Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-06
CANADA
BE ANNEXED?

, ton from England, are rapidly out
numbering the purely Anglo-Saxon ele-
ment. In all Canada there are only
9S6 .545 natives of the united kingdom.
It is therefore not surprising that Sir
WiIfrid Laurierin his heart Of hearts
regards Lord Dundonald and other
Englishmen as foreigners" and that
the Canadian ministers do not in the
inner recesses of their intelligence
consider that the British navy is worth
to them a copper coin.
Canada today owes its national ex-
istence to the forbearance and to the
pacific policy of the United States.
Canada neglects even such military
preparation as would enable her to de.
fend herself successfully against the
United States. Her Indifference to the
british navy stares Downing street In
the face. Does not this prove that the
ruling classes in Canada neither fear
the United States nor value the Brit
ish connection?
A minority of Canadians are un-
doubtedly loyal to an extent which
may be described as passionate. The
church of Rome in lower Canada,
moreover, enjoys a freedom which
might not be accorded her under the
Stars and Stripes; if therefore the
ne with Great Britain is slender the
movement towards disruption is
feeble
But the process of separation has
begun. British immigration to Can
ada no longer consists of the mate
rial requisite for the manufacture of
first rate colonists III per cent of
the inhabitants of the united kingdom
live in streets. The majority of our
immigrants to Canada are not of ru-
raj but Of urban extraction. The i'm
migrants from the United States, on
the contrary, who are twice as nu-
merous as the British, possesses higher
intellectual equipment and a physical
ability better adapted for success in
the struggle for life in the northwest
ern provinces.
1t is fact that the English farmer
and his sons who try their luck in
Canada are some way behind the en-
terprise and alert Yankee who is ac.
quainted with the latest methods Of
wringing wealth out of the soil. Eng
lish conservatism and our insular
habit of thinking ourselves better than
anyone else is sometimes an impedi-
ment to the mastery of knowledge that
is essential to success in farming
The northwest of Canada is becom.
ing Americanized under the influence
Of smart Yankee farmers and traders,
who import the hustling methods in
vogue south of the 49 tn parallel.
There are 30O.O00,000 acres of wheat
lands in western Canada of which
barely One-third are utilized The va
NoAN lahAo NaAl hNNtA uN uNNuDltu ny
British immigrants, because only lS
per cent Of our population. including
the Irish and Scotch, live on the soil,
and the majority OF those are sub.
merged in poverty owing to inadequ.
ate wages, unsanitary housing and too
limited education, The vacant lands
in Canada. therefore, will be filed up
by men and women of other races.
many Of whom will maintain ties of
affection and interest, not with Eng.
land. but with the United States.
This brief review OF the facts shows
three streams of tendency proceed.
ing on separate lines which point to
the detachment OF Canada from the
British crown.
First there is the magnetism of the
states ON the dominion and the capac-
ity of 100000 people to give COM
merciai benefits to $500. 600, and thus
appeal to those material considera-
tions which, in our age. have so large.
~ superseded the ideals and inspira.
tions OF more religious era.
Secondly, there is the growing in,
difference Of the rulers OF Canada TO
the British connection and to the
British crown. shown by Sir William
Laurier's treatment OF Lord Dundon.
aid, by the neglect TO contribute 10
the British navy, and by the assertion
OF Canadian nationality. although no
preparation Is made for war. The
touohstone by which the condition Of
nation may be judged safely is tae
standard or readiness for war accented
by rulers and people. The reason
why efficient preparation for war by
sea and land is the true touchstone
OF national Wilderness. and yigor Is
because neither a democracy nor de
spousm can prepare for successful
war unless il knows the truth about