The morning call., 1892-07-01

CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

Among the unfinished work before Con-
gress is the question of reciprocity with
Canada. When Mr. Blaine was concluding
treaties Of reciprocity with the Spanish
American nations it seemed singular that
he should make an exception TO his rule in
tie case OF Canada, and three members of
the Ottawa Government visited Washington
TO ascertain what arrangement they could
| make. They met the Secretary of State on
several occasions, the last Interview being
on June 8. 1t was made apparent both to
the President and to the Secretary that
nothing could be done. The treaty which
the Canadians wanted TO conclude covered
raw products only. and thus would have
benefited the Canadians ard not citizens of
the United States. The Ottawa Commits
sioners showed plainly enough that they
were not prepared to assent TO treaty
which secured free entry into Canada of
manufactured articles made in the United
States. They declared. in fact, that they
did not see their way to enter into CON-
mercial Arrangement with the United States
from the benefits Of which Great Britain
and her colonies would be excluded. This
OF course, closed the negotiation, and with
an assurance by the Canadians that on
their return home they would feet the re-
peal OF the discrimination against Amer
lean carriers now practiced by eXacting
from them 20 cents ton on grain carried
through the Welland and st. Lawrence
canals, as against cents ton paid by Ca
madam carriers, the Ottawa Con missioners
returned home.
They not only have not kept their prom
Use, but have announced that they can
not keep it, which is the more strange, as
the treaty of 1871 specifically provides that
"citizens Of the United States shall use the
Welland, ST. Lawrence and other canals in
the Dominion on the same terms as the in
habtants Of the Dominion" In reply 10
this announcement the President on June
20 transmitted the papers to Congress, and
suggested the necessity for retaliation.
1t is always a matter Of regret to see two
neighbors embaTking in a war Of restric-
tions upon trade. but in this case there
does not seem to be any alternative. WIKI
the Tory party of Canada it appears to be
impossible to come to any fair understand
ing; perhaps if energetic measures of retail
alton were adopted they might have the
effect Of restoring 10 power The Liberals,
with whom il would be easier TO come TO a
satisfactory arrangement. With the Cana
dian Liberals the United States has never
had any trouble. 1t is only the Tories
whose notion of loyalty TO the Queen con-
sistS in hostility to the United States.
Acting on the Presidents suggestion Sen
atOr Davis has introduced a bill authorizing
the President 10 close the ST. Marys canal
TO Canadian vessels. Another bill is being
prepared TO forbid the transit in bond Of
merchandise over tie Grand Trunk or the
Canadian Pacific from or to American ter
minals. These railroads obtained the priyi-
lege Of carrying American goods in bond
through the combined efforts Of persons
interested in the Canadian Pacific who are
understood TO WELD influence at Washing
ton and American shippers who wanted to
build up competition to the transeontfneu-
tai pool. But it is evidently no pant of The
business of our Government to foster rail-
road system which is in reality a Dominion
enterprise. designed and maintained for pur-
poses Of hostility to this country. And as
10 competition, tie Canadian Pacific has
long been member of the transconiinental
pool, so that shippers have gained nothing
by tie treasury order which permits it to
carry American through freight in bond
The exclusion of Canadian vessels from the
ST. Mary cSRgi would obviously be a tenn
porary measure Ct setaliation, to be revoked
whenever ihs Canadian Government evinced
:. better spirit. But there is no good reason
Why revocation Of the bonding privilege
enjoyed by the Canadian Pacific should not |
become a settled measure of policy. 1t is |
contrary 10 souud craftsmanship for a ma
ton 70 build up an enterprise which was
conceived IN hostility and would be used 10
its injury in case of war.
Whether a satisfactory reciprocity treaty
can ever be concluded between the Domn-
ion and the United States may be ques-
tion It is certain that it would be easier
TO frame such treaty if Canada were an
independent power 1t is the fact that it is
a dependency of an empire with which our
interests are frequently conflicting which
renders it difficult TO devise plan Of COM
mereial union.