New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-10
CANADIAN OTERTURES.

Sir Wilfril Iaurior has undertaken great
task M not the easiest time He comes miner
70 settle all controversies between the uhlted
States and Canada and to put the two coun-
tries on more friendly and more intimate re-
Iationship than ever before. He proposes to do
in few days what numerous other men OF AT
least comparable rank and ability have vainly
tried to do during n long series or years. but
that Is not ALL He comes on this arduous cr-
rand az a time when special causes are operat-
ing 10 hold the nations even further apart than
usual Sir Wilfrid himself. by his own ardent
manifestation of devotion to the British Crown
last summer greatly stimulated the Imperial
spirit in Canada. and consequently, certain
degree Of chauvinsm if not or actual ahimoSi'y
toward this country. Loyalty to the mother
country need not necessarily mean enInity TO
any other, especially not to one so closely pound
TO the mother country by ties or a1fectlon ana
kinship as this. Nevertheless, the idea has or
late been widely prevalent in Canada that
closer relations with the United States imply
proportionate severance from Great Brltaln.
and So conversely. there is a feeling that IN
creasing loyalty to the latter should mean more
strictly holding aoof from the former
The new tariff arrangement between Canada
and Great Britain Is another force making IN
the same direction. 1t leads Canadians to feel
that they should cultivate closer commercial
relations with Great Britain than with this
country and even that they should refrain from
making any advances toward the latter 1t
acts as certain bar against commercial
union or even reciprocity between Canada and
this country too, from the United States point
Of view; for it is evident that if Canada lets
In British goods free of duty or at special rates,
this country cannot let in those goods from
Canada at special rates without practically
openng its markets at those rates to British
goods, and that Is something for which it is
certainly not yet prepared. The sealing Ques-
ton Is also to be mentioned in this category.
There is no concealng the fact that in the
United States Canada is generally held respon-
sible for Great Brtain's deClinaton 10 enter
the international conference, while. on the other
hand the idea-an entirely groundless and UNI
Just one-has been widely spread in Canada
that this Government tried TO cntrap Canada
and Great Britain into conference in which
they would be at an unfair disadvantage.
These things have tended TO make relations
between the countries less cordial than they
should be.
In the face of them, however, and in the face
of various other circumstances OF like charac-
ter. the Canadian Prime Minister and one of
his foremost colleagues come hther on the
comprehensive errand already described. They
are 10 be welcomed most cordially and hope
fully. The circumstances which We have men
toned are not to be regarded as insuperable
obstacles to the success Of their mission. ON
the contrary. they are evidences Of the desira-
blity of exactly such a mission and indica-
tons of the possibility OF its success. For
wherever there is demand there should be
and may be supply. Wherever there IS con
troversy there NAV be a settlement. Wherever
there is eStrangement there may be recon
citation All that is needed is a mutual spirit
of earnest desire and Of sweet reasonable
ness. Such a spirit II may be confidently as
serted. exists at Washington. That il also ex-
lists and is potent at Ottawa the coming of these
Canadian statesmen IS ample proof. 1t ought,
therefore TO be possible for the conferences
which are about TO be held NJ Washington 10
be productive Of great and lasting good TO both
the countries represented. The TWO ought 10
be bound together far more closely than they
areas closely as possible. indeed, without the
one abandoning its National principle of FRO
lection or the other renquishng her loyalty to
her imperial mother country.