The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-11
Tne outlook hi Canada.

Election contests in the Dominion are soon
over but they are exceedingly hot while they
last. From the day Parliament was dissolved
to election day less than four weeks will in
teryene and In that time candidates must be
nominated, and the hearts of the electors
fired and the votes polled and counted.
Necessarily lack of time has to be compen-
stated for by increased activity and energy.
Under the Canadian method of bringing
on an election the government enjoys great
advantage. Ordinarily it can select its own
time for an appeal to the people. and there
fore can make its appeal when the conditions
dence. Sir John Macdonald was not COM
PEELED to appeal to the people at this time.
Parliament had indicated no lack of conf
dence In his government, the Conservatives
had majority Of fifty, and that ma
jority bad shown no signs of wavering. The
bringing on OF general election at this
time was therefore piece Of political
strategy. A few months ago the government
declared that 1t did not intend to dissolve
Parliament until next year. Its change of
purpose was dictated simply by the belief on
its part that the conditions were more favor
able for its success now than they would be
year later.
The issues on which the contest is to be
waged have already been plainly indicated
The Conservatives programme is protection
to the manufacturers and free trade for the
farmers and fishermen and miners. Or to
be more explicit, they propose to keep up
the tariff against the manufacturers Of the
United States, and let down the bars to our
natural products provided the United States
Will reciprocate. The Liberals, on the other
hand. propose free trade between Canada
and the United States in all sorts of goods,
whether manufactured or the natural prod
ucts OF the two countries. The former pro.
pose restricted reciprocity with the United
States. the latter an unrestricted reciprocity.
In contest like this the chances are in
favor OF the Conservatives. The Conserva-
tive programme will of course enlist the sup
port Of the great majority0f the manufac-
turers because 1t protects them from the
competition of American rivals. At the
same time 1t will not ALLEVIATE the farmers or
The fishermen, because it holds out to them
the prospect Of the American market for
theirfproducts, which is all they could get
under any form of reciprocity.
On the other hand, the programme of the
Liberals, which contemplates reciprocity
in manufactures will Of course ALLEVIATE
the great mass Of Canadian manufacturers
while 1t will hold out no more advantages
to the farmer and fisherman than the Con-
sentative programme. OF course the Liber-
ais will claim, and correctly too, that the
United States will never consent to the
limited scheme of reciprocity that the gov
eminent proposes, and therefore that the
reciprocity that Sir John Macdonald offers
the farmers and fishermen is merely q sham.
but in the short time that will elapse before
election it Is unlikely that this idea will be
thoroughly got into the heads of the farmers
and fishermen, living as they do In remote
localities and being on that account difficult
to reach.
National pride Is also certain to greatly
assist the government. 1t will be argued
with great force that the unrestricted reci-
procity that the Liberals propose is but the
stepping stone to annexation, and that there
fore to vote for 1t is to betray the country.
The Conservative press is already using the
argument with good deal of effect, and
they are able TO fortifyit with good many
citations from the American press, In which
the ground is taken that commercial union
is certain to be followed by political union.
Another advantage which the Conservatives
enjoy. and very important one in Canada.
is the possession of all the patronage. This
has always been potent weapon In Cana
dian politics. and In the last general election
was used with great effect especially in the
maritime provinces. Besides the government
has complete control of our polling list, and
the influence of the Catholic hierarchy which
is very strong in certain sections is all on its
side.