The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-03
RECIPROCITY AND ANNEXATION.
Former An Immediate Possibility, Lat
ter is Remote,

The imperialistic section of the Brit.
ish press naturally does not view with
delight the probability thai the United
States and Canada will come into closer
trade relations. The London Mail, see
ing in the reciprocity agreement blow
at imperial federation anil the end OF
the imperial preference of which Canada
| is the cornerstone. asks. Has Canada
/ in drawing nearer To the United States,
| set her foot on the road to separation
| from Great Britain?p The London Post
| holding that economic interests in the
/ long run control, says that If Canada'i
1 economic interests become predominant
/ ingly American so viii her defense pol
/ icy and her national ideals. "The peo-
| pie may not wish it, says the Post
"but if an economic basis is established
the sequence is beyond their power to
control" The London Telegraph con-
eeiyes that the appointment Of the UNI
Gle Of King George az Yiceroy is an at
| tempt on the part Of the British gov
eminent ito counterfeit the possibly n-
| furious effects Of the commercial APP
Proclamation Of the dominion and the
| United States"
As to what will be the ultimate po-
! litical effects of the ratification of the
reciprocity agreement it is idle and
proftless to attempt to predict. In such
matters we are in the hands of circum-
stances and conditions not yet in be-
ing. So far as the present is concerned
there does not seem TO be any consider
able body OF public opinion in Canada
in favor of political union. Lacking
this there will be no movement on either
side of the border toward annexation,
for this country, eherishing no aggres-
siye intentions, will wait for Canada
to knock before opening the door and
extending an invitation to enter. At
this juncture ii Is unnecessary to com
plcate the discussion of the reciprocity
question BY talk. of annexation. 1t has
enough merits in itself to warrant its
adoption without consideration Of the
possible things it will bring in its train.
To all practical purposes Canada is
now and has been for many years an
independent nation. 1t makes its own
laws, adopts its own fiscal policy, main
tains its own army, establishes its own
foreign policy. Its political relations to
Great Britain are nominal and senti-
mental The allegiance of Canadians
runs TO Canada There has been no
formal proclamation of independence,
but a multitude Of acts assuming it.
A hundred and thirty-flye years ago
Great Britain learned something in re-
gard to the impossibility Of holding
self-governing colonies against their will
and has never forgotten the lesson. The
surrender at Yorktown not only won in
dependence for the United States but
potential independence for Canada Our
Canadian cousins have had opportunity
to pursue their way unfretted and to
enjoy a gradual expansion of autonomy
largely because Washington fought and
won. 1t is conceivable that Great Brit
ain would not have been as sweetly
tolerant Of Canadian aspirations had not
a series of great events compelled her
to realize that no other satisfactory
policy offered itself. However this may
be, it is clear that Canada in all but
name is a nation-a nation that is to
include within her limits a larger popu-
lation than occupies the British islands.
What is TO be her ultimate destiny will
be determined, not by United States
opinion, and not by British opinion, but
BY Canadian opinion.
But more now than ever before econ
omic interest, by slow pressure, con
trolls the thoughts and the sentiments
of men. If Canada and the United
States are knit together by commercial
bonds these may easily lead to more
intimate relations in other respects.
Our constitutional system, with its care
fully guarded decentralization and guar
antees of local self government, is we'll
adapted TO expansion. At present Can
ada, not without reason, believes that
she does many things relating 10 the
probabilities of government better than
we, and looks askanee at the intrusion
of American influence. But the United
States is slowly but steadily improving,
and the time may arrive when Can
adams will deem it safe for them to
join us. OF course such a elimination
is far of, and If ii comes must come
Of itself. Nevertheless, the dreams Of
the present are the realities of the flu
ture, and one can readily see how the
statesmanlike policy whose adoption
President Taft is urging may readily
lead TO greater things.-New York
Globe.