CANADA'S DESTINY.

Evening Star, Issue 13013, 7 January 1907, Page 1

CANADA'S DESTINY.

KEGKEFICAJST DEVELOPMKN'JX Sensational developmento are qnjeUy taking place in Canada, wliich, unless speedily appreciated in their true significance and checked by a definilo move on the port of the Imperial Gorerxunent (says Mr W. Rohnxmd Smith, writing in the London ' Standard '), may -within comparatively fe«yeare result in : (1) Commercial reciprocity "between the Dominion &nd the United States, an arrangement which -would make the realisation of the Imperial policy enunciated by the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain difficult of accomplishment, if not absolutely impossible. (2) The gradual absorption of Canada, by the Republic thuouga .the creation of a community of commercial] jad financial interests, with the aeverasnee of British connection as the logical outcome. In making a broad ststiement of this kind on© is always, more or less fairly, open to an accusation of being en alarmist, especially in the Mother Country, where matured national conditiens call for con(eervatJteni in the conduct of the nation's affairs. It most be remembered, however, that a. totally different set of primary conditions exists in Canada, with its enormous unpopulated area and vast undeveloped natural resources. In addition.' the country is at present m a state of -rapid evolutionary development. There a»e no fixed oonditaans. Kverything is in a state of

how gTcaL .1 nation ©von those best- qualified to speak hesitate to s-ay —is being bore. The Canadian people are given credit, is tho Mother Country for being loyal ta British connection. They are now, and have been for lialf a. century, under conditions which fcavo Jed up logically to a parting of the ways. The timo is now at banc wiien. Canada must choose her faun e course. Tho sentiments of the people, pride in their British origin, love of British, and hope in the futuie -.. i tho Empire to which they billons. !»:.■-: them closely to the Motherland. But tr.e population of Canada, is clianging—changi..g month by month and year by yeci - . • square niiio after square mile- of fettle prairie lands is being mado tii_- productive home of an alien population. Under such conditions, it is obviuus that ties of sentiment only will not, and cannot, Itold Canada to lK:r allegiance to the British Empire. There lias not been a time in tho historv of the colony sine© Montgomery fell, in his futile attempt to capture tho citadel at Quebec, when the United Stale*, has not tried to encompass the absorption, of CanSo long as force- was nssed or threatened, so long as unfair and oppressive restrictions upon tho trade between the two countries were made the means, the Dominion was absolutely Rife to tho British Crown from any attempt. But within, the past few- years a. new and far more insidious movement towards absorption has gained a dangerous strength. 'l'hi s movement had its birth when tho far-sighted financial and commercial operators in tl>e United Stalen began to appreciate Canada's enormous future possihiHtie*. Millions' of American capital have been invested in speculative enterpiises, with a faith in the future of the country which even Canadians ihemeelves did not posses. Many of these enterprises have already proved enormously productive. This has led to still greater investments, until to-day it is acknowledged by those who know that tho United StaUw capitalist has done man-, and is doing more, towards the exploitation of the country's natural rceou-rccs than the capitaliits- "of all other oountries put together, it may be fairly contended that private capital is generally invested with a view principally to private gain, and not to furtlicr any national propaganda, and that tho extent of the investment of United States private capital in Canada is due more to the contiguity and similarity of the fields of investmuit in tho two countries than to unv generally recognised purpose of bringing"about absorption. All this ma-v be quite true, but even without attributing any interior national motive to tho movement" the inevitable result* are sufficiently startling Lo warrant serious consideration.