The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-27
The Presidents Retaliation Procla-
nation.

President Harrison's proclamation of so
called retaliation upon Canada for alleged
discrimination against Americans using the
Welland canal deserves respect as being the
last arrow in his quiyer with which to infiame
the heart of the apathetic Republican voter
He has now, the public is glad TO know, ex-
hausted his means of obtaining political sup.
port in November by picking quarrels with
our neighbours. The clustering episode with
G Sa A a d sa 9Ff 9 Rg te segat h
the Samoan affair, the failure to get footing
in Hayti through dicker with Hippolyte
while in rebellion-these blunders brought no
credit, bat only ridicule to the administration.
1t remains to be seen whether further abuse
of the Executives control oyer our foreign
relations will regain for it the votes its pre-
vious failures have aienated.
The matter upon which the Presidents
proclamation of retaliation is based may be
very briefly presented. Canada having con
structed through its territory at great expense
IL canal, known as the Welland canal, To con.
meet Lakes Erie and Ontario, sought to get
business for 1t and promote the use of the st.
Lawrence river rs IA waterway by making the
tolls on the canal lighter for vessels-whether
American or Cagadan that carried their
freight ITO Montreal or some port east OF
Montreal This was done by charging toll
of 70 cents "a ton on all freight traVersing the
Weland canal and relundiug Is cents 4 ton
If it went TO Montreal or was transshipped in
Canadian territory, but refunded nothing ii
it left the Canadian waterway soon after tray
ersing the canal and was transshipped at Il
port in the United States. Without such toll
it was believed certain classes of freight
would, soon after traversng the canal, be
landed at American lake ports and be carried
to New York by rail. The intent, it will be
seen, was to get business for Canadian water.
ways, not to discriminate against American
shippers. II American shippers used the
Canadian waterway in the prescribed manner,
they got the same rebate of IS cents ton
that Canadians got. As Il matter of fact the
discrimination in favor of the Canadian route
did not influence traffic to the extent expect
ed. Tie Canadian government had deter
mined accordingly, before Mr.. Harrison had
issued his praclamaton, 10 abolish the rebate
feature of its tolls regulations al tie end Of
the present season. This was made clear in
the negotiations that preceded the prooama-
ton. There would be practical inconyeni.
ence, 1t was represented, in interfering with
existing arrangements before the close of the
present shipping aeason. After the canal was
closed with ice it would be easy to recast
engagements.
But with his usual haste to fire off his liter
airy productions. the President has refused to
wait to the end of the season. He affrms
that the device to favor Canadian freight
routes is discrimination against American
citizens, is pnreciprocal and is to be punished
by restricting the use by Canadians of the St.
Mary's Falls canal, which belongs to the
United States. There is not to be free use
Of it, as heretofore. but there is to be paid Q
toll Of 20 cents a ton on 'all freight in transit
to any port of Canada" whether carried in
American or in Canadian vessels. This dis.
elimination is to continue so long as the alleg.
ed Canadian discrimination continues