Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-26
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
ERASTUS WIMAN SPEAKS ON Reel
PROCITY WITH CANADA

An Advantage to Both Countries-Reci-
procity the Policy of the Canadian
LiberaIs-A Great and a Small Market.
Our Farmers Have Nothing to Fear.
The subject of reciprocity with Canada
is one of interest to our people now, and
promises 10 become still more interesting
TO them in the near future At the re-
cent dinner of the Boot and Shoe Club
Of Boston. Hon. Erastus Wiman, the
distinguished Canadian capitalist, who
lives in New York, made an address on
reciprocity with Canada. Mr.. Wiman
thinks that a great change is about to
take place in Canada on the subject of
reciprocity, it being the declared policy
OF the Liberal party of the Dominion to
promise the fullest reciprocity with the
United States. On this issue the next
general election, now only year or
eighteen months away. will be fought,
and only some official intirnation from
this country in favor of reciprocity is
necessary in order to assure the success
of the Liberals in that contest A very
large majority of the voters in Canada
are in favor of reciprocity.
The passage by congress of the resolu-
ton introduced in the house of represen-
tatives by Mr.. Hit would serve as a great
stimulus to the growth of the reciprocity
sentiment in Canada.
That resolution. which has been practi-
fally adopted by Mr. Sherman in the SEN
ate, is in the following words:
Resolved, That whenever it shall be duly GER
titled to the president of the United States that
the government of the Dominion of Canada has
declared a desire to enter into such commercial
arrangements with the United States as will re-
suit in the complete removal of all duties upon
trade between Canada and the United States, he
shall appoint three commissioners to meet those
who may be designated to represent the govern
ment of Canada, to consider the best method of
extending the trade relations between Canada
and the United States, and to ascertain on what
terms greater freedom of intercourse between
the two countries can best be secured. and said
commissioners shall report to the president,
who shall lay the report before congress.
The advantage of reciprocity for New
England were seen by Mr. Wiman to be
very great. If we had reciprocity with
Canada the position which New England
could assume as being a cheap manu-
featuring center would place her, in
NOAANNLlJu WIFI lIc lOEClSu lEdtlc OL the
world, in very advantageous position.
Cheap goods are the essential element of
foreign trade. Subsidies and reciprocity
with southern nationalities may do some
thing for the creation of foreign trade.
but no influence is 50 great for the ex-
tension of commerce and competition
with European production for the sup
ply of the rest of the world as better
goods at cheaper prices than elsewhere
can be furnished.
1t Is not to be supposed that complete
reciprocity with Canada can be had by
negotiating with England. 1t is only by
legislation on the part of the United
States and of Canada that reciprocity can
be established. Hence, Blaine's plan of
negotiating reciprocity treaties could not
be applied in the case of Canada.
Among the people of Canada vast
majority of the electors are for an unre-
stricted relation, so far as trade is con-
cerned, between the two countries. If a
tender of reciprocity, in its fullest mean
ing, is made by the congress of the
United States no power on earth can
prevent its acceptance. The result would
be that trade would be as free between
the two countries as it is now between
the states OF the Union or the provinces
of the Dominion, and relation would
be created that, so far as trade and COM
merce are concerned, would be just as
intimate, just as profitable and just as
far reaching in the development of re-
sources on the one hand and of market
on the other as would result from a DO
htical union.
One way of treating the question of
reciprocity with Canada is very COM
mon among protectionists What" they
say, ''are we going to give matter of
$4,000, 900 people for one of only $780,
600? But this. as Mr.. Wiman says, is a
most impossible argument.
If it were carried out to its legitimate
extent Massachusetts and Rhode Island
would not trade with each other, because
Rhode Island has small population and
small area compared with Massachu-
sets. The size of the country is not the
question at issue. Besides this, the ,000.-
600 people in Canada will consume rela-
lively as many manufactured goods as
IleS Will prOuuCe raw material OIIereQ.
Thus, if Nova Scotia should send iron
and coal and fish and potatoes and other
food products to Massachusetts, she
would take the same relative amount of
goods, of boots and shoes, collars and
cuffs, pots and pans. and other merchan-
disc in exchange therefor The measure
of their consumption would be the meas
ure of their production. IF 5000, 900
conld produce enough for 60, O00, 900 to
consume, and only took back what 5 ,0O0,-
600 would require, there would be some
force in the argument that it is unwise
to trade with a smaller country.
AS matter of fact the Canadians are
today the best customers the United
States have, Notwithstanding the high
tariff and equality of conditions SO far as
competition from other countries is con-
cerned.
There is a still stronger way of stating
the objection to the assertion Of the pro
tectionists that we cannot afford to give
a market of 63,0O0,OOO for one of only