The herald., 1897-11-12
NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA

The Canadian premier and the minis
ter of marine are in Washington for the
purpose of opening negotiations in re-
gard to several matters of interest to
both countries, and concerning which
there are differences. They relate to
alien labor laws, North Atlantic fish
cries, the Klondike gold fields, mining
in British Columbia, fisheries on the
great lakes, the bonding privileges to
the Canadian railroads, reciprocity,
pelagic sealing and other subjects of
lesser Importance.
These questions indicate the numerous
points at which the interests of the two
countries conflict Communities di-
vided by an invisible boundary are al
ways liable to have more or less bad
feeling and friction, and when they are
approximately equal in military
strength war not infrequently is the
arbiter. Complications of interests are
greater between the United States and
Canada than between any other con-
tiguous countries. Canada by herself is
weak, otherwise there might have been
in the past a resort to arms to settle
differences.
1t is a source of great perplexity and
expense to both countries to guard the
long line that divides them, and these
difficulties cannot be materially less
ened by any agreement that may be en-
tered into. AS the industries and pro-
ductions of the countries are not very
dissimilar trade between them is not of
the most vital Importance to either.
The people of the United States and
Canada are substantially of the same
blood, they speak the same language,
and their laws and institutions are not
widely dissimilar, so far as domestic az
fairs are concerned. There is much
which renders them homogeneous. and
except the form of external government
there is nothing appreciable which should
create antagonisms or keep them from
uniting under one government If this
country is to be enlarged by territorial
acquisition British Columbia of all other
countries is the most desirable to be
united with us. At the worst the union
ought not to be positively Objectionable
on either side. Judging from the number
of Canadian immigrants to this country
it would seem that consolidation of the
two countries would be acceptable to a
large body of the Canadian people.
However, union should not be brought
about except it would be generally
agreeable to both sides.
The questions at issue are liable to
stances so long as the two countries re-
main separate. The fisheries and
boundary questions have been bones of
contention almost ever since our gov
ernment was established and subjects
of repeated negotiations and treaties.
The advent of Americans into the klon-
dixie regions and the prospect that their
numbers will be vastly increased may
be the cause of much controversy in the
future Pelagic sealing has been chiefly
carried on by Canadians, and through
their influence the British government
has been backward and resistful in re-
gard to the adoption of measures that
will put an end to it. What will hap
pen, as the United States, Japan and
Russia have agreed upon a modus vi
vendi, remains to be seen.
The many and continued controversies
between this country and Great Britain
which have grown out of our relations
with Canada have been hurtful to both
countries, and it is to be hoped some
agreement will be reached by which the
evils that have existed may be mitigated
if not wholly removed.