The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-08


Union with the United States Is
Favored by Many Clubs and Organ.
izatiOns.. The Conservative OppO.
sitiOn.
W. L. Curtis Toronto Letter to the Chi
cago Record.
AS we were passing a quaint old col
onial house. surrounded by large
grounds and shaded by enormous elms
and oaks. in the very center of this
city the other day the coachman turned
on his box and remarked:
That is the oldest home in Toronto.
1t stood there when the city was nothing
bur II small cluster of cabins along the
bank Of the lake. 1t was SCI well built
that il has never needed repair, and II
is as good today as it ever was and as
II Will be 100 years from now. The
man who lives thore is the greatest man
in Canada. He has forgot moro than
all the ministry ever knew, with the
governor general on top o them. and he
keeps learning something new every
day in his big library that stretches
out from the house there, as YOU see,
westward"
whats his nance"
Professor Goodwin Smith: and he's
the best friend the United States has
on this side of the border. Some of
the tory snobs call him a traitor to old
England. hui that's because they want
to stand in with the queen and Lord
Salisbury. while he's thiniin' all the
while whatll be the hest for the pe"-
pie
That is fair sample of local public
opinion concerning the eminent British
statesman and historian who has come
over To make his home on this side
Of the water. and spend his wealth ana
leisure in aiding to solve the Canadian
problem. Professor Smith occupied III"
chair OF English history 1T the Uni
verSity of oxford for many years. and
during the civil war in the United states
was IA pronounced friend OF the north.
which made him unpopular in that COM
munity. He resigned his chair about
ten years ago and came 10 Toronto to
write a book on Canada. AT the same
time he accepted a professurshiD at
Cornell. and lcctured there each winter
for several years He presented Il mag
nificent historical library TO that insti-
tuition also. But he finally gave up ac-
tive work. and has since been living In
retirement at his beautiful home here.
which. as the driver said. is the old
est residence in Toronto, and perhaps
the most attractive. One could scarcely
imagine Il more charming retreat for IA
student and lover of nature and books.
1t il called "Thp Grange and has been
in the family of the first husband of
Mrs. Smith since the settlement of Can
ada west.
Professor Smith was a bachelor when
he came to live at Toronto, but he soon
surrendered to the charms of Mrs.
Boulton, II Boston lady, who had mar
ried rich Canadian lumberman in her
younger days and was living here at
"'The Grange" He had IA large fortune
of his own. and their united wealth
makes them one of the richest couples
in Canada
Professor smith is no doubt the most
scholarly man and the most famous
writer in the dominion. and is the rec
OgniZed head of the movement for an
neXation, which he has always advocat-
: ed as the inevitable result of natural
laws and the manifest destiny Of the
colony His books and magazine ar
ticles and his speeches op this subject
have given serious Offense to the 10y
alist element ON both sides of the
Atlantic, and both Mrs. Smith and him
I,l ,ltpi m
many disagreeable sights from over
jealous tories who ar" seeking office
on knighthuod. Some uf tn" ambitious
families in the dominion boycott them
entirely and cnd.a\or to seek favor "a,
Rideau hall by calling Professor Smith
a traitor During the recent campaign
the feeling was very bitter. and Pro-
fessur Smith was constantly assaulted
/ ia The columns uf the conservative press
| and by the conservative speakers. al
though he was moi a candidate for Of
! flee and was taking no part in the elec-
I ton. But his writings furnished text
: books for most OF the liberal editors and
| orators, and he is the president Of what
/ is known az the Continental Union
! association which was orga sized fOl
n
the American people.
I shortly before the election the trus
/ tees and faculty of the University OF
/ Toronto voted 10 confer upon Professor
! Smith the degree of doctor Of laws as
a recognition Of his distinction in tbs
I world of learning. whereupon Mr.. W. g.
! Falconbrdge. justice of the high court
| OF Ontario resigned his seat in the sen
! ate Of tn. university, because. az he
/ declared. in his opinion an institution
Z thai would honor traitor to the Brit
+ ish na% was not the piac" for ioya
! subjects OF uur Britanir ma iesty
/ Nevertheless tho vote of The trustees
! and faculty was Unanimous ana tn,
! great mass ri the people applaudcc
thti. actirii. while they laughed ut his
! hon.. h" justice.
! \ .p!,ye magistrate by the name oi
! nen! i"',u. VINO thought To get little
I notnriety out uf the row. wrote lettel
! To- the dean of the university asking
| that his name be stricken OFF the lis
! Of the alumni. as he did not care to bt
, in any way associated with an insti
| tuition that would confer such honol
! upon Il man who had been the mos
/ persistent, active aud bitter enemy
Canada has ever had. TO indurse il
any way or to show honor To- such {
man" ne said. 'is but to increase his
! power and influence. lie is constantly
/ encouraging the neighbOring country
i'm the belief of the possibility of an
nexation. and is, therefore. likely t
bring armed men against us
Mr.. Dennison's fears We're the subject
| of good deal of ridicule. particularly
! because Of some historical facts tina