And yet evidence has for some time been before the Congress, furnished
by the Secretary of the Treasury, showing that while the tolls charged
in the first instance are the same to all, such vessels and cargoes as
are destined to certain Canadian ports are allowed a refund of nearly
the entire tolls, while those bound for American ports are not allowed
any such advantage.
To promise equality, and then in practice make it conditional upon our
vessels doing Canadian business instead of their own, is to fulfill a
promise with the shadow of performance.
I recommend that such legislative action be taken as will give Canadian
vessels navigating our canals, and their cargoes, precisely the
advantages granted to our vessels and cargoes upon Canadian canals, and
that the same be measured by exactly the same rule of discrimination.
The course which I have outlined and the recommendations made relate to
the honor and dignity of our country and the protection and preservation
of the rights and interests of all our people. A government does but
half its duty when it protects its citizens at home and permits them
to be imposed upon and humiliated by the unfair and over-reaching
disposition of other nations. If we invite our people to rely upon
arrangements made for their benefit abroad, we should see to it that
they are not deceived; and if we are generous and liberal to a
neighboring country, our people should reap the advantage of it by a
return of liberality and generosity.
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