Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-01

Of Us. .1at we shall act Independently Of
them.
It may be suggested that action upon the ta-
rift subsequent 10 tho treaty by the American
G yernment now precudes complaint, on our
palt, for the advanced scale Of duties levied by
thp Canadian tariff. The facts, however, will
not cover a resort 20 his argument They had
nearly doubled their tariff by yearly additions
as early as 1889 We bad reduced our tariff
aboat twenty per cent in 1857 and Afterwards
it u ruc, i, was increased but not until 1856, ,
whed the Canadian tariff was still further ad'
yance1
The tariff OF lS6l approved by a Democrat
ic President, was framed firstly, to obtain q
revenue equai 70 our expenditure, based on as
scale Of strict economy secondly, 10 furnish a
5eady revenue, avoiding actual discrimination
against and ~ allow some determinations IN
favor of American labor and lastly, to estab-
lish principle that would enable the American
importer to intfodu merchandise with no
higher payments OF duty than those paid by for
oign manufactures or by foreign merchants en-
gagged 10 the African trade In other words,
specific duties were adopted wherever lractca-
Bic; but 30 far as the British provinces were
concerned, this gave them an advantage over
more Instant countries, 0nd was the very prln-
cple discarded by them, because Vt the local
favor OF which it was au.cepu1ie, II IS great
though q common error to assume that tbs Ia
riff fixed rates Of duty much higher than thai
Of lS46. II translated many oil them into spe-
cfcs upon an average value computed for se-
RIGS OF ,carr, and restored macy others 10 The
same nd caiorem points with as many lower rates
az higher, where they stood under the act OF
1916 In the language OF geometry there was
only a change terms, or the reduction oil an
uncertain quantity to an equlyalen' ana certain
quantity Some additions were made to the
free list, and Ia tome il stances mixed or com
pound system-the specific and dd uolortm com
bined- was adopted, but this system IS regarded
as most useful BY both Great Britain and the
Canadas 1t was an effort 10 carry out the the
olv sanctioned by the experience of nearly all
civilized nations who have adopted specific du-
ties as the only mode oi escaping from the per-
petual variations and yexatlons OF the dd udtorem
system but the amcun, OF duties to be levied
was nv, upon general average, much advanced.
The edec was to collect whatever in fact was
levied. lt computed the duty upon just yalu
alton, and that duty, always the same, was to
he honestly collected Of both the jew and the
Ge0tle.
It should be understood HAT any change in
the United States tariff would not sensible effect
Canadian tra1e. All articles Of the growth or
produce of Canada, " hich she had to sell, were
already rec by the treaty, and would, therefore,
be ef, untouched. Canada really produces lit
tie in he way Of manufactures, and the treaty
nearly covered all other exports they had from
one extremity to the other. But IL wast tar 9th
erwise with the United States.
One of the arguments most persuasive TO US
at the time OF toe adoption OF the treaty-ai-
ways excepting the undeyeloped good wlli-was
the low rates OF provincial tariffs aud TINS
might have proved less potential but for the
seductive entertainments the bird suppers and
champagne, which sometimes win their way
where the diplomacy OF arguments might des
pair. The wax on corks often has an intimate
relation 70 the wax on parchments. only
mean to assert that secret service money, by the
/ United states as we'll as by Canada, it Is widely
und. rstood, was actively employed in bringing
about the treaty and If our share, as well as
that OF Canada was not expended here, 1t IS dit
fcult to see tchere it was expended 1t is silly
sheep that hrlbes the liou to q repst OF NUT
ton. The provincial appetite needed no whet-
ting.
OF course it was neither suggested nor antlc-
ipated that the policy oil specific or low duties
might he suddenly changed, nor Is the TACT men
toned to reproach Canada with bad ialth, but
as a warning 20 such az have faith IN iurther
lessons OF reciprocity
The British provinces are not remote nor I'M
connected, and t would seem that we might hope
/ from them sentiments OF good will 1t they
were independent,and united or not united to u,
we might count upon some positive friendship,
But they touch us throughout the whole breadth
Of continent, ana they are yet merely IN me
rank OF colonies and beng 20, their rulers ap-
pear to be more or less moved by selfshncss and
by that unceasing spur of IN Inferior with the
role ot riyai-jealousy. Their Government
is LEES anxious to become the exponent oil the
voice ot their own people than to echo that ol q
iar-oii ancestral aristo0racy. We may wish II
were otherwise, but reciprocity treaty only
aids to confirm such facts.
Other reasons alleged Tor the increase oi the
Canadian tariff are that the Government had
embarked j. extensive works OF internal lm-
provemens--railroads and oanals--and must
have revenue to pay The interest on the outlay,
la order that these might carry freight at low
rates, or without tolls, the Government assumed
heavy burdens, and now levles taxes upon theiI
whole people Tor the teneht OF freighters Th.
completion OF such subslded works. supported
upon such national principles, IS conclusive and
inexorable upon the competition oil private en-
terprise Like the steam-vessels, to which the
Bhtish Government pays subsidies, wherever
they touch private adventures vanish and Amer
lean interests are oyermastered Merchandise
from the United States is taxed With increased
duties to enable Canadian roads and canals Il
carry not only their own products, but % un
derbid for the carrying trade OF American pro
ducts, and to work so cheaply as to deter ant
discourage rivals from sprnglng up on Amer
can SOIL They propose ioi consideration It
undertake our railway transportation at reduced
rates, but at last we lind the railway charged L
US IN a bill OF items do not point out thes
things IN the mood OF wailing for wrongs, bu
TO show there Is people across our Uorder
quite as cute at bargain or in securing th'
mastery Of accidents as those who dwell on TIN
side OF the line We must do our own oarryin.
trade on land aud water, and not forget tn
one nation which builds iron ships imposes then
construction upon others 1t will hardly b.
said that Canada en- better afford nationa
subsidies to thoroughiarts than the Unlte'
States.
Our laws which do not permit foreign ship
to carry IRON one OF our ports to another, ye
permit foreign railroads almost an unrestricted
enilyment OF the privilege 30 Jealously denie,
On the ocean, rivers, and lakee. Thus, throu9l
our own laws and treaties, we seem to hay
been Ior the last ten years pre-emnentiy EN-
> ployed in building up the trade OF people VIII
sell to us, but who will not buy; who carry no
. ualy thei, osu products 10 maTke1 but Amer
y - ,.rh, La, Ia thar ntvn ghiua and nr