The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-30

Interpretation of it's ownlanguage con-
tanned in the laws of 1873, putting into
operation said treaty, and of 1888,
| directing the termination thereof, and if
in the deliberate judgment of congress
any restraint to the proposed legislation
exists, it is to be hoped that the expedi-
ency of its early removal will be recog-
nized.
desire, also, to call the attention of
congress to a subject involving such
wroogs and unfair treatment to our citi-
zens as In my opinion require prompt ac-
ton.
The navigation of the great lakes and
the immense business and carrying trade
growing out of the same have been treated
broadly and literally by the United States
government and made free to all man
kind, while Canadian railroads and
navigation companies share in
our country's transportation
upon terms as favorable as are accorded
to our own citizens.
The canals and other public works built
and maintained by the government along
the line of the lakes are made free to all.
In contrast to this condition, and evincing
narrow and
UNGENERoUs COMMERCIAL SPIRIT,
every lock and every canal which is a
public work of the dominion of Canada is
subject to tolls and charges.
By article 81 of the treaty of 1871 pro-
vision was made to secure to the citizens
of the United States the use of the We'll
land, st. Lawrence and other Canadian
canals, on terms of equality with the in
habitants of the dominion, and to also
secure to the subjects of Great Britain the
use of the Saint Clair Flats canal on terms
of equality with the inhabitants of the
United States.
The equality with the inhabitants of the
dominion, which we are promised in the
use of the canals of Canada, did not secure
to US freedom from tolls in their naviga-
ton, but we had right to expect that we,
being Americans and interested in Ameri.
can commerce, would be no more bur-
dened i'll regard to the same than
Canadians engaged in their own trade;
and the whole spirit of the concession made
was, or should have been, that merchandise
and property transported to an American.
market through these canals should not
be enhanced in the cost by tolls higher
than such as were carried to an adjoining
Canadian market.
Ali our citizens, producers and con-
sumers, as we'll as vessel owners, were to
enjoy the equality promised, and yet
evidence has for some time been before
the congress, furnished by the secretary
of the treasury, showing that while the
tolls charged iu the first instance are the
same to all, such vessels and cargoes as
are destined to certain Canadian ports
are allowed refund of nearly the entire
tolls, while those bound for American
ports are not allowed any such advant-
age.
To promise equality and then in
practice make it conditional upon our
vessels doing Canadian business, in-
stead of their own, is to fulfill promise
with the shadow of performance.
recommend that such legislation be
had as will give Canadian vessels navigaJ-
ing our canals, and their cargoes, pre-
cisely the advantages granted to our ves-
sells and cargoes upon Canadian canals,
and that the same be measured by exactly
the same rule of discrimination.
The course have outlined, and the
recommendations made, relate to the
honor and dignity of our country and the
protection and preservation of the rights
and interests of all our people.
government does but half its duty
when it protects itr citizens at home and
permits them to be imposed upon and
Inundated by the unfair and over-reaching
disposition of other nations. If we invite
our people to rely upon arrangements
made with our neighbors abroad, we
should see to it that they are not deceived,
and if we are generous aud liberal to a
neighboring country our people should
reap the advantage of it by return of
the liberality and generosity.
There are subjects which partisauship
should not disturb or confuse. Let us
survey the ground calmly and moderately
and put aside other means OF settlement
If we enter upon the policy of retaliation,
let us pursue it firmly, with determine
ton to subserve the interests of our peo-
pie and maintain the high standard and
the becoming pride of American citizen
ship. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Aug. %, 1888.