St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-04
WHY NOT ANNEX?

It is singular that there should be any
material opposition among Canadians to
annexation with the United States.
Many of the most prominent merchants
and tinanciers of England express sur
prise that the entire populace of Canada
is not in favor OF becoming part of
this country. AnneXing with the United
States has very different meaning
from absorbing by monarchy. Canada
would become just as much part of
the United States as though it had
gained its independence with the thir-
teen states in the Revolutionary war,
and would have just as much voice in
the affairs of the government as any
other portion of the United States.
Her provinces would become states
of the Union, with legislative power
to make their own laws. And
the lawmaking power of the states
would be very much wider in their
reach than that of the provinces. Each
state has its own constitution, enacts
its own criminal laws, laws of con-
tracts; in short, passes all the laws for
the government of its people, except
such as pertain to the union of states.
which are passed by congress; and the
government at Washington has no
power to veto any law passed by state
which docs not conflict with the consti-
tuition of the United States. A province
of Canada has power only to enact a
a limited class of local laws, every one
OF which may be vetoed by the dominion
oil
and handled by the central government.
Its courts are appointed by the central
government. In short, its independence
of the central government is so slight
that its fortunes may hang upon the
caprices of quarters the most remote
from it.
The affairs of the dominion and of the
United States are so closely allied that
many complications arise from their
being separate governments. Canada
has protective tariff; but for the most
part it is not so high as ours; hence
there is constant trouble over snug
Cling, adjustments, etc. Were the two
countries made one the Canadian man
ufactures, farm, mine and lumber prod
uct would find a much wider field, and
a new impetus would be given the
| country.
European immigrants are coming 10
America by the hundreds of thousands
annually. They do not settle in Canada,
but come to the United States. The
! Canadian Northwest is one OF the broad
est, most beautiful and fertile countries
in the world; yet it is comparatively
unsettled, and immigrants cannot be
induced to go there. Why? Because of
its form of government, and because of
its connection with Great Britain. Its
connection with the mother country is
very Slight; but the common people of
| Europe cannot brook the thought of
settling in country that has the least
| governmental connection with a king
| dom.
No two nationalities in the world are
so nearly alike in appearance and habits
as those of Canada and the United
| States. A foreigner to visit a Canadian
and an American home could not mark
the slightest contrast. The Canadians
are peaceable, aw-abidlng, home
loving people; so are we.
| were tHe uOiniiiOu 10 become part
| of the United States, American capital
would Immediately reach out through
all the broad virgin lands of Manitoba,
British Columbia, and through the vast
mineral districts, making them to teen
with life and thrift. Immigrants would
flock to these new lands, and soon that
country would become populous and
prosperous. 1t would all result in bene
fits to Canada which cannot be estimated
There is but one obstacle in the way
OF annexation; that is the debt of that
| country. Its debt is something over
| $50 per capita. while ours is but S14 Del
| capita. This country would most likel,
| object to adding the debt of Canad a t.
opr national debt; and Canada would