New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-23
CANADIAN RELATIONS.
THE CHIMERA OF COMMERCIAL UNION

i
sir: The advocacy Of the scheme OF con''"erCi'
u,ov NTH Canada during the last two years mas pro
,..6.a worry much after the fashion OF 1aiS 'dio
to,d IN unsuspecting Chidrn fah'h'i
tons OF fact and sentiment have Dce' 0"P 49,,
constr,ct visionary trade relationships o'' " 49,,
and 80 loosely jointed is the airy caN''' ~, -
Of reason scat,crs it to the WINS "f .
pr.schinr close ANALYSIS Of the rell'onS VIM" "a"
ally exist between the United S"'e' "''u -
:. 80 .xnosce an arr,y Of outrageous chcroach-
,.,.s and ~ direct assaults upon american I"'V''
in nrorrcss today all along the htc'i"'i""" o''''"'
rne from the banks Of Newfoundland 10 vancouver
Island ., % ,be ,arcar
nronose here TO advert to certain Vi ''o '"s0''
and more clearly defined of these "c's u
l. II Is apparent TO any AMer'''' 49, , ,.,o.ia
,ro, tho slightest attention TO our N"'u "''".i''
80" 49,, ..oros,s that the action of the Canadian
I-uo,, IL in violation of treaty supuId'ioHS'
:, ,o,a,ior NJ the comfy Of nations: IN VOCATION
% tho r.cproca obligations OF the transit uaue' 'o
" .verse OF our treatment Of Canadian
.s,s and in the face of the dictates OF humahN
% ~. secretary Manning OF the Treasury Depart
,ent in an official report to Congress chafa''c'"eN
tbc canadian refusal to allow American fishing vessels
20 sock shelter from storms in Canadian harDors
and IN lie in such harbOrS when in distress aS acVS
n, barbarism fit only for savages, "a> contempuple
and odous as for government conducting nav ''
war 10 fire. in these days on a hoSptal snip "'oS0"
bv her color and flag and filed exclusively WIN tne
sick. wounded or diving. their surgeons ana nurses
Secretary Manning justified this strong language Nv
stating that certain American vessel which had then
ooor,,v reasoned an mperled Canadian crew at SET.
nm bringing these shipwrecked sailors safely into u
Canadian harbor was denied the privilege Of pnr mas
ing food and water Of which hey crew were SaHN III
need and was rudey hustled ont OF port DN 'ahaoldi
officials. ~ ,
o The Dominion Government in open violation Oh
Article % of the Treaty of Washington, makes uN-
elimination of Is cents ION in her canal tolls III
favor of Montreal and against American ports lHlN
fact was clearly pointed ont by the Hon. Ne'Son
Dinelev IT, in the House OF Representatives January
8. 1888.
e In omen violation of reciprocal legislative ar
rancement the Dominion Government imposes dis
eliminating entrance fee Of 80 cents and clearance
fec of SO cents upon American vessels
A. The Dominion Government has for years stun
,orn,v resisted the request of the United states GOV
eminent to allow the wreckng vessels of this country
10 60 to the relief of American vessels ana ther h-
periIed crews in Canadian waters.
: After contracts had been made for the delivery
n, trees plants and other American nursery stock IN
Canada during the present season, the Dominion Gov
eminent by order in Council raised the duty on such
commodities and has also sought. by means Of an
excessive and vexatiOus charge 10 prevent American
commercial agents from pursuing their avocation IN
Canada while Canadian commercial agents enjoy
complete liberty in the much more Valuable ihdrhe'S
OF the United stetes.
s. Upon the completion OF the Canadian Pacihc
Railway to Winnipeg in 15s6. the Dominion Govern
ment attempted to deny to American railroads the
privileges of her transit trade. and was deferred from
such action only by the fear Of losing their much more
valuable right TO engage in the United states domestic
transit trade.
T. In their recent third annual report. the United
states Interstate Commerce Commission has set forth
tact 10 DomnioD Government hy stitufOrV
enactment not only enables but inces Canadian
railroads to unjust discrimination against the ports
Of the United States and the railroads If the United
States.
8. The Dominion Government Is essentially trans
portation enterprise actuaed not by legitimate prcl-
pies of competition but by fierce political exigencies
That Government owns and manages canal system
which cost over $50 900 600 and railroad system
which cost about S4 900 600 Besides il has aided the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company to the amount Of
s2l0.000000.
o. Al the present time the Dominion Government
and the British Government cOnSplring. by the
sheer force of subsidy. divert important part Of
the domestic and foreign commerce Of the United
states from American scapOrts, American ships and
American transportation lines The Canadian Paclhc
subvention of S21O 900 900 amounts. at per cent 70
an annual subsidy Of Sl0,j000OO, the British steamer
line across the Pacific ocean receives annual subsidy
of $4,000 year for an Asatc postal seryice one
Asia and for which American steamers receive only
$4,000 a year The Dominion Government pays an
annual subsidy Of sls6 900 year TO the portion Of he
Canadian Pacific Railway which traverses the forest
region Of the state Of Maine. and the Canadian and
British Governments 10 pay subsidy OF S3OOOOo A
wear 10 a British line from Halifax 10 Liver
pool. Besides the two steamer lines here mentioned
receive Admiralty subsidies. the exact amount Of which
is not publicly known. The total amount OF subsidy
granted TO this combined British line from Hong Kong
n Liverpool amounts to fully S11 100000 annually,
and constitutes discrimination 10 that amount against
American seaports, American steamer lines on the
Pacific ocean and American internal transportation
lines.
10 This combined subsidized British Canadian linz
is marked by military characteristics offensive toward
the United states viz: The fact that the STEAMERS
If the Atlantic and Pacific lines are to be 80 CON
sructed a. TO be available AS armed cruisers III ume
Of war and the fact that the Canadian and British
Governments have constructed on the island OF Van
couver formidable fortress which stands within sight
of our shores as a menace to the United states.
H. To cap the climax Of Canadian aggression and
audacity the Dominion Government imposes a d.
eliminating duty tea and coffee when imported
from the United states, and she places all coins on
her free list except United states silver coin. The
secretary IF the Treasury has recently suggested to
Congress the proprcty Of laying counervanng dis
eliminating duty tea when imported from Canada
Tea coffee and Canadian silver coin are now ad
mitted into the United states free Of duty.
The astonishing fact concerning this whole matter
is that TIE United states ncglects To interpOse any
obstacle this long line Of aggression, and violation
OF pUghtcd faith, by any act or line Of policy pro
tective OF American interests The commercial bodies
Of the Pacific Coast have pcttOncd Congress TO pro
tect thor tdde and transportation interests against
Canadian and British aggression, and senator Hale
Of Maine has introduced bin TO protect Portland
and Boston against the diversion which appears i'm
minent from the highly subsidized Canadian Pacific
Railway, which raverses the forest region Of that
State. search through the wide world and You will
find other instance Of cncroachmcnt by one country
upon neghboring country ct oil comparable to tho
line Of aggressions which chaccrzes the department
OF Canada toward Tie United States. FROM the banks
Of Newfoundland 20 Vancouver Island.