Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-26
CANADA'S FUTURE.
A Dominion Politician on the
Outlook There.
THREE PLANS OF ACTION ISyIEw.

Imperial Fed eration Not Popular Prop
osition-Mna ny Adherents to the AM
nexation hiea But Independence
Rather In the Lead of AIi-The Peo-
pie, However,, Generally Satisfied with
Things as They Are.
NEW YORK, Dec. 26.-Honore MERCER,
premier minister of the province of Quebec,
who is in this city on his way to Salem,
Mass, where he is to address an assemblage
of French Canadians on Monday evening, in
an interview yesterday ON the present polit-
ical situation in Canada, said: There isn't
much talk of annexation just now, but there
is general feeling in favor of some polit-
ical change. There is, however, respecta-
BILE portion Of the community III favor of
maintaining the present condition of af-
fairs As concerning the proportion OF
Canadians in favor of the continuance of the
present political system, | cannot say exact
", but L believe they are quite numerous
and important, socially politically and hnan-
cially.
Divided Between Three schemes.
Those who most favor a change are dr.
vided between three schemes-lmperial fed
eration.- annexation and Independence.
Very few. believe, outside the ultra royal
lists are in favor of imperial federation, and
| may adj that there are but few real Cana
disns, either French, English. Scotch OF
Irish, in favor of the scheme. OF course Sir
John a Macdonald, the prime minister of
Canada, who is a Scotchman bv birth, is in
favor of that scheme OF the French Cana
dians you could not find ten disposed TO
speak in favor of imperial federation. |
4 81 \ F.,sh -.
the success Of the scheme, the general feeling
among the immense majority of Canadians
being IN the opposite direction-that is TO
say, in favor of II separation from England.
| The date of that separation is the secret of
| history and will depend very much upon
| questions Of tariff. fisheries, and others of IA
| general Importance concerning, perhaps.
| rlore the relations between Canada and the
| United States than the relations between
| Canada and England.
| As to Annexation.
After imperial federation comes the ques-
| ton of annexation. There is no doubt re-
! spectacle number OF Canadians favorable TO
| annexation. 1t is no Use denying the fact.
! Those who do it are either ignorant or hypo-
critics As to the proportion in favor of the
| scheme, that question cannot be answered,
no votes having ever been taken, and there
being no practical means OF ascertaining
| public opinion on the subject.
Many in Favor of Independence.
"Then comes those who favor Independence.
| | believe they are very numerous, and that
they form the most important portion, from
certain points of view, Of our population
! They are important socially, politically, and
financially, and they recruit themselves for
a great part from the young men, who have
naturally more liberal tendencies and a
| greater disposition for independence. They
| are proud To call themselves Canadians, but
would he much prouder TO call themselves SO
if they We're members Of one of the indepsn-
| dent nations OF the world. This sentiment
| cannot I've considered a. hostile to England or
TO the English people or to the queen. Can
adams are generally satisfied with the rela-
| tious they have had with Engla lately"