[boueinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 193 



gress. North America has sixty-two times that number, and yet sends not 

 one memiber to the National Council which regulates her trade, controls her 

 foreign relations, and may involve 'her at any moment in war. Mai-k the 

 effects of ;the American system.. The discovery of gold threw into California 

 in two or three years a large and heterogeneous and comparatively lawless 

 population. California was many thousands of miles away from "Washington 

 and from the old States of the Confederation. It was essentially a Colony; 

 and, under our system, would have ibeen so treated for a century. Our neigh- 

 bours are wiser in their generation. Hardly were the rude communities of 

 California formed, while women were sleeping under tents and men under 

 wagons ; while Judge Lynch presided over the Judicatory, and the beter 

 class hung thieves in the market square ; the citizens met together, formed 

 their constitution, provided for education, and elected three or four men to 

 represent California in 'the National Congress of the United States. Nova 

 Scotia has been a loyal Province of this empire with all securities of law,, 

 and the refinements of civilization, for an hundred years, and to this hour 

 has no such privilege. What binds that rude Californian com.munity to the 

 parent States ? The presence of her four or five representatives in the 

 National Council. They may be negligent, incapable, corrupt, but they are 

 there. Australia, not much farther off, with richer treasures, with wider space, 

 has no such privilege, and the wit of British statesmen, with the example of 

 Republican America before them, seems inadequate to a task ■which else- 

 where is found so easy. Sir, this cannot last. England herself has a deep 

 interest in this question, and the sooner her statesimen begin to ponder the 

 matter gravely, the better it will be for us all. 



The thirty millions who inhabit the British Islands ^musit make some pro- 

 vision for the two hundred and thirty millions who live beyond the narrow 

 seas. They may rule the barbarous tribes who do not speak their language, 

 or share their civilization, by the sword ; but they can lonly rule or retain' 

 such Provinces as are to be found in North America by drawing their sym- 

 pathies around a common centre — by giving them an interest in the army, 

 the navy, the diplomacy, the administration and the legislation of the empire. 



While a foreign war is impending, this may appear an inappropriate time 

 to discuss these questions ; but the time will come, and is inear at hand, ■ 

 ^^ hen they will command the earneslt attention of every true British subject. 

 We hear much, sir, every day, about the balance of power in Europe ; and 

 we all remember Canning's boast, that he was going to call a new world into 

 existence to redress the balance of power in the old. 



At this moment we are plunging into a foreign war — ^the fiercest and most 

 bloody it will be tbat we have ever seen. What is the pretext on one side ?•■ 

 Some question about the Greek religion. What is supposed to warrant our 

 expensive armaments on the other ? The balance of power in Europe. But 

 is the balance of power in America nothing ? and have these Provinces no 

 weigiht in the scale ? God forbid, sir, that at this moment a word of menace 

 should escape my lips. I am incapable of such a meanness. England's hour 

 of extremity should never be our opportunity for anything but words of 

 cheer and the helping hand. But, sir, come peace or war, it is the interest of 

 England that the truth be told her. Is the balance of power in America an 

 unimportant consideration, and how is it to be preserved, except by preserv- 

 ing that half of the continent ^vthic'h sitill belongs to England ? and that can 

 only be done by elevating the inhabitants of these Provinces in their own 

 opinion, and in that of the world at large. I know that it is fashionable in 

 England to count upon the sympathies and cordial co-operaJtion of the Repub- 

 lic. A year ago, Cobden and other apostles of his .school, were preaching and 

 relying upon universal peace. Now all Europe is arming. They preach day 

 by day that Colonies are a burthen to the miother country, The reign of 



Sec. II., 1899. 13. 



