Evening journal., 1889-03-13
ABOUT ANNEXATION
The Senate Discusses Our Rela-
tions with Canada.
MEXICO AND CUBA LUGGED IN.
No Pent Up Utica Confines the I'm
aginations Of Some Ambitious
Senators, but the Boundless
Continent Will Not Be
Ours at Present.


was laid on the table. On motion of Mr.,
Platt resolution was agreed to for the
appointment Of standing committees.
Mr.. Payne called attention to the Sc
lect committee on relations with Canada
and moved to strike it out of the list.
The original resolution for the appoint
ment Of that committee in the first ses-
sion Of the last congress had originated
he said, in distrust of the then execu-
tive, and therefore he had not objected
to it. But it appeared to him to be a
direct usurpation Of the powers Of the
executive.
Mr.. Cullom said it was important that
the American senate and people should
have an understanding of the political
constitution Of Canada, which had a very
curious system of government. While
nominally dependency Of Great Britain,
public opinion in Canada operated more
promptly and instantly In the legislative
body than was possible in the United
States under its constitution. lie should
be glad to be able to give two or three
years study to that one important mat
ter alone. 1t is useless, he said. to be
blind to the fact land no discretion re-
quired silence in regard to the fact) that
there was a large and growing body Of
men in Canada who desired annexation
to this country and that political power
was likely to be turned in on that uues-
n IA ftf Ituf nnf fttfss L
much desired that such am Investigation
and such progress might be made as that
ultimately the two countries would be-
come one. In other words, that the
great country on the northern border Of
the United States called Canada should
should become, finally, portion Of the
United States.
Mr.. Edmunds-We may as well look at
both sides of that question.
Mr.. Cullom-We win look at both
sides of it. When making this investi-
cation, and trust that eventually such
result may be arrived at in friendly
way, SO that these two great countries
may become one.
Mr.. Sherman hoped that the subject
might get before the American people
meaning by that the people OF the United
States and the people of Canada. He did
not believe that, with the long stretching
boundary between them, the two coun-
tries could continue to remain in peace
The great secret of Republican govern
ment IN the United States arose from the
fact that it had no rival on the American
continent and that therefore it was under
no necessity TO maintain standing
army.
Mr.. Edmunds said that while he was
not in the last degree in favor of the an
nexation of the British North American
provinces to the United States az this
present time (for he thought that there
were more unassimilated elements in the
country now than could be very well
managed) he was perfectly willing that
the select committee should pursue its
explorations and obtain all possible in
formation on the commercial and other
relations of the two countries. But he
begged senators not to consider that in
voting for the select committee they
We're committed to annexation, by the
assent of the people of Great Britain or
of the people of Canada or of ANYBODY
else, because that involved a problem Of
most serious consequence to the people Of
most serious consequence to the people
of the United States. Annexation or
political union was one of those steps
which could not be taken and then. If
found unconvenient, thrown aside. The
union, as made, was indissomble. II
was a step which could not be retraced.
He therefore hoped that everv senator
would vote under reserve as to that mat
ter.
Mr.. Hale said he did not understand
that the select committed had been or
ganized or devised as an annexation COM
mittee.
Mr.. Payne regarded the appointment Of
the select committee as an impucnment
Of the wisdom or ability Of the committee
on foreign relations and he asked why
that committee should be superseded at
the instance of an individual senator lNr.
Hoarl who moved for the appointment Of
a select committee.
MIR. Morrill, said he was quite willing to
have the committee appointed. 1t might
serve the purposes of those who thought
that the United States was bounded on
the north BY the aurora borealis. on the
west by the setting sun, on the south by
the Antarctic ocean and ON the east bythe
Atlantic. I nave no question, said Mr..
Morrill,, but that agitation Of the subject
will make the Tory government stronger
IN England than it would be without
such agitation. But while regard the
introduction of the subject as iniudicious
and likely 10 result disastrously to the
views Of the gentleman in favor Of politi-
cal union, have no objection to the APP
polntment Of the committee
Mr.. sherman expressed regret that his
colleague, Mr.. Payne, had raised the
question. He himself saw no objection
at all to the appointment of a committee
20 obtain information on any subject, es-
pecially on a subject so important as
the relations of the United States with
canada. There were innumerable oues-
tons constantly arising along the border
that were liable to lead to disputes and
disturbance. If the committee really
gave attention to the matter it might do
great deal of good. The only com
plant he had TO make of the committee
so far was that il had not made any in
vestigation, but that circumstance had
been satisfactorily explained by the sena-
tor from Massachusetts. Referring TO
the expression annexation used by the
senator from Vermont (Mr. Edmunds)
he wished TO say that that word was not
very pleasant either to the United States
or Canada, but the union of the United
States and Canada was, in his Judgment.
Just as sure TO come as any future event,
unless a state of feeling should be
aroused between the people Of both cour.-
tries that would prevent the national
mngiilg cf ,he two peoples undcf one
. fel-Lei.s. lie believed L. -~-l -ay