The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & ExperiencesDenison, George T. (George Taylor)
History
The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & Experiences
Denison, George T. (George Taylor)
Canada -- History -- 1867-1914
The _North American Review_, one of the most respectable of their
magazines, actually published an article by General Benjamin F.
Butler, in which, speaking of annexation, he said: "Is not this the
fate of Canada? Peacefully we hope, forcefully if we must," and in the
truculent spirit of a freebooter, he suggested that the invading army
should be paid by dividing up our land among them. This was followed
by the McKinley Bill, aimed of course at all countries, but especially
bearing upon the articles where Canada's trade could be seriously
injured. This portion of the bill is generally believed to have been
prepared with the assistance and advice of traitors in our own country.
In face of all this a lecturer in this city a few weeks ago made the
following statement:
"Let me say once more, that I have been going among the Americans now
for more than twenty years. I have held intercourse with people of
all classes, parties, professions, characters, and ages, including
the youth of a university who are sure to speak as they feel. I never
heard the slightest expression of a wish to aggress on Canada, or to
force her into the union."
Among the people of antiquity there was a race that inhabited Mysia, a
portion of Asia Minor, lying next to the Hellespont. This race was said
to have been once warlike, but they soon degenerated, and acquired
the reputation of being the meanest of all people, Mysorum ultimus or
last of the Mysians being used as a most contemptuous epithet. The
ancients generally hired them to attend their funerals as mourners
because they were naturally melancholy and inclined to shed tears. I
think that the last lingering remnant of that bygone race must have
wandered into this country, and, unable to obtain employment in their
natural vocation, mourn and wail over the fate of Canada, urge our
people to commit national suicide, and use every effort to destroy that
hope and confidence which a young country like our own should always
possess. This small clique is working in collusion with our enemies
in the States, the design being to entrap us into annexation by force
or fraud. This threat upon our country's life, and the intrigues of
these conspirators have had the effect that similar attempts have
had upon all nations that have possessed the slightest elements of
manliness. The patriotic feeling at once became aroused, the clergy in
their pulpits preached loyalty and patriotism, the people burst out
into song, and patriotic poems of greater or less merit appeared in
the local press everywhere. The Stars and Stripes, often before draped
in friendly folds with the Union Jack, disappeared from sight, while
our own flag was hoisted all over the land. Battle anniversaries were
celebrated, military monuments decorated, and in all public gatherings
the loyal sentiment of the people showed itself, not in hostility
to the people of the United States, but in bitter contempt for the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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