The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-02
AUGUSTA.
Especial Dispatch by Intern tional Line.]
pEcrpRncIrY nuIrrr nA

RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA
AUGUSTA, Feb. IA hearing was had by
the Committee on Federal Relations, to which
was referred an order respecting the recpro-
cal relations with Canada, this evening" in the
Hall OF Represent atives. There was large
delegation of the Board of Trade throughoI'
the State in attendance The discussion was
opened by Hon. John a. Poor, OF fortlano'
who commences by reference to the history
of commercial intercourse from 1908, adverting
to the Efforts in that direction through colonial
times, and dwelling upon the efforts to make
Portland an outlet of Canada and establishing
commercial relations with British North Amer
lea. He alluded to the steps that were taken
to establish the reciprocity treaty which went
into effect in 1854 and the results that follow
ed until its abrogation. He believed that the
treaty would be renewed II his time had not
been restricted he contended that he could
show its brnefcial results. There was no rea-
son why there should not be free trade on this
continent to-day He felt confident that the
peeple of Canada desired reciprocal relations
and looked forward to the time when this coun
try will reach from Halifax to the Pacific, and
from the Gulf to the North Pole, and be under
one government. He favored free trade ana
reciprocal rights to be enjoyed by all; it is the
land holders OF the State who oppose the treaty;
it is not the men who cut the lumber, float the
logs, build the ships, work in our factories; not
the men who earn their daily bread, but the
owners OF the land. He then went on to show
how the lumber callers were affected by it.
Hon. B.. ii. Blake, of Bangor, was opposed
to reciprocity tre4ty. He treated the subject
matter as an industrial question, one of bust
ness. He raised the question: Is it for our in
terest to admit the products of Their dairy and
the fields. duty free, into competitor with our
own; would it not strike down the products o.
our own farmers. He believed this would moi
suit the farmers of Maine, and showed bv sta
tistcs the damaging effects which would re-
suit from such course He repealed the prop
ostion hat the admission of such products
would benefit the consumers of Maine; il
would benefit the people. outside of the State,
and therein was the difficulty. He instanced
the Provincial potato product as finding a
market in Boston instead of among u.s. Mr..
Blake argued the Injustice of reciprocity, and
contended that interchange upon a footing q
equality was out of the question.
Gen. Samuel j. Anderson, of Portland, next
addressed the committee in favor of general
aud Unrestricted trade with the Canadas, CON-
batting with vigor the positions taken by Mr.
Bake, AID showing at length the advantages
that are to be derived by reciprocal intercourse.
That is what has made the United States rich
The Truth is lumber is not at the bottom OF
the opposition to reciprocity; not the potato
with which the keen and sagacious lawyer had
attempted to blind the eyes of the farmers
Free and unrestricted commerce is what adds
wealth 10 the country, and as the future wealth
of Maine is to be in her manufac. ures, we must
foster those and find a market for our manu-
featuring products.
S. FL. Blake closed by replying to several of
the positions taken by Mr. Anderson, and re-
newing his objections to reciprocity.