The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-10
TO FREE CANADA.
Several Prominent Citizens Come
Down to New York and Talk
Independence.
Mr.. Mercier Says the Day Is Near
When 1t VIII Be an Accom-
plished Fact.
~ -----~--- 49,.
A Formidable Secession Movement
In Some Portions or British
Columbia.

NEW YoRK, April 1O.--The Hon.
Honore Mercier, late premier Of Quebec;
Hon. j. E. Robidoux. who was attorney
general on Quebec; Hon. Charles Lange-
lier. formerly provincial secretary; Mr..
L. J. A. Papineaux, who was with his
father in the rebellion Of 1887, and Mr..
J.X. Perrault, of Montreal, an ex-mefn-
Der of the Ottawa parliament for Richie
lieu and q Canadian representative at
the Philadelphia exposition in 1879. are
tn the city.
Mr.. Mercier says he is here for pleas
ure, and that the rest of the party are
here either for recreation or for private
business, but it is understood that,
apart from these objects, their meeting
here was not accidental, and that they
will confer while they are in the city
with the men most prominent in this
country as advocates Of annexation.
Must Be Free.
1--WE must be free from England" !"
said Mr.. Mercier, .'and the day is near
when this will be accomplished. am
in favor OF independence. IL, after that
was accomplished, our interests would
seem to be best served by joining the
United States, then should favor such
action.
1--WE do not want to become a part Of
the United States by way of treaty be-
tween your country and Great Britain"
Mr.. Mercier continued. when Ma
poleon sold Louisiana he sold the sugar
fields and
Threw in the Population.
Great Britain might sell Canada in
the same way--sell our railroads, our
canals, our public buildings and throw
us intake the millions and leave us
our debts. That we cannot afford.
And yet, for the assumption OF our
$500, ,OOO,OOO of public debt, we could
offer to the United States more than a
fun equivalent, for, besides the great
railways and other public works, for
which these debts have been contracted,
we have in the fertile belt of the North
west 200, ,000,0 900 acres Of public land
which will raise great crops Of wheat
"Relieve us Of the burden of the
federal government, and our revenues
would be available for many public
uses.
s.But the most important element OF
the situation is thefeasibility of accomp-
fishing our purpose. II once we can
elect federal parliament that is
pledged to demand independence, and
we believe that time is not far of, there
would be brought about q crisis which
the imperial government is not in 8
position to face. il they refuse our de-
mands, we could refuse to vote supplies.
What would they do? Send troops to
Canada2 Would the 5000. 600 people
OF the United States stand idly by and
see as crushed in struggle like that
which they began in 1776s
We do not believe it. Neither do we
believe that il would come to this. Tor
we have assurances in the public utter
ances of Englands men that when
Canada asks for independece she shall
have it. There is this alternative: Com
mercial reciprocity would relieve us OF
the greater part of our grievances, but
that is impossible As 1 colony, we are
bound by the treaties which greater IN
! terests have driven England into, and
hone for relief from that source hrs left
us We are loyal, but our loyalty is tc
Y Canada