The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-25
A Poor Sort OF Patriotism.

We find in the Bu1dlo Courier the follow
ing reference to the report that our Federal
Government Is inclined to withdraw the
privilege OF transporting goods In bond
from the Canadian Pacific Railway. the
principal upholder Of anti-American senti-
ment and Of an anti-American party In the
Dominion OF Canada. 1t will be noticed
that the Courier entirely misconceives the
motive Of the Administration. and supposes
It to be a wish to shield American railways
from the competition Of the Canadians:
"lf Canadian railroads are getting the business OF
American shippers away from American railroads. IL
must be because Canadian roads serve the shippers
moro cheaply and satisfactorily. The American raft
roads. of course. do NO, like this. but 1t is just as evil
den. that American shippers do like it. The Admins
tration may well hesitate to impose disabilities on Ca
madam roads in order to force business into the hands
OF American roads TO the disadvantage and At the eS'
pense Of American shippers and American consumers-
L. the American roads wish TO keep the business away
from the Canadian roads, the obvious course for the
American roads is to give cheaper rates and better
facilities than their Canadian competitora IL Is
equally obvious that American citizens should be REQ
to deal with whatever channels OF transportation Will
best serve their convenience and profit. To limit the
liberty OF the citizens In order to swell tho prohts Of
corporations would be q poor sort OF patriotism
Why is it that the Canadian Pacific Is able
to convey the goods which u Government
permits it to transport in bond. at lower
rates thai American railroads can afford to
make? For two reasons: First. because
the Canadian Pacific is in receipt Of subsi-
dies from the anti-American Government at
Ottawa. which subsidies are paid on the ex-
press understanding that the road shall be
used for military purposes in the event OF
war with the United States. In such a de-
plorable contingency Buffalo and our other
great cities on the lakes would but too
promptly discover what role the Canadian
Pacific is intended TO play. Our contem-
porary. the Courier. has read tn little pur-
pose the story Of the war OF 1912. if it does not
see that the lax cities are peculiarly and
vitality concerned in promoting continental
union. and, to that end. refusing to confer
any longer special favors on an alien corpo-
ration. which has shown itself the most de-
termined enemy Of annexation.
The second and no less obvious reason
why the Canadian Pacific is able to under
bid American competitors is that. being a
foreign corporation. it is not subject to the
restrictions Of the Interstate Commerce
act. But with what justice or decency can
oul "ASh SaS AieAAa A'APSSS ~
strictions on our own roads. and on the
other do its utmost to throw their business
to an alien company free from such re-
strictions, by exempting it from the pro-
visions OF our customs laws? As a matter
OF fact. however. there is no ground for
believing that the American transcontinen-
tai roads have taken any part in the agita-
ton for the withdrawal OF such exemptions
from the Canadian Pacific. That agitation
is solely due to the deepening conviction
among intelligent Americans that it is not
the business OF our Government to
strengthen the hands OF hose who are
trying to stifle the Canadian movement for
annexation. 1t does not become the Of
fetal representatives OF the United States,
who should have at heart the welfare and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the nation. to pamper q
foreign corporation. which. at the last gen.
eral election in the Dominion. put forth an
anti-American manifesto. and welded its
whole power OF coercion and corruption in
the support OF the Tory party. which was
appealing to anti-American sentiment.
There may be n few grain shippers in Du-
luth and Minneapolis and a few consignees
in Buffalo who agree with the Courier in
IIilihluS may choulu Oc
considered before those OF the American
Union. 1t was the existence OF such indi-
viduals that once provoked from Mr.. But
TERwoRTH the impatient exclamation that
the United States were ceasing to be a ma
ton and becoming n lot OF potato plots and
cabbage grounds. 1t is. indeed. a poor sort
of patriotism which the Courier exempliiies.
but the number OF citizens who displayit Is.
after all. not great. They are far less nu-
merous and far less influential than were
the Tories in the Revolution or the Federal
lists in the war OF 1912. In spite OF the To-
ries and the Federalists our country went
straight ahead.