St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-21


success of both these systems, therefore,
| nothing could contribute in a higher de-
gree than to enlarge the limits of this
| great continent, to create market on
| the one hand for the excess OF produc-
ton which protection has stimulated
! and by
| BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS
between the two countries, illustrating,
as nothing else will illustrate, the adj
vantage of freedom Of trade.
If protection is a good thing. for one,
half of this continent, it surely is a good
thing for the whole. AS Gov. DIX sad
once in congress-: 1.-The highest species
of protection for industry is that wplch
opens up new markets for Its prod
ducts"
The amount of duties which are now
collected for goods brought into the
United States from Canada is s5,500,OOO
| per annum. This collected over line
extending from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific, and which, from the SinuOSltleS OF
the coast, is nearly 1000 miles in length.
| 1t may be doubted whether any other
portion of the revenue of the United
| States costs quite so much for collection
compared with the result realized. Not
only does it cost a great deal proper
tionately, but it is levied upon two great
essentials to the national prOgress-raW
materials and certain neceSsaries OF
life, many of which latter are not largely
produced within the nation itself. The
best evidence of this is found in the
fact that about 50,000,000 OF these
products
| CLIMB OVER A TARIFF WALL
20 per cent in height at its lowest point,
their importation showing the necessity
which exists for bringing the articles i'll
when they will stand such rate OF tax
ation-a rate on natural products higher
than anywhere else in the world.
Not only is this tax expensive to col
lect and unjustifiable in its character,
but, as is well known, is totally unnec-
essary, since the whole political intellect
of the country is directed to some
| PLAN TO REDUCE THE SURPLUS
revenue now pouring into the treasury.
Surely nothing could offer better field
for reduction than neceSSarieS of life
and raw material made ready for mar
ket under conditions of labor similar to
those that prevail here, and by labOrers
who would have opportunity to absorb
and consume without tax the manu-
| features into which this raw material
went. This S5,500,000 that is collected
every year amounts to less than 10
cents head of the population of the
| United States, and if it were completely
eXtinguiShed would never be felt, or in
the slightest degree missed; while, on
| the other hand, from the mere increase
in the postal revenue alone within five
years this sum would be made up to the
| government, owing to the enlarged COM
| merce, activity of trade and the enOr-
nous growth in the exchanges that
would follow. 1t seems incredible al
most that there should be any hesitancy
| about adopting a policy which would
| bring benefits so vast and consequences
| so far-reaching at cost sacrifice SO
Slight.
| Mr.. Wiman said there was as little
| known of Canada as there was of Mace
| donna. But tonight the speaker said he
ventured to hope that he might, in his
| limited way, enllghten the leading men
of st. Paul to the enormous possibilities
of the vast region which is included in
the Dominion of Canada. This was
land, which under any circumstances,
from its vastness and its richness, could
hardly fail to interest his hearers; but
which, under the proposal to CONNER
cially unite it with the United States,
was Weighty with considerations of the
highest import. Hence, he felt that
the message which he bore to them was
no ordinary communication, but was
FREIGHTED WITH CONSEQUENCES
more far-reaching than almost any other
question which could be brought before
them.
Mr.. Wiman said he felicitated himself
on the opportunity which was afforded
to present this great subject before a
body so intelligent, and so appreciative,
as the merchants of st. Paul; conscious
that if they but apprehend the question
OF commercial union with Canada, in all
its bearings, they, individually, would
not only become its strongest advocates,
but their great influence in the West
and Northwest would be actively as
serted toward its early contamination.
Self-interest. which lay the basis of the
greatest achievements the world has
ever witnessed, would impel the mer-
chant, the manufacturer and the banker
OF Minnesota to examine closely the
practical possibilities which were con-
tanned III this question. For it was diff
cult to conceive any one event, in the
whole category of events possible to
this city, which would more greatly
contribute to her future than to open
up the region for her trade
which is included within the Cana
dian Northwest. At present the COM
merce of the city extends as far north
as the boundary line between Minnesota
and Manitoba, and a parallel of latitude
running on that line to the Pacific coast.
Is there any good reason why the COM
merce of the city should extend just so
far and no further? Why should this
vast volume of trade roll like a wave to
this particular line, and then like wave
roll back upon itself? This 10th paral-
lei of latitude runs south of the center
of the continent, and shuts out from the
effort and enterprise of this great city
access to the most fertile belt of pro-
ductlve forces contained within this
continent. AT present, between you
and this great region, there exists Gus
toms tariff line four thousand miles long,
which has been aptly described as
barbed wire fence-a barbed wire fence
four thousand miles long, over which
one brother could not trade with an
other brother for bushel of potatoes
without the intervention of the govern
ment. This barbed wire fence runs
through the center of the continent.
The
DREAM OF THE COMMERCIAL UNION
IST
is to lift it up from the center and place
it right around the continent.
The productive forces of the north
western portion of Canada were almost
a new revelation to the people of the
United States. For a hundred years
this vast region had been held as fur
trading reserve by the Hudson's Bay
company. 1t has been inaccessible, be-
cause of want of communication; but
two great events had occurred which
changed the whole aspect of matters.
These events were the requirement by
the Canadian government, through the
British crown, of the Hudson's bay ter
ritory-the largest real estate transac-
nearly 100000 square miles. Follow
ing this was the construction Of the
Canadian Pacific railroad, an undertake
ing of gigantic proportions, which rem
dered large areas accessible, and was
likely to- stimulate production and