Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-30
CANADIAN ANNEXATION.

The perennial talk continues about the an
nexation of Canada 10 the United States
talk always confined TO the other side of the
border, for the matter attracts but little in
tercst on this side, In recent paper on the
subject Canadian, Mr. Bender, shows some
facts which places it IN light somewhat in
teresting. He refers specially to three
points The growth of the Dominion debt /;
the constant stream of emigration from Cam
ada southwark, with the consequent almost
stationary numbers of the population, in
spite of government-aide immigration; and
the comp osition of the Dominion popula-
lions. AS to the financial point, at the close
Of our last war the idea OF annexation was
ridculcd on the ground that no Canadian
would be willing to throw in his lot with a
country 50 tremendously burdened with
debt as was the United States. Since then,
while this country has been steadily paying
of its debt at rate unparalleled in his
tory, the government expenditures In the
Aorlh have just as steadily been in ex.
cess of income In 1868 the disburse.
ments for all Dominion purposes were 3d.
8S7, 02S In 1882 they had risen to S3l &c.
600, while the population had only increased
from 8 1903 POI in the former year to 4,4lS,.
ia in the latter, the per capita taxation hav.
Ing risen in the same period from S4.07 to
S7.0e. The debt has grown also with like
alarming rapidly In 1867, OF the time of
the confederation, The gross debt of the
country was 500, GAG .05l, while in 1881 il
had risen 10 SOL SCI, 537 and still it con.
tinues to increase. Mr.. Bender answers the
objection that Canadians prefer living under
small debt by pointing out the fact that
they are continually auneXing themselves &c
the United States ms individuals through
emigration to the latter country. a quarter
OF million French Canadians have, during
the last three or four years, settled in the
States and crowds are weekly leaving the
Provinces TO join them, notwithstanding
the pathetic appeals OF their clergy. This,
says Mr.. Bepder, sis not Il cheering outlook.
Both the French and the Irish in Canada
seem to be anxious to settle in the United
States, and the latter, numbering one-fourtl
OF the total population, would, without
doubt, gladly vote for general annexation
should the opportunity be afforded them
Mr.. Bender thinks that there is d
growing desire for annexation on the
part OF II large proportion of the inhabit
ants If the Dominion, and he goes SO fur al
TO hazard the prediction that The presen
generation will see the change effected. A
SIM mr. fact il that one of the efforts Of th,
Dool1lon Government especially dcsiguet
to pacatc the growing discomfort has hat
the effect of increasing il. The prosecution
OF great railway enterprises, under Govern
ment countenance and with government aid
has increased the debt so largely that tn
people have become frightened at the re
soonsibities thrust ON them; and the fac
that these railroad enterprises have been sub
sidized extravagantly, the subsidies, mosll
in land, having gone to certain Engis
aris,ocratic spectators, las added no littl
TO the feeling of uneasiness.