New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-02
rLlLY r1lK lRurr c1YADA

condition OF affairs in Canada, or OF measur-
ing the political institutions and industrial
progress of our Northern neighbors by Our
own standards. Their ways are not always
our ways but we have not obtluded advice
upon them, nor has there been any display OF
Pharisalcal feeling on tins side OF the bOroer
at their failure to realize their hopes of grow
ing into q powerful nation, under British tu-
telage. The disposition here ha, been to look
upOn them as a people of kindred blood, Ia
boring under disadvantages OF climate ard
geographical position, and relying too much
on the eadiug-strings of the Mother Country,
but, on the whole. getting along fairly well,
and entitled to our friendship for behaving
like good neigh bOrs and to our respect for
maintaining an orderly representative govern
mcnt, closely akin 10 our own in many essen
ual features. la a word, we have held to the
friendly and sensible policy of letting Canada
work out her own salvation byh her own meth
DDS free from influence or criticism, and have
left the discussion of the problems Of her des-
tiny 10 hen own people.
What that destiny is to be Is question that
begins to attract fresh attention III England.
The EJGmiacr, a London weekly which is not
in the habit OF carefully respecting traditional
feelings and prciudices, speaks plainly on this
subject It rrga'ds the experiment of a con-
federated form of government for the Prov
mces, If not a signal failure, as far from
satisfactory at the present or reassuring for
the future. The Dominion is heavily i1r debt
and its revenues fail below IT'S expenditures.
The late Darcy McGee once remarked that
there were but three future relations open to
the people OF the PTovinces-irst, a closer
connection, offensive and defensive, between
themselves second, annexation to the United
St1in,: and third. Guaranteed neutrality nm
der the joint protection of the Powers. The
first has since been tried in the Dominion
form Of governments the third is regarded
by Yhe ErtGtiaer as wholly impracticable
and there remains, it argues, only the second,
which it looks upon as the manifest destiny OF
the country. 1t doubts whether there Is any
gain on either side by the retention of Great
Blitain's hold on Canada. Her connection,
with the Mother Country" it declares,
"disiurbs her, while to Us she is a pre- gnant
"sOurce of disqu.etude and a perennial ex
"pcnse." Absorption into the American
Union would. The Examiner thinks, prove
beneficial to her in a high degree, and it goes
on to say: Canada needs new life, fresh
" impulses and increased population. All
/" these advantages would naturally and nevi-
"tably ensue were her destinies united with
&" those of her neighbour. As it is, Canada is
but dragging out miserable existence,
" struggling, as it were, against Fate, and
going from bad to worse with every tentative
attempt made by her statesmen in order to
insure her prosperity, progress, and autOn-
"omy."
After such frank talk from an intelligent
English source, it may not be out of place for
us to state what we understand to be the
American view of the question. People in
tins country believe that at some time IN the
future the Canadian Provinces will become
members of the American Union, and that
such a connection would be beneficial to them
and advantageous to us. Beneficial to them
because they would save the expense of their
Dominion Government, obtain free access to
our markets, be permeated by the currents of
our active business life, and share in the
growth and prosperity OF the strongest, richest
and most progressive nation on the face of
the earth advantageous to us because we
should gain large population of industrious,
steadEgoing, self-gOverning people of our
own lineage, and should get possession of the
great Northern waterway from the heart of
the Continent to the Atlantic Ocean-the ST.
Lawrence River. At the same time there is
not the least disposition to press the matter
upon the consideration of the Canadians. No
propagandism of annexation ideas has ever
been attempted by our Government or would be-
favored by our people. Some day the Provinces
will reach the conclusion that il is better TO he
States of a great republic than mere colonial
attachments of distant kingdom, but they
will reach it in their own good time, and
through the lessons of their own experience
and their own sober judgment, without threats
ar coaxIng from us. When that time comes
they will find the door of the Union hospi-
tably open to them, and the Mother Country
will, no doubt, bid them 90 in peace. Only
in the improbable event of Il war between
the United States ana Great Britain is annex
alton likely to be brought about in any other
way than by the deliberate desire of a large
majority of the Canadian people.
Tue Canadians are fast outgrOwing their
illusions. They see that their half-autouo-
NOUS Dominion Government is not going 10
lead to separate nationality; that narrow
strip of country stretching from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, and compressed between
frozen wilderness on one side and a power
lul compact neigbbor on the other, will never
grow into an independent, self-exstent
nation; and that the highest development
material and intellectual, Of which their coun-
try is capable will never be attained so long
as they remain in colonial condition. How
long 1t will be before they see the direction
IN which their true interests lie. Is question