New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-14

American
at least o cents per ton upon the gross tonnage
of all Canadian vessels passing through the canai
at Saut Ste. Marie, the rapids In the strait WHICH
connects the navigation OF Lake superior wit i
that of Lake Huron. This canal with us JOCK
5l5 feet long and eighty feet wide was con-
structed at o cost Of about 81, 100000 and Is now
owned and operated by the Government OF ,ne
United States. Both American and Canaulon
vessels are allowed TO pass through Sault Ste.
Marie Canal free OF tolls
That the United States has full power 20 order
such discriminating tax upon Canadian vessels
will be readily seen by examining Act AANll
OF the Treaty Of Washington, concluded July A,
1871. At that time the canal belonged TO the
State Of Michigan, and It was not transferred 10
the United States until June 8, Ss1.
REFUSAL TO OBSERVE OBLIGATIONS OF
PLIGHTED FAITH.
On the I'd of April, 1888, the Hon. Charles S.
Baker, of Rochester, brought to the attention Of
the House of Representatives perhaps the most
fragrant of all the recent breaches Of good faith
toward the United States by the Dominion of
Canada The Canadian act of Parliament Of May
10, 1870, provided that larr>.Sumber OF speci-
fed agricultural and other :T1uucts might be adj
mitted into Canada from the United States free OF
duty whenever the United States should admit
similar articles from Canada free OF duty THIS
offer was accepted by our act Of March 3, 1883,
with respect to many Of the articles mentioned.
But for five years Canada has failed to place such
articles upon her free list: Compa mt having been
made through the Hon. Charles s. Baker by parties
injuriously affected Secretary Bayard brought the
matter in an unofficial way TO the attention Of tho
Canadian Government early In March, but the
Minister Of Customs evaded tho whole thing by
asserting that the Canadian Government was
not obliged to observe the reciprocity contracted
upon its own motion until every one OF the articles
enumerated by the Canadian act Of $40 was made
free by the United States But this was mani
testify absurd, the act referred TO provides that
any and all of the following articles. etc., etc,
may be imported into Canada free OF duty" On
the 2sth of March, Sir Peter Mitchell, Of New
Brunswick, called the Prime Minister sharply TO
account ON the floor Of the House OF Commons for
his transparent act Of bad faith, TO which the
imperous leader sullenly replied that the act was
permissive and not mandatory, its Language being
may be imported" and that the Canadian Gov
eminent was more concerned in protecting the IN
terests of Canada than those of the United States
The shallowness Of this defence was readily ex-
posed. But the resolution offered by Mr.; Baker III
the House of Representatives, on the I'd OF Apru
brought the Canadian chieftain to terms Two
days afterward, VIZ. on the morning OF the 4th Oh
April Sir Charles Upper Minister OF FINANCE
announced on the floor Of the House OF Commons
that at the instance of Lord Salisbury, PRIME
Minister of Great Britain, the articles mace Tree
by the act of Congress of March 8, 1883, had pecn
placed upon the free list, and at the same tliIle
Sir Charles read telegram which he had SEM tIe
previous day April 81 to Sir Lionel West at WASH,
ngton informing HIM that on TeceipS 81 copy the he
articles had been placed on the free li,t lhere
appears TO have been some remarkably alert III
pfomacy between Washington. London ana OIta"a
between the introduction of Mr.. Bakers resolution
in the House of representatives on inc 20 anu
Sir Charles Tupper's announcement IN the C S
dian Parliament on the 4th Bat Wtni In . Tnn
weeks. viz on the Esd OF April, Sir Charles Iur-
per on behalf of the Canadian GovernmeRo gatkc
notice that a bill would he introduces lor r, tlIe
purpose of placing on the dutlabe list the loiIosM
inc articles made free the 3D., VIZ green lruI,
bran Seeds plants, trees and shrunS c9 9 and d
coke wheat, corn and other grains, nour' hsn anu
meats .,,.. .,,x,o ~ nro
To this scheming and vacillating course OF pro
cedurc alike devoid Of dignity and good laltni ,uc
United States ought TO respond az once o{ paOrc
oHa in no
sentatives nv the Hon. Charles S. Baker espcclaiB
the proposed duty Of five cents per doz,n on ~
and one cent per pound upon ali nsn tbae n T%e
last fiscal wear there were imported from Uhe Do
miniOn nearly eleven million dozen eggs ana over
thirteen million pounds of fresh FISH Tree Oh ouT.
HOSTILE ATTITUDE IN THE MA1IE" o' ILL
FISHERIES.
The aggressive. inhuman and most unjust attl-
tude assumed by Canada toward American hshcr-
men has been made the subject of special sla'e-
msnt. The case is q simple one. We maintalheu
the common right Of our fishermen to particpate
in the deem sea fisheries by the treaty OF peace
with England concluded in 49, since tlao In
certain usages have been established anu ootiC
entered into by means OF reciprocal leeislatIoh;
which constituted the more important features VI
the international relationships now eMseins w
tween the United States and Great britain, anu
vet at this day. Canada the real, anu OreaV Dliei'
The os.ousbe, matchmaking Power, attempts 10
claim peculiar rights over "a large portIN vi .il1
Atlantic Ocean under the prcteXt OF geoSraPmcal
advantage" ana asserts UUIS cldIm III uNi'i"i W
our fishermen of ordinary commercial rights, ana
Of shelter in her ports when seeking refuge Toih
storms. -, e,;
There is no sensible reason why fish and fishing
vessels should be taboOed those commercial pnvl-
leges which the prevalent condition OF maritime
reciprocity secure to all other commodities ana
TO vessels engaged i'll all other peaceful pursuits.
The exclusive right Of the Canadians to the use
of their marginal waters is now fully conceded
and il matters little what ILLUMINATION or waters,
bays creeks and harbOrs be made, PROVIDED the
nj OH of fishermen
ton upon the high seas Is not lElrlnged upon.
The privilege of occupying unsettled shores Is no
longer OF any particular value the question OF paIV
even is resolved, and there appears 10 be no more
need of a fish treaty than Of pork treaty with
Great Britain. If the rights OF transferring car,
goes in Canadian ports shipping cargocs In Donu
by rail, and other commercial rights are longer
denied our fishing vessels, such denlals should be
met by an Immediate refusal TO allow Canadian
fishing vessels to enter our ports or to allow the
products of the Canadian fisheries TO enter the
United States in vessels or by rail
Canada has always assumed hostile attitude
toward the United States i'll time OF war, and in
time Of peace her commercial policy toward
us appears to have been dictated by the French
military maxim, " Laudace, encore laudace tou-
jours Paudace" In connection with Great Britain
she has in matters of International intercourse
with the United States persisted in stepping out
side Of the restraints OF international law, and re-
ciprOcal arrangements entered into by treaty and
by statutory compact, whenever her interests or
her caprice seemed TO render such course desira-
bic. Touching these matters the United States
has not exercised due diligence in defence of her
own interests, and of the rights Of her citizens.
This has encouraged aggression 1t would seem
as though, III the eyes OF the Canadians, the most
striking characteristic of the United States is a
" charity which endureth oil things" and that
they have deliberately resolved to ascertain ex-
perimentally just how far they can exploit ui.on
our generosity and forbeaIance. In the very
nature of things such procedure must ultimately
have an abrupt termination Ii the United
States had taken small advantage and
large advantage Of geographical position
and OF all the other opportunities
presented by intimate relationships of commerce
and transportation as Canada has done the chief
sources of her prosperity would have long since
been dried up
The, question naturally arises, Why have the
several provinces which compose the Dominion OF
Canada been SO unfriendly and so unfair toward
the United States? Besides the political cause
two others may be mentioned: FIRST. the Do
minion of Canada is a small and aggressive nation
enjoying the geographical advantages of contiguity
70 a great and magnanmous nation. which hns