The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-11
GREATER THAN TWO NATIONS.


1t is generally understood that the failure
of the Anglo-American joint commission to
settle the differences existing between the
United States and Great Britain is due to
Canada. which is assumed to be a depend
ency OF the latter. The two powers could
easily have agreed, but Canada, with a
population of five millions. was able to in
tervene and prevent Great Britain from
acting. Consequently, throughout the nego-
~tiations Canada and Great Britain have
presented the spectacle of the spoiled and
willful child and the indulgent and weak
parent. For many years Great Britain has
seemed TO be fearful that Canada would
either seek to be an independent government
or in a fit Of passion would annex itself to
the United States. AT times Canada has
talked Of doing both. but at no time has
there been any considerable element in Can
ada favorable to annexation. Canada,
through its political leaders, processes ex-
cessive loyalty to the mother country" but
in their hearts and in their ambitions
these leaders are for an independent
Canada that shall be a nation of itself. AT
the present time Canada enjoys all of the
advantages of independence and none of it's
responsibilities. AS the spoiled child, it
compels Great Britain to refuse to adjust
differences which British interests require
TO be settled because the United States will
not yield to the harsh demands of Canada.
Canada demands the markets of the United
States, but cannot or will not give anything
in return. 1t demands a line between the
British possessions and Alaska which will
insure Canada territory and ports which do
not belong to it. Because its demands were
not conceded the high joint commission
thus far is a failure, Great Britain, for some
reason, fearing to relegate its unruly child
to its position Of colonial dependency. The
very able political leaders in Canada, both
Conservative and Liberal, proceed upon The
assumption that all the rest of the world
was made for the use of Canada.
But, while politically united when it meets
the outside world, it Is as heterogeneous
as unfusible races and distinct languages
can make it. The province Of Quebec is no
nearer being British than it was when
France was forced to cede it to Great Brit
ain. In thought, language and religion
Quebec is French-not the French of to-day,
but that Of a century and a half ago. The
middle province, Ontario, judged by it's
chief city, Toronto, is more American than
British. It's citizens have the look and the
manner of Americans. West of AXE Supe-
rior the inhabitants are really British. They
are direct from England. and to them home
is across the water" Quebec is more for
eign TO the rest of Canada to-day than it
is to New England and New York, because
the hundreds of thousands of ''Canucks'
who have immigrated to the factory towns
Of those sections are forced to learn the
language and adopt the customs of Ameri-
cans.
Canada cannot be regarded as a prosper
Gus country. Much has been done to induce
immigrants TO settle IN Canada, but the
larger part of them who land in it's cities
find their way to the United States. Its gain
in population from decade to decade is
small, while the growth of it's public debt
continues because of the subsidies to rail-
way and other enterprises which are the
bond of union. And vet the statesmen of
the Dominion of Canada are able TO prevent
the United States and Great Britain from
perfecting negotiations which are of great
interest to both n~ations-fve millions of
people against one hundred and thirteen
millions.