The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-03-05
.rnE oANApIAN CAmPAtaN

I'D, The political campaign now in progress
in Canada, judging from the Canadian
papers, Is the most energetic the
Dominion has ever experienced, If not
bitter We judge that the principal rea-
son for this is to be found in the excos-
sive financial burdens resting on that
country, extending TO every branch OF
business and industry and to the people
of all classes. Nobody is exempt from
the pressure and the depression extends
over all. io t,. l'.,F lH
The policy of the Canadian statesmen
has been to build up an empire and to
leave nothing undone inexpenditures to-
ward this end. For this railroads have
been subsidized in all parts of the Do
miniOn and loans made to establish them
them without stint, with the expectation
that the investments would yield prOfita-
BILE returns in attracting new settlers and
in developing the resources of the cOun-
try. The result so far has been disap-
pointing. With all the special efforts be-
ing made in Great Britain to induce emf
grafton to Canada, the immigrants do
not come, and the native Canadian pop
ulation, wearying of the outlook are con-
stantly leaving for the United States in
spite Of all inducements the Government
can offer TO keep them at home. .r'.
Without increasing the growth or
strength of the country in any marked
degree, the burdens have gone on in
creasing until the National debt has
mounted up to the stunning figures of
nearly S500,000,000 upon which the inter
est has to be provided for. Do the best
the Canadian finaucieTs can, they cannot
stop the constant growth of the debt
- Nlo int -nt,1 fha nv
penses of the Government with every
thing at their commandments the diff
Guilty. With total population Of less
than ), 5,000, 900, hardly that Of the State
of New York, it will be seen that the
Dominion debt amounts to about S1OO
for every man, woman and child in Can
ada, and to more than one-third the Ma
tional debt of the whole United States
with its 63, 900, 900 of people.
From what has been said it will appear
that tho Canadian people have real
grievance and occasion for alarm. They
see the tide running against them in all
directions without the least prospect OF
change for the better. There is no dis
position manifested to cut down the ex-
penses of the Government to somewhere
near that paid in the United States for
the performance of similar duti s. With
less than the population OF the State of
New York, the New York Press says,
there are "seven provinces, each with its
lieutenant governor and legislature, con
sisting of two branches. At Ottawa
there is machinery enough for an empire.
Besides Parliament consisting of Sem
ate and House of Commons, there is a
Governor General appointed by the
Crown, with a salary Of $4,000 per an
nun, and he is aided and advised by a
Cabinet of fifteen members, of which the
Premier receives $4,000 per annum and
his fourteen colleagues $1,000 each"
If the Dominion provinces were situa-
ted on some remote portion of the globe
and so far away from the United States
that the common people of Canada could
be kept in ignorance of our affairs, they
could the more easily be held down.
Impatience and dissatisfaction are per-
meating every province. The people
have kept quiet until they can keep quiet
no longer, and when they protest they
are told it is treason" When they look
across the border, wish to be as their
neighbors are and to trade with them
without hindrance, they are denounced
| by Sir John Mcdonald as criminals.
Surely the cause is weak that will ad-
nit of no discussion of question upon
its merits. The reply of the ministry to
the arguments of the liberals for reci-
procity is volume Of denunciation. Ap-
peals are made to the people to stand by
England in the support of the tory party,
the liberals being charged with an ardent
friendship for tile United States and a
desire for annexation. The spirit of the
tories and their methods will be under.
stood by the devices and notices that
adorned the hall in Toronto in which Sir
John spoke the other evening, among
them being such as these: Canada for
Canadians, :" "God save the Queen" and
mo United States Senators need apply"
The next morning among the conspicu-
Gus headlines in the tory Toronto papers
were the following: 1.-The Treason Un.
veiled, 4" at was an Atrocious Plot" and
"Sir John Unmasks Traitorous Con
spiracy." .
Perhaps Sir John has hit upon the cor.
rect solution of the Canadian tinancia
problem and the difficulties of the Gov
ernment generally, and perhaps not. Lei
us wait and see. While it is none of ouI
affair, we yet cannot resist a feeling oi
some sort of interest III the campaign
now going on. We cannot avoid looking
over the fence. The United States can
not be moved further away, and 50 lonl
rs it remains where it is-and it is bOunt
TO stick-it will continue TO be menact
to Canadian tory happiness.-MesSenger