Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-23
CANADA STIRRED UP.
Rather Undecided About Packing
Down, but Now Determined 10
RUSH WORK ON HER 500 CANAL.
Tho Dominion Press Advise the Country to
Grin and Iear 1t, and
LIVE WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES

contractors of the canal of the Canadian
$500" to rush the work through to com
pletion without moments delay. An in
creased number of men will be engaged ant
the work maintained summer and winter
until the job is finished
The members of the Government in town
continue to decline to discuss the cana
tolls dispute. Thus far no Cabinet meeting
has been called, but intelligence is hourly
expected from Premier Abbott The i'm
preston prevails that the Government will
not recede from its position. but will con-
tinue the rebate system until the end Of
the season.
Another dispatch SAYS: The general i'm.
preston here is that the Government will
call an emergency meeting of the Cabinet
and abolish the rebate system altogether
What Lawyers Say of the Treaty.
The Ottawa Empire Government organ)
says:
The general feeling among the citizens is
that this is simply the elimination of a SER
les of unneighborly acts on the part of the
| United States toward Canada during the
past six years, and that the Dominion Gov
eminent ought without delay to give the re.
quisite two years notice for the abrogation
Of Article II Of the Treaty of Washington.
Some lawyers, however, affirm that the can.
adian Governments could forthwith impose
| heavy tolls on American vessels passing
| through theWelland and St.Lawrence Canals
disregarding the treaty entirely. inasmuch
| as there was no direct pledge that the c1ti-
| Zens of the United States should have the
| privilege OF using our canals on the same
| terms as Canadian citizens.
| By Article q, the Government OF Her
Bri:annio Majesty S ENGAGED to urge upon the ,e
| citizens of the United States the use OF tho
St. Lawrence and other canals in the Do
minion on terms Of equality with the inhab-
| itants of the Dominion. Supposing that
| Canada was to double or qnadruple the
| present canal tolls to American vessels.
| representations would be made by the
United States Government to Great Britain,
| and the home authorities would DO the 'urg.
| ing" which the treaty speaks Of; but If
| Canada still adhered to the higher tolls on
American vessels the matter would end
| there, just as 1t did when the attention of
| the United States Government was called to
| the fact that its urging" OF the different
State Governments to secure to Canadians
canals on the same terms enjoyed by our
neighbors had been of no avail.
fhe Agreem ant should Be Abrogated.
The Ottawa Citizen Government organ)
says:
periodical sport OF the political parties in
the United States 1t is now time that we re-
solved to supply the means for their main
tenance such as our neighbors cannot fail to
appreciate. So long as the United States
Government is amenable to arguments of
diplomacy, let us treat with 1t in q manner
that diplomatic usage dictates; but If the
only reply to our overtures for the settle
ment OF an international question Is to be
har fr1rT1 lff "a lar n q Ia in ly
assert our determination to do with our own
as best suits our interests. The Washington
treaty has been pretty well denuded of every
vestige of advantage to this country. It
stands simply as skeleton which our
neighbors are equally ready to trot out in
the hope of terrorizing us or to consider as
thing to do would be to take steps at once
for its formal abrogation and SO to have
done with 1t. ...
In limiting his retaliation to the degree to
which it is claimed our system discriminates
against the United States interests, Presi-
dent Harrison has undoubtedly made far
of the power conferred on him by Congress
than Ii he had exercised that power to its
full extent; and it may be that, having shot
the little gun which the Democratic House
loaded for him. the Republican candidate
for the Presidency will think he has
sufficiently for the present vindicated his
counter-claim to the anti British vote, and
will ultimately consent to consider our pro-
posals in more business-lfke way. But it
will not do for Canada to act upon that pre-
sumption just now. Rather let us accept
the proclamation as deliberately done. and
prepare to meet the attack upon the United
States as people with national as well as
commercial interests at stake.
The Government May Pay the Losses.
The Toronto Empire Government organ)
says:
The spirit in which the present action is
taken is certainly an unfrtendIy one, and
will not tend to increase cordiality OF feel
ing between the two countries. We doubt
whether public opinion in Canada will ap-
prove of any further concession in this mat
ter in order to secure an amicable arrange
ment with country which seems to have
as little regard for international comfy as
for solemn treaty engagements. There will
be a tendency to think that the Govern
ment ought in a dignified manner to hold
on to the course they have announced.
season to make some arrangement to reim-
burse the Canadian shippers who have en-
tered into contracts which this retaliation"
will disarrange, rather than yield to the
suggestion now made.
The Toronto Globe (LiberaD says:
An attempt to strike this blow at Cam
adian commerce is warranted neither by
the present attitude of our Ministers nor by
the whole course of international dealing
with reference to canals and waterways.
SaDauaS expenditure uuQ6f Cn1S neaQ mas
been vastly greater than that OF her neigh
bor. She has borne far more than her fair |
share OF the cost of completing the noble
system of navigation from the Northwest to
the Atlantic, with the single exception OF
the rebate, ii that be an exception. She has
thrown her canals open to Americans and
Canadians upon equal terms while her ship |
pers have enjoyed no benefit whatever from
the American state canals. 1t would be
folly to deny that the step which is to be
taken will hurt an important Canadian in
terest; but to make any further concession |
in the face of this threat would be too great |
a sacrifice Of our dignity and self-respect.
One Opinion Not SO Hostile.
The Toronto Mail (Independent) says:
No doubt an intimation from the Ottawa |
Government that next year the rebate would |
surely go determined the President not to |
United States simply meets our toll with a !
like toll As the American toll is low and |
does not come into operation until the first |
OF next month it will not be a very serious
matter: and as it will go off altogether when |
onr rebate ceases, as cease 1t will at the end |
of this season, it need not trouble us much. |
The difficulty in the shape it has assumed is |
happily not going to lead to reprisals and to
ill feeling.
The Toronto World Conservative SAYS:
The President of the United States has, at
the order OF Congress, closed the Sault Ste.
Marie Canal to Canadian vessels. Our ships
must pay q toll Of 20 cents a ton. We accept
that penalty. While we have to pay it we
will. We accept this hostile legislation as
the warmest tribute our neighbor rivals can
pay us. 1t is their testimony that Canada is
q nation on this North American continent.
1t is the beginning of our history as a great
people. Thank God, Canada can live with
out the United States. Thank God, we have
proved that more than once, and can prove
1t again. Thank God, national honor is a
|