The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12
A French Canadian View OF An-
ncxation.

uCAHtiohs
| It has Cor some time been evident that IL
the movement for tho political union Of
Canada with the United States is to take
definite md effective shape. it should start
in the province OF Quebec. What Is the
drift Of public opinion in that province re-
garding the question Of annexation? Some
information on tho point is furnished in
the current number OF tho Forum. by Mr..
LOUIS FRECHETTE. trustworthy repre-
sentative Of the French Canadian people.
Mr.. FHECHETTE begins by avcrring that
tho existing Confederation OF tho British
Provinces OF North America was devised as
makeshift. and. after trial OF more than
q quarter OF a century, is recognized as q
failure. All intelligent citizens Of the Do
minion. he says. acknowledge the necessity
Of q more satisfactory arrangement. But
what form shall be taken by the political
change universally felt TO be inevitable
Shall substitute for the present Dominion
Government be found in imperial fedora
ton. or in Independence pure and simple
or in annexation to the United States
Considering this question from tho view
point Of his compatriots. the French Cana
dams OF the province OF Quebec. Mr.. FIRE.
cHErTE declares that tho project Of
imperial federation must be absolutely
thrown aside. Even /: Englishmen
could manage to frame a practicable
scheme-and they have not yet been
able to do this--the French Canadians
would never consent to sacrifice their po-
litical identity by entering into close po-
litical connection. not only with the United
Kingdom. but also with far-distant coun-
tries like Australia. the Cape Colony, and
other British possessions spread all over
the globe. with which they have no moro
natural connection than with tho planet
Mars. II they have voice In tine matter.
and who would venture to deny them
voice. they will never. in Mr.. FRECHErTEs
opinion. be prevailed upon TO sign pact ut
once calling to their feelings and hurtfu! to
their material interests. But the truth Is
that the discussion OF imperial federation is
purely academic: by every influential Eng
lish statesman. whether Liberal or Tory,
the project is regarded as dream.
There remain tho two practicable alter
natives. Independence or political union
with the United States. 1t is suggested by
Mr.. FRECHETTE that some of the French
Canadians who most earnestly advocate
tHc iueu Va iuicpcnueHCe 40 80 WITH q Men-
tai reservation: Let us DO free first, and
we will trim our snils aftcrward" We
deem it highly probable that practical
politician alive to constitutional difficulties,
whatever might DO his personal prefer
ence for annexation. would begin by on
dcavoring to secure Independence, IL not
the independence OF tho Dominion then
disruption OF the existing Confederation
and the consequent independence OF Que
bee. The latter he might reasonably look
upon as means to an end. as an opDor-
tunist formula rs the rightful modts Oper-
andi, MS an Indispensable transitional stage.
But Mr.. FRECHETTE, for his part. Is no OPP
portunist. but believes in stating frankly
what seem to him insuperable objections to
independence. He insists that, II Quebec
were u remain member OF an indie
pendent Canadian confederation. his
French-speaking compatriots would BIO far
worse off than they arc now. Slight as IL
the influence of England. it makes for peace
and fair dealing between the French and
English elements Of the population. We're
the tie with England broken. the French
Canadians would DO loft at the mercy OF a
majority frequently caprlcious. always in
terested. and inevitably hostile. This hos
tIlity, rs Mr.. FRECHETTE points out. Is born
from tho juxtaposition of two different
nat!onalities on the same sod; and 1t is
therefore, n natural. fatal. and almost
Legitimate hostility. because 1t is the con-
sequence Of q law OF nature the struggle
for life. There are other considerations
which cause French Canadians to look
coldly on the prospect of political
freedom under separate flag. They per-
ceiye the impossibillty OF defending against
tho smugglcr as well as the invader tho
illimitable frontiers OF an independent
Canadian confede non. They know that
Its commerce. ttry would be more
or less a.. OF an all-powerful
neighbor. MAJ. any moment. by merely