New-York tribune., 1872-04-13
CANADA AND HER PEOPLE.

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRY NEtES>ARf-
\ GOVERNMENT OF COUNTRY sTORE-BLEP-
ERS AND UNsCRUPULOJS LAWYERS.
10 the Editor or rae tribune.
SIR: The Canadian people have hitherto
been content TO receive their ideas OF political economy
from the Free Trade schools and propagandst OF Great
Britain solely aud they are reaping the fruit IN bitter
ness and modification. Paralysis and arrested develop
ment have shrunk the snews Of all their industries un-
iii at length the impoverished labOrers are flying in
alarming thr0ngs TO United States To avoid nevita
bic pauperism home IL Ii but few months ago that
n prominent French member the Quebec Legislature
refused support bill designed 10 encourage emigra-
lion from Europe unless 5000 OF the amount appropr-
sted were devoted inducing French Canadians to re-
turn from the United states He pointed with invinc
BILE logic 10 the steady tide or native work
mcu setting southwari and asked why Euro-
peans should be invited TO a country that
could not give food to IT'S Industrious people The
Province OF Quebec s 10y nature from ever be-
coming profitable agricultural country, but IL, by the
same benigu agency, specially adapted to productive
furing industry. 10 IA rich In minerals ana
woods. and mas latent Water-pOwer enough 10 drive
every LOOM lathe, and forge Ia the British Island; end
vet we find exporting its to be smelted in Ameri-
can furnaces and paying the high American taxation
the stoves and plOws IL IT. Government Is reduced
IN the wretched expedent OF selling the public lands and
timber to annual deficits in its Treasury because
the Canadian population that should pay taxes and live
comfortably at home Is compelled to follow Canadian
raw MATERIAL in search Of employment TO avoid starya
ton. This s no fancy sketch. Vermont, New-Hamp-
shire Maine and Massachusetts, swarm with hardy ana
Industrious French Canadians eager for employment,
which when they have obtained IT, enables them to
bring on their families also; and Roman Catholic
parishes with French Canadian CATHOLIC priests are
nrineng I'D in every considerable manufacturing town
I'm New-EngIand. Here is Free Trade" Illustrated
Nor ia Quebec alone OF the provinces OF the New Do
ion ,eacted by this blight The allacy that freetrade
"a beneficial 70 agricultural communities is shown in the
condition of Ontario also It has rich soil and far more
favorable climate for farming than Quebec, and Is
generally more prosperous But in Canada the market
~ the farmer country store. IL Is well enough
that he should obtain his and coffee free from i'm
nost hut the preponderance OF what he buys "a later
OF the raw products of his soil and toll,
with the internal and external taxes of other nations
added 1t may be urged that he enjoys the advantage
of a market at his door This also ls fallaey The
keeper must carry these products To foreign
which the farmer must sell with the cost OF transporta
ron and all other charges deducted The farmer In
cSarSes and the profits Of the mutfaous OF middle
traders taken out OF the price he receives aud he buys
the taxes and profits Of the producing country trans
gpTeedy crew Of middle traders repeated added to the
price he pays The true market is where the consump
ton is and II producer and approximated,
transportation insurance and all the other incidental
charges which dead losses in so FAR as
between producer and consumer concerned cut
for what the farmer produces without sending abroad
and activity and contentment viii take the place OF
paralysis and wretchedness.
Let me glance OF the results OF Free Trade In
Canada. The farmer, as have said above, Virtually
mercy of the country storekeeper who Is Dut the
agent of the importer The former Ia almost always
in debt OF the latter unless he lives near town, the
advantages Of which relation are obvious The power
and Importance OF the storekeeper augment the In
debtedness and consequent dependence OF the farmer
and his influence Is only divided by the country
LAWYER also acquired power through tho weak
ness and OF the farmer. 1t may be that
one or both are agents the Trust and Loan Company
another OF the ingenious institutions that destroy the
happness OF the farmer In Canada. The independent
tilier OF the soil, who pay hs debts to
both stOrekeeper and lawyer, Is sometimes tempted
to speculate say In lumber - and needs small
loan Tho generous Company is ready, through
its agent, the storekeeper or lawyer, TO accom-
modate, taking o mortgage on the homestead. and
thus stands In the relation Of the metaphorcal uncle
10 the farmer. Here IL another element OF power con-
troled by the storekeeper and lawyer ard when the
farmer to the polls, II II unlikely that these
worked To their utmost effect the political
results Here IL discovered the secret of the utter lack
OF enlightenment In the governmental policy Of the
Canadians We have the explanation OF the perpetualy
recurring scramble for the Offices the degrading coah
t0s In which principles that aresnpposed to under
lie the action OF political parties sacrificed whenever
II becomes convenent Canada In governed by country
storekeepers and interruptions lawyers whose power
will continue be supreme until the people eanct
pated By Protection to Home iudastry and Universal
Suffrage ~
Ns~ Yors March %. is12