The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-08

canoe ana 10 gulue IL INTO Wauers oA thoii
own selection, free from any dictation
or even partial control by the mother
country.
While Canada possesses, and exercises,
q Wide measure Of control in the conduct
OF her affairs, she is, by the terms OF
her Constitution. restricted in the full
exercise OF national powers, notably
in that Of treaty making and in the
right to appeal in certain cases.
from the Canadian courts to the Prlvy
Council of England. A case in point
appears In the Alaska boundary matter,
1t is quite certain that Canada would
very much rather settle that case her.
self with the United States than leave
it to conference in which England
and English interests may be considered
in the settlement.
In his Canada Under British Rule,
Sir JOHN BOURINoT devotes chapter
to the various questions which have
arisen between the Dominion and the
United States Commenting upon these
he says: "The United States has too often
had it's own way in controversial ques-
lions affecting the colonies which arose
between England and the ambitious
federal republic" He marks the change
which has taken place within recent
years, by which Canada Is now taken
into full consultation in all negotiations
affecting her interests. and acquires
representation on all boards of arbitra-
ton and commissions engaged in such
negotiations. The next step would be
the full right of independent deter
mination.
The right of treaty making Canada
does not possess, for the reason that it
involves an act OF sovereignty, and
Canada is not sovereign. Yet Canada's
wishes were considered when England
denounced the German treaty Of 1865.
England would make no treaty to-day
which affected Canadian interests with
out due consideration Of Canada's atti-
tude. But it ia conceivable that day
may come when the interests of the
mother land and Of the colony will con-
flict, and Canada may then suffer by the
arrangement. 1t is only few years
since those interests were regarded as
identical and were so treated.
With her rapidly increasing foreign
commerce. Canada desires and needs
more direct relations with her markets
She is now represented abroad only
through England's Consuls and other
agents. These must, naturally, first
serve the interests of England and after
ward the interests OF the other colonies,
as well as Canada. In all international
relations, political and economic, the
Canadian tendency Is toward freer, IL
not an independent hand.
Definite separation may or may not
come. sooner or later. At present, it
cannot be said that there is any marked
or general desire for It, Such proposal,
at present, would meet a strong and bitter
opposition. Yet the whole current Of
Canadian affairs sets toward conditions
which would leave no bond between
Canada and England, excepting that Of
pure sentiment. Canada is now too big.
too self-reliant and self-assertive for
leading strings. Deeply and sincerely
loyal she still is and long will be, but
loyalty to Canada first and to England
secondly is even now a Canadian charac-
teristic, particularly among the men Of
the present generation. Canadian indie
pendence in name may lie in a distant
future. Canadian independence in fact
cannot long be delayed. Long strides
have already been taken in that direction,
and the movement still sets that way.
The marked development OF the spirit
of nationality, Of which the Canadian
National League and the emblem OF the
maple leaf are only outward and visible
signs, points clearly to time when the
pride of Canadian in being Canadian
will be far greater thar his pride in being
British subject
The desire of the Canadians to exer-
else an absolute control over their own
affairs will gradually exclude England
from all voice in them. Such day may
be distant, or it may be fastened by any
one of number of existing and impend-
ing questions.