The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-03
THAT AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

The Manitoba Free Press of Winnipeg,
replying to an editorial in T h e Jour
al |, on the political influence of the
American immigrants into western
Canada argues that they will surely be-
come good Canadians, no matter how large
their numbers. The question raised by
the same editorial has also been taken up
by the New York Commercial Advertiser
which, on the whole, agrees with the Free
Press. Both reason from much the same
grounds, the Advertiser saying, for in
stance, that if the American population
We're settling in country whose insti-
buttons and native population were radi-
cally different from the home country
their preponderating numbers would re-
suit In considerable changes. but that
there is little reason to expect that, with
conditions SO agreeable to them as they
are in western Canada, there will be
a ~sufficient motive for political action.
The Canadians and Americans are so
much alike in their social as we'll as their
political systems that what changes are
brought about when the two populations
mingle will depend upon which eXerts
the superior attraction-that is to say
which will be the strongest element. The
indications now are that the American
element will, in ten years, greatly out
number all other elements in western
Canada. It will not be mere superiority
OF nose counts either, for the new settlers
will produce men who will take the first
rank in business and society. Western
even more so than at present. The Amer
lean point Of view will be easily under
stood. The new population will have
none of the ancient prejudices of some
eastern Canadians against Americans, it
will have no sentimental attachment
whatever to the British throne and will
be inclined to smile at the difference
shown to royalty even in democratic Can
ada It will be Canadian in the powerful
sense that Its interests will be in west
ern Canada. and where the interest is
there also Is the heart. But if American
policy toward Canada is 80 wisely directed
that it does not run counter to the bust
ness interests of these new Canadians
but. rather. favors them they will tend
to oppose any movement in Canadian poll
4ics looking to imperial federation or an
Imperial zollverein, and will be a constant
passive factor making for annexation.
They Will go into Canada deploring the
existence Of the forty ninth parallel as a
boundary line and they will continue to
deplore it. They will think, as they think
now, that all Engish-speaki North
America ought to be one territorially i'm
mense and racially homogeneous nation.
We believe that the future historian Of
America when he comes to describe the
Inevitable union of the United States and
Canada will find that the peop1ing of the
fertile lands of western Canda by Ameri-
cans was the beginning Of the end It
will all come about peaceably, happily,
satisfactorily-if we may be allowed to
prophesy. In the meantime Canadians and
Americans will dwell together in peace
and increasing amity. We have not been
fair to Canada on this side of the line
as the Free Press asserts and we have
often admitted-but there will ere long
be a pronounced change in our policy
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Prouty paid his respects to Governor Van
SAINT and Attorney General Knox in a
speech in Chicago yesterday in the follow
ing peculiar manner:
II competition has been the regulator OF
railway rates in the past and that CONNECT