New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-29
A CANADIAN FILTRATION.
wooING THAT WILL NOT LEAD TO ia
MAICA'S UNDOING.
A POOR RELATION THAT WAS ONCE FLoUTED
ARDENTLY CoURTBD - THE UNITED
STATES THE RICH COUSIN IN
THE RECIPROCITY PLAY.
,yRon STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRiBUHg.l

IpkoNA STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRiBUNB.l
Kingston, April 17.-Mr. Froude describes the
British West Indies as the children Of an I'M
natural mother. who has cast them off and allowed
them TO shift for themselves poor relations
Emancipation Instead of being gradually lnuo-
duced was brought ON with such precipitate haste
as TO be ruinous to the colonial planters. when
protection was demanded against rival cane pro-
ducers in countries where slavery existed. 1t was
refused on the ground that the British workman
must have cheap breakfast When the beet
root industry was established In Europe under
liberal system Of Government bounties, another
appeal was made to the mother State for ald IN
rescuing the cane planters from destructive COM
petition. The islands had ceased to have a
marketable value as possessions OF the 0ro"h
and the Home Government was 1ndlf1erent TO ther
necessities and interests Despairing of receiving
announcement from the United Kingdom INC
islands turned for assistance to the Umted oIa.es
Meeting with cold shoulders everywhere else,
they found there. as Mr.. Froude says, a hand heio
ont to them The Americans were willing, though
at a serious loss Of revenue. to admit the poor
West Indians to their markets. commerclal
treaty alone was necessary but it could not be
made without the sanction Of the British Govern
ment and this was coldly and wantonly refused,
70 use MIR Froude's phrase, on some 1ne-drawh
crotchet TO colonies which weak and help
less"
As O last resort, when the American treaty was
disallowed delegation was sent from Jamaica
TO Ottawa and an urgent appeal was maze 1or
more intimate trade relations with the west IN
dies The Dominion Government sent COM
mission TO Kingston to find out If anything couIo
be done and Mr. Froude met him there wholly out
of humor with Canadas poor relations. The ia
maicans did not know what they wanted" re-
spirit to help themselves; they cried out to
others TO help them. and if all they asked could
not be granted, they clamored as If the whole
world was combining 10 hurt them. They mad
q fine country: soil and climate all that could be
desired; they had all that was required Tor O
ouiet and easy life. Why could they not be
content and make the best of things 7" IN
fortunate Jamaicans" exclaims sympathetic Mr..
Froude "The old mother at home acts like an
unnatural parent and will neither help them nor
let their cousin Jonathan help them. They turn
for comfort to their big brother In the North. ana
the big brother being himself robust ana healthy
gives them wholesome advice"
That was before Canada itself was hurt and
crippled by commercial competition and the
pressure of economic law. Now the attitude OF
the Dominion has changed 1t is woong and ca
ressing the West Indians and fairly embarrassing
them with the warmth and intensity of It's
affection for them. The Irritation began about
the time of the passage of the MCKINNEY
Tariff bill. which, while generous re-
lief measure for the Southern countries. involved
Canada in material loss and serious hardship
When the West Indian delegation was sent to
Ottawa, q few years ago, to solicit reciprocal
trade relations, Canada was enjoying large COM
mercial privileges in the American market. linen
her Ministers considered West Indian trade to be
one of very little account. Jamaica then seemed
to them to be a long way oil, and to have an I'M
poverished, non-consuming population OF lg-
norant blacks They treated the delegation with
scant courtesy and did nothing for the island. IL
was not until the Mckinley tariff bill was passed
md Canada was deprived of many OF It's prlvl-
leges in the American market that the Ministers
began to take any interest in the West Indies
When they perceived that the Dominion was DadIy
hurt by tariff legislation in the United States, they
east about TO find some other market 1of then
surplus produce. Then the once-despsed Jamaica
doomed up in their imagination as thrifty and
PROSPEROUS island tenanted by loyal Brrtons, and
the West Indian archipelago, from Trinidad to
Barbados, from Grenada TO Dominica, and from
Antigua to the Bahamas, assumed the Importance
of a CONNER cial empire held by the Queens wor-
sbipful subjects of the same breed as themselves.
Then it seemed the most natural thing in the
unity and be wholly Independent of the United
States. which, after all, was not larger market,
at least in extent of territory than British North
America!
The Jamaica Exhibition opened at an Oppor-
tune time for this Canadian demonstration. 1t
was organized primarily for the purpose of dis
playing the industrial resources of the British
West Indies and attracting European capital
and immigration to a neglected quarter of the
Empire. The invitation 10 tie United States
was mysteriously delayed and finally extended
with little tact and with such bungling IT,
regularity that it could not be accepted with dig
nifty. Canada voted large appropriation and
made extensive preparations for loudly advertising
itself US the chief industrial State in North
America. It's exhibit was the largest and most
pretentious in the main building, and not only
occupied the lions share of the space on the
floor and in the galleries, but also called into
requisition several structures and side-shows
outside. 1t complete and very oreditable
display OF the Dcininion fisheries, manufactures,
and produce Of field, mine and forest. 1t was
under the charge of an active and intelligent
staff, which ceased not, day nor night, to glorfy
the Dominion and TO deprecate the value Of the
American market a base Of exchange for West
Indian products For six months there has been
most determined effort made to draw Jamaica
and the Windward and Leeward groups into a
specious scheme of commercial union by which
Canada will have everything to gain and the
West Indies everything to lose. In this remark
able propaganda The London Times has lent
aid, for it has recommended that Her Majesty
possessions in North America and the West Indies
should follow the example of the South African
and Australian colonies and form customs union
for mutual advantage.
The Canadian Minister Of Finance, Mr.. Foster
has taken an active part in this commercial raid
upon the United States. Several months ago he
visited Trinidad, and boldly advocated British
colonial trade bund. Canada, he announced,
would be willing 90 discriminate in favor OF