The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-25
Quebec Can Compel Continental Union.

In the letter from Montreal correspond
emit which we publish this morning three
points deserve particular attention. The
first Is the growing feeling In favor OF
union with the United States which per-
vades the province Of Quebec. The second
is the decisive influence which that prov
ince, owing to its geographical position.
NAV exert on tho course OF the Dominion.
The third is the suggestion that, as mat
ter OF political tactics. the friends OF con-
tinental union in Quebec may deem 1t wise
to mask their purpose under demand for
Canadian independence. Complete inde-
pendence OF Great Britain once conceded. 1t
would be for Canadians to determine
whether they could make better use OF
their liberty than to connect themselves
with the United States.
It Is estimated. we are told by careful
observers In Montreal that. II the Catholic
clergy remained neutral. 80 per cent. Of the
Inhabitants OF the province of Quebec would
vote for annexation tomorrow. But would
the clergy remain neutral-would they per-
haps favor continental union? That is a
question which our Montreal correspondent
answers. He admits that formerly the
Catholic hierarchy Of Lower Canada dis
liked American institutions, but he AYERS
that this feeling has now passed away.
The clergy now recognize in the emigra-
ton OF nearly half a million OF their pa
rshloners to the United States conclusive
| proof OF the failure OF the scheme of con-
| federation embodied in the British North
America act. They see that the French
| Canadian emigrants are far more prosper
| GUS in New England than they could have
| been at home. They know that the exodus
| Of the habitants. as French-speaking Cana
dams are called. has put an end to the hope
OF making French influence preponderant in
| the Dominion Government. We are further
assured that the younger cures who have
visited New England are anneXationists
almost to man. AS to the older cures. it
is acknowledged that they arc content with
things as they are; yet even they view with
alarm the proportions which the emigra-
ton from Quebec is assuming. and they
| wou.i not oppose annexation If FREQ acces
to the American market cannot be obtained
on east or terms. That Is to say. they will
acQuiesce In continental union II reciprocity
should provo unattainable. Such. accord
ing to our correspondent. Is a fair account
OF the present attitude OF the rural clorgy
In Lower Canada. 1t is because the
French Canadians control tho mouth and
lower course OF the St. Lawrence that
they may justly be said to hold the
key OF the Dominion. From the superla-
tive advantage OF their position it must
needs follow that when they make up
their minds to annexation. Upper Canada
or Ontario will have to submit. The CAP
ital question. then. regards the course
which Is likely to be taken by the province
OF Quebec. We have seen that no strenuous
opposition to continental union 70 to be an.
pretended from the Catholic clergy, pro-
vided our own Federal Government refuses
to grant the privileges Of reciprocity to col.
onies OF Great Britain.
Now let US look at the motives which i'm.
pei the Catholic laity in Quebec to seek pc.
litical association with the United States
Tho habitant produces hay. beans. pota.
toes. eggs. poultry. fish, spruce lumber
cheap horses. and other things which can,
not DO sold probably in England OF
any other distant market. Englishmen. il
seems. have advised him to go In for
cheesemaking and tho raising OF fat cattle
but. according to our correspondent. they
might as well tell him to start bank. The
soil and climate render high farming i'm
practicable. and. apart from that. tho habi.
tant Is too poor to change his methods
There is absolutely no hope for him except
in reciprocity or annexation. Under the
existing political and commercial condi
lions. things are drifting rapidly from bad
to worse. Below the city OF Quebec the
French Canadians used to raise large crops
Of potatoes by applying fish manure from
tho st. Lawrence. but the United States
duty OF twenty-five cents per bushel has
killed the business. We are told tina,
potatoes are being sold this winter on
the lower 1T. Lawrence at Afteer