The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-12-12

befgfe the more perfect union " as ate Manitoba
and MINNESOTA or British Columbia nnd oregon.
Mississippi abd louisiana atn frtliet removed even
nav, ttlit!oAy as we'll physically, from the great
centres'of Ame,ical political and commercial Ie,
federal system wisely administered, meets the neces-
stiles OF each case beiieve' Therefore, That thiS
The most important argument In favor of the
ncxation Of Canada to the Union is that the country
belongs to the American continent. any one would
have MS believe that Canada ought to he permanently
connected with some European country, the OnuS
probandt lies with him. Such an arrangement takes
the Canadian people out Of their sphere and transfers
their interests AVID sympathles to distant continent
from atwhich nature has wisely sundercd them.
Besides the ccnnguraiion Of tho American continent
IL as dstinctIvet favorable to unity OF nationality
and o. poliy thatot the European continent Is to
diversity OF nationality. Tbe boundary between the
United States and Canada Is, throughout almost It's
entire length, an Imaginary liic. The Great Lakes
from the only natural division. ono OF the strongest
objections to the formation OF the southern Con.
fcdcracy was that two great nations would he divided
from one another by an artificial boundary neccsS-
tatlpg pckcts and garrsons and troops and endless
custom houses : all impeding tho development Of
American civilization. The same objection applies
TO the existence OF the Dominion Of Canada, either rs
an independent commonwealth or asan Integral factor
land from the other, naturally, commercially socially
rcgiousy. n British statesmen deliberately create
reproduce on the soil Of the New world the feuds
strife aud misery OF the Old The continent Is one,
aud should he the home OF one people
Again, the absorption Of Canada Into the Union
would he an easy and natural process. III Anglo
Canadian confederation seriously Proposed, the
practical political dlfcuties In the way would he, as
have cndeavorcd 10 Indicate we'll nigh insupcrablc
The whole political machinery Of two countries would
require TO I've oyerhauled and rcarrangcd The ancient
English system would he thrown quite out OF gear,
and the most troublesome complications would ineyi-
tably ensuc There would 10 no presidents, no ira
to The oSial English minds. fall snSk
hut the annexation OF Canada to the Union would be,
comparatively speaking, mere child's play; Thc
various provlnces-Que6ec. Ontario, c.-would sim
ply become States OF the Union, self governing as
before, but scidng Representatives and Senators to
Tne great Snymg rs yea q, ,%o
United States, be divided into Territories. All local
government would go on In Just the same way as be-
began to breathe the new life Of the young republic
In several small matters, the most important OF which
Is coinage the two countries are already as one. The
union. the population OF Canada woid speedily greatly
Increase. and her resources no developed. great
deal OF speculation is often INDUCED In by tho Englkb
papers to the why Canada does not increase
more rapidly In populations Tho country has been
held by England for 100 years and yet the whole pop
york; We s o @ % ae s na that %
tho West Is concerned tho soil Is ~ coed as the
Western States OF tho Union: and yet Wisconsin and
Minnesota grow with marvellous rapidlty, while the
corresponding Canadian territory remains compara-
lively. speaking almost stagnant. Emgrants from
the old counties arc now Ocklng across tho Atlantic
In unprecedented numbers and yet Canals seems to
get few OF them n there is apprccablc difference
In soil climate, II the chances Of gaining wealth are
about equivalent on either side OF the line the
for this preference shown for the United States by the
emrrant would seem To be due to political and social
causes. Doubtless there Is moro imagination AMI
greater political activity In tho minds Of the peasants
and workmen who ll the great ships which sail from
Hamburg and Bremen, Liverpool and Glasgow, than
the world has given them credit for. Perhaps the
bread that pcrseth IL not all In all to the think II
certain that the Irish aud Germans who arc now invad-
Ing America In such numbers distinctly prefer to live
under great republican government IN land sepa-
rated entirely from the Old World, na nation where
" all men are born free and equal, " In country In
hpir nj, he
owing no allegiance TO any Old World Sovereign. The
exalted destiny of the American Republic has proba-
who desire to share Its glory, and who are not am
bilious of becoming, even though only In name, the
''subjccts' y OF an English queen.
further reason for tho arnalganiatlou Of Canada
with the Union is that IL restricts tho possible area OF
war. Federation with England would not accomplish
this objects indeed have already Indicated my be.
lief that II might not nproaby lead to renewal OF
European strife oh American sofia dsast ro'is result
tobe by every lover Of called
patriotism pales before this grand aspiration for an
American continent sacred To peace and concord.
With the flame Of humanity klme in our breasts, all
mcancr PASSIONS all less worthy aims will disappear.
The happiest, brightest guarantee for the future of
the world would be tho progressive, peaceful develop
ment of an united American people. The reflex in-
nuencc of such apcOpc on Europe would be incalcula-
Bile. IL would he tho pacific conquest OF torn, dis,
tracted bleeding Europe tho mighty union Of free
siblc to resist. Divide America and you diminish It's
influence over Europe as well as hinder Its own de.
velopment uuite America and you have the strongest
venture to add, tbs civilization OF Asia likewise.
Already America has helped to widen the English
franchise, to dsesabllsh the Irish Church. and to
humanIze the English political system generally. She
has contributed to tho life, which, spite of the
reaction, Is still active In sdn and she has given
Republic. The friends Of the Confedetacy in England
knew well that If the Southern save-owners could
manage to tear the Republic asunder they would ma
teilaliy weaken the Influenced American Democracy,
and give longer lease of life to the feudalism of
Europe. The development of America means the in
Let the Influence Of America be extended by the en-
arge'nent Of her borders and the gathering Into one
and she will do yet Infinitely more.
have placed at the head of this paper quotation
from MIR. Gladstone's Z" Kin Beyond Sea-" What
have written has been simply an extension of this;
but had word two as to the particular question
OF ''continuous empire The great wars waged
during the last quarter of century have nearly all
been for continuous territory. Germany might 1t is
conceivable under the vigorous gudanceo of bismarck
have secured territory In Africa for colonSati0n but
that astute statesman has preferred to consolidate his
country POSSESSIONS and only to acquire land con-
tinuots With that already possessed. The acquisi-
Northern States tauntcd with "hghting for
cmpire;' but they had the sagacty to perceive that
no dominion severed from themselves by the sea
woild compensate for the loss Of the great States CON
tinuous with their own boundaries.
The tendency therefore, at tho present time Is ia
consolidation, 1t being felt that tho difference between
continuous empire and empire severed by sea Is Mr..
Gladstone says, vital, The natural course,
thetefore for Canada would be to approximate toward
try 3. 600 miles away would bo unnatural and I'M
polite course. In the one case, the represenativ,
system would easily meet s mSw req nn nc ,a s WI.
tenn which, venture TO think, itwOuld not bear. The
representative principle may he the great discovery
modef b0lltitst but II was never meant 10 apply u
such strange aud improbable Instance rs that of TIN
attempted union OF Cai,aa and England Into one fed
eral system.
one word as to the result Of the annexation o
Canada to the United States on the United States them
| selves. That such an annexation would greatly en-
large the conceptions and imagination and add to tn
ldignity. o. the 1anadiaIs, ispfetty certain.
/ Tho United States would be likely TO become Il
Eagana %S, les foreign % sa UsrT n
migration must vitality modify the structure and typ
OF american nationality, and infuencethc complexion
of American thought and feeling. Any way, Americ;
may be expected to produce new national type tina
much ls certain. Bnt by the annexation Of Canadi
she VIII gain men OF solid manly, English worth,
able to draw upon vigorous reserve force to upio'
public order against tile possible wilder development
her special English feeling and sympathy with tn
| old country, and VIII thus infuse into the American
epaS,c greater love a aah respect s1 for ~
Ing but sham prestige, while We slioui'
gain more hearty American friendship than w
have yet expericnced-a friendship which w0uI,
not be marred by frequent misgivings arising out
an English colony subject to tile invasion OF TIL
United States such as have our intercors
| 1t is necessary TO bring this paper to n close
must again express my consciousness OF performing
|
| seem natural to Engllshman. The ''Imperiai
lists - would naturally regard mo rs kind OF adpo
| cdtus diabOH. Their opinion. however, I do no
consider Of great value. but there Is another, and
large class, 81 worthy, honest well-meaning people
who feel pride In tho consciousness that they mr.
citizens Of al empire on which, rs they have hear,
from childhood, the sun never sets. These pcopl
cannot bear the thought OF dissolution OF the en-
pire. and nome Of Them have really thought In vasu
way, that federation easily lie brought alssut
regret to dlspel their fond Illusions; but serou
political thinker, am compelled to do so, for tb
| reasons already alleged. Similar arguments would, q
course, apply TO the case OF Australia and the othe
coonies-slmilar, but not IDENTICAL and periaI
not applying at present with such great force
Canada Is the premier colony and he
destiny Will be considered before that q
the others. And VIII You, II Is asked, re
duce England 10 hor former conditionp WIN yo
take from her the proud post OF tho hegemony OF
Worldwide empire, and make OF her again n mel
European island commonwealth do not propose
"do'' anything. My whole argument Is that natuI
and tho course Of human affairs have done and ~
doing something which We can I'm no way prevent
and for which II is vain and idle to grieve. for
hope that Australia, New Zealand, and South Afrcs
al any rate, may be induced 10 retain their colon
|