New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-06
pTATN TALK TO CANADA.

Not much that Is new ms DeeH duucu w """
was already known concerning the progress OF
the trade negotiations between our Government
and that of the Dominion by the dispatches
given out yesterday at Ottawa. They snow
simply that cordial relations were established
at Washington by the Canadian Commissioners
and that the negotiations will be resumed IN
octoher in a shirt that indicates desire on both
sides to come to an agreement. All the CORE
spJndence in Canadas possession that has
real value to the public was withheld from
Yesterdays publication. The missing papers
undoubtedly were those wherein Secretary
Blaine expressed the terms on which the nego-
tiation must be based. We can well under
stand the indispoSiton Of the Dominion Gov
ernment to give out these letters just now
They would show, we suspect, that Sir John
Macdonald and Sir Charles Topper have already
committed themselves to measure OF Rec-
procity much larger and broader than they de,
fined as their policy during the late electoral
CAMPAIGN. That they would be Obliged 10 10
this if they really desired to perfect a treaty
was plainly put in Mr. Baines published letter
to Congressman Baker, and when the time
comes they will learn that the length to which
thew must 90 is about as far as the Commercial
Unionists have all along prescribed.
This is an appropriate opportunity for some
plain speaking to our Canadian friends. They
know, or ought TO know that the American
people without party distinctions earnestly de-
sire to be on the friendliest terms with them
Their character as a highly moral, lntelliseht'
industrious, law-respecting, progressive ana en-
terprising people is perfectly well known 10 us
and by us much esteemed We gave them from
1865 TO 1878 the best'proof we could give that
we entertained no designs upon their territory
But a Grade treaty is as pure matter OF bust
ness as a contract to buy and sell between in
dividuaIs, and it is to be looked at practically.
The first impressive fact in the situation is that
for natural and climatic reasons Canada can
supply us with nothing that we do not ourselves
possess. She sends us no product OF much I'M
portance of which we do not have native sur
plus to export, and absolutely not single prod
uct in such quantities as to make the market
price here, so that the Canadian exporter OBJ
tains what terms we give him and pays the
duty out Of his own pocket. On the other
hand. of Canadian importations we already sup
ply the greater part. In 1890 we supplied AZ
per cent, England only SO, and our export
trade steadily increases while Engands as
steadily declines. What inducement, then, have
we to make any radical change in the present
situation?
In his admirable West Durham address MIR.
Edward Blake said what we presume every
Canadian agrees with and what is the real oc-
casion of the pending negotiation, that " unre-
stricted free trade with the States, secured for
a long term of years. would greatly advance
our most material interests and help our natu-
raj. our largest, most substantial and most
promising industries it would create an influx
of population and capital, and promote rapid
development of forces and materials now almost
unused; in three words, it would give us men,
money and markets" Mr.. Blake speaks OF
unrestricted free trade" but it Is obvious that
If the advantages he so attractlvely describes
would flow from free trade pure and simple
they would also flow in measure from any
concessions in the direction OF free trade that
the UniseS States mi ght make. In other words,
by Just so much as we unlock the doors, whether
upon Sir John Macdonald's limited plan, or upon
Mr.. Blake's unrestricted plan, we develop and
build up Canada. The men, money and mar
kets are either drawn from US directly or drawn
from the rest of the world as the result of the
commercial relation with us. Why should this
be asked? Why should we be invited to trans
form Toronto into Liverpool, Montreal into
birmingham, Winnipeg into Manchester? Is it
to pe1petuate British authority in North Ameri-
ca. to create rich, numerous and powerful
nation upon our borders whose attitude toward
us will be directed and controlled in Downing
Street? Mr.. Blake says that this is what it
will do, and we do not doubt that he is right,
but why should we do it2
The United States are opposed not to Eng
land, not to any other European Power-in Eu-
rope, where they belong We are opposed to
the transfer upon American soil Of institutions
that are not in harmony with popular sover-
eighty, and we are especially opposed to the
interference of any European Power in
American issues. 1t is not necessary
to any proper trade relation between Europe
and American nations, and it certainly is not
necessary to any proper political relation. We
have not the slightest disposition to dictate to
Canada where she shall lodge her sovereignty,
and we have for her and with her only the
warmest sentiments of friendship. There is no
height of prosperity to which we should not
wish her to attain as an American community
no height. indeed to which she could not have
our hearty cooperation in attaining II she
chose to place herself in harmony with the rest
of the continent. But it is far from clear to
us that it should be our part to develop arneigh-
boring nation whose industrial and political sys-
TEN is patterned from those that we most avoid,
and whose power, drawn from our goOd-fellow-
ship has been, is now being, and constantly
would be, asserted to our disadvantage.