Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-11
CANADIAN CONFESSIONS,

Representatives, Of the Canadian gov
ernment are expected in Washington
within few days to consult with the
republican leaders regarding reciproc-
ity. Thcy will 30 unofficially and sim
ply for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the republican party is pre-
pared to treat with Canada and on
what terms. The probability is that an
inquiry of this kind at the present time
will not have Il very satisfactory re-
suit. Until the republican administra-
ton comes into power there can be no
authoritative statement as TO what the
party will be prepared TO do in regard
to our commercial relations with Can
ada and it is safe TO say that none of
will assume to speak for the party on
this subject. When II short time ago
an effort was made to obtain from
Major Mckinley some expression re-
garding reciprocity with Canada he had
nothing to say, for the obvious reason
that it was not Il matter which he
could properly talk about before he
WAS in Il position to do anything. The
Canadian agents will doubtless find the
republican leaders equally indiSposed
to express themselves pending the in
stallation of the republican administra-
ton.
But the sending of representatives to
Washington is evidence of the earnest
desire of the Canadian government to
secure a reciprocity agreement with the
United States. The liberal party made
this Il feature Of the platform on which
it was elected last year and it seems
determined TO spare no effort to carry
out its promise TO the people. In order
to do this it is said to be prepared to
make large concessions. 1t is ready to
put the fishery question on Il more sat
isfactory footing. to come to Il better I'M
derstanding in regard to shipping on
the Great Lakes, 10 enter into an ar-
rangement for making the lake traffic
free to American and Canadian vessels
alike, and to make reciprocal terms re-
garding other matters, including the
bonding privilege to the Canadian Pa
citlc railroad, as to which more salts
factory arrangements are desirable. In
short, ii is said that the head of the
liberal administration Mr.. Laurier, is
ready to do anything he can do with
dignity and without disloyalty TO Great
Britain to improve the relations of the
two countries all round.
Commendable as this desire is, there
are great obstacles in the way of its
attainment. The basis of reciprocity
agreement must be the free exchange
of natural products and this would
be vigorously opposed by the agricul-
tural producers on our northern border,
who have experienced a considerable
loss from the Canadian competition in
vited by the present tariff. Then rs to
manufactures, Canada can give no adj
Vantage to American manufacturers
over British, SO that it is not apparent
how any arrangement could be made
that would materially benefit our manu-
featuring industries. In opening our
great market to the natural products of
Canada we should naturally ask spe-
cial consideration for our manufac,
lures and this the Canadian govern
ment cannot give.
Undoubtedly the next administration
will consider whatever propositions the
Canadian government may submit, but
the chances of n reciprocity agreement
cannot be regarded as altogether favor.
able.