New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-17
THE CANADIAN QUESTION.


The resolution offered by Mr.. Butterworth
should not cause Canadians unutterable wrath
Perhaps it would be well for them to remember
that the man who finds it necessary to vocl1er-
ate that he is intensely loyal is most apt to be
distrusted. The exceeding loyalty of Canadian
politicians and newspapers to the British Grown
was by no one doubted-until they began to
assert it with unnecessary frequency.
Mr.. Butterworth acts as an individual men,
Der Of Congress. His right TO propose SUD-
iect for public discussion appears to be mas
putable unless hyper-lOyal Canadians consider
that all white Americans are in some sense
rebels. and really owe allegiance to Queen We
toria. He does not profess to speak for party,
and if he did make any such profession every
body would know, from other expressions OF
Republican opinion, that he was in error. For in
truth there are very many Republicans who
think that it is not now in place for the United
States to make any proposition having political
union in Canada in view until the Canadian
people have themselves first manifested some
disposition toward such union. That inn
preston has been expressed by THE TRIBUNE
and by many other Republican journals and by
public men of influence. Having different
opinion. Mr.. Butterworth exercises his undoubt-
ed right to act upon it, but properly does so
without protesting to represent party.
The root of the matter is that Canadian de
sire for political union is the one thing neces-
saIy to make political union desirable. 1T
would not help this Nation to have added ter
ritory occupied by population unwilling to
recognize the authority of the Union. There
H.. loI, ,,,l,ii lie mar i'm
who would not refuse to make Canada part
Of the Union if his sole act could do so, unless
he were first convinced that the inhabitants
of Canada with much unanimty desired ad-
mission to the Union. If that desire did exist
Canada would doubtless be worth to the Nation
all that Senator Sherman supposeS, but while
il does not exist the territory would be worth
nothing.
Presumably Mr. Butterworth has consutu-
ents or friends in Ohio who long for speedy
annexation because they have large business
interests to be promoted thereby. There are
MANY other American citizens who would also
be personally benefited. But these interests
are of utterly insignificant weight compared
with the National, political and moral results
of union, which would be eminently advan-
tageous if there were a strong desire among
Canadians for the change, but eminenty dis
advantageous if there were no such desire. On
the other hand Mr.. Butterworth possibly
thought the offering of his resolution might
tend to promote commercial union which he
has conspicuously advocated But if so he may
be mistaken; the effect is likely to be adverse
to any such arrangement
Canadian wishes being the controlling factor
in the whole business, Mr.. Butterworth has
made mistake, as some Canadians make haste
to tell him, if the proposition by him Will tend
to render Canadians less disposed toward any
union. But that is not quite so certain as IN
terested parties profess to believe. The very
heat and passion shown by some officials and
organs in Canada suggest to the mind that
they may be afraid of a growth of public opin-
ion in favor of political union. Why should
there be so much vocileration if nobody favorS
or is likely to favor? Would any English
statesman or newspaper get hot and violent
if Mr.. Cox, a Representative from Newly ork'
should offer in Congress a resolution proposing
the admission of England to the United States
If not, what is the reason for irritation when
Mr. Buttcrwonh, a Representative LON On
cinnati. makes his proposition Canadians
who reflect about this will probably begin to
suspect