Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-24
Two VIEWS OF ANNExATroN.


A great deal OF attention has been
given TO recent address by General
Ben jamin f. Butler, in which he advo-
Gated a union OF the United States and
Canada. II was an elaborate, and in
some respects a very vigorous, argu-
ment to show that every consideration
financial, commercial and political
was in favor Of making the two coun-
tries one, and that their union ulti-
mately Is inevitable. The idea Is, OF
course, not original with General But
ler, though his reasons for advocating
it were largely original. 1t has been
advanced oy others who are in
much better position than he to give
it character and force with the people
OF both countries. Yet it has appar-
emily made so little progress in popular
regard that its promoters have little TO
encourage them beyond the faith they
have in the wisdom OF their theories.
AT meeting few days ago of tho
Massachusetts club Senator Hoar talked
on this subject, and what he said was
not at all in line with the views OF Cen
eral Butler. The senator has but re-
Gently returned from trip through the
west as a member OF the senate commit
tee Investigating our commercial rela-
tions with Canada, and it is gratifying
to note that he was profoundly inn
pressed with the beauties and ad-
vantages ofthe western country, all of
which, he remarked, was for Ameri-
cans. AS to annexation, he did not
think it wise to undertake discussion
OF that question just now. Annexation
with this country must, from the neces-
sity OF the case, be Canadian ques-
tion. But, in any event, the senator
saw numerous obstacles in the way OF
annexation, and he even could not soc
"how this notion of what is called COM
mercial union is likely ever to be prac-
tical." He did not think one tariff
under two administrations could
be conducted by two people
like the people of the United
States and the people of Canada,
nor did he think it possible for tho peo-
pie of Canada to maintain political rela-
tions with Great Britain and at the
same time have an absolute form of
commercial intercourse with US with a
protective tariff, especially rs against
country of which they are part. The
senator cited several of the most for
midable obstacles to annexation. and
even to commercial union, and remarked
that Great Britain is trying in every
possible way to make Canada loyal,
faithful subject. Other speakers ON the
occasion expressed similar views.
1t is not questionable that Senator
Hoar reflects the very general senti-
ment of the country, so far at least as
the question Of annexation is con cerned.
1t would perhaps be a good thing If
this country could acquire peaceful pos
session of British Columbia and Mani
toba, the natural trade centers for
which are in the United States-Seattle
and Tacoma, St. Paul and Minneapolis.
But there is no urgency for absorbing
any other portions OF Canada, and if
that is ever done it should be the result
of a movement of the Canadian people.
AS to the scheme of commercial union,
while there are certainly serious OBJ
stacles in the way of its consummation,
1t cannot be said to be wholly imprac-
ticable. The mutual interests of the
two countries undoubtedly demand some
readjustment of trade relations, but how
this can be best effected is q good deal
OF problem. 1t was to assist in the
solution of this that the committee of
which Senator Hoar is member was
charged with the duty OF investigat-
ing the commercial relations between
the two countries, and it is because of
this that his recently expressed views
possess general interest.