The New York herald., 1879-03-12
Thc prOtectfonist Policy OF Our Cana
dian Neighbors.

TO manufacturing industry IN Canada, an
nounced in the speech Of the Governor
General at the opening of the Dominion
Parliament, is beginning to attract atten-
tion and may soon become a subject OF
debate in the imperial and superintending
Legislature of Great Britain. Sir George
Campbell few days since gave notice that
he will ask an inquiry in the British
House of Commons into the expediency
of maintaining the connection with Can
ada, if that rising and most important
Of the British colonies persists in
the protectionist policy on which 1t
is entering. OF course this policy is
in no degree to be charged to the Mar
quis of Lorne, the new Governor General.
The fact that it is officially broached in his
first speech to the Dominion Parliament
does not make him responsible for it. The
position Of the Viceroy OF Canada differs in
no essential respect from the position OF the
sovereign in the government of Great
Britain. The speeches Of the Queen are
written by the Prime Minister for the time
being, and merely declare the policy of the
existing government, and not the personal
views of the sovereign. In the same man
ner the speech Of the Governor General
was written by Sir John Macdonald, and is
ON exposition of the>policy of himself and
his official associates. That policy was de-
cided by the parliamentary elections which
took place two or three months be-
fore the arrival of the Marquis OF
Lorne in the Dominion It is absurd to
comment on it, as some of our journals
have done, as if it convicted him of incon-
sistency in renouncing in America the free
trade principles which he held in his
native country. His personal views go for
nothing in his new position as the nominal
head of the Canadian government.
The Imperial Parliament has conceded to
the Dominion all the rights of a self-ruling
community, so far as relates to its domestic
policy. Foreign policy it has none, and is
incapable Of having any, except in the
narrow sense in which its tariff may affect
the trade of other countries. 1t has no
navy; it has no diplomatic intercourse;
it can negotiate no treaty; in all its external
relations it is merely part of the British
Empire. 1t is odd and anomalous that
community in this situation, a mere colony
which is prohibited from any intercourse
with foreign nations is permitted, through
its domestic legislation and tariff laws
virtually to regulate its foreign trade, and,
what is more surprising, to erect barriers
against the admission of British products
into its markets.
The government of the United States SUBJ
jects every part of our territory to precisely
imported into Alaska, into our Pacific
ports, our Gulf ports, our Atlantic ports,
across the Mexican border or across the
Canadian border, pay the same rates of
duty. Our commerce is unit All
foreign nations are accorded precisely the
same advantages in all our ports, and, what
is infinitely more important, there is the
most absolute freedom of trade between all
the parts of our widely extended dominions.
This is the capital. the crowning advantage
of the American Union. The wonderful
growth and unexampled development of our
country are chiefly due to this reciprocal free
trade between all its parts. It is in conse-
quence of this that we have Aourished SO
wonderfully in spite of our absurd tariffs
restricting trade with foreign countries.
It isamazing that the British government,
which long ngo outgrew the protecionist
policy in its home legislation, has not
established perfect freedom of CONNER
cial intercourse between all parts of
its own Empire. Why should it per-
n -A.-l u
domestic manufactures of Great Britain
out of their markets, or at least to obstruct
their admission by protective duties? 1t is
very much as il we should allow local leg
islatures in California and Alaska to levy
duties on New England manufactures It
is difficult to see what advantage Great
Britain derives from her extended empire
if she permits local tariffs to restrict free
dom of trade between the parts Of the en-
pire. The commercial policy of Great
Britain is as self-stultifying as that Of the
United States, though in o different way.
England, which is the foremost free trade
country in the world, refrains from enforc-
ing freedom Of trade between the various
parts of her Empire, whereas the United
States. which permits the most unfettered
commercial intercourse. between nll parts of
its territory, pursues an opposite policy in
its foreign trade.
England would find it for her advantage
to adopt the better part of our policy and
establish entire freedom of commerce be-
tween all the parts Of her vast Empire.
What can her colonies be worth to her if
they shut out her products Their only
conceivable advantage is the wide extcn-
sion Of her markets which they would
afford if trade we're as free between all parts
of the British Empire as 1t is between oil
parts of the United States. Her colonies
are constant source Of expense. She
must maintain large navy to protect them.
even in time of peace; and whenever