The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-30

lows:
 "To the anger which the behavior of party in Ensladrd had eXclted in America Canada owes the loss of the reciprocity treaty. If Great Britain can, with justice, say that she has paid heavily for the defense of Canada, Canada can with equal jus tice reply that she has paid heavily in the way of commercial sacrifice for the policy of Great Britain
 I have already mentioned the hin Grance to enlightened and friendly re- lations between the inhabitants of diff ferent countries which springs from the 1nst1nctive and unreasonable preju- dice against g. foreigner simply be- cause he is a foreigner. s If the effect of this prejudice was seen in our com mercial relations with Canada to some extent, as has been pointed out, much more it apparent in the political complications which arose between England and the United States at the time of the Civil War and in which whose political affiliations, of course, drew her to Great Britain but whose commercial interests, on the other hand, urgently demanded maintenance country lying just south of her. Can ada may indeed be regarded the unfortunate victim of circumstances which she was helpless to control. She wanted the treaty continued, for, after the years notice of it's terrnina- tion had been given by the United States, the Canadians sent a, delega- tion to this country for the purpose if possible. The delegates arrived in Washington on January A, 1866, and remained until February 9th. But their efforts were in vain.
 1 gather from the evidence that both England and the United States were much swayed by prejudice and by re- fusai to investigate the facts. The United States could point to serious cr--i iox-a csJr<, fJ1rSc fed with the depredations of the Ala bana'' and other Confederate c-uis- CTS that had been built in English ports and allowed to escape from them. conclusive that the United States of fended by assuming at the beginning of the war that the interests of Eng land must be with the South or the Confederate States because the Brit ish were large consumers of cotton. Nevertheless, although it is a, fact lit tie known in this country, the general editorial tone of the British press at the time was that of sympathy toward the North and of condemnation of the course of the Southern States. Cor detailed proof of what I have asserted, I refer the reader to the chapter en- titled Perverted History in Facts and Comments a book written by Herbert Spencer.)
 On the whole it is reasonable to con clude that the working of the reel procity/ treaty was more beneficial to this country than otherwise and that it's abrogation, forced by political com plications. was unfortunate It is to be regretted that the treaty could not have been given a good, thorough trial under normal conditions. As it was, it's operation was greatly disturbed by untoward and unusual circumstances and was not extended far enough un- der normal and favorable conditions for 3. clear and satisfactory demonstra- tion of what it could do.
 SINCE THE IRRIGATION OF THE
 TREATY.
 Within a year we have heard a good deal said about the advisabilfty of trying to negotiate another reciprocity treaty with Canada and the subject promises to become one of paramount importance, at least in New England; but for many years after the abroga- ton of the treaty there was little to encourage the hope that liberal trade arrangements with Canada would De resumed. To be sure, there were made toward them numerous attempts, emanating chiefly from the Canadians and finally to some extent from the United States; but these attempts, not being backed by a powerful public sen timent, attracted very little attention and soon languished or became abor- tive.
 In the winter of 1897, the year in which the present highly protective Dingley tariff was adopted, the Canad- ians made their last serious effort to bring about a treaty Of reciprocity with the United States. From .'The CvcIopeCic Review of Current His tory,' Vol. VII, 1897, pages 174-175, un- der the head The Dominion Parlia- ment." I quote as follows:
 .eTyhe liberal hopes for treaty of reciprocity with the United States on the basis of mutual concessions have been for the present abandoned. The tendency of fiscal policy in the United States. embodied in the Dingley bill. promises no relief to Canadian trade. Consequently the renisSions to be made in Canadian rates will be grant ed as far possible to goods of which the principal import is from Great Britain. Canada will look elsewhere than across her southern border for
 (Continued on Page 6)