The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
OUR CANADIAN NEIGHB0RS
The Dominion and It's Present Political
Relations with Great Britain.
How Annexation Is Regarded by Canadians
The Political and Religious Peculiarities
Of the People Across the Border.
written for the sunday Journal

Written Tor the SUNDAY JournaL
There is much loose talk about the annex
alton of Canada that proceeds on the as
sumption that the people of the United
Provinces are suffering from the Cypress
ions of the mother country and would
gladly seek relief in annexation to the
United States, if only given proper encour-
sgement. This estimate does not have it's
foundation in fact. The people of Canada
are as unrestrained in their freedom and
pursuit of happiness by England as the in
habltants of any colony or dependency in
the world. England furnishes the Domin-
ion Governor general in the person of one
of her distinguished sons. at a salary of
$4,000 year, and that about
measures the extent of her ac-
tual control in Canadian affairs
Canada is high protective country, and
1evies import duties as remorselessly upon
English as upon American goods. The Do
plinion government looks after the inter-
ests of its own people, and Great Britain
does not attempt to force them to become
purchasers of English wares. England may
call on Canada for soldiers, and ships, and
munitions of war. But there is no obliga-
tion upon the Canadian government to
furnish the men, except that of national
pride. relationship and community of inter
est; while for the sinews of war the Cana
dian farmers and manufacturers could GER
tainly be relied upon to exact the full cash
value. The Governor-general is a mere fig
urehead through whom the Premier, or
First Secretary of the Dominion Cabinet.
exercises authority. Sir John A. Macdon-
al 1tnh rtst hoe o,vhf in,
recting Canadian affairs than Lord Lans-
downe's position bestows.
Whatever expressions Canadians feel
come from other sources than the English
government. The chief burden is that of
large Indebtedness and Its natural result of
large taxation. But the heavy taxes are,
In the main, borne cheerfully, because they
have been made necessary by the cost of
the railroads and other works of internal
SION which affects TIE ' older provinees
largely is borne even more cheerfully, be-
cause 1T comes from the church, to which
the majority OF the people are attached by
the strongest of ties. Since the provinces
Dominion, the people enjoy fairly good
form of representative government. Pro-
lection to Canadian industries is the lead
ing feature IL the policy of the dominant
has been enabled to build up and. thus far,
to maintain that great system of internal
Improvements which is doing so much
for the development of Canadian resources.
Outside of the fifty thousand dollars
per year which is paid to the Governor
general, England receives practically moth
ing from Canada in the way of revenue.
The Dominion of Canada is a union of
provinces, as our Nation is union of
States. Each province has its local OF pro-
yincial government for the direction of its
internal affairs, which ia q copy in minia-
ture of the larger government, The form
xrI h0 0w~I IL 49,. Il
choosing the members of Parliament and
other officers are copied from the English
and constitute what is termed responsible
government, by which is meant a govern
they are outvoted in Parliament. and APP
peal to the people through the medium of
a new election. Thus it will be seen that
the Dominion of Canada lacks only the right
TO choose ltsown chiefmagistratea and to ex-
ercise the treaty-making power and main
tain its own diplomatic corps and consular
establishment to stand on an equal footing
with other nations. and be in all respects a
This large degree of colonial independence
If such q term Is admissible-accorded to
Canada by England is, perhaps, the surest
tie that binds the intelligent masses of her
the natural love for home and native land
that dwells IN the breasts of that respect
able body of Canadian citizens who were
born In England and Scotland. and the tie
courages the Canadian military establish
ment In many ways, encourages education,
and her moneyed men invest their millions
IN Canadian railways, manufacturing en-
ferprlses, mining. farming, grazing and
Hberality that is often in excess of the
promise of realization. These considera-
tons go Tar toward preserving unbroken
the chain that binds Canada to the mother
country. 1t cannot be truthfully said that
they aenflmenfaI AT
Tor few tues are stronger or more permanent
than those that flow from kindship
of people and similarity of institutions.
England has been an indulgent mother to
Canada. 1t does not matter that her in
dulgent disposition has been largely owing
to the near proximity of the great Republic
and the readiness with which the laying on
be resented by the Provinces simply shift
ing their allegiance to their own side of the
Atlantic. This indul2ent treatment has SO
won upon the hearts of the people that even
those who see In annexation greater pros
perity and a more active freedom for the
people OF the Dominion, contemplate with
sadness the breaking Of ties which have SO
long bound them to the mother country
!B but these are not the most potent reasons
seeking the enlarged opportunities that
would doubtless lie open to them
by entering the. union of States.
Whoever is extensively acquainted with
itics, their religious and social life,
their literature and their business habits,
must realize that the prospect of the ulti-
mate independence of Canada, and the
hope and trust that the Dominion is to de-
veiope into n strong northern nation, with
the consent and neighborly good will of
both England and the United States, and
become the third link in great Anglo
Saxon Alliance that is to direct the course
of human advancement, and control the
forces of civilization, is the most vital force
that to-day holds Canada away from the
thought of annexation. Another objection
that Is potent with the politicians is the
loss of power and place that would result
TO the great men of Canada, and no people
In the world set greater value upon official
station than they. A Lieutenant-g governor
of small Canadian province surrounds
himself with more state, and assumes more
pompous dignity, than the Governor of the
greatest of American States
Once in office always in otficeis the Cana
dian rule, and so it happens that
the office-holders, from greatest to least,
are earnestly opposed to all movements
that tend toward annexation. The French
population, whose ancestors formerly pos
sessed Canada, Is constantly pushing for
ward and making every endeavor to reach
such force in numbers, property and polit-
ical prestige as shall again make Canada
French country not dependency of
France, as in the old days, but a new
Canada ruled by the old spirit-the spirit
of the great Louises and the Catholic
Church of Champlain, Laval and Madame
na In paffria 'rhaae Erapch pannla a 70