The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-05
THE DEMAND FOR
FREER RELATIONS
Another Chapter on Our Trade With
Canada and It's Present
Fetters. i.
Attitude Of the Canadian Political
Parties and How It Has
Changed.
A Reciprocity Convention Will Meet
at Detroit Next Week to
4 Ask Freer Trade.
From The Journal Bureau, Room Is, Post Build

From The Journal Bureau Room Is, Post Build.
ing, Washington. r.-.
= Washington, Dec. 5.-A recent article
in this correspondence regarding Canadian
reciprocity has attracted rather wide at
tention, and called out several letters
from people in the northwest who are In
terested in that question and trying to
hasten the day when some sort OF a, COM
mercial treaty, satisfactory to both
countries, may be made. One Of these
letters in particular, from one Of the best
informed and best known pubic men In the
northwest, expresses some opinion that.
taken in connection with my own recent
article, will be helpful to those who are
anxious to get at the true facts. 1t says
in part: .eH 3 -."- .. n.
Attitude OF the Canadian Parties.
1.-THE conservative party in Canada has
long been a high protection party, while
the liberal party is in the main a free
trade party; but many Of its members are
Gently some Of them have come out
squarely in favor Of a high protective
policy for the Dominion government.
The liberal party is now In power and
parliament will meet some time this win
ter. No election has yet been ordered,
but recent tariff agitation has given rise
to the impression that the present parlia-
ment may be dissolved and an election for
a new parliament ordered.
THE Canadian government since 1865
has made many attempts to secure rec
iprocity with the United States. be-
l1eve these attempts have all been
fatlhered by the liberal party. Sir Will
frid Laurier, the present premier, has
made several trips to Washington in the
interests Of reciprocity; but upon return
ing from his last trip he declared in par
lament that the Canadian government
would make no further overtures to the
United States. That sentiment seems to
be very popular in Canada; and from the
tenor of the newspapers the Canadian
people seem to think that In the matter of
reciprocity they have been rather shabbi-
ly treated by our government
! During the present fall a very animated
tariff discussion has been going on in
Canada, both in public speech and in II
newspapers. ! The conservative par
insisting that the Canadian tariff 6
be made equal to our tariff against - y
Conservative leaders say that the
upon duitable goods coming Il
United States lis 24.S3 per cent,
our, tariff upon dutiable goods comm 9
there II 1888 per cent, being a little y
than double the Canadian duty, and are
insisting that the Canadian duty should be
raised to equal that of the United States.
The liberal party in the main is opposed to
increased duties, and, while not having the
same friendly feeling towards the United
States that it maintained a Jew years ago,
is, I think, still generally in favor of re-
ciprocity. IT,. ~ .|...
During the fall there broke out dis.
cussion in the liberal cabinet. Mr.. Tarte,
representing one of the eastern provinces,
and then the minister of public works.
toured the country making speeches in
Favor Of higher tariff duties, and declaring
that when parliament met, the govern
80 whit 11, h. l.,
would propose high protective law. Mr..
Sifton, another of the cabinet, replied to-
Mr.. Tarte, UNFOLDING the ancient doctrine
of the liberal party in favor Of free trade
or very moderate tariff duties, and declar-
ing that western Canada would not con-
sent to any increase. g.. p. -,-s.'@
There Is no question but what protec-
ton sentiment is growing in Canada, al
though 1t is thus far confined to the east
ern provinces. Western Canada is almost
a unit in favor of free trade or very mod
crate duties and Is certainly very anxious
for reciprocity with the 80 United States.
Notwithstanding the dissension above re-
ferred to, this may be said to be the gen.
eral attitude of the liberal party, and while
the Dominion government will probably
make no further overtures to the United
States, overtures for a. commercial treaty
coming from the United States would, I
have on doubt, be fairly If not joyously,
met by the present Canadian government.
What the result of a new election may be
can not be predicted from this distance.
Many of the liberal papers are insisting
that Mr.. Tarte does not expect to convert
the liberal party into high protection
party, but that his present agitation is for
the purpose Of bringing about a new cleo
ton and placing himself at the head Of
the conservative party and bringing 1t into
power upon high protective platform It
is at least safe to say that the political
condition in Canada is such that with the
more difficult for the United States to Sc
cure satisfactory reciprocity treaty with
the Dominion government. J. l.
Hostility Growing Out Of the War.
Some new facts have come to light since
my first article on Canadian reciprocity
was written, regarding the commercial
convention of 1856 That treaty was made
in that year, to run for a period of ten
years, at the expiration Of which time
year was given for the contracting parties
to determine whether it should be re-
newed. The Canadian government, it
seems, desired renewal; the United States
did not, and 1t therefore expired by limita-
ton, and not by abrogation. It is claimed
in certain reputable quarters that it was
not so much the fact that Canada, had
somewhat the better of the bargain In
that treaty that influenced the United
States, as it was bitter feeling of hostil-
ity towards Canada growing out of the
attitude Of that country during the Amer
lean civil war. Canada like Great Brit
ain, gave aid and comfort to the southern
states during that struggle. and for more
than ten years following the war this
country, so my informant claims was not
in a frame of mind to have any friendly
negotiations with the Canadian govern
n1ent.
Aside from this feeling Of hostility
growing out Of passion engendered by the
civil war, 1t is quite likely that reciprocity
with Canada has been prevented by self
ish interests in the United States For
instance, at the time of the meeting Of
the joint high commission, the lumbermen
of this country sent a representative to
Quebec to insist that there should be no
change in the lumber tariff This insist
ence, it is quite possible, had almost as
much to do with breaking of negotiations
as the Alaskan boundary question.
In the last analysis, blame for the fail
ure Of reciprocity treaties. not with Cam
ada only, but with other trading ma tions Of
the world who are anxious for closer bust
ness relations with the United States, lies
at the door of perhaps two-score members
of the two houses of congress, few, if
any, of whom have been influenced in this