Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1888 — THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. [ARTICLE]

THE ANNEXATION QUESTION.

Canadian Buaincmand Workingmen j Anxious for It. t : ‘ v^. 1 . Montreal, Nov. 10.— Nothing strikes the American visitor to western Canada more forcibly than the growing belief that annexation with the United States is the only salvation for one of the richjest countries, in the world, so far as natural products are concerned, and after a few weeks’ sojourn among theTlntelligent portion of the community occupying the garden spot of Ontario between Toronto and Windsor, there is no doubt that fully three-quarters of that district are strongly in favor of a severance of the ties which have bound them to a monarchy 3,0 0 miles distant for more than a hundred years, and a dilating with' a country whose geographical situation has preordained the change which must come, sooner or later. - •. /{■

A well-known Conservative who is very close to the Government, said in conversation with a reporter of the Sun less than a week ago: “The spot in which to feel the Canadian pulse in regard to the annexation question is in such cities as Toronto, London, Hamilton, and where th« manu facturere are almost wholly in favor of the scheme. Naturally you will encounter here and there a rabid John Bull only a few years in the country, with loyalty written in every line of hiß countenance, who would be threatened with apoplexy were he asked for an opinion upon the question. He would vote it downright treason, and assure you that the Canadian people were more than satisfied to be a portion of the tail to the British kite. Then again, another class from which strenuous opposition to such a scheme would be expected is the large number of officeholders under Government whose occupation would be gone the instant this country became a portion of your great republic. Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Hector Langevin, the Hod. John Carling and other Ministers would deprecate such a movement. truth of the matter is, nearly ever y Canadian in politics nowadays is in search of a title, great or small it matters not, and they are all mightily afraid to utter a word which would meet with the disapproval of the British Government. These gentlemen have been Interviewed on the annexation issue, which»has grown up of late to such proportions that it is folly for them to ignore it, and have always looked askance at any project having that end in view. “What will become of this country in the next decade if our National debt continues to pile up as it hqs in the past? Think of a debt of $200,000,000 weighing us down, and the United States, with a surplus in their treasury, anxious to take us into their fold, enhance the value of our property, develop our rich iron, coal and phosphate mines, our magnificent timber lands, and a dozen other enterprises which have remained stagnant odlv because of a lack of capital. “If the people of Ontario are in favor of annexation, those of Manitoba, Quebec, and the maritime provinces fairly demand it, and there is no question in the minds of unprejudiced observers that, were the question put to a vote tomorrow, there would be a decisive opinion in favor of the union. It is coming. We may have to pass through the pre-

paratory school of commercial union, bat when Canadians have had a chance to observe the workings of the project there will-belew demurrers. Ask any Canadian who depends upon his hands for his daily bread where he can obtain the higher wages, n Canada or the United States, and he will gaze upon you, as though you were demented. Take the case of the Grand Trunk Railway employes as a criterion. The average pay of conductors, engineers, firemen, brakemen, switchmen, and other employes increases 20 per cent, the moment the line at Sarnia and Port Huron is crossed. Those doing service between Port Huron and Chicago receive 20 per cent, more wages for doing the same work that their brethren on tbe road between Sarnia, or more correctly Point Edward, and Montreal. A more forcible illustration of the difference of the financial condition of the countries could not be advanced. “This is not only true in almost every trade, but for years the pick and flower of our young men have, immediately upon learning of the superior inducements held out across the border, left the land of their birth and become naturalized citizens of the united States, and no small contributors to the prestige which that country has attained in the commercial and financial world,” “Is annexation strong in Manitoba?” “You should visit Winnipeg or any of the Northwestern cities and hear for yourself a few of the opinions which the people of that province have been at great care to give pub’icity to. They are more than outspoken* in. their denunciation of their restricted railroad facilities, and there will be another rebellion up there unless the Government handles this Red River Railroad question very gingerly. The farmers of that country declarp that it is time to complain when they are compelled to send their produce thousands of miles eastward over the Canadian Pacific at ex> orbitant rate in order to reach a market purely liocanae the Government ‘is interested in the road. They contend that they can secure better prices at tt^e

adjacent markets of St. Patti and Minneapolis, where the milling interests are second to none in the woVld, and assert with much vig#that they will market their products where they can obtain the largest return independent of the Government. The Canadian Pacific refuses to permit the Red Riveyr road to cross its tracks, and has placed an armed guard to see that its behests is heeded, and there is no telling where the affair will end. If this country had an able champion—a fearless, resolute man, who would not become discouraged at obstacles which would be thrown in his way at Ottawa—annexation would not be five years, no, nor three years distant. It is time we were through with the farce of paying a foreigner a stupendous salary to do nothing except wear, the empty title of Governor-General of Canada.” .