CANADA AND AMERICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 June 1932, Page 9

CANADA AND AMERICA

A COMPARISON In an article on a book on Canada by Professor A. Brady, Mr J. R. Stevens says:—The impregnation ol American social ideology may be less complete than appears on the surface(As a matter of fact, there is little enough reason to believe that Americans themselves subscribe to the majority of vocational insanities which pass for social expedients in that Republic.) The great unleavened lump of Quebec, four millions of people completely unresponsive to social kinesis, must always resist assimilation. The older English-speak-ing provinces, while bearing the American impress, react very slowly to the limitless parvenuisme which characterises the American social outlook. The Canadian is a social democrat—but with marked reservations concerning himself. Nor should the influence of the small but vehement minority of the elder Canadian stock, which preaches in or out of season the virtue of all tilings British, and malignity of all things American, be entirely overlooked. All in all, although Canada is definitely continentalist in culture (having absorbed many of the 'worst features of American life while neglecting the best), she has not entirely bartered her inheritance. In comparison with the American, the Canadian is less susceptible to innovation, puts a lower premium on cleverness, compromises more easily, is loss volatile, more reticent. He has a conception of permanent values which the other lacks. This is exemplified in his respect for authority and in his insistence upon the integrity of social contracts. The swift and impartial administration of justice which lias kept Canada clean of organised crime, is significant of the failure of the Canadian to identify himself completely with the social outlook of his neighbour.