Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-19
ANNEX A T1oN SENTIMENT GRo,y1y6;

The vigorous campaign in progress in
Canada, the paramount issue OF which is
the question of trade relations with the
United States, furnishes indications of a
growing sentiment in favor of annexa-
tion. One evidence of this is the care
which the conservative leaders take to
combat the idea OF annexation. Their
addresses and mauifestoes rever fail to
affirm the necessity of Canada maintain-
ing political independence of this country
and they seek by the strongest language
to impress this view upon the
public. They hold out in capt w.
ting terms the promise that if
the dominion will repeat all
schemes or proposals looking to any sort
of political alliance with the United
States it will in good time take rank as
great nation, with the ability to as
sumo an absolutely independent position
if its people so desire. Doubtless this
does make an impression upon some, but
there is very large class with whom it
does not have any effect The people of
the maritime provinces and thousands
OF farmers in other portions of Canada
are not Influenced by promises which
they sec no reason to suppose will ever
be fulfilled, and the realization OF which.
granting that to be possible, is still in
the far future. These people would well
come annexation at once, and they would
not be very eXacting as to the terms.
But there is little use OF the Canadian
people agitating the question OF annexa-
tion until they get some indication that
the people of the United States want
Canada or any part of it. There has
been some talk in this country to the ef-
feet that it might be good thing to
annex portions OF Canada if the people
there interested should ask it, and u few
men and newspapers of prominence have
expressed the opinion that in time the
flag of the union would wave over the
dominion. 1t is possible that this may
happen, but just at present the
number of American citizens
who want Canada or even slice of that
country is not large. The sentiment of
the vast ma jority of thoughtful people
undoubtedly is that the United States is
big enough, and that the security and
stability Of republican institutions would
not be subserved by extending the ma
tional boundaries. Doubtless a consid-
cradle part of tho people of Canada
would readily assimilate They would
have no regrets at shaking of depen-
dence on England and transferring their
allegiance to the great republic. They
would feel quite as comfortable and safe
under the protection of the stars
and stripes as under that of the
union jack, and very likely the material
advantages would be far more satisfac-
tory to them. But there is very con-
siderable class that it would probably
be impossible to assimilate, at least
until new generation came on, and In
any event the task would be troublesome
and difficult. The introduction of this
population, with its distinctive charac.
teristics, its prejudices and its abiding
faith in traditions which it is the
policy OF those who dominate il TO
keep up, could not bring us any advan.
tages or benefits, and might very easily
become source of annoyance and dis.
turbance in the body polite, II ever
the question OF Canadian annexation
shall come seriously before the Ameri-
can people there will be no lack of CO.