The New York herald., 1878-09-14
Canada ana the United states.


leading article which will attract the atten-
tion of our neighbors across the northern
frontier. AS the discussion is occupied
with broad general views directed rather 10
the future than the present it is OF littie
consequence that the Examiner was drawn
into its special line Of inquiry by a piece
of erroneous information. The London
Times, misled by its American correspond
ent, contained about two weeks since
striking leading article on the trade reia-
tions Of the United States and the
British North American Provinces-an
article deemed of so much interest to
Canada that the Toronto Globe had it cabled
in full. The misinformation on which the
Times started the discussion was to the
effect that Secretary Evarts, in his commu-
nication to the British government relating
to the fisheries award, had proposed zoil-
yerein or customs union between the United
States and Canada. We discredited this
news as soon as it was received 1t was I'M
probable on its face 1t was credible enough
that Mr. Evarts would be glad to negotiate
n zollveren treaty, but quite incredible
that he would attempt to mix up that ques-
ton with the Halifax award. Our govern
ment is bound in honor to pay that award
without any higgling or bargaining, unless
the British government should volun-
tarily release us from the obll9a-
tion. All intelligent Americans agree IN
thinking the award exorbitant, but bar
gain is bargain, and, since we stipulated
to submit the question to arbitration, we
are bound by the decision of the tribunal,
unless England comedies that the award is
excessive It would have been inconsistent
with the honor of the American government
to blend this question with any other, and
it did not need the disclaimer which Mr..
Evarts has since made to convince us that
he had attempted nothing Of the kind.
But, although the two questions should
not be mixed, it would be quite proper tor
Mr.. Evarts to propose, as separate
measure, readjustment Of our trade
relations with the Provinces. The
Canadians desire new reciprocity
treaty, but q zollverein would be
better arrangement Tor both sides, and we
are not without hope that the Canadian
people may be educated up to this view.
If our government refuses to negotiate
reciprocity treaty and holds the door open
for zollverein we have no doubt that the
latter arrangement will become popular
with our northern neighbors. The idea Of
q zollverein is not q new one in America.
In the year before our civil war broke out
it was taken up with great zeal and adyo-
Gated with great ability by Senator Douglas,
at that time the ablest of our democratic
statesmen. But the plan OF Mr.. Douglas
was too expansive. What he contem-
plated was general North Ameri-
can zollverein, including Mexico as
well as Canada and the United
States, and establishing the same duties on
foreign goods and internal free trade
throughout the northern half Of the Ameri-
can continent. The circumstances, the
wants and the civilization of Mexico are SO
different from those of Canada and the
United States that SO comprehensive sys-
TEN would not have worked. But our
people and those of the British Provinces
are kindred, not merely by race and Ian
guage, but in the nature Of their industry,
in the kinds Of goods they consume, in
their habits of transacting business and in
their relations to the foreign commerce Of
the world. Between these two kindred
and closely connected peoples zollverein
would be a nat ural and mutually beneficial
arrangement.
On the great topic of zollverein between
the two countries the Examiner says
Thcro would be no difficulty about devising
raugemcnt Of this KIND, and, 10 itself, 1t would IN
doubtediy be beneficial to both communities. New
YORK and Chicago arc the natural markets Tor Cana
dian produce and the factories or America ought by
the orGuary Law OF exchange and barter. 10 supply
Canaca with manufactured goods Tue existence Of
houses ana o artificial restrictions upon trade
between coutcrminous countries Is un evil 10 both
alke aud IL Is only In virtue OF protectionst thco
rles which Euglani has long ago discarded, that We
could dispute the benefits certain to accrue TO the
Douinivn from her admission 10 commercial equality
With Inc States OF the Union. Ii should be RENE IN
bercd that though the cnan OF the great lakes and
the 81 Lawrence RIVER separate large portion OF
Canada from the Union by mot elective barrier,
vet that for many hundreds OF miles VI the extreme
east and wcet Tho Two countries are only divided by
an inag mary frontier lne.
] his is the broad, sound, common sense
of the subject, set forth with perfect
clearness and irankness. But the Eroniner
tions to which such an arrangement is ex-
POSED in the minds of loyal Canadians. The
chief of these objections is that a zollverein
would inevitably lead. in the course of
time, to the political as well as the COM
mercial consolidation of the two countries
This conclusion still further attests the
Observation-Disclosures of the writer in the
Examiner. He says:-
A, the same time no fair minded observer could
dspu the iact that tho establishment OF such
toms univn mat proposed at Washington would be
almost Incompatible with the permapcnce oil the pccu-
liar cvnnccon that now uDites the Dominion TO the
mother country. II once America and Canada we're,
Tor the purposes oil commercial and indus
Trial life. formed inLo communi ity
the relations between their Inhabitants would
soon become loo close TO DO severed
accordance with the cxigencies OF comparatively re-
mote European Power In other words, the com.
tucrciil copLect on with the Union necessarily
| WoIyh a yalue and weight. p0c.