The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-14

19Om year 20 year. FOLLOWING tho pc
nod covered by the reciprocity treaty,
lasting from 1855 to 1866, there was a
period of thirty years when trade be-
tween the two countries was unaffected
by special trade arrangements. There
was a Canadian tariff, but it was mot
disc riminatory. In April, 1897, how.
ever, and until August. 1898, the United
States was placed under a slight dis
advantage as compared with the United
Kingdom, reduction Of 1914 per cent
on the Canadian tariff being granted
to imports from the United Kingdom.
In 1898 this discrimination was in
creased to rs per cent and in 1900 to
SO l-3 per cent. In spite of this dis
elimination our exports to Canada have
increased from $52,oO0,OOO in 1897 to
sos, 100000 in 1905!
1t might be argued from this increase
in spite Of the discrimination against
us that we have no reason to complain
because Of the Canadian tariff and
should be satisfied with conditions as
they are, for not only is there a de-.
cided preference for American goods in
Canada, due in part perhaps to the
large percentage of Americans in the
Canadian population, but articles of
American manufacture are better
adapted to the wants of the Canadian
consumer and are often advertised con-
spicuously by the Canadian papers as
superior to those received from any
other source. And yet, it must be .ap-
parent that handicap of 33 1-3 per
cent is very heavy one and serious
obstacle in the way of the development
of our trade to its normal proportions
with part of the world which is grow
ing commercially with marvellous
rapidity. w. -. ~.
One of the chief Heterogeneous en-
countered by the advocates of Canadian
reciprocity on this side of the line has
been the Indifference of the people Of
Canada latterly, due, as they express
it, to our selfish high tariff attitude
which refused in the past to meet them
on terms of fair compromise. However,
their drift toward higher tariffs and
greater protection for Dominion indus
tries appears to have suffered check,
and signs of reaction are discoverable.
1t is in the nature Of things that this
should come to pass. It is in the nature
Of things to the advantage Of both coun-
tries that they trade more freely with
each other. Situated as they are, the
conditions between them are not diff
ferent from those existing between the
several states Of the union. If tariff
barriers were coextensive with state
boundaries internal commerce could not
flourish. No more can the best results
on both sides be obtained by maintain
ing arbitrary barriers between Canada
and the United States which would not
be tolerated between the states Of the
union. 1888 ~. 49,.
Deliberate efforts have been made to
deceive the people Of the United States,
and particularly the farmers of the
northwest, with reference to their true
interests in this connection, but in the
recent election in our own state one of
the worst offenders in that particular
was turned down. We are looking for
a revival of interest in the establish
ment Of freer trade relations with our
northern neighbors and regard Mr..
Hill g forceful speech on the subject as
calculated to greatly enhance the pros
poets of realization. r