Evening star., 1898-08-24

fellowship with their ancient enemies
There was also a tradition of resentment
against Washington and the Virginians
from the time of Braddock's defeat, and
various other causes, which kept the
French Canadians loyal to the English
crown. My host explained it all as though
an explanation were due an American vis-
itor.
The failure of Canada to join the confed-
Grafton is one of the momentous might
have-beens of history. But If 1t had not
refused there would have been no joint high
commission meeting in Quebec today to
settle points in dispute with the United
States, some of which go back for nearly
a hundred years. 1 don't know whether
The commission will succeed in settling all
the controverted questions, because the
basis of some of them lies very deep. There
are even those who say that political union
between the United States and Canada is
the only true solution, and that all other
remedies are palliatives. They whisper it,
however, because the agitation of that SUBJ
ject is not now popular 1t is certain that
political union is not for this generation.
Therefore, the conference proceeds on diff
ferent lines. The catalogue of subjects to
be considered is a long one. They show
how mutually dependent the two countries
are upon one another. because the COM
mission which met in Washington last No
vember failed to reach an agreement is no
reason why the present conference should
be fruitless. though there appears to be an
understanding that the main issues will be
determined at later sessions to be held in
Washington rather than at the present
meeting in Quebec.
PROBABLY an approach will be made to-
wards settling the Alaska boundary line
the need of which has been accentuated bv
the klondike discoveries. With this will
20 d oehhluon OF the mining rights of citi-
zens OF either country. Probably the At
lantic fisheries will be placed on a more
satisfactory basis and some minor disputes
about traffic on the great lakes arranged.
Perhaps also the supplement to the treaty
of 1877, by which the United States and
Great Britain limit their naval force in the
lakes may be bl oadened. With the awak-
ened interest of the American people in the
navy they might welcome a modification
of that ancient provision so that it won't
be necessary to make a voyage to the sea
coast In order to see a warship
When 1t comes to making rules for the
transit of merchandise across the border
and collateral matters, headway NAV not
be made at the preliminary conferences
While mutual concessions are necessary to
an international agreement, railroad cor
porations are not managed on the basis of
good feeling between two countries Re
Gently awakened sentiment of kinship does
not affect their relations to one another
The same is true of the readjustment of
customs duties. That must be settled on
basis of mutual interest without sentiment.
For this reason the croakers are already
perching near the commission and prophe-
sying that it will be a failure.
Canada Wants Reciprocity.
1t does not take long to learn that this
is the underlying issue. Canada wants reci-
procity with the United States Its prefer
entail tariff with England and the English
colonies is in the first stage so that a con-
elusive Judgment of that policy may not be
formed, yet there is an admitted willing
ness to let the United States have the same
privilege In return for tariff concessions
AS Canada seeks market across tie bor-
der for natural products and no even basis
of exchange can be made for manufactured
articles, she is ready to balance the disad-
vantages by yielding some of her preten-
sions in the Bering seal fisheries and other
matters.
L 90 not pretend to guess whether the
reciprocity which Is SO earnestly desired
will be conceded. Chairman Dingley some
times shakes his head as though doubtful
whether he could persuade the ways and
means committee to formulate the neces-
sary legislation, while Senator Fairbanks
is quite conservative in his views on the
possibility of getting the Senate to ratify
treaty which committed it to an open
door on the Canadian border.
Domestic politics is involved in that
proposition on both sides of the line This
does not render less interesting the condi-
tions under which the joint high commits
sion is meeting and the chief personality
in it, At time when the Anglo-Saxon al
lance is something more than dream and
possibilities, the circumstance is remark
able that the Canadian statesman who
hopes to profit most from it has no in
herited sympathy with it. Sir Wilfrid Lau-
rier is Canadian French to the marrow.
He understands the Anglo-Saxon charac-
teristics as Disraen did or he would not to-
day be premier of the dominion and the
liberal party be in power. One does not
have to be long in Canada to learn that
the government means Premier Laurfer
just as in the days of conservative ascend
ency 1t meant Sir John A. Macdonald
THE government Is not an abstract term
as is the opposition" 1t appears to be a
pretty aggressive opposition, and all its at
tacks are centered on Sir Wilfrid. II the
conference ulfirna talv sotte6a. <ha ra>1 ~