Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-05-29

The new Canadian tariff proposes to
discriminate against certain American
products and manufactures and in ia
vor of British goods. The Canadians
have every right TO do this provided it
docs not interfere with any commercial
treaty that may exist between the two
countries. This point will, of course,
be inquired into by Congress, but we
hardly suppose that the Canadian Gov
ernment is making its discriminating
proposition as a mere bluff and with
out knowing the ground on which it
stands.
Bluffs don't 90 much in this country,
so we will, therefore, assume that Can
ada can enact whatever kind Of tariff
she pleases and discriminate against
us to her hearts content. 1t will be
well. however, for Canada to remember
that W can play at the same game. In
our tariff bin now before Congress we
have made no effort to discriminate
against Canada, but have feated her
as fairly and squarcly as all other coun-
tries while desiring to afford protection
to the labor of our own.
Fortunately, it is not too late to
amend the Dingley tariff. Our imports
from Canada include coal, silver, fish,
lumber, logs, shingles. sheep, hides, hay,
eggs, horses. wool, barley, beans, peas
and wood pulp. American mines, for
ests and farms would not be injured by
our total exclusion Of all these Cana
dian products from the markets OF the
United States. Should we happen TO
be in absolute need of any Of them we
could easily let down a bar Of our pro-
lection fence and get them quickly
enough. Canada only buys III goods
because she needs them. and Is AZ per-
feet liberty to purchase from England
should she so prefer.
But Canada must not forget that the
proposed discrimination in favor Of
British manufacturers is merely n prop
osition to pay Them the amount Of such
discrimination. They could Mt once adj
vance their prices 10 within a fraction
Of the full amount of that discrimina-
ton. which would, Of course, n 10
our benefit in the trade by enabling us
to sell at our old price and still pay the
extra duty. Then there is a little mat
ter concerning the Canadian railroads
and bonded privileges in the transpOrta-
ton Of their goods through our terri
tory. It would be an excellent oppor-
tunity for lis to abolish all these UNI
American Sops that have been given,
and for too long. to the British capital
-. IL, INV, t1n Canadian pos1V.nlg
This would result in better business for
American railroads, which are sadly
in need Of greater opportunities for be-
Ing relieved Of receiyerships.
Take it all in all, it might be a very
good thing to have a little tariff war
with Canada and England, for this is
really an English idea with the wire
pulling manipulated by John Bull. The
Canadians are old enough to know that
their venerable ancestor, the mother
country Of which they are so proud, Is
not going to lose any Of the financial
benefits that may accrue through dis
elimination against III goods. If Wa
do not continue TO sell to Canada, then
England or Germany will do so at n
higher price. But will England or Ger
many buy the Canadian coal, or silver,
or fish, or lumber, or logs, or shingles,
or sheep, or hides, or hay, or eggs, or
horses, or wool, or barley, or beans, or
peas, or wood pulp that we have been
buying? Certainly not; and Canada
will have a larger surplus of these pro-
ducts on hand, with the result that the
prices of such commodities will be
cheaper to the Canadian farmers, mine
and forest owners.
We fail yet to see where Canada will
derive any great advantage from dis
eliminating against the United States
in trade matters. But let her try it on.
American Economist.