The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-27
Goodwin Smith on Anglo-Saxon Union.

member who puts through a new act.
Goodwin Smith on Anglo-Saxon Union.
1t does not yet appear that Mr.. ANDREW
| CARNEGIEs article in the North American
Rerie,r. advocating the political union
| of the United States with the British en-
pire. was taken seriously by any statesmen
or thoughtful observers OF events. 1t did
us the practical service. however. Of elicit
| ing responsive discussion Of the subject
by Prof GOODWIN SMITH. which has APP
! peared in the August number OF the same
periodical. Mr.. SMITH. in his reply. dis
| misses the scheme OF union between the
United States and the British empire to the
/ limbo Of dreams. but he goes on to show
that there is practicable approximation
to the project in the admission OF the prov
inces comprising the Dominion Of Canada
| to the American Union.
Such thing as political or even a diplo-
matte unity Of the English-speaking COM
munities scattered over the globe. Is re-
! garded by Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH as incor-
ceivable. Supposing, he says. such union
possible. what definite object would it
have? Where would its centre be? Who
would direct its policy? Then again. we
are reminded that. while there are impor-
tant elements Of unity in the race there are
| also important elements Of diversity arising
| from the local admixture In unequal proper
tons OF alien blood. from the variety OF
| circumstances attendant on dispersion
| over two hemispheres. and from the shades
of character produced by living under in
situations which. though perhaps radically
the same. have been modified in impor-
| tant ways. II such causes Of diver
| gence are so operative. even among
| the countries which make up the British
| Empire. as confessedly to make any scheme
| OF imperial federation unavoidable. how
much more insuperable obstacles would
| they present to union between the British
empire and the United States The no.
ton. then. OF a political fusion OF all the
| nominally Anglo-SaXon communities scat
| tered over the globe is pronounced by Mr..
GOODWIN SMITH unthinkable. moral re-
! union is the utmost to which they can
nationally aspire. To the ultimate accom-
plishment of such a moral reunion. Mr..
SMITH can discern only one serious impede
ment. and that Is the obtrusive presence
| Of Great Britain as political power on this
continent. with the constant irritation and
frequent disputes which her presence in
evitably breeds.
That is to say. while Mr.. CARNEGIE's
dream Of combining in one federation the
United States and the British empire is
only the visionary expression of q personal
wish. the political union Of the Anglo-Saxon
communities in North Americais a question
not only practical but urgent. Outside OF
the monetary and tariff questions now
pressing for solution, continental union
seems to Mr.. SMITH the one issue Of tran
scendent moment before American states
men. Surely. he says. the question whether
this continent shall be united. or whether it
shall be divided and power antagonistic
TO the American republic shall be formed
to the north OF it. Is the one subject OF
external policy at all events. which is OF
vital Importance to the American people.
He goes on to show why the maintenance
of the connection between Canada and the
British crown must be regarded as creating
"a power antagonistic to the American
republic" Where separation is natural.
it may be friendly; where 1t is unnatural.
it is pretty sure to be antagonistic,
on the part, at least. OF the smaller
power Thus England and Scotland.
being In the same island. their separation
was unnatural. and the result was con-
slant hostility between them, Scotland
continually leaguing herself with England's
enemies. In like manner the connection of
Canada as a dependency. no matter how
one party may succeed another in power at
Westminster, is always morally with that
party in England which is distinctiveIy i'm
perialist and unfriendly to American in
stitutions. The British Tories are the
natural allies and protectors OF those
Canadians who oppose the union OF their
country with the United States. and who.
TO that end. persistently appeal to anti
American feeling. striving to revive Old
aptipathies by celebrating events in the
war Of 1872. and by decorating the graves OF
those who fell in the Fenian raid. One
effect OF the existence of an unsympathetic
IL not antagonistic power at Ottawa has
been to make the North Atlantic fisheries
and the sealing grounds in Behring Sea the
subject Of perpetual dispute. Another con-
sequence has been to render the Chinese
problem insolvabe. The immigration
neither OF the Chinese nor Of any other
alien nationality can be effcctually con-
troled unless the whole continent is
brought under one Jurisdiction. AT pres
ent. when the front door is closed by Con-
gressonal legislation, back door is opened
in Canada: and the practical result Of
American Introduction Is that the Canadian
Government raises small revenue by the
transmission Of Chinese through its terri
tory to the United States.
In IN, ptal