The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-31

Congress to another subject, involving
such wrongs and unfair treatment to
our citizens as in my opinion require
prompt action.
The navigation of the great lakes
and the immense business aud carrying
trade growing out of the same, have
been treated broadly and literally by
the United States Government ano
made free {, all mankind, while Cana
dian railroads and navigation companies
share in our transportation upon terms
as favorable as are accorded to oui
own citizens.
The canals and other public works
built and maintained by the govern
ment along the line of the lakes are
made free to all.
In contrast to this condition, and
evincing narrow and ungenerous COM
mercial spirit, every lock and canal
which is public work of the Dominion
of Canada is subject to tolls and
charges.
BY article twenty-seven of the treaty
of 1871, provision was made to secure
to the citizens of the United States the
use of the Welland, st. Lawrence, and
other canals in the Dominion of Canada
on terms of equality with the inhabi-
tants of the Dominion, and to also
secure to the subjects of Great Britain
the use OF the ST. Clair Flats Canal on
terms of equality with the inhabitants
of the limited States.
DISCRIMINATION IN TOLL PAYMENTS.
The equality with the inhabitants OF
the Dominion which we were promised
in the use of the canals of Carada did
not secure to us freedom from tolls In
their navigation, but We had right
to expect that we, being Americans
and interested in American commerce,
would be no more burdened in regard
to the same than Canadians engaged
in their own trade and the whole
spirit of concession made was, or should
have been, that merchandise and prop
erty transported to an American mar
ket through these canals should not be
enhanced in its cost by tolls many
times higher than such as were carried
to an adjoining Canadian market. Ali
our citizens, producers and consumers,
as well as vessel-owners, were to enjoy
the equality promised. And yet evi-
dence has for some time been before
the Congress, furnished by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, showing that
while the tolls charged in the first in
stance 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 al,
lowed any such advantage. To
promise equality, and then in practice
make it conditional upon our vessels
doing Canadian business instead of
their own, is to fulfil promise with
the shadow of performance.
recommend that such Legislative
action be taken as will give Canadian
vessels navigating our canals, and then
cargoes, precisely the advantages
granted to our vessels and cargoes up
on Canadian canals, and that the same
be measured by exactly the same
rule of discrimination.
THE CoUNTRY's HONOR AND DIGNITY.
The course which l have outlined
and the recommendations made relate
to the honor and dignity of our country
and the protection and preservation o.
the rights and interests of all our peo
pie. A government does but half it
duty when it protects its citizens al
home and permits them to be imposed
upon and humiliated by the unfair auc
overreaching dispositions of othel
nations. If we invite our people t.
rely upon arrangements made for theil
benefit abroad we should see to it tina
they are not deceived and if we ar,
generous and liberal to neighborine
country our people should reap the ad
vantage of it by return of liberalit!
and generosity.
These are subjects which partisan
ship should not disturb or confuse
Let us survey the ground calmly ant
moderately, and having put aside othe
means of settlement, if we enter upol
the policy of retaliation let us puisu
it firmly, with determination only t.
subserve the interests of our peopl
and maintain the high standard an,
the becoming pride of American citizen
ship.
| GROVER CLEVELAND,
| EXECrTIyE MANSION Aupnst % 1895