The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-30
Senator Higgins on Continental Union

Senator Higgins on Continental Union.
We print elsewhere the remarkable speech
delivered the other day at Ogdensburgh by
Senator ANTHONY HIGGINS OF Delaware.
Never has any one brought out with
more lucidity and force the advan-
tages that would be derived by both
countries from q voluntary political
union Of Canada with the United States.
The attainment Of such a result can be, as
he says, only a question OF time, since the
two peoples are impelled toward it not only
by geographical propinquity and community
Of race, language, and institutions, but by
commercial and industrial interests Of the
strongest kind.
Senator HIGGINS does not underrate the
value of the concession gratuitously made
to Canada by the American Congress in
those particulars OF the GoRMAN tariff
which affect Canadian products. He shows
that the duties on food staples and forage,
as now reduced, are far from counter
balancing the lower prices at which
the farmers OF the Dominion are able
to sell their commodities. Touching
this point he quotes the computation OF Mr..
JOSEfH ENlhIO, lOrnleriy Cnlel U tHe lEehs-
ury Bureau Of Statistics, that owing to the
difference in the price Of and and rate Of
wages the cost Of agricultural production in
the State Of New York is about a. per
cent. greater than in tho Provinces of On
tario and Quebec. The average I'D rdlorcm
duties levied on Canadian products by the
recent tariff do not half offset that differ
ence in first cost. IL Is, therefore, a great
boon which the farmers OF the Dominion
have received from the Democratic party at
the expense Of American agriculturists in
the States upon our northern border.
But, az was pointed out at Ogdensburgh,
the Canadians cannot count on the dura-
ton Of the BENEFITS accruing to them from
the GoRMAN act. Should the Republicans
regain control Of the Federal Government
in 1906 they would undoubtedly listen
TO the peremptory demand for relief
from unfair competition which would
be made by farmers in New York
and other border States. 1t would
be an act Of folly for Canadians 20 embark
additional capital In agriculture on the
assumption that a continuous American
market will be assured 20 them by our
fuctuating tariff legislation. Equally
illusory would be the hope of securing free
access to the American consumer by treaty.
Since the a~brogation of the ELGIN reci-
procity treaty, two attempts have been
made by British and Canadian diplomatists
TO bring about a similar interchange OF
products, but both failed. There Is one way,
and one way only, by which the Dominion
producers can gain free and perpetual ad-
mittance to the markets Of the United
| Gfufaa napnaIv Iv fha an ron a., - tlo C.no
dian provinces into the American Union as
free and equal States under the Federal
Constitution.
The s~-ievous injury done to American
common carriers by the Canadian Pacific
Railway through the privilege given it OF
transporting goods in bond from one part Of
the United States TO another, or Of compel
ing, in other words, for our interstate
traffic, Is discussed at length by the
Senator He reminds us TINT, since
the foundation Of our constitutional gov
eminent, not n pound of freight in our
coastwise commerce, or interstate mari
time trade, can be carried in other than
American bottoms, and this whether on the
ocean or on the lakes. How comes II, then,
hat freight between our States Is carried
through Canada on Canadian railwaysS
Simply by a permissive Federal statute
and a Treasury regulation that the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury may wipe out at
any moment. IL Is not denied by
Senator HIGGINS that In its origin the prac-
tice seemed unobjectionAble. Its purpose was
TO permit freight to be transported across
the isthmu Of Ontario, from Niagara Falls
to Detroit, so as to shorten the route west.
But In 1855, when the statute was enacted
permitting American goods to he carried
across Canadian territory, no one dreamed OF
the use 10 which 1t would be put by the
Canadian Pacific Railway. This road was
constructed, so far as the Dominion is con
cerned, not for a commercial, but for a
political and strategic purpose. 1t was
built to weld together the disjointed mem
bers OF the Canadian confederation, and
hold them by bands OF steel in fealty 10
the British Crown. II was designed 10 be a
capital link In the military and naval Gordon
by which the United states are encompassed.
Those are the prime aims Of the Canadian
Pacific, and SO long as these are attained,
any commercial profit acquired at the cost
Of American common carriers is pure gain.
Unable to earn axle grease by Canadian
traffic, it can afford always TO underbid its
American competitors trammslled as these
are by the long and short haul and anti
pooling clauses OF the Interstate act; for
however low may be the rate the Canadian
road is compelled 70 make, it Is Just that
much better on than the zero or rather the
minus figure which Is the outcome Of its
Canadian business.
Senator HIGGINS refers to other matters,
Of which We have reason 70 complain. such