Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-06
GREAT sRrrAIN's COLONIES FESTIVE.

season.
GREAT BRrrAIN's COLONIES FESTIVE.
The dominion OF Canada was in the
throes of an election yesterday which
may lead to the most momentous results.
1t involves the question whether the
future policy of the dominion shall be
that OF close and friendly commercial
union with the United States, or con-
tinued policy of dependence upon the
mother country, without regard to the
material interests of the Canadians.
Laurier, the great parliamentary leader
of the opposition, represents the former
element, and the able premier, Sir John
Mcdonald, the latter. The success of
the opposition will throw the power Of
the government into the hands of the
party which believes that close relations
with the sixty-fve millions OF people of
the great American republic is
of more value to Canada than
any benefits that can possibly arise from
sentimental connection of loyalty with
the British government. Its success
would be the first step towards separa-
ton and annexation, for it is not to be
presumed that the United States will
give Canada any reciprocity advantages
short of political union. The full force
of the logic of the Laurier party may
not be admitted now, but in the nature
of things, that country cannot relax the
bands which bind it to the parent gov
ernment without eventually falling
into the vortex of that very formidable
Canadian sentiment which believes in
annexation.
Sir John Mcdonald fully realizes the
gravity of the situation and the danger
GUS consequences of defeat in the pres
ent crisis. Like willy politician he is
therefore availing himself of every
means in his power to strengthen his
party and gather to it votes. The influ-
ence which the Canadian Pacific rail-
road exercises is immense, and as a
factor in politics it perhaps welded the
balance of power in yesterdays election.
Knowing its great strength and realiz-
ing that the government is sadly in need
OF it's aid at this crisis, it has secured
from the premier concessions OF the
most astonishing character. For the as
sistance of the corporation at the cleo
tion yesterday, the government was to
abandon its $1,OOO,0O0 claim on the
North Shore railway, and consent to as
sumo the permanent charge of interest
upon $65 900, 900 of the stock OF the COM
pany. This stupendous deal of McDon-
ald's, at the expense of the country,
may possibly have saved his party from
present defeat, but it will bear very bit
ter fruit in the near future.
A few days since we gave the report
of a conference of representative dele
gates from all the governments OF Aus
tralasia. A free interchange Of opinion
amongst these representative men de-
veloped the fact that there was very
strong sentiment in favor of separation.
They discussed constitution suitable
to such federation as was contem-
plated, and that of the United States
had many and warm supporters. The
general opinion was that if separation
was the outcome of their delib-
erations republic would be the
most suitable for the colonies in their
new situation. There is no llack
of friendship on the part OF the colo
nists for the mother country; but the
strong, practical sense of the people has
realized the fact that it is against the
interests of the Australian colonies and a
bar to their development and progress
sive march to be hampered with i'm
perial control. The colonists, for in
stance, deem it of the first Importance
to exclude Chinese immigration; but
with the imperial parliament in the
way that great measure of relief cannot
be attained. This is but one of the diff
fculties of the dependent condition of
the Australian colonies.
With Australia a republic and the
Canadas annexed to the United States,
Great Britain's power would look as if
it were on the wane.