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

n Canada he would guarantee 10 return
annexation majority which would
speedily bring about the result desired.
President A5cI> in!cy was amused and
-ather startled at the suggestion thus
made. and willie such Il course is i'm
possible and such an idea would be re-
Iented by the Canadian people impoS-
sible of fulfillment. ii was, after all. but an
extravagant expression of what is in the
minds of many Canadian politicians, al
though in the present state of public senti-
ment on the surface in Canada today they
would not dare put it into words.
Another Significant Incident.
Another little incident, significant only
as an indication of the light in which prac
teal Canadians regard the future destiny
Of Canada. occurred in London at the time
of the colonial conference. Another we'll
known Canadian politician was an unoffi-
cial member of the party. While the con-
ference was in session he made trip to
France and on his return to London had in
his possession a large number of very hand
some gold buttons. made something after
the fashion Of campaign buttons, IN which
was inscribed Independence for Canada"
He approached Sir Wilfrid Laurier and
offered the premier one of these buttons to
wear. Sir Wilfrid, of course. with his
usual charming nanne~, explained that in
his position IL would be impossible for him
10 wear the decoratio But. rather amused
at the iGea, he said to his friend:
How long do you think Canada would be
independents"
His friend grew thoughtful and after re-
hecting moment he said:
''PGe train leaves Montreal for New York
at o'clock. We could reach Washington
by 3:l5 the next Afternoon and then with
u guileless sort of air he said to Sir Will
frid, Wouldn't that be long enough for
US TO he independents"
During informal discussion of the Cana
dian public debt. or argument pro and
con for the increase Of the same, ii is not
unusual To hear Canadian politician say
in a semi jOcular manner that it makes NJ.
difference how big the Canadian debt is
for in the end the Yankees Will pay it,
meaning thereby that annexation is an as
sured matter of the future and that when
il comes about the United States will alb
sorb the Canadian public debt. which while
large In its relation to the population of
the country mourning If, would be a mere
bagatelle in the finances OF the great ma
ton south of the line
OF course, these expressions and incidents
are not TO be taken seriously, nor can they
De said to reflect Canadian public opinion
ii might be formally expressed They
are significant. however, as showing the
drift OF the undercurrent and as some in
dication of what the Canadian people in
their moments of relaxation recognize as
a possibility OF the future.
The boundary between the United States
and Canada is now more than an imagin-
airy line. glance at the map of the North
preston. Physical conditions on both sides
Of the lines in the adjacent territory are the
same The lakes, prairies and mountains
as they cross the border take on no new
significance and a tree falls across the line
with the wind regardless of import duties
and international complications. The DO
hucal economist, however, has no difficulty
in determining under which flag he stands
ts he travels back and forth across the
border.
Canada's Isolation.
The United States. tremendous in all its
industries. Overlooking with energy. wealth
md prosperity, the scale of life pitched to
high key, and almost insolent In its DOM
.nant power, exerts a powerful and over
whelming influence upon all the affairs
Of the people TO the north Vast in terri
Tory, full of mysterious and illimitabIe pos
abilities, but sparse of population and
struggling with problems which might well
stagger mighty people, Canada occupies
a remarkable and strangely isolated posi-
tion. f
with geographical and commercial con-
utions which apparently point to ineyi-
iaoie annexation to the United States. at
40 time has there been a stronger feeling