The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-11

ne relations OF the Dominion OF Can
ada to the mother country and to the
sister colonies of the British empire are
assuming phase which, if not serious,
is decidedly strained. The passage of
the Mckinley bill has had a serious effect
upon Canada. In this country the agri
cultural produce of the provinces has
found its most favorable market The
people of those regions have learned to
rely on it, and to order their business to
conform to its demands. New Bruins
wick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edwards
Island found in New England the mark
ct for thousands of dollars worth of
their eggs, cheese, butter, potatoes and
hay and grain crops. The thrifty French
farmers of Quebec, weary of the stated
and historic tithes of the church, which
take one bushel out of every twenty-six
of oats, corn, barley and certain other
cereal crops, have turned their farms in
to hay, which they could sell very profit
ably on this side of the line, and at the
same time avoid the demands of the
church. But the Mckinley bill, with it's
tariff on hay, has compelled the Canadian
farmer to sell his hay and other dutiable
produce to the American consumer at
price equal to the American market.
price, minus the tariff duty. The Cana-
dian farmers have found that the United
States tariff is tax upon the foreign
producer, instead of upon the American
consumer. The result has been consid
cradle political perturbation in Canada,
and searching around for better ar
rangements with the United States, and
closer commercial arrangements with
some of the sister colonies of England,
who may be able to afford the needed
market for Canadian produce. Among
other things this has resulted in move
ment for including New Foundland in
the Dominion confederation, and in
agitation for further powers of sovereign
ty, such as Great Britain has never yet
granted to any OF her colonies.
Canada asks the right to negotiate
commercial treaties with other nations.
In short she asks the right which is one
of the highest functions of nationality.
The premier of Canada and the financial
minister of the cabinet are already on
their way to England to ascertain how
Mr.. Gladstone views this remark able de-
mand of Canada. This mission can be
considered as nothing less than remark
able and significant. 1t shows how the
centrifugal force of the revolutions of
time and change are operating continu-
ally to disrupt the relations of England
and her colonies. First the mother had
to give them the right to tax themselves,
then the right to levy duties against her.
self, and now, when the tie is hardly
more than one of sentiment, Canada
comes and asks the right to negotiate
treaties like an Independent and sovereign
nation. And she asks this in no spirit
of idle restlessness; but because she is
forced along that path by the force of in
cxorable commercial and industrial ne
cessity. The destinies of Canada lie not
with the little, although mighty isle over
the sea. but with the great, populous,
growing and promising nation which lies
beside her. She is struggling against that |
destiny with all the vigor that pride and
prejudice can command; but in the end
they will be in vain.