The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-11
Average Circulation
! of
/ THE JOURNAL
for month of August
. 55,4F557
Goodwin Smiths Wisdom.

With one member Of the Canadian cab
met talking very loudly about hlgh pro-
tective policy it is an opportune time 1or
Goodwin Smith to remind the liberals OF
Canada that it was ION a free trade plat
form. distinctly avowed that the Laurier
government appealed to the people at the
last Dominion election and went into
power" Mr.. Smith then goes on to say
that it is paying Sir Wilfrid I4aurier and
his colleagues very bad compliment to
suppose that such being their record they
will give ear to the demand of the manu-
facturers for increase Of protective
duties Still, such changes have been
known in the politics Of all nations. 1t
is not too much to say that Sir ROBERT
Peel who introduced the policy Of free
trade into practice In England, was put
Into power to maintain protection.
But, whatever may be going on in the
minds of the members Of the Canadian
government and however much they may
be departing in practice from their ante
election professions, Mr.. Smith strikes
chord that will find sympathetic response
in many American minds when he says:
That to which nature, common sense,
and the real interest Of our whole people
~ Enthusiastically point is the removal Of the
customs line between Canada and the rest
Of the continent. Canada needs liberty
to send her rich natural products to the
market which yearns for them at her
door, and to buy her manufactures In the
market where. manufacturing being car
ried on upon the largest scale, the goods
are likely to be the cheapest and the best.
1t may be long before the interest Of the
community at large in both countries pre-
walls over the sectional interests, which at
present block the way, and which are for
titled in obstruction by the political aims
and aspirations Of the hour. But prevail
in the end it will. It is not unlikely that
the influx of Americans into our north
west. if 1t continues, may hasten the
course of nature.
For our part we are free to say thai
we would welcome absolute free trade be.
tween the United States and Canada
Free trade between the American states
has hurt none Of them in the long run
Western competition may have ruined
some forms Of agriculture in the east, bu
the east has replaced them with won
derful development Of manufactures The
agriculture Of Ontario will suffer more
from western Canadian competition thar
1t ever would from free trade. Free trad,
between the tsates and the province!
would, in the long run, be good for all
After 11S years of free trade every par
Of the United States Is to-day prosperou
and without injury from or fear of an.
other part. =
ho Con r No toll inc hi
tariff to stimulate manufacture. Ere
trade with the United States would Civ
Canada more manufacture in a decad
than the protective policy will give 1t il
fifty years, though the former might 1
is true, cause some shifting and readjust
ment of industries.
Free trade would give western Canad
an era of growth unsurpassed by an
such era in the history Of the Unite
States. The present Juror about the de
velopment of western Canada Is a grea
pother about comparatively small move
ment The whole country Is receivin
hardly more immigrants than Minnesot
or the Dakotas get every year withor
fuss or feathers. If the tariff wall wer
down tens Of thousand Of American
would go into Canada where thousands 6
now. '-
In thinking that American immigratio
into the Canadian northwest will have a
effect favorable to free trade Mr.. Smit
in accord with many American SUDDEN
of the new movement. Settlers who ha,
been trading with half a continent wi
want to trade with all of it, when the
have removed from the more important I
the less important half. .-. -. A.