Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-04
A POLITICAL UNION
of Canada and the United States Is
the Macdonald Platform. .
POPULARITY OF THE PROPOSAL
Shown in the Test Votes Taken in Towns
Along the Border.
THE CAUSES OF THE PRESENT FEELING

repEc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE D1spArcH.r
TORONTO, April S.-Ernest Albert Mac
donald, who gained some distinction here
as an Alderman for several years, was a
mavoralty candidate in this city year ago,
and has announced himself as an annexa-
Zionist candidate for Parliamentary honors
in coming bye-election, has been &C.
tiyelv engaged for several months in a
series of meetings in Western Ontario, in
the interest of political union with the
United States. In reply to question as to
what was the cause OF revival of interest
In the question of annexation Mr.. Mac
donald TODAY said:
''The commercial depression that now
prevails in the country, and the disappoint-
ing census returns are largely the cause Of
the attention that is being devoted to the
question at present But we do not care to
call it movement for annexation, we pre-
fer to call it political union"
"What is the objection to the term an
nexation?'
"Well, it implies something which we
do not wish to be confounded with the in
tentions OF our movement. The word an
nexation implies force and loss of dig
nifty. What we want is honorable union.
"How do vou find the movement received
in the western part of this province"
Many Are Wild for Annexation.
''The people in some parts are wild for
the proposed change, especially in the agri-
cultural districts We take a vote on the
question wherever it is possible, and in
Paris, an inland town of 4,0cG where We
held a meeting recently, we submitted five
different motions on the political destiny OF
Canada, and the voting was as follows: Re
main as we are, 50: indcnendent monarchy,
.: independent republic, 6: imperial fedora.
tion, 1: political union with the United
"How is the annexation question viewed
in the Canadian border towns?"
Il have make a careful investigation in
number o. the border settlements, and find
O very strong feeling In favor of political
union. But, of course, that is only natural
in those places, where the advantages to
be derived from such policy are constantly
before the eyes of Canadians who live in
suca close proximity to the United States.
These people see that their natural markets
patronize them to considerable extent:
Take Wiadsor, for instance. The people of
that town are unable TO supply
many of their. wants there, and
Detroit The former is ITO miles distant
The latter is SO convenient that Windsor
people can go over to the city and return at
Il cost, bv buying tickets on the ferry, for
ce~ts for the round trfp. If they are known
residents of Windsor they have little or no
trouble with the Canadian customs officers.
Not Much Need of Annexation.
"In fact, L believe these officers wink at
infractions of the customs laws by the peo-
pie who make their purchases in Detroit,
and l think it is done with the object of not
ensendering a greater feeling OF opposition
against the custom laws than now exist.
II the custom laws in these border towns
W re more vigorously enforced ibelieve it
voI!d increase the popular feeling for polit-
lc:i nnion."
lis il your pu1 pose and that of your friends
to make vigorous campaign in favor of
political union?''
"Yes, we intend to contest every Parlia-
mentary constituency open after this We
regard the opening of this sconstituency-:he
as almost providentiaf, because
that returns three members by a cumulative
cancy in the Ontario Legislature, we will
get vote from an electorate of 80, 600. 1 am
sure there are thousands upon thousands of
political Unionists in Toronto. and if We |
only have % per cent of the electorate with |
us 1t will show the feeling of the peonle in |
this city on the question of political union. |
The customs regulations are so oppressive |
that believe most OF the importers in To- |
ronto are political unionists."
Every Border Place to Be Contested.
"wn you offer political Unionfst candi- |
date in WeIland for the House of Com
mous?''
"Yes, we will contest welland; and, as that |
is border constituency, we hope to make a |
good showing there. If we succeed in get |
ting a candidate elected in Welland |
we shall have him introduce a mo- |
tion in favor of political union in |
the Dominion Parliament at Ottawa. |
Our opponents say We could not get the |
terms we propose as a basis for political |
union. We cannot approach the United |
States Government in any way to ascertain /
ii these terms would be received, but we |
feel there is no reason why we cannot con- |
suit the American popular feeling on |
the matter well as that of |
the Canadian people. We propose |
holding meetings in New York, Boston, 4
Philadelphia, Chicago. Buffalo and other /
Northern cities. with a view of laying our /
plans before the people in those cities and |
getting ar expression of opinion on the
question. If III be received favorably by the
pres and public men, it can be assumed that
we would be iairly dealt with in asking for
union"