The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-26
CANADA.

Hard Times-ExOdus Of the Population TO
the Uaited states-FeeIins Of the People
Division of Parties.
MONTREAL, June 20, 1862
The matter OF Canadian independence or annexa-
ton has been OF late creating little comment In
your city contemporaries, and the Tribune has gone
to the length OF publishing lists OF the disaTcced.
In this country, also, the matter has received no
small share OF attention, but the movement In Its
favor has not possessed SUFFICIENT vitality nor have
its principles been SO openly advocated, to make
the matter worth while writing you about. think
/ am IN position TO give you good information
as a correspondent OF the New YORK HERALD should
give; and though this letter may not contain as many
spread eagles or as much agreeable bombast to the
square inch as the productions Of some Of my
vivaclous compeers still think 1t viii be truer.
In the first place, confederation must be acknow-
lodged failure. For the general feeling 10 this
effect which prevails there are two or three good
reasons The first Is that the good people OF Canada
cherished too fond hopes OF what confederation was
to do for them, and invested 1t with magnificent I'M
possibilities, TO result in miserable dlsappont
ments. They expected what they had no right to
expect-that at once the physical features Of the
country would be changed, commerce created, po-
litical grievances redressed and this country gene
rally turned into little Eden. To expect such re-
suits rom a simple aggregation OF four provinces
was absurd. Confederation did not add unit to
the population, area resources. wealth or commerce
OF the country 1t slightly benefited In the European
market the bonds OF the various provincca-that
was ALL The enthusiasm, the ov r enthusiasm with
which the advent OF confederation was hailed has
led to deeper dissatisfaction at its imperfect
working, for it is working impertectly.
True, the old deadlock between Ontario and
quebec is removed; but the old Sec
tional differences remain, the old corrupt govern
tha
expensive administration, the same jobpery. While
the public eye is taken and the public vanity ticked
by the acquisition Of the Northwest, OF Newfound-
land and real estate specuatons generally which
would make Seward turn pale, the debt Is ping up.
At present the debt OF Canada, including the North
west and the intercolonIal loan, is q tribe over
Sl00, 0o0, coo gold-an average OF twentyf dollars
gold for every member OF the population. The
American national debt Is sixty dollars per head,
American currency. This Canadian debt has been
piled up without war. and ia being daily added to.
Again, confederation was expected by the fanatic
Protestant element of the population TO swamp and
utterly neutraze the influence OF the Catholics OF
Queoec. Here they have been rankly mistaken. The
French have chung together and hold the balance OF
power since confederation as well as before 1t.
Now, add to all these causes the great cause Of pO-
ltical discOnteniS-hafd tlne5-aDd you can readily
understand that desire for political change can
exist IN Canada.
II is hard times and no mistake. The effects OF
trading are manifesting themselves in the tot
tering OF great houses compelled to restrict both
imp0rtatiOns and credits, and In the insolvency
which to an unusual-nay, TO an alarming extent
prevails in the rural districts The abrogatlon OF
general depression Immediately OF trace, although
without it ultimately new and ample channels VIII
be opened But all these taken together although not
the effects Of legislation the fruits OF particular
political system can be adroitly presented as such.
Thus the @ OF most Of your contempt,
political change have not been blind enough 20 over
look this weapon lying ready to their hand, and half
the people OF Canada who invelRh against British
connection honestly convinced In their souls tnat
this general insolvency IS owing 10 the political III
sttutions OF the country,
another feature of which much has been made Is
the continued exodus OF the French Canadian popu-
laton TO the United States. This exodus is certainly
proceeding to an alarming extent and all the de-
malls OF the loyal press and the accommodating sta
ttstics Of Mr. Bridges letters VIII not suffice TO
impeach the fact. The population Is going at the
rate OF $4,000 year &c least OF this considerable
number leave annually to work during the summer
aog THEIR |enartnre u reneray because
they think they have better chance IN the States,
land system. This year they have been abominably
frightened by the idea that standing army was to
be raised and they all to be klt intoireiy," conse
quently they have fed like sheep. The government
Is supine the question OF immigration, takes no
pains to summon emigrants hither, ana by q narrow
policy, at home and abroad eiecually send you the
cream OF European immigration.
Now, In this dissatisfaction at the results or con-
federation. financial pressure and heavy emigration
you have the elements out OF which your contem-
poraries-notably the Tri0unie-have deduced 1.-THE
wdes pread feeling that political change is imml-
There can be no doub. but that discomfort with or
radical impertection in the present form OF govern
ment contributes to each Of these three results. But
not wholly. And to accept them as indices OF the
political sentiment OF a nation and TO base move
ment thereon Is 10 show oneself Ignorant or worse.
/ have thus briefly laid before your readers those
features OF the political situation which have any
bearing upon the matter OF independence 1 now
proceed to take up the natural argument and
consider the possibility or change.
Early In 1867 before the completion OF confedera-
ton, the NEW YORK HERALD's correspondent said
that confederation must not be looked upon as the
final solution, but that there were two issues near
or remote, 10 which it would Neutrality-suspicious.
and annexation. The workers on confederation
never looked upon it as completed work-that is,
ON s stem towards Northern monarchy Gait
as a step towards annexation. Lord Monck as step
towards "a new nationality" though Ignorant OF
what form 1t might assume. confederation how
ever, IL a mongrel nationality, hampered by the
Pigment OF British connection. We are not bit
natural march OF events, which Is ever on
ward In nations which are possessed OF
vitality Will make us,lndependent, it may be to-mor
row, II may be ten years hence. When independent
what form Will Canada assumeP Monarchy 1t can.
not he, in spite OF the Transferring OF the tory crew ana
the sentimental loyuists after scion of the Guelphs
Because setting aside the utter absurdlty OF ever
expecting monarchy to take root IN this soil, the
country Is too poor TO support an expensive estab
lishment, 1t has nobility aud no diplomatic class,
and finally 1t would be absurd for Canada, by the
necessary intermarriage OF her sovereign with Eu-
ropean families to become entangled In remote
European squabbles The only remaining forms are
Cortes. with the President officiating as sovereign,
and republic. The former Is impracticable because
o recurrence OF the deadlock would give us SIX
changes OF government a week, and lead possibly TO
attempts at unconstitutional usurpation. As to @
republic-two republics with the same language, re-
lgion and interests could not exist side by side.
They would coalesce. SO much for the logic OF the
situation. My convictions are that utimately-no
matter what political nosrulns may be invoked
annexation viii result, and independence Is only
another word for annexation, and OF the whole in
dependence party do not Junk ten OF them nave
any ulterIor object In view at heart but annexa-
ton. There can be no longer continuance say
they, "of the present anomalous national condition.
BE the change for a monarchy, regency, repup-
lie. all these roads lead TO the same gal The coun-
try Is not strong enough to stand beside its neigh
Dor and II never Will be. Cain strength as rapidly
as IL may, at the same time the United states gains
In greater proportion.
Now, them for the political state OF tho country
- ,ha tr,o copdtti..n NJ tba indanendenca marty