Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-15
No. 4.

Special Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGsR.l
OTTAWA Jan. 9, 188O.-Some inter
est, but more amusement, is created
here BY the efforts of the New York
Herald to start an annexation "boom"
in Canada. The mistaken energy of
the great organ has been stimulated
by the discovery off debating club in
Montreal, known as the Political
Economy Society, whose object is to
discuss all questions affecting the Do
minion and its future relations with
the British Empire and the United
States. The association is composed
mainly of young men, among whom are
some promising lawyers and n mem
Der Of provincial legislature. The
existence of such a society, in a
country where the utmost freedom of
speech is allowed and where the eli
mate is conducive to great mental
activity, is the most natural thing in
the world, but it does not at all in1i-
cate that there is any widespread feel
ing Of discomfort among the people or
desire to change the existing form Of
government. So far as l have been
able to observe, the Canadians are a
~contented, prosperous people, who are
proud of their connection with the
mightiest empire on the globe and Of
system of government which gives
them absolute control Of their own
affairs in all matters that are not of
imperial concern. l do not pretend to
say that there are not advocates of
independence and even annexation
to the United States, but they are the
merest fraction Of the population and
are confined almost exclusively to the
city Of Montreal. Their dissatisfac-
ton with the existing state Of affairs
is due to the peculiar circumstances
which surround them. The province
Of Quebec is controlled by the French
race who, in their turn, are largely
controlled by the Roman Catholic
church. Naturally ecclesiastical rule
is distasteful to a small section of the
Protestant minority, aud to those
Catholics who are inclined to free
thought, and the discomfort Of this
element of the population has been
magnifed by the Herald into a popu-
lar movement for independence or an
nexation to the United States. There
could not be a greater mistake; the
conclusion is hasty and ill-fOunded.
To the Canadian mind there is but
one perfect form Of government, and
that form they claim to be their own.
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.
The tie that binds the Dominion to
the empire is as light as silk but strong
and durable as steel. The Canadians
entertain a warm affection for the
mOther-land. 1t found a practical ex-
preston when, about a year ago, there
was every prospect of a wal with Rus
STA. The sound of preparation for the
struggle awoke a responsive echo in
the Dominion, and her martial people
volunteered to send 10000 men TO
fight the battles Of the empire. Ii
was a spontaneous offer, aud none the
less significant because the services o.
the Canadians were not required. The
Constellation of the Domiaion wa.
adopted ia 1867, 1t embodies the
leading principles of the British orig.
inal, adapted to the federal system
and the democratic sentiment Of the
Canadians. 1t is based upon respon
sible gOvernment-the responsibility
of the ministry of the day to the PEG
pie. The crown Ii. e., the governo,
general) can do no wrong" beeausl
it acts upon the advice Of It's minis
ters, who are responsible to the repre-
sentatives of the people. The cOnse
quence is that the anomaly which W
witnessed at Washington during th
extra session-the executive re
fusing to give effect
the stern will of the peopl
as expressed by their representative
id Congress, would be impossible here
The Grown, or its representative here
would not dare to thwart the popula
will. He could end no ministry {
assume the responsibility Of such