for granted in speeches
and writings aimed at the popular ear that
all the advances made toward political lib
erty in England. France and European coun-
tries generally. could be traced directly to the
American Declaration Of Independence. OF
late years. since the spirit OF sober historical
inquiry has been moro active and more well
come in this country.we have learned to meas
ure with moro discrimination the effect of
American example on the political transmuta-
tons OF European states. Neutrality-suspicious.
really was good thing for England and her
remaining dependencies. those benenciaries
certainly required long time to recognize
and profit by the boon. 1t is true that soon af.
ter the peace Of 1888 England permitted the
Protestant minority in Ireland to make toll
erably close approach to se!i-government but
she reclaimed the gift soon afterward by the
Act OF Union. As for Englishmen .thems elves
the principal lesson which the United States
wore In position to teach them. was that the