The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23
CONTINENTAL UNION.
Mr.Goldwin Smith Considers Some Ameri-
can Objections to it.

can Objections to it.
Our good Canadian people are always
being told that they live under the
gigantic shadow of a rapacious neighbor
who is sleeplessly planning their anneXa-
ton by force or fraud. The very name
Of Washington is apt to excite their sus-
picion They do not think Of Washington
as what IL now is-a beautiful and attrac-
tive city with a brilliant aristocracy, the
rising Paris of this hemisphere; they
think of il only as q centre of political
mischief If any Canadian Liberal goes
there, though 1T may be merely for his
enjoyment they fancy. that plot is on
foot, as though American Presidents ana
Ministers of States were in the habit or
entering into plots with any unaccredited
visitor who may present himself at their
doors. They cannot be made to under
stand that the general attitude Of Ameri-
cans on the Canadian question is one
of Indifference, and that you may spend
weeks at Washington even in political
society without hearing the subject men
toned OF the forciDle annexation Of
Canada l never heard an American speak.
Not only have the majority Of Ameri-
cans hitherto been Indifferent, but some
Of Them as I have reason to know, are
unwilling to admit Canada into the Union.
even II she were to come Of her own free
will and with the consent Of her mother
country. For this unwillingness, how
ever. 1 submit there is no good reason.
Some suppose that Canada, If admitted
into the Union, would form politically a
compact and intrusive mass, disturbing
the balance Of your politics Of demnnat-
ing them in a Canadian interest. Nothing
can be less likely. The four regions Of
which the Dominion consists-the mari
time provinces old Canada. the North
west. and British COlumba-are separa-
ted by wide spaces or great barriers from
each other They have no interest I'm
common. There is but little trade among
them. Notwithstanding the pains taken to
force It by protection. There is still less
interchange Of population. Between the
British provinces and the French pro-
vinces there is not only no natural bond.
but there is an antagOnsm Of race. his
tory and religion. The different parts OF
the Dominion are hello together by the
political tie. which requires 10 be strength
ened by such means as recent revelations
have disclosed With their admission to
the Union all their solidarity would be
at an end. Each OF them would obey
its natural bias and be drawn toward
the States which It adioins. 4 political
league between the British and French
Canadians. above all is incOnceiVaole.
into which OF the American parties-the
Republican or the Democratic-most OF
the Canadians would 20. ii is impossible
10 say, when they have hitherto been
strangers 10 both parties. and there has
been nothing to foreshow their choice. All
that can be said Is that, having so long
had a separate history and tradition. they
would be favorable to self-government
and opposed 10 any encroachments of the
Federal power. As they have remained
strangers 70 any sinister influences which
may exist I'm the Union. they would on
their entrance al all events. probably be
a reinforcement TO the general party OF
reform.
Another subject Of alarm is the Roman
Catholic population OF French Canada.
the introduction Of which would 1t is
supposed. add TO the dangers OF the
Union. This fear is natural, especially
when the problem OF emigration is as
Stunning so serious an aspect. Yet I
believe IL to be grOundless The pOpula-
ton Of French Canada is a survival Of
the French peasantry before the Revolu-
ton. from which the colony was ex-
empted by being in the hands OF the
British; though the power shared I'm
France under the old regime among the /
King. the aristocracy. and the priest has
now accrued for the most part to the
priest alone The French Canadian is
backward because he has been kept /
back. The forces Of the British Canadian /
element have not been strong enough !
for his assimilation. TO the forces OF /
the Union his peculiarities would soon
yield He is kindly. courteous, dociie. |
though politically too capable Of being |
misled and corrupted. He has no ten
dency to conspiracy or cabal. He is not |
likely TO form municipal rings or plumber
clubs. Industriauy he Is tractable and |
amenable 10 factory discipline. and shows
no tendency To industrial war / had
been Informed that the French I'm your
Northwestern States did not amalgamate
with the Americans, but I am told on
high authority that I was mislnformed. |
and that under good employers, and in !
circumstances generally favorable. they
amagamate without difficulty. What is
certain. however, is that keeping Quebec |
out OF the Union will not keep the French |
Canadians out OF The United States |
They are invading you by thousands and |
tens OF thousands. Since the Mckinley |
act immigration has been greater than |
ever. Nothing could be worse than the |
present arrangement. which holds the |
breeding plaoe under the reactionary |
influences. while the progeny swarms |
over your Northeastern States.
ObnaPvo that Whila thu limited 8tnten |