The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-15
FUTURE OF THE DOMINION
There Is at Present Nothing but Theory
IL Relation to Annexation.
with the Empire, but They Dream Of Be-
coming a Great. Powerful People.

"A ~ AAA1CNAh
Association of Writers. at Warsaw, John
George Bourinot, LII. d., ID. c. L., Clerk of
the Canadian House of Commons, and
author of a history of the Constitution of
Canada, was an honored guest. On Thurs
day night he delivered an address, his topic
being Canada, England, and the United
States Mr.. Bourinot began his adj
dress by saying that in what
ever remarks he might a he
had no intention of depreciating the great
ness of the United States or undertaking.
the Importance of using every means to de-
velop that friendship and even affection
that should naturally exist between peo-
pies who might not, in his opinion. be ever
politically identified, but who ought ever
TO have with each other the fullest social
and commercial intercourse, and only be
rivals in promoting the great cause of hui
manity and civilization. He then reviewed
Canada's progress during the past twenty
years, outlining the strides made in ma
tional development since the union of the
provinces. The present system of govern
ment, he thought, fully met all require
ments, and was well calculated to develop
the industries of the Dominion, and teach
the people self-reliance. The great public
works undertaken and completed duringthe
past twenty years were cited as evidence of
Canadian prosperity under the federation.
OF annexation he said:
There was a time in the history of Can
ada when annexation to the American Re-
public was, in the opinion of some Cana
dams, thought to be the only means of OBJ
tanning redress for undOubted public
grievances, and for infusing new life into
the industries of the country. Previous to
the establishment of a liberal system of
self gOvernmentl In Canada, when political
cliques, headed by crown officials. practic-
ally ruled the different provinces, there was
a widespread feeling IOf dissatisfaction
which at last eliminated in a rebellion. At
this time Lord Durham admitted, In his
able report on the state of Canada, that
the people. were wont to contrast the liber-
atty of the public institutions and the
prosperity of all branches of industry in
the United States with the illiberal system
preston hat prevailed in the British prov
inces. The union of the two Canadas and
the concession of responsible governments
gave a new impulse to the political and the
the whole of Canada, especially the
large and fertile province of up
per Canada, now known as Ontario.
: entered on a career OF prosperity not ex-
ceeded by that of the Western States The
discomfort that had so long existed among
all classes of the people. with the exception
of the official and aristocratIc governing
lotteries. yielded to a general sentiment Of
satisfaction with the new order of things.
Now and then perhaps n few disappointed
politicians or some enthusiastic youth would
issue annexation manifestOes, but the great
body of the people never showed any in
;clination to unite their fortunes with their
American neighbOrs. There is little doubt,
however, that the political disuniOn that
EXISTED until 1867 among the provinces was
mot favorable to the creation of a national
sentiment or to the consolidation of British
interests, and that thesexistence of a re-
iciprocity treaty for ten years, from 1854 to
1854, was insldiously bringing about closer
relations with the United States, especially
in the provinces by the sea. There was no
system of free trade between the provinces,
whilst British North America had with
the United States a free Inter
which both countries largely pro-
duced. The intercourse of the maritime
provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
States, naturally increased year by year.
and the people of those provinces were
beginning to look upon that country as the
best market for their fish. coal and lumber.
and the same may be said in a measure of
the agricultural West. Had the reciprocity
treaty existed for another decade of years.
and had the provinces continued isolated
from one another. there would. in all prOba-
billty have grown up q strong annexation
sentiment. the first evidence Of which
would nave been a demand for a still more
extended treaty, and probably for a
zollyerin or commercial union, an entirely
mains politically identified with the Brit
ish empire. Happily, as thoughtful men
now believe. for the political interests of
Canada, the statesmen of the United
history, refused to renew the treaty when
1T expired by etfiuX of time. and it is
notorious that some of them were
animated in a measure by two cOnsidera-
t%ions-first, by desire to punish the Cana
dians for the sympathy a small section of
the Canadian people had felt for the South
during the war of the rebellion; and, Sec
Ondly. by the hope that they could grad
ually force the people into the conviction
hat their commercial interests were so
closely identified with those of the United
States that the best guarantee for their
prosperity was to be found in a political
connection with that country. At this
critical juncture the statesmen of Canada
determined to unite the provinces in d
federal union. The successful accomplish
ment of this great measure. to which En-
glish statesmen and publicists gave so
cordial a support, not only welded the
people into a close political union, which
seemed impossible less than half q century
ago, but has given all the provinces free
trade and considerable commercial inter-
course with one another. From that day
to this 40 political party in Canad has
yentured to raise an annexation cry. There
may be a growl now and then from a few
disappointed merchants or politicians in
the maritime provinces, where. as / lave
just said. there has been created a
close identity of interests with the
New England States in consequence of
the geographical situation of these coun-
tries and the influence of the old reciprocity
treaty. As a matter of fact, the great pop
ulatlon of the people of the Dominion are
resolved on working out their own future
apart from the United States, and on build
ing up a new nationality to the north of
the Republic. Canadians. for the last
twenty years, have taught themselves to be-
independent, not only in a political but in
commercial sense, whenever practicable,
OF their powerful ~neighbors. Their efforts
nave been directed. as far as possible. to
new avenues of trade. and to the building
up OF a large system of manufactures of
their own. and to the cultivation, in ev-
cry way. open TO them, of n spirit
OF self-renance. The present fiscal policy
OF Canada has never been favorably re-
garded In Great Britain, where a different
theory OF trade prevails and the manufact-
urers are very intiuential; but there is no
doubt that the Inen who framed and now
support it well judged the disposition of
the people when they called ii the national
policy No happier designation could
have been chosen To conceal any inherent
weakness in the system than one which
represents the aspirations of the majority
of the people, and especially of the youth
of the country, for the consolidation of the
~polltical and commercial interests of the