New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
Free Trad s.iiis Canada.

and more vigorous and determined effort
than ever to urge through Congress an act
restoring reciprocity, or free trade, with the
Dominion. 1t will be remembered that the
act in force until 1866 authorizing free ex-
change of products, was repealed for two
reasons: one, because it had proved more
to Canada than to ourselves :;
and the other, because Of the open and dan
gerous aid and comfort they gave the South
ern rebels during our civil war.
They were not satisfied with extending to
them their sympathy in the most offensive
and insulting way possible, but they gave
them all practical encouragement in their
power, Or all they dared to give at any rate
By this course they aroused sentiment in
the United States that demanded the termin-
alton of measure from which they derived
the lions share of the profits. Ever since
then they have been clamoring for its reato-
ration, and have enlisted the cooperation of
American free trade.
OF course the ground upon which this act
is advocated is that it prove 4 far more advan-
tageous to the United States than to Canada
1t would have been little too brazen-faced
and shameless, as well as suspicious, for
Canadians to appear before Congress and
present such an argument in favor of recipro-
city.
1t is, therefore, necessary tor Mr.. George
Brown and his lobby associates from over
the border to use American tools through
whom to reach Congress. They found free
traders ready to do their work because reci-
procity with Canada is the next best thing
to free trade with Great Britain. In that
case English manufacturers, &C., will only
have to send their merchandise to the United
States through Canada instead Of shipping it
directly to New York and other American
ports.
We think there can be no stronger reason
for believing reciprocity with Canada is far
more advantageous and important to Canada
than to the United States, than to the per-
sistent, earnest, and expensive efforts Cana
dams are making to induce Congress to
restore it. They are not the kind of people
any time in looking after those of other peo-
pie. AS there can be no doubt that it is a
scheme for the benefits of Canada, we are
surprised that intelligent, patriotic, and
really honest editors should lend their intlu-
ence in its support, especially one so clear
headed on most subjects as the New YOrl;
Times. And yet that is one of the most
Jealous advocates of the measure. In an
article published few days since upon this
subject the Times took strong and vigorous
position in behalf of free trade with Canada.
In the course of its argument, it says:
cit is now eight years since the reciprocity
treaty with Canada was terminated by the
action of the United States, and on the arti-
cles which, under that treaty, were exchanged
free, the United States now imposes an
average duty of Il little more than twenty
i've per cent. The more important articles
formerly free were animals of all kinds, butter
and cheese, wool, breadstuiis, grain and
flour, vegetables, lumber and timber, coal,
gypsum and fish. These are, as will be
seen, actual neccssares, contributing to the
food, clothing and shelter Of our people.
Why we should not receive them from any
NouutIN VIII Stu'l iiitIIl W uS DIT uS low
a price as we can get them for is something
entirely unable to understand"
There arc the most substantial reasons,
we can tell the Times, why we should not
receive, free of duty, from any country that
will supply them cheapest such articles as
it enumerates. In general terms, we should
not, because it would be an utter violation
Of the principle that Government is bound
to protect its own citizens and encourage
every just and fair measure that will promote
their own welfare, and serve to render them
independent Of all other nations. 1t would
have the positive tendency to break down
the whole system of American manufactures,
and other branches of industry, by bringing
our working classes into direct and ruinous
competition with the cheap and degraded
labor of other countries. Our country has
become great and powerful and independent,
and onr people been prosperous and self
respecting, through the operation Of polio y
ment.
Every horse, or COW, or sheep; every
pound of butter, cheese, or wool; every
bnshcl of wheat, corn, or potatoes; every
barrel of flour, every ton of hay, every foot
Of lumber, or ton of coal every product Of
the soil, or loom, indeed imported from
Canada takes money directly from the peck
cts Of American working men, farmers, and
manufacturers for the benefit of foreigners
Suppose they can at first under-sell the
American producer, how long will they
keep prices down when they have once got
possession of our market? Or, suppose they
continue to undcr-sell Americans, is it pre-
sumed that in the end the American con-
sumner will be benefited by it, when the
result is to inhict serious blow upon the
whole industry of the country? Past eXpe-
rience ought to leave no doubt on this ques-
ton.
Congress will do well to make haste slowly
in yielding to the demands Of Canadians,
through their American free trade agents.
A little reelection must satisfy them that there
is something exceedingly suspicious in the
pertinacity and anxiety OF the Canadians
upon this subject of reciprocity. They are
not commissioned by the American people
to legislate at their importantly for the ben
eft of a foreign nation.
Mr.. Summers BeneVOlencc.
A Mrs. Warner, writing from this city to
Al.