The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-01
The Attacks on the Canadian Liberals.

The oppone nts Of the Iaurter Admins
tration are obtaining what they regard
as effective ammunition from an ostendbly
Liberal source. We refer to the Cleaner.
a well-edited newspaper published In the
progressive town Of Huntingdon, which
supported the present Premier four years
ago, but now opposes him on the plea that
the promises made by him before election
have been broken. 1t may be well 10 ex-
anime the grounds for this accusation,
which Ia likely 70 play a considerable part
In the campaign.
The cleaner charges that, during the can
vass which preceded the last general cleo
ton, Sir Wu.PRID LAURIRR repeatedly
pledged himself TO reduce the cost Of the
Dominion Government, to give the country
a revenue tariT and an honest administra-
ton Of the revenue, and to make no more
grants OF public lands. As a matter OF
fact, the present Premier and his col
leagues. who declared four years ago that
the Dominion Government could be carried
on with an expenditure of s3s 900, 900
OF less, have spent over fifty millions
a year. Instead Of instituting a tariff
for revenue. they nave continued the old
protection tariff. reducing. 1t ia true.
the duties on certain manufactured articles.
but compromising the Canadian manufaCt-
urers for the reduction by placing the raw
materials, which they use, on the free list.
The Cleaner further asserts that. instead
of the revenue being honestly expended,
there has been more extravaganza and cor
ruption than was ever before Witnessed.
Instead. moreover, OF preserving intact
what IL left Of the public domain, millions
of acres have been conceded 10 railway
men. Again, although no more bonuses
were 10 be offered for the encouragement
Of particular industries, a combination Of
iron producers in the Lower Provinces
ia alleged TO have received a bonus that
will deplete the revenue.
Another annoying feature Of the course
pursued by the Cleaner il It's recurrence
to the tactics adopted by all the liberal
newspapers before the last general election.
IT persists in depicting in dark colon the
lot Of the consumer under the Dominion
tariff. and enumerates. one by one, the
various necessaries Of life on which protec-
tive tariffs are imposed. II maintains
that the criticisms. in which all the organs
OF the Liberal party formerly Joined. have
the same force to-day that they had before
1895, being Just rs much justified by facts
now az they were then. After pointing out
that the liberal Government last year
increased taxation by upward Of sl2.-
900, 900, the Cleaner asks: IF that money
did not come ont Of the earnings Of the
productive class, whence did II come'-
II opines that, II that twelve and n half
million dollars had been left in the pockets
Of farmers and mechanics, they would
have been Just that much richer to-day
and predicts that tho mass Of the aCri-
c~ulturists will not condone the violation
Of It's tariff pledges by the present Govern
ment. Those who think, IT says. that
when polling day comes, the Liberals OF
the agricultural districts will vote for q
Government because II calls itself Liberal
although II has gone back on Liberal prin.
ciples and pledges. are mistaken. The
farmers, as n body. will vote consistently
with their convictions"
To these attacFa the defenders of Sil
wILPRrp IAURIFR reply that. II he hos
added 100000 10 the public deb Of
the Dominion. the addition was indis,
pensable and was amply warranted by
the importance Of the objects to which
II was applied. Then. too. if the Govern,
ment spends more. this is because il ha,
more to spend, having secured n large
revenue from the tarin in spite Of the many
and large reductions made therein. lr
other words. Mr.. FIELDING, the present
Finance Minister. has evinced more sagaCity
and foresight than did his predecessor
and has fulfilled the Premier's promis,