AMERICA AND CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 5

AMERICA AND CANADA.

ANNEXATION PROPOSALS. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. ; Toronto, January 6. Sir J. Macdonald, Premier of the Dominion of Canada, speaking in this city, ridiculed the idea of annexation to the United States. [FROM OtJR SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPONDENT.] Tho idea of the annexation of Canada to the United Sfcates is by no means a new one. It has been spoken of time and tima again on both sides of the border, but the idea has at length began to assume a definite and tangible shape. A Montreal special telegram to tho New York World says:—Curious to relate, although the Dominion Parliament is Conservative, the Provincial Parliaments of Quobec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, as well as Manitoba, are Liberal, with annexation tendencies, by a good majority. Quebec, seven-eighths of the population of which are French, has for the past fifteen years been gradually drifting towards annexation. Only recently tho organ of Premier Mercer came out with an article advocating annexation, which Lord Stanley, the Governor-General, quoted to a deputation of Frenchmen as the utterance of a traitor to Canada and a trap of a few dosigning politicians. In Ontario, as well as in Manitoba, the farmers are nearly unanimous for annexation, and it is only a year ago that the Nova Scotia Parliament passed a resolution that it was best for the Province to be annexed to tho States. Tho Dominion Parliament quietly ignored it. The Liberals will be compelled to adopt this policy in opposition to the Imperial federation idea now being bo generally adopted by the Conservative party of Canada and as generally opposed by the Liberals. senator Sherman's views. Senator Sherman, who is one of the most prominent American statesmen, and who may be Harrison's Secretary of State, said : "My belief in the future common destiny of the two English-speaking nations of America has never wavered. I was lod to form it by my failure to find a less radical remedy for tho perennial occasions of serious dispute between the two countries. The fisheries dispute and the question of tho right of free transit of American goods over Canadian railroads are types 01 the disputes that have vexed th Awo nations for a century, and will continue to disturb them, so long as the present conditions exist. To got rid of these quastions we must get rid of the frontier. I studied the proposal for commercial reciprocity only to be convinced it was illusory and impracticable. Political union is another thing. The advantage it offers is more equal. Canada would gain all the advantages that reciprocity promises her. The advantages of political consolidation with Canada to the United States are not less palpable and obvious. If less immediate they will be even greater in the long run. Tho political advantages of the union are emphasized by the present troubles over the fisheries, railroad transit, and canal tolls. These and other occassions of border dispute would be removed, and the most grave provocative of dispute and irritation taken out of our diplomatic relations." Sherman continued by saying that the state of public feeling is ripe for serious consideration of the question in both countries. On tho Canadian side favourable foeling is strongest in Manitoba and the Northwest. In this country tho only opposition would be from tho East, but the preponderance of power lay west of the Alleghanies and in tho South, and both these great seotions are favourable to tho rnovemont." PROPOSED IN CONGRESS. On December 13th, Butterworth, of Ohio, introduced the following joint resolution in Congress;— W herea3, the citizens of the Dominion of Canada are one with us in race, lineage, history, tradition, and whereas the resources of the two countries supplement each other and the arteries of commerce, both natural and artificial, are so interlocked and mutually dopondent upon each other that they ought to constitute a single system to be one and inseparable. Whereas, the commercial relations between the United States and the Dominion of Canada are, and have been, strained and unnaturally cramped, and, in a measure, paralysed, owing to tho inability of the governments to establish such a system of international trade and commerce between thorn as is essential to meet the requirements of the situation. Whereas, the conditions and relations before referred to, as also the geography of the two countries, suggest tho impossibility of a just and permanent settlement of tho controversies pertaining to the fisheries, boundaries and transcontinental trade, os;cept by blending efforts and interests under one governmental system, and point logically to tho necessity and probability of unity and assimilation between the two nations under one Government; Whereas, the bonds of sympathy resulting from kinship, race, language, tradition, and substantial identity of the governmental systems, together with community of interests, based upon commerce and its aids and agencies, are of such character that such union and assimilation are being discussed, and favourably considered by the citizens of both nations, and inasmuch as it believes an early consummation would bo of great advantage to all citizens and subjects of tho two countries, provided the same can bo attained in a manner consistent alike with the honour and dignity of the United States and Great Britain and the Dominion of Canada ; Therefore, with a view to aid in the consummation of what is hereinbefore suggested, bo it resolved by tho Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, that the President be and is hereby authorised and employed to invite negotiations looking to the assimilation and unity of the people of the Dominion of Canada and the United States under one Government, such unity and assimilation to be based upon the admission of the several provinces of the Dominion, or any one of them into the union of States upon tho same terms and equality with tho several States now composing the union, and tho assumption by the United States of the indebtedness of tho Dominion of Canada, or a just proportion thereof, and such other equitable terms and conditions as justice to the high contracting parties may demand; and Resolved, further, That with a view to such negotiations, the President invites the appointment of commissioners by the Government of Great Britain and tho Dominion of Canada, to consider the wisdom and expediency of settling and adjusting all controversies and differences which now exist between the two Governments, growing out of the fisheries, or otherwise by such union and assimilation as hereinbefore suggested, either as to tho whole or any province or several provinces of said Dominion, such negotiations to be conducted with due regard to the amicable relations which obtain between Great Britain and the United States, and the obligations imposed thereby. . OPINION IN MONTREAL. Ab Montreal the publication of bhe resolution introduced by Butterworth had a startling effect. Everybody is discussing it, and everybody is looking forward anxiously to what course the Senate and House of Representatives will pursue. Never since the famous annexation manifesto of fifty years ago has there been such an expression of public feeling as during the past two months. Annexation is almost the only topic in political circles, but it was regarded simply as a growing issue, and not one to bo immediately dealt with. A leading Commercial Union member of Parliament told a reporter that undoubtedly the issue at the next general election would be annexation ; that it was an open secret that it would be the leading plank in the Liberal platform. Butterworth's resolution had put a different phase on the question. He did not think it would pass both Houses without a good deal of delay, bub the probabilities were that eventually the United States would invite Great Britain and Canada to appoint a Commission. PRESIDENT-ELECT HARRISON. An intimate friend of General Harrison says that he, like all Presidents, will desire to do something that will give his administration a prominent place in the history of his country, and that one of his first official acts will be negotiations for the annexation of Canada. The General believes the United States can and should receive Canada. His idea is that the territory can be annexed, to the United States by assum-

ing Canada's debt. If the territory cannot be secured for that consideration, General Harrison would favour paying a considerable bonus. It is understood that he has said privately , that the surplus in the Treasury could not be spent in a better manner than by buying Canada. He heartily approves of such a , move, and will so reoommend in his first message to Congress. I INTO STATES AND TERRITORIES. [ When Canada is admitted into the United States, there will probably be fourteen new senators and forty-two new representatives, and Canada would probably obI tain a place in the Cabinet. The whole new country could easily be divided into twenty-eight States and Territories.