The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-18
THE WISHES OF CANADA.

A spirit of unrest is pervading Canada on
the subject of tariff. Besides the i'm
portant bearing of this subject on the
interests of the United States, there has
grown up with it a strong revival of the old
question concerning the national future of
that country.
One of the most intelligent reviews of
this question appears in the March number
of the american Magazine of CiUicS, pub
hshed in New York. 1t is written by Mrs
Helen Gregory-Flesher, A. NJ, Canadian,
but now resident of San Francisco 1t is
largely collection of the expressed wishes
of leading Canadians regarding the future
of Canada and is intended for the informa-
ton of those Americans who believe that
Canada would readily agree to annexation
with the United States. AS this question
is inseparable from that of Canada s foreign
trade policy,'it is necessary that they be
considered together.
Obviously, as pointed out by Mrs. Greg
ory-Flesher. Canada has a choice among
only four paths-to remain a colonial de-
tendency of the British crown, to resort to
imperial federation, to become a part of
the United States or to set up as an indie
pendent nation. 1t is shown that the
steady growth of her national spirit is
weakening the force of her position as a
dependency and that by reason of the
widely diverse policies of the various Brit
lsh colonies an imperial federation would
be cumbersome and impracticable 1t being
obvious, however, that Canada will sooner
or later cease to be dependency of the
crown, the choice is narrowed to two
Il
The writer presents many objections to
annexation, as they have been set for th by
the ruling minds of Canada, and they seem
wise and insuperable. First, the powerful
influence of the Roman Catholic church
over the French Canadians is strenuously
opposed to annexation, and the Established
Canadian church does not desire it. Sec
ond, our Union is regarded as large enough,
the fear being that so enormous an en-
largement OF it would make it even
more unwieldly and difficult to hold
together than at present. Third, the
depressing commercial effect of our
quadrennial national elections would
not agree with the steady habits which
Canadians have acquired. Fourth, our
own confession that the administration of
our laws is uncertain is warning to Can
ada that our system is detective Fifth,
our popular election of the administrators
of the law and their consequent political
partisanship is repugnant to the Canadian
sense OF fitness and security. In short,
Canada would gain nothing and lose much
by annexation, and will not entertain the
proposition.
All the material advantages that Canada
might secure by more intimate relations
with the United States would come from
unrestricted commercial reciprocity-the
abolition of tariff charges between the two
countries. Since the publication of Mrs.
Gregory-Flesher's article the Canadian
press has broken out in a feverish partisan
contest over esuch reciprocity. Clearly
Canada Will not adopt England S free-trade
policy, and some of her leaders are boldly
advocating tariff scheme, which shall dis
crimlnate against all the world, including
Great Britain, and in favor of the United
states. The opponents of this policy point
TO the distress in the United States and
England which has followed the adoption
OF free-trade tariff, and thus we are made
TO lace the interesting fact that the errors
OF our own Government and Great Britain
nave proved the most valuable warming to
Canada.