The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-03-22
Reciprocity.

Nh. EDITOR There is food for reflection. at this
time, in the following editorial, which appeared in
the Boston Daily AdUeriiser. about six weeks ago
That newspaper is thought TO express the views of
the Secretary Of the Treasury of the United States.
81 I. 7.
At the session of the Dominion board of trade
on Friday, a resolution complementary TO that
adopted by the national board of trade at its late
session in New York was carried with entire unaniy
nifty. While in its terms it does no more than df-
rect a memorial 10 the government in favor OF a
commissioner on the part of Canada to confer with
one appointed by the President OF the United States
In the negotiation OF a new reciprocity treaty. it
gave the members of the Dominion board an op-
portunity to express their strong desire for a re-
moval of trade restrictions. Delegates from the
national board were in attendance, and cordially
responded to the sentiments OF the Canadians.
We need hardly say that We desire the establish
ment OF better commercial relations with Canada.
but We confess that we are puzzled to understand
how the Improvement is to be accomplished. The
working OF the old reciprocity treaty was not nj all
in our interest. 1t admitted duty free into the
United States nearly everything the Canadians
wished to sell US 1t admitted into Canada on the
same terms but q very lew articles which we wished
TO sell them. In the whole duration of the treaty.
excluding only the first year when the operation of
1t bad not become settled. the value of our imports
from Canada amounted to S24z.l los 145. of which
only goods to the value of 50 Z5O. 357 were dut!a-
bie,-or less than four per cent. Our exports in
the same time were of a total value of Sl92, 753.-
IUI, ana ulillcS idu 10 De PAID on the goods rpDrp-
sentIng 81, f6O,OS2. or more than forty per cent. of
the whole. At the same time what we were buy-
ing from them WAS increasing. while what we sold
to them decreased. 1t was as excellent a sample
of a jug-handle arrangement as has ever been seen.
Now, what do we most want to sell to the Cana
dlans? An exact answer would be: That which
they cannot admit duty free from this country.
Canada has no right to establish ditferenrial duties
in favor of this country, and If she had the power
we doubt il she would exercise il. We could de-
rive little advantage from aS agreement that grain.
flour. breadstufiS, wood. wool. cotton. coal. fish.
hides. etc, should be reciprOcally admitted duty
free. We should not sell more grain and bread
stuiIs than We now do. because We cOuld only sell
10 the maritime provinces, and We have that market
already. Lumber and wood we have not to dis
pose OF. We are buying rather than selling wool,
coal and hides. We have no difficulty in disposing
OF all surplus cotton. Fish is to be free OF duty
under the treaty. That which we do want to sell is
our manufactured goods. and these Canada could
not. and would not II She could, admit free of duty
without allowing English. French and German
goods TO come in on the same terms. to the ruin of
her revenue. 1t might be worth while to sacrifice
the interests of some OF our industries in case we
could open a great market for the sale Of other
products but 1t wOuld be absurd for us TO agree
again To a treaty that improved our standing not at
all. while It diminished our revenue and introduced
dangerous and UncOmpensated competition with
orr own interests. 1t is no doubt true that the alb
roga:ion Of the old treaty has helped to make Canada
a nation and political reasons for being on good
terms with the people of the Dominion are not
without weight. We see, however. no good reason
why forty millions should coguet with three and a
half millions. The true attitude for us is one of
dignifed patience. We should neither refuse to
modify our trade regulations that the Canadians
may be driven by necessity beneath the shelter of
our flag. nor be eager TO modify them in the hope
that our neighbors will come to love us so we'll that
they will propose a national marriage. If Canada
would ask the home government for the right to
favor us in the matter Of commodities which We
could hope u sell to its people, We should look
upon it as evidence that she was really willing u
make a fair agreement with us. Until there is
some evidence that she desires To negotiate a treaty
that will give us better terms than we had between
1854 and 1866. we look with suspicion on the move
ment.