The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-21
DEFYINe PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

The battle between a high and a low
tariff, between protectionism and fair
and free trade, is being fought out in
Canada as in the United States. The
party of progress there, as here, is ur-
gent in it's demand for the removal Of
all artificial barriers erected against
trade with other nations. Canada
energies from the recent conference OF
colonial premiers in London occupy
ing the position that she is unwilling
to enter into colonial zollverein on the
lines suggested by the British colonial
secretary, or on any lines which will
restrict her trade with outside nations.
During his European sojourn Pre-
mier Laurier visited France. At a
banquet given to him at Lille he told
his hosts that France had an open
market with Canada, and hat it was
his hope of seeing in France at an
early day a local market for Canadian
products.
The Tory party of Canada, like the
party which calls itself Republican in
the United States, stands, in the path
of freer trade with the nations. The
cry of the Canadian Conservatives is
for protection and still more protec-
ton. Their attitude toward the United
and the policy they advocate is practi-
cally that which we pursue toward
Canada, of virtual trade exclusion.
Like their party exemplars in the
United States, their aim is not protec-
ton of domestic industry against out
side competition, so much as it is the
exclusion of outside people from trade
with Canada. Fortunately for their
future success, the Liberals, on the
other hand, appear to have become
minion government, to the removal of
the principal barriers nov existing
against outside, and notably, Ameri-
can trade.
The columns of the Dominion press
show day after day that the Canadian
people are anxious to extend their
trade with the United States. The
tariff which their government now
maintains is almost innocuous in COM
parison with that which we maintain
against their products; and, to hat
economical condition we adhere even
at a time when own people are
rushing over the Canadian boundary
line and making their homes on the
broad and fertile fields of Western
Canada. The second officer in point of
Importance in our general government
has declared against any interference
with the high tariff maintained through
the Dingley law. He has avowed his
readiness to withdraw from the public
service forever rather than sanction
any interference with the existing tar
if. The chief officer of our general
government, the president himself, has
gone on record declaring that he is
with the existing tariff because of the
Lnsettlement Of business conditions
which, in his judgment, would result
therefrom. The party Of President
Roosevelt and Speaker Henderson on
tinues to occupy the attitude which the
latter gentleman ~withdraws from pub
lie life rather than see interfered with
the policy of a prohibitive tariff.
While the people of both the Ameri-
can and the Canadian Northwest, of all
parties urge upon their governments
the removal of the barriers which now
exist against a free interchange of
commercial commodities among them;
and while thousands Of American
farmers are settling in Canada, our
government at Washington not only
adheres to the policy of preserving the
Dingley schedules inviolate, but repu-
dates the demand of the country and
their own professions for reciprocal
trade relations with other nations.
Sir Wilfred Laurier sees an open
market in Canada for French products
and foreSees an open market in France
for Canadian products. But no Amer
lean in private or public life can see
or foresee aught between the relations
OF the United States n France save
one of commercial antagonism INT ex-
clusion. The reciprocity treaty which
France has proposed to the United
States has been to all intents con-
temptuously rejected. The president
and the congressional majority of the
party in power have told the French
and the American people that there
would be no modification of the tariff
duties now existing with France or
any other nation, either through the
agency of commercial treaties or 9TH
erwise.
This is the situation under which
the Republican party enters upon the
prevailing congressional election, ask
ing that the voters maintain a high