New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-17
lower their tariffs on British exports in short. to

lower their tariffs on British eXports' I'D short' W
introduce the American principle OF reciprocity
set forth in Section of the Mckinley act, a. far
as it could be introduced under the very diierent
conditions of British trade. But he stated ois-
tinctly in his Hastings speech that Britain
could not afford to tax food or raw material I'm
ported from the United States and other foreign
lands. To do SO, he said, in speech IN the
House Of Lords four years ago, would be to
create in England "a condition OF things scarcely
distinguishable from civil war" Upper, how
ever brought the scheme before the Imperial
Trade Congress which recently sat in London, but
it was voted down by the British delegates, and,
now that Mr.. Gladstone is in office, it Will not
be heard of again Intelligent Canadians, Tories
and Liberals alike, are we'll aware that Canada
cannot prosper in her present isolation her
only hope lies in obtaining closer trade relations
with the United States, and the most expeditions
route TO that goal is by political union. Sir john
Thompson and lis Tory supporters tell the peo-
plc that it is their duty as loyal British sub
iects, to live on porridge" rather than sue TOT
admission to American citizenship, but the farmers
lumbermen, miners and fishermen do not see 10
in that light They are annexing themselves In
dividually at the rate Of 100000 year, ana
that terrible drain upon a population under
1000. 900 is forcing those who remain behind
TO regard political union very practical qies-
ton indeed.
The financial future of Canada is another grave
nrobcm. Like tho frog in the fable who wished
to I've rs big as the OK, she has endeavored 10
keen I'D in the procession with the United States
hv spendng vast sums Of borrowed money IN the
construction of State-owned and State-aided rail-
roads The net Dominion debt and the net deot"
of the several provinces now amount to S2'o,ooo'-
Dr. vA
600 or Sj7 per head Of the population. By uhe
ccnsus Of 1890 the National and State debts or
this country were only Sls per head, and since
then the National debt has been reduced.
Sir John Thompson was one of the counsel 1or
the United States before the Halifax Fishery Com
mission created by the Washington treaty OF 1871.
Rut since he Joined the Dominion Cabinet five
re,rs 400 he has become a thorough lingo, and
nppcars to be fond of displaying his i'll will toward
the American Nation. He the moving spirit
behind the Canadian poachers in Behring Sea, ana
I. wa. on his advice that the Canadian Govern
mont refused TO remove the discrimination against
American vessels using the Welland Canal which
has brought upon Canadian shipping the retalla-
tory toll at the Sault certain class OF cana
1ians delight in his hostility 20 the United States,
and are much pleased with no surrender speech
he delivered the other day at Petrolca. But cana
dians MS a body are beginning TO sec that 1t IS
a mistake for their Ministers to indulge IN Yankee
batting The Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific
railroads have an infinite deal 10 lose by such
game. and their rcmonstrances are PRODUCING an
effect.
Sir John Macdonald, who spoke from long
experience, used TO Say that the Dominion was the
hardest country in TIE world TO govern by reason
NJ her proximity to the United States and the
hemorrhagc of population which it entails, of her
pcculiar physical confguration. the provinces be-
ing so many fishing rods tied by the ends and
Of tho cleavage in race language and social struc-
IRE which divides French from English speaking
Canada. lie conrivcd to keep things going after
fashion by a lavish expenditure and by other
and moro Unworthy devices; but the ioh has over
taxed Mr. Abbott's strength. AM Is likely 70
prove too much for Sir John Thompson.