Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-18
COMMERCIAL UNION.
Erastus Wiman Explains How tbs
Fisheries Treaty will to Some Ex-
tent Aid the Movement.
Advice on RAILROAD lie gisiatiOn-Can-
adA's Ooncsssiops IA tbs Treaty.

WASHINGTON. Feb. lin response TO
q request for Information upon the fish
cries treaty and kindred subjects, Brsstus
WSman hiss written the following letter:
WASHINGTON. D. O., Feb. 10. 1883.
To the Editor Of the n al, Toronto:
Ia answer to your inquiry beg to say
thst the proposed fishery treaty, so far ss
its contents are known Is, in my opinion,
the best settlement of an ugly
quarrel that could be arrived
at under the circumstances. While FL
fist glance it might be urged that the in-
terests of Canada has been sacrificed, It
will be found in the long run che VIII be
the gamer rather tnan loser. The rigid
enforcement of the hsrsa treaty Of 1878
had produced nothing but retaliation,
eliminating in the passage OF the retS!ia-
ton act. The provisions Of the new
treaty, SO far ss understood here in
Washington, will tend to Increase inter
course between tie two countries emo
remove an element Of Sc
rlous and dangerous differences
that was steadily seps StiDg
them and threatening their peace. TO
accomplish purpose so important
Canada Can well afford to YIELD all she
will be called upon to yield. This is es-
peCially the case when it is understood
that this settlement will enormously i'm
prove the prospects Of commercial union
in the United States. Hitherto one of
the chief obstacles encountered to the
discussion Of closer commercial relations
betWeen the two countries has been the
s:ttude ofstbe Canadians ceIyn g pIivil-
eyes to American craft ana American
business. Tney could not pay their fixed
charges so long as the fishery question
WAS unsettled and possible threat vas
implied of forcing the American nation
into recipr csl arrangements, Just so long
was the policy Of force POSITIVE barrier
70 favorable consideration. TAe Amerl-
CANS are not the kind Of people that are
driven into arrangements of this charac-
ter. They msy be won sud persuaded,
but Canadian cruisers did more
to postpone reciprocity thau
to promote it. Advocates q
commercial union have encountered
this sentiment at every turn and it's exist
ence had significant expression in the
last clause Of The Bltterwortn bill added
eince last session. Now, however, there
is q prospect thAt by the treaty this fsh-
cry question is to be settled and the Can
adams are about to afford to the people
of the United States almost the same
privileges as they themselves enjoy, this
barrier to favorable discussion Of COM
mercial union is removed.
The next most yexed question to be sd
justed is the conflict now impending be-
tween the great railway systems Of the
two countries. The success Of the new
$500" route inteDsifl4s the fact that the
Canadian rosds are free from TIE exsc-
lions Of the Interstate commerce act,
and tn freedom means enormous lrsS Il
profit to every other ROAD in the Uolted
Sta.es which is carrying produce firm
the west to the east, and merchandise
from the east TO the west. The coDtiuu-
stion Of these things seriously threatens
the repeal OF the bonding system
By which Amer can produce is conveyed
through Canadian territory without. pay
ment OF duty on its entrance into
the United States. This repeal Wsuld
mean simply ruin to Canadian roads, as
without through business they could not
pay their fixed charges, II has been sug
sestsd that Mr.. Butterworih might with
propriety omit the clause referring 20 the
fisheries, now likely to be settled by the
treaty, and substitute another clause;
which would invite concurrent leeIslstiona
on the part OF Canals, creating provisions
similar in that country 10 the operation Of
the entire state act on this, so lar rs 1t at
fects through trsiic in which the United
States alone is interested. This move
ment would secure the support Of the vast
railroad interests threatened in the
Uaited States and it would also secure
advocacy Of the movement by English
owners Of Csnsdisn railway securities
whose interests are at this moment Sc
riously imperillsd. Q
Faithfully yours, ERAsTUs WIMAN.
Mr.. wiman will address the CONNER
cisl club of Cnicsgo upon the subj .ct Of