the canadian dominion-第18节
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； it helped to make one in the far North。 A common danger drew the scattered British Provinces together and made ready the way for the coming Dominion of Canada。
*See 〃The Day of the Confederacy〃； by Nathaniel W。 Stephenson； and 〃The Path of Empire〃 （in 〃The Chronicles of America〃）。
It was not from the United States alone that an impetus came for the closer union of the British Provinces。 The same period and the same events ripened opinion in the United Kingdom in favor of some practical means of altering a colonial relationship which bad ceased to bring profit but which had not ceased to be a burden of responsibility and risk。
The British Empire had its beginning in the initiative of private business men； not in any conscious policy of state。 Yet as the Empire grew the teaching of doctrinaires and the example of other colonial powers had developed a definite policy whereby the plantations overseas were to be made to serve the needs of the nation at home。 The end of empire was commercial profit； the means； the political subordination of the colonies； the debit entry； the cost of the military and naval and diplomatic services borne by the mother country。 But the course of events had now broken down this theory。 Britain； for her own good； had abandoned protection； and with it fell the system of preference and monopoly in colonial markets。 Not only preference had gone but even equality。 The colonies； notably Canada； which was most influenced by the United States； were perversely using their new found freedom to protect their own manufacturers against all outsiders； Britain included。 When Sheffield cutlers； hard hit by Canada's tariff； protested to the Colonial Secretary and he echoed their remonstrance； the Canadian Minister of Finance； A。 T。 Galt； stoutly refused to heed。 〃Self…government would be utterly annihilated；〃 Galt replied in 1860； 〃if the views of the Imperial Government were to be preferred to those of the people of Canada。 It is therefore the duty of the present government distinctly to affirm the right of the Canadian legislature to adjust the taxation of the people in the way they deem best … even if it should unfortunately happen to meet the disapproval of the Imperial Ministry。〃 Clearly； if trade advantage were the chief purpose of empire； the Empire had lost its reason for being。
With the credit entry fading； the debit entry loomed up bigger。 Hardly had the Corn Laws been abolished when Radical critics called on the British Government to withdraw the redcoat garrisons from the colonies： no profit； no defense。 Slowly but steadily this reduction was effected。 To fill the gaps； the colonies began to strengthen their militia forces。 In Canada only a beginning had been made in the way of defense when the Trent episode brought matters to a crisis。 If war broke out between the United States and Great Britain； Canada would be the battlefield。 Every Canadian knew it； nothing could be clearer。 When the danger of immediate war had passed； the Parliament of Canada turned to the provision of more adequate defense。 A bill providing for a compulsory levy was defeated in 1862； more on personal and party grounds than on its own merits； and the Ministry next in office took the other course of increasing the volunteer force and of providing for officers' training。 Compared with any earlier arrangements for defense； the new plans marked a great advance； but when judged in the light of the possible necessity of repelling American invasion； they were plainly inadequate。 A burst of criticism followed from England； press and politicians joined in denouncing the blind and supine colonials。 Did they not know that invasion by the United States was inevitable？ 〃If the people of the North fail；〃 declared a noble lord； 〃they will attack Canada as a compensation for their losses； if they succeed； they will attack Canada in the drunkenness of victory。〃 If such an invasion came； Britain had neither the power nor the will； the 〃Times〃 declared； to protect Canada without any aid on her part； not the power； for 〃our empire is too vast； our population too small； our antagonist too powerful〃； not the will； for 〃we no longer monopolize the trade of the colonies； we no longer job their patronage。〃 To these amazing attacks Canadians replied that they knew the United States better than Englishmen did。 They were prepared to take their share in defense； but they could not forget that if war came it would not be by any act of Canada。 It was soon noted that those who most loudly denounced Canada for not arming to the teeth were the Southern sympathizers。 〃The 'Times' has done more than its share in creating bad feeling between England and the United States；〃 declared a Toronto newspaper； 〃and would have liked to see the Canadians take up the quarrel which it has raised 。 。 。 。 We have no idea of Canada being made a victim of the Jefferson Bricks on either side of the Atlantic。〃
The question of defense fell into the background when the war ended and the armies of the Union went back to their farms and shops。 But the discussion left in the minds of most Englishmen the belief that the possession of such colonies was a doubtful blessing。 Manchester men like Bright； Liberals like Gladstone and Cornewall Lewis； Conservatives like Lowe and Disraeli； all came to believe that separation was only a question of time。 Yet honor made them hesitate to set the defenseless colonies adrift to be seized by the first hungry neighbor。
At this juncture the plans for uniting all the colonies in one great federation seemed to open a way out； united； the colonies could stand alone。 Thus Confederation found support in Britain as well as a stimulus from the United States。 This； however； was not enough。 Confederation would not have come when it didand that might have meant it would never have come at allhad not party and sectional deadlock forced Canadian politicians to seek a remedy in a wider union。
At first all had gone well with the Union of 1841。 It did not take the politicians long to learn how to use the power that responsible government put into their hands。 After Elgin's day the Governor General fell back into the role of constitutional monarch which cabinet control made easy for him。 In the forties； men had spoken of Sydenham and Bagot； Metcalfe and Elgin； in the fifties； they spoke of Baldwin and La Fontaine； Hincks and Macdonald and Cartier and Brown； and less and less of the Governors in whose name these men ruled。 Politics then attracted more of the country's ablest men than it does now； and the party leaders included many who would have made their mark in any parliament in the world。 Baldwin and La Fontaine； united to the end； resigned office in 1851； believing that they had played their part in establishing responsible government and feeling out of touch with the radical elements of their following who were demanding further change。 Their place was taken in Canada West by Hincks； an adroit tactician and a skilled financier； intent on railway building and trade development； and in Canada East by Morin； a somewhat colorless lieutenant of La Fontaine。
But these leaders in turn soon gave way to new men； and the political parties gradually fell into a state of flux。 In Canada West there were still a few Tories； survivors of the Family Compact and last…ditch defenders of privilege in Church and State； a growing number of moderate Conservatives； a larger group of moderate Liberals； and a small but aggressive extreme left wing of 〃Clear Grits；〃 mainly Scotch Presbyterians； foes of any claim to undue power on the part of class or clergy。 In Canada East the English members from the Townships； under A。 T。 Galt； were ceasing to vote as a unit； and the main body of French…Canadian members were breaking up into a moderate Liberal party； and a smaller group of Rouges； fiery young men under the leadership of Papineau； now returned from exile； were crusading against clerical pretensions and all the established order。
The situation was one made to the hand of a master tactician。 The time brought forth the man。 John A。 Macdonald； a young Kingston lawyer of Tory upbringing； or 〃John A。〃； as generation after generation affectionately called him； was to prove the greatest leader of men in Canada's annals。 Shrewd； tactful； and genial； never forgetting a face or a favor； as popular for his human frailties as for his strength； Macdonald saw that the old party lines drawn in the days of the struggle for responsible government were breaking down and that the future lay with a union of the moderate elements in both parties and both sections。 He succeeded in 1854 in bringing together in Canada West a strong Liberal…Conservative group and in effecting a permanent alliance with the main body of French…Canadian Liberals； now under the leadership of Cartier； a vigorous fighter and an easy…going opportunist。 With the addition of Galt as the financial expert； these allies held power throughout the greater part of the next dozen years。 Their position was not unchallenged。 The Clear Grits had found a leader after their own heart in George Brown； a Scotchman of great ability； a hard hitter and a good hater especially of slavery； the Roman Catholic hierarchy； and 〃John A。〃 Through his news
