Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-23
TIE CANADIAN CENSUS.

CANADA Eau q population IN 1881 OF
/, 324,3I0. In 1891 it had grown to
1893, 344, an increase of II per cent.
As the natural increase of population
in ten years, that is, the excess of
births over deaths, Is put down at IA
per cent. it will be seen that in the last
decade Canada has not held her own.
in spite OF the $50, 900 immigrant settlers
that have been added during that time
to her population. According to Por-
ter's rotten census. the rate of increase
in the United States was 24.S6. The
discovery 10y the recent census has pro-
duced profound sense of disappoint
ment among the Canadians, the keen
ness of which is greatly intensified by
thoughts OF the vast sums of money
expended in the promotion of immigra-
ton, as well as the national policy
adopted with that end in view.
In 1879 the government began to I'M
itate the customs policy of this coun
try by inaugurating a mild form OF
protection. The growth of manufact-
uring, and the consequent diversified
ton of industries. would, it was
thought. do wonders, and especially
would it invite immigration. The ma
tional policy, as it was called, became
the rallying cry OF the enterprising
and progressive classes, the patsiotS of
the land. OF course these patriots
were for the greater part the manu-
facturers and their friends. They
predicted great things for Canada as
the result of that policy. The populace
caught the infection. and it soon became
all pervading. While the fever was
on the manufacturers lost no time in
securing increase after increase of the
tariff. The government was with them,
and ready to respond favorably at every
call for more. Soon however, the peo-
pie begun to distrust the new policy,
and at each general election thereafter
it became necessary for the manufac-
turers to put up freely, which they did,
the money being spent lavishly in de-
bauching the electors. To support it.
self the government bled the protected
factory people, who in their turn de-
manded each time an additional turn
of the tariff screw. As the years passed
and they left the Infant industry"
stage far in the, rear, the necessity for
further protection to the manufacturers
grew, and the cry was ever, more.
more" We have seen the same thing
in this country. and know by expert
ence how the appetite for protection
grows by what it feeds on.
No such results as were promised
have been obtained from protection in
Canada. On the contrary, there has
been a loss of population of round
million, depression in trade, widespread
discomfort, and everything that means
the checking OF national growth.
Canada is not, like this country,
able to stand much legalized robbery
from protective tariff. Her popula-
ton is small, less than 100000, her
natural resources and the fertility of
her soil are not to be compared with
ours, any more than is her climate,
which is rigorous and inhospitable.
Twelve years OF protection-so called
has injured her more than double that |
period has damaged this country. But |
it has had its day in the land of the |
Canucks. The condition of things |
disclosed by the census has sealed the
fate of the protection policy. and of the |
government that stood by it. 1t is only |