The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-19

all the colonlaf dependencies OF Great
Britain shall become federated with the
empire, and each be made fighting unit
for the common defence. Whether this
measure be adopted or not. 1t cannot be de-
MED that the Dominion may ultimately be-
come the scat Of great military power.
which. backed by Great Britain. could. In
case OF war, intict infinite injury upon our
northern border.
1t Is estimated that the combined debt OF
the Dominion and the Maritime Provinces
is something less than $500. 100000. and IT
may be fairly claimed that this sum would
have to be assumed by the Federal Gov
eminent in case OF union. 1t has been
urged that We could not afford to tako
Canada with any such burden. even
II she threw herself peaceably into
our arms. When the untold amount
OF her developed and undcvcloped wealth is
considered. together with the enormous ex-
pense OF modern war OF ordinary dura-
ton. and the vast injury which Canada and
England together, or oven separately, could
innict upon our commerce while such war
was in progress. it will be seen that n
purchase price OF $500, DOC, 900 should be re-
gardcd as absolutely trivial.
A volume might be written upon each
one of the serious questions now pending
or at any time likely to grow out of our re-
lations with Canada. Much has been said
from time to time ON both sides OF the line
In favor OF commercial union or GUS
toms union rs the best means OF settling
those questions and promoting the welfare
of both countries; but inasmuch as all such
arrangements are by their conditions nee
essarily termlnable. and. like tho limited
reciprocity which prevailed for period OF
years under the treaty Of 1854. would prob
ably be of much greater benefit to Canada
than to the United States. such an ar
rangement would seem to be entirely fanci-
full and inadmissible.
But. be this as it may. 1t needs but
cursory examination to show that every
argument. however apt or cogent, which
can be brought forward in favor Of GUS
toms or commercial union. supports still
more strongly the principle OF political
union. The teachings OF history all point
in the same direction. Tho example OF
England and Scotland Is fraught with .
lesson which America stotos,;,n.n snould
.9Ss, ', .a. g consider in this emergency.
Finally. political union or annexation is
no new question. 1t Is as old rs the first
thought OF colonial independence. 1t has
been advocated by patriots. philosophers,
and diplomats from 1868 to the present
time. The original articles OF Confedera-
ton and Perpetual Union provided that
Canada should be admitted into the Union
whenever she might apply. and the war OF
1912. with its enormous cost and small
gains. was conducted mostly with the
object OF wrestling Canada from British
sway. And now that the question Of con-
tinental union has come forward without
| uSSlSIduC0 lIou uSs We Al VIC" VI
what hus been said and of what remains
to say. regard it as altogether the most i'm
portant question claiming the attention Of
the American people to-day. 1t is clearly to
the interest Of the entire Union and Of every
State in the Union to encourage and assist
by all proper means tho movement now SO
hopefully progressing. in favor OF an equal.
honorable. and perpetual union between the
Dominion OF Canada and tho great repub-
lie. The spirit for union among the cit
icons north OF the border. so far rs we
can ascertain. is spontaneous. far tran
scendlng every consideration Of q partisan
or sectional nature. and it should appeal
to the purest and most unselfsh patriotism
not only Of every American citizen. but OF
every Engllsh-speaking person on the North
American continent.
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