Year: 1872

mine, in Stafordshire, England, was inun-


dated yesterday while the men were employed


at work. Eleven of them were rescued, but


twenty-five of their fellows remained in the


underground chambers at late hour last


night, and it was thought they had then
perished.


The Absorption OF Canada I'm the


Union.


The question of the annexation of Canada
70 the United States has lain dormant for
several years past, but dormant only, for its
agitation among the Canadian people them
selves is at any time likely to take place, and
lake practical shape as well. The Fenian
raids had much to do with obstructing the
course OF calm controversy on the subject of
annexation. In the bitterness Of their wrath
against the authors of those abortive predatory
raids upon their territory our neighbors
showed disposition to confound the Ameri-
can people with the wretched filibusters who
attempted to make of this soil a base Of hos
tile operations against Canada. A few years
nave sumced to show the people over the
Dorder that the American nation har-
DOTS none but the kindliest feeling
towards them; that in their progress
and prosperity we find nothing whereof to
be jealous, butmuch to rejoice at and applaud.
II Canada should ever become annexed to the
Great Republic it will only be after calm.
peaceful consideration of the mutual benefits
each is likely to derive from the compact.
Our manifest destiny is to be worked out by
the logic Of q wise and commanding example,,
by clear showing to the nations around and
to the world that our form Of government is
the best adapted to secure the liberty and pro-
mote the happiness Of the largest number of
people-the best adapted to give scope and en-
couragement to all the varied energies and
abilities Of mankind. In the brief duration of
o decade of years we have demonstrated the
tremendous inherent strength of republi-
can institutions based on intelligence. We
have drawn upon us the envying atten-
tion of the world and the scepicism of
Europe in regard to the stability of re-
publican government and its adaptability
to a congregation of heterogeneous races
and nationalities has given way to convic-
tion, year after year deepening into an article
Of earnest faith among honest and independ-
ent thinkers, that government of the people,
by the people, for the people is alone conso-
nant with the spirit and genius of the age,
and alone capable of securing a full and per-
feet development of mans capabilities. Our
late election, interesting the minds and hearts
of forty millions of people, passed off more
quietly than holiday of national thanksgiv-
ing. This of itself shows how thoroughly the
American people realize and guard their re-
sponsibilihes. With the expansion of the
nation is begotten deeper sense of the
preciousness of popular government and
more earnest feeling for the preservation of
its integrity The spread of intelligence keeps
pace with our material growth, and as intelli-
gence is the sustaining power of our institu-
tions we find in this fact glorious guarantee
for the perpetuity of free democratic govern
ment. Our neighbors, the Canadians,
cannot but be close observers Of the
marvellous spectacle this Republic now
presents to the gaze of the world. They cannot
fail to see that the institutions of the United
States, more than the genius of the people,
have made this Republic the wonder of the
earth. From Maine to Texas, from the Pa
cifc to the Atlantic. they may perceive de-
velopment Of material resources going on,
hand in hand with q cultivation of art and
science and higher education of the masses
in the duties Of citizenship, that cannot but
strike them as something worthy of study and
imitation. The question as to the annexation
of Canada to this country can only be decided
when majority Of the Canadian people decree
that it is for their own best interests to form
part and parcel of the Republic. That they
will ultimately reach conclusion favorable to
the incorporation Of the Dominion in the
Republic is inevitable. Canada is at
standsill to-day. She is being drained,
year after year, of the very best of her
skilled labor. As our correspondents inform
us, the immigration from the Dominion into
tho northern part of this State and into all
the States bordering on the lakes and the
River st. Lawrence is visibly increasing
Skilled labor is an important element in the
material prosperity of any country. It is
valuable because it is difficult to replace. In
many factories of our own State and in most
of those in New England Canadian operatives
may be found, attracted hither by higher
scale of wages than obtains in their own
country and by the prospect of wider field
for their industry. A drain like this on a
population of limited numbers must tell dis
astrously in the long run. American capital
would flow freely into Canada and help to
develop many of its great natural resources if
the two countries had q common nationality.
Canadians know this; and now that President
Grant is reelected for second term, and that