The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-30
CANADIAN INDEPENDENCE.

36f; immortal federation, -. This vote
shows clear majority for independence.
A fair inquiry is. what are the conditions
for the success of Canada as an independ-
ent nation? Its colonial life shows no re-
future prosperity. Canada in natural re-
sources is certainly very rich country.
In area it exceeds the United States, ex-
elusive of Alaska, by 500. 600 square miles.
II extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific
ocean, distance of $500 miles, and from
the United States boundary TO the Arctic
ocean, a distance of 1.4O0 miles, and COM
prises all the British possessions in North
America, excepting Newfoundland, Labra-
dor and the West India islands. Its
Atlantic coast line measures 10000
miles, and over 1000 miles on the Pacific.
With one transshipment at Montreal.
goods can te landed at the head of Lake
Superior, in the center of the continent,
1900 miles from Liverpool.
Port Nelson, on Hudson's bay, is the
outlet of a river system that drains a
basin over 100000 square miles IN extent.
affords l,50O miles of steamboat naviga-
ton. Close upon the north of it COM
mences the Mackenzie river basin. extend
ing over $4,000 square miles. This great
stream, with its tributary lakes and rivers,
affords, with triding obstacles. upward of
1000 miles of waterway navgable for
steamboats,. From Port Nelson to Liver
pool the distance is 1856 miles; from New
York to Liverpool 800 miles, and from
Halifax to Liverpool 2.463 miles.
Canada has one-quarter more land fitted
for wheat cultivation than the United
States. The average production of wheat
per acre in the United States is
about twelve bushels, while Manitoba
produces an average OF twenty
seven bushels to the acre. In On
tario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick and British Columbia Canada
has timber enough to supply herself and
the United States for more than 100 years,
and she has more copper than any other
country, has extensive coal fields in Nova
Scotia and British Columbia, and magnifi-
cent sea fisheries both on the Atlantic and
Pacific seaboards. Her mineral wealth
includes gold and silver deposits, iron,
graphite, ochre, mica, gypsum, lime and
sandstone, and her petroleum area is ex-
tensive enough to supply the continent.
Her area of agricultural and timbered
lands exceeds 100000 square miles, Of
which over 1000, 900 acres are adapted to
the growing of wheat.
Canada is believed to possess two-thirds
of the wheat growing area of this CONT
nent. That part of Canada which extends
from the Rocky mountains to Hudson's
bay covers about !, 260 600 square miles. of
which it is estimated $50, 900 are fit for set
Element, and the remaining 400, 600 useless
for cultivation; 656,0OO square miles are
suitable for potatoes, 407, 800 for barley,
and $4,000 for wheat. There is a river
navigation Of 2.750 miles. Furs are at
present the chief commercial product
Of this region, which is the last
great fur preserve of the world. The
lakes and rivers abound in fish.
The natural industries of Canada
include agriculture and stock raising, fish
ing, mining. numbering and shipbuildlng
The manufacturing industries are spread
all over the Dominion, and comprise fac
tories for the production of agricultural
implements, carriages. wagons, railroad
rolling stock. including locomotives cot
ton and WOODEN goods, pianos and organs,
machinery, furniture. paper, soap, wood
enware, boots and Shoes cloths and linens,
doors, sashes. slaves. tobacco, cheese; also
sugar refneries, sawmills, tanneries, iron
and hardware works, and establishments
for the canning of meat, fish and berries.
The winter climate of Canada as far
north as Port Nelson on Hudson's bay is
not more severe than that of the Lake
Superior region Of Michigan. In Canada
and our own Northwest men do not dese.
riorate, because the climate is cold enough
TO compel everybody to work IN order to live
and the land is fertile enough to give every
man abundant returns for his labor. From
the standpoint of physical geography,
then, Canada in climate. soil, agriculture
mineral and Gimber wealth. in her ft,rs
and fisheries, and in the hardy and ener-
getic quality OF her people is clearly fit
for fusion with the great North and North.
west of the United States. But, if We take
the vote OF the Montreal meeting as fair
reflection of public opinion throughout
the Dominion. Canada does not desire
fusion with tile United States, but does
desire independence, In our Judgment
this would not solve situation that is con-
ceded on all sides not big with coming
prosperity. Canada's colonial prosperity is
suffering today as Goodwin Smith fourteen
years ago predicted il would when he said ::
Cut of any belt of territory CONNER.
ciaily from the continent to which il be.
longs, and industry will be stunted. the
inflow Of capital will be checked, and i'm.
poverishment " i'll follow isolation"
Whether Canada remains a colonial de-
tendency OF Great Britain or becomes an
independent nation. the only cure for her
present state of stagnancy and decline is a
commercial union with the United States.
This commercial union is felt 10 be neces-
sity. but IS it is not likely TO come without
political union it is not Likely TO come at
| present. Canada is not sentimentallv
| ready for fusion with the United States.
| and until she is ready 10 cure her presea ,
situation by annexation she will be obliged
| - endure 1t. and II is OF small practical