Canada as a Vassal State

CANADA AS A VASSAL STATE FOR the thoughtful obse~ver of our domestic politics even the gloom of the world sit'uation has been sensibly lightened by noting the eagerness with which the so-called Aptonomists of Canada have for years been following a false scent, and the veh~mence with which they are barking up the wrong tree. What they pretend to fear is being dragged at the wheels of empire. England is the enemy, or rather a desperate knot of modern Machiavellis who are plotting at the centre (with The Round Table for ally) to enslave our beloved Dominion" or at least to limit our powers of self-determination. Now, when a man begins to cherish delusions, to believe himself to be the victim of a widespread mysterious conspiracy, it is time to call in the nerve specialist. That way madness lies. Nor is it less true of a group of men and an organized propaganda. Does any sane man, woman, or child in Canada really believe that Great Britain would send one ship, or fire a single gun, to retain our country in the bonds of unwilling allegiance? To put the question is to answer it. The situation is unthinkable. What is even more amusing than all this misdirected energy of the Autonomists is their blindness, a blindness shared by most Canadians, to the very real danger of bondage to another power. That power is the United States of America. The threats of American politicians, editors, and Fourth of July orators, the organized effort for" commercial union" in 1891, the avowed purpose of the Dingley tariff, the possibility of a quarrel between Canada and the United States ending in an appeal to anns, may be lightly dismissed. The danger is far more sub,tle and far more deeply to be dreaded. It lies in gradual assimilation, in peaceful penetration, in a spiritual bondage-the subjection of the Canadian nation's mind and soul to the mind and soul of the United States. No long argument is needed to prove the imminent and deadly menace of this danger, and nothing should touch the pride of a young, strong, and ambitious people 347 348 THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW like accepting tamely a position of inferiority to a powerful neighbour. Without any outward fetter it is the situation of a spiritual slave. Enforced political subjection is the lesser evil; it would be easier to bear, fdr the spirit could still be free. Historically, Canada is a by-product of the United States. The American "plantations" were never at their ease as long as the power of France was enthroned at Quebec. It was largely through their activity that the Golden Lilies gave place to St. George's Cross; then, as Parkman points out, the road to independence was open. The successful rebellion of the Thirteen Colonies created Ontario, whither were driven the upholders of a lost cause and a sullied flag. And Ontario made the three prairie provinces~ The expulsion of the Loyalists also created the province of New Brunswick, and set an ineffaceable mark upon Nova Scotia. At the present time the most progressive, intelligent and desirable immigrants into our West are Americans. What our histories do not teach, and what our people do not realize, is how many Americans, who were anything btit Loyalists, settled in Canada, and how strong, from the very beginning, has been the drag towards the United States. Few realize that one county of .loyal Nova Scotia sent delegates to the Philadelphia Congress of 1776, that there was a tea riot in Halifax, and that part of the popl,llation were active "sympathizers" with the "rebels" all through the Revolutionary War. General Cruikshank has shown how large was the disloyal element of American settlers in Ontario during the war of 1812. If the political "unpleasantness" of 1837 had reached its consummation, if Papineau and Mackenzie could have worked their will, Ontario and Quebec would now be states in the American union. It may be fairly argued that they Were patriotic leaders" wise statesmen far in advance of their time, anticipating Goldwin Smith in their vision of Canada's manifest destiny, and that they will...