The Washington times., 1904-09-29
CANADA HOPES NOW
FOR INDEPENDENCE
Annexation Is No Longer
Talked OF.
ELECTION A RACE STRUGGLE
Most Important Contest Since Confed.
Grafton in Is6z-Loss Of
Population.

TORONTO, Ontario, Sept 25.-lL IS
now generally understood that the cleo
lions Tor the Dominion parliament viii
come on early ia November, and the
government feels quite confident OF vic
tory.
In the opinion Of those most compe-
tent 10 judge, Ontario, the most popu-
lous and wealthy province OF the Do
minion, has become a negligible quanti-
~ for the time being, as the result viii
be determined by the majority that VIII
be given 10 Sir Wilfrld Laurier, OF the
Province OF Quebec. and by the votes Of
the provinces OF Manitoba and New
Brunswick where the French Cauad-
ian element which is numerous and
well organized. holds the balance OF
power.
A Race Struggle.
II is this fact that gives TO the ap-
preaching election the character OF a
race struggle. and makes IL, perhaps,
the most important Of any since confede-
ration in 1867.
Here in Ontario the situation Is fur
Their complicated by the importation OF
imperial politics into Dominion AFFAIRS.
and BY the reduction OF the provinces
voting strength at Ottawa through the
automatic action OF the electoral law,
which gave a hxed representation to the
province OF Quebec without regard to
population and governed the represen-
tation IN all the other provinces by the
rise fall OF their populations in reIa-
ton 70 that OF Quebec after each cen
EuEs
In this way il has come about that
Ontario loses six representative at the
coming election, which is so much TO
fhe advantage OF the Liberal party in
me othet provinces, Ontario's represen-
IaJiOn being largely Conservative.
Loss Of Population.
The causes OF the loss Of population
also tend 70 increase the anu-Liberal
sentiment IN Ontario. The opening Up
OF the northwest which has been ac-
cCmplished mainly with Ontario's
money, has drawn away from it num-
bers or its most euterprising citizens, to
the detriment Of its political influence
In the country, and created rivals out
This combination OF causes has been
too much for the endurance OF the tax
payers or the province and though a
section turns its ear 10 questions Of i'm
perlal federation, the mass As bordering
other solutions.
There is nothing more remarkable
than the extent 20 which the idea of
natiOnalIsm with independence TO follow
has progressed in this part OF Canada
during the last few years. 1t is dis
cussed by men in all sections OF society
as necessary and inevitable perhaps in
q very near future.
Annexation Forgotten.
Annexation Is word no longer heard.
and reciprocity is Immediately popular
only with the farmers. who want a
profitable market for their poultry,
eggs, dairy and other products. The
manufacturer naturally oppose 10, de-
string 10 keep the home market FOR
themselves; and the professional poll
ticians are equally against anything
that would tend TO diminish revenue
from indirect taxation and open the way
10 demands FOR the imposition. OF direct
It is not. however, considered good
business as q leading journalist here
recently expressed IL. 20 discuss indie
pendeuc6 puDucly Jusr now although II
is in every ones mind. IL is looked
on as an idea better left TO ripen with
circumstance any attempt 70 force
30 would only add 10 the existing con-
fusion and there is, besides. feeling
that III cannot be very long before there
VIII be such a change In conditions ia
Great Britain that II is more eXpeqlent
that Canada should not be committed
10 any definite policy one way or an
other. but should md herself with a
free hand when that change does come
Corporation Subsidies.
There is a last point I'm connection
with Ontario sentiment toward the Lau-
rier administration that has TO be noted 9
il is the extent 10 which subsidies are
given 10 railways and other enterprises
that bring no profit 90 the province and
are becoming "a serious drain. result
ing FIN ever increasing calls on the tax
payers. especially the farmers who
f0rlu The bulk or the population.
These are certain 20 make themselves
heard IN November at the polls, and
not probably In a. sense favorable 10
the Laurier government Fortunately
for Sir Wufrid he Is not, as before
stated, dependent on Ontario for his
majority.