Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-26
OUR TROUBLE WITH CANADA.

3oie and EXTENDED report Ol HIS Inquiry
into the relations between the United
States and the Dominion Of Canada. He
details facts that are not generally known,
and which are of the highest importance.
In any brief review these cannot be even cpl
tomized In the sum, however, they consti-
tute a grave indictment of Canada, and
show her to have imposed upon the United
States, and to have fatty violated sacred
treaty obligations.
For instance, the Dominion Council or
de-ed rebate of Is cents ton on tolls on
grain passing through the Welland and
St. Lawrence canals, if the shipment is
made to Montreal. OF course this is bid
against American commerce taking Ameri
can routes; it is in direct violation of Article
XVII. of the treaty of July, 1871, and
justifes retaliation that the Democratic
administration has not had the courage to
apply, by imposing tonnage tax on all
Canadian bottoms passing through the
Sault Ste. Marie canal.
In Manitoba the Government refuses to
permit grain produced in that territory to
be transported over American railroads
"on bond" to Montreal. This stops the
movement over our lines of an immense
tonnage, and flies in the face of the recip-
rocal relations supposed to exist between
the two governments concerning "Transit
Trade" That the Dominion authorities
know but are not ashamed of this, is
proved by the fact that the order is
secret one, and though openly denied is
nevertheless privately enforced. In Fehru-
airy last New York member brought to
the attention of our House of Representa-
tive the fact, says Mr.. Nimmo, that
the Dominion Government still refuses to &C
cept the offer made by the United States by
Act of 1878, to allow Canadian wrecking vessels
and machinery to assist Canadian vessels
wrecked in American waters, provided a like
privilege is extended to American wrecking
vessels and machinery in Canadian waters. This
refusal to reciprocate in a cause which appeals
TO the humane impulses of mankind is in keep
ing with the refusal of the Canadian Govern
ment to allow American fishing vessels the CON-
mon privilege of seeking refuge in her ports in
time of storm, and for replenishment and neces-
sary repairs.
Again, it is fact that full five years
elapsed after the United States took the
duty off of numerous articles in the trade
with Canada, under the explicit agreement
that the Dominion should free-list like
articles on its side, before Canada keptfai
with US In 1879 the Dominion Parlia-
ment passed an Act specifying agricultural
products that should come into Canada
from the United States, free of duty, when
ever the United States admitted similar
products from Canada, duty free. In
March, 1888, the United States accepted
the offer as to most Of the articles named,
and at once listed them as free" but to
this hour Canada has not kept her part of
the agreement When complaint was made
by our people, Secretary Bayard in an I'M
of;icia! "sort of way" called the atten-
ton OF the Dominion to the subject. But
he was not at all vigorous, aud
the Canadian Nini>ier Of Customs "ysle7 the
whole thing 0y asserting that the Caaadiau Gov
crnmeIt was not oOilged TO Observe me reclp-
TOcity contracted upon its own motion 'iutil
G, cry one of the articles enumerated by the
Canadian Act of 1879 was made free by the
United States. But this was maDifestly absurd.
as the Act referred to provides that any anu all
of the following articles, etc, etc, may be i'm
ported into Canada free of duty" On the 18th
OF March, Sir Peter Mitchell, of New Brunswick,
called the Prime Minister sharply TO account on
7 no 6onr pf hn Hnusn of his
parent act of bad faith, to which the imperious
leader sullenly replied that the Act was per-
missiye and not mandatory, its language being
. may be imp Jrted and that the Canadian Gov
eminent was more concerned in protecting the
interests of Canada than those of the United
States.
However, Congressman Baker brought
the subject forward in the House last
month, and Canada yielded under threat
of the home Government, made two days
and on the telegraphic advices
only, Of what was going on in our House
of Representatives. Yet within three
weeks thereafter the Canadian Minister of
Finance gave notice OF bill in Parliament
to put upon the dutiable list fourteen
staple articles that had Just been made
free by observance of the compact referred |
to.
Then, too, the actions of Canada toward |
our fishermen when in distress, with which |
behavior the reading public is familiar, is
a striking instance of the pitiful unfriend-
illness of the Dominion Government to- |
wards the United States Mr.. Nimmo
says:
There is no sensible reason why fish and fish
ing vessels should be tabooed those commercial |
which the prevalent condition of !
maritime reciprocity secure TO all other COM |
modities and to vessels engaged in all Other |
peaceful pursuits. The exclusive right of the |
Canadians TO the use of their marginal waters is !
now fully conceded, aud it matters little what |
of waters, bays creeks and har- /
bors be made. provided the right of American
to pursue their vocation upon the |
high seas is not intringed upon. The privilege |
Of occupying unsettled shores is no longer of |
any particular value, the question of bait even
IS resolved, and there appears to be no more
need OF fish treaty than of pork treaty with |
Great Britain. If the rights of transferring car
goes in Canadian ports. shipping cargoes in
bond by rail and other commercial rights are
longer denied our fishing vessels, such denials /
should be met by an immediate refusal to al !
low Canadian fishing vessels to enter our ports, /
or TO allow the products of the Canadian fisher !
les to enter the United States i'll vessels or by :
rail-
Mr.. Nimmo arraigns Canada as really |
hostile to US, though forever protesting |
that she is friendly. She was antagonistic I
to us throughout the rebellion; in peace
she has violated reciprocity obligations
and treaty compacts, and overstepped the !
lines of restraint of international law /
whenever it was to her interest to do so. !
The reasons assigned are, that Canada is
ambitious to be an independently, as she /
now very nearly is, legislating with slight /
regard for home Government reproaches !
and maintaining a tariff opposed to
the policy of England. She is aggressive,
because enjoying such splendid opportu !
mites by reason OF location upon the bor-
der of a great republic that is too magnani .
nous towards her Her statesmen are
fred by hot ambition, and advance their
personal interests by a policy tending to
enkindle a spirit of independence Of
all outside influences, ana thus lead the
people into sort of contemptuous be-
i ev:or toward +Io T-,.toJ S,.,a. III :