Mr. Abbott has been accepted as Premier by the Conserva-
tive majority in the Canadian Parliament, but it is evident that the death of Sir J. A. Macdonald has greatly encouraged the Liberals, and that the folly of Conservatives in calling all Free-traders disloyal is bearing disastrous fruit. The people are pining for free-trade with the United States, and to gain it are almost ready to sever their connection with Great Britain, Mr. Mercier, for example, the Premier of Quebec, has openly told an interviewer that, in his jddgment, the time had come to consider the right of European Powers. to govern people living on the American Continent, and with interests and general tendencies often opposed to those of Europe. He himself looked forward anxiously for independ- ence, though there was no party in favour of annexation to. the United States. He rejected the notion of federation with the British Empire altogether. This is a remarkable utter- ance, as coming from a chief of the Roman Catholic French, who have hitherto dreaded independence as leading to annexa- tion. We doubt the sincerity of those who advocate inde- pendence without absorption, as they must know that Canada alone could not resist the United States.
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