The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-02
CANADA STARTS UP FIGHT.
LIBERAL LEADER EXPLAINS RE.
CIPROCITY TO THE PEOPLE.
Reciprocal Relations With the United
States. He Declares, Have Long
Been Desired.

Il
/ determine the fate of the reciprocity
pact between the United States and
Canada was fired today by the Lib
eral leader, Sir wilfrid Laurier. 1t
was in the form of an open address
to the Canadian people and in it is
set forth very clearly the issues in
volved In the present campaign.
The question at issue Is not a new
one. Sir Wilfrid asserts. reciprocal re-
lations with the United States having
been sought by both parties for over
half century. The present conser-
vative party he declared, is seeking
to reverse this lifelong policy Of its
leaders of the past. The enactment
of the agreement. the premier pre-
diets. would further improve the
friendly relations existing between
Graf Britain. Canada and the United
States and would be an important fac-
tor In bringing about a general treaty
Of arbitration.
"All public men Of any promi-
nence." he said. "in Canada whatever
their differences on other questions
have been unanimous in the attempt
to again secure the free exchange Of
natural products. Nor is this to be
wondered at. seeing that in the in
dustries of agriculture. fisheries, lum-
bering and mining Canada possesses
advantages not enjoyed by any other
country on earth and that upon the
markets secured for the products Of
these industries depends the growth
OF our manufacturing and CONNER
cial interests and the prosperity OF all
classes In the dominion"
| Sir Wilfrid. after revolving the ne
gotiations which eliminated recently
in an agreement for freer exchange
Of commodities between Canada and
the United States. said:
This agreement was strenuousiy
resisted in the United States by va
rious interests on the alleged ground
that II was all to the advantage of
Canada and to the detrimept of the
other country, but the view that it
was mutually advantageous to both
countries finally prevailed in congress,
and the agreement stands today as
an offer by the United States to Can
ada of that very measure Of reciproc-
ity which for more than 40 years has
engaged the earnest and constant er-
forts of every leading Canadian
statesman.
"The present Conservative party I'm
parliament seeks absolutely to re-
verse the lifelong policy OF it's great
leaders OF the past, declaring that it
will oppose to the bitter end the very
principles enuT Grated by both Sir
John A. Macdonald and Sir John
thompson In the last election ad-
dresses upon which each Of these
statesmen ever appealed to the Ca
madam people,"
The speaker then referred TO the
attempted obstructive tactics of the
Conservative party in the house of
commons to prevent any vote being
taken In parliament upon the agreo
ment. and said:
such pretenses are simply Il
clumsy attempt to give some color tu
unwarranted and undignified obstruc-
ton. To overcome that obstruction
after session which has already
lasted eight months would not only
mean the continuation Of an unseem-
ly spectacle presented BY the opco-
sition in the house Of commons, since
TIE resumption of its sittings on the
18th instant. but would also mean
weeks and months OF wasted time AID
perhaps, in the end. the loss for this
season to the Canadian producet of
the free American market
'1n this condition of things. II has
seemed more I'm accordance with the
dignity OF parliament, with the ira
ditions of those British institutions
which all true Canadians value SO
highly and which the present opposi
ton degrade with such a light heart;
with the best interests OF the country
as whole, to remit the ISSUE to the
people themselves so that the ooc,,lr
may judge between the governmen,
and the opposition and declare wheth.
or they have changed their mind or
whether they still are I'm favor OF re.
ciprocity In natural products and