Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-11

people of those States9 What should we
think of government that would first
fetter the hands of its own citizens. and
then 60 to work to bring In the citizens of
foreign countries to rob its helpless peo-
pie of their brthright? Would that be
Or rather would it not be gross injustice,
unnatural wic,1edness, and abomnabe
stupidity? a parent that would rob his
own child to feast his neighbours Is tar
comparison. A government that will not
protect its own citizens has no claim TO
their support, and must forfeit the respect
and affection which all true men have for
the land of their birth. When it cuts
down its own revenue. as ii inevitably will
both by the loss of production in the
| United States and the loss of duties upon
Canadian products, for this so-called re-
ciprocity, it will do an act of foolshness
that will make the United States the
laughing stock of the world.
But says the democratic party and the
editor OF the Springfield Republican, 1--WE
want garden sass cheaper than the val
| ley of the Connecticut or the kennebec
| affords it." Well. let the farmers of Maine
think of it., and remember that if they vote
| in September for the democratic candidate
| for Governor and the democratic candl-
dates for Congress they are voting for re-
ciprocity and for reducing the price of
their own products to benefit Canadian
farmers. The Bangor Commercial is
quoted to prove that Canadian markets
are better than ours, but if they are the
| 800, 900 Canadian farmers that have lett
the Dominion and settled in the United
States ought not to require the prodigious
efforts which their Canadian brethren are
making by holding conventions offering
cheap lands and other inducements to get
them to return to their own country That
does not look much as if potatoes are
cheaper the year round at Bangor than
they are at st. John or Montreal.
We had reciprocity treaty with the
Canadas twelve years. Finding it an ex-
cellent instrument for allowing the Cana
dams to pick our pockets it was abro-
gated. 1t didn't even satisfy our fisher
men, who were supposed to have had the
best of it. They sent in petitions to Con-
gress against its continuance. Our ship
builders were not so badly off under that
as they will be under the present pro-
posed treaty if it is adopted, for this will
admit Canadian built vessels to American
registry and into direct and deadly COM
petition with our shipbuilders, and the
former treaty did not Three Maine leg
islatures adopted resolves almost unani-
mously in favor of its abrogation and in
structed our delegation in Congress to
urge its discontinuance. Under that treaty
real estate rose in Canada the first year
twenty-five per cent, the second year
fifty per cent. Our manufacturers whose
products were not included in the treaty
suddenly found the doors of Canada shut
against them by an increased tariff under
which they were prohibited from the
trade they had previously enjoyed. 1t
neither brought us profit nor good will
1t was in operation during the rebellion,
and in those dark years the Canadas were
almost as hostile to us as rebeldom. The
stars and stripes were received with pub
lie insults at st. John and Halifax, while
the rebel flag was hailed with delight A
peaceful trader in small vessel from one
Of our ports in this State was murdered
on the wharf at st. John because he dis
played the American colors on his vessel.
In 1868 the United States steamer IIowqua
put into Halifax for coal her crew was
mobbed deserter was aided to escape,
others of the men were piled with induce
ments to desert, and as the steamer left
the coal-wharf crowds upon the shore
cheered for jeff Davis and the rebel flag
and sang secession songs. Canada was
the asylum of the rebels, the safe retreat
in which they laid their schemes against
our beautiful cities and villages and from
which they went forth to execute them.
With such experience under the former
treaty do the people of this country desire
another of similar kind? The demo-
cratic party through its State Convention
favors the treaty, but the republican party
opposes it. Against the abrogation of the
old treaty there was but one opposing
voice raised in the Maine delegation, and
he was democrat who desired to have
garden sass cheap. 1t is fortunate that
Maine will elect no democrats to Con-
gress this year to speak and vote against
the interests of our State. A rousing vote
however for the republican candidates
will be an effective way of expressing dis
satisfaction with the odious treaty now
hanging over our heads.
TIE ESTATE OF OAKES AHES.