Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-23
4 BACKDOWN PROBABLE
Canadians Alarmed at the Re-
 taliation Measures.
FEARS FOR RAILWAY PRIVILEGES.

A Termination of the Dispute Likely in a
 Short Time--DOminiOn Journals Urge
 AbrOgation of the Treaty--Orders to Col
 lectors of American Ports.
 OTTAWA, Aug 23.-President Harri- sons proclamation against Can ada con- tinues to excite great attention here, but there is sigh of relief that the retaliation is not so severe as had been expected. No official expression of opinion can be learn ed in the absence of the Cabinet during the holidays. It is generally admitted that the recent decision of the Government to abolish the rebate system on the St. Lawrence canals at the end of the sea son was not a concession at all. Public opin- ion in Canada is now so thoroughly aroused over the senseless policy of the Dominion Government that a complete back-down is inevitable.
 This sentiment is intensified over the rumor now in circulation that, failing to bring the Canadians to time, President Harrison will also cancel the railway bonding privileges. Such a step would paralyze Canadian trade and seriously in jure the country. Premier Abbott, all though very unwell, will probably return here and order his Ministers to assemble without delay. A jingo element in the Cabinet favor retaliatory measures, but Hon. J. A. Chapleau, Minister of Customs and Sir John Thompson, Minister of Jus tce, are understood to entertain more moderate views.
 Their influence will likely be directed in favor of an immediate termination of the dispute.
 The period is not long distant when the Dominion authorities will seek the abrogation of the treaty of Washington. The "Citizen," the government organ here says editorially: 'So long as the United States government is amenable to the usage of diplomacy, let us treat them in the manner that diplomatic usage dic- tates.
 But if the only reply to our overtures for the settlement of international Ques- tions is to be another turn of the screw, let us as plainly assert our determination to do with our own as best suits our own interests. As we have said before, the Washington treaty has been pretty we'll denuded of every vestige of advantage to this country.
 "It stands simply as a skeleton which our neighbors are equally ready to trot out in the hope of terrorizing us, or to consider dead and buried for good; so that clearly the best thing to do would be to take steps at once for its formal abrogation and to have done with it.
 Meantime we are not power less to re- sent such treatment as it has pleased the Government of the United States to make a show of visiting upon us, and of this fact there are powerful influences across the line quite as we'll aware as we are, and it is more ill accordance with the hu- nor aroused here by the action of the Washington Government throughout to attribute the moderation exercised by the President to a wholesome regard for these same influences, rather than to a desire to justify his position in the con troversy by resorting to just as much re- taliation as would offset the extent to which it is claimed we discriminate against the United States by our rebate regulations"