The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
The National Review on Canadian
Questions.

The London National Reviep, which
gives more space to colonial matters than
has been heretofore allotted to the subject
by any British periodical, contains this
month some omments on the state of
things in the Dominion of Canada.
We are not sure that the Canadian Con-
servatives, who are much more Tory than
the Tories at st. Stephens, will be pleased
to observe the energy with which the
National Reviet0, which. represents some
Of the most powerful members of the
Salisbury Government, repudiates "the
idea that Great Britain would be jealous
of an entente cordiale between Canada and
the United States" The writer goes on to
intimate, with What seems to us sufficient
clearness, that, If ana should wish to
turn her back upon Great Britain and
enter the American Union, nobody on the
other side of the Atlantic would try to
stop her. "Sir WILFRID LAURIER has re-
peatedly declared that Canada is anation,'
and, as such, she elects to remain, n
will remain, an integral part of the British
Empire, unless she changes her mind and
seeks complete independence or incorpora-
tion with her neighbor. That is the Cana
uldnQ question: III Il HuISnell, anu Uue ulOlucT
country could nerer dream of exercising
any pressure, direct or indirect, to influence
Canadian policy toward either of the Eng
disappearing considerations" That is sen.
sible talk, and confirms what Prof. GOLD
WIN SMITH has repeatedly asserted. The
( voluntary proposal of the provinces COM
posing the Dominion to become members of
our confederation would never involve us
in war with England.
The Reuieu, on the other hand, Is mis-
taken when it says that "the great mass
of Americans would be dismayed II invited
to absorb Canada. 1t would be difficult to
get 10 per cent. of the popular vote in the
States to indorse the admission of the
Canadian provinces to the Federal Union,
even on the unanimous request of the
Canadian people," This remark implies
q lack of familiarity with American his
tory and with the existing feeling of the
American people. Those who organized
the uprising of the Thirteen Colonies
against the mother country were passion
ately desirous Of securing the cooperation
of Canada, and despatched expeditions
against Montreal and Quebec before our OWE
independence had been proclaimed. TIL
Articles of Confederation pear conclusive
witness to the same desire, for they made
special and distinct provision for the i'm
mediate admission of Canada on the ap
plication of that province.
There has never been an hour from
hat day to this when the great mass o.
American citizens have not deplored the
schism in the English-speaking race upoI
this continent and have not wished to SCI
1t healed In the sole effective way, namely
by political fusion. With the exception o
Lower Canada, the whole of the Dominion
is occupied by people Identical with our
selves in blood, language, and religion; ant
that the Participating inhabitants o
Lower Canada also would make e~xcellen
citizens has been conclusively proved sine
hundreds Of thousands of them have mi
grated to our Eastern States. There is no
a single objection in the minds of Amer
leans to the annexation OF Canada, while
on the other hand, such q transaC
tion Is commended to us by political
economical, and industrial reasons of tn
utmost weight. Such a union would be
true marriage, whereby both parties woul,
be blessed. We, IN our part, should b
freed forever from the apprehension O
trouble on our northern border, while tn
Dominion, on Its part, within fifty year
after the union, would see its population
increased hve-fold and Its wealth expands
twenty-fold.
What hope Is there for Canada 30 long q
she refuses to enter the American Union