New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19
CANADA AND THE WAR.
SYMPATHY WITH THE
UNITED STATES
r..r noMrN1ors NEWLY FOUND NATIONAL
sPIRrr-LooKING TO A LASTING UNION OF
THE ENGLISH SPEAKING RACE


sp1Rrr-LooKING TO LASTING UNION OF
THE ENcLIsH-sPEAKING RACE
To tho Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The attitude OF Canadians toward inc
United States in the present war can DC ""
stood only in the light Of what they think aoou'
their own country. When Wifrid Laurler re-
turned from the Queens Diamond Jubilee ne 'oun'
n NEW Canada For thirty years-not long IN 'he
history OF Countrywide Federated Dominion had
bsen b]indly cropping for some permanent pathway
along which II might safely achieve us ha'''"a,
destiny Naturally. sentiment ana thoush' "o"'u
have followed the line OF least resistance ou' ho
such line appeared. All avenues were equaiy
go, v,th bardship, National independence. ex-
cept 10 few. was unthinkaoe' inVoN'hs a'
must, enormous expenditures Tor deiehce' VII" NV
possibility. always present. OF speedy anu XIV
,ninious absorption by some greater rover MORE
over tho IDEA OF independence was repugnant 10
the moral sense OF majority or inc Cahau'a"
people, since I, seemed to Imply insratitude 10 inc
MotherIand in return 70. treatment et least IN
recent years uniformly generous ana consldera'e'
Annexation 10 the United State might have been
tho line Of least resistance had the Uhi'so states
40 willed IT, But there was created sentiment
throughout the entire Dominion against pohticai
annexation powerful tenough TO counteract anu
neutral,ze the whole tendencies o. a community OF
interests social racial. geographical ana coH"ei-
cal Nor was the road toward closer political re-
lationship with England less thorny. Ana TOT
similar reasons. The attitude Of mind toward
Canada on tho part Of the British public drove
Canadian sentiment In upon itself and irrtated
rather than attracted The average Br'tisher
seemed incapable Of enthusiasm about Cahaua-
He knew all about Australia and the Cape bu' Oh
the Dominion his idea seemed to be that IL was
frozen country remarkable for its ability to absorb
thu dividends Of Grand Trunk shareholders
Asa,ns. such uniform indifference, ignorance or
positive opposition II impossible to make
headway.
This was the state Of things when IN 1877 tho
Iaurier Government introduced It's preferential!
tariff. which gave England an ultimate advantage
OF rs Der cent in Canadian markets, as against the
world. John Bull. always powerfully imaginative
IN matters OF dollars and cents. was instantly ana
deeply stirred. Far-sighted editors and puohc
men caught the full significance OF this move. ana
IN an incredibly short time tho whole country was
aroused to investigate the Canadian question
Rr1tain's splendid isolation then so ominousiy
real was vastly relieved by this CLEAN Of real sym
pathy from over seas. For the hrst time Canada
laid hold OF the imagination Of the British PUBIC
The appearance Of Mr.. Laurier as the leading
Colonial ngure at the Jubilee festivities deepened
the impression and made 1t permanent. The Ger
man and Belgian treaties which nterfered with
tho FREQ working Of the preferential tarn. were
denounced. and by this act the Imperial Pariia-
Jnent declared the fiscal independence OF the DO
minion Canada had found her destiny. The line
Of least resistance manifestly lay In closer union
with tho Mother,and and the Empire. From that
hour the whole current OF Canadian thought ana
sentiment has been setting more and moro strongly
in this one direction and In no other
The results In the Dominion have been most mo-
mentous great new National self-conscious-
ness has been awakened. A new dignity attaches
10 all Canadian doings. Movement, enterprise. ex-
pansion are everywhere marked. For the frst
time since confederation the Canadian people be-
leve In their country, and possess a definite ana
worthy ideal TO It's future.
Into these conditions OF public thought the Span
,ash-American has introduced new element
he situation is simply this: Whereas. for the last
wear the Canadian outlook has been imperial 1t has
now suddenly broadened 10 include the whole Eng
lsh- speaking race. Thoughtful men here look
Upon this as the most fateful war OF the century
They see that II means the introduction into world
politics Of great new force. They realize that
thenceforth the United States must have foreign
policy. and unless all signs fail that policy must
be like, II identical with. the foreign policy OF
Britain. They realize that for the first time in
century the Engsh-speakng finds itself
united moral grounds which, as history abun-
dainty proves. are the only grounds upon which
such unity or alliance can permanently rest. At first
Canadians feared that swift American victory
would inflame the passions OF the populace that
tho country might be plunged into unknown and
disastrous excuses. But the sober thoughtfulness
moved the fear and the most thoughtful folk here
arc coming 10 believe that this war Will sober and
enlarge the National ideals Of the Republic. and
will force into public life a stronger and greater
type OF leadership.
There is no doubt as to the profound sympathy
fof Canadians with the American side in this quar-
rel One would almost think that 1t was Canada's
war. judging from the applicants for enlistment at
United States consuatee and the feversh interest
,an the newspaper reports The war is the chief
topic OF conversation. 1t has actually
t6hadowed domestic legislation OF an important
character. and rendered the proceedings Of the
House OF Commons tame and uninteresting. do
you think the Americans will VIM" i asked q
lnewsSoy the other night You bet they'll lick
'em, was his highly patriotic and emphatic
reply.
The Ottawa Government is taking every pre-
Icaution to insure strict observance OF neutrality
Jaws. All collectors at Atlantic ports have re-
coal for foreign ports without first submitting the
acts 10 the proper authorities at the Capital and
lreceiving their Official sanction AS far as the
public is concerned. the continued presence OF
}Sehor Polo Is absolutely ignored. Some few feel
that he Is abusing his privileges and ought TO take
his departure without waiting for invitation to
that effect from the Government. Meanwhile his
presence causes pleased nutter among tho small
circle OF fashionable folk, for whom court dress
plus title possess an Irresistible charm. which
'canons OF international courtesy control
II Is sincerely hoped among all classes that the
present opportunity may be seized to effect per-
ting disputes between the Republic and the Do
minon. so that In the future there may be nothing
60 hinder free and complete intercourse between
two peoples so closely and inevitably allied in race
ideals and material interests
CHARLES 4 EATON.