Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18
Canada's Future.

Canada'S Future.
The Montreal Standard is of the opinion
that The Stars reference In a recent
editorial on Canadian reciprocity to 1.-The
isolation and humiliation of the colonial
position is another instance Of misunder-
standing on this side of the border of
Canada and it's people. The Standard
says:
eff this idea Of humiliation is due to
the fact that in the empire of which
Canada forms part there is central
paramount power in imperial matters,
then it would be equally reasonable to
say that the position of the great state
Of New York is one of humiliation, be-
cause above and beyond the government
of the state and in the field of national
affairs there are the federal legislature
and the government of the Union
The vital difference in the two cases is
Of course that the New Yorker is directly
represented in the central paramount
power" while the Canadian has no such
representation. New York is sovereign
state. with equal representation in the
upper house. and larger representation
than any other state in the lower house
OF the national legislature. 1t participates
In this national government Of the people
by the people. Canada, on the other hand
however populouS. prosperous and we'll
governed. and by the grace of Great
Britain however self-governed in local
concerns is colony in its imperial rela-
lions. without direct representation in the
imperial parliament at London, the Cen
trail paramount power In the great
British federation Canada has no part as
or right in the federaton's supreme
council. In imperial affairs it is fed
Grated dependency, governed by others
and without participation in that govern
ment.
If New York were deprived of repre-
sentation in the national Senate and
House of Representatives; and il its
governor. instead of being elected as a
New Yorker by its people, were appoint
ed perhaps from Texas or Oklahoma by
the national President; and if it's state
senate, instead of being elected, were
appointed for life by this alien governor:
and finally, if Congress dts paramount
central legislature in which 1t had no
representation were transferred in To-
cation to the other side Of the Atlantic,
then (and only them would New York
stand in approximately the same relation
to the national government as that in
which the Dominion Of Canada stands
to the British imperial government at
London.
There are doubtless at this time as few
Canadians who wish annexation to the
United States as there are Americans
who strongly desire such annexation, and
1t may happen that the annexationists on
neither side will ever materially increase
in number. But there are thousands of
Canadians who recognize and resent the
Isolation and humiliation of the colonial
position OF federated dependency, which de-
prfves them of representation and partici-
patton in the central paramount power
which governs them. And the future of
nations holds, in The Stars opinion, moth
ing more certain than that at some time
not far distant the Canadians, grown
great in numbers, in wealth and especial
ly In the development of Canadian ma
tional sentiment. will demand and secure
representation in their central paramount
government. whether it is to be placed at
Ottawa or London or Washington.
They will not forever remain in i'm
perial concerns defective and dependent
among Britishers. They will become
either full-fedged British. with equal
representation in parliament, or indie
pendent Canadians. or sovereign Ameri-
can citizens. 1t may be that the most
hhely diterHdtlVe Is tnaI OF the creation
OF the independent republic of Canada,
and that the least likely alternative is
that of becoming as states of the Union
an integral part of the American re-
public.
The Standard is in error in thinking
that The Star is concerned in the least
to accomplish Canadian annexation, and
that The Star misunderstands and mis-
represents Canadian conditions to further
that end. The Star and, it believes,
Americans generally wish for Canada
all Of the development and prosperity
and happiness possible under whatever
form OF government its people may de-
eide to be best promotive of their well
fare. Canada is and will continue to be
q good and desirable neignbor, whether
it remains a federated dependency or en-
joys full representative government. II
The Star has erred at all in the matter
il is from excess Of optimism in belev-
ing that the future has greater things
in store for Canada than the Standard
is willing to concede, and in predicting
that the Canadians. as selfreiant North
Americans, will surely secure representa-
tive self-government in imperial or ma
tional as well as in colonial or state at
fairs