The Portland daily press., 1891-11-19
Closer Trade Relations.

The-Hon. Wtlfred Laurier, the leader of
the Liberal party of Canada, addressed the
French Canadians Of Boston on Tuesday
evening. Mr.. Laurier devoted considera-
BILE part of his speech to the question Of
closer commercial relations between this
country and the Dominion of Canada.
Speaking for the Liberal party, which he
can do authoritatively, he said:
The Liberal party, to which have the hon
or 70 Delong, believes that the time has come
Tor Canada to be endowed with the power Of
making her own commercial treaties. We want
tnls power because we believe that tn trade OF
canada needs markets abroad. The policy we
nave adopted is to give the United States the
IIeest trade that can be had to the mutual bene-
nc OF both countries. We produce of some
things more than we can consume. We must
naa market for it. II seems to me that the
Ienuency OF public opinion In the United States
Is tnat you also must seek a market abroad
You have much larger population than we
lave. ana your home market is CORRESPONDENCE
larger; but your resources have been more fully
developed. That you have need of a foreign
market Is shown by the wise provisions OF the
LATIN law. which seeks for reciprocity with
ket In both Canada and the United States for
the reproductions Of each country and vet
cacn Is trying to get its surplus Into South
american countries, instead Of interchanging
commodities. Between the farmers living near
tne line on both sides brisk reciprocity is al
ready going on. Why not extend its operations
southf "-N
We think there is little reason to doubt
that the sentiment of the majority of the
people Of the United States and Of the Do.
minion Is In favor of close commercial
relations between the Two countries. The
Tories Of Canada have sought to suppress
this feeling on their side of the line by
shouting that commercial union meant
political union. and thatIeverybody who ad-
vocated the former was secretly In favor of
the latter. But that bugbear has ceased to
brighten, and the commercial union senti-
ment In the Dominion is growing stronger
and more outspoken every day. On this
SIDE OF the lineit has been feared that reci-
procity might be injurious to the farming
interest In the East, and so 1t would be
undoubtedly If it were restricted within
the limits of the treaty Of 1857. But real
reciprocity. reciprocity that will admit
our manufactures into the Dominion, will,
In the long run, we believe, not only not
hurt the farmers, but help them, by build
Ing up at home man ufacturing towns with
large populations, who must depend upon
the neighboring farmers for their subsist-
once. The eastern farmer must rely
very largely upon local markets. de
raises comparatively little of exportable
articles. Reciprocity with South America
and the West Indies may open markets for
the -four and pork Of the West, but it will
do very little for the East. The Eastern
farmers must rely chiefly on the markets
built up for them by the manufacturing
and commercial towns near at hand. And
any policy which tends to increase the
number and size Of these towns will enure
to their benefit. The Liberal party Of the
Dominion In all probability will soon be
put In charge of the government of that
country, and will undoubtedly tender our
government an equitable arrangement for
close commercial relations between the two
countries. 1t is to be hoped our govern
ment will meet them half way.