New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-06
AN ANNEXATION HOAX.

The Canadian press has been thrown into
hot fit of indignation this week by reputed
revelations Of an annexation plot at Washing
ton. The sensational dispatches sent over the
frontier by Mr.. Wiman and countermanded
under circumstances that served to stimulate
curiosity and to increase popular excitement
in the Dominion have been angrily discussed
for five days by journals of both parties in that
quarter. The Republican Senators have been
charged with conSpiring against Canadian in
dependence for the sake Of making an au-
dacous bid for popular support for the party
in the American elections \ resolution in
favor of the annexation Of the Provinces and
the assumption of the Dominion debt was re-
ported to have been agreed upon by the Re-
publicla members of the Committee on For
egn Affairs. The only foundation for this abb
surd story was the resolution offered by Sen
ator Blair, two months ago, requesting the
President to open negotiations with Great Brit
ain with view to effectng political union
between the Provinces and the States. Neither
Senator Sherman nor his Republican colleagues
have had any intention Of reporting this resO-
luton favorably; nor has there been any de-
sire on that side Of the Senate "to outfank tho
President by an organized attempt to buy
up' the Provinces and despoil them Of their
political liberties The Presidents buncombe
Retaliation Message has not been regarded on
that side as serious politics. There has been
no talk of setting premium on annexation by
informal bids for the conversion of the Do
minion debt.
This so-called plot easily resolves itself into
a hoax Of which Mr.. Wiman was made an easy
dupe. Some one succeeded in eXaggerating
the importance of Senator Blairs resolution
and IN convincing him that a serious attempt
was to be made to secure its passage. Sus
pecting that his credulity had been imposed
upon. Mr. Wiman undertook to recall a cir
cular dispatch which he had sent to the Canadi-
an press. This added fuel to the flames, and
the Dominion has been scene Of journalistic
uproar for week. Mr.. Wiman has made
futile attempt to explain his motives in writing
and countermandng the dispatch, but it is not
ineligible, since he naturally dislikes to con-
fess that he has been the innocent victim of a
hoax.
Meanwhile, Mr. Blaine who for many years
has openly advocated the political union of
the two countries, in two short sentences has
summed up the whole matter from an Ameri
can point of view. In addressing a Canadian
audience at St. Thomas, he said: "Whethel
we will ever be united depends on you. When
you come we will give you a cordial welcome;
but we never want you to come till you make
the first move yourselves" Canadians, who
have wrought themselves into white heat over
Mr. Wiman's disclosures and the reported Re-
publican conspiracy at Washington, will dc
well TO ponder these words and not to be mis-
led hereafter by sensational revelations cOun-
fernandez in twenty-four hours Dir. Blaine
expresses the sober Judgment OF the American
people. Nature intended that the Provinces
and the States should form one nation. Their
interests are indissolubly connected. The wei
fare of both would be promoted by political
union. That result has been decreed by mani
fest destiny as Goodwin Smith has declared.
The American people will welcome the Prov
inces when they come, but they must come OF
their own accord without coercion, without
importunate solicitation on the part of the
States. They must make the first move them
selves. When they apply for admission into
the Union, the financial and political details
can be easily arranged, and England will not
antagonize the movement