Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-05
TODAY's CONTEST IN CANADA.
Unrestricted Reciprocity With tine United
States the Point at Issue.

Unrestricted Reciprocity With tine United
States the Point at Issue.
Probably ZOO. 900 people will cast their vo,es
today in the Canadian elections. The Domin-
ion of Canada today elects house Of commons
which will control the government and admin
istration for FIVE years to come. Organized in
1867 on the English plan the Dominion house
has n term of five years. but it may be dissolved
earlier by the prime minister, as the last house
was, February 8. a year before its close. At
the first election under the Dominion. in 1867,
the present PREMIER Sir John Alexander Mac
donald. now seventy-six years old. carried the
country; in 1873 he was defeated on charges Of
personal corruption: in 1878 he was reelected
on national policy of protection. the construc-
ton of the Canadian Pacific and internal i'm
provements. Returned with majority at each
general election since he was last successful III
the election held February %. 1897, when he
mad majority of twenty-nine in a total house
OF 2lo, subsequent elections increasing his ma
Jorlty to ffty-one, with two seats vacant in
Quebec.
THE ISSUE IN THE CONTEST.
For the first time in the history Of the Cana
dian nation. says special to the Philadelphia
Press, the question is squarely presented as to
what are to be hereafter the relations between
1t and the great aggregation of commemorative
that lie at its border. 1t is difficult to imagine
any subject Of more vital Importance than the
relations to be maintained between two such
countries
The tories nave adopted what is known as the
national policy, the result of which is isolation
and commercial belligerency. A high rate Of
duty against American manufactures; an anti
quated and harsh Interpretation of the fisheries
treaty; railway policy menacing American
profit; discrimination against American ships
In Canadian waterways; denial OF bonding
privileges for fish and grain, and q general
policy of commercial hostility pervade the poll
ties of the tories. Loyalty to the British crown
and mock sentimentality as to treason and re-
bellion are somehow mixed up with this appa-
rent desire to get the better Of the American
people.
THE LIBERAL POLICY.
The liberal party offer the people in the
present election the single plank of unre
stricted reciprocity with the United States.
This means. so far as Canada is concerned.
complete obliteratiOn of the customs line that
now shuts out American manufactures from
half a continent. OF course, the free admis-
sion OF American manufactures into Canada
and the continuance of a duty upon English
goods, as proposed by the liberals, mean dis
examination against Great Britain. The posi-
bility of 40 per cent of the British empire tax
ing the manufactures of the other 90 per cent
and admitting those of hated commercial
canoe and of very far-reaching importance. 1t
Is this which makes the movement in Canada
appear disloyal to the mother country. The
tories make the most of it and Sir John Mac
donald boldly charges that ''unrestricted reci
proclty II adopted means nothing but the
final annexation OF Canada by the United States.
UNCLE SAM IN THE CARTOONS.
great feature of the campaign, which has
just ended. has been the cartoon. 1t has never
been used with much effect previous to this
struggle. and it is one-sided now. The con-
sentative or government side has all there il of
this. The cartoons always bring Uncle Sam or
the American flag into ridicule One of these
represents Laurier. the great liberal leader
sitting on an egg that is labeled Annexation to
United States. Uncle Sam is standing by ask
ing Erastus Wiman if be thinks the egg will
hatch. Erastus says the hen is clucking and
he thinks the egg will hatch. This shows how
much bigger the annexation issue looks mp here
than it ever will to citizens of Pennsylvania for
instance.
Another cartoon represents Mr.. Blaine, Mr..
Wiman AMI Mr.. Laurier chasing "a young
woman, who is thinly attired for this latitude.
She is labeled Canada. The gentlemen named
are almost within grasp Of the skirt of her
robe The companion piece shows that she
gains the Canadian Enclosure. The British lion
has come to her relief and as she falls from ex-
haustion Sir John Macdonald appears at the
gate with two big revolvers. One is labeled
Loyalty" the other prosperity" and at the
sight Of these weapons Wiman falls on his
knees. Laurier scampers and Mr.. Blaine falls
down. These cartoons posted up all over
the country. and the explanations are in
English and French. The liberals have no car
toOns and no songs.