The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-01
Correspondence of Tha Journal,

correspondence OF Inc journal
Ottawa, Ont, Sept. 1.-Americans
naturally are not particularly inter-
ested in the domestic affairs of their
neighbors in the north, except where
the interests of the two countries
meet, or clash, but the points of con-
tact seem to increase from year to
year. Nowadays American readers
cannot afford to be Indifferent to what
goes on in the Dominion. Questions
are being dealt with on this side of
the international boundary which are
vitality important to the people Of the
United States. Canada is no longer
a weakened colony, with no possible
future but one of dependence upon
England. She is fast approach ching the
dignity of nationhood. Indeed, to all
intents and purposes she is now prac-
tically an independent nation, making
her own laws, managing her own af-
fairs as she sees fit, and, within Ger
tain limits, adjusting her own foreign
relations with the outside world.
The Grand Trunk Pacific.
The most important question dealt
with by the federal parliament this
year was of course, the contract with
the Grand Trunk Pacific for the con-
struction of a second Canadian trans
continental railroad from Moncton
on the Atlantic. to Port Simpson, or
some other point, on the Pacific. The
Pacific terminus has not yet been alb
solutely settled. Port Simpson was
originally intended to be the ter
minus, but the decision of the Alaskan
boundary commission which gave to
the United States a couple Of islands
within easy striking distance of Port
Simpson, may induce the Dominion
government to insist upon the selec-
ton Of a terminus farther south. tho
D., Ci,oo,a ie,o l,,,j tod fN he hxyo
odds the best harbor on the Pacific
coast of Canada.
Mr.. Borden, the leader of the op-
position, sprang surprise on the
government by coming out fatfooted
for national ownership of the Grand
Trunk Pacific. At first Sir Wilfrid
Laurier and his ministers were in
clined to treat the idea as q joke, but
as days and weeks went by 1t became
evident that the press Of the country
was taking the matter seriously, anc
that there was a widespread and in.
creasng sentiment turnout Canada II
favor of national ownership, in spite
of the rather depressing financial his.
tory of the Intercolonial, Canada's ex
listing national railroad.
Mr.. Borden's policy was rejected by
the government. but 1t would not sur
prise some people it, when the gov
eminent appeals to the electorate, thu
tional ownership. Mr.. Borden ha
pledged himself, if the people Civ
him a mandate to that effect tina
he will make the Grand Trunk Pacif1
a national railroad, in spite of tn
fact that the federal government ha
definitely signed a contract for tn
construction Of the road.
Canada's Trade Policy.
One of the striking evidences of thu
increasing Importance Of the west il
y furnished in connection with the Ca
madam tariff. There is no doubt tina
very strong pressure was brOugh
upon the federal administration thi
year to increase the tariff, especial.
against the United States. The pow
erful Manufacturers association sen
deputation after deputation to Otta
wa, representing the urgent necessit.
of raising the Dominion tariff to
level with that of the United States
and for a time it seemed as If tn
cabinet would be forced to do at leas
something in this direction to satisf
eastern Canada.
At the same time it was we'll un
+ derstood that Manitoba and the north
west were solidly against any increas
in the tariff. Western Canadians
while willing to bear their fair shar
+ of taxation for the good of the Who'll
country, are prepared to kick, an
kick vigorously, against any attemI
to exploit the west simply for tn
benefit of eastern Canadian manufac
turers.
The government, with unusual far
sightedness, listened to the voice
the west, and decided that Their
would be no tinkering with the tart
until a commission, representing a
the great interests of the country