English Colonies-Canada 1143 comprise the provinces of Ontario and Quebec (previously known as Upper and Lower Canada), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Manitoba, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Athabasca, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. The first four named provinces were united, July 1, 1867, and formed the nucleus of the great Dominion of Canada. In June, 1870, all of Hudson Bay Territory was transferred to the Dominion, and from it were formed the province of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. British Columbia joined the Confederation, July 1, 1871, and in 1880 all the British possessions in North America that were not in the Dominion were added to it, with the exception of Newfoundland. The present Governor-General of the whole is the Earl of Minto; the Premier and President of the Privy Council is Sir Wilfrid Laurier. For years past, as at the present time, one of the prominent questions discussed on both sides of the St. Lawrence has been the annexation of the Dominion of Canada to the United States. It would seem that all of the North American continent ought to be American; but this can never come about until Canada herself feels of that mind. Should she by a substantially unanimous voice petition the crown to permit her to withdraw her allegiance, the prayer would probably be granted. But is such petition likely ever to be made? It is extremely improbable. Canada is intensely loyal to Great Britain. She was among the first and most enthusiastic in responding to the call for volunteers for the war in South Africa, and, despite the factional differences in the Dominion, she is patriotically eager to prove her devotion at all times to the mother country. It has occurred more than once that "Fenians have crossed the border with the avowed purpose of striking a blow at Great Britain by "liberating" her Canadian subjects. In every such instance the Canadians gave them the hottest kind of a reception and sent them skurrying out of the country. It has happened several times that our Government has been forced to ask the authorities to save some of these invaders from being executed, as the laws of war would have justified. The present writer once asked a prominent Canadian whether there was a strong sentiment anywhere in the Dominion for annexation to the United States. "No, sir," was the emphatic reply; "there is no such feeling, or, if there is, it has no appreciable strength. Why should we wish to be annexed to you? What would we gain by it? How would our condition be improved? Instead of a gain we should suffer; we should be involved in your eternal political quarrels, taxes would be increased, there would be no lightening of expenses, and we should be vexed by wrangles over questions which at present are of no concern to us. We are really as independent of Great Britain as we could ask to be, or as would be good for us. We govern ourselves, and if we ever get into any trouble, we have the most powerful nation in the world to take our part and see us through, and she will do it too. This question of annexation to the United States is simply the question whether we shall throw aside the strongest and most indulgent parent that ever lived, to whom we are bound by every tie of love and gratitude, and give place to a stranger, who can never feel a tithe of the same affection for us or we for him, and with the certainty that our condition would be injured." It may be thought that this was not altogether a fair way of stating the question, but it would be idle to maintain that any large part of the population in Canada are favorable to annexation to the United States. A Canadian writer lately stated that his countrymen had been discussing some four alternatives, any one of which might become the destiny of Canada: “(1) Remaining as it is; (2) Annexation to the United States; (3) Independence; (4) Membership in a new British Empire. The discussion is said largely to have ceased." Canada thinks she has found her destiny, and imperialism is the word. The declaration was made that this "is not a passing enthusiasm, no mere momentary warming of the heart by the sound and splendor of a pageant; it is deep and permanent." Canada contributed largely and even enthusiastically to the expenses of the Boer war, and sent some of her best troops to take part in the contest. She has become an independent and willing partner in the doings and destiny of the broad, free family of Great Britain's empire. |