The Detroit times., 1911-09-09
LAURIER PLEADS FOR
RECIPROCITY IN WINDSOR


(osatinaed frena Pags ons.)
for luncheon and an hour later was
driven to the Armories where, on a
platform erected for the occasion. he
spoke TO as many persons as could
crowd around to hear him.
The streets OF Windsor were gafiy
decorated with fags and bunting and
u was Estimated that upwards Of TO-
goo visitors, many OF them from De-
troit. were attracted to the city for
the day to see and to hear Sir WI
frid. tt 1872
a Picturesque Figure.
Sir Wilfrid IL the most picturesque
Inquire that public life In Canada has
ever known. Although French and q
Roman Catholic. he Is never more
warmly welcomed than in English
speaking, Protestant communities As
an orator he easily ranks with the
greatest or his time. being equally at
homo In English or French. His
health seems to improve with me
passing Of years, and he says he was
never more rugged than at present.
While the leader OF the Conserva-
tive party, r. l.. Borden. much
younger man. lost his voice and much
or his energy before the campaign
had got well started, Sir Wilfrid goes
biithely on, speaking almost every
day. with unfiagging energy and VOICE
unimpaired.
Pleads for Reciprocity.
Premier Laurier devoted most OF
his address to an eloquent advocacy
OF the reciprocity agreement. he
traversed much OF the same ground
that he has In other addresses, point.
ing out that almost every man prom
inent In public life In Canada for 40
years had sought reciprocity and lay
ing particular stress on the DECLARE
ton OF former Premier Sir John Mac
donald In favor OF such trade ar.
rangement.' The premier. though
French, has scarcely a peer In turning
a neat phrase In English. and he used
this ability to good advantage In fay
ing his foes for trying TO raise the
annexation bogie.
The premier referred to the fact
that this would be his last meeting
In Ontario. as he intended to return
To Quebec for the windup OF the tight.
the result In his native province, say
ing the Liberals would capture at
least 80 of the SIS seats.
After relating the various attempts
Of Canada to secure reciprocity and
OF the refusal Of the United States to
grant II previously he declared:
1t would not have comported with
our national dignity TO have asked
again. We decided that IL Uncle Sam
wanted reciprocity he would have to
come to us--he would have TO come
to Ottawa. He finally came, and after
the overtures made by the United
States II would have been a crime
against civilization for US TO have re-
jected the Offer"
The premier made a hit with the
| ladies' In the audience by saying that
in Canada the women rule even IL
they haven't votes.
al want to talk TO you Conserva-
tives about the spectre OF annexation
| the premier continued. IF our coun-
try were to be annexed. how could
| II be done? In only two ways. by
violence or persuasion. Nobody sug-
gests war. The reciprocity pact Is q
bond OF peace, friendship and aUity,
and perhaps a more important reason
why no one has suggested warts that
| his majesty. the king. and the presi-
dent OF the United States have negoti-
ated an arbitration treaty to settle all
differences between the two nations.
III IL IL not by war, our neighbors,
very clever men, must persuade lib.
first got acquainted with the Amer.
| lean republic In 1853. when ] read
/ Uncle Toms Cabin and l have al
ways admired that country. but Can.
ada Is my native land and ] could
never see II merged even with the
noble American republic, This opin-
ion Is shared by every thinking Amer
lean. They realize that there Is room
for two nations on the American con-
| tinent.
II adjure you to stand by recipro-
city. / adjure you to stand by the
|goyernment and put down the unnoiy
alliance between the French National
F ists in Quebec and the English lingo
F ists In Toronto"