Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-06
A SENSIBLE cANucK.

Hon. Mr.. Lnuriar. 8 Leading Member nf
the DnmlHion Parliament. Sees tho
Errors His Conntrymen Have Made and
L. Man Enough to own Them and sug-
gest Change OF Tactics.
TORONTO, Oat., Aug. e9.-Hon. Mr.. Lau.
rier, leader OF the opposition in the Do
minion Parliament, has just closed O
series OF addresses to the electors Of On
tario at st Thomas. Referring to Presi-
dent Cleveland's message, Mr.. Laurier
said: president Cleveland, acting upon
what he conceived to be the duty imposed
upon him by the American Senate, asks
power to retaliate by suspending the
bonding system. This would be a very
serious event which, if it came, would
strike the city of St Thomas as much,
perhaps more, than any other portion
Of the Dominion, because it is made what
it is largely by the lines Of railway which
come here from the United States. But,
after all, we are men and British men.
We shall not whine even if the American
people deem it advisable do not say
their duty-to take such an uutriendly
course. No doubt some parties will suffer
in Canada, but no doubt, like British
men, it is our duty TO find elsewhere what
We would lose. IL we are met with
the state Of things with which we
are threatened, it is due to the
vicious policy Of the Canadian Gov
eminent in the administration of tho
rights secured TO US by the treaty OF 1918.
If the Can adam Government had followed
a more friendly course there would not
have been any unfriendly feeling to-day.
We are threatened with the possibility OF
losing our carrying trade. If the carry
ing trade is such a loss to the country, is
not that the most potent argument that
the most unrestricted reciprocity OF trade
would be Of very great advantage 10
the countryf 1 say this, and this
is fact to which I call the
attention Of my fellow countrymen to-
day. 1t is high time We should re-
verse the policy we have been following
toward the United States for the past
twenty-five years. 1t has not been alto
gether hostile to the United States, but it
has never been altogether friendly; it
has not been such as to bind us to those
on the other side OF the line, who speak
the same language and have the same
ability with u.s."
After referring to the war between the
North and the South and the unfriendii-
ness shown by Canada to the North dur
ing that great struggle, Mr.. Laurier said
Il remind you that again in the days OF
1873 we adopted another policy, the bragg
gadociO policy. We were told by Sir
Charles Upper that the government
would find a way to compel the YANKEES
to grant reciprocity. What did Sir
CHARLES Upper say in Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick and in the House OF Com
mons? He said he would compel the
United States to give us reciprocity.
Canada is the land OF my birth, of my
love; Canada is the land of my
heart, and it is enough for
me; but it is not equal TO ths
United States in extent; 1t has not even
3, 0O0,0 people, and The Americans have
a population of 60, O00,0J and to say, as
as was SAID by the Conservative leaders
at that time, that we could compel that |
great Nation to come down to their knees
and could force them to give US what they |
have not been willing 10 give US so far,
was simply the greatest braggadocio that |
has been enacted within my lifetime. |
Let US remain as we are politically, |
but let US agree that it would be for |
their benefit and for our benefit that there |
should be no customs laws, but that We |
should exchange our products from one |
side OF the line to the other. That is the |
policy Of the Liberal party. For my part,
| believe that we look no longer on them |
with jealousy; that we are glad Of their
success; that we are sincere friends and
brothers, and that we would have No diff
iculty in arriving at the object we nave
IN view"