Evening star., 1901-05-11

CANADA'S FOUR-DOLLAR BILLS.
Resentment at the Picture of the
lnited states Canal Look.

From the Toronto (ont) Mall and Empire.
Uncle Sam is not usually partial to Cana-
dian money. but our new "a bill will have
his best wishes for an enduring circulation.
On It's honest face it bears a fatterlng pic
ture of the lock on his Sault canal. Being
parsonage who takes a dolar-and-cents
view Of things, he will perceive that this
vignette on Dominion note is something
more than delicate compliment TO his pro-
gressiveness. 1t is, indeed, an Offering of
very substantial service to him. Our big
neighbor knows well the value OF a free ad-
vertisement, and where could he get q betI
ter one except in a first-class newspaper
that goes into the homes of all the people?
Our circulating medium, especially in the
denominations that are most in demand, is
q capital advertising medium.
The American canal at Sault Ste. Marie
is beautifully displayed on the considerable
issue Of four-dollar bills our finance de-
partment has just let loose. Who would
travel by the Canadian canal after tho
Canadian government gave such n certff1-
cate as to the superiority OF the American
lock? 1t is true our own canal is a grand
work, one of the wonders of engineering
science, but the government fancies ths
one on the other side of the river more
AS these four-dollar notes pass from hand
to hand the wistful gaze of those who part
with them will rest on the American lock-
would direct their travels.
Since they came into office the Canadian
ministers have tried to forget their old dis
paraging language about our canals, and
have lately spoken very favorably of these.
But money talks. All the good they have
lately been saying about our waterways IS
undone by this picture Of the American
Sdult canal on our four-dollar bills, Does
the finance minister prefer the American
canal, or did he only forget that we had
one OF our own? Or is this foreign mark on
our money another result of taking out of
the hands OF Canadian artists the business
of engraving Dominion notes and turning it
over to an American company? Surely our
own money ought to be the product of
Canadian or British enterprise and skill,
and ought to be made under the direction
OF minister who will see that It carries
no alien establishment on It,
A picture of our Sault canal, or Of some
other great Canadian work or scene. should
| occupy the space given up to the American
canal. This foreign canal lock depicted on,
our four-dollar bill is q humiliation to us.
That picture is a record of laundering or
something worse that will never be for
gotten. Specimens of tfrese four-dollar bills
will be preserved where''er there is a cola
lection of monetary curl> stiles. The peo-
pie of Sault Ste. Marie are deeply offended
at the government for its selection of the
American canal as the object most worthy
of depletion on its new issue. This is how
the Sault Star speaks of it:
The new Dominion government issue oc
four-dollar bills contains a beautifully exc
ecuted cut of the American ship canal with
Canadian steamer, the Alberta Of the
Canadian Pacific railway line being locked
through into the st. Mary's river. If this
is mistake 1t is very stupid and mex
cusable one on the part of the government.
III 1t is Intentional IT is an insult TO tho
people Of Canada, who have a canal OF
their own at the Sault quite as good as
either of the American. The government is
advertising the American canal as though
we had none in Canada. 1t has long been
known that the preesnt administration was
lacking In enterprise and patriotism. but
this is going to extreme which Cana-
dianS generally will not tolerate. We sim
cerely hope for the honor of Canada that
this is only stupid blunder, and, If so.
We trust the government will call in all
bills now issued and correct the mistake at
once