188 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



This includee t/he colonial portlooi of the empire stricUy speaktog, but 

 to the 97.000,000, three times the population of the United States, we must 

 adil 133,110,000, being the populatioai of states which are our allies or tiibu- 

 tarli-s In the Bast Add affiidn 30,000,000. the popula/tion of the British Isles, 

 and we have in round numbens, 260,000,000 of peoide within the boundaries', or 

 Bubjetvt to the influence of the empire to w^liich we at presemt belong. All 

 the sLaAes of Europe Include but 233,000,000 of people. Then, sir, I ask, will 

 any Nov'b, PcoMrm who pretends to he a stiaiteKma,n. will any Nnrtih American, 

 with his heart in the right place. lig-hLly entertain the idea of withdrawing 

 from the enjoyment of free commerciiaj Intercourse with 265,000,000 of human 

 beings ; from participation in the securities, the sources of pride which 

 such an empire affords, to form, -^vitihout cause, an isola,ted community of 

 two milli' na and a half, or even ten million-s, or to seek a diishonourable share 

 of the advantagies enjoyed by thirty million« ? 



While, h<jwever, we value our connection with the empire highly, let not 

 B^;'ti.-^h statt-S.iien, too Imtent upon the intrigues and squabbles of Europe, 

 undervalue our resources, our claims, our pride in that connection, or our 

 physical force to achieve anotlher whenever this becomes irksome. All that 

 I seek for is entirely compatible with our present reilations ; by elevating 

 North Americans to the oommo'n level i\Miith oar brethren at home, I would 

 but draw tihe bonds which bind us closer together. There is no necessity to 

 endanger the conneotion, commercial or physical or international, which we 

 enjoy in common -with so many human beings. " Ships, colonies ajid com- 

 merce " have long formed the boast of Old England. Ships we have in abund- 

 ance. Her colonies are ours. The empire includes every climate which the 

 sun diversifies, every soil, every race of men, every variety of production. It 

 is guarded by the largest fleet and the best disiciplined army iji the world. 

 It has for its metropolis the most populous city of modern times. The nureery 

 of genius and the arts. The emporium of commerce, the fountain-head of cap- 

 ital, the nursing mother of skilled labour, in every branch of manufactures. 

 Let us then, not cast ajbout for new modes of political organization until we 

 have tested the expansive powers and intellectual capabilities of what we 

 have. Let us, then, demand with all respect, the full rights of citizenship in 

 this great empire. It is clearly our interest to do this. Surely it is congenial to 

 our feelings. Sir, I would not cling to England one single hour after I was 

 convinced that the friendship of Non^th America w^as undervalued, and that 

 the status to which we may reasonably aspire had been deliljerately refused. 

 But I will eindeavour, while asserting the rights of my native land with 

 boldness, to perpetuate our connection with the British Isles, the home of our 

 fathers, the (radie at our race. The union of the colonies is the object of the 

 resnilution, \ln my judgment ®uch a proposition covers but a limited portion 

 of ground \\hlch the agitation of that subject opens up. What questions of 

 impuirtance have we to settle with Canada, New Brunswick or any of the 

 other colonie.^ ? We have free trade and friendly relaitions with theon all. 

 What have <we to ask or to fear ? What questions are at issue with the 

 United States ? None but that of a reciprocal trade, which would have been 

 siitlled long ago, if North America had had a voice in the making of treaties 

 and in the discussions of the Imperial Parliament. But have we not questions 

 of some interesit to adjust with the mother coxintiry ? There is one, of more 

 Importance than any other except the railroads, — the question of our mines and 

 nilnerals. Does any man believe that any company woiuld have monopolized 

 for thirty years the mines and minerals of an entire province, had British 

 America been ropr^sented in the Imperial Parliament ? That monopoly would 

 go down before a seaiohinig Invesitlgation for a single night in the iHouse of 

 Commons. No Minister could justify or maintain It. Here there is no differ- 

 ence of opinilon. But what avadls our unanimity ? The bajttle Is to be fought 



