Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-05
RECIPROCITY.

A strenuous effort is being made at
Washington to renew reciprocity treaty
with the Canadas. There is strong in
fiuence being brought to bear from the
Dominion in favor of it, although there are
representations made that that govern
ment has done better without the former
treaty than the Provinces did while it was
in force. This seeming contradiction has
a suspicious look Why are the Canadas
asking reciprocity if it will be OF no adj
vantage to them?
This country is very willing we have no
doubt that the Canadas shall have as free
access to our markets as is just and rea-
sonable. At the same time in framing a
treaty it must be taken into consideration
that our own industries and productions
which will be brought in competition with
those of the Canadas have claims upon our
government deserving serious attention. 1t
may be fine thing to consumers to have
the productions of Canada, raised by cheap
labor, under government that has no war
taxation, come into our markets. but if
they come to make our farmers and labor
ers and lumbermen poorer it would be a
bad bargain for us. We have heavy taxa
ton and deprecated currency to struggle
with on this side of the line. Our producers
cannot of course maintain themselves
against the productions of the other side,
if they are admitted free to our markets,
the Canadas having the advantages which
a sound currency and low taxes afford
Any reciprocity treaty therefore which
would not equalze the conditions of the
producers as affected by taxes and curren-
cy would be unjust and failure. The
old reciprocity treaty, though always un-
equal in its benefits, giving the Canadas
the lions share, as would be almost inevi-
table in any commercial treaty between
countries so unequal in the extent of their
resources and markets, became so glar-
ingly one-sided in its operations in the
state of things that resulted from the war
uhttt ito lSIiSW al was .Ad pCSSiDiIIiN. W Z
have been advancing somewhat towards a
better condition for reciprocity than that
in which we were when the old treaty was
abrogated, but we still have heavy disa-
bilities to contend with. Taxes are not
reduced to what they were before the war
and the currency is not restored to the
specie standard. If the Canadians can be
made to share with us in carrying the load
which our government imposes upon its
own people then give us reciprocity; but
let us have no treaty that will allow for
eigners to come in and drive our farmers
and lumbermen from our home markets
A treaty like that would be measure tc
induce farmers and mechanics to emigrate
to Canada, in order to seek on that soil the
equality with the Canadian producers
which is denied them in their own country
1t is urged that we ought to cultivate
friendly relations with the Dominion. TIC
this sentiment we most heartily subscribe
but the policy which we would pursue
would be that of annexation. We would
open wide the doors of this government
and invite the Canadas to come in and
share its blessings on equal terms with
our own citizens. Ifhowever they can sue
coed in obtaining free access to our mai
kets without assuming any of our respon-
si5ilties there will be no inducement to
seek annexation. We would be friendly.
but in that way which would tend to draw
them towards us by their interests, so that
they and we might be one people and one
government.