The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-08
AFTER SIR JOHN, WHAT NExrq

The death of Sir John Macdonald and the
probable collapse of the Tory party which
he led are leading TO speculations regarding
the future policy of Canada. There are
those who predict that the decline of Tory
ism will DE followed by better feeling of
Canadians toward this country. Thefrst eff
feet Of the provisions of the Mckinley act
imposing prohibitory duties on Canadian
barley, eggs and farm produce, was TO irri-
tate our neighbors; but sober second thought
has led TO a notion that the best way to re-
cover commercial intercourse may be To seek
political union. This country viii always
assert the right to make its own tariffs. The
only sure method for Canadians TO gain
access to American markets is to become
Americans. While Sir John lived he was
standing obstacle to closer relations be-
tween the United States and the Dominion
now that he is out of the way it is believed
in some quarters that more cordial under
standing may be reached.
Persons who entertain these views Go not
perhaps, make sufficient allowance for the
fact that.the Canadian people are not homo
geneous. The various provinces which con-
stitute the Dominion are peOpied by men OF
different races, engaged in different puT-
suits and concerned for different interests.
The fishermen and lumbeTmen Of the mari
tine provinces have little in common with
the agriculturists who inhabit Ontario. The
0rangemen of Western Canada are not on
the best of terms with the Catholics Of Que
bee. There is absolutely no community Of
interests between the inhabitants of British
Columbia and the people who inhablt the
shores Of the great lakes. Proposed pOlit-
cal changes would suike all these people
differently. II would be clearly to the inter
est of The maritime provinces on either ocean
to fuse their destinies with the United
States, and so far as the Pacific province is
concerned this country would welcome it
with open aims. But it is not at all clear
that Quebec you'd gain much by entering
the Union. Ontario would make an excel
lent State. and there is 10 reason why it
should knock vainIy at our door.
When Sir John Macdonald framed the
British Moth American Act quarter Of
century go attention was drawn to the fact
that the nation which he proposed to found
was a long string of settlements without
affinity with each ether, and without cOher-
ency. 1t was demonstrated that the political
and strategic consideration which were
q
geographical error; that his territorial line
stretched so far that it was indefensible. ana
would be cut at the outbreak of a war. The
reply to this was that The creation OF the Dc
miniOn would tend to fuse all Canadians into
a national whole. It has not done so. Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick are as hostile To
the confederation as ever. though the Do
minion Government has spent large sums 60
pacate them. British Columbia would long
ago have seeded but for the profits which
tie province expected to realize out Of the
Canadian Pacific Railroad and its line of
steamers.
II annexation rears its head in the confu-
sion that will probably follow Sir johns
death, it is hardly likely that it Will be a
Dominion movement. Il is more likely to
spring out of separate provincial action.
British Columbia, for instance. or Nova
Scotia may take measures TO withdraw from
the Dominion with q view 10 entering the
4 merican Union. 1t is quite possible thai
in the p REVEALING dullneSs Of home politics
their attitude would command some atten-
ton in this country. When Texas applied
for admission to the Union American states
men did net feel at liberty to ignore the aD-
plicaton. So if the maritime provinces OF
the Dominion should declare through their
L legislatures that their future prosperity
would be rromoted bv annexation TO this
country, and that the step would settle the
fisheries and Behring'S Sea questions in an
easy ana eaceful way, there would be men
in Congress who would insist on a careful
consideration of their appeal.