San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-31
NOT FAIR EXCHANGE.


NOT A FAIR EXCHANGE.
While our Canadian cousins are reap
ing all the advantages from the late
abortions in the way Of fisheries treaties,
they clamor loudly for commercial
union, which shall virtually make Cana
da and the United States one people
commercially. There has been great
discomfort over on the other side OF the
blue Niagara ever since the sbrogation
of the old reciprocity treaty. under
which Uncle Sam was only left with the
empty bag to hold, while Canadian John
pooketed the contents. A quiet but per-
sistent policy of coercion has been I'M
dertsken by the Canadian government
to restore that advantageous treaty, and
make Canada commercial part of these
United States. Every movement In the
whole round of fisheries usurpations
and injustices and exactiOns on the
part Of Canada, has been arranged
and carried out with the evident intent
OF forcing this country to come to terms
and open her markets to Canadian lum-
Der. fish and grain. This exchange, so
far as it has been carried on in the past,
has been greatly to our disadvantage
and will be, IL resumed in the future.
The persistence with which this country
has refused the overtures of Canada for
commercial reciprocity, does not please
tho dominion nnuarmanf and thaV
continually breathing out their sultry
feelings against the policy OF this gov
eminent in its relation to that treaty.
Having bulldOZed this democratic ad-
ministration into another emasculated
fisheries treaty, in which Canada Sc
cures all she has contended for, and the
United States is left with the net of her
old grievances to drag to land as best
she can, the Dominion authorities are
not without hope that they can induce
this country, through their misrepre-
sensations at home and their agents in
Washington, to enter into treaty for
commercial union. Before Uncle Sam
bites at this naked hook let him study
the present situation, see what he wants
from Canada, instead Of what Canada is
bleeding him for, and size up the situa-
ton. 1t Ia about time to change of and
make some demands of our own. If
Canadian merchants want reciprocity,
let them be less hoggish, and show
fair minded disposition in the ordinary
monetary exchanges carried on between
the two countries. As usual, Uncle Sam
is cheated out of his eye teeth by these
over-the-border cousins of his, and &C
cepts the steal as inevitable destiny.
1t is high time some steps were
taken to equalize matters. The north
ern states are flooded today with Cana
dian coins, the intrinsic value of which
is at least twenty per cent below that of
American coins OF the same denomina-
ton, and yet these Canadian coins are
received at par on this side of the line,
while our more valuable coins are SUBJ
jected to discount In Canada. Speaking
of this matter, the Cincinnati Times
Star says, most opportunity:
"The coins of the United States mints
have a much smaller percentage Of alloy
10 them and yet are not accepted with
out an outrageous discount whenever
proffered in exchange for merchandise
to any of the willy Canucks, while their
white metal is accepted among the mer-
chants OF the states at its face value.
The stuff Ia not acceptable at any gov
eminent Office here, and Is therefore, q
continuous bother as a circulating me-
dunn. What the people this side the
lakes want to do is to refuse the stuff
altogether, or accept it only at liberal
discount. A Canadian half-dollar is not
In reality worth more than forty cents.
A quarter not more than twenty cents.
Refusing to accept them for anything
more than their real value will soon re-
duce them to their level, and their level
Is only found in the trans-lake regions"
Let these coins be driven back to the
place from whence they came. Let
them be Invested of the fictitious value
which the merchants of this country
have too long accorded them, and let
them be invested with the stamp OF
| their own reduced values. The less
| Uncle Sam monkeys with Canada, the
| better will 1t be for his own interests.
| Humiliating as the confession may be,
an honest confession may be good for
! the pOcket-bOOk as we'll as for the soul;
! and, the fact is, Canadian John is too
much for Uncle Sam in boss trade.