The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-31
DRIFT OF THE TIDE.

No one who is in the habit of travelling in
the British Provinces can fail to be impressed
with the extraordinary progress which public
sentiment in favor of annexation to the
United States has made within few years.
This feeling is much stronger in Lower
Canada than elsewhere, and there are many
reasons why it should be So There is less
business transacted and less money in circu-
lation in Lower Canada than in Upper Canada,
with less demand for labor, and consequently
more poverty. Lower Canada is inhabited
generally by French population. French is
the language usually spoken, and the people
have inherited the traditional French antioa-
thy to England. An immense emigration
from Lower Canada to the Uuited States has
been in progress for years, and the accounts
sent back of the improved condition of those
who have emigrated have served to create
favorable impression on the minds of those
who have remained at home in regard to the
United States and their institutions. A great
majority of the people in Quebec and the
country parishes in that part of the Province
are to-day heartily in favor of annexation.
Montreal Is more prosperous, and the people
IN Its vicinity are better contented with the
present condition of affairs, though there are
also large numbers of ardent annexationists.
In Upper Canada there is not that discon-
tent with British rule manifested that is freely
expressed in Lower Canada; but there are in
f1uences at work in favor of annexation which
will eventually be very powerful. The oppo-
sition to any movement which could result
in annexation inoludes politicians of both the
Liberal and Conservative parties; pensioners
and other benefciaries of the English Gov
ernment the descendants of the Tories of
the American Revolution who were driven
out of the United States for their opposition
to American independence; paupers and de-
scenoants of paupers who have been sent
from Great Britain to Canada at the public
expense; and the Irish Orangemen, who are
numerous, and as a class intensely loyal to
the British crown. When the new census is
completed, Upper Canada expects to show a
population equal to that of all the other pro-
vinces combined, and consequently to be able
to control the legislation of the whole Do
minion, and its politicians hope to rule the
country. For this reason they are generally
opposed to the idea of annexation.
On the other hand, there is a large Ameri-
can element in the population of Upper Can
ada; many of the most enterprising business
men are from the United States, and these are
fully alive to the advantages which would re-
suit to Canada from admission to the Ameri-
can Union. Nearly all the Catholic Irish, who
are abundant in all parts of Canada, are an
nexationists; if there was no other reason for
such a sentiment, the fact that the Orange
men are opposed to it would be sufficient.
The rural population, aside from the classes
mentioned above, are generally in favor of
the change; they are convinced that if an
nexation should take place, the introduction
of American enterprise aud methods would
increase the value of their property, and rem
der all classes more prosperous. This feeling
has been gaining ground ever since the abro-
CATION of the reciprocity treaty
ThrOuphOut the lower provinoas-Noua
Scotia and New Brunswick there is a strong
and energetic party in favor OF annexation
Under the terms of the Canadian Confedera-
tion, their representatives are in a hopeless
minority, and their influence in the general
legislation for the Dominion amounts to
nothing. The people are dissatisfied and
disconnected with the new order of things;
there are no important ties of trade or inter
course to attach them to the other provinces,
while every instinct of selfinterest would
naturally induce them to desire annexation.
Besides, the American Republic offers the
most available market for their productions
OF every kind. These reasons for desiring
change increase in strength and add to the
number of anneXationists with each succeed
ing year.
1t will be seen that the causes which have
operated TO excite desire for annexation in
the minds of Canadians must become more
and more potent so long as the present state
of affairs continues, while the obstacles in
the way of such an event are constantly be-
coming less formidable. If the annexation
feeling continues to gain in the future in
the same ratio that has marked its progress
for the last few years, it will not be long be-
fore it becomes too strong to be disregarded
by those in power on the other side Of the
Atlantic.