El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-09

party was to advocate reciprocity as
liberal as possible. since the ultimate
goal or the party was free trade.
When the Liberals actually came into
power, their tariff views were some
what modified. and they were forced by
circumstances to accept the protective
principle in dealing with tariff matters.
Almost at the beginning of the Laurier
regime a delegation went to Washing
ton at the outset of the Mckinley ad-
ministration, seeking reciprocity The
American congress at that time was in
no temper to reduce tariffs in any wise
and the negotiations failed.
1t was then that sir Wilfrid Lau-
rier uttered his famous saying: No
more pilgrimages to Washington
OF Ii years, during which the Laurier
Liberal government was continuously
Thereafter, from 1897 to 1910. a period
In power, nothing was said about reel
procity. When the subject finally was
preached, the suggestion came from
Tart, not from Laurier The agree
ment being made, 1t was decided not TO
embody 1T into treaty, but to make II
effective by concurrent legislation at
Washington and Ottawa. Mr. TAFT after
a long struggle, succeeded in persuad-
ing congretss to ratify the pact, al
though majority of his own party as
seciates in congress were opposed to
was forced to go to the country on
the direct issue.
The Liberals defend the reciprocity
as a fiscal proposition. one that must
inevitably operate to the advantage OF
Canada. and one that has the historic
approval OF the great leaders Of both
Canadian parties from the beginning
of responsible government in the coun-
try. They have the Conservatives some
what at a disadvantage on the stump,
since the Conservatives must declare
that it Is true that Canada once needed
reciprocity, but that 1t now is so pros
ho r4ro -
which the Liberals retort that this
great prosperity has come about under
Is years of Liberal rule
Discuss Political Aspect Only.
As q matter OF fact. the opposition
to reciprocity does not devote much
time to discussing the proposition on
its Merits The anti-reciprocity
speaker or writer gets away from the
soon as possible in order to discuss it's
political aspects. On the Conservative
side reciprocity is opposed on the
ground that Canada now having estab-
lfshed It's own industrial and agricul-
tural prosperity operating on east and
west lines Of trade, and closely con-
nected with the mother country by the
preferential tariff, cannot afford to en-
ter into a dubiousS fiscal bargain which
will upset the established Canadian
commerce, divert trade from east and
west to north and south channels, un-
dermine the British preference and
tcIu tOWdFQ commercial union or the
United States with its $4,000, 600 people
pie and Canada with its 1900. 600. On
the other hand. the Liberals argue that
Canadian prosperity is on a sound ba-
sis. that Canadian national spirit is
such that 1t can not be broken by any
influence. that Canadians need not be
afraid, and that 1T Is foolish for any
nation deliberately. from motives OF
fear, to decline to enter into larger and
more extensive markets of trade.
On the Liberal side, the orators hold
out hopes and promises of larger mar
kets for the produce of field and NINE
to which is opposed the more timorous
argument of the Conservatives: Let
we'll enough alone" Then. as If to
justify this fear, the Conservatives
raise the issue of annexation.