The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-10
TUE NEW DOMINION AND RE
N CIpROCTTY

the abrogation of the Reciprocity treaty. The
United states furnish Infinitely the best market
for their products, and the restriction of this
market has exerted so depressing an influence
upon their industry, that many of their citi-
zens are disposed to cut the Gordon knot of
their difficulties either by the short and easy
method of emigrating to this country or by ad-
vocating annexation. 1t is bad enough to strug-
gle against bleak climate, they argue, but if
we are also to be restricted in the sale of the
products raised with so much toll, it is folly to
contend against such double disadvantages
when cheap land can be purchased in the Union
AS practical result, the price of real estate in
many districts seriously declines, on account of
the general desire to seek free homes and free
trade with the American people, under the broad
segis of the Great Republic.
It is true that the New Dominion imports into
this country during the last fiscal year amounted
to more than twenty-eight millions of dollars,
but as nearly all these articles were brought into
competition with American products of SINH
lar description, after paying duty varying from
ten to twenty per cent, it is evident that the
profits of the farmers, lumbermen, and fisher
men of the New Dominion were much dimin-
lshed, and the abrogation of the Reciprocity
treaty has exerted on some articles an almost
prohbitory influence. Thus in the last complete
year of the Reciprocity treaty live stock valued
at $5, sos, ,318, and wheat -four valued at So 97O-
S48 were imported into the United States free of
duty while last year the twenty per cent. imposts
reduced these impOrtations to live stock valued
at So 275, SOL and wheat flour valued at $572 6lS.
If the American market freely opened to
our northern neighbOrs it would be more desi-
rable to them now than ever BEFORE because they
could derive the full benefit of the high prices
which prevail here, and undersell American pro-
ducers, without being subjected to the taxation
which has been imposed TO defray the expenses
incurred in the suppression of the Rebellion.
As their hands are by no means clear of the guilt
of fostering treason, encouraging raids and in
creasing the perils which environed this coun-
try, they have the mortifying consciousness of
knowing that they are reaping some of the
fruits of their own folly, and that as in the
story rehearsed by the English poet-the man
got well, it was the dog that died
The Finance Minister of the New Dominion
annoyed by the evident signs of prostration, and
anxious to divert the attention of the Canadians
from the most natural remedy for their distresses
made speech in the House of Commons at
Ottawa on Friday last in which he sad-
"Much as we desire, on national and commercial
grounds, a less restricted intercourse with the
OIlIcS, VIC uIc uOJ pICpdIeu 10 give up
our national existence for it," This and other
similar passages strongly indicate that the an
nexation feeling is rapidly increasing on our
northern border, and that a few years more of
the present policy, rigidly enforced, will either
decimate the population of the boosted New
Dominion, or make the desire to convert its ter
ritory into States of the American Union nearly
universal The Minister would scarcely have
attacked annexation if it was a mere bugbear
and his assault upon it is the strongest proof
that could be given of the tendency of public
sentiment
The Reciprocity treaty benefited but a very
small portion of the American people, and only
a few sections interested in its revival, while
many interests, and especially those of Pennsyl-
vania, would be positively injured by its restora-
ton. Any country, whether contiguous or re-
mote which wishes to enjoy free trade with us,
should obtain it only on condition of sharing
our domestic burdens and becoming bone of our
bone and flesh of our flesh When the New Do
minion is ready to look to Washington instead
of London as the central point of authority, it
should enjoy free trade with the United States
but not before; and the Senators and Represen-
tatives of Pennsylvania should sternly resist the
Vaccinations of the advocates of reciprocity
ON local as well as broad national grounds
NJ n