The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-24
Over Reciprocity Treaty
 With Canada.
MR. cHAMBERLAIHs WARNING
United States a Suitof For
 Canadian Trade.
If Treaty is Concluded as PIanaea fs- win Iayelve aaestionsi Abssrp- sioa of Great English
 Colony.

London, Jan. 2sL-The Daily MaiIs
 says: Four years or more have pass
 ed since Mir. Chamberlain warned the
 British people that "the Colonies win
 never want for suitors, and if you sa
 not pay your court to them while ssl.l
 they are willing to receive your Ad-
 dresses, you will find that in the time
 to come they will have made other
 arrangements.s
 The news that the New York Cham
 Der of Commerce has voted fin favor
 of reciprocity with Canada. and has
 called upon other American commer-
 cial bodies to urge Congress to cons
 clude the desired commercial treaty,
 indicates that he foresaw the future clearly. The suitors for Canada's hand are there. On Canada's part tho introduction in 1s0sFof the interma- diate tariff, with . scale of duties midway between tho preferential tarin granted to Great Britain and the normal tariff imposed on imports from countries outside the Britiah Empire, was meant as reminder to the world that Canada was open to overtures and as an intimation to the people of the United Kingdom that she might not be able to wait inter minably for their decision on the Free Trade issue.
 More than fifty years ago, in 1854 reciprocity treaty was concluded by British diplomacy between Canada and Der great neighbor. England had then adopted Free Trade and withdrawn herpreferences on Colonlni goods. and her statesmen of that period were chiefly anxious to be re- lleved of the burden of Empire. Cob denr said of Canada and the United Kingdom: "We are two peoples to all intents and purposes. In my op- inion it is for the interest of both that we should as speedily as possible sever the political thread by which we are as communities connected"
 This, he thought. would be best ac- complished by Free Trade, which, in his words, would gradually and ina- perceptibly loosen the bonds which unite the Colonies to us by a mista- ken notion of self-interest" and des- troy the CoionlaF system, with all its dazzling appeals to the passion of the people"
 The result might have followed long before the nineteenth century was out, but for the fact that in { moment of tmpatience the United States rejected the magnificent oppcr- tunity with which British statesman- ship had presented them. They re- volked the reciprocity treaty. which was highly advantageous to Canadas under the belief that such action on their part would compel her, to join the. Union. This, was regarded as a in Canada. and it's instant effect was to strengthen the spirit of loyalty to the British Empire and the sense of Canadian nationality.
 A few years later Sir John Mac Donald launched Canada upon her national policy" with a high pro- tective tariff under which her indus ries have fiourished and expanded. Then came, in 1897, the grant of pre- ference to British imports. followed some years later by an increase in the preference. Foreign countries found their goods subject to higher duties than British goods, and all the forces apparently set towards closer relations between Eng land and Canada. The British people. however, rejected the overtures of Canada and the Colonies in 1906. and .he British Government in 1907 "barr- sd and bolted" the door on their offer. A fresh opportunity was given to the 'oreign manufacturer of obtaining Or himself the advantages which the United Kingdom had apparently des- oised.
 If a treaty of reciprocity should be concluded between Canada and the United States, 1t will involve nothing ess than the gradual absorption of sanada by her neighbor. The work which the Zollterein accomplished in sermany, by bringing Bavaria. Hesse, md all the mlnOr States under the influence of Prussia, win be repeated ,n the North American continent.