The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-31
Sir ilfrid Laurier Is
sues Address to Ca
madam People.
OPPOSITION is
ROUNDLY SCORED
Premier Declares That Conserva-
tives Are Seeking to Reverse
Lifelong Policy of Their
Greatest Leaders of the
Past, and Lauds Pro-
posed Agreement.

Ottawa, July 30.-The opening CUR.
in the campaign which will determine
the fate of the reciprocity pact be-
tween the United states and Canada,
was fred to-day by the Liberal
leader. Sir Wilfrid Laurier. 1t was
in the form of An open address to the
Canadian people. and in 1t is set forth
present campaign.
The question at issue is not new
one. Sir Wnfrid asserts. reciprocal
relations with the United states hav-
ing been sought by both parties for
over half century. The present
Conservative party lie declared, IS
seeking to reverse the lifelong policy
OF its leaders of the past The enact
ment of the agreement, the Premier
predicts. would further improve tho
friendly relations existing between
Great Britain. Canada and the United
States. and would be an important
factor in bringing about general
treaty OF arbitration.
Trenty Long Sought.
Sir Wilfrid then referred to the re-
ciprocity agreement of 1854 between
Canada and the United states which
| terminated in 1866.
treaty" said he. ''an public men Of
any prominence in Canada. whatever
their differences on other questions,
nave been unanimous in the attempt
again to secure the free exchange OF
natural products, Nor is this to ue
wondered at. seeing that in the in
dustries of agriculture, fisheries, lun
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 1T
our manufacturing and commercial
interests and the prosperity of all
| classes in the dominion"
| Sir Wilfrd. after reviewing the ne
gotiations which eliminated recently
in the agreement for freer exchange
| of commodities between Canada and
the United States said:
This agreement was strenuously re-
sisted in the United States by various
interests on the alleged ground that
II was all to the advantage of Canada
| and to the detriment OF the other
country. but tho view that it was
mutually ADVANTAGEOUS to both coua-
| tries finally prevailed in Congress, and
| the agreement stands to-day as an
| offer by the Unitsd States to Canada
| OF that very measure OF reciprocity
| which for more than forty years has
I
forts of every leading Canadian states
man.
The present Conservative party in
Parliament seeks absolutely to reverse
the lifelong policy OF its great lead
ers of the past. declaring that it will
oppose TO the bitter end the very
principles enunciated by both Sir John
| \. Macdonald and Sir John Thompson
In the last election addresses upon
which each of these statesmen ever
| appealed TO the Canadian people"
Clumsy Attempt.
The speaker then referred to the
attempted obstructive tactics of the
Conservatives in the House of Com
mons to prevent any vote being taken
| in Parliament upon the agreement and
said:
Such pretenses are simply a clumsy
| attempt to give some color to nm
warranted and undigniled obstruction.
| To overcome that obstruction, after a
session which has already lasted eight
months. would not only mean the con-
| tinuation of an unseemly spectacle
presented BY the opposition in thu
House OF Commons since the resump-
ton of its sittlngs on the 18th instant.
but would also mean weeks and
months of wasted time and perhaps
In the end, the loss for this season to
the Canadian producer OF the free
I'm this condition OF things. it has
seemed more in accordance with the
| dignity OF Parliament. with the tradt-
tons of those British institutions which
all true Canadians value so highly. and
which the present opposition degrades
| with such a light heart; with the hest
interest of the country as a whole, 10
submit the issue to the people them
| selves, so that the people may Judge
between rr1r ont
| sttion and declare whether they have
changed their mind or whether thew
still are in favor of reciprocity in
| natural products and whether thew
will or will not have the American
market for the promising crop soon to
| be garnered in Canada
This agreement. by opening new
| avenues OF trade hitherto closed. would
further improve the friendly relations
which now happily exist between
this country and the mother country
on the one hand and the American re-
public on the other and which 1t ia
hoped may at no distant day eventuate
into general treaty or arbitration.
| the effect OF which would be TO removs
forever ali possibilities Of war bs-
| tween the great empire of which Wa
are proud TO form part and the great
nation which we are proud to have as
| a neighbor.'
[ The address declares there is no war
rant for the claim that reciprocity
| Will lead to annexation and states that
| Canada Will continue the policy OF
| British preference.
Government ain Pnric.o
| Fl. l. Borden, opposition leader. in
statement issued tonight. declares
that the government apparently de
cded upon the dissolution OF Pariia-
ment in hurry or even ina panic. .
they gave no intima,!on to the many
| members who arc accustomed to snend