The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-11

Iations. a reciprocal tr9de sgrsemsnt =
the logical sequence of at that nis
been accomplished In disposing OF maj
tiers of diplomatic and. controversial
character The identity of Interest OK
two peoples linked together by race,
language, political institutions and geo
graphical proximity offers the founda-
ton.
The guiding motive In seeking adj
justment of trade relations between
two countries so situated geographical
ly should be to give play to productive
forces as far as practicable. regardless
Of political boundaries. While equiya-
lency should be sought In an arrange-
ment of this character. an exact bal
ance of financial gain Is neither impef-
ative nor attainable. No yardstick can
measure the benefits to the two peo-
pies Of this freer commercial inter-
course, and no trade agreement should
be judged wholly by custom house sta
tistics. a
We have reached d stage in our own
development that calls for a states
manlike and broad view of our future
economic status and its requirements.
We have drawn upon our natural re-
sources in such way as to invite at
tention to their necessary limit This
has properly aroused effort to conserve
them, to avoid their waste and to re-
strict their use to our necessities. We
have so increased in population and in
our consumption of food products and
the other necessities of life, hitherto
supplied largely from our own country,
that unless we materially increase our
production we can see before US q
change in our economic Q sition from
that of country selling to the world
food and natural products of the farm
and forest to one consuming and Inn
porting them. s. a
Ought we not. then. to arrange COM
mercial agreement with Canada, II we
can, by which we shall have direct &c
cess 10 her great supply OF natural
products without an obstructiny OF
prohibitory tariff? This is not q vio-
lation of the protective principle. as
that has been authoritatively an
nounced by those who uphold II, be-
cause that principle does not call for
a tariff between this country and one
whose conditions as to production.
population and wages are so like ours
and when our common boundary nhe
Of 5000 miles In itself must make" a
radical distinction between our COM
mercial treatment of Canada and of
any other country. h -
The Dominion has greatly prosper.
ed. 1t has an active. aggressive and
intelligent people. They are coming
to the parting of the ways They
must soon decide whether they are to
regard themselves as isolated per-
manently from our markets by q per-
petual wall or whether we are to be
commercial friends. II we give them
complain IL they adopt methods deny
ing access to- certain Of their natural
resources except upon conditions quite
unfavorable to us? A notable instance
Of such possibility may be seen in
the conditions surrounding the supply
of pulp wood and the manufacture of
print paper; for which we have .nsde
conditional provision in tho agres-
ment, believed TO be equitable. y .;s
The entire foreign trade Of Canada
in the last fiscal year. 1910. was $685.
100000. The imports were $4,000
600. and of this amount the United
States contributed more than $223. .00O,-
00A N eoAttnffAn IN hA Art i'm
posed by Canada win largely increase
this amount and give us even larger
share Of her market than we now en-
Joy. great as that Is. af.
Since becoming nation Canada has
been our good neighbor. Immediately
contiguous across wide continent
without artificial or natural barrier ex-
cept navigable waters used in COM
mon.
She has cost us nothing I'm the way
of preparations for defense against
her possible assault. and she never
will. She has sought to agree with
US quickly when differences have dis
turbed our relations. She shares with
us common traditions and aspirations.
feel have correctly interpreted the
wish of the American people by ex-
pressing In the arrangement now SUBJ
mitted to congress for Its approval
their desire for more Intimate aud
cordial relationship with Canude,
therefore earnestly hope that the meas
ure will be promptly enacted Into law.
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
The White House, Jan. 20. 19li