CANADIAN CONDITIONS. 13

growth, and shows no symptoms of the evils that
result from the exploitation of the resources of the
country by gigantic speculators beyond the control
of the State. In this respect Canada compares
very favourably with the United States.
A very strong national spirit has naturally
resulted, but its development has probably been
accentuated by the fact that the generation of
Canadians who are now beginning to make their
influence felt upon Canadian opinion are men who
were born or have lived most of their lives under a
confederated Canada, and have therefore felt the
influence of their own nationality more strongly
than the older men. This is necessarily of immense
importance in all questions relating to the nature
of the Imperial tie. But there need be absolutely
nothing inimical to Imperial loyalty in the growth
of national spirit. On the contrary, everything
goes to show that the national spirit fosters
Imperial loyalty, that with the growth of devotion
to Canada grows also the devotion to the Empire
of which Canada is so important a part. Love of
the Mother Country existed before the other sentiment,
 and far from being killed by it, the two have
grown in strength side by side. In many men’s
minds is growing a pride in the glory of the Empire,
Sustained by a feeling that Canada is becoming
more and more indispensable to its prosperity.
But it must not be thought from this that Britain
will find Canada a tool pliant in her hands. Far
from it. Any interference with the national idea