The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14

taxed nroducts of the Canadian forests;
our manufacturers would pay taxes
for the benefit of European fabrics;
our ship-building would be DESTROYED o.
the taxation, which would render ltlncapa-
ME of connecting with provincial bottoms,
ard under the magic spell of democratic
free trade, our people, for the first time SINCE
the foundation of the government, wouiO De
thrown open TO the whole world. " Taxa
ton in all forms is one of the burdens OF
civilization but instead of ameliorating its
severity, and, if possible, getting from 1t
such compromising advantages "a wise legls-
lation can provide, our Maine democrats
propose to make it to the last degree OPP
pressive TO our own people, and beneficial
only to the alien and the stranger. |
To the people of Maine, at this moment, |
| these extravagant declarations OF the demo- |
cratic party have painful significance, for 1t
| is we'll known that the authorities of Cana |
/ da are trying to negotiate with our govern
ment for a reciprocity treaty, which. Ike It's
illustrIous predecessor and namesake, main
| tains the reciprocity all on one side. The
treaty of that name, which was terminated
/ in 1866 was cruelty oppressive TO the people
| of Maine, and inflicted upon our state dur
ing the IL years OF its existence loss OF
$50, OOO, OOO 1t presented the very singular
| anon ally of giving to the Canadians the con-
| troll, in our own markets, of certain leading
articles, on terms,
| FAR MORE FAVORABLE
than our own people had ever enjoyed. The
utmost stretch of the divine command is to
love our neighbOr as ourselves, and 1 can
see nothing in personal duty or public
policy which should lead us to prefer Cana
dian neiehbors to our own people. The
treaty of reciprocity now proposed is under
stood to embrace the admission OF Canadian
1 vessels to free American registry. and
the full enjoyment of our cOasting
and lake trade. Thus the shipbuilding
| and commercial interests of the United
States, Teviving so prosperously of late,
and Just recovering from the terrible blows
| dealt by British-built cruisers during the
| war. are again to be struck down, by giving
advantages hitherto undreamed of TO the
very power that inflicted the previous in
jury, and the democratic party of Maine
have pledged themselves, in their Safe
| Convention to the policy that includes this
| disastrous attack upon the interests of our
state, and their candidate for governor has
fully committed himself 10 the extreme doc
| The form of reciprocity proposed by
the government Of the Dominion of Canada
| lacks every element of the seductive
| title bv which it is sought to commend it to
our people. What is il? Why, simply this:
| That if the United States will agree to adj
init certain Canadian products free of duty,
| Canada will agree to admit certain American
fabrics free of duty But the class of men TO
/ he benefited and the class to be injured in
| the United States expressly distinct and
separate, having nothing in common, either
in locality, industry, or investment. To
| compensate the surrender of one interest in
this way by the advancement of another;
has no more element of reciprocal
justice in it than tor to take a
| pair of horses from B. because C took
possession of a yoke of oxen belonging TOD
TO illustrates II the United States will agree
to admit Canadian vessels to American reg
istry and the coastiug trade, Canada will al
nit straw hats, mule harness sand rat traps
free of duty. In this, You will observe that
Canada gets the full advantage both WAYS
while the United States, for a possible en-
lsrgement of petty trade, consents to sub
ordinate and sacrifice an interest that re pre-
sents our distinctive naticnalities in all cline
and upon all seas; an interest that has
GIVEN MORE AND ASKED LESS
of the government than any other of similar
magnitude; an interest more essentially
American, in the highest and best sense,
than any other which falls under the legis-
lative power OF the government, and which
asks only today to be left where the found
ers of the republic placed it nearly a century
ago. Against the whole policy of adjust
ing revenue questions by the treaty akin o
power, desire to enter, on behalf o. my
constituents, one emphatic protest. The
constitution gives to the house of
. representatives the sole and exclusive
: right to originate bills OF revenue aud
this great power should be kept where it
can be controlled by the direct vote of the
people every two years. 1t may very we'll
, by that sundry articles of Canadian product
: should be admitted free, or with dimins he'd
duty: it may well be, also that Canada
would find it advantageous to admit GER
tain articles from the United States free of
, duty. Let each country decide the question
for itself, Independently. and avoid the log
rolling feature of treaty in which il will
, inevitably happen that certain interests will
| be sacrificed in order that others be pro-
: NOTED. Let us simply place Canada on the
same basis with other foreign countries,
taxing her products or admitting them
/, free, according to our own judgment
of the interest of our own revenue apd the
pursuits and needs of our people, always
3 bearing in mind that, in government as in
family matters, charity begins at home, and
that he who provideth not for those of his
own house is worse than an infidel. Par
don the length of this letter and let me in
= dulge in one additional observation. The
, republican party, always true to the inter-
ests of the nation, has a peculiarly strong
! claim upon the people of this state, not only
; | for the steadfastness with which it has up
, held the interests of Maine but especially
now, because of the dangers that would en-
. sue from the triumph of an opposing
. organization. holding such pernicious
!, principles as are openly declared by the
, democratic party in their state convention
and by their candidate for governor. Under
all the trials and disbursement resulting
from the financial panic of 1873, the admin
istratiol OF General Grant most successfully
! land with revenues largely diminished by
> the repeal of taxes), and by rigid economy,
j paid all demands upon the treasury, and
reduced the public debt nearly $780,
, 600 for the fiscal year just closed. The
. republican congress, cooperating with the
! president in the good work of retrenchment,
has cut down the appropriations for the next
, year by the large sum of ST 900 600, thus
responding, with jealous care. to the popular
demand for economy. Faithful in all its
q great trusts, with achievements grander and