The Meeker herald., 1911-11-11
Premier Borden to the People Of the
United States

< United States
In 1873 Canada placed upon the sta
tute book a standing offer Of recipro-
city, which remained open to the
United States for eighteen years, or
until 1887, when it was repealed by
the government of Sir Wilfred Lau-
rier. The United States always de-
clined to entertain this standing Of
fer, and we never questioned their
perfect and absolute right to take
that course. In the meantime Cana
da had entered upon policy which
involved the development of her nat
ural resources, the growth of her in
dustries, and the preservation of her
home market. Eight years ago / de-
clared in the house of commons that
a factory in Canada was worth as
much to our empire as a factory In
Yorkshire. Our fiscal autonomy in
volving the complete control of our
tariff had been finally completed and
secured in 1879, and it will never be
relinquished.
The reciprocity compact proposed
by the late government would have
interfered with Canada's complete
control of its own fiscal system, and
In many important respects 1t would
have constituted reversal Of the
policy which this country has pur-
sued for many years. Moreover, the
interlocking of our tariff with that OF
any other country is undesirable
from the standpoint Of our fiscal au-
tonomv. 1t should not be forgotten
that similar arrangements made be-
tween the British colonies in South
Africa have proved unsatisfactory
and irritating, and in the end they
had to be abandoned.
During the recent elections the
opinion prevailed in Canada that In
the interest of friendly relations 1t
would be far better that each country
should be absolutely free to frame
and modify its own tariff in what 1t
conceived to be the best interests of
its people. We also consider that a
tariff which must be accepted or re-
jected as n whole and which cannot
be amended in any respect to meet
the most obvious injustice, Is an un-
democratic and undesirable form OF
Legislation; and we believe that ex-
perience has proved this beyond
Question.
Thus, the recent decision Of the
lkk 1aQnle ~ ppt !2 any re-
| spect in8GcSd by my spirit u On
frienditness to the United States.
Canada is an autonomous nation
within the British empire, and IL
closely and inseparably united to
that empire by ties of kinship, Of
sentiment and Of fealty, by historic
association and tradition, by the
character of its institutions, and by
the free will of its people. BY the
same ties of kinsbip. by constant So
cial and commercial intercourse, by
proximity, and by mutual respect
aud good will, this country is closely
associated with the United states.
Canada's voice and influence should
always be for harmony, and not dis
cord, between our empire and the
great republic; and i believe thatshe
will always be bond OF abiding
friendship between them. 1 trust
that the anniversary OF one hundred
years of peace will be COMMUNICATED
In the two countries with deep and
solemn sense of national responsible
ity, and that each will accomplish Its
destiny under the splendid inspira-
tion OF enduring and increasing
friendship and good will. From
"Canada's New Premier: His Mes
sage to the American People" )" in the
American Review OF Reviews for
November.