The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-18
Getting Closer.

For century or so the Y UIte0 S'1fNt
hes lived neXi-door neiEhhor to can.
ada, without any dividing wall or tine
fence to mark the boundaries, Til.
theoretical and political line lay some
where. but 80 far as people were con-
cerned 81 vas imaginary. People from
Canada crossed into the United States
and people from the United states
crossed into Canada daily whenever
they felt so disposed They required
no passports and were not bothered by
anyone save the customs officials, and
these acted perfunctoriy.
In al this time there was never
any trouble. Intercourse was marked
BY good fellowship and good feeling
Shortly after the Civil war band OF
crazy people calling themselves
Fenians, made great preparations 10
cross the line They were going 10
take" Canada, and in this way free"
Ireland. The Canadians were ready
halt, and the trouble was at an
end.
Belonging to different nations and
living under different governments, the
people were much the same, chino
logically. Before we annexed Alaska.
Canada was terrltoriaIly somewhat
larger than the United States, but
was spaTsely settled Canada had
much fertile agricultural land IN the
ST. Lawrence and Ottawa river val
leys, and along the tributaries to these
streams, but thousands of square miles
were given over to virgin forests and
rocks, mills and mountains that were
inhospitable to agriculturists and ten
anted by lumber shsntes Here and
there farmer picked out level spot
In a valley between two mountains,
using the streams for his highway and
travelling in canoes, which with their
caTEoes had to be carried around rap
ids where the waters descended in
fury.
In Eastern Canada, in the province
Of Quebec especially French Canadians
huddled--a most. prolific Tace--and soon
the country was overcrowded The
original farms, never very large, were
divided and suhdivided to accommodate
succeeding generations and give TO each
access TO the soil, Afterward began
an exodus Millions Of these people
migrated IN New England to find work
in the factories and industrial centers,
ana crowded out the native Americans,
who moved West The great prairie
countries OF Northwestern Canada be
ing discovered. vast herdes Of Amcri-
cans we're attracted thlther Great
rivers flowed to the Hudson bay and !
the Arctic circle. 1t was a new en-
pire and well adapted to wheat raising |
The newcomers prospered and the Sec
ton sc long neglected soon became one !
Of the important units in the world
food production These people are
strongly pro-American, and would TO-
ioice to see their country joined to tine
United States British control Irhei |
Ire intimate business interests OF other
parts Of Canada whose dealings with
this country were large and growing
Closer relations were sought and dur
ing the Taft administration an effort
was made to bring about closer com
mercial relations through reciprocity
which meant practically a wipng out Of
tariff restrictions
Big business on both sides OF the i.na
The ststu quo suited them
and they wanted no change The quc--
zion became political issue lo Cam
ada. the Liberals led by the lat VIII
r.
while the Conservatives. 1rd rs the
present premier Borden opposed u
Borden was victorious. but the desire
for closer commercial relations Poe
manned. and IT has Won a partial vie.
tory in the appointment Of a canadian
ambassador {, Washington To doal
with purely CANADIAN quest.ors po
questions inyoINrs other than 'aradttn
interest the British Ambassador wlH
continue 10 have eNsiuel'' ,"" r'i
This new departure may Co., tn. na-
ginning ~ something NOR Horcm.@l-
The closer and more lntma,, the r,'t-
lions between this country and canada.
and the greater the Independence 0f
that country, the stronger the desire for
Canadian nationality and autonomy
viii become. but Canada Is lalal 80
Britain She proved thus 10 tle late
war. when she gaze literally Of her
seant means TO bc'p England and sent
thousands Of her valiant sons - fight
her battles In France and Uori9m
in Flanders and along The Western
from