New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-14
THE DELEGATES IN CANADA.

THE DELEGATES IN CANADA.
The Nations diplomatic guests enjoyed yes
terday glimpse of Canada and the hospitality
of Mr. Wiman, the indefatigable advocate OF
commercial union on the northern frontier OF
the United States Under the terms of the in
vitation issued by the State Department with
the authority of Congress the British posses
sions of North America were excluded from
participation in the international council OF IN
dependent continental States. The questions
which are to be discussed by that body relate
to the material interests of this continent and
are not connected with the commercial welfare
Of any portion of the British Empire. Hence
there was something incongruous IN the ap-
pearance of Mr.. Wiman with coterle or "a
madam friends at one of the stages of the prog
ress of the delegates, and the presentation OF
his well-worn argument in favor of commercial
union. He is not a stickler for diplomatic pro-
prieties, however, when favorable opportunity
is offered for advancing the cause which he has
at heart: and although THE TRIBUNE does not
admit the expediency of the policy winch ne
proclaims, in season and out of season. 1t ad-
mires his energy and perseverance, and cheer
fully reproduceS his argument in Its dispatches
from Niagara The question of establishing
,and communications and facilitating com
mercial exchanges with countries to the south
is one that will naturally take precedence OF
that of commercial union with the british
provinces on the northern frontier. ms is
the practical answer to be made to Mr.. Wimn,s
ingenious plea for the inclusion OF Canada In
any arrangements that may be made for de-
veloping continental exchanges.
1t is a remarkable fact that the general con-
ception of the unification of continental com
mercial relations from Hudson'S Bay to Cape
Horn, which Mr. Wiman regards as the true
American policy Of the future, was one OF tho
last projects that fascinated the Imagination OF
Senator Douglas, one of the most stateSmanlike
of the Democratic leaders of this century. After
the failure Of his attempts to avert the out
break of civil war by compromise Legislation
and concilatOry councils, he prepared shortly
before his death paper on an American Con-
tinental Commercial Union or Alliance" pat
termed after the German ZOllverein. This
paper, completed after the secession of seven
States, has been published for the first time by
his literary executor, j. Madison Cults, as an
important and timely contribution to the dis
AIl-American Congress. Mr.. Douglas, with the
same enthusiasm which inspired Mr.. Gays
dream of a league of American republics adj
vocated the establishment Of a general union
for commercial purposes, by which the indus
trial and economic systems Of the continent
should be asSimilated without interference with
the respective forms Of government, political
relations and internal policies of the various
States. Some such scheme AZ that, adopted 70
the high tariff and industrial conditions now
prevailing on this continent would doubtless
satisfy Mr. Wiman, who is far from being
Free Trader in the ordinary sense OF the term.
II would involve continental free trade on the
conditions enjoyed by the States in the Amen-
can Union, with a high-tariff wall around the
continent for protection against the cheap labor
and industrial competition Of Europe
Neither Mr.. Douglass bold conception nor
Mr.. Wiman's adaptation of it for the immediate
objects Of his own reciprocity agitation can
be regarded as practical question for consid-
Grafton by the International Congress. That
assembly Of diplomats cannot be expected to
commit itself to anything so "viewy" and
chimercal as the abolition Of all custom houses
except at ocean ports in North and South
America The objects which they have been
invited to consider are plain and practical meas
ures relating to transit communications, postal
facilities customs regulations uniformity of
standards, measures and economic systems, and
arbitration tribunals. Commercial union lies
outside of the scope of the instructions which
a majority Of the delegates have received from
their Governments. \ series Of reciprocity
treaties may come in the future but that is not
the present order of the Congress. As for reci
procty with Canada the delegates have moth
ing to do with it.