, 1881-11-12


| 3St1r York UeraiJ, Nh. 8.
L Herald reporter yesterday afternoo
waited upon Sir Leonard 'rilley, Fnanc
Minister Of Canada, who is now ell route TO
! Washington on official business, at the Eft
| Avenue Hotel.
II saw" remarked Sir Leonard, "th
| Herald interview with Sir Alexander Gait
few days ago, and read it with much inter
est. l think he is about right in the view
he takes upon Canadian Independence
Ut IS not SO much upon that subiec
| specially that L have called upon you, ST
Leonard, as to obtain, if possible, Il genera
outline Of the forthcoming policy of til.
Canadian Government to be submitted at it!
next Parliamentary session, which meets, i.
believe, in January
"Ies, aud think weshall be able to show
a pretty fair record. So fur as pertains tt
my own department have no objection tt
we silali'show 4 surplus Of $4,000. .0UO. and in
view OF that surplus we propose to take oil
the tax oil tea and coffee"
80 What is the present duty"
1t IS ad valoren and specific, or about
flvc or SIX cents per pound Oh tea aid three
Oh Coffee"
What wv is yonr ~ sxpsrence of the working
It has far exceeded my expectations, and
that 1t gives general satisfaction is proved by
the general prosperity OF the country.''
Can you cite any special instances Of its
beneficial results"'
".lake the manufacture of nnb]eachcd cot
tons As an. illustration. Before the present
tariff came into operation Canada purchased
most Of her cottons Of those grades from the
United States. Now we ean manufacture all
VIC require for our own consumption. Cot
ton prints we still import from England"
"now j; has your tariff affected the British
lit las indirectly benefited British manu-
facturcs, for our imports from tie mother
country never were larger, while, us Il mat
ter Of fact, Canada las never been so pros-
perols- Our boot aud shoe trade, our min
ing Industries, and our su ugar-retinng houses
have materially felt the benefit Of the present
tariff"
'.Do you contemplate making any change
III that rcSpcct?'
"Perfaps OH few articles there may be
m alteration, in addition to the special ones
| have referred to; but our general policy rs
regards the thrift will not undergo any alter
ation."
You may have noticed that there has
been 4 frequent reference to. making the
Canadian canals free?"
Yes, have, and have also observed that
your Industrious Ottawa correspondent llaS
been at some pains to contrast our canal bust
ness with that Of the United States. The
subject has been nlooted, but / am not in
position to Speak positively us to the itten-
ton Of our Government in that direction.
You know, OF course, that we have consid-
erab!ly reduced our canal tolls, but as to max
ing them entirely free would depend in a
large measure upon the action Of tile United
States Government, by which, doubtless, We
should be guided"
Are you aware to what extent American
capital is being introduced into Canada3''
Not precisely; but I know that in the
Provinces Of Ontario, New Brunswick, and
Nova Scotia MANY paying Investments for
american capital arc found. III the mining
llstricts Of Nova Scotia your people are act
Il New Brunswick American capitalists arc
tlso Interested in feeding the railroad sys
ell of that Province. Then, as YOU know, |
American capital enters largely.inro the coli |
Of the Canadian Pacific Rail |
way"
s ri{i4G that york g progressing as satisfactorily
The contract calls for the completion Of |
he road in 1889; but it has progressed SO !
apuly that have every reason to SUPPOSE |
hat within two years it will be finished as
ar rs the foot Of the Rocky Mountains"
"And now, Sir. Leonard, what is your im-
M 'resslon Of Pruf. Goodwin Smiths sSeEe'ne
or commercial union with the United
,tates?a
''Mr. Smiths aim is Il political union.
here is no doubt OF that. Commercial union
Practically means free trade between Canada
ND the United Stares to the exclusion Of the
british market. No sane person supposes
nat England would consent to that
IThis is downright hnmbng.. The Can
dian tariff upon British goods is almost rs
lgll us the American tariff upon tleul. Un-
or 4 reciprocity arrangement with Canada
le duty OH British goods would be Just
HAT the common tariff exacted and English
would be no more excluded
lit ."i is true Dtf that the British Government
ave conceded tile right to the Colonial Gov
to make tlieir own tariff. but the !
SlJ to make ones owl, tariff and the right
, exclude British imports by unreasonably
Ugh duties. is another thing, Tile mother
>untry has also conceded the right to Can
la to negotiate a reciprocity treaty, Which
Us attempted by the late Hon. George
row1l. but failed. Whatever the reasons
IF its failure does not affect the possibility
repeating the experiment.
II have no doubt that the Canadian Gov
n,nent would be ready tomorrow to listen ! I
any reasonable suggestion the United |
ates might make in that direction. Honest I
, l cannot see what there Is to gain by any !
langc in our present relations with tho
other country. The great majority of our ;
|ult population already enjoy nearly all the {
suffrage. The qualification Of the fran
Use is extremely low, being fixed at a prop I
ty proprietorship Of 500 .on real estate | I
d personal income OF Sfo0a year. There | /
G some who prefer Independence or an {
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