New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-03
THE CANADIAN ELECTION.


Our northern neighbors are as busy as we
With noIitics Newfoundland has just held an
election. the purpOrt Of the result OF Whlch APP
narentIv y that Britain's oldest colony VIII not
sock nor accept annexation 10 the Dohnhloh'
but will be more inclined to seek close cClliher
cial-though, of course, not pollucal-Iel"uoh'
with the United States. That is doubtless soIne-
what disappointing TO Canada and may not De
regarded with much pleasure In Great britain,
unless by the diminishing Little Ehsldhu
marty though there is no good reason why 1t
should be regarded with any great degree Oh an
novance. The interests of Newfoundland are
distinct and different from those of Canada, and
If IS easily conceivable that it will be best for
the island to remain politically distinct from
the Dominion at least until It's affairs are piaceu
upon a different basis from the present, anu
perhaps until the whole British Empire enters
into the enjoyment of a reformed and more
rational fiscal system.
To-day Canada herself will hold her general
election which has been described as one OF the
most important in her history. 1t is at any rate,
n highly interesting one, partly because or the
issue on which it is being fought and partly be-
cause of those on which it is not being fought.
For the first time in Canadian history the tariff
question is left upon the shelf the Liberals hav-
ing practically abandoned their historical pre-
dilection for free trade and having become as
earnest protectionists as the Conservatives.
NO revision Of the tariff except by its friends"
is now the watchwOrd of both parties. Lord
DundOnald's proposals for reorganization of the
militia which at one time doomed so large and
were so sensational, have also been left in
allowance The questions of loyalty to the en-
pire of reciprocity with Great Britain and
others once much disputed have figured only
nominalIy if at all, in the campaign.
The one dominant issue is that of the Grand
Trunk Pacific Railroad. An Opposition phrase
maker has described it as the question whether
the State is to the railroad or the railroad
sis TO own the State" That is an extreme state
ment, Yet not so eXtravagant as to be a perver-
sion. The Liberal proposal is for the State to
build part of the railroad and to guarantee the
bonds for the rest, and then let the company
operate it at a merely nominal rental If that
did not mean railroad ownership of the State it
would almost certainly mean an uncOmmOnly
strong railroad influence in the Dominion gov
eminent, perhaps strong as practically to be
paramount. The Conservative plan on the
other hand, is for the State to build and own
and operate the railroad itself. That would be
a long step toward State ownership of all the
railroads, and would probably make inevitable
the taking of the remaining steps to that end.
Apart from academic interest, the United
States has some practical interest in the matter.
arising from the fact that part of the Liberal
scheme is to abandon the present United States
winter terminal OF the Grand Trunk Railroad
and to establish winter terminals on the
canadian coast There is an explicit pledge to
mat effect in the governments programme. Yet
there are those VINO doubt its fuIfIment II is
pointed out that Portland, Me, is in many re-
spects a much more desirable terminal than
Halifax or st. John, and that, moreover. the
railroad has invested vast sums of money there
IN ground and buildings and that It has impor
tant contracts for using that place as its fer
mlnal. 1t is seriously doubted whether it will
De Wiling TO break those contracts and sacrifice
NOSE investments for the sake of going to less
desirable terminals Yet without a confident
expectation Of its doing so there would bo No
hope Of the governments success at the nons