The times., 1898-11-23
Now 1. the Golden Opportunity.

Readers of The Times will not have
missed the rich and fruity suggestion
of Sir j. d. Edgar. speaker of the Ca
madam House of Commons, contained
in q letter in which that knightly gen.
tleman proposes an exchange of ter
ritory between the British government
and ours. Sir ]. d. Edgar's idea is that,
while the American Republic is deal
ing largely IN real estate, and is taking
a broad and liberal view of trade in
that sort of thing never observable be-
fore, it might be possible to transact
little business with us of much inter-
to think it possible that we might be
willing to take over the British West
Indies in exchange for part or the
whole of New England.
A short time ago such a proposition
would have been treated with scornful
contempt, but "tempora mutantur."
Jamaica would be an acquisition. con-
sidered with regard to its constituent
and harmonious resources of rum, su-
gar and lemons, and as for the other
ingredient. we have no lack of water
anywhere. Then there are the Bahia
mas. lush with tropical verdure and the
aromatic perfume of the ripenipg pine
apple; not 10 mention the milk in the
cocoanut and the hair thereon.
1t is comparatively small, sterile and
unimportant thing that we are wooed
to surrender for all these advantages
and mercies. We are only asked to
turn over part of New England; which
part has not yet developed, and on that
doubt alone should rest any question
of our international attitude on the sub
ject If it be proposed to cede that
part of Yankeeland which geographi-
cally would appear TO belong to Canada.
and which we are delighted TO remem-
ber would include the Hon Thomas
Bracket Reed and the Hon. Eugene
Hale it is difficult to imagine where any
objection would come in. Neither of
the individuals referred to is an Amer
lean in any sane sense. and they never
would be missed except with pleasur-
able emotion.
While we are trading, however, it
would be prudent and well for us to
drive as sharp a bargain as practicable,
and we therefore venture to suggest to
President Mckinley, in advance, that
when he comes to take the matter in
hand he should attempt to unload on
our neighbors some things they do not
want, because nobody outside of lu-
natic asylum could. as well as matters
they are anxious for.
Canada is in need of popula ton. Why
might not we take advantage of the
fact and throw in something extra in
that line? For instance, what would be
the matter with including Carl Schurz,
Edward Atkinson. that perennial tuber
Pingree, the exciting Altgeld, and their
latest coparcener, the Hon. Winchester
Pinkerton Carnegie, in the session?
None of them favors national expansion,
and it is altogether probable that a
scheme of national contraction would
appeal agreeably TO their Hessian, Tory,
and anarchistic souls. AS they are
apostles of contraction it is likely that
the low temperature of the frozen North
would encourage them. Nothing con-
tracts like cold, except Alger perhaps.
when he is buying yachts, ocean tramps
and tubs for conversion into trans
ports.
Aside from the main question of ter
ritorial cession the outfit we speak of
would make a splendid colony-of a sort
under Canadian dominion, away up in
the north woods of Maine. Altgeld could
find there pristine conditions of nature
as nearly like anarchy as a moderate
minded man ought to wish 9or. Car
negie could wear the kilt of his native
Scotland without shocking anybody. and
Pingree could cook his potatoes over
Atkinsons Aladdin lamp, while Schurz
could hate himself and mankind the
same as usual.
There is great chance for Mr. Nc
Kinley. TIC found such a settlement,
outside of our national confines, would
make him famous and loved beyond
Washington-would make him revered
as a liberator of his country from in
tolerable cranks, and would render the
American people oblivious to any lit
tie matter like expense, or jobs incident
to the deal.
BY all means let us have an interna-
tional commission at once to consider
the Edgar scheme of cession.