El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-23

IN Canada, as in every other country,
the tariff question always has
prominent place in politics In
broad way it may be stated that the
Conservative party in Canada favors
protection, while the Liberal party ad
vocates revenue tariff. But as in the
case of the Democratic and Republican
parties in the United States, the two
Canadian parties have not always ad-
hered strictly to their theories with
respect to the tariff Both have been
opportunists, and first one and then
the other has changed its views in ac-
cordance with changing conditions. The
fact. however. that there is a large pro-
portion of free traders in the Liberal
party, and the natural sympathy of
that organization with the free trade
Liberal party of England has kept the
Canadian Grfts always on the low tar
if side as opposed to the projections
tic theories of the Tories.
First Government Conservative.
The first government Of Canada, af-
ter the confederation in 1867, was con-
sentative, but the tariff question did
not take a place of major importance
during the first Macdonald administra-
ton. The Liberal ministry under Mac
kenzie was almost an absolute free
trade government in theory, and it en-
effect. In the latter part of the sew
entities. corresponding with the time Of
the Hayes administration in the United
States, the general financial depression
of the world was felt with particular
severity in Canada. The Liberal min
istry fell as a result of the hard
times" and Sir John Macdonald again
was returned to power as premier Of a
Conservative ministry.
The National Policy.
In the first session of the new Tory
parliament Sir John brought forward a
resolution which established Nthe ma
tional policy" declaring for a protect
i've tariff without using the word pro-
lection, which was hateful in the ears
of many Canadians. This action was
analogous to that of Henry Clay in the
initiation of the American system
after the war of 1872 when protection
was desired but the word was feared.
The resolution setting up the national
policy" and fixing the subsequent
course of the Conservative party in
Canada declared for ''judicious read
justment of the tariff which would
benefit the agricultural, mining and
| manufacturing interests of the Donin-
ion, restore prosperity to our strug-
| Cling industries now so sadly depressed
prevent Canada from becoming a sac
rifice market, encourage and develop
an inter-provincial trade and procure
for this country reciprocity of trade
| with the United States"
AT that time all factions of tariff
| opinion in Canada agreed in desiring
reciprocity with the United States. and
the promise of reciprocity was one OF
the chief assets of the national policy
in the beginning. But there was moth
| ing in the behavior of the Conservative
/ government to encourage reciprocity
with the United States or any other
country.
All Changes Higher.
| During the IS years of the Conserva-
| tive control of the Canadian govern
| ment from 1878 to 1896, practically ev-
cry change made in the tariff schedules
was in the direction of higher and more
| effective protection. The fact that the
Canadian Tories claimed for themselves
as among Canadians monopoly of 10y
atty TO Great Britain did not have the
effect of making them give the mother
country any advantages over any other
| foreign state. England paid exactly
| the same duties at the Canadian Gus
/ toms houses as did Germany or Brazil
The advocates of protection were
| satisfied with the evident success of the
| system and as the years passed by the
| fear of the CobdeniteS was diSSipated
and they began TO speak of ''protec-
| ton" with candor, leaving the phrase
| the national policy" to the formal dec
! larations of statesmen. But as the ad-
| vocates of protection became holder, sc
| its opponents were at last encouraged
| to take heart In 1896 the Conserva-
| tive governments IS years lease OF
power came to an end and the Liberals
| took charge of the government.
The liberals had advocated "a tariff
for revenue only during the campaign
but when they came into power they
! were not sufficiently strong TO under
| take a radical downward revision and
| readjustment of the tariff. They feared
| to upset the business conditions of the
| nation and therefore they decided tC
make haste slowly.
The Laur1er Plan.
The Laurier government decided a
once TO do three things with respect
to the tariff: ID reduce the schedules
| gradually by legislation; CD grant {
preference to Great Britain. and CD ne
| gotiate reciprocity treaties with the
United States and other nations. The
| Liberals declared in 1897, the same yea