The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-19
CANADIAN ANNEXATION.

The English radical Liberal leader, La
bouchere. confesses that if he were a Can
adam he should certainly seek annexa-
ton to the United States. Viewed from
the economic standpoint there is nothing
left for Canada but annexation. The con-
federation scheme is an absolute and
most appalling failure. It has not fused
the British and French interests, identi-
fed the provincial interests or created an
inter-provincial trade. The dream of Can
ada's development into great, independ-
emit nation is completely dissipated; its
population is at standstill; its public
debt is greatly increased; its political sys-
tenn is honeycombed with corruption.
This is the situation at the close of ten
years of stupendous efforts to attract i'm
migration by the creation of vast public i'm
proyements. Instead of becoming our COM
mereiaI rival Canada is our industrial vas
sal and the best feeder of our stream of val
nable population. The Canadian railways
have brought us more population than
they have the Dominion. There are 1,500,-
ooQ native-born Canadians in this country.
The population of Canada has increased
only li.52 per cent. during the past ten
years, while that of the United States has
increased "a per cent. while according to
the immigration returns, over 1000, 600
immigrants have arrived in Canada since
ISL. the recent census shows the increase
in population TO be only SOC, 600; the public
debt per head has more than doubled dur
Inc that period since the confederation.
Not less than 10000 French -Canadi ans
came from Quebec alone into this country
In $500, nearly 10 per cent. of the popu-
lation of the province. It is said that there
are more farmers today in Dakota who
have abandoned farms in Manitoba than
there are farmers in Manitoba; that
there are more farmers from Canada in
Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Iowa than there ara in the north
western territories of Canada There are
said to be 5000 Nova Scotans in Boston
alone. There are said to be more Can
adams in Chicago than in any city in the
Dominion with the exception Of Toronto
and Montreal There are more French
Canadians in Massachusetts than in all
Quebec.
Given country whose most enterpris-
ing and intelligent young blood declines
90 stay at home and pours in steady per-
ennial stream over our border: a country
that with a rapidly increasing debt does
not proportionsteiy increase in the popu-
lation and commerce needed 10 carry its
4 l.
can be safely said that it can never hope
60 become great and prosperous indie
pendent nation. Corruption pervades the
political garments of the Dominion: dis
content of the most serious and deep
rooted character prevail through all Its
eastern provinces. British Columbia. on
the Pscitc coast, is the only province Of
Canada that can be said TO be in condi-
tion that warrants generalization.
Against these economic arguments for
annexation are srrayed political and local
forces that are largely and chiefly of a sen.
timental character. bat in this utilitarian
trading age sentimentalism doe.
not long hold its ground against the great
force Of human self-interest, and AZ rres.
snt there is rapid growth of annexation
feeling IN Canada Her bolaest and most
intelligent thinkers see clearly that the So
luton of the Canadian problem is com.
nereisl union with the United States.
which ultimately. Of course, would mean
political union.
or course, the United States is only an
interested and intelligent spectator: an
nexa;ion. whether it comes soon or late,
can only come by peaceful mesns-by the
irresistible drift Of the situation. Canada
will sooner or later be compelled to choose
between retroeession, deterioration, stag
nation and decay on the one hand and
fusion with the United States
To the United States the annexa-
ton 81 Canada would be an
advantage, though, Of course, not an un-
mixed benefit 1t would settle forever all
disputes relating 10 thu Atlantic and Pa