Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-25
RETALIATION ON c1NApA.

The act passed by the Fifty-second con-
gress authorizing the president to adopt re-
t|allatory measures toward Canada in a GER
tain contingency had a good effect. For a
time after it's passage the Canadian govern
ment manifested a stubborn determination
to adhere to its policy OF discrimination
against American vessels. believing, doubt
less, that no retaliation would be ATTEMPTED,
but when President Harrison exercised the
authority given him the Canadian authorities
soon came to terms. Referring to this mat
ter in his last annual message, Harrison said
1t was time for this country to consider
whether our Interchange upon lines of land
transportation should not be put upon a diff
ferent basis. and our entire independence of
Canadian canals and of the st. Lawrence as
an outlet to the sea secured by the con-
struction of an American canal around the
Falls of Niagara and the opening of ship
communication between the great lakes and
one Of our own seaports. Further, President
Harrison said that we should withdraw the
support which is given to the railroads and
the steamship lines of Canada by a traffic
that properly belongs to us, and no longer
furnish the earnings which tighten the other
wise crushing weight of the enormous public
subsidies that have been given to them. The
sentiment conveyed in these utterances is
widely held and the present congress will be
asked to give it recognition.
The act of 1892 applies only to vessels. A
bill has been introduced in the house of rep
resentatives to broaden its scope. This meas
ure provides that whenever the president
shall be satisfied that there is discrimination
in the use of Canadian canals to
the United States or any of its citizens The
shall have the power and 1t shall be his
duty to suspend In whole or in part by
proclamation the transportation across the
territory of the United States in bond or
without payment of duty of goods imported
or exported from or to any foreign country
to the British dominions in North America"
There will probably be no serious opposition
to this measure and it's adoption would I'M
doubtedly have the effect to prevent dis
ordinations detrimental to the vessel inter
ests of this country using the Canadian
canals. 1t is not at all likely that the pres
ident would ever be called upon to exercise
the authority which this bill proposes to
give him, but none the less 1t is judicious to
give it to him, for experience has fully dem
onstrated that the Canadian government
cannot be depended upon to respect the
rights of American citizens and to deal
fairly and Justly with this country except
under compulsion. For years before the
passage of the act of 1892 providing for re-
taliation that government, in utter disregard
of treaty stipulations, had grossly discrim-
mated against American vessels, and there
can be no doubt that but for that law such
discrimination would be in practice now. 1t
is obviously eXpedient, therefore, to extend
the scope of that act, because there is a
possibility that as soon as the Canadian gov
eminent shall have completed the Sault Ste
Marie canal discrimination against American
vessels will be renewed. Having this canal
Canada would be indifferent to retaliation
as against her vessels in our canals, but re,
~taliation that reached her railroads would
be a very different matter. The proposed
legislation would undoubtedly give complete
security against discrimination detrimental
to American interests. and this we have the
right to require.