Speech #500148554

I think that a good many of them are American citizens. and that a good many more of them. who may be citizens of Canada when they are employed upon these fishing vessels. will in the end be American citizens. but whether they be American citizens or not. I think it is very clear and very certain that in case of a war with any other country. except Canada (with which we do not wish to fight and cannot fight). we could draw upon all of them to swell the number of our seamen. who would man our naval vesvels and take part in defending our interests upon the water. But this argument is simply alongside of one which has been used many times in this debate. which seems to imply that a Canadian immigrant is a person whom we ought to exclude from participation in our interests and our nationality. the same as we exclude Chinamen. and vicious and assisted immigration from whatever quarter it may come. Nov. Mr. President. I think that there is a very great misapprehension as to the character of the Canadian immigrant. It may be true that at first the Canadian who came to this country came to work in the lumber woods. and. after having earned money. went back to Canada. It may be true at the present time that some who come from Canada still go back there. but I think it is true in the main that those who come from Canada to .the United States settle here. become industrious citizens. become conservative citizens. and as thrifty. temperate. moral. industrious. and religious as those who emigrate from any other portion of the globe to this country. Speaking with one of our Government officials in the district of Quebec not long since. he told me. I think. that within the last three years more than 20.000 Canadians had left the port of Quebec to come to "the States." as they term it. that a considerable portion of thoseI think he said over 800brought their household effects and their furniture withthem. That of course signified 800 families who were transferring their allegiance as well as their residence to this country. He said further that a large number of other families sold out their effects before leaving and carried their money with them to this country. and. further. that so sure was it that those who emigrated from Canada to this country came here and staid. that the provincial parliament of Quebec had appointed an agent to visit those who had taken up their residence in this country and try to induce them to return by offers of gifts of land. but that he agent was meeting with no success whatever. So this idea. which has been so industriously insisted upon here. that the Canadian is an undesirable member of our population. I think arises from an entire misapprehension of his character and his object in coming here.