New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-19
Why NOT BE- FRIENDSf

Canadas principal Grlt organ, Inc 10
ronto Globe" finds little satisfaction In the
growing animoSiticS which Sir John Macdon-
AIDS Government has chosen TO awaken IN this
country. "The Globe" does not see how Can
adas prosperity is promoted by commercial
and political strife between the Dominion and
this Republic. This has long been mystery
70 us. That Sir John has succeeded in build
ing an excellent railroad and in snatchlng II
good deal of American business TO help the
Dominion Treasury pay its expenses we arc
unite prepared 10 admit. But why he should
work so ndustriousy to create and MAINTAIN
a line Of quarrclS with us when all the traiilc
advantages which save his railroad from bank
mptcy depend wholly on the pleasure OF our
Government is the chief puzzle of his unique
policy Why his newspaper organs should per
sist in their ridiculous misrepresentation OF
American sentiment, in their pretence that the
United States aims at Canada's entertainment
and in urging a tariff policy which Is uninend-
" without being compensatory, IS a problem
that admits Of no logical solution.
1t has taken this country seven years TO
make ND its mind that these irritating condi'
tons are designed The absence Of any rea-
tainty that retaliation must involve the heavi-
est hardShips upon Canada, have led our states
men 10 suppose that there must be some mis-
take about tho matter somewhere, ana that
time would adjust things comfortably. But
time has only aggravated them. lime mas
merely increased Canadian aggression and
,barpcncd the tone Of Canadian hostility.
Sticking 10 the letter Of an old treaty the
commonest Offices Of refuge are denied to
american vessels putting into Canadian ports
in distress. Our ships, scores OF them, nave
| been arbitrarily seized on pretenccS which, II
allowed would Justify piracy. our FUR prop
| critics. which we have spent many years and
vast sums of money in promoting and defend
| ing. are raided and destroyed by means that
are utterly indcfcnsibIc, even if the act itself
we're honest and whenever wc succeed in get
ting within haling distance of a satisfactory
| international agreement for their protection
| Canada steps in between us and England and
| prevents the treaty. While these dangerous
| controversies are maintained the Canadian rail
| roads aided by customs laws which SIR John
| Macdonald is permitted to modify at pleasure,
are conducting a lively traffic warfare upon
| our lines Scrcney careless OF the fact that they
have obtained their opportunity TO do so from
| the good-naturcd favor Of America.
| If there is any sagacity in this policy 1t is
deeply hidden. Only one result, if it be per
sisted in much longer is possible. 1t must lead
70 non intercourse and then to sharper trouble
Is this what Sir John has been seeking for his
country? Is this the object Of his Statecraft
| When it would be so easily possible for Canada
TO obtain from the United States practically
| whatever she wished, when commercial and
political friendship is so easy and so richly
| profitable on both sides Of the border what can
| be the sense in acts that must inevitably
awaken ugly feelings? These are questions
for Canada to answer. All her late elections
have given answers in favor of peace and har-
mony. Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia have
strongly pronounced against this policy OF on
nifty to America IF the sentiment which
maintains men like Mowat and MERCER in
provincial power is any indication of what
these great Provinces will say in the next Do
mnion election, we may hope that Canada and
the United States will soon be friends and
neighbors in the best sense OF those peaceful
| terms