The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-12-29
J. J. HILLS DREAM.
ILLUSIONS REGARDING FREE
TRADE WITH CANADA.

Reciprocity Involves Difficulties
Enough, but the Abolition Of Gus
tom Houses Would Be Impossible
Unless Preceded by Annexation Of
the Dominion.
Although everywhere recognized as
q master mind In railroad building and
operation, James j. Hill has not sue
ceeded notably in impressing the
world with his ability as political
economist. His point of view Is that
of transportation magnate. With
him the problem Is, how to get more
railroads, and then how to keep them
busy hauling profitable freights. 1t
was, therefore, natural that in his
recent speech at the banquet of the
Merchants association in Chicago he
should earnestly plead for the aboli-
ton of all custom houses on the Dor.
der between the United States and
Canada.
If Canadian agricultural products,
which must now seek an outlet down
the st. Lawrence river and thence to
Liverpool, could find an unrestricted
market in the United States, much ad
ditional traffic would come to Mr.
Hills railroad lines. Equally Canadas
mineral, forest and fishery products.
Absolute free trade between the
United States and Canada is Mr.. Hills
dream. 1t is dream merely. 1t can
not come to pass under existing politi-
cal conditions.
Even though 1t were possible
which 1t Is MOTTO inaugurate free
trade between a British colony and the
greatest Of republics, 1t could only be
done through complete uniformity
of tariff rates and tariff laws. Canada
could not maintain a set of tariff
schedules differing in any particular
from those Of the United States. She
could not, for example, be permitted to
grant preference to British exports,
nor could she admit foreign goods at
any lower rate than the rate provided
for in the Dingley tariff law, or what
ever schedules might be in operation
at the time of carrying into effect the
free trade agreement.
Otherwise. we should have Canada
admitting foreign goods at cut rates
and shipping them over the border to
the United States. or course, that
could not be tolerated for a moment.
Equally of course, identical tariff
rates could not be secured without po-
litical as we'll as commercial union. So
long as Canada continues to acknowl-
edge allegiance to Great Britain the
door to unrestricted intercourse be-
tween the United States and the Do
minion may be considered as closed
Nothing short OF annexation-a thing
which few Canadians and relatively
fewer Americans want-will open that
door.
Mr.. Hills dream OF absolute free
trade Is impossible of realization for
yet another reason. 1t would involve
the crushing of Canada's industrial
progress and aspirations.
Canada will never consent to open
her markets to the manufacturers Of
the United States and at the same
time close her own mills and factories.
She has begun to realize the advant-
ages Of industrial development, and
she Is not going to relinquish them.
That consideration alone, to say moth
ing of affection for the mother country
and pride in her own separate destiny
as a great nation, will, for many years
to come. outweigh all arguments for
and all inclination towards annexation
to the United States.
Free trade in natural products only
the products OF the farm. the forest.
the fishery and the mineLCanada
would readily consent to. Why should
she not? The best market the world
affords for her surplus of such prod
ucts Is right at her door, Soon 1t
will be still more desirable market
for at the present rate of railroad
building and the opening up of new
areas Of agriculture the time Is near
at hand when Canada will pass the
United States in wheat production.
When that time comes free trade In
natural products will be great thing
for Canada. But even then she would
not consent to free trade in manufac-
lures.
So 1t seems like folly to be talking
about complete free trade between the
United States and Canada. The free
admission of Canadas natural prod
ucts would be strenuously fought by
our own farmers. miners, lumbermen
and fishermen. The free admission Of
our manufactured products would be
forbidden by Canada's industrial inter-
| ests. So there we have deadlock.
| What Is the use of talking about get
ting something that can't be had?
How TO Deal With Trusts