Year: 1872

will be universally conceded that war between
England and America would be disastrous to
Canada in greater degree than any other
possible event. No one can deny that the
situation of affairs before the Washington
Treaty seriously endangered the peaceful rela-
tions of the two nations. The Alabama
claims, the fisheries, the San Juan boundary
were all fraught with danger, and Canada was
especially concerned in their amicable settle
ment The treaty rules by which the
Alabama claims were adjudged are binding
on the United States for the future, and they
are of inestimable value to Canada. Without
them, and with England's action during our
rebellion unatoned, Canada might have been
q serious sufferer from the acts of privateers in
the event of European war involving the
mother country. In the fisheries ques-
ton the obligations of the United
States will be honorably kept, and
Canada is well rid Of that threatening
complication with her powerful neighbor.
The San Juan boundary dispute has been de-
cided on its merits by an impartial arbitrator,
to whom it was voluntarily referred, and no
honorable contestant should deplore the result
even if adverse to his wishes If Canada were
to-day independent of Great Britain-a
friendly Republic in alliance with the United
States, or a portion of the United States by
voluntary annexation-the San Juan boundary
would not be worthy of thought. AS it is,
the idea that the coveted island of San Juan
can be rendered dangerous to the line Of
inter communication between Vancouver
Island. Manitoba and the eastern provinces, is
little more than a bugbear raised by English
jealousy and distrust of the Republic. The
rejection by the Joint High Commission
of the consideration OF damages for
Fenian raids was matter OF course.
Such raids were checked as promptly
as possible by our own authorities, whose
energetic action deserves the gratitude of the
Canadians. Had the British authorities
seized and carried back into their own ports
the Confederate cruisers sent out to prey upo-.
our commerce as soon as their real character


was known, we should have had no Alabama
difficulty with that government. We hold,
then, that Canada has been a gamer instead
of a sufferer by the Treaty of Washington.
Indeed, we are disposed to believe that the
admissions Of the London Times in regard to
the injuries inflicted on the Dominion are
ironical that they are intended to teach those
Canadians who feel disposed to grumble at the
settlement of the difficulties between England
and America the solid value Of the treaty to
their own interests, and that the advice which
has called forth such indignant protest from
the rest Of the English press is hint to the
colonists that, if they think they can do bet
ter for themselves than the English High
Commissioners have done for them, they are
welcome to try the experiment.


So far as relates to the actual proposition Of
the London Times, that the Canadians should
throw off dependence on a distant govern
ment, take up their freedom and vindicate
their manhood and self-reliance, we fail to see
anything degrading or humiliaing in it, either
to England or her colony. Canada is now too
full grown to hang to the apron string of her
British mother. The solid interests of the
people Of the Dominion draw them towards
the neighboring Republic, and not towards
England. They may love the old nation, her
laws and habits, as sentiment; but as they
grow stronger and more populous, as children
born on the soil spring up into active life, as
prejudices become softened and past associa-
tons weakened by the unfailing influence Of
time, they will be found more and more will
ing to study their material interests and better
and better prepared for an Independent
fov ba
humiliation is to be found in the position of
those English journals which insist that Cam
ada shall continue to hang on to England as a
dependent or which doubt the courage of
Canadians to stand alone on the soil they have
chosen as their home. To suppose that the
people of the Dominion will feel chagrined or
incensed at the advice rendered them by the
London Times is to imagine that they tremble
at the prospect Of independence and self
reliance. Such fear is not Characteristic Of
the Canadians Severed from England, both
countries would really be more free than now
from the danger of collision with the United
States; but apart from this, when the Cam
adams desire separation they will not shrink
from accepting all its responsibilities, and if
that time should be fastened by the advice of
the London Times the great journal will have
deserved the gratitude both Of England and
her colony.


Legislative Excitement in France with


President Thiers the Tribune.


The session Of the French National Assem-
bly, at Versailles yesterday evolved one of





citement which have become so frequent Of