The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-03

rated a richer man than Rockefeller oi Carnegie. This concern would be sorely crippled if the lumber of Canada was admitted to the American markets free ot duty. Every farmhouse, every farm building, nearly all farm machinery, near. ly every farm utensil, would be cheaper If we had free trade in lumber with Can ada.
 l do not believe with Champ Clark that the people of England sent money tc Canada to corrupt the electorate. Tho America of the generation of George Washington taught England an inval uable lesson, and it was this-to. let the colonies severely alone, giving them the protection of the British army and the British navy and allowing them to gov ern themselves. Had Great Britain learned that lesson prior to 1776. every state of our blessed Union would be under the British flag today. -
 As we did not take reciprocity wher we could get it. so We did not take Can ada when it was offered to us. In 17S1 the British cabinet had no more idea of the value of Canada than the British cabi- net of 1856 had of the value of Alaska England could have had Alaska at the close of the Crimean war, and the United States could have had Canada at the close of the revolutionary war. Wedder- burn. the beggarly Scot, who was the master spirit of Lord Norths cabinet insisted on throwing Canada in when George III acknowledged our independ- ebce. He did it because he thought Can ada worthless. Washington and Frank lin declined it because they knew France would demand it for the part she played in our war for independence. That would have resulted in war with France, to whip whom we would have been forced q a fn noIo md for o,1 o,,I l,A4 would inevitably have led to a return tc our allegiance to the British crown, fo. the war would have been finished before 1885, and our republic did nor open for regular business until 17S9 There is a divinity that shapes our ends.
 The failure of Canadian reciprocity is bound to strengthen the movement in England for a closer federation Of the British empire by means of freer trade between the mother country and the col cnies and freer trade between the colonies one with another. That will constitute "a powerful trade bund to which we may seek to be admitted and ultimately po- 1itical federation may grow out of it. But that is a matter that need poster this generation little, as it is an affair for pos terity. A close union. commercial and political, between all the countries that speak English and have the laws and lib, eTlieS or the AnSlo-odNOH peoples WOuld be an irresistible combination that would dominate the world, with the strongest sword. the longest purse. the leader of civilization Imagine Canada. Australia aid South Africa, all mighty republics, all in loyal league and solemn covenant offensive and defensive, with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America, and then turn to the Prophet Isaiah.
 And they shall beat their swords into plough shares, and their spears into prun- ing hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more"
 It is possible that the rejection of our trade pact with Canada is a step, not the least momentous in the ultimate domina- ton of the world by those Who speak the tongue that Shakes peare spake.''