New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-08
AMERICA IND CANADA.

Senator Blair is not pfactlcal Joker anu Prop-
ably intends his resolution respecting Canada
to be taken seriously. The Committee on For
eign Relations will not, however, be likely to
act upon premature proposition for the set
Element of all diplomatic differences between
the United States and Great Britain on the
basis of political union with the Provinces of
the Dominion. Senator Blair cannot have i'm
agined that the presentation of his extraor-
binary resolution would lead to any practical
result. He offered it probably for the purpose
of emphasizing his own conviction that the
incorporation of the Provinces with the Union
has been decreed by manifest destiny. Many
of his colleagues undoubtedly acquiesce in his
conclusion, precisely as Professor Goodwin
Smith and many leading Canadians have al
ready done but wise and discreet men on both
sides of the border will be certain TO deprecate
premature action or ill-iudged declarations OF
Annexation policy. Senator Blair,S resolution,
like Mr.. Atkinson's project for the purchase of
the Maritime Provinces, will only tend TO re-
tard the progress of the movement for the ad-
mission of the Canadian Provinces into the
Union. Overtures for such admission should
be made by the Provinces and not by the
United States When formal application OF
that nature has been received from Manitoba
or Nova Scotia there will be good opportun-
ity for opening negotiations with Great Brit
ain. Meanwhile the National Administration
and Congress should scrupulously avoid the
appearance of inviting the secession OF Canada
from the British Empire.
The resolution offered by senator Cullom
and passed on Saturday by the Senate is of
more practical character than the one which
we have briefly considered. 1t orders thor
ough investigation of the conditions OF rail-
road competition and water-route discrimina-
tons on the northern frontier. The Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce is instructed to
ascertain the facts, and to report what legsla-
ton may be needed for the protection of the
commercial interests Of the United States. Sen
ator Cullom's speech in introducing this reso-
luton was most temperate and sagacious; and
If the investigation be conducted in the same
conservative spirit it cannot fail to be most
useful. THE TRIBUNE has been the first
American journal to direct public attention to
this important subject; and it has not hest
tated TO urge the necessity for immediate legis-
ation for the protection of American interests.
In it's Judgment, Article xxx Of the Treaty
of Washington, relating to the transit trade,
should be abrogated, the legislation of 1865
on the same general subject should be repealed,
shipments Of freight under bond by the Can
adam Pacific from California should not be
exempted from duty on re-entering American
territory, and discriminating duty on teas
and importations from China and Japan by
way of Vancouver and Winnipeg should be
levied in the interest Of American commerce.
Legislation so radical as this, we frankly con-
cede. should not be hastily enacted. An ex-
haustive investigation Of the subject ought to
precede decisive action. Such an investigation
is now promised by the Interstate Committee.
The fact that n population Of five millions
on the northern frontier is successfully COM
peting with a Nation Of sixty millions in rail-
road traffic across the continent and in the
commerce Of the Pacific is not discreditable to
Canada. While the time has come for Amerl-
can legislators to lay aside craftsmanship and
to deal with this question on it's merits, there
is no occasion for hostile criticism Of our north
ern neighbors. They arc doing what they can
to take business away from American railways,
and by their heavily subsidized steamship lines