The Portland daily press., 1895-12-27

part OF the Americans, it is not as an | IN
dependent territory, but as the outpost
and the entering wedge of European IN
terference with the EAmerican continent.
In that aspect she is always being pre-
sented to the Americans by the strongly
British party here.
. Your military roads and the military
harbor which Englishmen are construct
Ing at Esqullnault threatens the whole
Pacific coast, which at present is defense
less. The bombardment of the seaboard
cities of the United States by English
ironclads is familiar subject Of speoula-
ton. Hence naturally arises desire on
the part of the Americans to create war
navy; and that navy is, of course, direct
ed again ST the only power from which
they have anything to fear. People in
England do not realize all this, nor do
they hear the language which Canadian
loyalty holds, or see the demonstrations
in which it indulges on their behalf.
Whether in case of war a sea power
could we'll avail itself of "a land route,
and, In particular, whether the Canadian
Pacific Railway, with the accidents to
Which mountainous and sub arctic cline
is exposed, could be trusted for the sure
and rapid transmission of troops, are
questions for the War Office to decide
What seems to me certain is that any
attempt on the part of Great
Britain to use its American Continent
as base or highway of war against a
nation with which the UNITED States
were at peace would be apt to call the
Monroe sentiment into active play. Eng
lishmen have to consider, then, what
would be the safety and value of mill
tary road, exposed as the Canadian Pacific
Railway Is, through great part of it's
course, to the emissarieS of any hostile
power, against whose Vaccinations it
could be pro tected only by the most zeal
Gus vigilance on the part of the adjoining
States.
Some side lights have recently been
thrown upon these questions The Cana
dian Commissioner says that the English
is the only nation that treats its colonies
commercially as foreign countries. Are
not the English the only colonies which
treat their mother country AS a CONNER
cial enemy, laying protective duties on
her goods2 Englishmen have beenl given
by Canadian Minister to understand,
in effect. that 1.-The imperial veto on
colonial legislation is a practical nullity,
however injurious to imperial interests
that legislation may be, and that Canada
will legislate for herself in commercial
matters, with little regard to British ex-
postulations Even on such a question
as copyright, it is found that Imperial
colonies to contribute to imperial arma-
ments appears to be defnitive. Accord
ing to the colonial theories which have
been preached in connection with the
copyright question, the British Parlia
ment is. IN fact, only one of number of
local Legislatures, all independent of each
other, nothing being imperial except the
nominal power of the Crown, the only
prerogative of Great Britain being her
sole responsibility of the general defense
If Mr.. Chamberlain's "dream'' as be
says, is tending to become a reality. it's
approach is masked with great skill.
These opinions, fear, are not popular !:
but know that they are those of an
Englishman loyal to the interests and
honor of his country