New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-08
THE CANADIAN RESULT.

The sweeping victory of the Liberal govern
ment in Canada is Of interest TO Americans
chiefly in view of its probable effect upon re-
latiOns between the Dominion and this Repub-
lie Expectations of that effect differ Some
we observe, are acclaiming Sir Wilfrid Laurler's
triumph as sealing the doom of 'Chamberlain-
ISM as assuring closer relations between Can
ada and the United States, and, incidentally,
as meaning the larger Of an American port
as the terminal of the Canadian railway sys-
tenn. 1t is difficult to see what good ground
any one Of these anticipatons is based.
SO far as the American terminal of Canadian
roads is cOncerned-to take the last point first
the Liberal victory must mean withdrawal
therefrOm, unless what understand to have
been explicit pledges are to be broken Ac-
cOrding to the best information, an essential
part of the railroad scheme of the Liberal
government is that Portland, the terminal in
question, is to be abandoned, and ST. John and
Halifax are to be winter ports Of the Grand
Trunk system. 1t was on the strength Of that
pledge that the Liberals carried New Bruins
wick and Nova Scotia. The original plan was
we know, TO build the road no further east
than Quebec, and to continue using Portland
as the winter terminal. But then the Maritime
Provinces rose up and asked what profit that
would he to them, and why they should be
taxed for the building of road that would
not cross their territory or bring them a sin
gle passenger or ton of freight; and it was
TO meet their demands and to win their votes
that the government changed its plan and de-
cded to abandon Portland and to build the
road on from Quebec TO MOnCtOn at the states
expense. The rosy hopes of our friends in the
beautiful city of Portland seem, therefore, to
have little basis, save in a possible repUdia-
ton of pledges.
There is no better ground for the theory
of closer relations between the two countries
This railroad scheme which is the paramount
item of the Liberal programme. means in
creased Canadian competition with the United
States It means a stronger bid for transcon-
tinental traffic. 1t means greater efforts to di-
vert our wheat and other Western products
from NeW-York and other United States ports
to Quebec and Halifax, on the way to Europe.
We have already called attention to the IN
creasing proportion Of such products that is
sent abroad by way of Canada. There can be
no concealment Of Sir Wilfrid Laurier's inten-
ton to make, If possible, the increase more
rapid and the proportion much greater. In
creased friendlness 10 the United States has
no place in the Liberal programme Neither
of course, has hostility TO the United States
But the keynote Of the programme is a note
Of political and commercial independence in
vOIving competition, defiance and retaliation
That is the policy Sir Wilfrd Laurier has con-
ada and we see no reason TO suppose that now
III the hour of his greatest triumph he will
abandon it.
AS for "ChamberIainism it is a mistake to
suppose that because Sir Wilfrid Laurer is
called a Liberal and Mr.. Chamberlain is
called "Unionist" or even a Conservative"
there is therefore an rreconcilable difference
between them. The difference is chiefly one
Of nomenclature In fact, be- were once
free traders, and both are now protectonists
Both are, especially, practical advocates of
free trade within the British Empire and pro-
lection against all the rest Of the world We
must remember that 1t was Sir Wilfrid Laurier
who. as Prime Minister of Canada, first made
practical application of Mr. Chamberlain's prin-
chile even before Mr. Chamberlain's own enun-
citation of it, in establishing a tariff system dis
eliminating in favor of Great Britain and
other members Of the British Empire We
have observed no tendency In Canada toward
revocation OF that system. On the contrary
Sir Wilfrid has been strengthening II and max
ing the ratio of discrimination mol.s marked
Surely the reaffirmation and confirmation of
its essential and basic principle cannot reason