The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-10-12
CANADA INDEPENDENT.
She Can Take Care Of Herself
MEIGHBoRL1NESS NOT WE'D
LOCK.
BY G. GRosvRNoR DAVE.

| BY u. GROSVENOR DAVE.
Written For The Commonwealth
Another Glance Northward.-It is
more of need than of love that has
hitherto made Canadian statesmen SO
much as think of political union with
the United States. Her growing com
mercial lndependency is showing her
that she can meet her own needs.
This is more likely to increase her love
for us than to decrease it for 1t is some
what against human nature for US to
love sincerely anyone upon whom We
are greatly dependent. The stronger
Canada becomes the better neigh Dor
will she be for her strong Deighbor IN
the south. We shall make Uncle
Sam look foolish indeed if we prompt
him to interpret neighborliness as we'd
lock.
It is safe TO hope that the power OF
one language, one literature, one COM
mon stock will bring Canadians and
Americans to mutual and lasting trust,
without departure on either side for one
moment from the condition OF free and
Independent friends.
Perhaps it may be pardonable to let
the Imagination run forward in relation
to Canada's future. She and her neigh
Dor will conclude that there can be no
misunderstanding between the two and
both will continue to admit the fool
ishness of fortifying themselves the
one against the other but both will
also come to the condition where if
the coast of one is touched by hostile
finger the heart of the other will be
stirred to action. Barricaded by snow
and ice on the north and bounded on
the south by her puissant friend she
will be approachable only on the shores
of the Atlantic and of the Pacific.
Her improving conditions will rapidly
place her where she cannot be starved
out, nor frightened out, nor driven out,
and even should hostile feet cross the
watery bulwarks of two great oceans
her inland cities would still be in no
DANGER. a.
It is in consequence of her uncon-
querable position that one is prompted
to theorjze as to her relation to the rest
of the British Empire. Whether Great
Britain becomes republic or stays
kingdom it is scarcely likely that her
great foreign policy will be altered.
Consequently the loose rein that she
has held over her various colonies will
still suffice to hold them together in
one and make them continue to be
part of the greatest extent of rule ever
lntrusted to one nation since the world
began. But while the next century
will probably see her strength increas-
ing, at the same time two other rivals
or perhaps three Will strive to divide
world power with her-Russia, Ger
many and the United States with per-
hars a calculable influence emanating
from Japan. England's s success in con-
Quoting the affairs of distant colonies
and in holding those colonies together
Is to arouse the jealousy of the nations
that do not speak her language.
a peace conference has met at
The Hague and though humanity will
some day learn to hate war yet it is to be
Feared that struggle for world su-
premacy is yet to come from CONNER
:ial motives. This struggle will not be
between nations as nations but rather
between races as races.
In consequence there will probably be
endeayors from time to time to snatch
away some portions OF that vast gov
or to destroy the body OF its
empire by attacking and destroying the
head that rests in little England. |
Herein may not Canada benefit the
Canada is the largest
stretch of land under the control of
and its whole position is fav-
orable for permanency. England is
but a comparatively email
island never more than a lew hours
away from hostile attack and never
more than few weeks distant from
starvation if fattacked. It is called upon
to strain every nerve in holding against
every conner the little island whose in
tegrity means so much to every quarter
of the Globe. The tendency will be to
recognize the danger Of maintaining
the center of power where power can
be cut off. This danger will be recog-
nized by each part OF the whole. Out
of these feelings will probably grow
vital federation of the British possess
;.,. u,horoiu aach anOt of EnQIand'S