The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-08
CANADA.
Some Thoughts on the Subject Of
Annexation Offered
By Joaquin Miller, the Poet of
the Sierras.

| found this q charming, almost
matchless land to summer in when I
ca'ue here month ago; I found I
did not have to pay hotel S. day
for a brass band and the almost
equally terri ole malaria, nor half that
sum. 1 dared to say so to about five
millions of my friends in the States
through this paper, and for this see
am being pounded fearfully. Such
nonsense! We have 5O,OOO,O 900 of
people. These people must pour out
to the sea. Well we have no sea-
coast for summer except that little
lying between Cape May and Maine,
and more than half of that is mala-
rious, so I have suggested Canada.
That is all.
One American patriot demands
vigorously why count Canada so
much bette: than Mexico for annex
alton. Briefly I answer, because
Canada is healthy, physically, So
cially, aud morally, If not poIiti-
cally. Most important all this, and
this is obviously why 1 have tried
to call earnest attention to this cOun-
try of the great river. We have q
plenty of malaria without going to
Mexico for more; plenty of political
corruption, plenty of dynamite revo-
luton, of instability, irreligion.
Believe me, my friends, 1 have no
ends to serve; 1 seek only the health,
the happiness, and the solid comfort
of my kind. l have no home here
1 have no home anywhere. One
spot of solid good mother earth is as
dear to me as another, if we'll and
happy there. But now that some of
you have been finding fault with me
for finding that good things can
come out OF Nazareth, I am golng to
advise every one OF my people max
ing the trip TO Europe from west of
New York to come by way o!
Canada
You can cross the ocean in about
two-thirds the time, at two-thiras
the cost, and of course with Ouly
two-thirds the discomfort. Come by
way Of Niagara Falls, down the st.
Lawrence, through the THOUSAND
lands, by Toronto, M0nti cal,
Quebec, and then return by way of
New York. This, it seems to me, is
common sense. You certainly see
money, tnan by sailing out and re-
turning by the same route.
A tremendously loyal Briton writes
me savage letter, walking over ME
for my suggestion of annexation.
Now, my dear sir, I do not care IN
old rusty copper whether we annex
you or you annex us. Mainly what
I want is to sweep away that stand
ing army of tribute takers stretched
along 1000 miles of line. These fel-
lows who wake us up at night and
shake us, shake out our night shirts
and old linen with the possible hope
of finding a cigar or spool of thread
cotton are nuisance, and ought to
be set blowing and planting corn in
he west.
Another writes to me demanding
to know just how I would 60 about
the matter OF annexation, Well,
now confidently, 1 will tell you.
And don't you let it go any further
In the first place I know where the
keys of the great city of Quebec are
kept! They hang in the halls of Mr..
lie MOine your trusted historian.
And now this is the way I should
go about annexing you. 1 would fly
at once to Washington and tell my
Fl lend President Arthur where the
keys are! Yes! And my friend
President Arthur at the table would
lay down his cards; maybe full
hand, jacks at the head! Yes! Aud
he would rise up and take a broad
sword and a fishing pole ana he
wonld stride out of Washington aud
on and on and on until he came to
the door of Mr.. LIE Moine's hall !
Yes! And he would then pound on
the door OF the 1all with his sword
and cry "What no! come forth and
bring me the keys of Quebec J" and
Mr.. lie Moine 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?
LflIiau Russell and the Prince.
No,r vorl Crephic