New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07
CANADIAN AGGRESSION.
THE COMMONS ATTACKS ON UNITED STATES
COMMERCE..

COMMERCE
10 the EDITOR OF The Tribune.
Sir: "The Nation,s in its issue of June 49, animal
vers upon somewhat sharply, on account OF my
comments upon the Canadian Pacific Railway and erro-
neously assumes that advocating line OF poIcy
which IS nmlcal TO the interests Of Boston aad Of the
New-England states. Let how the case stands:
The Canadian Pacific Railway, sometimes styled The
Dominion Government on Wheels" cost S161 100000
and was subsidized by the Dominion Government TO
the amount Of S215 900 100000 In cash and
gifts readily convertible into cash, and Sl1ooOoooo
I'm the form of guaranteed securities This supplied
with abundant means for aggression upon American
commerce. steamer line to China and Japan, run
ming In connection with this road also receives sub
sIdy of 100000 year from the Canadian Government
as against s14 900 year paid by the United States
Government for Asiatic mall service, which Is
twenty times as large as that Of Canada.
An openly avowed object had IN view In constructing
the Canadian Pacific Railway and in establishing this
highly subsidized steamer line was to turn the Asatc
commerce of this country from American vessels
American seaports and American railroads. This IL
is now doing by the sheer force OF the subsidy 10 wncn
II owes its existence and its potentaty as factor In
competition BY the same means 1t IS also securing
a large share of our transconnental traffic All this
Is accumulated by British fortress and naval station
at Esquimault, the Straits OF San Juan de tuca-
which military establishment, In the expressive phrase
OF British authority, holds pistol to the head OF
san Francisco"
Then turn to the East. The Canadian Pacific Rail
way Company has built a road through the spruce
forests of Maine by the favor of the Legislature Of
that State This particular line receives a subsidy
from the Dominion Government OF &1S6OOO year
for twenty years, and IL will connect at St. John
n b.. or Halifax, with line of steamers which Is
TO receive Canadian subsidy Of 100000 year.
This subsidized rail and steamer line will not bring
rIo hut trrflI dfN-nf
foreign commerce OF Canada and considerable part
OF the foreign commerce OF Interior States from
New-York and Boston and Portland, and from Amer
lean transportation lines This was the precise OBJ
ject had in view in granting the two subventons just
mentioned. But this Is only the head and mont OF
Canadian political exploitation upon American COM
merce The two steamer lines above mentioned
which receive subsidies Of 100000 and S5Oo,ooo
wear respectively, are also to have the backing OF
subsidies from the British Admiralty ohce' upon
two conditions:
First That they may be readily converted into
armed cruisers secondly, that they may be taken by
the British Government at any moment when needed
for war purposes. The amount of these admiralty
subsidies is not publicly known
Again. the Canadian Pacific Railway has been en-
abed to secure lines in Maine Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota, and the franchise OF bridge across the
strait Of ST. Marie granted by the United States Gov
enment while the Dominion Government exerts It's
power to the fullest extent toward preventing Amen
can lines from entering Canada.
Now it goes without saying that all this is not COM
merce 1t would be solecism of the baldest charac-
ter to call it competition. Any nation when Allows
another thus implnge upon its commercial interests
by direct governmental subsidy obliylous TO It's own
honor and recleant to duty. No section or locality
can take advantage OF this sort Of aggression or de-
fend II without dlshOn0r II the argument based upon
considerations Of this sort had prevailed In 1176 the
Declaration of Independence would not have been
written.
In passing would allude to the fact that the Do
minon Government, by Orders In Council MAKES
discrimination of Is cents ton on Welland anal
tolls In favor OF Montreal, as against New orA anu
Rnsron which discrimination IS IN open Nolatloh vi
the Treaty Of Washington also 10 me lacI that
under our laws and treaty stpula'iOhs Oahald snps
annually about 100000 IN goods across our unl-
ritory without payment OF duty, she 0bstnaiey re-
fuses to allow American fishermen 70 snip nsn OF nsn
ING material across her territory without payment OF
duty The persistent wooing OF Cahaha 70 annrAatoh
by statesmen this side OF the bOr me appears u
have had merely the effect OF stimulating her 70 the
most heartess coquetry. Let IL be remembered thst
reciprocal Canadian competition IN transpOf'auoh Is
one thing and that Canadian political scheme when
seeks only its own, is another thing The former Is
Justified by mutually Of benefit VALE tue lale' is
! national insult ard commercial injury.
I'm view OF the facts hereinbetoie presented; de-
sire 10 submit the following questions 70 Inc Na'
! tom -, ..s In al .ht- Canada,
politico military scheme Of SUBSIDIZED raOa ~ al, an
onenIy avowed object the diversion Of American com
| merce from American ships American transportation
! lines aud American cities and the promotion OF ue
| scbepe ~ British Imperial Confederation!
Secondly-Is there any laissez faire about Ut
Thirdly-Is there anything III the nature VI hoisn
| borlv ,,,riprocity about iti
poIS urtbyNHas il any aspect of helpfuness TO Bos
ton or u any other American town or cry . ga
riftbIv-Is not the whole scheme an anTont To The
J-nited States and menace to lis cOnimercal MGR
ess: and ought not the common sense ana panouStn
- this country 10 respond 10 such cncr0achment by
| D,essure, protective Of American interests J
| shall not accuse The Nation OF Advocating
roIIy nimca 10 the commercial interests Of Boston,
~ ~ the gland States, until after Il has REPLIED
| 10 these questions 9oo ri asSd i''''S' ""
| Huntington, Long Island, June 20. 1sso