north america-1-第27章
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swick borders both with Lower Canada and with Nova Scotia； thus making one whole of the three colonies； there is neither railroad nor stage conveyance running from one to the other。 And yet their interests should be similar。 From geographical position their modes of life must be alike； and a close conjunction between them is essentially necessary to give British North America any political importance in the world。 There can be no such conjunction； no amalgamation of interests； until a railway shall have been made joining the Canada Grand Trunk Line with the two outlying colonies。 Upper Canada can feed all England with wheat； and could do so without any aid of railway through the States； if a railway were made from Quebec to Halifax。 But then comes the question of the cost。 The Canada Grand Trunk is at the present moment at the lowest ebb of commercial misfortune； and with such a fact patent to the world； what company will come forward with funds for making four or five hundred miles of railway； through a district of which one…half is not yet prepared for population？ It would be； I imagine； out of the question that such a speculation should for many years give any fair commercial interest on the money to be expended。 But nevertheless to the coloniesthat is； to the enormous regions of British North Americasuch a railroad would be invaluable。 Under such circumstances it is for the Home Government and the colonies between them to see how such a measure may be carried out。 As a national expenditure； to be defrayed in the course of years by the territories interested； the sum of money required would be very small。 But how would this affect England？ And how would England be affected by a union of the British North American colonies under one federal government？ Before this question can be answered； he who prepares to answer it must consider what interest England has in her colonies； and for what purpose she holds them。 Does she hold them for profit； or for glory； or for power； or does she hold them in order that she may carry out the duty which has devolved upon her of extending civilization； freedom； and well…being through the new uprising nations of the world？ Does she hold them； in fact； for her own benefit； or does she hold them for theirs？ I know nothing of the ethics of the Colonial Office； and not much perhaps of those of the House of Commons； but looking at what Great Britain has hitherto done in the way of colonization； I cannot but think that the national ambition looks to the welfare of the colonists； and not to home aggrandizement。 That the two may run together is most probable。 Indeed； there can be no glory to a people so great or so readily recognized by mankind at large as that of spreading civilization from east to west and from north to south。 But the one object should be the prosperity of the colonists； and not profit； nor glory； nor even power； to the parent country。 There is no virtue of which more has been said and sung than patriotism； and none which； when pure and true； has led to finer results。 Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori。 To live for one's country also is a very beautiful and proper thing。 But if we examine closely much patriotism； that is so called； we shall find it going hand in hand with a good deal that is selfish； and with not a little that is devilish。 It was some fine fury of patriotic feeling which enabled the national poet to put into the mouth of every Englishman that horrible prayer with regard to our enemies which we sing when we wish to do honor to our sovereign。 It did not seem to him that it might be well to pray that their hearts should be softened； and our own hearts softened also。 National success was all that a patriotic poet could desire； and therefore in our national hymn have we gone on imploring the Lord to arise and scatter our enemies； to confound their politics； whether they be good or ill； and to expose their knavish trickssuch knavish tricks being taken for granted。 And then； with a steady confidence； we used to declare how certain we were that we should achieve all that was desirable； not exactly by trusting to our prayer to heaven； but by relying almost exclusively on George the Third or George the Fourth。 Now I have always thought that that was rather a poor patriotism。 Luckily for us； our national conduct has not squared itself with our national anthem。 Any patriotism must be poor which desires glory； or even profit； for a few at the expense of the many； even though the few be brothers and the many aliens。 As a rule； patriotism is a virtue only because man's aptitude for good is so finite that he cannot see and comprehend a wider humanity。 He can hardly bring himself to understand that salvation should be extended to Jew and Gentile alike。 The word philanthropy has become odious； and I would fain not use it； but the thing itself is as much higher than patriotism as heaven is above the earth。 A wish that British North America should ever be severed from England； or that the Australian colonies should ever be so severed； will by many Englishmen be deemed unpatriotic。 But I think that such severance is to be wished if it be the case that the colonies standing alone would become more prosperous than they are under British rule。 We have before us an example in the United States of the prosperity which has attended such a rupture of old ties。 I will not now contest the point with those who say that the present moment of an American civil war is ill chosen for vaunting that prosperity。 There stand the cities which the people have built； and their power is attested by the world…wide importance of their present contest。 And if the States have so risen since they left their parent's apron…string； why should not British North America rise as high？ That the time has as yet come for such rising I do not think； but that it will soon come I do most heartily hope。 The making of the railway of which I have spoken； and the amalgamation of the provinces would greatly tend to such an event。 If therefore； England desires to keep these colonies in a state of dependency； if it be more essential to her to maintain her own power with regard to them than to increase their influence； if her main object be to keep the colonies and not to improve the colonies； then I should say that an amalgamation of the Canadas with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick should not be regarded with favor by statesmen in Downing Street。 But if； as I would fain hope； and do partly believe； such ideas of national power as these are now out of vogue with British statesmen； then I think that such an amalgamation should receive all the support which Downing Street can give it。 The United States severed themselves from Great Britain with a great struggle； and after heart…burnings and bloodshed。 Whether Great Britain will ever allow any colony of hers to depart from out of her nest； to secede and start for herself； without any struggle or heart…burnings； with all furtherance for such purpose which an old and powerful country can give to a new nationality then first taking its own place in the world's arena； is a problem yet to be solved。 There is； I think； no more beautiful sight than that of a mother； still in all the glory of womanhood； preparing the wedding trousseau for her daughter。 The child hitherto has been obedient and submissive。 She has been one of a household in which she has held no command。 She has sat at table as a child； fitting herself in all things to the behests of others。 But the day of her power and her glory； and also of her cares and solicitude； is at hand。 She is to go forth； and do as she best may in the world under that teaching which her old home has given her。 The hour of separation has come； and the mother； smiling through her tears； sends her forth decked with a bounteous hand； and furnished with full stores； so that all may be well with her as she enters on her new duties。 So is it that England should send forth her daughters。 They should not escape from her arms with shrill screams and bleeding wounds； with ill…omened words which live so long； though the speakers of them lie cold in their graves。 But this sending forth of a child…nation to take its own polit
