New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-13

cal Interpretation Of such words as inde-
pcndence and liberty and nationalism and
freedom. there is deep in the heart of most
Canadians q real loyalty to British con-
nection. real and basic pride in the
British Empire. Professor Wrong stated in
New York the other day that Canada could
separate from Britain If she chose; had
he said, almost anywhere in the Dominion,
that she should separate from Britain he
would have had z most unplea SAINT recep-
ton.
Perhaps the fact is that Canadians do
not care much for distractions or theories
or mere words or definitions: tha great
majority intend to stay within the empire
and to let the shape and form of that
membership be adjusted by time and cir
cumstance. As to the Liberal party, its
utterances are not so easily disposed or.
The point Of view OF those mentioned here
has never been enthusiastically British.
Mr Justice Longley and Senator Ellis, with
Or Goodwin Smith, were years ago avoWed
peheEers IN annexation; Mr.. EWart wants
closer United States relations to-day and
prefers the Monroe Doctrine as means
OF Canadian protection to the British navy.
'4he Toronto Globe advocated reciprocity
ana commercial union with the United
the Liberal party was toward the Republic;
most important of all. Sir Wilfrid Laurter
III 1882 spoke in Parliament (Hansard de-
bates. page 1l42) as follows.
l held out to my fellow countrymen the.
idea of Independence. If We are true to
our record we will again exhibit to the
world the unique example OF a nation
achieving its Independence by slow degrees
and as naturally as the severing of the
ripe fruit from the parent tree. / have
again and again repeated that the goal Of
my aspiration is the Independence Of Can
aoa-to see Canada an independent nation
IN due course Of time"
He has expressed many things differently
since that time and has done many things
which may be construed as the reverse of
separatism. 1t would be hard to accuse
him Of that desire, and it is not for your
correspondent to do so, though certain op-
position leaders do not hesitate TO take
that ground
II is interesting, however, TO point out
and consider these party tendencies: il IS
probable that the political issue Of the
future viii be independence or imperialism.
II SO, the development will be greatly af-
fected by the present struggle in England,
il which the recent elections are step.
Should tariff reform and the colonial pref
erence be forced into the background, eli
the clements looking toward separation as
an Ultima Thule win be encouraged. Should
the Unicnlsts win, every imperalist in
Canada will feel his hand strengthened, the
government party will be very cautious
and indeed, party lines NAV show very
distinct cieaTases and policies in general
assume an altogether different complexion.
OF one thing, and one thing only, in such
specul2tions may the outsider be certain,
and that is that no actual and complies
separation OF Canada from Great Britain
can take place without bIoodshed Civil
war there would inevitably be. To any
close student Of modern British history
another thing is certain-that Great Britain
viii never give any real cause for separa-
ton and NJ I'D consider it a NEST painful
and unnecessary action. J. {. II.