The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-17
From the Toledo (Ohio) Blade.
Canadian Reciprocity.

In our article on this subject Oh Monday, We
ventured the opinion, that the friends OF recipro
city, after years experience of Canadian com
petition in the eastern wheat markets, would be
not only willing, but anxious for protection. The
reply that article has elected from our neigh
bor while il fails to explain, to satisfaction the
reasons for this competition, III no way changes
the opinion we expressed. The comparative light
ness of the Canadian crop will not justify the pro-
position, that it will not be felt when brought in
competition with our own crop. But how light Ia
it, 1t is ten and half bushes of wheat to every
inhabitant-half bushel more than the best Of our
t-producing States. Her crop the present
year will probably reach $4,000 900 bushels leav-
ing for export quantity fully equal to that pro-
duced by the best wheat-growing State in the
Union. We ask if this, under the operation of free
trade, would not be sufficient at any time to clog
our market, with the usual stock on hand and es-
pecially II there be no foreign demand. Let facts
tell. Our market il clogged now with Canadian
flour, sufficiently so to lessen the demand for our
own flour in the west, and reduce prices of wheat
generally. The amount hand, though small
would, If removed, leave room for the introduction
OF the wheat that has accumulated nj Buffalo, and the
remainder of the old stock of -four in the west We
should have toerable home market now, and r
chance TO introduce and dispose of the new surplus
coming in, at better prices. This appears TO us
perfectly clearand settles the point, that it is not
so much IN the great quantity upon the mark ct
that guts il, as in the competition waged, and the
assurance that this competition will be perpetual
But let look at il with reference TO the future.
Canada is fine wheat -growing region Open our
markets To her, and she will cultivate ten acres
where she cultiva ties one. Her yield will be as
ten TO one, and why Because she will be enabled
TO avail herself of our markets, when they good
without paying any duty, thus competing with us
there and when low prices prevail here she will be
able 10 send abroad, without paying duty, and tn
compete with US there. The steady influx of which
our neighbor speaks will not follow reciprocity.
When the foreign market ia best, Canada will send
her wheat abroad--when ours is best il will come
here.
Our neighbor thinks that higher duties would fail
to keep the wheat out of market, or if il did
that IL would come in competition with us abroad
an evil much more TO be deprecated. This sstrangc
logic. Our entire surplus crop probably does not
exceed fifty millions of bushels. Less than one
fifth of this is sold in foreign markets Il il OBJ
ject 20 open markets for the surplus of Canada
and encounter her competition both at home and
abroad, for the sake of dsposing of this Is il an
object, at tine like the present, when have
foreign market, and no prospect of one for a year
to come, and large surplus crop on hand, to de-
stroy our own market by opening 1t to foreign
competition This we understand 20 be the doc
trine Of neighbor-or rather this is the certain
tendency of his doctrine.
But our neighbor fears that by driving il away
the British tariff will be restored. BE Il go Our
own market is ample for our own products. Bet
ter 20 than 10 depend upon a foreign market for
the disposition of sufficient quantity TO counter
poise the immense surplus which two years of free
trade would bring in upon us from Canada. Bet
ter go than have reciprocal free trade, which in
fac is rcCinrocity.