The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-21
The Awakening of Canada.

AAC "a" dnOhlHS Va Sdhd0o'
The average American thinks OF
Canada-when he thinks of her AT
alias a large stretch of snowscape
about ready to fall into the arms OF
the United States, and only restrain
ed by traditional feeling OF loyalty
to the British empire.
It would surprise him immeasur-
ably to be told that Canada's produc-
tion OF wheat. for instance. is enough
To feed all Of Europe without inter
fering with her home supply. That
Canada's cities are growing with a
rapidty equal to our own. and that
the immigration OF Americans into
Western Canada amounts almost to
the dimensions Of an exodus, and
that. instead of wanting to throw
herself into our arms, there is a
strong feeling Of dislike for the
American in the great body Of the
dominion.
Years age there was strong an
neXattnn sentiment Once II there
had teen any effort to cultivate that
sentiment Canada would gladly have
united herself with us, Wyman was
the great exponent of the annexation
idea, and many Canadians were elect
ed to parliament on that issue, but
many of our so-Calcd statesmen OBJ
iected 10 annexation on account of
Canada's debt OF S200000,000, and
that opportunity fled. Now, through
the war, Canada $ debt runs into the
thousands II millions but her re-
sources have developed SO enormous
~ that it IS mere trifIe. Not only
ts the annexation sentiment dead.
but few years ago II proposition
was brought up in all seriousness
by member Of parliament to pur-
chase the New England states
There is a distinct feeling Of ma
tionality rising, This manifests it.
self in many ways besides the de-
sire to have their own minister in
Washington. Canadian history is
being studied as never before. The
splendid deeds OF Canadians in South
Africa and the world war are being
pictured on canvas, sung in song and
told in story. Canadian children are
being taught that Canada is for
and not merely colonial
outpost of the British empire.
or course there is the French prob
lem in Quebec, question that is be-
coming more acute all the time. There
are approximately two million and a
half French speaking Canadians in
a population OF little over eight
millions. These remain what Prof |
Smith termed IAN undigest-
"a mass in the body polite" They
not n decaying remnant, but |
IN alert, increasing number They |
ire the most prolific branch in
America. families of 20 to Is not be-
ng Mt all uncommon. They are
argely inRuebec, numbering so per
'ent Of the population. The English
population Of that province is con-
family decreasing. Formerly there
we're Is counties that had an Eng
sh-speaking majority; new there
re but II, and those only by mar
ow margins.
Many of the leaders of French
'anada want independence. or at
east a separate government. in Que
rec, with n dominion status. This
he English and many Of the more
vide-awake French strenuously OPP
'ose. What the result will be is as
ct on the knees OF the gods The
hurch and the French enjoy excep-
Ional advantages under the law,
nd that is another source of friction.
Canada Is developing her resources
mines, fishing. farming, and manu-
icturing. A new railroad is going
Trough the northern wilderness that
Ill tap an empire Of wealth. There
: also strong agitation for the in
orporation Of Newfoundland and
ne West Indies within the confines
the dominion. Newfoundland has
'oked upon this proposition with
hilly eye, however. on the other
and, Jamaica and Barbados, Trim
lad, British Honduras and the Wind
'ard Islands are very favorable to
ne idea.
Should this happen it would have
direct bearing upon the future
rosperity Of every state in the
outh. With the indies in the hands
( Canada, the wealth in sugar fruit,
nd other products, instead of being
nloaded at New Orleans. Galveston
nd Jacksonville. would he shipped
, Halifax and Montreal We would
'se large. growing and importan,
'ade. and the whole country would |
ay twice as much as at present for n
lch imports. II has been suggested
nat our government take over the |
British and French West Indies for
ne money the two countries owe uS |
his would he a wise move aud world |
i'd the South enormously, but tive
resent administration is Indifferent, | |
nd nothing will be done in matter
nat 50 vtally affects the fuuur
rowth Of the South. That Canada |