The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-10
CANADA AND THIS COUNTRY.
POLIIICAL UNION, sAYS ERIsTUs
VIVIAN, MUsT CONF SLOWLY

The oaestio. DisessseA fres the st..S.
peints or the Usltsa States, or Canada,
sns Of Great Rsttsia-Coasasrcial Unter
wosis Pat the Latter h Dilsmn..
Erastus Wiman addressed the Union League
Club Of Brooklyn last night upon the question,
Union with Canada: Political or CONNER
ciai-Whioh is Desirable and Which is Pres.
entity Possibie2"
The address was in reply to the arguments
against reciprocity recently advanced upon
the same platform by Francis Wayland Glenn.
formerly member Of the Canadian Parlia-
mcnt Mr.. Glenn commended that to promote
reciprocity was indefinitely to postpone a po-
ltical union. and that he held. was the only
desirable relation between the two great d.
visions Of the continent The club requested
Mr. wiman to present tho other side OF the
question In accordance with his we'll known
views.
The assembly room was crowded last night.
Mr.. Wiman was introduced by Col. George p.
Clark.
Mr.. wiman preceded his argument with q
brief description OF what tho name Canada
stands for. He said Canada was larger than
tho United States. excluding Alaska. Her
waterways are the most magnificent in the
world. She possesses more than half the fresh
water Of the globe. Her iron is Of better
any other country. and she has over $1,000
square miles Of coal. Her forests are OF ines
Unable value. Her fisheries. covering coast
lne Of 5000 miles, possess potentialities for
tho sustenance OF tho human race. Her sup
plies Of nickel. copper. silver. gold. phosphates
gypsum. asbestos. and other minerals arc
practically inexhaustible.
Mr.. Wimans address was an argument for
commercial union between the United States
and Canada rather than political union. A DO
litical union. he said. meant that the whole Of
the Dominion Of Canada should become incor-
porated in the United States. and that the va
rious provinces should become independent
and distinctive commonwealths: that the same
relation should exist between these common
wealths rs exists now between the States Of
tho Union and that the government Of the en-
tire continent should 10 vested In Washington,
as it is now for half the continent. CONNER
uial union however. might be OF q varied char
actor. It might. for instance, partake Of the
character OF n Zollverein. as illustrated
by tho German Customs Union. This
implied u uniform tariff oil over the
contincnt-the tariff to be created by
the largest party to the compact In other
words. the customs line that now runs athwart
tho continent would DO lifted up and put right
around tho continent, so that the same duties
boston. New York. and other American ports.
The revenue dcrivable from this uniform tar
liz would, under those circumstances. be
pooled into common fund and divided pro
rata. according to population No interior
ence would DO offered in the separate expendi-
ture Of each nationality. but trade should be
as unrestricted along the 1000 miles border
line as it is now between the lines Of the vari-
Gus States. The result would boa perfect uni
fcation. in SO far as commercial policy was
concerned. though distinctive governments
would still prevail
A somewhat different system Of commercial
union. he said. seemed probable now. 1t would
take the form OF unrestricted reciprocity. This
would mean perfect exchange between the
two countries Of all natural and manufactured
products. 1t would still. however. mean
tariff practically uniform. or at least. that the
Canadian tariff should not DO lower than the
AMERICAN tariff. and IT would equally mean a
81 0pg the dfr ro@
would mean ca free admission into Canada Of all
psd discr%instion against Great Britain.
union betWaen the TWO pSrtons q this con. !.
,inent was NECESSARY and must come: The
in nopulation. and the general progress Of the
sns ns sss sSs If aSss
snOn S The sna sape Of ts
turn.
PROM THE UNITED STATES STANDPOINT.
,,He asked whether political union. from the
United States standpoint vas desirable. snd
culties:f governing 90 vast q territory were
@ b Rss ast 1ss o4 oS Of ae
sions u Congress have been passed. and It Is
doubuul " any Congressman has been able 70
son nSW what sas
unknown region heretofore governed In q diff
tien were suddenly annexsd : He Continued:
Still further difficulties. however; Of a
@ aon pRSs s sa sae Of
;lenly change the peIiticai Character q that
fS re Roman ssah SSfa yots .
Xeighsd and measured; fhs Senate q the
states n0x SS Inn 5a E1Sd
rover which would rest in the new additions
Of twenty-five members from no less than
nn ySS s'G se nj t%s woad Be n
it 81 iss ,r & the past in this saSR
n l %"ad and S'o% Careful prenars sGna
for ~ vast Change should take place; not
are 50 many questions confronting the people
n'this country In the vast experiment OF self
government which they are now endeavoring
TO snyr., that 70 precipitate into tho vortex 81
.,ign cI"l.rnt would be dangerous in the ex-
,,re'n., Thus THO question OF the colored race .
the question OF the currency, as related espe-
cih,, to silver: the problems surrounding the
banking system; the emigration problem. and
SI t. his and fHys
inthe British possessions."
Mr. Wiman argued that the question Of as
simi latinG tho French element OF Canada
WOULD boz serious one. Where French Came
mans have came across the border into this
country they have retained their individuality
t ~ thnnEht and language; and have REGARDED
EvLe.urn home as soon as they have earned u
said;
wa A. le from this; however one must a.,
,,athniic Church ip 4nebec-an Influence that
prevails IN any other country In the world. "
.Hstruc that tho central power Of the United