National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-12
CANADIAN INnEpENnENCE.

There is now some talk of the political
independence of the Canadian Dominion,
which has a son-in-law of Her Majesty the
Queen as its Governor-G General but we APP
prehend that the Dominion will make haste
slowly to sever its connection with the
mother country There is evidently some-
thing of the kind in the wind, as it is an
nounced that journals designed for advo.
eating Canadian independence are soon to
appear simultaneously in London, Toronto
and Montreal. This may be mere gossip,
and it may turn out fact, but when those
journals do appear as the de-
cided and earnest advocates of Canadian in
dependence and succeed in maintaining
an existence for any considerable period,
then we will yield faith in the sincerity Of
the movement. That the people of Canada
are now and have been for long time dis
satisfied with their condition more than with
their form Of government we are ready to
believe, for neighborhood experience OF
fifty years has brought the symptoms OF
such state of feeling under observation
in some degree.
The people of Canada are generally loyal
to the Crown. This is what has held them
so long in the relations of dependency.
Their border lies along that of the United
States for some two thousand miles, much
of the distance divided by the chain OF
lakes and the rivers that connect them with
the sea. Where the lakes divide, there is
but little communication between the two
countries, but along tho remaining portion
of the dividing line the communication is
such as to teach that people how fur they
are behind their neighbors on the American
side in business enterprise and advance
ment. With a soil equally fertile, and with
a climate equally salubrious, the Canadians
have long discovered the fact that their
neighbors were rapidly outstripping them
in the race of progress, and they have not
been fully satisfied with the comparison
The thought has been long pressing upon
their minds that perhaps their form of gov
eminent has something to do with their
tardy march, and yet their love of country
has long handicapped all efforts looking to
q change. Time may have wrought upon
the people of Canada material change OF
feeling and sentiment relating TO their gov
ernmental relations, but unless such is the
case, Canadian independence will be oil
tardy growth.
One thing is evident-whateve of indie
pendence obtains in the Canadian Do
10 4
States; nothing more, nothing less That
event has long been regarded as the inevi-
table with Canada, and it will come when
the question shall have so far ripened as to
become the controlling theme of open and
earnest discussion, aud not until then.
Then the Canadas will ask the mother
country to release the bonds that now hold
them together, and they will turn to
the United States aud ask this Government
to extend its arms and take the Dominion
to its embrace. There will be no clash OF
arms over such an event. 1t will come by
negotiation and through the processes OF
good fellowship and peace or it will not
come at all. 1t is not surprising that the
Canadian people should desire it. Every
prompting of interest lies in that direction
They see how they are falling behind in
the race of progress, and they are not in
sensible to the Importance Of securing to
themselves the stimulus under which the
people and enterprises Of the United States
are forging ahead, and they are now as
they have been for century, the architects
of their own fortunes on both sides of the
dividing line.