The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-18
Collapse Of tho Canadian Commission.

We pointed out the other day that the
Commissioners sent from Ottawa ostensi-
bly, for the purpose Of arranging reci-
procity treaty. had come to Washington on
false pretences. They had neither tho
power nor the wish to enter into any agree
ment with respect to American manufao-
lures which could for O moment be con-
sidered by our Secretary OF State. The
Commissioners were well aware when they
left Canada that their professed desire to
conclude treaty was blind. but they also
knew that. II they could waste the time Of
our Executive for week or two. their real
object might be gained. A number Of i'm
portant by-elections we're Just then pending.
and 1t was Of vital moment to the Dominion
Government to gull the voters into think
ing that they were even more likely Of OBJ
tanning reciprocity from the Tories than
from the Liberals. Tho by-elections are
now over. and the Conservatives have won
In most Of them. consequently the sham
Commissioners. having done all they were
meant to do. are going home.
This Is the second time that Sir JULIAN
PAUNGEFOTE has lent his aid to the perpe-
tration OF q scurvy trick on our State De-
partment by the Tories Of Canada. On the
first occasion he consented to act az sponsor
for the late Sir JOHN MACDONALD, who. at
the crisis Of the last Canadian general cleo
ton. duped the farmers Of the border by
pretending to have become a convert to
reciprocity. His alleged conversion was
regarded with considerable suspicion by
Secretary BLAINE. who accordingly. when
negotiations were proposed by the British
Minister. signitied wish to postpone them
to more convenient season. Having once
expressed the natural unwillingness Of
great Government to be trifled with, Mr..
BLAINE seems to have taken for granted
that the second proposal to negotiate.
made by Premier ABBOTT through Sir
JULIAN PAUNcEFOTE. was put forward in
good faith. He deemed it incredible that
the head Of the Canadian Executive and the
British Minister at Washington would. as
mere electioneering trick connected with
the local politics OF Canada, consplre to
abuse the confidence Of the American re-
public. But this is precisely what Premier
ABBOTT and Sir JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE have
done. and the question for President HAIR
RIsoN and Secretary BLAINE is. What are
they going to do about it?
The least that they Gun do Is to avert a
further exhibition of impertinence. This
can be done by an executive or legislative
declaration of principle amounting to
commercial application Of the MONROE doc
trine. We can make it distinctly under
stood that hereafter this republic will de-
cline any negotiations with Canada in the
absence of preliminary assurances that no
agreement of a Canadian Commission affect
Ing the common interests of American COM
munities Shall be subject to revision at the
hands of any European power. Unless this
II done. what Is to shield us from being
again made the tool and butt OF Tory poll
ticians at Ottawa. whenever they can count
on the completely OF the British Minister at
Washington
Or probably the most wholesome and eff
cacious measure now possible would be to
shut the Canadian railroads out from the
special and lucrative privileges they now
enjoy in this country.