The sun., 1903-07-14

pIchehJ by5tcLl VI SOV0IAHlchU, dliu any
and all questions arising out Of present
conditions are essentially commercial.
Political matters may and should be left
to take care Of themselves. The CONNER
oial question is rapidly taking an impor-
tance which cannot be ignored with either
wisdom or safety. The United States will
err greatly il, in the consciousness OF its
own strength and greatness, it regards
the matter with indifference, or if it as
sumcs an attitude Of commercial hos
tility toward its energetic northern
neghbor.
1t is not Canadian brains, energy and
capital only that are making for Canada s
rapid, almost phenomenal, development.
In all those items, American influence is
strongly marked. Millions Of American
dollars are in Canadian railways Cana
dian mines and Canadian forests. The
financial interests of the two coun-
tries are becoming more closely linked
and more intimately involved every
year. Americans invest their money in
the securities Of Canada's prosperous
and prospectively prosperous railways
Branches Of large American manufact-
uring concerns are numerous, and they
represent large American investment.
Americans own and operate enormous
areas of Canadas lumber tracts and
Americans are heavily interested in
Canada's vast and varied metal and
mineral resources, from Cape Breton to
the Rockies
This " invasion of Canada by active
American capital exctes neither fear nor
jealousy. On the contrary, it is well
coined so long as no effort is made to
interfere with Canadian politics. As a
rule. no such effort is made. The Ameri-
can investor in Canadian enterprises has
at home all the politics he needs to keep
him alive and active. He is in Canada
for business, and the Canadian is glad to
join with him and share the fruits of his
investment and his commercial activity.
Even an approximation of the amount
of American capital thus invested Is diff
cult to make. but in the aggregate it rep
resents pretty bunch Of millions. With
out them, Canada would probably be less
prosperous than she is to-day. Canada s
laws and system of government offer
security and stability to American in
vestment in her bolmdless resources,
and Americans avail themselves of the
opportunity presented. Their enter
prises are not taxed out of existence and
their wares and products are placed upon
an equal footing with those of the home
people.
A close connection now exists between
American and Canadian capital, energy,
and production. The question which
now pre- sents itsnlf with ever-ncreasing
force is, how far this connection shall
continue in the process of distribution.
As We have already shown, Canada is one
of our best customers. Her purchases
for the last fiscal year were not far from
sl25 O00, 900. What is the best method of
increasing that amount by measures, not
necessarily reciprocity or commercial
union, through which Canada's purchas-
ing power will be increased to the mu-
tual advantage of both countries?
Canada is already a rich country.
Her wealth is increasing from year to
year with great rapidty. We're she to
build high tariff wall around her iron
and steel industries, and manufacture
at home, she could readily exclude much
that she now buys from us. We're she to
place high export duties on her forest
products she could seriously affect our
interests in lumber and the allied prod
ucts. The rapid development of her
enormous productive areas in the north
west and the Increase and extension of
her transportation facilities may make
her a serious competitor in the worlds
market for the products of farm and
field.
Is the United States to cooperate with
her or to compete with her? Are there
not lines in which we can greatly increase
or purchases from her, and, through
such means, greatly increase her pur-
chases from us? To sit in satisfied con-
temptation of the enormous balance Of
trade which now stands in our favor may
be very cheerful, but is it either good
policy or good business?