The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-05
Will They Americanize the Domin-
I ion in Time, or Will They Be-
come Canadianized? i
A Question That Troubles the Pa.
triots of Eastern Canada Great
.', ly Just Now.
They Like the Wonderful Develop.
ment of the Country, but Fear
the Political Effects.
from a Staff Correspondent.

Erom Staff Correspondent.
Toronto, Ont, Dec. 5.-"What about the
American invasion of Canada?" is uues-
ton I have put to many of the leaders
Of Canadian thought and action in the last
Sow days.
lean capital there is no difference Of opin-
ion. Everybody welcomes it cordially. AS
to the invasion by American goods AMI
the American immigration into the Can
adam west there are different opinions
IN eastern Canada, which considers itself
the real essence of Canada.
American capital means more money in
Canada, more factories, more railways,
more Development more employment,
more trade. The Canadian is quite will
Ing to see some Of the dividends go to
the United States, and has an idea that
In time he will buy out the works Of the
Americans. The Canadians want all the
money they can get their hands on for
the opening Of their new country.
AS for American goods, which came into
the country to the extent of $120, 200, 900
last year and give promise of coming in
larger value this year, there are differ
cnces Of opinion. The goods themselves
are all right, but Jack Canuck hates to
put his hand into his pocket to settle the
big adverse balance Of trade. He wouldn't
care much about the size Of the imports
If he was sending goods to the United
DULLES Ill approximately 1ull payment OF
what he receives. Somehow he thinks
that Uncle Sam doesn't realize what
good customer Canada Is, and doesn't use
Canada as a good customer should DE
used.
AS to the new American settlers in the
west, whose numbers have often been
exaggerated, but who really counted up
about 10000 this year alone. Canadian
opinion is divided. 1t is fact that al
ready some Canadians are half repenting
or their eagerness for American settlers
q short time since. They are wondering
what will be the political effect Of filing
UP the Canadian west with Americans.
They fear a cleavage between the Can
adam east and west and a revival of an
nexation agitation They fear that there
is more than figure of speech in talk
about the Americanization of western
Canada.
I suspect that there are some people in
the Dominion that would rather see the
population OF Manitoba, Assiniboia, AL
berta and Saska tcheWan set back some
years than see the American set
tiers predominant in those regions They
don't want any more settlers than they
can assimilate. They are determined not
to be assinilated. by the settlers. They
hope that immigration from Europe, es-
pecially from the British islands, will
offset the American influx. At the same
time. 1t Is felt in this country that the
for the new regions, and checking of
the American movement would be re-
GREETED by these same people. They hes
ftate between the certain material good
of the country and patriotic considera-
lions.
Another and more numerous class
thinks that there Is nothing to fear from
any number of Americans. The local
self-interest of the new settlers and the
natural disposition Of men to fall into
well-traveled roads and adapt themselves
TO existing conditions are relied upon to
make good Canadians of the Americans.
Recalling the fact that there are more
than a million good Americans who were
once good Canadians, those who take this
view argue that there is no reason why
million good Americans Of to-day should
not make good Canadians tomorrow.
Some who have their fears as to the
success of an endeavor to Canadianize
largo masses of Americans, however sue
cessful the undertaking may have been
In such conspicuous cases as Sir William
Van Horne and his successors in the presi-
dency of the Canadian Pacific, Sir Thomas
Shaughnessy. are quite willing to take
chances on the future for the sake of the
immediate substantial benefit to Canada
With all Canadians who believe in
American immigration, the fear is that
the movement will fall off rather than it
may keep up. 1t is hint to American
statesmen that some Canadian observers
are already beginning to predict that the
great irrigation works which the Amer
lean government Is now beginning will
divert American immigration from Cana da
before it has fairly started. This it Is
thought, would be great calamity for
Canada, because Canada" can't develop
without population, no matter how much
capital may be available. It hasn't the
surplus population itself, and not much
success attends its efforts to get it from
Europe.
Theodore NJ Knanpen