The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12

Her only hope is the requirement OF a mo-
nonolv Of the British market for food prod
meta through the imposition by the mother
conntrv of duties on similar commodities
from tho United States and other food
surveying foreign countries. But this
hone can never be fulfilled, owing to
the fiscal and industrial conditions OF
the Dominion itself. This was DEM
onstrnted the other day In London,
as the National RevietC points out, when
Sir w1LFR1D LAURIER found himself con-
strained to reject MIR. CHAMBERLAIN's
offer. What the offer was we learn from
the Toronto Globe, the leading ministerial
naper in Canada. We quote from the In.
snired communication During the visit
Of the Colonial Premiers to Great Britain,
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN made q proposal that
there should be absolute free trade between
Great Britain and her colonies, on condi.
ton that tho former placed a customs tax
on commodities from foreign countries"
Had this offer been accepted, Canada
would have been in a position to GUST from
the British market the food products Of the
United States. Sir w. LAURIER, however,
speakine for Canada, said that he could not
accept the proposal. Whyi He gave two
reasons. First, except by resorting to d.
rect taxation, which the Canadian people
would not bear, 1t would be impossible, he
said, for the Ottawa Government to meet its
expenditures without the revenue derived
from duties levied upon British imports.
Secondly, II British manufactures were
imported free of duty, the whole fabric of
Canadian manufactures, which had been
laboriously built up, would be levelled at
q single stroke.
1t Is impracticable, therefore, for Canada,
now or ever, to admit British goods entirely
free of duty. Yet, until she does so, Eng
land will never consent to give Canadian
food products any advantage in the British
market over similar commodities from the
United States. Nothing could be more dis.
tinct and peremptory than Mr.. CHAMBER
LA1N's utterance on this point. We
again quote from the Globe: Suffice
1t to say that Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN re-
marked, with reference to Sir w. LAURIER's
statement, that he would not touch with
the tongs the subject of preferential tariff
THAT Is to say, Of duties to be levied by
England on all food products except those
from the colonies] on any other basis than
that of absolute free trade between Great
Britain and her colonies"
The National Revtetp, indeed, would be
willing to impose a small duty on food
products imported from outside the EN-
pire, provided the colonies, in return,
would make preferential attachments from
their tariffs in favor of the mother country.
That is because the RerietD is an organ Of
the land-owning aristocracy, which secretly
regrets free trade. and would like, on gen.
eral principles. to see duties on grain re-
stored, believing that these would enhance
the value of land in the British islands.
This would not be the case If Canada, sim
gle handed, could in a short time supply
all the grain which is at present imported
into England from outside countries. Prob
ablythe National ReuteW does not believe
in the capacity of Canada to do this, but
there it is mistaken. if the opinions of
those most conversant with the resources
of the Dominion's Northwest provinces are
trustworthy.
1t Is plain from the position taken by Mr..
C~HAMBERLAIN that any attempt to impose
| duties on grain in England for any consid-
GRAFTON short of absolute free trade with
the colonies would split the Salisbury Gov
| eminent in twain and result In an over
whelming defeat Of the proposal before the
people. On the other hand, Canada, as we
have seen, is so situated that she can never
offer the one consideration required. She
has, therefore. no prospect of securing any
substantial advantage from her political
connection with Great Britain.