Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — CANADIAN ANNEXATION. [ARTICLE]

CANADIAN ANNEXATION.

Mr. Butierwonh A-tonlshes Everybody by a Resolution to Take the luidat ve. Friends of commercial union between the United States and Canada are very much astonished over the course of Representative Butterworth in introducing in the House a preamble and resolution empowering the President ‘‘to invite negotiations looking to the assimilation and unity of the people of the Dominion of Canada under one government.” There is absolutely no spirit shown in either* branch for anexation. There is a strongs sentiment in favor of commercial union, and Mr. Butterworth has heretofore been looked upon as the champion of this idea because of bis course in speaking for commercial union, not only in this country, but in Canada, and because of his previous

resolutions having that object in view. Those who know Something of the sentiment of the political parties- in • Canada say that Mr. Butterworth could not have more effectually injured the commercial union idea if he bad tried to do so, and that the commercial unionists have been Compelled to answer the claims of the r opponents that commer- . dal union wa a simply a svnonym for annexation. Fortunately, however, for those who favor commercial union the Butterworth resolution is not likely to receive cordial support in Congress. In fact, it is doubtful if it will ever be heard of again, unless Mr. Butterworth ’should introduce it in duplicate in the next House. Regarding Congressman Butterworth’s annexation resolution, Mr. Howell, Canadian Minister of Customs, says, that “it was the greatest rot ever propounded by a man who bad any pretensions to being a statesman. In the first, nlace,” said Mr. Howell, “the people of Canada do not want annexation with the United States, forcible illustration of which we have had in the recent Dominion elections, which were run on either commercial union or unrestricted reciprocity lines—one remove only from annexation, which, in reality, either implies. Do you suppose for one moment the Dominion government dare propose a commission, as suggested by Mr. Butterworth, for consideration of the question. Any member of the Cabinet who ventured to make such a proposition Would be drummed out of the country. An annexation sentiment has no existence in Canada, save among a few hoodlums who are endeavoring to gain notoriety through advocating a movement no ond of any responsibility joins in.”