The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-22

The answer of the Colonial Secretary to
Mr.. Bright's questions in the House OF Com
| mons on Thursday evening relating to the
new Canadian tariff will naturally cause a
sensation at Ottawa and throughout the Do
minion. On Thursday morning the London
Times had a vehement leading article de-
nouncing the new tariff, but still conveying
the idea that it is necessary for the home
government to submit to it and allow 1T
to have the force Of law. The Times said
perhaps it is true that the usual instruc-
ton was omitted requiring Lord Lorne to
reserve for Her Majesty's approval all bills
imposing diffarential duties" Mr. Bright
included this point in his inquiries and
was told by the Colonial Secretary hat "the
right of the government in regard to
the sanction of the new tariff was not
affected by the instructions to Lord Lorne."
Whether the Queens sanction will be
withheld is rs yet on undecided ques-
ton, and the fact that this point has
b en- raised in Parliament will naturally
bring uneasiness TO Sir John Mucdonald's
government. The homo government
strongly disapproves of the new tarif.
The Colonial Secretary stated, in reply to
Mr.. Bright, 'that only telegraphic sum-
mary Of the new Canadian tariff had been
received, and therefore he was unable to
judge OF its effect, but he had telegraphed
that the government regretted the proposed
increase in duties already high"
In the act of the Imperial Parliament
establishing the government of the Do
minion the authority to disapprove bills
plicity reserved. When bill has passed
both houses the Governor General may pur-
sue either of these three courses:-He may
declare Q) that he nssents thereto in the
Queens name; or (2) that he withholds
the Queens assent; or (3) that he re-
serves the bill for the Specification of
the Queens pleasure. If he adopts the last
OF these courses the operation of the bill is
suspended until the Queens pleasure is
known, and if she should not signify her
assent within two years the bill is Of no
force. But even when the Governor Gen
eral assents to bill it still remains in the
power of the Queen to annul it any time
gives his assent.
This new tariff will lead to fresh discus
sion in England OF the relations of the
home government to the colonies-a dis
cussion which may bring the public mind
Of Great Britain to the conclusion that the
same freedom of trade must exist between
all parts of the British Empir, that exists
between the States OF the American Union.
OF what value are the colonies to England
except as Attending a free market for
the products Of her industry? They
entail on her considerable expense;
she requires o larger navy to protect
them than she would otherwise need
they multiply the points at which she can
be attacked in every war. Her only com.
pensation for this expense and these disad-
vantages consists in the possession of mar
kets which cannot be shut against her by
hostile legislation over which she has no
control. Unless she can keep their trade it
is for her plain interest to dissolve the
colonial tie and leave them to defend them
selves against foreign aggression. The bur-
den of maintaining an army and navy
for protection against foreign Powers
would consume much greater rev.
enue than the Canadian government
can expect to derive from its increased
rates Of duty. If the Imperial government
should not decide TO veto the new tariff the
probable consequence of the so-called ''na-
tional policy" on which Canada has entered
will be strong demand by powerful Sec
ton of British public opinion for the
Abandonment Of that colony, or else for an
act of the Imperial Parliament requiring
the free admission of British goods into all
the colonial markets.