Telegram-herald., 1889-07-10


Material plessty and natural advantages
however, though they furnish the basis upon
which nations are built, are not the only 10
quisites OF national life and aGtonomy The
air has lately beea filed with the sound Of
discussions about the future of Canada, many
Of the disputsnts being apparently OF opinion
that the name Canada" Is u disappear from
the map Of this continent Public opinion
in the United States. says Senator Morrill,,
has its index finger pointing 10 a union of
al that lies north VI our manifest dos-
tiny" and Mr. Blackburne Harte, an eli
tOrial writer on The Toronto Mail newspaper,
advocates the same opinion from the Cana
dian standpoint in an article recently
contributed to The Forum Magazine Indeed,
there Is much reason 10 believe that large
proportion OF those who in both countries
have supported the cause Of commercial
union have been more or less consciously aim
ing az annexation as their ultimate goal. On
the other hand, a counter movement has SIT
in since the beginning OF the fisheries contro-
vessy in favor Of imperial federation. and
this idea has found able champions and
largo following among Canadians. Finally,
there are those who believe that absolute In
dependence is the end which the statesmen
OF the Dominion should keep in view.
IL may be assumed in considering the ques-
tion that ii prior theories OF manifest des-
Tiny" will prove futile to solve the
problem Of Canada's future Its desti-
ny is manifes.ly not u be settled by
geographical contiguity or similarity of
social and political life. powerful fact
ors though thess DO in shaping the course
OF history. The people Of tue Dorninion are
sprung from hardy and independent stock,
and independent they will undoubtedly prove
themselves in determining what their type Of
national existence shall be in the future.
Proximity 10 the great and entcrpriSing re-
public has strongly influenced the feelings
and ideas OF the people of Canada, holding
forth a tempting bait To draw them into
political union. But the sentiment is not
strong enough TO induce them to sacrifice
every Independent wish, for the qualification
OF which they have been constructing gigan-
tic public works, and otherwise struggling
with herculean energy since confederation
Commercial intercourse will always have its
effect in creating a friendly disposi-
ton towards the American people,
but in the view Of tho writer
it would be idle to anticipate any more rad
ical results 10 flow from it Attachment to
the mother country is strong in the breasts of
Canadians, and of late has constantly grown
stronger. 1t is possible that within another
generation some change may be accomplished
in the relations between England and her
colonies which will permit tho latter, their
condition warranting an altered position, 10
cast aside the state Of pupllage and 10 form
with the central islands a world encircling
empire Of independent sovereign states, a
forerunner OF that parliament of man, that
federation OF tho world, ;" dreamed of by the
poet laureate. The present organization of the
empire cannot continue. Not only is Canada
outgrowing the colonial stage, but Britain
herself finds the burden of defending unaSsist-
sd not only her own shores, but her most dis
tapt possessions, Is bearing with increasing
weight upon her. In the language Of Mr.
Matthew Arnold, ''the weary Titan" finds
the '.too vast orb of her fate" TO be swell
nigh not to be borne" The onward current
Of event forces the problem Of recnsting the
relations of tho different portions Of the en-
pire upon the minds Of thoughtful English
men as well as thoughtful CanadianS Poss..
bly, imperial federation may be cream OF
visioDaTles, enthusiasts and selitiIneDtalists.
but the principle was tested in Germany and
proved practicable. and il has this advantage
over the other dream of annexation. that II
lies in the line of continuous national life.
No sketch. however brief and fragment
airy, Of public affairs IN Canada could pre-
tend to be satisfactory which omittei men
ton Of the grsat statesman who was the
chief architect Of the Dominion and who
still rules il. Sir John Macdonald has been
forty-iive years in public life and during
that long period has been almost continuously