Omaha daily bee., 1892-07-26
THE ISSUE WITH CANADA.

w neH Tue preSIQcnU snail nave up
proved, as undoubtedly he will do, the
legislation of congress which provides
for securing reciprocal advantages for
the citizens and vessels OF the United
States in traffic through Canadian
waters, there will be created an issue
the result of which will be awaited by
the people of both countries with un-
common interest.
In order to understand the true char
acter of the question involved, it is nec-
essary to say that by article xvii of the
treaty of Washington, concluded May 8,
1871, it was provided that citizens of the
United States should have the same
right to use the Canadian canals that
was accorded to the citizens of Canada.
The language of the article is that "the
government of her Britannia majesty
engages TO urge upon the government OF
the Dominion of Canada to secure to the
citizens of the United States the use of
the Welland, st. Lawrence and other
canals in the Dominion on terms of
equality with the inhabitants of the
Dominion; and the government of the
United States engages that the subjects
of her Britannia majesty shall enjoy the
use of the st. Clair Flats canal on terms
of equality with the inhabitants of the
United States" The obvious purpose OF
this article of the treaty of Washington
was to give the people OF the United
States the same right to use the Domin-
ion canals that was accorded to the peo-
pie of Canada, and for this concession
the United States granted what was
deemed to be equally valuable privileges
to citizens of Canada in American waters.
AS was stated in the house OF repre-
sentatives few days ago by Mr.. Blount,
chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, Canada has utterly failed to re-
spect her obligations under this article
OF the treaty Of Washington. On the
contrary, she has for years exacted trib-
ute from American vessels in clear vio-
lation of the stipulations of the treaty.
AS was stated by Mr.. Hit, another
member of the foreign affairs commit
tee, american trade is subjected to
just ten times the burden to which
Canadian trade is subjected in passing
through tho Welland canal. Twenty
cents ton is levied upon all; and when
the cargo has passed through, if it goes
to an American port, nothing is heard
of this toll, but if 1T goes to a Canad
port for export Is cents is handed back. ~
In this indirect way, said Mr.. Hit, for
every $1,000 paid IN cargoes going to
Canadian ports $4,000 is exacted from
the grain raisers and shippers of our
country. A heavy burden is thus I'M
posed upon the commerce of the north
and northwest. The object of the legisa-
tion by congress is to apply to Canadian
citizens using our canals the same rule
which they apply to American citizens
using Canadian canals.
There appears to be disposition in
Canada to resent the action of this gov
ernment, but how general 1t is remains
to be developed. The probability is that
after serious reflection, having become
convinced that the United States means
all that is expressed in the legislation
of congress, the Dominion government
will conclude that the wiser course is to
accede to the demands Of this country
and make good the treaty obligations
entered into more than twenty years
ago, and which have been faithfully OBJ
served by the United States government.
II is pertinent to remark that party or
political considerations are not involved
in this issue. Men of all parties agree
that the time has come to compel our
northern neighbors to respect the treaty
rights Of American citizens or take the
consequences.