New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-01
THE CANADIAN CENSUS.
A SOURCE OF DIsHEARTEN1NG FoREBoDINGs TO
THE IMPEkIAIsTs OF THE DOMINION.


| A SOURCE OF DIsHEARTEN1NG FoREBoDINGs TO
THE IMPERIAIIsTs OF THE DOMINION
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir The result OF the Canadian census must be very
disappointing to the general public in Canada con
fess that the gain In population has been even less
than anticipated. In letter 10 The Tribune. writ
ten inst after lord Stanley, upon the advice Of Sir joan
Macdonald, dissolved Parliament and ordered gen
eial election, stated one reason for Sir Johns
action his fear OF the condition Of affairs that would
be disclosed by the census SIR John knew that the
exodus 10 this country from Canada was enormous.
and the old sinner was afraid to face the elections with
the evidence OF tho census made public Annexation
has been going at a terrible rate and will Increase
rapidly as the facts OF the censns arc mado known
II the politicians viii not consent TO annexation In
body the people will come TO us singy. Another
result Of the publication OF the facts Of the census VIII
be TO divert European emigration om Canada TO our
selves 10 even greater extent than in the past The
eain in population in Manitoba Is reported as 02,l52
This Is misleading, tho area Of Manitoba In 1891 IS
nearly double that Of 1851. The gain in Manitoba
since 1880 has been less than 10000. II we deduct
the Of employees OF the railways in Manitoba IN
operation and under construction Government officers
and employees mounted police, and the increase In the
towns and cities the gain in population in Manitoba
since 1856 has been almost nothing The gain In the
whole Dominion has been about the same as that OF
Chicago
Tho expenditure upon public works in Canada, since
1881 cannot have been less than S5oo,00ooOO. The
railway mileage has been nearly doubled The ex
penditure OF the Government in 1870 about
500 900 600 In 1890 about Ss 100000 increase Of
10 per cent against increase in population since
1881 Of II 5000 per cent.
In q dispatch 10 aThe Neyg-York Tines the small
increase In population is charged TO the protective
policy adopted By Sir John in 1870. This is most alb
surd The Canadian tariff has always been lower and
is now lower than ours
The exodus from Canada TO this country began to
be very serious In 1875 under II IL per cent
tariff as against tariff, and it was TO check
the exodus that Sir John adopted protection TO home
industries. The real cause Of the exodus Is British
connection. II has given us the emigration from
Great Britain and the Continent given US popular
ton and therefore development Capital has followed
population and growth. The publication IN Great
Britain and Europe Of the result Of tie census will
almost dry up even the small stream Of emigration
which has been going towards Canada
The gain To the Province of Quebec from natural
increase alone had 1t been retained at home, would
exceed the gain the whole Dominion has made. 1t
has been stae and denied that the exodus from
Quebec 10 this country Of French Canadians has been
for the last year equal 10 IA per cent Of the French
population OF Quebec. If lost the same percentage
OF our population It would amount 20 100000. Would
not be alarmed If were losing population at that
rate7 Our Revenue Reform friends must smile queer
smile when they lnteulDelJ kNtry
them as well informed as the editors of trade jour
nals) with tens Of millions of acres Of virgin soil
offered to them for nothing, If they will cultivate IT,
and the great market Of freetrade England open TO
them for tho sale Of their surplus products, leaving
their country and flag by hundreds OF thousands ana
seeking home In this tariff ridden country
The publication OF the census returns Will rapidly
multiply tho advocates Of annexation In Canada. IL
settles the fate Of Canada and viii hasten the desire
of the people to reach fnallty. The Canadian apple
Is certain to fall into lap we let well enough
severely alone. We shall be very unwise If we run
the risk of barking shins and injurng the fruit
By climbing the tree to pluck it pfematurely
This will be field day IN the CANADIAN Parliament. |
imagine Sir Richard Cartwright viii elm his fifteen
inch gun at Finance Minister Foster and cannonade
him In good style with the census returns The people
Of Canada had better delay building monument to
the man who more than any other, Is the cause OF
their humiliation. If were one hundred times
millionaire would not contribute even Widows mite
TO erect a monument TO that greatest Of political
crarlatans the Right Honorable Sir John Alexander
Macdonald, K c. B.
The exposure at Ottawa Of Tory corruption, coupled
with the disappointing facts disclosed by the census and
the depressing financial effect throughout the Dominion
of loss OF In, wheat crop in Manitoba, will not only
increase the exodus from Canada TO this country but
will deter emgrants from Great Britain snd the Con-
anent who mag have been inclined 10 90 there from
doing so.
predict that II Canada falls TO secure treaty OF
reciprocity with the United States and persists in main
tanning British connection, her loss from the exodus To
this country win exceed her gain from natural increase
and emigration combined before the close Of the century
With her present debt she cannot safely extend her
public works grant any further subsidies to private
corporations to induce them to do so. l doubt If a
mile of railway will be built II not aided By sub
sides. Our population at the present time is thirteen
times that Of Canada Our financial resources are prob
ably twenty times those of Canada Our population in
1900 will be so,o00,0oo If Canada maintains British
connection do not believe her population will exceed
100000 our end OF the whifhetree Is now thirteen
times as long the Canadian end; in 1850 will be
sixteen times long. Is 1t not folly for Canadians TO
kick against the pr1ckS"9
our census win undoubtedly show 900 native
born Canadians residents OF this country. They
OF our brightest most energetic, enterprisng and most
successful business men. l DO no injustice TO any OF
them when / say that Erastus Wlman Is pre- emnenty
the greatest living Canadian resident In this country
lie has proved his loyalty TO his native land without
doing any injustice to his adopted country In fact few
men during the last twenty-five years have done more
than Mr.. Wlman has to promote the growth and prog
Toss Of the United States. Mr. Wiman is Intensely
fourth part Of the labor mental force energy time
heart power and money endeavorng 10 convince his
cOunymen that nexaon is the inevitable destiny of
Canada, and that their best interests will be promoted
people Of this country 70 grant Canada reciprocity
(which would only delay annexaon) he will soon see
a hnalty reached. But II he persists i'm demanding
reciprocity proposed by Sicard Cartwright fear
Ike Noses he will he gathered 10 his fathers without
seeing his hearts most earnest prayer answered
Brooklyn, Aug. %, 1901.