The sun., 1883-12-30
THE rASIFF QUESTION IN CANADA.
OTTAWA, Dec. 26.-In tho pre- Confederation

ernbe. There was not the Same zeal for them.
OF course, as In the mother country, whose In |
tercsts were and are SO vitality concerned In |
spreading Tho free trade gospel; but still tho |
weight Of English authority was such that no |
Canadian politician OF note would have dafed |
TO connect himself with any decided advocacy |
OF prctectionist theories. Tariffs were low.
ranging from nve and ten to fifteen per cent.
the only object directly aimed at be-
ing the procuring OF sufficient pub
lie revenue; though no doubt the slight
incidental protection thus secured was not
objected to. Moderate rs these duties WERE
however. there were some who would have ro-
duced them still further. possibly swept tho
greater part OF them away altogether. The
Tdde herie'o OF Toronto for example. advo-
Gated this policy In an article published toward
the close OF the year 1865. when your Govern
mont had given notice Of the annulment OF the
reciprocity treaty. the operation OF which dur.
ing period OF eleven years had largely az
fectd the whole course and development OF
Canadian trade.
emn one for Canada in the opinion
OF many. though the Finance Minister
OF the day. Mr.. tnow Sir Alexander) Gait,
had. In his budget speech delivered on the
zoth OF August OF the same year. endenvored-
with fair success. l think-to show reasons why
Canadians should not tnke an over serious
view OF the situation. well. It was at this time.
as have said. that the Tfdde Repie,o laid before
its readers the views OF AN influential public
man whose opinions should carry great weight
In the country" to the effect that as. owing
to the destructive civil war which had just
boon brought to q conclusion in tho United
States that country would have. for n
long time to come. to endure very heavy
taxatlqn. the truo policy for Canada WAS
and as quickly as possible in the direction OF
free trade. to raise her revenue by increased
hy gradual direct taxation commencing with a
house tax Or something, equally simple and
show tho position Of the tariff question In
,bs yswf pSSs els. to aa the q , e
and we're coried with approval into ssv.
eral NEWSPAPERS, papers which to- day are the
nance Minister himself. though not n ioeirin-
herent Of free trade views. " '''' @. "
IT Is little amusing: in the light
speech PSvo resrea is tsrn to and ND
the, the fset that Canadian manufeetured m goods
maj ket even over the 40 and As per cent. duties
"a fact which he regarded as an indication
faeturers would require no protection at ail to
enable n, DE, them to y carry on their business"
yee tus
ef6sa III IN bsE pon ee9ns closely uptsd
natural weakness Of our manufacturers on tile
w6sther thsy Shared ia Mr. Gats f ;oyfu HGa1 sntie
pared to face the World without " proee,on I'll fe Of
any kind. The example and influence Of the
Untsd SSs Was 70 tell
,,hhs Ar, AmeflGsn a,s.I nation nation n9arsSins under
its circumstances far more akin to ours
than thar those M,P!! i9i the mother country Il
infant, industries9 These and similar uues. les
| ti2ns began TO be asked. and long before tho
ing in favor OF protection had been created in
hsr The tlrss sim nswspapsr; 50 & isr as
Montreal Star. Montreal is tho chief ,nanurac.
turing centre Of the 81 Dominion. and it is there
Still that opinion had no public alvocscy Until
wind. twas not at the time-I speak ot fifteen
but yes ad
stronger every day. and the stu grew with 1t
The general Is per cent. tariff remained
| IN force Tor some years after confederation
power IN November. 1873. by tho, Pacific
SCANDAL" he left it rs a legacy 10 the reform
ership Of Mr.. Alexander Mackenzie. The ry.
psnses Of Government at this time were rapidly
Mr.. ,Mackenzio found it necessary to make a
| slight addition to the tlrff bv raising the
his Per term o no M e peI sse
was boldly raised Throughout the country. ana
no little pressure was brought to boar upon
iactured articles still fnrther. Deputa.i"n,
from the various Industries thr2nHed 10 lhs
Minister Mr.. tnow Sir lichard) Cartwright in
their ofilces. and making 1t a. plain as noon
protection was absolutely necessary ;' to l,lfY,s
life into Cnnadian mannfacturcs.
timos Sir join Macdonald went out Of q ".Iice
81 s nad m 81 Etst W
of almost un"xanl.,ed depression. Both
Mr. Mackenzie and his Fiuance Minister we're
sincerely convinced ;i;., the causes from which
thc manufacturing business Of the country WAS
suffering were Of 100 general nature to b. re-
ar IL IL sa H. Srsns IN ,Rs 'n Dress pnnts
I" tho Cnited Staiss. where onnal depression
M 1a5s TlTE at ,sIs s ,Sas tar Enr to e.
agrand l:ht over this question. The Consnr-
yptlyrs ~ conrarraliN.Iy early period Of Mr.
Of pr, ,action. The i'eiorm,rs. on The ntil.,r
hand stood arm Tor fro trade. though some .!
u. "
journals on either side TOOK NJ the discussion
1 was admitted on all n.Lds that the trade oi
the country WIS In II Iuy9t depressed condi-
ton. ali thn Conservative iress labuted "a
pctt?uaon the pubic-,as the result showed inoi
without success that this WAS due To tho nNc-
tion OF tho Government aud its pedunt" ;,l-
hureDr9 Ia ba ron economic maSinIs. The
party IN power srem 10 have been wholly uu-
aware vi the extent TO which the country WAS
being converted to those IDEAS; nnl IN lli,
genera. election Of September. 1873 the,
rushed bindiy on their doom. Sir John Mae.
donald under the banner II protection, or as
he ana his friends had agreed To call il, Of "th'
natious! r,3Iicy." swept AL the PROVINCES bn,
ONO. Mr.. Mack"nZic could hardly believe the
h"ws M IT poured in. upon him from ever,
quarter. aud ,winn ho fuiIy;nndcrstood that In
spite Of hi devoted ana high minded iabors
in the public service. for Probably no more
conscientious or har! working Minister owe,
*! sted tho connirr had rejected him on tl6
FIRST opportunity BY large majority his spiri,
| WAS uti"rly broken. \ long aui Very sever,
illness .u!'Dwcd a, n shot interval. aLl to this
day in has nevor iu!ly recovered either hi,
| physical on his intellectual sigor.
| The Conservative then res iUied office "a.
actly five year3 after heir expulsion. pledge,
tu tho prlncipl's Of PROTECTION. In tli. muntl
u March. 1872. Mr.. tnow sir Leonardo Tiey IN,
trutGrci his ceeirai,d national policy '