The herald., 1896-03-26
CANADIAN CONDITIONS
Considered at Dinner to the Secretary for
Colonies

DR.. Montague, Sir Robert Herbert, Gen.
eral Galway, Hon. Steveiy Hill. Admiral
McClintock. Sir Bartlefrere Colmer and
Messrs. w. E. M. Tomlinson, S. Gedge and
L. T. Bucknill, Q. c., members of parlia-
ment, and many Canadians were present
at the dinner given to the Rt. Hon. Joseph
Chamberlain, secretary of state for the
colonies, by the Canada club. Mr.. Cham
berlain replied to a toast to the health of
Lord Aberdeen, in which were coupled the
names of Chamberlain and Montague.
He said there were many men on both
sides of the Atlantic who had once assum-
ed that it was the manifest destiny of
Canada to be absorbed into the great re-
public on it's southern frontier. (Cres of
mo, never.')
Mr.. Chamberlain continued: "That was
the opinion. 1t is an ancient controversy,
and will not refer to it now, except to re-
mark the contrast between the doubt and
hesitation then, and the determination
now of every son of Canada to maintain
the local constitution in his special iden-
tity, and at the same time to draw closer
the bonds which unite him to the parent
state.
1.-THE shadow of war did darken the
horizon. and to none was the shadow more
ominous than to our fellow citizens of
Canada"
Remarking that it was natural that
Canada should take the initiative, Mr..
Chamberlain cited the resolutions of the
Ottawa conference in favor of q customs
arrangement between Great Britain and
the colonies and also MIR. McNeiPs resolu-
ton in the Canadian legislature on Tues
day favoring an ad valorem duty on for
eign imports. Although he foresaw very
serious dislocation of trade with England
# such proposal became effective, Mr.:
merited respectful consideration. This
proposal, Mr.. Chamberlain proceeded.
would involve at least a small duty on food
| q nd raw material and would increase the
cost of living and the pressure on the work.
ing classes. 1t would also tend to increase
the cost of production, and would thereby
prejudice us in competing with foreign
countries in neutral markets. 1t is useless
for us to shut our eyese to these facts. In
return we should get very small consid-
Grafton in the shape Of a preference, maybe
per cent, and perhaps even per cent, in
competing with colonial manufactures.
This is very startling proposal for free
trade country, aud seems in its present
form impossible for us to adopt.
Mr.. Chamberlain called particular atten-
ton to Lord Ripon's statement that an
arrangement creating customs union
comprising the whole empire, by which the
aggregate customs revenue might be equi-
tally proportioned among the principal
communities, would in principle be free
from objection.
The Times says: Mr.. Chamberlain's
stirring speech departed from the tradi-
tional commonplaces of imperial protec-
ton and struck boldly the keynote of free
trade within the empire. 1t is important
to note that while the speech appears to
meet with an encouraging reception, Can
ada has hitherto been more committed to
the protectiunist system than any other
colony. Even in Canada, however, protec-
ticn is less popular than formerly.
.ibe Standard (Conservative) says: Mr..
Chamberlain speech will be remembered
as marking the beginning of fresh era in
the relations between the colonies and
the mother country.
The Daily News (LiberaD says: We are
not prepared to abandon free trade for a
doubtful prospect Of incratating ourselves
with the colonies. Mr.. Chamberlain's sug-
fortunate moment. Mr.. Chamberlain
was absent from the discussion
and from the discussion of Mr..
Longs bill applying rigid protection
against one of Capada's principal exports.
He is none the less responsible for the bill,
and If he means what he said last evening
he ought to resign unless the bill is with
drawn.
The Daily Graphic says: Mr.. Chamber
lain has again arisen to great opportuni-
ty. We want to get to business. Mr..
Chamberlain has made the first move. 1t
is the crooked move OF q knight, but it is
a thing to be thankful for.
The Morning Post says: 1t may be de.
scribed as an epoch making speech. The
Salisbury cabinet, in developing this policy
will earn the gratitude of generations of
Englishmen yet unborn.