The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-29

either Join in scheme of imperial
federation, seeking representation in
the imperial parliament, or political
union with the United States, or an in
dependent national existence. The
writer says the choice probably lies be-
tween these three, but the process, the
times and seasons, care beyond the |
twilight judgments of to-day"
Imperial federation, says Mr.. Long
ley, is not in accordance with the hopes
and aspirations of a preponderating |
majority of the Canadian people. And
independent national existence is the
dream of every bright young Canadian;
but the difficulties or dangers along a
southern boundary line of 5000 miles,
beyond which is "a great and powerful
nation, not wholly free from tendency
to bully ,"-this is the nightmare that
disturbs the Canadians dream of indie
pendence. "The overwhelming power
of the United States would be per-
petual menace, while North America
has not the family of nations out of
which to form alliances and maintain
balances of power" To Mr.. Longley's
somewhat timid eye, this is the lion in
the way of Canadian independence,
therefore he turns to the probability of
the issue between close political union
| D,;I nd nlpco nnlitiool
union with the United States.
A hereditary aristocracy, an estab-
lished church, a standing army, Eng
lands responsibility for the peace of
the world, and the danger of warlike
ENHANCEMENT with European powers,-
these are the objections to becoming
part of the British imperial system,
1900 miles across the waters of the
Atlantic. The United States lies on
Canada's border; her institutions are
similar to those of the Dominion; she
has no standing army, no European
entanglements, no menacing diplo-
macy; she has nearly 70 900, 900 peo-
pie and capacity for unlimited terri
torial expansion, while Great Britain
has but 100000 people and has ex-
hausted her capacity for expansion.
And yet Mr.. Longley appears to doubt
that the choice of Canada would be for
political union with the United States.
Why? Mark the potency of his rea-
sons:
"The statesmen of the United States who
wonder at Canadas preference for Great
Britain forget that nothing has been said or
done at the national capital, nor, indeed, by
any man of national reputation, that would
tend to evoke Canadian regard or flatter
Canadian vanity. Nearly every reference
to Canada made on public occasions by
American statesmen is either contemptuous,
hostile, or complaining. This may not be
due to design. Canada has come into note
chiefly through the unfortunate difficulties
in connection with the fishery and seal
questions, and when Canadian conduct has
been discussed at the national capital it has
been chiefly to be denounced. While this
has been the condition Of mind of the
United States toward Canada. the public
|
other hand, in the main been covering
, Canada with praise, and thus appealing in
every way to the sympathy and admiration
of the Canadian people,"
The imperial authorities knight dis
tinguished Canadians; no friction ex-
!, lists between Canada and the colonial
office, and, in all contentious with the
,, United States, Great Britain has sus-
tanned her Canadian colony. British
flattery is sweet to Canadian ears. AT
lection may naturally prompt Brit
ANNA to pat her strapping child of the
occident patronizingly on the head; but
selfishness may be the impulse which
prompts those tokens of parental love-
as it certainly is the reason which impels
Great Britain to make Canada's quar-
rels her own. The attorney-general Of
Nova Scotia has given reasons for Can.
ada's preference for British rule that
can hardly command the admiration of
the world, and which every bright
young Canadian possessing a manly
soul will resent. Flattery is cheap, and
freemen are not tempted by such
baubles as knighthood. Mr.. Longley
? should be able to adduce other and
more creditable reasons for Canadian
leaning toward British imperial fedora
: ton.
. AS to the reasons for Canadian re-
pugnance to political union with the
: United States: Conceding, as fact
L what is but the figment of brain dis
turbed perhaps by petty Jealousy, oil
g impatient of a colonial status which as
= pires to national recognition and i'm
y portance, and yearns for the exercise
y of national powers,-conceding it to be
a fact that public men of the United
D States have hahituallV denounced Can