The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-02

have one purpose in common-to turn
Manitoba, Sifton. These two insurg-
ent leaders, one of the east and the
other of the west, long since turned
against the premier on diverse issues.
but now they are prominent figures in
the campaign whose object is Lauri-
er's overthrow.
Thrown into grand political melee,
emit campaign is that it will not be
considered fairly on its merits. The re-
suit will certainly not be determined
by the trade issues alone; dozen 9TH
er issues and interests will influence
the verdict. 1t must be great sur
prise to many Americans that their
country is being accused by the oppo-
sition in Canada of having.a deep set
purpose to absorb and annex the whole
of British North America. In Ontario,
the opposition speakers, led by Mr..
Borden, thunder the slogans of loyalty
to the British empire, their assump-
ton being that somewhat easier trad
ing in steers, horses, sheep, timber
and vegetables is menace not only to
the imperial tie but to Canadian ma
tionality itself Even Mr.. Sifton, who
was a follower of the premier until
1905, denounces lower duties, or free
trade in certain products. as the be-
ginning of "semi-political union" A
tory glee club at a meeting in the city
of Hamilton, one night last week. elat-
ed an audience with a song whose re-
frain was: Would you make the sill
ken British flag dirty spangled cot
ton rag?" The politics of the CAM
paign evidently has no limits in the
appeal to prejudice.
That Ontario may yield somewhat to
the anti-American appeal and return
a large tory delegation to the house
of commons would not be in the least
surprising. For, in some respects, On
tario is more British than Piccadilly.
AS a province it has never been car
ried by Sir Wilfred Laurier If, now,
the premier should lose 10 or IL seats
in Quebec also, on account of the Bou-
rassa movement, which makes a spe-
cialty of opposition to the Canadian
navy and to British Imperialism and
receives considerable support prob
ably from ultramontane circles in the
Roman Catholic church, his defeat
would be practically certain. The posi-.
ton of Quebec is a critical factor OF
the situation. If the province accepts
Sir Wilfrid's valuation of Bourassa
and gives him an old-time Endorsement
the liberal governments retention OF
power will probably be assured. Reel
procity itself is understood to be pop
ular among the thrifty French far
mers of Quebec and this fact is favor.
able to the premier's prospects.
1t is doubtless true that Sir viii
frid's chances of success are greater
than they would have been without
the reciprocity issue. The trade agree
ment gave him something new, def.
mite and attractive upon which to base
an appeal to the people. 1t helps him
to get away from administrative scan
dals and to conduct an offensive rath
er than a purely defensive campaign
But it is not SO clear that reciprocity
chances are improved by identified
! ton with an administration that hat
been in Office Is years and which, In
the nature of things political, would be
doomed to extinction at about this
time were ordinary influences to have
their full effect. If Sir Wilfrid wins
reciprocity will have saved him. It har
dly could be said that he had saved
reciprocity. Success, consequently, will
mean that in spite of the rapid devel
opment of hostile influences in the
past decade, the idea Of close trade
relations with the United States had
not been extinguished, nor its advan
tages lost sight of, in the Canadian
mind.