The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-25
COMMERCIAL
CLUB AT
BANQUET.
Two Canadians, Cyrus A. Blrge
and William H. Montague,
Honored Guests and Speakers

The Commercial club. having as Its
honored guests. Cyrus A. Birge, former
president of the Manufacturers associa-
ton OF Canada. and Hon. William II.
Montague. ex-sscretary OF the Dominion,
sat IN BANQUET at the New wellington on
Saturday evening
1t was indeed a noted gatherings rep
resentative one at which the commercial
strength and activity OF this bustlins city
was represented.
II was shortly after Z o'clock when the
club members with their guests entered
the banquet hall and for over an hour
thoroughly enjoyed the menu or appetiz-
ing dishes The diners were seated at
small tables. accommodating four men
each, except at the head table where the
guests of the evening were located.
This table, in particular. presented
very pretty sight. being covered with
flowers with colored incandescent lights,
peeping out from among the clusters OF
lilies. The orchestra, during the courses.
rendered some delightful musical selec-
tions which met with hearty applause
from the banqueters. especially the STIR
ring cornet solos of Mr.. Bowen r.
Church.
The loyalty that Canadians have for
their motherland, England, their evident
opposition 10 the idea of reciprocity with
the United States. and the apparent lack
OF any present possibility OF the annexa-
tlon OF Canada to the states were some
of the vital points touched upon by Mr..
Birge and Mr.. Montague in their
speeches.
After the last course. and when the
cigars were lighted. President George l..
6hepley introduced the first speaker OF
the evening. Mr. Brge. who spoke, In
part. as follows:
81 am here to speak not of the United
States. but OF my native country, Can
ada, but I want to say that as a Cana
dian II affords me great deal OF pleas
ure to meet with body OF United States
business men. such as are the members
of this Commercial club. and TO discuss
with them some of the questions which
are mutually interesting to your coun-
try and my own.
eve in Canada, honor and admire the
people Of the United States for the great
development you have wrought, for the
high place which you have won among
the great world powers. and for the
great strides you have made In CONNER
cial and Industrial expansion, and In
all that tends toward the higher civiliza-
appreciate that the United states has
accomplished more along these lines in
the span of her national existence than
any other nation on the face OF the globe.
Before going further. let me say that
] want to speak TO you freely and frank
ly and from the Viewpoint OF a loyal
Canadian.
zone OF the questions as to the rela-
lions between our two countries which
49, o. aNf @f Ia n G.
cussion on your side OF the line is annexa-
ton. saw recently that one of your
senators, Senator Hale, had taken upon
himself the prophetic mantle and pro-
phesied that Canada would yet be an
nexed to the United States Mr.. Chair
man, fear that his inspiration was not
good. that the mantle which has fallen
upon the honorable senator Is that OF
false prophet There seems to be an
idea here that there Is strong annex
alton sentiment in Canada. Sir. 1 want
to state emphatically that this Is not the
case. There is no such sentiment ex-
istent, not a particle OF II. j never knew
of but three real annexattonists in Can
ada. and two OF these the lord cent for
and the other came back to the United
States where he belonged.
but, sir. there is another question re-
garding the relation of Canada to the
United States that Is receiving consid-
erable attention on your side of the line.
and that is the much-talked.of reciprocity
with Canada. i mean much talked OF
IN the United States. for I want to tell
you that the cry fails utterly 20 find
a responsive chord in Canada.
'T want to assure you. l want TO as
sure the American people that Mr.. Charl-
ton does not voice Canadian sentiment
on this question. why should we want
reciprocity? We have little or nothing
20 gain by II and much TO lose. Our
farmers don't want It, as IT would not
advance their interests. Our merchants
don't want II, for IL would not increase
their profits. our citizens and mechanics
don't want II, as IL would lessen their
wages and leave them without employ
ment. and our manufacturers don't want
A.. as IL would open their market for
your surplus products and decrease their
own output"
The next speaker was Mr.. Montague.
who spoke upon Canada Among the Ma
tfons" He reminded one TO some extent
of former President Grover Cleveland.
both in appearance and In manner OF
delivery. Burst Of spontaneous applause
greeted Mr.. Montague at different parts
of his address, which, in part, was as
follows:
eve Canadians are no strangers TO the
people OF this country. and as Mr.. Birge
and myself have come among you we
have realized that we are among friends.
we have the same language and we are
,o,nt heirs of all that long line OF achieve
,nents of the Anglo-Saxon race. This Is
INV first visit 20 this state and today for
the first time have had chance TO see
a small part OF the great manufacturing
interests that are gathered together In
this city and state.
I'm Canada we have been trying 10 de-
velop a sturdy Canadianism. and In this
you have helped US. BY the abrogaticn OF
the reciprocity treaty OF 1896 you make US
70 TO other countries for our markets.
You made US act for ourselves and thst
Is what has made the Dominion what IL
Is today. We say TO you. as we say 10
the world. that we are proud or the
achievements OF our country, although
they have not been equal 90 yours We
have been a Dominion only little over
"a years. but our hopes for tho future are
high.
1--WE have not the treaty ty-making power
and DO not think that we should have
n. unless we can have an army and
navy TO back II up. We would not want
20 get into a squabble with you over