Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-31
TO PEOPLE.
Continued from Page one)

purpose of submitting to the electorate
of Canada the expediency of his APP
preaching again American authorities
for the renewal of the treaty of 1854
After the present government took
office it renewed in vain this offer to
| the United States, but meeting with no
response, it declared that no further
overtures of this nature would be
made by Canada.
Within the last IL months, the
President of the United States sent to
Ottawa two commissioners from Wash
ington for the purpose of opening ne
gotiations looking toward the lowering
of the tariff barriers.
The agreement was strenuously re-
sisted in the United States by vari-
Gus interests on the alleged grounds
that II was all to the advantage Of
Canada and to the detriment of that
country. but the view that Ii was mu-
tually advantageous to both countries
finally prevailed in Congress and the
4 a agreement stands TODAY as an offer by
the United States to Canada to that
very measure of reciprocity. which for
more than 40 years has engaged the
earnest and constant efforts of every
leading Canadian statesman.
The present Conservative party in
Parliament seeks absolutely to re-
verse the lifelong policy of its great
leaders of the past.
1T hes seemed more in accordance
with the dignity of Parliament. with
the traditions of those British institu-
tions which all true Canadians value
so highly and which the present 0ppo-
sition degrades with such a light heart.
with the best interests of the country
as a whole TO remit the issue to the
people themselves. so that the people
may judge between the government
and the opposition and declare whether
they have changed their mind or
whether they still are in favor Of rec
iproci.y in natural products and
wheth they will or win not have the
American market for the promising
crop soon to be garnered in Canada
This agreement by opening new av-
enues of trade hitherto closed would
further improve the friendly relations
which now SO happily exist between
this country and the Mother country
on the one hand the American reciproC-
ity on the other and which il is hoped
may at no distant DAY eventuate into
a general treaty Of arbitration. the ef-
feet of which would be to remove for
ever all possibilities of war between
the great empire of which we are
proud to form part and the great ma
ton which we are proud to have as
neighhorS"
The address declares there is no
warrant for the claim that reciprocity
will lead To annexation and states Can
ada will continue the policy Of British
preference.
r. l. Borden. Opposition leader in the
Canadian Parliament in a statement is
sued tonight as TO reciprocity. declared
that the government apparently decided
upon the dissolution 81 Parliament in a
hurry or even in a panic as they gave
no intimation TO the many members of
both sides of the House who are sccus-
toned to spend the weekend with their
families and who left Friday without the
courtesy Of a notice "
The Conservative party welcomes an
appeal upon reciprocity" Mr. Borden as
serts The President Of the United
States has more than once emphasized
the fact that Canada is today at the
parting Of the ways Those two Ways
lead IN very divergent directions he
choice az ire people viii Be fHagght with
momentous consequence to the future dss-
tiny of the country II is right and just
that they should speak because with
them rests the ultimate decision
In conclusion. Mr.. Borden declares that
the government has placed the agreement
before its own honor because in May it
began an investigation into newsps per
reports that Minister of the Interior oil
yer had profitted TO the extent of $500
in the transfer Of lands to the Canadian
Northern Railway and important wit
nesses from the West were to have been
examined on Tuesday.