CANADA RIPE FOR SEPARATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 44, 21 February 1890, Page 15

CANADA RIPE FOR SEPARATION.

It is conceded on all hands that the confederation of the Canadian provinces known as the Dominion of Canada is in imminent dancer of falling to pieces. Goldwin Smith, who has made himself so well known by his ostentatious parading of anti-liish prejudices admits that anything like harmonising the French and British elements iv Canada is amongst the "manifest impossibilities." He consoles himself with the reflection that when the smash -up doeß take place " Ontario by herself might be a nation." We quote these words for the purpose of callitig attention to the fact that the discussion of the probable dissolution of the form of Government under which the Canadians are living is becoming quite common. Canadian newspapers and Canadian speakers on the stump when speaking of the Dominion do not hesitate to predict that its days are numbered. A speech delivered the other day at Quebec by AttorneyGeneral Longley, a member of the Nova Scotia Government, reflects the sentiment of discontent that is growing every day in Canada. — After pointing out that a Canadian was merely a British colonist without any of the privileges of a British citizen, Mr. Longley proceeded to state that this condition ot things was opposed to the manhood of Canada. He predicted that the ties that bind Canada to England would snap assunder before many years. He pointed out that when this took place Canadians would have to choose between "Imperial federation," "annexation with the United States," and "Canadian independence." Imperial federation, he said, was out of thequtstion. Annexation with the United States, he thought, would be a satisfactory solution of the Canadian ques ion. " Political union with the United States," he said, " would have its advantages, as Canadians were so closely allied with them in race, language, laws, institutions, and trade relations."

In enumerating the classes in Canada who are opposed to both annexation and an independent Canada, Mr. Longley places the politicians among the Btoutest defenders of tie present order of things, These gentry, he says, " don't want the present condition of affairs disturbed, for they are all comfortable as they are, and it would upset all their calculations. Then it would be opposed by a large class of loyalists of the battle-and-breeze kind, who see nothing good outside of the old flag." The speech has attracted a good deal of attention in Canada, where it is regarded as a straw indicating the drift of public opinion.

The day after this speech was delivered an election took place in Rimouski, Province of Quebec, which showed that Mr. Longley knew what he was taking about when he asserted that there was a growing feeling of discontent with the present form of government. At the last election in Rimouski a Conservative was elected by so large a majority that the Conservatives believed that any member of their party receiving the nomination far the Legislature of Quebec from Rimouski would be elected. This year an Annexation candidate was nominated to contest the election with a Conservative. To the surprise of every one the Annexationist was elected by a large majority. A Press dispatch says : —

'• When Sir John Macdonald was told that Tessier, the Liberal candidate, had been elected by a very large majority he would not believe it, remarking at the same time, that the electors of Rimouski were not such fools as to elect a man who on the very first opportunity would vote for Canadian independence, or, eveu worse, annexation with the United States.

"This is the ni'ist signal victory the Liberals have yet gained, and unmistakably indicates the direction iv which public sentiment is diifting. After the result < f the election was made known yesterday, a prominent member of the Dominion Parliament said th.it there was no use endeavouring to conceal the fact that he was an Annexationist, pure and simple, and that there were t-cores of others just like him, who hold seats on the floor ot the Dominion House of Commons."

If further testimony were needed as to the growing sentiment in Canada in favour of annexation it is supplied by an editorial in the Hamilton Evening Times, a newfpaper published in Hamilton, Ontario. This Canadian newspaper is not unfavourable to the continuation of the present relations existing between England and Canada. But it sees that Canada cannot remain as she is, and frankly acknowledges that annexation with the United States would be to the interest of Canadians.

" Sir John Macdonald is," it says, "credited with a statement that at nexation would follow whin the National policy failed. Whether he eaid it or not there is a good deal of sense in the remark. The N. P, weakened the tie that binds Canada to Great Britain. It made the British cross by restricting the market for their goods. It taught Canadians to believe that commercial intercourse with their kinsmen beyond the sea was a damage and not a blessing. . . . There is nothing in the commercitl situation under annexation to Fcare us and sentimenlal considerations are growing weaker year by year. A Canadian who moves to the Ut ited States to live under a President does not feel the loss of royal influence. The days of personal devotion to a monarch are past and goue. The King or the President is part of the governmental machine, and every free man feels at liberty to decide for himself wh eh is the more useful and better worth the money paid to support it."

This testimony is all the more valuable from the jfact that it is supplied by a journal that caDuot be accused of being under the influence of anti-English prejudices. All tho signs point to Canada taking a very decided s-tep in the near future. Whether she elects to start noustkeeping on her own account or cast her fortunes with us she will always have the best wishes ot this country. — Irish World,

Twenty-five hundred people of Minon County, South Dakota, are depending upon outside aid to enable them to survive the winter. Three hundred residents of Bottinear County are reported utterly destitute.