The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-09
.RAPS CANADA PACT
Montreal Star Bitterly At
tdCkS Reciprocity.
APPEALS TO PREMIER LAURIER
Newspaper Says Agreement Would
Terminate Career of Canada as
Important Nation and IsO-
late Provinces.

Montreal, Feb. Z. - The Montreal
Daily Star, one Of the most widely cir
culated Canadian newspapers. makes
remarkable appeal to Premier Sir
Wllfrid Laurler for the defeat OF the
proposed reciprocity trade agreement
between the United States and Can
ada.
II says: "Theer is only one man in
I Canada who can avert the menace
that turks in reciprocity. That man is
Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He is the master
of the situation. II he appeals to the
loyalty OF his followers, there is too
much reason to fear that they will
vote the agreement through.
But 1t is equally true that If Sir
Wilfrid Laurier declares that, on
sober second thought. he dare not
recommend this astounding CONNER
cial revolution to a people to preserve
their independence, the agreement
will not be ratified.
Moreover, such declaration from
Sir Wllfrid Laurier would be far more
welcome to the bulk OF his followers,
both in and out OF parliament, than a
bugle call to stand up and yote-and
possibly die polItically-for a bargain
which may save the success OF Taft in
Republican politics, but which will
eventually terminate the career OF
Canada as an important nation. None
of us realized the inward meaning Of
the shrewdly framed offer Of the long
headed American government when
we first saw II. It was as cunning a
trap as was ever laid. The master
bargainers at Washington haven't lost
their skill"
The Star then goes on to say that
reciprocity, as suggested, would cut
confederation at a half dozen vital
points and adds:
Would Ruin Canada.
THE provinces by the sea will be
Isolated, their industrial future mega
lived. the arteries that lead to old
Canada will collapse through starva'
ton and the Americans will think OF
them only as a collection Of fishing
villages.
Quebec will become the backyard
and lumber camp of New England.
Our farm products will give the New
England factories cheap food for their
work people-without ultimately rails
ing the price for our farmers; and
our forests and mines will feed them
with raw materials until they are lit
orally eaten out by the enormous ap-
petites of American industrialism. We
will be lucky, indeed, II the national
hemorrhage stops there. The exodus
of our sons and daughters to the New
England factory towns, which has
been so severe a drain in the past,
may we'll bleed us to death when Mon
treal has been strangled in It's own
dead railway lines, when the killing
of the new transcontinental has killed
the legitimate hopes Of Quebec city,
and when our other promising indus
trial towns have found their home
market flowing merrily over the bor-
der.
To-day Sir Wilfrid Laurier has the
ball at his feet He Is the one man to
save the situation. The Canadian peo-
pie never watched him so eagerly, so
anxiously. as they are doing at this
moment. Thousands Of his best friends
hope that he will see the true bearing
OF the tremendous issue which lies In
his hands and that they can add an
other Jewel to his crown as a patriot
statesman who loves his country so
we'll that he wouldn't think twice Of
risking her life to put profits In the
: pockets OF few clamorous people.
This is not a business matter he
is considering; but the political fate
of Canada. In the seal Of Sir John A.
Macdonald, with the eyes Of the en-
pire builders OF history on him, with
all the future waiting to award Its
Judgment, he is deciding for or against
, the annexation of Canada to the Amer
, lean union"