The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-24
Retallate on the Canadian Tories.

We have only sympathy and good will for
the Canadian Liberals. but tho time has
come to put the screws to the Tory Govern
ment at Ottawa. The papers laid before
the Senate by President HARRISON not only
expose the fraudulent character OF the over
lures for reciprocity made last winter: they
also show that the Dominion Ministers
were oil tho time determined to injure
American commerce to tho utmost Of their
power by severely discriminating against
Americans in the matter Of tolls on the
Welland Canal. As an inducement to the
United States to enter into negotiations in
tended to influence by-elections then pend
ing in Canada. the three Canadian Commits
sioners. who were all members Of tho
Dominion Cabinet. promised that the dis
elimination just mentioned should be re-
moved They had no power. thcy said. to
mako a formal agreement on tho subject.
but had no doubt that their promise would
be ratified by their colleagues In the Min
istry. Scarcely. however. had they returned
to Ottawa than. having gained their pur-
pose OF carrying tho by-elections for their
party. they proceeded to reaffirm tho dis
elimination for another year. subjecting
all grain passing to American ports through
the Welland Canal to toll OF twenty cents
per ton. while grain shipped to Montreal
or other Canadian ports has the benefit OF
rebate OF eighteen cents. thus paying
only two cents per ton.
1t Is manifest that this discrimination
against American citizens by means OF
rebate is a violation OF our treaty rights.
There Is no mistake about the purport Of
the treaty Of 1871. Its aim Is defined to be
to secure to tho citizens OF tho United
States the use Of tho Welland, st. Lawrence.
and other canals In the Dominion. on terms
OF equality with the Inhabitants Of tho Do
minion." 1t is preposterous to say that tho
purpose OF tho treaty Is not set at naught
by the rebate IN question. It is to add in
suit to injury to contend. as the Dominion
Government does, that there Ia no dis
elimination between Canadian and Ameri-
can vessels. because tho rebate Is al
lowed to the latter II they SEQ tit to
carry grain through to Montreal. The
treaty gives Canada no right to sacri-
flee American ports and all the transshipplng
and transportation interests that may be
centred therein. 1t was not concluded for
the benefit OF American producers alone; It
was also intended to give to consumers In
the United States. and to Americans en-
gagged In railroad transportation and In the
export OF products from our ports, equal
terms In passing their merchandise through
the Canadian canals. The equality OF treat
ment guaranteed by the treaty OF 1871 was
absolute. not partial: otherwise. it would
have formed no consideration for the recip-
rocal concessions made on behalf OF tho
Washington Government in tho same treaty.
and which have been faithfully kept.
In this matter OF the rebate on the We'll
land Canal. the Tory Government OF OF
tawa has not only been guilty OF dupllcity
and treachery. but by multiplying our treaty
rights 1t has rendered vodnble at our
option MI the privileges secured to Cana
dams by the same instrument. Ono OF
these concessions was tho right OF FREQ
passage through tho st. Mary's Falls Canal.
and We arc glad to see that Senator DAVIS
has already introduced bill authorizing the
President to suspend this right so far rs it
relates to vessels own III by the subjects OF
the OTTAWA GoverL"ant. and to levy upon
freight carried by $50. III vessels tolls not ex-
ceeding two dollars per ton, and also tolls
upon passengers Lot exceeding five dollars
each. 1t Is. however. provided that such
tolls shall be RENTED in the case of freight
or passengers carried by Canadian vessels
toOgdensburg and landed there. or at any
American port west OF that place. This
proviso having been inserted. there is no
possible objection to tho bill. aud tho sooner
1t is passed tho better.
But are we to content ourselves with re-
taliatory tolls on st. Mary's Falls Canal
Shall We continue to allow privileges to the