The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-12-20
Out In the Cold.

| spoke to one prominent Western
Representative of the Republican party
about the Message, and he said to me !:
"The most discouraging part of the
document is that relating to the conduct
of the Canadian Government.
'One year since We waited upon Sec
retarv Fish in body, and heard from
him the views expressed by our neigh
bors touching our commercial and DO.
litical relations.
I'VE found from Mr.. Fish's statement
that the Canadian authorities were not
only willing but anxious to give us the
free navigation of their waters and full
right. with themselves, in the fisheries,
if we in return would lower our duties
on certain articles that injured us as well
as the Canadas.
"We urged again, and again that at
least negotiations should be opened, and
see if he could not come to some under
standing upon these veSed questions !;
that if the Canadian authorities would
enlarge their canals so as to carry our
produce to tide-water, the advantages
to the West. would be immense, where
our produce suffers from railroad COM
binations and monopoly
"But, no, he could not get even pa
tient hearing-being told that the Presi-
dent was determined to keep the En-
glish Provinces out in the cold in return
for their had conduct during the late
war, 10 sympathizing with the South.
SHOW he comes before Congress with
the pitiable story, that we have been the
sufferers and out in the cold all the time,
because the Yankee fishermen have been
made to feel that these fisheries belong
to the Provinces, and not to u.s. The
suferings Of the agricultural interests
of the West could not even be listened
to- although as compared to those fish
cries, they are as an ocean to puddle.
"And the remedy is as crazy as the
previous opposition was stupid. Non
intercourse with the Canadss would
close up market for Western produce,
that last year counted in the millions,
and double at the least the price of lum-
ber, coal, salt, barley and any quantity
of other articles that we are now forced
to import over our high tariff
"Such suicidal course would result
in war, that Grant favors under the de-
lusion that it would insure his re-elec
ton. But what becomes of the annex
alton that we were assured would follow
this course of keeping the Canadas out
in the cold 2"
These are not only sound views, but
a clear expression of fact ] accompa-
MED some of these delegations of Wes-
tern members that waited on the Secre-
tary of State, and heard the discussions
that followed. / put them to record at
the time, as you will remember. But
did not dream that his Excellency would
so soon appear before Congress, with
his finger in his mouth, whining out an
admission of his own error. If he had
stopped with the admission, i would have
forgiven him, but this insincere show of
bluster and call for insane retaliation are
SiShCuihS.
The part of his undignifed message
devoted to revenue reform, creates, on
tine part of revenue reformers here, only
a feeling of contempt. There is moth
ing ugly about-it, as enc and all are sat.
lstied that, strange as it seems, they
have public man more ignorant of the
subject than Greeley, Cary or Old Pig.
iron. The words we're put in the Ex
ecutive mouth of his Excellency, and
whether they were words of wisdom or
words of foolishness, he knew no more
than the honest beast of burden ridden
by Balaam, that astonlshed his master
not SO much by his talking sense, bu
that he talked at all-DoNN PIATr, Wash
Cor. Gin. Com. Rad.