Year: 1871




progress which public sentiment in
favor of annexation to the United
States has made within few years.
THIS feeling is much Stronger in Lower
Canada than elsewhere, and there are
many reasons why it should be so.
There is less business transacted aud
less money in circulation in Lower Cau>
ada than in Upper Canada, with less
demand for labor, and consequently
more poverty Lower Canada is in
habited generally by French popula
ton French is the language usually
spoken, and the pc 'ple have inherited
the traditional antipathy to England.
An immense emigration from Lower
Canada to the United States has been
in progress Tor years, and the accounts
sent back Of the improved condition nt
those who have emigrated, have served
to create favorable impression on the
minds ot those who have ramaiued at
home in regard to the United States
and their institutions. \ great ma j"rity
of the people in Quebec and the coun
try paris hes IN that part of the Province
are fo>day hear lily in favor of annexa-
Oh. Montreal is more pr, sperous and
aud the people are better satisfied, but
still there"are many annexationists.


In Upper Canada there is not thar
discomfort with British rule manifested
that is freely expressed in Liver Can
ada but there are influences at work
in f'vor Of annexation which will even
tuaiiy be very powerful The oppo,l>
uon tn any movement which could re-
suit In annexation includes politicians
of both the Liberal ard Conservative
parties pensioners and other beDetici-
aries of the English Government;
the descendants of Tories Of the Amer
lean Revolution who were driven out of
the United States for their opposition
TO American Independence pauperS
aud descendants Of paupers, who have
been sent to Great Britain at the rub.
lie expense; and the Irish Orangcmcn,
who are numerous, aud as a class in
ren~ely loyal to the British Crown
When the new census is completed
Upper Canada expects to show "a pop
ulation equal to that OF all the other
Provinces combined. and consequently
TO be able to control the legislation Of
the whole Dominion. and its politicians
hope to rue the country. For this
reason they are generally opposed to
he idea of annexation.


On the other hand, there is a large
American element in the population OF
Upper Canada many Of the most en-
terpristne business men are from the
{ United States, and these are all fully
alive to the advantages which would
result to Canada from admission to the
American Union. Nearly all the
Catholic Irish, who are abundant in all
parts of Canada. are annexationists if
there were no other reason for such
sentiment, the fact that the Orangemen
are opposed to it would be sufficient
The rnral population, aside from the
classes mentioned above are generally
in favor of the change; they are con.
vinced that if annexation should take
place. the introduction of American
enterprise and methods would increase
the value of their property, and render
oil classes more prosperous. This
f cling has been gaining ground srnre
the abrogation of the reciprocity treaty


Throughout the Lower Provinces
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
there is strong aud energetic party in
in favor of annexation Under the
terms of the Canadian Confederation.
their representatives are in a hopeless
minority, and their influence in the
general legislation for the Dominion
amounts to nothing The people arc
dissatisfied and d>conrented with the
new order of-thngs there are no i'm
portant ties of trade or intercourse to
attach them to the other Provinces.
while every instinct of self interest
would naturally induce them to d sire
annexation. Besides, the American
Republic offers the most available
market for their productions of every
kind. These reasons for desiring
change increase in strength and add 10
the number OF annexationlsts with each
succeeding year.


1t will be seen that the causes which
have operated to excite a desire for am
nexatlon in the minds of Canadians
must become more and more potent so
long as the present state Of affairs con
tinuas, while the obstacles in the way of
such an event are constantly becoming
less formidable. IT the annexation
feeling continues to grow 10 the future
| in the same ratio that has marked its
progress for the last few years, it will
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