Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-10

One in Which the United States
is Interested.
1t is the Question of Reciprocity
With This Country.

Such is the Immediate Desire OF the Far
Seeing Canadians, and the Object After
That is to Rid Themselves Of the Pres
ent Rulers ard Have Republican
Form of Government.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1O.-Professor Gold
win Smith, of Toronto, in q letter to The
Times explains the situation in Canada
thus;
TORONTO, Feb 5, 1891
Americans, especially those who are in
terested in trade relations, may wish to
know the meaning of the election contest
, in Canada, to understand the conditions
under which it takes place. and to be pre-
pared for estimating the significance Of
the result. / am so far qualified to inform
them that have never belonged to either
of the party organizations, and am thus
unbiased by the mere struggle for power
The immediate issue is that of trade
with the United States. But beneath this
lies the broader issue between conti
Iental and an anti-continental policy
The Liberals of Canada whether they
look for the ultimate entrance of Canada
into the American Union or not, are now
men of this continent, regard the inhabi-
tants of the rest of it as partners, and de-
sire to cultivate the closest relations with
them. The Conservatives are anti-conti-
mental; they desire to keep Canada in all
things divided from her continent and at
tached to Great Britain, where the social
center of their party lies. Practically they
seek to make Canada the engine of the
| Conservative aristocracy of Great Britain
for averting the triumph of democracy In
the new world, and keeping part of the
American continent under arlstocratic In
stitutions or influence.
Of the anti-Continental party and that
which seeks to strengthen the connection
with aristocratic England Sir John Mac
donald is the veteran and renowned chief
He wears the insignia of British aris-
tocracy on his breast as civil knight Of
the Grand Cross of the Bath His whole
policy has been directed against closer re-
lations with the United States. The Can
adian Pacific railroad was its destined in
strument, though the course of events by
which his "National" railway has been
converted into half American road seems
to prove the hopelessness of the fight
against nature. For the commercial ques
tion by itself he may be said to care com
paratively little. He has never been in
commercial principle protectionist. He
embraces protectionism because 1t sewers
Canada economically from the United
States, and at the same time gives him
the support of the protected manufac-
turers who have contributed largely TO his
election fund
Among the people whatever may be
their political bearing toward the United
States, the dosre for free trade with their
own continent grows apace, The signs Of
i its progress are visible on every side. In
another year, Sir John Macdonald thinks,
and with good reason, it may be too strong
for him. He accordingly dissolves parlia-
ment, and brings on the election year be-
fore the regular time, making a strong APP
peal, personally and through all his
organs, to anti-American sentiment
4 y
Still If the people were let alone there
can be no doubt thai the verdict would be
in favor of reciprocity ard against the
protectionist government. But the people
will not be let alone The country has
been governed for twenty five years largely
by corruption, carried on by means of the
Federal subsidies to provinces, which our
constitution unfortunately permits, Federal
grants TO local public works, concessions
TO contractors, and bribery Of all kinds;
appointments to the senate, which is nom
NATIVE, and the prospect of baronetcies
and knighthoods to which the Canadian
Irime minister recommends, being treated
as a part of the fund.
These engines will all be piled and piled
on rcople whose political tone has been
sadly lowered by long subiection to their
influence. When in the affair called the
Pacific railway scandal Sir John Mac
fxayn nf pnl
clearly convicted of having bartered the
construction of the National railway for
large sum to be spent in the elections, the
moral sense of the people revolted and Sir
John Macdonald's logernment was over
thrown. But this was about the last
effort ( the N III conscience. The other
day oae of Sir Johns parliamentary fol
lowers, man designated by him for the
senate, was found guilty after a vain at
TEMPT of the government to shield him, OF
corruption of the very foulest kind. Upon
b bing ensured by the house be boldly re-
signed his seat, appealed to his constituents
on plea that he was no worse than 9th
ers, and on that plea was reelected.
The government majority in the late
parliament was over 80 on division In
house of 215 members, so that the Liberals
will have considerable leeway TO make up.
On the other hand many OF the govern
ment seats were won at the last election
by small majorities, which, II the people
were to vote freely according to their con
victions on the commercial question.
would without doubt be reversed.
Such, II do not mistake Is the general
outline of the situation, and such are the
main data on which forecast, II any fore
cast is possible, must be based. My own
impression is that in this part of Canada,
at all events there will be good fight
for continental free trade and pure govern
ment. GOODWIN SMITH.