New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-29
United EMPIRE LEAGUE.

Montreal was edited the other day by visit
and an address from Colonel Howard Vincent
NJ. p, of Sheffield the devSer of great Pan
Britannia League. Mr.. Vincent is one of those
Englishmen who, admitting that he doesn't
know everything has been disposed to learn
Instead of compelling facts to satisfy a theory
he has permitted himself to deduce theories
from facts, and gradually he has reached the
opinion that Golden was at all events little
less than the angels From this sentiment the
pass was not broad nor devious to the con-
clusion that free trade had not only weakened
England's position among the commercial ma
tons of Europe, but had become the rock upon
which colonial loyalty was about to break.
Filled with this idea, which is not so far
from the truth, Mr.. Vincent has come to Can
ada preaching the doctrine of hostility to Ameri-
ca, friendship to England and a United Empire
League. Sitting for Sheffield has had an edu-
cational influence upon Mr.. Vincent. lie has
witnessed the embarraSsments caused to his
people by the resolution Of the United States
to manufacture at home the classes OF goods
hitherto bought from Sheffield. He has seen
the closing of many large and profitable mills
and the emigration Of vast crowds of working
convince him. They may look plain and ire
sistible, but rusted engines and padOcked doors
are more convincing still.
Colonel Vincent has been giving the Canadi-
ans some entertaining lectures OH the practical
operations of Protection as witnessed to his
mind by the effects of the Mckinley bill in
Sheffield, ard the Canadians, on the other hand,
have furnished Colonel Vincent with a similar
view of their own. Together they have agreed
that it is highly audacious in the United States
thus to take care of themselves, and that the
only thing left to England and the Colonies is
to be audacious too. Colonel Vincents pro-
posas have no nonsense in them. He is not a
Quixotic Federationist of the Upper type. lie
doesn't suggest that the QuaShec or the West
Indian negro shall vote on Canada's budget or
that the Dominion shall be drawn on for troops
to man the gates of IIerat Il am here to talk
pure matter of business" he said. Il am
authorized by the masses Of Great Britain to
put the question to you straigbt-Will you take
our gold and our sons, or shall we continue to
send both to the United States? Shall we buy
of you rather than of them" Mr.. Vincents
hearers were of one mind that they would
take all the gold they could get and the sons
into the bargain, and when he went on to say
that England was not irrevocably welded to
free trade, but would respond to a preferential
tariff from Canada by preferential tariff for
her, the multitude cheered tumultuouSly. "Be
true to your country" cried the Colonel, in
fervcnt appeal "Give Sheffield and Britain q
generous preference over the selfish Yankees.
and ! can tell you that Great Britain will well
come your products free while those Of the
Americans will be taxed ~
This arrangement has undOubted merit, but
we sadly fear that the Colonel and his audience
will all be where corn and cutlery are not in
general demand before it has effect. II asks
too much. 1t asks the English people to aban-
don a theory and mock tradition, and it asks
geography TO ignore an ocean and TO forget the