New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-15
CLOSER RELATIONS WITH CANADA.

CLOSER RELATIONS WITH CANADA.
Closer union. meaning commercial union, with
Canada is again discussed. especially in New
England 1t has long been a favorite topic with
many for obvious reasons. Now, with some
of the chief Industries Of the Dominion financed
with American capital, It Is more 10 the fore
Than ever. There can. of course he no objection
to the discussion of It, though it will be well to
indulge in no Illusions concerning it But upon
no ground is to he commended the present ten
dencv to inject into the discussion a tone of
menace 1t is said, for example, that if the
United States does not do something for Can
ada pretfy soon Canada will begin tariff war
against the United states That is to say, If we
do NOT show Canada exceptional favor Canada
will show us exceptional disfavor. That Is not
diplomatic manner Of approaching the subject,
and II is scarcely likely 10 prove practically eff
fpctive The United States is amenable TO rea-
son and 10 Justice. II is not insensihle to self
interest But it certainly is not in the habit Of
Welding to direct implied threats. and, IL 1t
were. the most effective threats would not be
frcm those much smaller and weaker than itself
The whole idea of tariff war is repugnant TO
the United States and foreign to its policy We
do not suppose the Canadian Government Sc
riously considers it. But if the talk Of some on
this side Of the line, VINO are more Canadian
than the Canadians, should be taken seriously,
it would he fitting to say squarely that the
United States would not he in the least afraid
Of any such conflict All talk of what Canada
may do if we do not grant her special faEors
NAV therefore be dismissed a negligible fac
tor in the problem
The two points which it is desirable to dwell
upon are these-that Canada has no real griev-
ance against the United States and that she now
is and long has been discriminating against the
United States between this country and
Great Britain AS we have hitherto pointed out,
the United States makes no discrimination
against Canada. It's rates Of import duties are
the same for all countries 1t taxes Canadian
goods no more than those of other lands. Thus
there is absolutely no ground for the notion,
which some injudiciousy put forth, that the
United States is treating Canada with special
injustice and oppression This country IS doing
no such thing. 1t IS treating Canada just as it
treats all Others and the Canadian demand is
therefore not for the abatement Of a special
grievance, but for the granting TO her OF special
favors. On the other point named 1t is to be re-
marked that Canada has for years had a tariff
law under which she has, TO our disadvantage.
shown special favors to our chief rival in her
market. She lets III goods from Great Britain ut
a much lower rate of duty than similar goods
from the United States, and it is notorious that
she adopted that system only for the sake Of
benefiting Great Britain, but also for the sake |
Of injuring the United States. But this country |
has not got angry or excited over it. 1t has plac
idly acquiesced in Canadas undOubted right to |
make whatever tariff arrangement she pleases |
with the mother country. especially since in |
this case the arrangement is step toward |
+l,o oF lriDpiDln of +raJ 10
among the members Of the Union and protec- |
ton against all the outside world. Only the |
fact remains that because of that very arrange
ment It is Canada that is discriminating against |
us and not we against her.
We trust we shall not give offence in men
tIoning some Of the reasons why reciprocity has
not been established between the United States
and Canada. One IS the general disregard Of |
and indifference toward Canada which pre-
vail in the United States. We do not under
take to explain this feeling or lack of feeling
but simply record the fact Of its existence.
Upon the subject Of either commercial union
with Canada Of outright annexation of the
Dominion to the United States, the character
istic United States attitude is one OF almost
complete apathy. Another reason. with apolo
gies TO our Canadian friends. is Canadas own
attitude of somewhat inflated self-appreciatfon.
destined to become far greater. But she is
after ALL only colony OF another and greater
power, and she is in population and wealth and
in industrial and commercial Importance act
ually inferior to the single State of New York
with all the other fOrty-fOur States left ont
Of the question. third reason is that in MANY
respects Canadian products are competitors
with our own. One of the leading principles Of
is that shall admit free or at
specially low rates goods which we need but
which we do not ourselves produce in sufficient
quantities TO supply our demand in return for
like concessions upon such of our goods as will
supply demand which the other country can
not itself meet Upon this latter basis it might
not be amiss 10 consider the question of reel
procity with Canada. But so far as We have
observed. such limitation of the scope Of reci
prOcity would not meet the ambitious views Of
our Canadian cousins
HONEY md BUSINESS