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Objections and Obstacles
The Bridge - 1861 - Erasmus+
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Yet this very objection is urged in society by official persons, who have not been accustomed, like the Times, to exhibit scorn and hatred of the Irish. It is an objection of the Colonial Office as well as of the Times. It is the only objection that the Office for the promotion of Colonization could well snake; and it is the only objection made by the Times. Put this and that together, and it may appear that neither scorn and hatred of the Irish nor tenderness for Canada is at the bottom of this objection. On Colonial questions the Times is now often semi-official. Supposing it to be so in this instance, the objection may be but a cover for another, which could not be mentioned, thougbi t may be deeply felt. The present Colonial Minister has committed himself against an Irish colonization that is not "spontaneous." On the 31st of December last, he instructed Lord Elgin to carry into effect in Canada a system of colonization which he had elaborately formed. By another despatch, on the 29th January, he withdrew those instructions and pulled his own plan to pieces. In that despatch, and in the House of Lords on the 15th of last month, he earnestly pleaded against anything like system in colonization, and in favour of that wretched emigration which has been justly called "a shovelling out of our paupers." Lord Grey therefore is committed against Mr. Godley's plan. He will not change his mind twice within three months on the subject of colonization. We consider his opposition to the plan to be inevitable, and therefore warn its promoters to be prepared for this really formidable obstacle. Whether Mr. Charles Buller and Mr. Hawes agree with Lord Grey in his new preference of mere emigration to careful colonization, remains to be seen. If it should prove so, the saying, that "being in office makes all the difference," will be signally verified.
There is a class of objections which may be termed friendly, inasmuch as they point out obstacles for removal. It is said, for example, that the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland may reject the offer of endowment in Canada. But the offer has not been made. At present it is but an hypothesis. Suppose an offer of marriage made hypothetically, so that "Yes" from the lady would commit her and leave the gentleman free even to laugh at her if he pleased: of course she would say "No." The question is, what would the Irish clergy say to Mr. Godley's proposal if it were made by Lord John Russell or Sir Robert Peel, with the assent of Parliament, and with a schedule of the amount of endowments, and the number of clergy, bishoprics, and archbishoprics! They would perhaps say very little ; but that they would accept a positive offer may be safely presumed. The natural shyness, therefore, of the Irish clergy with respect to a mere suggestion of endowment for their faith in Canada, is not an objection, but a difficulty to be removed by suitable handling. There are other difficulties of a similar kind. It is not to be expected that the Imperial Parliament should adopt a plan of Canadian colonization at the risk of its rejection by a Provincial Legislature: common discretion suggests that means should be adopted for ascertaining beforehand whether such Imperial legislation would be agreeable to the North American Colonies, and to which of them it would be the most agreeable. In like manner, the Irish Roman Catholic clergy in the United States bordering on British America, should be discreetly consulted and conciliated with regard to that part of the plan which proposes to increase employment for Irish labourers in Canada by means of the removal into Canada of Irishmen who have acquired capital in the United States. The Standard decries even a Canadian endowment of the Irish clergy, on the ground that it would be a step to their endowment in Ireland. And the force of this objection must be admitted by those who do not deem it unjust and impolitic to degrade and starve the clergy of the Irish in Ireland. To others, the objection will be a recommendation. Nor is this the only-objection of that sort. It is said that if this plan of Irish colonization were fully carried out, Canada would draw all the Irish out of Ireland. And what then? The process would take place by attraction, not compulsion; and if all the Irish were drawn to Canada by the attraction of a flourishing Irish nationality, why, so much the better for all the Irish. But neither "all" nor even too many of the Irish could by possibility be drawn cut of Ireland; for the removal of enough would leave those who remained so comfortable as to deprive them of a wish to emigrate. Still this objection is a compliment to the plan ; a valuable admission, like the semi-official objection to making Canada Irish, that Mr. Godley's plan is deemed fit to accomplish its avowed and very desirable aim.