Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-23
MISTAKES OF CANADIANS.
Tory Newspapers and Public Men i'll
the Dominion Seem to be All
at Sea.
No Strong Party in the United States
is AyOWedly the Advocate of
Annexation.
The Union of Church and State in
Quebec Precludes Annexa-
ton.

Canadian papers which have been re-
ceived here and speeches of some of the
members of the tory government seem to
proceed upon the assumption that there is
a very strong desire in the United States
III favor of annexation, and that this SEN
timent is so strong that the tariff IegisIa-
ton of the last congress was in great meas
ure controlled by it. One of the most
prominent members of the Uuited States
senate, who has given much attention to
the subject, ON the relations between Cana
da and this country, recently expressed
this opinions i doubt very mrch whether
if the entire Dominion of Canada or any
one of the provinces of which ii Domin-
ion is composed should make application
to be admitted as a state of the United
States and that authoritative information
could be given that Great Britain would
make no objections congress would con-
sent to admit that state.
To admit the Dominion of Canada might
involve the entire reorganization of politics
in this country. Whichever party might
be in power in congress the administration
Uould be very suspicious that the new
state to he admitted from the Dominion
might join the ranks of their political
enemy in this country. That fact of itself
would have a very depressing influence
upon any movement in favor of annexation
One thing can be accepted as an assured
fact. The province of Quebec, with its
state church, with its constitutional
guarantees which it is claimed have been
given to the Catholic establishment in Que
bee by the original treaty between France
and England could never be admitted as
state of the Federal Union. The Catholic
religion is too firmly imbedIed in the gov
eminent of Quebec for any one to imagine
for moment that province could become
a state of the United States. Yet it is said
that Quebec is the very province where The
strongest annexation sentiment exists. A
great many OF the most conservative think
ers are of opinion that the territory now
under the jurisdiction of this government
is quite as much as is desirable. MANY
are doubtful of the ability of the United
States to go on indefinitely assimilating a
half million foreigners a year to say moth
ing of the al sorption at one stroke of s.
600, 600 of people, It may be very strong
Il doubted whether if the majority of the
Canadian electors indicated desire for an
nexation it would be very cordially second
ed by majority of the electors of the
United States. There certainly is very
much more marked agitation in favor Of
annexation to the United States north of
the boundary line Of the Dominion AMI the
republic than there is to the south of it,
No one here is thinking about annexation
And there is nothing in the minds of pub
lie men here or In current events to war
rant any basis or any claim which the
tories are making as political Arguments
at home that there is a strong party in the
United States which is advocating the an
ne1 alton of Canada. There is not the
slightest thing in the world in all that
talking