The Saint Paul globe., 1902-09-11
A sHREWD SILENCE.

w Ille Tic prevailing COIllcdy OI ISc-
publican devotion to tariff revision and
reciprocity is being played, out, 1t is
worth while to direct attention again
to the truth that Republican states
men and platforms alike, at least in
this region, give very wide berth to
the principal requirement In that re-
spect Of the people of the Northwest.
No Republican candidate for congress
in the Northwest pretends for a mo-
ment that the people of this section
do not demand a revision of the tariff,
at least to the extent of serious reduc-
tions in the prevailing duties on
number of articles. Nor will any en-
lightened Republican stop to question
the statement that the people of the
states bordering on Canada regard the
existence of the existing tariff as a
monstrous invasion of their right to
a free market with neighboring and
kindred people. Yet there Is not a
word being said by any Of the Repub-
lican candidates for congress concern
ing their attitude on the question of
freer trade with the Canadian North
west.
Day by day American farmers are
crowding across the border, buying
steads. Within the next five years, If
the present currents of immigration
continue society in the Western prov
inces of Canada will be essentially
American. A geographical line will
continue to separate Minnesota and
Ontario, North Dakota and Manitoba,
Montana and Assinaboine, Idaho and
Alberta, Washington and British Co
lumbia; but the people of those states
will be alike in their habits and usages
in social, commercial and political life.
They will speak the same tongue, mar
ry and intermarry among each other,
travel in the same railroad cars and in
the same steamships, profess and prac-
tice the same religion, read the same
literature, subscribe for the same pa
pers and have q common paramount
interest in all that affects the welfare
of those who make their homes on this
continent. Yet, unless there is change
in the administration Of American ma
tional affairs, they will continue, as
they are today, to be debarred from
carrying on trade of any kind with
each other save under penalties which
are prescribed In the interest Of priv
ileged few on both sides Of the border
who are being enriched at the expense
of the masses Of both countries and
by the aid of the governments of the
two peoples.
This is a state Of things which our
Republican congressman and candidates
for congress and our Republican nation
al politicians find it very convenient to
keep silent on at this time. And the
press and people of this section, unani-
nous on the need of tariff adjustment
between the two regions, ratify the 81
lence. 1t Is no wonder, under the cir
cumstances, that a feeling of bitter
hostility to American influences should
manifest itself on the part of Canadian
politicians and people on every avail
able occasion. 1t will be no wonder If
the American people, who are now
making their homes in the Canadian
Northwest should, during the coming
decade, find themselves possessed Of
the same feeling of unfriendliness to-
ward their own country, as the result
of the blind and brutal economic pol
icy which it enforces against the peo-
pie on the other side Of the border line.