New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-31
First Gun in Campaign Is "0pen
Address" by Premier to the
Canadian People.
OPPOSITION TACTICS SCORED
Conservative Party Seeking to
Reverse the Lifelong Policy of
It's Great Leaders in the Past
R. L. Borden Replies.


mine the fate Of the reciprocity pact be-
tween the United states and Canada
was fred to-day 10y the Liberal leader,
SIR Wufrld Laurier. it was in the form
Of am open address to the Canadian peo-
rie. and i'm It is set forth very clearly
the issues involved i'm the present cam
ua.Eu.
THe question at issue is not a new
one Sir Wifrid asserts. reciprocal rela
lions with the United States on tariff
matters having been sought by both
parties for more than half century.
THE present Conservative party. he de
.lared is seeking TO reverse this life
long policy of its leaders Of the past.
The enactment of the agreement the
Premier is confident. would further inn
prove tho friendly relations existing be
tween Great Britain, Canada and tho
United states and would be an impor-
taut factor in bringing about general
treaty of arbitration. The following are
the salient passages OF the address:
Nt au times during the last forty
wears ,t has been the constant effort OF
ell political parties inn canada 90 make
th the Tuitcd states am arrangement
Tor the free exchange of natural products
between the two countries
u 1854 Lord ElCin ou pchalf of cam
nd. and The Maritime Provinces. uCgo-
tHtrI with the United states treaty
for that purpose which lasted until lN6d,
srI which. within the memory of many
still aNe was of the greatest adNan-
ts-..
Unanimous for Forty Years.
.... since the termination of that
treaty AN public men Of any prom
.-.r.. Iu Canada. whatever their
differences ON other questions. have
beer unanimous in the attempt TO
secure again the free echange or
natural products. Nor is this 10 Dc
wondered az. seeing that ia the indus
t.Ia- or agriculture. fisheries. numbering
and mining Canada possesses adVan-
-.4ts not enjoyed Dy any other country
.n earth. and that upon the markets Sc
cured for the products of these lndus-
rIIes depend the growth of our manu-
-4uuriuc and commercial interests ana
tho prosperity of al classes in the Do
miuion.
Tho latest attempt of the Conservative
1artr 10 that end was made Joy treihier
Sir Toru a Macdonald who dissolved
Parliament foo 1901 for IN" purpose on
submitting to the electorate or tanaod
trz evredieucv of his again approaching
American authorities Tor d Iehe"dl "i
The treaty of 1871.
after tho present government took
Office 10 renewed I'm vain tnS oler 10
tHe United states. but meeting with no
response it declared that mo- iWt"c'
ortrtures of this nature would be Hdue
ty Canada ,- .,.o
President of the United states sent 10
ottawa two commissioners from Wash
irr+ou for the purpose Of opening nts'-
'ations looking toward the lowering 9l
tr. tariff barriers which have hltueIl2
stood fr the way of frocr eNchdhse 'l
commodities between Canada and the
1-r.+aJ States. These negotiations cul-
minated in an agreement.
An Offer by the United States.
.rfs eereement vas strenuously re-
e...-F fr the United States by various
interests on the alleged grounus lHaL ~
-.s-a all 90 the advantage OF 'dhdud on"
g. the detriment Of the oJHer 'VuiI -
,rt the view that it was mutually al
,..r+err.r- 10 both countries finally pre-
vailed fr Congress and the agreement
et.rfe. To-day as an offer by the Jnlleu
States 10 Canada Of that very measure
of reciprocity which for more than lorlS
wears has engaged the earnest anu S,Vi-
sf4yt efforts of eyc-y leading Cdiau'""
statesman. .,. Il,
Parliament seeks absolutely 10 reverse
the lifelong policy of its great ieaueIS e5IS
~ the mast declaring that II VIII oppose
a.. tho bitter end the very principles
erure.ated bv both Sir john A. MaC
Donald and Sir John thompson l ~
last election addresses upon Whlch eaSh
u 81
Canadian people. ..,
Naf content 10 debate this proposition
upon it's merits. the conservative party
ir OBJ. House Of Commons has adopIeu
q system of organized and aFo"eG oD-
struetIon 20 prevent any vote beihS
taken u Parliament by which the "pII5
i1H of your representatives there coU'u
he expressed
Day after day. when the presiding
officer has tried 10 put the question ne
has been met with obstructive devices
pr every kind. each put forward ON some
spccious prcteXt but i'm reality nothlhg
else than au abuse Of freedom OF speech
'H parliamentary debate.
TO Overcome Obstruction.
Such urctcuces are simply clumsy
6ttemUf tp give some color 20 unNdr-
Iantci and undigniGed obstruction TO
overcome that obstruction, after ses-
sion which has already lasted eight
months. would not only mean the con-
uuUatiOl of on unseemly spectacle pre-
seHted by the Opposition III the House
OF Commons since the resumption or us
s.ttiugs ON the 18th inst, but would also
mean weeks and months Of wasted tine,
and perhaps. iu the end, the loss for this
season tO the Canadian producer of the
nee American market.
In this condition Of things II has
seemed more i'm accordance With the dig
hiiy OF Parliament, with the traditions
oi those British institutions which all
tue Canadians value SO highly, and
which the present Opposition degrades
WITH such a light heart, with the best
interests Of the country as whole, 70
remit the issue to the people themselves
70 that the people may Judge between
tAe Government and the Opposition ana
declare whether they have changed their
minds or whether they still are in favor
~ reciprocity I'm natural products ana
.hether they will or viii not nave the
american market for the promising crop
sp9n 10 be garnered in Canada.
This agreement, by opening new ave
nIes Of trade hitherto closed, would iur-
uef improve the friendly relations
winch now so happily exist between tnis
Suntry and the mother country on tle
one hand and the American repuDlla
Oh the other. and which. il is hoped
may al no distant day eventuate INTO
general treaty Of arbitration, the ehect
u which would be 10 remove forever al
possibilities Of war between the great