G.M. Grant vs G. Smith: the idea of "continentalism" in the Canadian political culture on the eve of the twentieth century

The author of the article considers the problem of the formation of the Canadian political culture in the transient period of changing epochs: from Victorian liberalism to social liberalism. This transient period occurred in the conditions of a heavy growth of imperial militarism, an unprecedented territorial expansion and mass immigration to Canada on the eve of the twentieth century. In these difficult circumstances, the Canadian intellectual and social thought searched for further ways of the nation and state development. One of the main problems was the problem of autonomy for Canada in foreign affairs in terms of the patronage of Great Britain. The Canadian intellectual thought of this time had three directions in the solution of this problem. The first was represented by intellectuals-Victorians. They did not accept the new cultural and political change, their views rested on the spirit of the previous era. Most of them avoided practical political activities, considering themselves as "observers". In their publications, they criticized the new order. The second was represented by Canadian nationalists. They believed that Canada should be an autonomous state with wide rights to the international cooperation and trade with other countries. The third was represented by Canadian loyalists. They believed that Canada should develop under the patronage and in close cooperation with the United Kingdom, which can provide the necessary protection in the new conditions of existence and development. The subject of this article is a comparative study of the attitudes and ideas of Canadian intellectuals G.M. Grant and G. Smith, who in a concentrated form outlined their positions on the policy of "conti-nentalism" on the eve of the 20th century. Smith, who opened a public debate on the necessary for closer cooperation with the United States in Canada, pointed to the fact that the policy of "continentalism" could contribute to the expansion of Canadian trade on the continent. Over time, this policy could return the USA to the family of the British Commonwealth of Nations, ending more than a century of hostility between the states, which was associated with the separation of the USA from Great Britain. Smith expressed his views in his work "Canada and the Canadian question". Grant, like other opponents of G. Smith, believed that any alliance with the United States, ultimately, will lead to their takeover of Canada. Therefore, in its further development and prosperity Canada could only rely on the mother country and other dominions. Grant expressed his views in the reviews of the book by Smith. The author of the article believes that the events of the political development of Canada ended the intelligent argument of Smith and Grant. The desire of the Canadian liberal government of W. Laurier to sign a free trade agreement with the United States in 1911 was not satisfied at the fault of the Americans and was the cause of the fall of the Canadian government in the same year. Only at the end of 1935, the government of Mackenzie King managed to conclude a trade agreement with the USA with small preferences. This agreement marked the beginning of a closer cooperation between the countries in terms of the threat of the Second World War and facilitated the policy of "continentalism" of the Canadian government.

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