Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-12
CANADA.
Some Thoughts on the Subject of An.
nexation offered by the Poet
OF the Sierras.

joaquin Miller.
How heartily hate that kind OF patriotism
which refuses to see any good outside of oul
own lines! That must be the kind Of patriot
ism OF which DR.. johnson spoke as being The
last refuge of a scoundrel [ found this g
charming, almost matchless land to summer
IN when l came hero month ago; found
did not have to pay hotel s. day for 6
brass band and the almost equal terrible ma
laria, nor half that sum. dared to say Sc
to about five millions OF my friends in the
states through this paper, and for this sec
am being pounded fearfully. Such nonsense
We have 50,000,C03 Of people. These people
must pour out to the sea. Well, we have nc
seacoast for summer except that little lying
between Cape May and Maine, and more
than half CT that is malarious, So ! have
suggested Canada. That is al.
One American patriot demands vigorously
why 1 count Canada so much better than
Mexico for annexation. Briefly answer
because Canada is healthy, physically socially,
and morally, if not politically Most i'm.
portant all this, and this is obviously why ]
have tried to call earnest attention to this
country Of the great river. We have plenty
OF malaria without going to Mexico fol-
more; plenty OF political corruption, plenty
OF dynamite revolution, of instability, ire.
igion.
Believe ne. my friends, have no ends tc
serve; seek only the health, the happiness.
and the solid comfort of my kind Ihave nc
home here-I have 10 home anywhere. One
spot of solid good mother earth is as dear tc
me as another, if well and happy there. But
now that some OF you have been finding fault
with me for finding that good things can
como out of Nazareth, an; going to advise
every one Of my people making the trip tc
Europe from west OF New York TO come by
way Of Canada.
You can cross the ocean in about two.
thirds the time, ;.t two-thirtls the cost, and of
course with only tWo-thirls the discomfort
Come by way Of Niagra Falls, down the ST.
Lawrence through the thousand islands, by
Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, and then return
by way of New York. This, it seems to me-
Is common sense. You certainly see much
more Of the world and for less money. than
Gy sailing out and returning by tie same
port.
a tremendously loyal Briton writes me- 6
savage letter, nall.iag over on nig For is nv
suggestion OF annexation. Now, my dear
81, DO not care an old rusty copper whether
we annex yon or you annex Us. Mainly Whai
/ want IS to sweep away that standing army
Of tribute-t;illers stretched along 2,CQQ miles
Of line. These fellows who wake lis I'D at
night and Shake Us, shake cut our night
shirts and old linen with the possible hope OF
finding cigar or a spool Of thread cotton
are nuisance, and ought to DC set to blowing
and to planting corn i'll the west.
Another writes to me demanding to know
just how would go about the matter Of an
nezation. Well now, confidently, I VIII tell
you. And don't you let it go any further!
In the first place | know where the KEYS of the
great city Of Quebec are kept! They hang in
the halls of Mr.. LIE Nome, your trusted his
torian. And now this is the way l should &c
about annexing you. would fly at once tc
Washington and tell my friend President
Arthur where the keys are! Yes! And
my friend President Arthur at the ia
BILE would gently lay down his cards.
maybe a full hand, jacks at the head! Yes.
And he would rise up and take a broad sword
and fishing pole and he would stride out OF
Washington and on and on and on till he
came to the door of Mr.. LIE Monies hail. Yes!
And he would then pound on the door of the
hall with his sword and cry "What ho come
forth and bring me the keys of Quebecr' and
Mr.. LIE Moline would what-ho-come-forth
with the keys laid crosswise on a silver
waiter. Then my friend President Arthur,
standing proudly erect with his sword in his
right hand and his fishing pole in the left
hand, would receive the keys with the other
and tie them to his belt with buckskin
string. Sable John?