The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-15

reciprocity in the valuable fisheries of
Canada, has naturally stimulated the ma
the necessity of working out their own
future patiently and determinately with
out placing any too great dependence on
the policy of their prosperous and energetic
neighbors, whose desire for territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and commercial supremacy
on this continent has more than once car
ried them. we believe, beyond the bounds
of generosity and justice in their relations
with the Canadian provinces.
The leading French-Canadians, espe-
cially the priests, whose influence over their
hOcks is perhaps greater than In any other
Roman Catholic country in the world,
have been always the first to point out the
advantages of British connection on ac-
count of the security which it gives to
their institutions as compared with the
probable effect of absorption into the ranks
of the American States, as illustrated in
the case of the remnant of French in
Louisiana. In addition to this power
full French Canadian influence in
favor of the existing state of
things. under which the F~rench-Cana-
dian population exercises so much weight
councils of the country, there is another
sentiment which, if IL does not appear to
flow in as clear and well-defined a current,
nevertheless mingles with the stream of
thought in the British-speaking commune
ties. and prevents it running in the direc-
ton of the United States. From the COM
mencement until long after the close of
the war of independence there was a
steady influx of .loyalists into the prov
inces. and especially into New Brunswick
and Ontario, of which they were the found
ers. Some forty thousand souls in all
made their homes in Canada, and laid the
foundation of that love for British instltu-
tiOns and British connection which has
ever been a recognized characteristic of
the Canadian people. 1t may be easily
supposed hat the descendants of these 10y
alists must form no incOnslderable proper
ton of the five millions of the people who
inhabit Canada, and must exercise a silent,
but none the less potent. influence on the
destinies of Canada. OF the members of
the Senate and House of Commons some
thirty gentlemen, several OF them the lead
ing men in both parties, are directly de-
end from this class. and we find them
acting as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Occu-
plying important positions in every voca-
ton of life throughout the Dominion.
"Au these influences would probably
amount to very little if Canada should be
Overburdened with debt. her great sources
of wealth paralyZed, and her large schemes
of opeting up and peopling her undevel-
Oped country in the Northwest fail Of real
ization during the next two decades of
years. A wave of discontent and lost hope
would then probably pass over the cOun-
try and bring to the surface an annexation
party; but it is idle to speculate on what
appears. as things are now, the most un-
AAnDI 49, W
said by pessimistic writer's like Mr.. Gold
win Smith, or by DISCONTINUED politicians
in certain sections of the Dominion, success
has so far, on the whole. crowned the efforts
of Canadian statesmen to consolidate the
federation. and there is no reason to fear
that their hope of seeing new and prosper
Gus provinces stretching as far as the Pa
cific ocean will not be realized during the
next twenty or thirty years, as long as the
mass of the people continue to be animated
by that spirit of enterprise and national
ambition which has hitherto characterized
their efforts. For the foregoing reasons we
may fairly conclude that the question of
annex alton to the United States is not in
any shape before the people of Canada at
the present time, and is not likely to be be-
fore them whilst the country continues to
make the same progress 1T has made for
years past"
The speaker then considered the nature
of the connection between Canada and
England, the following conclusions being
reached:
'First-That the Canadians will accept
no scheme which may in any way whatever
weaken the admirable system of federal
government and of provincial freedom,
which Canada now possesses under her
present Constitution.
~"SecOnd-That Canadians hesitate to en-
trust the arrangement of their financial or
fiscal policy to any parliamentary body in
which their representation will be neces-
sarily small and their influence conse-
quently insignificant.
"Third-That a million and more of
French Canadian people are decidedly an
t~agonistic to any scheme of federation
which may curtail their privileges and
bring them under the control of a federal
ests might be sacrificed and their identity
rs a distinct race eventually lost.
"FOurth-These objections are believed by
not a few persons to lie for the present in
Tho n tho odnnftnn of fha nroA
scheme of federation, under which one
general parliament would be created for
the whole e~mpire-the most logical scheme
on its face, since it would give each prov
its purely local or provincial affairs, includ-
ing England, Scotland and Ireland-and
constitute one large legislative body to
legislate on all matters which would nat
urally appertain to the whole empire. 1t
must be admitted that grand as appears
this idea of federation, the difficulties that
impede its realization seem for the moment
very difficult to surmount.
1t must not be supposed from anything
Ihave said that there is a feeling of an
tagonism to the scheme throughout the
Dominion. The fact is, no steps have yet
been taken in the direction of a practical
consideration of the subject. A few
thoughtful men are attempting to create a
public sentiment on the question, but the
public men and press generally are silent
In the absence OF any practical scheme
which they can consider, WILTSHIRE mass of
of the people are too busy to pay any at
tention to whatis solar a purely theoretical
conception. There are SO many decided ad-
vantages in the present political position of
the. country that some great national crisis
alone can show the people how frail, after
all, in some respects. are the ties that now
bind the colonies to the empire"
IF the difficulties that arise from dis
lance, tariffs, and representation cannot
be arranged on terms which will preserve
the interests of all sections of the empire,
then at least it will he open to Canada and
the other great countries which are now
dependencies of the empire, should they be
dissatisfied with the existing state of
things, to assume a higher position among
communities, and at the same time enter
into a solemn league and compact with
their old parent for their common defense
and security. Then England, whose mani
fest destiny it is to perpetuate her language
and institutions in every quarter of the
globe, would still be able to retain that
prestige which the possession of a great
colonial empire has long given her, while
Canada and other countries which are of
British origin would be in a position to
satisfy their national ASPIRATIONS, and ut
the same time preserve the connection on
terms which would be at once a recognition
of their Importance, and of their respect
and affection for sthe parent state.
And who will dare to say that it is not even
among the possibilities of the future that
all the British-speaking people will sign
this solemn leaguef A federation of the
world rs but a poetic fancy; but it would
L. -41 Co. ronan &c nA,o $500 A.