The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-06
CANADIAN ANNEXATION.

himself down a Canadian. His British
prejudice protrudes itself in every line
and the arguments that he advances in
support Of his position will scarcely rally
round him multitude of supporters,
at least on this side Of the border. He
admits reluctantly that the movement in
favor Of annexation is meeting with more
support than he and those Of his opinion
exactly like to think about but finds
consolation in the belief that the motives
Of the annexationists are better than
their judgment. Hands off is his advice
to the United States. Canada is capable
unaided Of some day becoming a great
nation and we do not know what an old
man OF the sea we should be assuming it
we became responsible for her future
interests. Besides, the United States
government is in no position, according
to the writer, to bear the burden of wider
and more onerous responsibilities than
she already has upon her hands. In
other words, he thinks we are showing
weakness for biting off more than we
would care to swallow. We haze not
yet, IN his opinion, passed the educa-
tional phase in the curriculum of gov
eminent and it would become us better
to take the notes out Of our own eyes
before venturing on the dangerous surg
ical operation of removing the beams
that at present obstruct the political
vision Of the Canucks. We have yet to
work out our own political salvation in
many ways; we have to fill the veins OF
the stagnant south with the magnetic
industrial energy and capital OF the
north; we must needs tame the labor
fiend that is tossing in Nightmares OF
unrest; We have Catholic discomfort to
face in Massachusetts; Mormon oppo-
sition in Utah, and the foreign element
bugbear in New York and Chicago. 1t
would not be unwise to unrayel the
tangled skein of tariff reform too, while
we have little leisure to spare from
other matters. Now, we may readily
grant the writer that these are no mere
trifles in the art OF government, that
much Of our political future will depend
upon their wise solution, but he must
have an undeservedly poor opinion of
the experience and acumen of our states
men il he honestly believes that they are
incapable OF devising and carrying to
successful completion wise solution for
each and all Of these knots in the cable
Of government and coming to the rescue
OF bewildered and harassed Canadian
politicians Us we'll, if the occasion should
arse.
Annexation an accomplished fact, oul
,critic believes we should have three in.
sltricate problems to face The first would
isbe the existence of Canadian party
zone and indivisible. With the efface.
,nent Of their present party lines, the
Canucks would step into the Union, un-
], inspired by the traditions of either OF
i our great political parties and with but
10 superficial knowledge of the lines OF
.spolicy that have separated them. Their
attitude to both would probably be
largely influenced by their behavior dur
ing the annexation negotiations, but in
everything pertaining to home interests
i they would represent solid vote. This
solid vote seems to trouble the reviewer
extremely, although it seems rather hard
TO discover why the Canadian repre-
sentatlves of the possible future should
not have every right to be intensely
loyal to the interests of their own con-
etituents. However, he raises this
buxabco and he can find no possible
means to lay the evil spirit except sys-
tom of 'public bribery" such as Cana.
dian statesmen have used in the concili-
alton of Nova Scotia. A member Of the
Dominion family againt her will, she has
been treated like spoiled child,
petted, pampered and Quoted with
soothing syrup in the shape Of exception
al legislation. Such is bis forecast OF
tho system OF legislation that would be
required Of us by Canadian statesmen
in tho future. That they would adopt
any such narrow idea as this we ut.
terly refuse to believe. In merging
their country in the grand league
of states they would be stepping into ;
wider field Of action, their whole politi
cal horizon would be enlarged, the,
would no longer look at events and poll
cies through the wrong end of the glas
% they do now, unconsciously the
would lay aside their narrow views and
while they would still rightly boast {
being Canadians, they would lay clair
TO tho proud distinction OF being cit
zers OF greater country, American
before all things. With the highest p'
litical Offices in the gift Of the Poop
Thrown open to their energies and the
amhiti0ns, the petty, parochial methe
a po1ittcs would become fossil OF Il
buried past.
The ssms objections may be taken
IL dl8oulty be raises in tho shape
81 ultssrBritish, anti-annexation part
n - ~ TO assume his data, annex
60 IN nsver take place without .
uSocat q Quebec, tho empire prosin
y - deninion. Ontario would b
Z