The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-05
CONTINENTAL UNITY.
Canada ns n Natural md Necessary Portion
Of the North American Union.


with much interest the communications from
Canada upon Canada and Our Country"
printed IN TIE Sun OF Nov. 81. Too much
praise cannot be given to tho enterprise and
foresight OF THE Bun in coming out boldly ana
scizing hold OF and wrestling with the solution
OF the greatest question which will confront
American statesmen during the next four
years. tho question of doubling the area OF the
United States and tho practical unlfcntion OF
the Western continent. Your action will. IL con-
tinued. soon place before tho American people
tho direct question. shall this continent be
half American and half European. and shall
the policy Of this Government be such as to
perpctuatc this half American and half Euro
pean allegiance"
The foreign allegiance would soon die out
for lack OF financial and commercial vitality
were II not for the DEMONSTRATING power and
support which her railway system draws from
American commerce. This Is true not alono
OF one Of her systoms OF railways. 1t is equally
true OF both OF them. and during tho loudest
periods Of boasting OF the management OF tho
Grand Trunk or the Canadian Pacific system.
they have never been known to offer to prove
the sclf-supporting ability OF their own country
by asking tho United States to cut of the
bondinG privileges and to scver the connec-
ton Of Canadian railways from American
commerce and commercial centres.
They have been only too mindful to call to
tho attention OF tho United States every treaty
stipulation which would give to Canada as
much as possible OF the trade OF the States:
but nm not aware that she has ever been dill
gent to call tho attention OF our Govornm ent
to that provision in her Constitution which
gives to Congress the power to regulate
commerce with foreign countries" as we'll as
"among the several States" 1t is not "regu-
latinG" by Congress that the Canadian Gov
eminent wants. The Dominion has taxed her
resources to tho utmost to build her great sys-
tenn OF railways. and she now needs such lib
eral concessions as will support them when
built. The supporting Of these railways. rum
ming through n sparsely populated country
| and for thousands Of miles through an ire
| caimable Wilderness is even n moro serious
task than the building Of them. These lines
| have not in their own country the elements OF
sof-support. nor even of self -existence.
And It is a question for the people . OF this
giving them part OF our commerce. e sur
| port them. AS an important element in The VI
talty OF ioreisn Government ana iHr s,
port wholly conditional upon their being a
| try. Self-preservation is said to be the first
law of nature. and it is law which should ap-
! ply. to nations as well as 70 indiyiduals. The
she says to the Dominion Government: We
cannot allow your railways to enter into AL
our COmlnefClhl centres On teTILS VI eludIhy
with our own Transportation companies. when
| the competition does not really exist between
the rival home and foreign companies but be-
| tween tho home companies and a foreign Gov
tho part r ,ot tho tinted States You know the
Such action on the part of our Government
would greatly aid the great mass Of individual
and pnorganized sentiment, and opinion IL. In
States. At present the Canadian Governme nt.
| the railways, and mUneyeI corporations are
| paDar.llv AGAINST Surh uniOn. while tile tOlIpr
and producer are largely in favor Of it. but
thsy are Tthoat money end without %rSq1i
purposes and intents the governing influence
charge that the Government Mt Ottawa is little
more than bureau Of the railways. This state
can "l get from " the commerce oi the United
States. and tho tolerance which they have thus
ne f the thss
status go. II makes the United States Govern n
ment. simply from its failure t" act wholly
own OWN interests. A respensibIs for tho sups
preston Of sentiment in Ganaas
with the financial side OF the question when
discussing the question Of political union. it il
absurd to to
Her lntercoonial Hallway, which has cost her
which have cost her SUO.OOO.O0O more are
without earning power and sre utterly worth,
asse the is
not bettsrsd; Canada's net debt L stated At
least. and as e." condition Of Holding tie po@in,
ion together she will have, to shoulder n the debt
Which, viii adj GP1 n' 5Gv tn her
burden: But Canada has no war debt, save
debt has been incurred in. tho payment
nsr Sf h ad
| Provincial Governments. which voted tho
money fer these patrotic purposes. and in the
! from HALIFAX to Vancouver. the question Is
being seriously discussed whether the 20.
CURED tor the purpose Of bhnusing and build
@ Of fawfys !" 5s
for the benefit q Canada, In tho event Of
political union with Canada the United ST ates
the extent nf about $3.50. OO0 900. which would
include Tho Dominion. provincial. and munici-
! whole system Of her internal improvements.
! The Dominion Government holds no lien pron
she has incurred the great bulk OF her obiiga-
| lions. save the 100 miles constituting the
ip.rooionlal system which she owns in and this
-idy Of at least $5J0.ooS to u take It OF hor
The statement. Of fact. here presented
brings With i the inquiry is Canadf worth pa
| ent time is tho best answer to this Guest ion.
IN 1861 IT," nitcd States had population OF
| about "a 100000. To Keep together tho terri
tory she then owned sho engaged in u GiGan-
tie war with onc-h aI' OF her own people. which
cost more than half II million human lives
md ur to th- present time moro than $4,000. :.
OhboO. All This expenditure OF blood ind
treasure ga not ndi ono foot OF territory TO
our domain. Il Tut no foreign country under
trlbutn to tho Union ~ the oXtent Of ono dol
lar W. had n" great system OF internal i'm;
l;o'nm.hts as an Offset to our great load
OF deltI nothing but, q reunited coun.
try one hah OF which was swept with
lire and sword; hut it was ro-
unit country n country under ono iin.. To
lut. th"i!, no question in Il TOW words. We may
MsE u III ISL i."i $500 people were justi-
, He'd IN mourning j. debt which it will ronuiro
, Yen thousand millions TO pay Of. and in addi-
non l? sacrifice 1pObup human lives to pro-
t H"rE" IN" unlty OF the country we then had,
! would not bb.uuOUlO OF PEOPLE in 1898 bo JUS
TILED in extending ss,;.J,J UuI ,Ou IN ad,lipr IN