The sun., 1903-05-17

uueilce, one must address himself to tho
reason rather than TO the emotio rs OF the
people. He has been at all times distrustful
OF extreme views and Of Incorporate sd-
vocacy HE has always been doubtful
OF the wisdom Of violent changes, and
impatient OF mere demagogery Burke
required In a statesman "a disposition to
preserve, and an ability TO improve The
disposition 10 preserve is an essential ele-
ment in Sir Wilfrid Laurer's statesman.
ship, as, indeed, 1t must be the dominant
principle of all successful government in
free communities. II has been remarked
elsewhere that, in all his long and stubborn
contests with the Utramontanes, h, per-
| mitted no angry or impatient word TO pass
his lips, scrupulously confined the quarrel
TO the political arena, maintained rever-
ence for the faith in which he was born,
| and zealously guarded the fame of the
historical Church as a religious institution.
SO. in the field of constitutional reform.
he has striven for amendment within tho
Constitution, and has antagonized intem-
perate agitation for radical changes in tho
terms Of confederation. For example,
he has never countenanced the movement
for abolition of the Senate He has re-
spected the prohibitions and sought to
HldiuNdlu liNlUlhtc Wis guarantees Vi tn0
Act of Union
II ia the politico economical position Of
Sir Wilfrid Laurier as leader OF the domi-
nant party in Canada which most interests
Americans. Mr. Wilson devotes much
space to consideration Of this subject.
, 1t is pointed out that. while the ideals Of
free trade have found ever-ncreasing
sanction in his judgment and experience.
- -: II. Il
practical conditions and moves no faster
than the general interests Of his country
seem to demand. He perceives that in
some branches OF manufacture the Canadian
factory. with its limited market and neces-
sarily restricted output, cannot compete
successfully with the great specialized
industries OF the United States, and that
Canada is bound, therefore. to maintain
for such industries a measure Of protection
against American competition. 40 long "a
Canadian manufactures are excluded from
the American market. He understands
that it Is not easy for q small community
to adhere to free trade. In the teeth OF power
ful proteotionist neighbors, with a vast
equipment OF developed industries" He
recognizes that no modern community 10
willing to limit its activities to the single
were ready to accept American manufact-
ures, rather than manufacture for them
selves, 1t would still be necessary, so long
as the revenue OF the country is raised by
customs taxation, to have a tariff that
incidentally would afford a considerable
measure of protection to native industries.
1T is necessary. also. to face the fact
that protectionism Is vital part Of modern
rott Lion nNl xhA %
commercial nations are organizing them.
selves as great trading concerns Again:
THE spirit OF nationalism in France, Ger
many and the United States buttresses
the system OF protection, while the newer
looks to British Zollverein as a means Of
combination and defence against the trade
rivals Of the empire. Canada, in the mean
time. has settled down to a policy Of dis
elimination In favor OF British products,
and of protection against the United States
at least 50 long as Canadian products and
manufactures are shut out OF American
markets. To these circumstances and
tendencies Sir Wilfred Laurier has shown
himself alive. and he has shaped his policy
In conformity to the temper Of the times.
and with an eye to the impotence OF theories
The author Of this book Is umquestionably
night In thinking that tho service for which
Sir Wilfrd Laurier will best deserve to
be remembered Is his earnest. persistent,
and, up to tho present time. effective oppo-
siton to religious antagonisns and racial
enmities. In 1877, in q speech delivered at
Quebec. he protested against the design
to organize into political party the Catho-
lie element Of the population. Speaking
at the same place In 1894. he protested
against the wish to establish . separate
French nationality in lower Canada. Al
the date last named he said: Il am Of
French origin, descendant Of that great
nation, which, as q thinker has remarked,
has provoked enthusiasm. admiration,
hatred, envy or pity but never indifference.
because it has ever been great, even In itS
faults.
Iacknowledge that am Of French origin.
but, If recognize the fact, I also recognise
the position in which my race has been
placed by the battle which was fought
on the Plains OF Abraham, and which ia
commemorated by a monument reared BY
YOU to the memory Of the two commanders
who there lost their lives. There arc
some among us who forget this state a
things. who Affect to believe that q small
French republic or monarchy-I hardly
know what they want-should be estab-
lished on the banks Of the St. Lawrence.
I cannot accept this idea, because thoas
who use this language speak like slaves
who would break their bonds II they dared,
but who do not do 30 because they arc
towards. For my part, believe myself
to be free man. and this is why am in
favor Of the actual regime He was happy.
he added. to proclaim in the old French
oity OF Quebec that the basis and aim Of
the ideas and hopes Of Liberals was to create
q Canadian nationality. Their great OBJ
ject was the development Of the work Of
confederation; to draw closer. to bind
and cement together tho different els-
ments scattered over the face Of Brithh
North America, and to weld them into ons
nation. This was the role Of the Liberal
party in the Confederation, and, so long
ss he had part in the shaping OF its des-
TIMES, this was the ideal toward which
It would gravitate. There was room enough,
he said, In British North America. for all
races and all creeds. For. II Cam dians
we're separated by language and religion,
they were united by liberty In a word,
Sir Wifrid Laurier would have his French
Ca ma dian compatriots true to their double
origin, true to the memory Of the great