Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09

virtue Of being a British colony, in nearly
all of the treaties made by England with
foreis7 countries, Canada has more or less
intimate relations with all the leading
countries of the world with the exception
of the United States and yet for years
past there has been no time when some
negotiation was not proposed or under
way.
The futility Of attempting to separate
two peoples of like lineage and tongue by
a boundary line and so adjust their inter-
ests as to have them remain distinct and
yet at the same time amicabla Is here IL
Illustrated more clearly than In any other
part of the world.
The fisherman of the Maine coast, the
lumberman Of Quebec the manufacturer
of Ontario of Minnesota, the farmer of
Manitoba or of North Dakota, the miner
of British Columbia or of Idaho sees no
difference between his own interests and
those of his fellow workman across the
line. And yet the Canadian with produce
for barter is met at the border by high
tariff wall over which he is forced to climb
on the same terms as the Russian, the
Turk or any other trader from remote re-
gions.
American Exporter Handicapped.
The American exporter in his journey
to the north to supply his Canadian Gus
toner with things he must have finds him
self handicapped in competition with other
more distant peoples by discrimination in
favor of the latter. When all is said and
done it is with the people of the United
States Canadians desire to trade Here
is their best market in which both to buy
and sell If the goods of all other coun-
tries were admitted into Canada free of
duty still the intimate business relations
of the Canadian people and the people Of
the United States, their geographical posi-
ton and the tendency of natural trade
channels would lead to an exchange of
commodities that would exceed in volume
and value the exchanges elsewhere.
Reluctant as he may be to acknowledge
1t, Mr.. Fielding, the minister of finance and
the originator of the Fielding preferential
tariff. as it is known in Canada is continu-
ally confronted with this fixed condition
in his preparation of tariff schedules. He
has made and is making a gallant effort
to overcome this tremendous handicap in
trading with other peoples, but with only
partial success, and it is strictly true that
all legislation or treaty making affecting
the trade of Canada with other foreign
countries is brought about largely for it's
ultimate effect upon the trade with the
United States.
The attitude Of the United States to-
ward Canada is one of Indifference. She
is not an issue in our local politics. The
home market in the United States is so
great, so unceasing in it's demands, that
American export trade is largely a question
of surplus rather than of original intention.
In the course of a session of Congress in
Washington 1t would be an exception were
the relations of this country with Canada
or matters of Canadian interest to occupy
more than few brief moments of legisla-
tive time.
In Canada the situation is reversed to a
degree which at times possesses elements
of tragedy and at others even a slight
touch of comedy. The Canadian people are
brave in their declaration Of commercial
independence and the dream of a greater
and independent Canadian nation has its
destinations for her people. 1t is the cor
rect thing for her politicians and public
speakers to reiterate Canada's present in
difference to her neighbor to the south, but
there is always a bitterness SO apparent in
this declaration that it bellies itself.
Little Sympathy Between Sections.
There is little sympathy between eastern
and western Canada in the matter of
trade and commerce. The people west of
Lake Superior do not as a rule. go to east
ern Canada for business for pleasure
st. Paul. Minneapolis and Chicago offer
more attractions to the citizen of Winnipeg
and are far easier of access than Toronto
Ottawa, Montreal or Quebec To make this
access more difficult. to increase the cost
of everything brought across the line. would
be a dangerous move on the part of the
Canadian government. And thus while out
lining and advocating policy of independ
ence and even retaliation against the
confronted with condition which necessi
tates caution and moderation.
Some years ago a movement for the an
neXation of Canada to the United States
obtained considerable Roadway and men
dared advocate it openly even to the extent
of organizing for that purpose. Today such
a movement would find few supporters, but,
paradoXical as 1t may seem, annexation at
some distant day is looked upon by very
large number of Canadians as one of the
inevtabilitieS.
There are five and one-half million peo-
pie in Canada. There are now twelve
hundred thousand Canadians living In the
United States. The interests of the mari
time provinces have always been identical
with those of New England this very
sameness of interest giving rise to the pres
ent international controversies The peo-
pie of extreme western Canada are more
American in manner, sentiment and bust
ness interests than they are British, or
rather Canadian. The balance wheel of
loyalty to the British flag lies in the prov
ince of Ontario where the sturdy families
of English. Scotch and Irish descent cling
with characteristic loyalty and fxedness to
the traditions of their fathers.
Canadian banks. railroads. mines mills,
lands. and in fact. almost every branch of
industry, are feeling the rejuvenating effect
of American money and the stimulus of
American management with it's brisker and
more enterprisfng methods. The Canadians
IN the United States exert q strong pull on
Canada toward them. American interests
in Canada, industrial and agricultural form
a nucleus for an annexation sentiment in
that country which works in harmony with
that across the line. Both are reinforced
by the natural and logical necessity of in
time eliminating the political division be-
tween the two countries and foreshadow
an event the coming of which will be soon
or late as the relations of the two peoples
may be from time to time determined by
their respective legislative representatives
]. d. WHELPLEY.
Middle Age.
From the London