The Shadow of Great Britain

If the Whig Party had not chosen to ally with the Conservative Party, after the downfall of the Melbourne Cabinet, they would undoubtedly propose a vote of no confidence against the Conservative Cabinet as retaliation.

At this point, the Radical Party should uphold basic morality and join hands with them. Leveraging the Radical Party’s standard political strategy, the vote of no confidence would surely be passed. The only possible cabinet formation would be a coalition cabinet where the Whig Party and the Radical Party have equal voice.

The Radical Party should not force the Whig Party into the arms of the Conservatives with harsh conditions. They only need to reorganize the cabinet, remove Conservative figures such as Lord John Russell from the Whig Party, and then they can receive the embrace of the Radicals. In doing so, the Radical Party would achieve a significant victory, not only highlighting our influence as the ruling coalition but also shedding the image of mere dependency, and revitalizing the depressed and bleak morale of the nationwide Liberals.

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”Is Montreal really burning? Let the Melbourne Cabinet teach you how to not say a single word.”

According to letters from our readers, the Canadian Colony seems not so peaceful recently, but if you only read the bulletins from White Hall, you’d think Montreal is a paradise of song and dance.

Unfortunately, readers far away in the colony tell us that the local ”Six County Alliance” is noisy, yet the government can’t even hold onto its people; one convoy transporting prisoners was taken away from the road as easily as taking a basket of vegetables.

”Canadian Uprising? Pure nonsense!”

A cabinet spokesperson publicly refuted rumors at today’s press conference: ”We are still waiting for information.”

”The shadows of 1775 hover over Quebec”

Youths in Canada are practicing shooting, farmers are assembling with arms, the Patriot Party is drafting an independence declaration, the government troops have just suffered a defeat in St. Denis—all of this makes seasoned historians’ faces go pale: Is this not a replay of the American War of Independence?

Optimists believe Canada won’t be independent. But pessimists can’t help but ask: ”Before the Thirteen States of North America became independent, who believed the United States could really become independent?”

”Bad News: Canadian Uprising Breaks Out!”

”Good News: At least the Frenchman isn’t here to stir things up this time!”

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”My thoughts on Canadian independence: A Street Note from a Moral Observer”

Last night I was returning home from West Indies Pier and encountered a group of dockworkers and porters murmuring around a mysterious map of North America. They were pointing at Quebec and Montreal, and someone even wagered five shillings, saying: ”That place is about to become another America.”

I thought this might just be drunken talk among laborers, until today I browsed through various newspapers and discovered the cabinet still refuses to publicly disclose the situation in Canada, while street rumors become increasingly alarming.

Some say the ”Six County Alliance” has already sent representatives to the United States for assistance, and their militia is secretly training in Washington.

Others say Canadian farmers have already sworn not to obey Londoners’ orders.

Even more so, some claim: ”In Montreal, you can hear the cries of ’Give me liberty or give me death’ at night.”

I don’t know if these are true, but I know one sound spreads faster than the truth, and that is silence.

The silence from the Melbourne Cabinet in these three days is like an invisible hand choking the throat of London streets.

Everyone is guessing, what are they hiding?

To what extent is Canada burning?

I am neither a politician nor a gentleman, just a small person making a living by selling words.

But even I remember the history books mentioning that before the Thirteen States of North America became independent, the government was also this silent.

At that time they said: ”It’s just a small disturbance, everything is under control.”

And months later, all they had left under control were New York and Rhode Island.

I heard a sailor returning from North America say: ”The anger of Canadians now surpasses what the Thirteen States had back then.”

I don’t know if he is exaggerating, but I noticed the dockworkers nodding after hearing this.

Next to a street-side tea stall, a kid polishing boots asked me: ”Sir, are we going to fight another American war?”

The elderly woman beside scolded ”Don’t talk nonsense, child,” yet her hands were trembling fiercely.

I thought: ”If even the children start asking such questions, disaster is not far away.”

The Whig Party believes the people need quiet.

But in my view, the people need information.

If a problem arises, the more you cover it up, the more likely it is to explode.

The more you delay the truth, the more rumors will grow wings.

If things are as street rumors claim, if Canada truly walks the old path of the Thirteen States...

Who will ultimately foot the bill?

Those of us drinking one penny beer at Charing Cross.

Why is White Hall slow to reveal the situation?

Perhaps because they themselves don’t know how much military expenses are needed?

No, that’s impossible, because they often tell us, those seated in White Hall are Britain’s wisest.

If that’s the case, then it’s because they know too clearly, too well, and thus refuse to be completely transparent.

There are rumors that the next bill Parliament is soon to discuss is additional ”funds for North American measures.”

Translated, it means: ”Your money, we’re going to use to fix the mess we’ve created for ourselves.”

But if things are truly like this, I can’t help but retort.

Why?

Signed: An Observer Concerned About the Fate of the Empire.