Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-15
laiIn ssenurbef sournal
ENGLAND AND RECIPROCITY.
AUG u q II A..
TUESDAY MORNING. Dec. Is, 1874.

@SAsNANSs ~~~~'
ENGLAND AND RECIPROCITY.
When the reciprocity treaty with Cam
ada was under DISCUSSION last summer,
we declared that IL it were adopted and
ratified it would open way by which the
products of England would pass free OF
dutv into this country. 1t was replied by
those who support the treaty that England
had no power over it, and that it simply
affected the affairs of Canada and the
United States. We pointed out the fact
that Canada is a dependency of Great
Britain. and that the latter could and
would control the treaty so far as the Ca
madam side might be concerned, and had
even then done SO.
A recent occurrence sheds more light
upon this matter Deputations from fifty
two chambers of commerce in England
met Lords Derby and Carnarvon on the
goth ult. at the Foreign Office in London
with special reference to the reciprocity
treaty now pending with the United
States. Their object was TO make sure
that England should be placed on the
same footing in the treaty as the United
States in relation to Canada, so that Brit
ish manufactures shall be admitted into
Canada on the same terms as the manu-
features of the United States. Lord Derby
assured these deputations that they need
give themselves no uneasincss. The
treaty contained nothing contrary to their
wishes. This matter had been well con-
sidered in the negotiation relating to the
treaty. Speaking for myself" said Lord
Derby, II think we have guarded that
point pretty carefully, and it was with
..some surprise that | learnt first OF the
..apprehensions entertained on that sub
eject" He farther added that if Canada at
tempted to make o treaty discriminating
in favor of the United States against Great
Britain, Parliament would have the
right to interfere. Lord Carnarvon agreed
with the sentiments expressed by Lord
Derby, and farther explained that in the
memorandum drawn up by Sir Edward
Thornton and the Canadian Commissioner,
it is stated that any article made Tree IN
Canada under an agreement with certain
foreign countries must be made free for
Great Britain.
To put the best face possible upon it the
IL Oh y.rcr had
for us. We open to the Canadians our
great and rich markets free for Canadian
products. giving them special advantages.
In return they give us access to the small
markets of Canada, but we have to enter
them in competition as to manufactures
with the manufacturing resources OF Great
Britain, which would efiectually exclude
US. This would be reciprocity with a
vengeance.
But this is not the worst of it. Let
English products come into Canada un-
taxed, and it would pass the art of man
to prevent them coming in unlimited
quantities across the border as Canadian
products We should find the revenue in
this country from British imports reduced
wonderfully under the operation of this
plan. and ourtaxcd manufactories forced to
bankruptcy through it. We should realize
when too late that we had cheat the BUSH
but England had ''caught the bird" We
should be entirely at the mercy of that
great interest represented by the delega-
tons who waited upon the Foreign Office
in London. and who left Lord Derby salts
fed with the result of their interview, and
returned 70 their localities to do all in
their power to promote the success of the
reciprocity treaty.
This is the treaty which the democrats
are urging our government to adopt. As
yet nobody is responsible for it. Presi
dent Grant has wisely refrained from Civ
ing it his approval, and if we mistake not
1t will die an easy death this winter. Had
the democrats the power this would be
one of their pet measures. Binder than
bats to the true interests of the country,
they would give them over to destruction,
and invite the capitalists of England to in
crease their gains at the expense of the
down-trodden manufacturers and laborers
of the United States.
THE DEMOCRATIC GAME.