The evening world., 1888-08-25
COMMERCIAL WAR.
Sir Lyon Playfair's Views on the
Presidents Message.
The Failure OF the Treaty Made
Some Action Necessary.

"eute nav - ~ a"t
He says-If the Presideut's Retaliation
Plan L. Carried Out lie Think. that
There viii Ne n ercial War -
Opiuisns Of wsiI.Known Canadians.
Sir Lyon Playisir. the vel. know English
statesman and politician. arrived here last
oven ng on the Britannia. Ho was Q member
Of the British Ministry when Gladstone was
once Premier, and among the important of
foes he has held are those OF Postmaster Gen.
eral, Chairman aud Deputy Speaker of the
House of Commons, and Vioe-President Of
the Privy Council.
Sir Lyon Playfalr Ia rather short In stature.
has q well-rounded body aud a chubby, clean
shaven face. A pair Of light gray eyes sparkle
through Eyeglasses and he IL free from the
regulation English drawl In conversation. In
fat, he 10 a small-sized, compactly built,
Jolly EngIishman.
He 10 stopping at the Windsor Hotel. This
morning an EVENING WORLD representative
sent up a card to him, and in O few minutes
the distinguished Briton doomed up in the
corridor. As soon as the interviewer APP
preached, Sir Lyon remarked
ID you wish TO talk with me about Presi-
\ dent Cleveland's message 2"
Tn interviewer replied in the affirmative.
~ thought so," exclaimed Cir Lyon. but
l would prefer to be excused from expressing
an opinion Oh the message. II woud scarce. y
be proper at this time for a British politician
to give his views on President Cleveland'f
message and his position in favor Of retaliat'
ting pom Canada"
You have read the message
"Oh, yes, ! have read 1t over carefully.
As | understand 1t the United States Senate
rejected the treaty Endorsed by President
Cleveland. In my opinion the .%proposed
treaty was q fair one, and il it had been rail,
fed everything In due course Of time would
have been settled satisfactorily to the Unitec
States and Canada.
The Senate. however, rejected the treaty
Then President Cleveland decided that. a.
there was no treaty, something must be done
and he issued his re aliation message"
Here Sir Lyon read the following extrac
from the Presidents messenger
recon- emil immediate legislative action con
By prSciaSa,oS tue operation Of ali laws and rssu
ladons 2 Irm t.nst 9 tLanslt Of good; wares an,
Of he TDilsd STATES to or from csnads
Now" CT ntinued SIR Lyon, the Presi
dents message is couched in torcib!e words
but l do not see that there il any reason TO-
o arm. ibis is a Presidential year, isn't il
Well. there may be some excitement over tn,
message, but it will probably cool down attel
election"
"Sunpose the Presidents retaliation sug,
gestiops should be carr ed out I"
1T would result in n commercial war be
tween the United 5 ates and Canada.
Won d such q commercial war injure tn
United States I"
why, yes; enormously! 1t would hav,
a great effect on the of the port
of New York, Boston and other Nortl
Atlantic ports. Hslifax would be grea ],
benefited. 80 would st. John. I dom
think that there will be any commercial war
Better sense will prevail. Arbitration an
Ill
am confident and / sincerely hope tina
the proposed retalia ion will not be carrie,
out. I scarcely think it would have beel
suggested or the treaty rejected il there wa
not a President to be elected"
This is not your first visit TO America ?"
1T is my eleventh VISIT. I am fond O
America. and have many dear friends on thi
side. Ny wife is an American"