The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
The Exodus from Canada.

The Exodus from Canada.
The Irish Canadian. weekly newspaper
published in Toronto has lately printed
a remarkable series Of articles on the
sweeping and incessant emigration OF Ca
nauians to the United States. 1t explains
the reasons OF this exodus and draws the
deduction that a union with the United
States is rapidly becoming question OF
life or death to the people Of Canada.
Comparing the rate of growth Of the two
countries between 1880 and 1890. the Irish
Canadian points out that while the United
States increased twenty-five per cent. or
say from fifty millions to sixty-two and
half millions. Canada did not even hold her
natural increase Of hundreds OF thousands.
Five States alone can show an increase in
the number OF their inhabitants nearly as
great as the total population Of the Domin-
ion. Then. as to the Wanted filing up Of
the British Northwest Territories. the CEN
suses demonstrate that Dakota alone has
made gain in the number Of its deni-
zens during the ten years mention
ed larger than the total population
OF the belt Of Canada extending from
tho headwators OF the Ottawa to the Pacific
Ocean. and including huge slice OF Ontario.
Manitoba. the Northwest Territories. and
British Columbia. Why Is it that the popu-
lation Of Canada remains almost stationary?
Because every section OF the country Is
continually drained OF Its most vigorous
and enterprising citizens. Take the Prov
ince Of Quebec. for instance. Daily and
hourly railway trains are made up at
Lewis and other points. to convey the
frugal and Industrious habitant from the
banks Of the st. Lawrence to the Eastern
States OF the American republic. where we'll
paid employment awaits him. and field
for his thrift and industry which is denied
to him at home. 1t is denied to him
through the political conditions. which
shut out the Quebec farmer from the only
market for his natural products. Accord
| ing to, the Irish Canadian. tho young and
| energetic are fleeing from the Province Of
Quebec as though it were plague stricken.
| Whole parishes are half abandoned. and
| even from the factory district OF Sorel no
less than six hundred Of its people left for
the States during February and March. To
such an alarming extent has the exodus
| from Quebec grown that the French Cana
| dian press are beginning to advocate poiti-
cal union with the American republic rs
the only means OF stanching the flow. LIE
Cunddien. LIE Progress. LIE Sud. L'Eclto. La
Patrie. and other influential Journals. tired
OF preaching patience and resignation, are
now bidding their readers strive for what
can alone give them prosperity ut home.
| The advocates OF the existing colonial
status admit that Quebec is In q bad way,
but assert that Ontario is prosperous. The
Irish Cunadian joins issue with the Cana
dian Tories on this point. and declares that.
Notwithstanding the boundless natura! re-
sources Of Ontario. tho Inhabitants are flee
| ing by tens OF thousands across the border.
| because the United States Offers q more
| profitable field to the artisan and tiller OF
the soil. The price OF land in Ontario Is far
lower than on the American side Of the
frontier. Why? Because the American
farmer can get better prices for what he
grows and raises. and can purchase nearly
oil he needs more cheaply than can his
neighbor. tho Canadian farmer. The
Irish Glnallidn challenges any upholder OF
the colonial status to name ono village in
Ontario from which whole families have not
departed to dwell under the Stars and
Stripes. But it is often said by tho Tories
that the growth and hourishing condition OF
Toronto are proofs OF the prosperity OF
Ontario. The author OF the series OF ar
tlcles In tho Irish Canadian insists that even
Toronto is on the down grade. The build
| ing Of houses to remain idle. and OF stores
| to remain untenanted. has stopped: and no
| city on this continent stands to-day more
distinctly face to face with industrial and
financial paralysis. The so.called loyal"
newspapers refuse. We are told to publish
the facts indicating the decadence of
Toronto and the general decay OF Canada
Their behavior is that OF man who knows
himself to be afflicted with fatal disease.
but who tries to hide it not alone from his
friends. but even from himself
What Is true OF Quebec and Ontario Is
shown to be emphatically true also OF the
maritime provinces. 1t seems we are told,
as II dry rot and blight had fastened upon
all the vast coast region. Although nature
has given Nova Scotia coal deposits OF great
value. they remain comparatively unde-
veloped. Iron. too. ahounds in that province.
but the output is SO Insignificant that it is
scarcely worth noticing in comparison with
the immense amounts Of iron ore extracted
and smelted In the United States. Both
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have H.
| limltable water power. and they have price,