The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-06
CHAPTER VI.
Why Have We Never Annexed Cam


This question is asked and will be an
swered without implying in the remotest
degree any feeling that We ought to have
annexed Canada. But when we look at
North America and see English institu-
tons, language and laws prevailing from
the Gulf Of Mexico to the Arctic, and
when we remember that, at the time Of
the Revolution, Canada was colony of
England as truly as Massachusetts or
Virginia, we are forced to ask, Why is
there so deep a cleft today between the
United States and Canada? Why did not
Quebec and Nova Scotia join the other
colonies in the Revolution, thus making a
union with fifteen stars in the flag, rather
than thirteen?
Broadly speaking, the reasons why the
political history Of Canada has been so
different from that of the United States
are: First, the great social difference be-
tween the English and the French of
the thirteen colonies and Canada, re-
spectiyely, at the time of the Revolution;
and, second that our military designs
on Canada, both In tho War of the Rev.
olution and in that Of 1872 failed disas-
trously.
Until 1853, when the mutteringS Of dis
content with English rule had already
begun to be loud and deep throughout
the thirteen colonies south of the st.
Lawrence, Canada had been purely
French. The result of the Seven Years
war gave Canada to England But the
Canadians were in noWiSe changed in
character and habit by this change Of
masters. And in the bosom Of the Cana
dian "habitant" 1t would have been idle
to look for the same passionate love of
civil and religious liberty, the same in
sstenee upon local government, the
same Self-reliant spirit Of initiative that
animated the English colonists. More
over, the French-Canadian was in the
main well enough satisfied with English
in exchange for French rulers. The sub
stitution was in many ways gain for
him. If England has often failed in con-
trolling energetic peoples, her rule has
generally been fair and beneficent among
=lethargic peoples
At first England governed Canada by
military rule. but in 1774, just as the Rev.
olution was seethfng to the boiling point,
parliament passed the Quebec act"
Since this new scheme of Canadian gov
eminent provoked great irritation in the
rebellious colonies, its PROVISIONS are OF
interest. They may be summarized titus:
l. The province of Quebec was extended
to the Ohio on the south and to the Mis-
sissippi on the west. 2, there was to be
governor and council of twenty-three
appointed by the king; g. full liberation
was extended to the Roman Catholic re-
ligion; d. the English criminal and the
French civil law was adopted, the latter
not allowing jury trials. How our fore
fathers looked on these provisions may
be judged from the paragraph in the
Declaration Of Independence in which
George III. Is indicted for abolishing the
free system of English laws In a neigh
boring province, establishing therein an
Tl,it Jfy
boundaries so as to render 1t at once an
example and fit instrumen. for introduce
ing the same absolute rule in these col
onies.p
Canada, of course, owing to it's condi-
ton, required considerable English mill
tary force. The French aristocracy and
the Roman Catholic clergy were on the
British side. And it could hardly be ex-
pected that Inc '-habitants would have
any special sympathy with the revolving
colonies. So, at the opening of the Revo-
luton the outlook for Canada's Joining
the other colonies was net very promis-
ing. But tha Americans greatly desired
and hoped for such cooperation. They
made blunder at first by a loud outcry
against the liberation Of the Roman
Catholic faith, but little later they
changed tone in this respect, and express
ed the wish that the whole continent, de-
spite race and religious differences, might
make common cause. Appeals by the con-
tinental congresses Of 1774 and ITS to
the people of Canada were not without
response. Indeed, unexpected as 1t might
seem, a considerable section of the
French Canadians were at first ready to
join the Americans. They did not know
exactly what they wanted, but the great
measure of emancipation from aristocrat-
ic and clerical control brought by the
English regime made them desire more
still. In liza we find Quebec sending
1000 bushels OF wheat to Boston. which,
at the time, was shut up from all busi-
ness by English vengeance.
The Americans early recognized the
military Importance of Canada, and the
more clearly when Gage proposed to do
what the French had often done-but no
English commander had cared to do be-
fore-to make use of Indian allies in a
border conflict. This stirred the Ameri-
cans as hardly any other measure could
have done 1t was determined to win
control Of Canada If possible. In the au-
tumn of IT'S an invasion was undertaken.
Gen. Montgomery was to ascend Lake
Champlain and take Montreal; Gen. Ben
edict Arnold was to plunge through the
Maine wilderness and invest Quebec.
The Importance attached to these eXpedi.
lions may be seen from what Washington
wrote to Arnold, Sept. IA, It's that the
conquest of Canada was "of the utmost
Importance to the interest and liberties
of America" He urges Cancellation of
the Canadians, bearing in mind that If
they are averse and will not cooperate,
or at least willingly acquiesce, 1t Ghe
conquest) must fail of success. In this
case you are by no means to prosecute
the attempt" In October r. H. Lee
wrote Washington: THE English) min
isterial dependence on Canada is so great
that no object can be Of greater impor-
lance to North America than to defeat
them there. 1t appears to me that we
must have that country with US this win
ter, cost what 1t may" A little later
Washington wrote to one of the leaders
of the expeditions: IT look upon the In
terests and salvation OF our bleeding
country in a great degree to depend upon
your success"
We will follow the fortunes Of these In
vaders, more especially those of Arnold
and his force.
Arnold had about LOO men; ten New
England companies, one Virginian and
two from Pennsylvania. Aaron Burr was
a private In one Of the companies. The
command sailed from Newburyport,
Mass, Sept 49, It's. The next day they
reached the Kennebec river. They had
provisions for ferty-ive days, but the
passage through the wilderness to que
bee took nearly two months. 1t was a
heroic struggle AS soon as the troops
got into the higher country they found
that winter had set In. Rapids must be
stemmed; now the men must wade waist
6eep and now sink to the knee in some
half-frozen bog; the boats must here be
dragged or carried for miles from wa
ter to water; again. the path lay through
thick, tangled underbrush. Three COM
panies fell out and went back to Cam
bridge. At length tie st. Lawrence val
ley was reached Many were barefoot
and their clothing was but rags, their