The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-06
Especial Correspondence.]

Them Are Opposed to Annexation.
Especial Correspondence
New YORK, Jan. ga letter ad-
dressed to leading Canadians requesting
their personal views as to the questions Of
reciprocity and annexation, and their
opinions as to the attitude of the British
North. American provinces upon these
questions, has brought many interesting
and significant replies. The letter was
SO worded that those unwilling directly
to commit themselves upon either ques-
ton could content themselves with CIV
ing their impressions as to the attitude
of their own constituents or as to any or
all other parts Of the provinces.
The list of persons to whom the COM
munication went was furnished by an
intelligent student of politics in Europe
and America, at one time Radical Can
didate for parliament in an English bor-
ough, now a resident of Canada and a
contributor to the British and American
reviews. The list included men of all
parties, whether in public life or in bust
ness. The replies are of all sorts, from
polite defamation to open avowal.
Professor Goodwin Smith, since Sir
John A. Macdonald's death, perhaps the
most conspicuous of Canadians, a man as
well known in the United States and Eng
land as in Canada, replies to the letter by
sending to the writer copy of his well
known work, 1.-THE Canadian Question:
a book which foreshadows the coming
annexation of Canada to the United
States.
THE Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, of Atha-
baskerville, Que, former minister of the
Dominion government and advocate of
commercial union with the United
States, excuses himself in these words:
am sorry that could not at present give
you the information which you desire. would
particularly wish you to understand that !
mean no discourtesy. On the contrary, Iwould
feel exceedingly gratifed to thus oblige you,
but for reasons altogether personal deem it
advisable not to say anything on this subject
at present. Believe me, dear sir, yours respect
fully. WILFRIp LAuRIER.
The Hon. G.. e. Foster, finance minis
ter in the Dominion government at OF
tawa, whose recent controversy with
President Harrison's secretary of the
treasury attracted considerable atten-
ton, replies in this terse fashion:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS does not wish and does
not intend to have anything to do with annexa-
ton to the United States Cranks here or in
your country are no index of popular feeling,
and their efforts are simply laughed at here.
If you think there is any popular basis for the
propaganda in Canada you are deceived.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT is favorable, as she has
always been, to any fair measure of reciprocity
with the United States. She does not wish it
at the expense of equal treatment of British
goods or at the sacrifice Of her own tariff max
ing powers.
Mr.. Stephen Caldecott, member of an
extensive wholesale importing and mer-
camille firm in Toronto, writes:
First-Personally am opposed to annexa-
ton to the United States.
Second-I think there is very little feeling in
Ontario in favor Of annexation, and what little
there is comes from the frontier towns, and
mainly from the class called in your country
sol reads.
Third-Regarding reciprocity, being a free
trader am naturally favorable to the utmost
reciprocity in trade, but not in favor of any
commercial union that would involve the erec-
ton of a tariff against the world in favor of
the United States. am, however, strongly in
think it wise to put the shackles of protection
upon my hands because my neighbor put them
on his.
FOURTH have full confidence in the ability
of Canada to maintain a high position among
the nations of the world and look forward TO
the time when we shall be as numerous in
population and wealth as we now are in land,
minerals, timber and vast possibilities.
P. H. Burton, wholesaler and import.
Ell of Toronto, writes with some warmth
that after forty-two years residence in
Canada, varied by two visits a year to
Europe for nearly half that time, he be-
lieyes the British empire the best gov
srned Of all political entities. He says:
have come to the conclusion that for good
and impartial government-sound business
principles, real popular government and true
delnocracy-Britain leads the van. and all c1tl-
gems of the British empire live under better
government, take it all around, than you do;
therefore politically we could not gain by an
nexation, therefore we don't want it. a few
facts: Your constitution was modelled over l00
years ago on the modelo Great Britain, but
leaving out what were then considered faults
and bringing it well up to those times and as
near perfect as could be, especially when car
ried out by the honeS and patriotic men then
living such as General Washington; but since
the British constitution nitS gradually ue'el-
oped and improved until to,iayit is more really
popular and responds more quickly to public
opinion than yours, as witness the sweeping
victory of the Democrats in your popular house
more than two years ago, but SO far nothing
has been done to give effect to the popular YER
dict and probably will not for another year. In
Britain OF Canada such a verdict would have
carried with it dissolution Of the ministry
in a week. The queen, God bless her," has
reigned now some 1ifty-four years, and during
that time has not vetoed one bill passed by
both houses of the legislature. and has not cost
Britain as much as your presidents with all the
attendant expenses of a presidential contest
every four years, and, further, your presidents
have vetoed bills by the hundreds and have
more real despotic power than the queen OF
England.
AS to finance, the chancellor Of the exchequer
in Britain has no power to disturb che finances
of the country, but you have given your secre-
tary of the treasury in your iniquitous and
hopelessly fallacious silver bill power to pay all
United States debts and dues in gold and Sill
yer coin at his discretion" No wonder your
securities are coming home to roost and your
gold flowing to Europe.
We used to talk of the bloateG aristocracies
of Europe and their oppression OF the poor, but
look at the moneyed aristocrats of your coun-
try, where money will buy more position. mere