The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-23
CANADA TALKS
OF The TARIFF
John Charlton Tells the Parliament
Why Nothing Should Be Done
This Year.
Wait for the United States to Show
& It's Hand on Reel
procity.
70 Put Up the Tariff Now Would
Be a Menace What Canada
Will Give in Return.
Special To Tho Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Ottawa, Ont. April 23.--In the debate
on the budget In the Canadian parlla-
ment John Charlton, one of the joint high
commissioners, defended the government
for not revising the tariff this year. 1t
was the part OF prudence, he said, to re-
frain until it was seen what the reassem-
bling Of the joint high commission showed
the United States was prepared to do In
regard to reciprocity. He believed 1t was
hopeless to look for any return prefer
ence from Great Britain as the effect upon
Great Britain's foreign trade would be
disastrous If it attempted to meet Cana
dian wishes. 1t would precipitate tariff
war So said Mr.. Charlton. Canadians
had better let the preference drop. 81
Discussing the prospects of reciprocity
with the United States, Mr. Charlton said
it would be unwise to act on the leader
Of the opposition suggestion to put up
the tariff before negotiating with the
United States. This would be regarded
as a menace and would defeat the possi
bility of getting any concessions at pres
ent. He believed the prospects were ia
vorable for securing larger concessions
than many people anticipated. He had
been a decided supporter of reciprocity
with the United States since 1874,
when he had been selected by Mr.. Mac
kenzie to defend the Brown-Daft reci-
opposition under sir John Macdonald, but
Of recent years he had greatly resented
the unfairness of American tariff legisla
ton towards Canada.
If we failed now to secure fair treat
ment from the United States he would be
in favor Of the most drastic measures
against the United States. He believed
that this was the Interpretation to place
on the finance minister's speech. who. free
thn he uyo116 not ventura to
resist the strong popular feeling In favor
of retaliatory legislation which would
| arise in Canada if reciprocity negotiations
once more failed. 1t was most desirable.
however, that the seeds of discord which
have been sown in the past shall not pro-
duce this disastrous crop. In the interest
Of both. Canada and the United States
should live in unity and friendly inter-
course. 1t was also desirable in the inter-
| ests Of the British empire He stood for
reciprocity for reasons higher than the
price Of Goldfish. He believed that the
| time was ripe for securing a reciprocity
| treaty. The Americans had become dis
abused of their false ideas Of Canada. The
| campaign of education which has been
| going on for this past three years had
been productive of good results as to
| what should be the basis of a reciprocity
arrangement.
| It should involve reciprocity in natural
pTOOuCtS. IL lne American asked SdNdQd
what she would give in return, the Cana
| dian representatives would say. we will
refrain from Furnishing you as you ought
/ to be punished by cutting Oft your exports
Of manufactures to us by a prohibitive
duty. We may also abolish the preference
to Great Britain. The new settlers going
into the west are largely Americans. They
will want to sell their wheat where they
| can get the best market. They have no
prejudices against dealing with the United
| States. The only way Canada can prevent
their wheat going to the United States is
to force it itno Canadian channels of
transportation by imposing export duties
on wheat. The United States will in all
before long. because they need our hard
wheat The wheat area of the United
States Is diminishing. Its urban popula-
tion is increasing, out Of all proportion to
its rural population. 1t will soon be a
food importing country. The two coun-
tries are geographically one = Quebes is
naturally one with the New England
states the Canadian northwest is geo
graphically part of the Mississippi val
| ley. ~y
Mr. Charlton said that In the future
people would wonder at the narrow. con-
temptible bitterness of the people who
opposed reciprocity. He concluded by
saying that this winter would see part
ing Of the ways. and Providence will de-
eide whether Canada should take the path
of exclusion and animosity or reciprocity
and friendliness. = .......