The Portland daily press., 1889-04-01
Mr.. Erastus Wlman and Commercial
Union.

Union.
The Portland Board of Trade on Saturday
evening listened to very instructive and
entertaining address from Mr. Erastus Wi
man Of New York, on the subject of COM
mercial union with the Dominion Of Canada.
Mr.. Wiman is something Of an enthusiast on
the subject, he manifestly thoroughly be-
lieyes in its practcability, and he has the
power to inspire his listeners with a large
measure of his own enthusiasm. That he
did this on Saturday night was evident
enough from the close attention that was
paid him and the applause that frequently
greeted him. In Canada the subject of COM
mercial union with the United States has
received much more attention than in this
country; indeed for year or more il has
been one of the most prominent topics of the
platform and of the press. 1t has made its
appearance In bye-elestions. and in some
Oh tnem It has formed the chief issue Boards
OF Trade, conventions of manufacturers and
farmers, clubs have discussed it repeatedly, |
In tne United States, while the question
mas Dy no means been ignored, 1t is not SO
generally understood.
AS Is well known, the United States tariff
makes the same determinations against O..
madam products as against the products of
countries across the seas The Canadian
tariff also discriminates against the products
of the United States. Thus barrier is
erected along our whole northern border
against free commercial intercourse between
this country and the Dominion. The dream
Of the commercial unionists is 10 remove
this barrier, and make trade free from the
Rio Grande to Hudson's Bay. At the same
time the commercial unionists do not pro-
pose TO remove the barriers against the man |
fractures and natural products of other |
continents. Whether this arrangement would |
De beneficial or otherwise to the United
D states, 1t is not our purpose to discuss at |
any length at present. The immediate results
apparently, would be advantageous to our |
commercial and industrial classes, and detri |
mental to ths farmers, fishermen and miners.
In Canada the case would be reversed. The
farmers, miners and fishermen would thrive
under 1t, while the manufacturers and trad
ers would receive a setback. Ultimately,
after there had been time to adjust things to
the new conditions, perhaps, indeed proba- |
Dly the arrangement would be generally |
beneficial to botn countries. Our purpose at |
present is to inquire whether the state |
OF things the commercial unionists
contemplate can be brought about.
The chief difficulty lies in determining the
nature and extent of the barriers to be set
up against the products OF other nations
which must be the same in Canada as in the
United States There are two ways and
only two, to meet it. One is for Canada to
allow the United States to dictate her GUS
toms duties The other is for the two coun-
Tries to arrange by negotiation a tariff
against other countries satisfactory to both.
MI Wiman tells us that the Canadian peo.
PIE resemble very closely the people of the
oni'ed States-they are proud spirited, self
fellant and independent. He tells us that
canada at the present time is scarcely less
Tree than the United States. Her depend
ence on the crown is.merely nominal. She !