Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-16
ANNEXATION OF CANADA.
Its Expediency Debated by Representative
Yale and Princeton Students.

Its Expediency Debated by Representative
Yale and Princeton Students.
The first debating contest ever held between
Princeton and Yale took place last evening
at o'clock in the Second Presbyterian
Church at Priceton. N j. Alexander I. Nc
Gill, chancellor of New Jersey. presided, and
introduced the contestants, each of whom was
allowed ten minutes to advance his arguments
and a second speech of six minutes in which to
refute those advanced by his opponents.
The question for debate was. Resolved
That the peaceful annexation of Canada would
be beneficial to the United States
Princeton supported the affirmative and Yale
the negative. Donsid McColl opened the de-
bate for Princeton. He developed the great
advantage to be gained from our having the
Canadian wheat fields. forest fisheries and min
eral resources at our disposal. A commercial
union woud have to be made with England.
when is clearly impracticable. Political union,
however, would bring absolute military secur-
ity. 1t would add to our naval resources the
sixth mar itime power OF the world The sec
ond browning political advantages would be the
addition of continental nation, possessing
substantial ethical unity. The temporary per-
niexities growing out of Canada present sparce
population could not overbalance the advan-
tages.
He was followed by J. I. Chamberlain, who
opened Iales debate. He emphasized the
gravity of the proposition under discussion.
speaking of the 100000 square miles in
Canada, the annexation of which would double
our present area. Next he mentioned the
danger of adding to our population $500, 900
persons of French derivation and brought up
IN the Roman Catholic Church and religion.
After noting the suffciency of the present re-
sources of the United States. he disclaimed the
necessity for annexing any new territory, and
closed his debate by an earnest appeal to the
American nation not to allow itself to be Sc
duced from a great career by dreams of terri
torial expansion. the ruin OF SO many nations.
j. F. ] wing. the second debater for Prince
ton. opened his debate by a brief summary OF
the commercial advantages enumerated by his
colleague. Mr.. McColl. and then showed that
these advantages would onl come by political
union. After proving that commercial union
is both useless and inefficient. why, then, he
asked. rs commercial union to be preferred II
il will not bring even full commercial benefts!"
He then called attention to some positive polit-
zeal advantage.
The next speaker for Yale. W. d. Leeper, said
that the issue raised was distinctly one between
a republican and imperial form Of govern
ment. The objects of the tw' can never be the
same. He asked what the United States would
gain. He offered commercial union a substi-
tute for annexation to remedy the existing COM
mercial evils and tariffs.
McCready Sykes then closed the argument
for Princeton by explaining Princeton's situa-
ton and showing that the affirmative view was
mistaken. He referred to the annexation Of
Alaska. which he said was the poorest part of
Canada. and said that the annexation of further
portions would not more seriously disturb us
than did the annexation OF that small country.
In closing he secuted the idea that we should
have any fear OF adding to our number a mill
ion and half of French Canadians.
The last speaker FOR Yale. W. F. Thoms. said
that nations are not formed on geological lines
alone. but there must be common interests.
He denied that these existed between Canada
and the United States. The Canadian prac tice
of bribery il elections must not be overlooked.
ror the British sympathizers, who would prove
an element of disatfection after union. He de-
MED that the French-Canadian population
would be easy 10 assinilate from its present and
growing proportions. Our nation lis still young
and should not be hampered in its growth by
such means.
The second speeches were extern ,vy in
character and were devoted to reiu on
tirely. The Princeton men were more at home
in this than Iales representatives, to whom
this a new departure.
After the debate a banquet was given in Uni
yersity Hall.
MIR. Depew being unable to attend Stephen
A. Foster of New York responded to the toast
YALE" princeton" President Patton 1.-The
bulldog and the tiger" MacGran Coke: The
American college man" Prof. West 1.-The de-
bate, Prof. Scott