Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-05-11
WHY CANADIANS eMIeRA1s.

Commercial Freedom Would Stop the Ex-
odus and Annex Her to tho United States.
We are told by the New York Mail
and Express and other high Republican
authorities that Canada is unable to
stem the exodus of its people from the
eastern provinces into our New England
and middle states, and that to counteract
this loss ''nearly 300 agents are constant
ly employed travelling about the western
states to encourage emigration to Cam
ada and offering $40 bonus to head OF
family and s. for each member. Be
sides this, free homesteads arc provided" "
Yet the tide is running strong from Can
ada to this country, and the last census
shows that there are already nearly
1000, 900 Canadians here.
The Mail and Express says that Cana
dians come here because "they are con-
vinced that on this side of the dividing
line lie opportunities for thrift and in
dustry." This is undoubtedly true.
Why, then, are there greater opportuni-
ties for thrift and industry here? Both
countries have high protective tariffs,
and both have millions of unused and
fertile farm and timber lands. 1t is not
natures fault that opportunities are
greater in this country; it is mans fault.
The artificial restriction Of trade and
commerce by protective" tariffs is
mainly responsible for the present exo-
dus. 1t would drive the oppressed out
of any country which has no greater
variety Of climate than has eastern Can
ada. Protect" Michigan or Maine from
the rest of this country as Canada is
now protected from ityand the cost Of
living will go up and wages down so
much that thousands will emigrate to
the other states, and great offers Of cash
will be necessary to allure them back to
their protected" homes.
The pinch of protection is felt more in
small countries which lack great diver
gifcation of soil and climate. Germany,
Austria, Italy and Russiaare being depop-
ulated by protective tariffs, and their op-
pressed come to this country because it
is the greatest free trade country on the
globe, trade being absolutely free from
the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and
from Canada to Mexico. Five years OF
McKinleyis1n would cost England one
fifth of its population and her manufac-
turing and commercial supremacy. One
decade of high protection has started
Canada on the down grade and has
brought about a reaction there which il
took three decades to bring about in this
great country. The sentiment for an
nexation is growing rapidly there. On
April the Hon. Honore Mercier, prime
minister Of Quebec from 1885 to 1882
addressed an immense audience in Mon
treal on ''The Future of Canada" He
pictured the great advantages that would
follow union with the United States and
advocated political independence as the
first step to annexation. The meeting
passed a aresolution in favor of immediate
independence.
Practically all to be gained by annex
alton, of real benefit to the people. coult
be obtained by the removal of the twt
tariff walls between the countries. Ca
nadians are responsible for one of thes'
and could remove it at any time. w,
will promise to remove half of our wal
and to take tho Mckinley barbed wire
off of the top during the next two years
1t is not likely that we will stop tn
good work at once, and who knows wha
. may happen before the twentieth cen
tury arrives? Slaves who realize thei
condition and who could appreciate free
dom are already half free, and freemel
who do not appreciate their liberty ant
cannot govern themselves wisely ar
half slaves. When Canadians have stud
led their conditions and understand tn
, nature of their bonds, they will virtual
be free, even though politically and nom
! inally subject to Great tain.-Byro
t W. Holt.