north america-1-第26章
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son should settle his own bills； and look no longer to the paternal pocket。〃 Such is the law of the world all over； from little birds； whose young fly away when fledged； upward to men and nations。 Let the father work for the child while he is a child； but when the child has become a man； let him lean no longer on his father's staff。 The argument is； I think； very good； but it proves not that we are relieved from the necessity of assisting our colonies with payments made out of British taxes； but that we are still bound to give such assistance； and that we shall continue to be so bound as long as we allow these colonies to adhere to us or as they allow us to adhere to them。 In fact； the young bird is not yet fully fledged。 That illustration of the father and the child is a just one； but in order to make it just it should be followed throughout。 When the son is in fact established on his own bottom； then the father expects that he will live without assistance。 But when the son does so live； he is freed from all paternal control。 The father； while he expects to be obeyed； continues to fill the paternal office of paymasterof paymaster； at any rate； to some extent。 And so； I think； it must be with our colonies。 The Canadas at present are not independent； and have not political power of their own apart from the political power of Great Britain。 England has declared herself neutral as regards the Northern and Southern States； and by that neutrality the Canadas are bound； and yet the Canadas were not consulted in the matter。 Should England go to war with France； Canada must close her ports against French vessels。 If England chooses to send her troops to Canadian barracks； Canada cannot refuse to accept them。 If England should send to Canada an unpopular governor； Canada has no power to reject his services。 As long as Canada is a colony so called； she cannot be independent； and should not be expected to walk alone。 It is exactly the same with the colonies of Australia； with New Zealand； with the Cape of Good Hope； and with Jamaica。 While England enjoys the prestige of her colonies； while she boasts that such large and now populous territories are her dependencies； she must and should be content to pay some portion of the bill。 Surely it is absurd on our part to quarrel with Caffre warfare； with New Zealand fighting； and the rest of it。 Such complaints remind one of an ancient pater familias who insists on having his children and his grandchildren under the old paternal roof； and then grumbles because the butcher's bill is high。 Those who will keep large households and bountiful tables should not be afraid of facing the butcher's bill or unhappy at the tonnage of the coal。 It is a grand thing； that power of keeping a large table； but it ceases to be grand when the items heaped upon it cause inward groans and outward moodiness。 Why should the colonies remain true to us as children are true to their parents； if we grudge them the assistance which is due to a child？ They raise their own taxes； it is said； and administer them。 True； and it is well that the growing son should do something for himself。 While the father does all for him； the son's labor belongs to the father。 Then comes a middle state in which the son does much for himself； but not all。 In that middle state now stand our prosperous colonies。 Then comes the time when the son shall stand alone by his own strength； and to that period of manly； self…respected strength let us all hope that those colonies are advancing。 It is very hard for a mother country to know when such a time has come； and hard also for the child…colony to recognize justly the period of its own maturity。 Whether or no such severance may ever take place without a quarrel； without weakness on one side and pride on the other； is a problem in the world's history yet to be solved。 The most successful child that ever yet has gone off from a successful parent； and taken its own path into the world； is without doubt the nation of the United States。 Their present troubles are the result and the proofs of their success。 The people that were too great to be dependent on any nation have now spread till they are themselves too great for a single nationality。 No one now thinks that that daughter should have remained longer subject to her mother。 But the severance was not made in amity； and the shrill notes of the old family quarrel are still sometimes heard across the waters。 From all this the question arises whether that problem may ever be solved with reference to the Canadas。 That it will never be their destiny to join themselves to the States of the Union； I feel fully convinced。 In the first place it is becoming evident from the present circumstances of the Union； if it had never been made evident by history before； that different people with different habits； living at long distances from each other； cannot well be brought together on equal terms under one government。 That noble ambition of the Americans that all the continent north of the isthmus should be united under one flag； has already been thrown from its saddle。 The North and South are virtually separated； and the day will come in which the West also will secede。 As population increases and trades arise peculiar to those different climates； the interests of the people will differ； and a new secession will take place beneficial alike to both parties。 If this be so； if even there be any tendency this way； it affords the strongest argument against the probability of any future annexation of the Canadas。 And then； in the second place； the feeling of Canada is not American； but British。 If ever she be separated from Great Britain； she will be separated as the States were separated。 She will desire to stand alone； and to enter herself as one among the nations of the earth。 She will desire to stand alone； alone； that is without dependence either on England or on the States。 But she is so circumstanced geographically that she can never stand alone without amalgamation with our other North American provinces。 She has an outlet to the sea at the Gulf of St。 Lawrence； but it is only a summer outlet。 Her winter outlet is by railway through the States； and no other winter outlet is possible for her except through the sister provinces。 Before Canada can be nationally great； the line of railway which now runs for some hundred miles below Quebec to Riviere du Loup must be continued on through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to the port of Halifax。 When I was in Canada I heard the question discussed of a federal government between the provinces of the two Canadas； New Brunswick； and Nova Scotia。 To these were added； or not added； according to the opinion of those who spoke； the smaller outlying colonies of Newfoundland and Prince Edward's Island。 If a scheme for such a government were projected in Downing Street； all would no doubt be included； and a clean sweep would be made without difficulty。 But the project as made in the colonies appears in different guises； as it comes either from Canada or from one of the other provinces。 The Canadian idea would be that the two Canadas should form two States of such a confederation； and the other provinces a third State。 But this slight participation in power would hardly suit the views of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia。 In speaking of such a federal government as this； I shall of course be understood as meaning a confederation acting in connection with a British governor； and dependent upon Great Britain as far as the different colonies are now dependent。 I cannot but think that such a confederation might be formed with great advantage to all the colonies and to Great Britain。 At present the Canadas are in effect almost more distant from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick than they are from England。 The intercourse between them is very slightso slight that it may almost be said that there is no intercourse。 A few men of science or of political importance may from time to time make their way from one colony into the other； but even this is not common。 Beyond that they seldom see each other。 Though New Brunswick borders both with Lower Canada and with Nova Scotia； thus making one whole of the three coloni
