The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-19
lour friends rho Jaror US Nth manuscrtptsJor
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Continental Union.

lot with the continent to which 1t be-
longs. hes begun in earnest. 1t is spr ,ad-
Ing alike to the country districts. and to
the towns and cities throughout Manitoba.
Ontario, and Quebec. and also in tho Mari
time Provinces and adjacent Islands. II Is
supported b. statesmen and political lead
ers OF all grades and parties, md finds its
adhorcTts in all occupations and caiings
without reference TO origin or race. Similar
movements have been begun before. and
more than umcn they promised to result in
the Independence OF Canada and its amnlga-
nation with Che United States but none of
Them ever became so general rs tho one
NOW claiming our attention. or reached
such ina snitud Ia So slor. II time OF re.
newed agitation.
The idea Of junin;, tho Canadian coun.
try with thu dominating power Of the
North American continent has received
Its prcscmt extraordinary stimulus chiefly
from The ln't that our tnliir puts
Canada ON tho Same tralc fu"Lin;, as
other foreign counties. and shuts lis nat
ural productions out of their nearest market.
Tho Inconvenience and injury Of this 10
Canadian interests have been pointed uut
frequently in th" columns of THE Sun. and
need not bc further alluded to at this time.
There lave OF course. been other causes III
work. but the dcsirU OF the Canaiians to
sell both their labor and their home products
In our markets is tho causd cd,,suns OF the
great activity for the establishment Of
continental union now so manifest.
Tho question for us rs Americans to con-
slider Is. what should be our attitude in re-
gard to this programme Should we en-
courage IL or discourage it?
or course, it means not only the indepen-
dence of Canada and tho provinces. but it
means also an equal and honorable union
with the United States. under our Constitu-
ton and national laws. 1tmcans the extern
sion Of the republic over the splendid and
boundless northern regions of this hcmi-
sphere. 1t means number Of new
States. with their local Governors and Leg
islatures. followed by the admission OF them
Representatives and Senators into y. w." -.
tional Congress. But. above. s, :. .ao.m.
absolute community oft,,.. .,u,.,. e. ,ho
matter OF trade emo interests III ''''
tween all Of thee,s. ind transportation be-
We new States and tho old
$3.50. ,,S Slition Of tho Custom Houses
ffshc borders. and the free navigation Of
the lakes. the canals. and the St. Lawrence.
It means common navigation and inter
State commerce laws. 1t means common
defence. q common prosperity. and COM
mon destiny.
And why should not every American cit.
lzen approve. work for. and welcome the
accomplishment Of such destiny for the
whole OF tho continent north OF the Gulf OF
Mexico? Considered from purely selfish
point OF view. tho advantages to be gained
by tho United States would appear to DO
enormous. SO rapid has been the increase Of
our population. that nearly all tho arabic
public land within our borders has been tax
upand brought under cultivation. There
Is but little more that can DO utilized excep
by tho aid OF irrigation, and the prepare
ton Of works for that service is slow ant
costly. Already our people are pressing
against the borders OF Manitoba and looking
Upon tho plains that lie beyond.
The are. OF Canada is fully three and
half million square miles. OF almost as mucl
as our own. including Alaska or this vas
expanse. 1,3OO.0oo square miles have bcel
officially reported to tho Dominion Govern
ment AZ suitable for growing wheat ant
barley. 5OO.OOO suitable for Indian corn. an
much Of tho rest for grasses. 1t contain
10000 square miles OF coal lands. besides
vast areas Of forest. and OF iron and othe
mineral deposits. There can be no doubt Q
the value or productivcness Of the Canadian
possessions or OF tho healthfulness OF tn
climate. and yet after more than n hundrc
and Thirty years of colonial life the Who'll
Of British America contains II population
Of less than live million souls.
For over hundred years France an
England with all their dependencies
struggled for the possession of this cont
nent. The WEI was carried on with desper
alton on both sca and land. Tho colonist
OF both nations were constantly harryin
each others frontier. and yet the entire eS
tent Of country occupied by them was but
fringe along the scacoast and great rivers
and the whole OF it was scarcely on
remove from 4 wilderness lit only for tn
habitatiou OF savages and wild beasts.
It was then worth hundred years Of strife
what Is it worth to-day?
Now that the two great French colonies
ono Oh the lower Mississippi and the othe
fha 1oyyar Ct bnya nrp1yD inf