St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-13
TALKING ANNEXATION.
Senator Hale Thinks Canada Will
Come in Some Day.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, March 12-Mr. Nor
ton being absent, Mr.. ingalls, acted as
president pro tenn. of the senate to-day.
The presidents message in the case of
Louis Riel was laid ON the table. On
motion of Mr.. Plat, resolution was
agreed to for the appointment of stand
ing committees. Mr.. Payne called at
tention to the select committee on rela-
tons with Canada, and moved to
strike it out of the list. The
original resolution for the appoint
sion of the last congress had originated,
he said, i'll diStrust of the then eXecu-
tive, and therefore, he had not objected
to it, but it appeared to him to be di-
rect usurpation of the powers of the eX-
ecutive.
Mr.. Cullom said it was Important that
the American senate and people should
have an understanding of the political
constitution of Canada, which had
very curious system of government.
While nominally dependency of Great
Britain, public opinion in Canada oper-
ated more promptly and instantly in
the legislative body than was possible
i'll the United States under its cenStitu-
ton. He should be glad to be able to
give two or three years. study to that
one important matter alone. 1t
was useless, he said, to be blind
to the fact, land no discretion
required silence in regard to the fact
that there was large and growing body
of men in Canada who desired annexa-
ton to this country, and that political
power was likely to be turned in on that
questionain the not distant future. He
very much desired that such an inyesti-
CATION and such progress might be made
as that, ultimately, the two countries
would become one. In other words, that
border Of the United States, and called
Canada, should become, finally, a por-
ton of the United States.
Mr.. Edmunds said that while he was
not in the least degree in favor of the
annexation of the British North Amer
lean provinces to the United States at
the present time for he thought that
there were more elements in the coun-
try now than could be very we'll man
aged, he was perfectly willing that the
select committee should pursue its eX-
ploratlons and obtain all possible in
formation on the commercial and other
relations of the two countries. But he
begged the senators not to consider that
were committed to annexation by the
assent of the people of Great Britain or
of the pcSple of Canada, or of anybody
else, because that involved problem of
the most serious consequence to the
people of the United States. AnneXa-
ton, or political union. was one of those
steps which could not be taken and then
Of found inconvenientthrown aside. The
union once made was indiSsoluble. 1t
was step which could not be retraced.
He hoped that every senator would vote
under reserve as to that matter.
Referring to the expression ''AnneXa-
tom used by the senator from Yer
mont (NIr. Edmunds), Mr.. Hale said he
wished to state that that word was not
very pleasant either to the United
States or Canada, but 1.-The nnion of
United States and Canada was in his
Judgment just as sure to come as any
future event, unless state of feeling
should be aroused by the people of both
countries that would prevent the ma
tional mingling of the two peoples under
one government. He believed he could
say with entire confidence. that when
ever the people of the two countries
really desired union they would find
reason for it. But he did not
care to hasten that matter at all. 1t
lts
movement on the part of the two gov
ernments. So far as he knew there was
practically no difference on either side
of the line from the Ohio border to the
Pacific ocean, and he had no doubt that
the representatives of every state from
Ohio westward to the new state of
Washington would make the same
declaration. Mr.. Boutelle Zone of the
members of the select committed said
he had not supposed when the select
committee was provided for that there
Was any intention of considering the
question of the annexation of Canada
or of political union of the two coun-
tries.
Mr., Gibson said that as there had been
distinct avowal that it was no part of
the business of the committee to deal
with the political relations of Canada,
but that it was to confine itself exclu-
sively to business and commercial rela-
tions. he was disposed to support it very
|, cordially. But the United States had
very extensive relations with Mexico,
and inasmuch as this select committee
had no political mission whatever, he
suggested that it should be- also in
Structed to inquire into the relations be-
tween the United States and Mexico.
! Mr.. Hoar said that he would cheer
committee to deal with the important
aud interesting subject of Mexico, but
he did not think it wise at this time to
put that burden on this select commit
tee.
Mr.. Gibson-Then [ give notice that |
will offer resolution for the appoint
ment of select committee to inquire
into our commercial relations with
Mexico. having nothing to do with our
political relations.
Mr.. Frye-If any one supposes that
annexation with Canada is to be had by
any movement on the part of the United
States he is most profoundly mistaken.
Mr.. Call favored the appointment of
the committee and gave notice that he
would offer resolution for the appoint
ment of like committee on the rela-
tons of the United States to Cuba and
the West Indies. Mr.. Payne withdrew
his motion to strike off the list of com
mittees the select committee on rela-
tiODS with Canada. The select commit
tees were then agreed to, and after a
short executive session at 2 o'clock the
senate adiOUrDed