The record-union., 1891-04-16
CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Goldwin Smith adheres to his predic-
ton that Canadian annexation to the
United States viii come about. The
result Of the recent elections in
Canada does not at all shake his
faith. His argument is that the Tory
majority is not stable one, and is grow
ing steadily less; that the new members
to the Dominion Parliament are not dis
posed to adhere to the Macdonald pro-
gramme, and that throughout the
Canadas there is growing distaste for
and unrest under what is really CONNER
cial isolation. Reciprocity ideas, he be-
heves, are gaining ground in Canada,
and the younger men are disposed to
favor an early and closer union with the
United States, and this Professor Smith
believes will culminate in absolute an
nexation and the complete absorption by
the United States Of the Canadas.
There is strength in what he says, but
we have not been of the belief that an
nexation viii be brought about. Nor do
we think now that it is in store in the near
future, if ever. When Canadian indie
pendence so develops as to make an
neXation possible. it will be more likely
to make nationality probable. The
Canadas possess all the elements of ma
tional Independence, and as an independ-
ent power would be better conditioned
than as factor in American politics and
portion of the American Union.
1t is unlikely, when the independence
of the Canadians has developed to stage
that will involve separation, that Eng
land viii offer any serious objection to
severance of the bonds which bind Can
ada to the Empire. Precisely as the
Australians are cutting loose from the
Crown Government, the Canadians viii
presently do. True, the geographical rela-
tions of the two countries to England are
very dissimilar, and in the case of Canada
are more favorable to English retention
of control than in the case of Australia
In Australia the sentiment very largely
obtains, even thus early, that the new or
der Of things under the compact project
will culminate at a comparatively early
date in complete separation. But it is not
evident that because in Canada there is a
powerful drift towards commercial union,
political union viii follow
The United States should not want
Canada; the RECoRD-UNIoN has for years
combatted the idea of annexation, on the
ground that territorially the Union is
large enough, and that the injection of an
immense population, such as Canada has,
into our political system will not
strengthen it, but viii prove a source OF
weakness. AS neighbors the Canadians
are acceptable; as citizens, with their two
broad and antagonistic social and
political divisions, they would con-
stitute an element of disquiet. 1t
is possible that in the far future there
might be such change of conditions, such
political revolution, such breaking down
of church bias and barrier, such har-
monizing of elements in Canada, as
would make union with the United states
desirable and economic. But as matters
now are, and will be for long stretch OF
time, the United States and Canada
need no closer relations than commercial
union secures. Before political absorp-
ton, we look for Canadian independence
TO be declared, and by England to be
practically conceded.