The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14
An Eng Iish Journalist on the Destiny Of
Canada.

Mr.. w. T. STEAD delivered lately In To-
ronto an address which has been reprinted
in the Reuieio Of Rerietrs. The speakers
intentions were excellent, but his sugges-
lions to Canadians will be more TO the point
after he has made longer sojourn on this
side OF the Atlantic. He wants the inhabit-
ants OF the Dominion 10 live on the best of
terms with American citizens and to throw
down tho Custom House wall which at pres
cnt separates their country from the United
States. But his eyes are not yet open to
the only way In which these truly desira-
BILE results can be effected.
Our well-meaning visitor begins by say
ing that To him. as an Englishman. the
question OF supreme Importance is con-
cerned with the future relations OF the
British empire and the American republic.
He perceives that It depends on Canada
what those relations are to be. As a mat
ter OF practical politics. it has been in the
past. and still Is. mainly for Canadians to
determine whether Great Britain and the
United States are to he jealous and
nagging Deighbors. or cordial friends. To
gain the friendship OF the American COM
monwealth might concelvably be made the
paramount object Of England's foreign
policy: and yet all English efforts TO that
end might be frustrated by the Dominion.
So far as the attainment OF American good
will Is aimed at, Canadians must take the
lead. and Englishmen can only follow.
This is all true enough. and equally true
are the comments on the loss suffered by
the Canadians through their inability to
gain access to the American markets. Mr..
Al a.. 90 .hoN 4
we Englishmen were in your place. 1t would
take a good deal OF arguing to convince US
that our interests were bound up with any
commercial policy which consisted in run
ming line of Custom Houses right across
our country" But. when the speaker came
to indicate the practical measures needed
for securing free commercial intercourse
with the United States. he showed that he
had yet to become familiar with the rudl-
ments OF the question. Even with regard
to the essential conditions OF tho once
mooted project of commercial union he was
all at sea: for'he asks, "Supposlng We have
no Custom Houses between ourselves and
the United States. does that not mean
that we should have to adopt the United
States tarifrT" His answer Is. II must
say that men of both political parties with
WHOM have talked have repudidated that.
the Liberals even more strongly than the
Conservatives" 1t Is. nevertheless, obvi-
Gus that. under a system OF commercial
union between the United States and tho
Dominion. the two countries must have
a uniform tariff: otherwise goods i'm
ported from Great Britain into one country
at one rate Of duty might ba transferred
across the line and drive out of the market
goods OF the same kind imported Into the
other country at higher rate Of duty. Tn
less. then. the 100000 Canadians would
adopt the United States tariff. the 20. OOO. 600
Americans would have 10 adopt the Do
minion tarin. Does any man In his senses
imagine that the latter course would be
taken 1T is true that the Canadian Lib
erals have Of late tried to iuggle with
words by substituting unrestricted reci-
procity for commercial union. but they are
perfectly aware that unrestricted reci-
| procity could not he applied without she
necessity of a uniform tann for both coun-
tries becoming Immediately manifest.
In point OF fact, however. the American
people will never agree to a system of I'M
restricted reciprocity. even II the Canadians
should offer to adopt tariff identical In all
respects with that of the United States.
They will rebuke at the ballot box any Adj
miDistration and any party that consent
10 such One-sided bargain or to surh a
needless and mischisyous approach to il as
Is embodied Ia tho WILSON bill. They do
not consider a market OF 5000 GOO consnm-
ers an equivalent for market Of 70, 900. GOO.
They are not In the habit Of buying a com
modify however desirable. at price more
| than twelve times greater than its value.
There is one way. and one way only,
| Ia which Canadians can secure the bless
| ings Of free commercial intercourse With
the rest Of the ARglo-saxon race upon
this continent. They can, at their option,
! enjoy the advantages of American state
hood but only by accepting Its TesDon-
| sibIlities. Only by entering the American