The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-14
COMMERCIAL UNION WITH CANADA.

The annexation of Canada to the
United States is not thing impossible;
nor even improbable. since its advocates,
both in Canada and the United States, are
daily increasing. But, whatever the final
results may be of all this talk about anneXa-
ton, we have every reason to believe that
the commercial relations between the two
countries will soon be materially improved.
The Canadians on their part appear most
anxious to form commercial Union with
our country. To facilitate such an action
Mr.. RICHARD CARTWRIGHT offered motion
in the Canadian parliament the other day
demanding Canadian independence in
treaty making affairs. The motion was de-
feated by amiority of twenty-eight, a
majority so small that the liberal party,
which favored the motion, are considerably
encouraged. Failing in this move the
liberal leader, Hon. WILFRED LAURIER in
PRODUCED the following resolution:
That in view of the rejection by the senate of
the United States of the treaty of 1888 and the
unfortunate and regretable differences existing
between Canada and the United States on the
fisheries question, this house is Of the opinion
that steps should be taken at an early date by
the government of Canada for the satisfactory
adjustment of such difficulties and the securing
OF unrestricted freedom in the trade relations OF
the two countries and that, in any negotiations
entered upon for such purposes, Canada should
be directly represented by some one nominated
by its government
That in the meantime and to prevent such
negotiations being unfavOrably entered upon
and to afford evidence of the anxious desire OF
Canada to promote good feeling and remove all
possible subjects of controversy, that this house
is of opinion that the modus yivendi proposed on
behalf of the British government to the govern
ment of the United States with respect to the
fisheries should be continued in operation during
the ensuing fishing season.
On our side of the line what may be
rightly considered the commercial advances
of Canada have been most favorably met.
The late Congress in the last hours of its
session, passed Mr.. HITS (of Illinois)
joint resolution to promote commercial
union with our northern neighbor. The
said resolution provides that whenever it
shall be duly certified to the President that
the government of Canada has declared a
desire to establish commercial union with
the United States, having a uniform reve-
nue. system like internal taxes to be col
lected, and like import duties to be imposed
on articles brought into either country from
other nations, with no duties upon trade
between the United States and Canada, he
shall appoint three commissioners to meet
those who may be likewise designated to
represent the government of Canada to
prepare a plan for the assimilation of the
import duties and internal revenue taxes of
the two countries, and an equitable division
Of receipts, in a commercial union; and slid
commissioners shall report to the Presi-
dent, who shall report before Congress"
The committee on foreign affairs in re
this resolution said: THE tendency of pub
lie opinion is plainly toward the enlarge
ment of trade between the two countries.
In Canada the movement has advanced
from what was a few years ago an effort
for partial reciprocity to a wide expression
in favor of unrestricted intercourse and
commercial union The chambers Of com
merce and boards of trade Of the leading
cities of Canada and more than fifty
farmers institutes and conventions have
adopted resolutions declaring in favor of
commercial union or unrestricted trade be
tween the two countries.
The similarity of the present tariff sys-
TENS in the two countries, the facility of
assimilation, what may be justly termed
the enormous increase of our exports into
Canada-frOm fifty to seventy or eighty
dollars per annum, the great saving to both
countries, and hence increased prosperity
to both, to say nothing of the guarantee
mony for the future. are considerations
which may be trusted to bring to pass the
desired commercial changes.