The Washington times., 1911-02-19
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
BOUNDARY LINE.

| here are two sides to reciprocity
like everything else. The other side il
just across the boundary line. Thr
humors of the Champ Clark suggestion
about annexation, and the politics O.
the Bennett resolution, are readily
enough understood here; but what
wonder if the Canadian cousin has diff
flculty grasping these aspects! W.
see our Administration threatening ex
ira session, our stsndpatters protest
ing and filibustering; our erstwhiIt
pro-revision insurgents dodging OIL
keeping as still as mice and we realize
that it has all caused tremendous con
cern on this side Of the line.
Has it occurred to anyone that there
is an equal pother in Canada? Do We
realize that there is more than Al
American Grange to placate? Do we
remember that fishermen in Newfound
land and elsewhere are as wildly con.
ccrned as those Gardiner constituents
of Gloucester going about with Grape
on their coat sleeves in memory of the
sacred cod? If this, or something like
it, has not occurred, it is high time
that it should be given recognition. For
reciprocity, so far from being a local
question, is an international one The
United States has no monopoly in its
discussion.
Comes the Montreal Daily Star, with
a modest imitation of a yellow journal
announcing principle or knitting an
enemy. Across its first page in ad-
vertising type runs the legend: THE
American Motive for Reciprocity Pact
Is Disclosed In Congress-" Follow four
double columns in long primer sound
ing the note of alarm for all that in
dependence for which Canadians fight,
die, and bleed in every sentence. Thus
Clark of Missouri speaks for the
American people today much more GER
tainly than Mr. Asquith can speak
today for the majority of the British
people. And yet if Mr.. Asquith were
to say, for instance, We are prepar-
ing for the annexation of Holland.
what tremendous excitement would
break out at The Hague and in all the
capitals of Europe" Among other
things which we did not know before,
we learn:
Annexation of Canada was the key
rOte of his raIlying address; and 1t
rallied his doubling followers like a
trumpet call. They might have some
hesitation over voting an agreement
and there, but they could have none
over the launching of program whose
purpose was TO carry the Stars and
Stripes to the Arctic Circle.
Canadians, we are told, have had a
long fight against annexation. Some
Of us can recall sitting at the feet Of
our grandfathers and hearing them
tell how their fathers left comfortable
homes in New England and New York
to trek into the Canadian wilderness.
They did not want to be annexed" :"
There they wrought and suffered.
Shall we stand by their graves today
and pull down the flag they so hardly
and heroically nailed to the rough
hewn pole that rose from the thatched
roof of their pioneers cabin?" Echo
answers, Not!
Freedoms battle. once begun,
Is handed down from sire to son
trills the Star, and then:
There was an annexationist move
ment in 1872: and we mean no un-
friendliness to our neighbors in recall
ing the fact that the men of the day
gave their answer at Queenstown
Heights and Chateauguay,
There is much more-discussions in
the house of commons, cartoons of an
anaemic Champ Clark disclosing an
annexation cat in bag, protests from
over seas. But enough. When Canada
gets ready to beat the long roll of the
war of 1912, even the most self-cen-
tered American must understand that
there are two countries concerned in
the annexation treaty.