The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-16
LAuRIER's VIEWS
Canadian Premlers Views On Next
Weeks Election

Laurier, speaking in French to an
outdoor audience of four thousand
people at the hamlet of Beauce juno
ton, P. O., yesterday. The prime
minister did not say all he had in
mind at the time about the insidious-
ness and dishonesty of the fight be
ing waged against him and the cause
of reciprocity but it is known that he
and his friends are taking serious
counsel together about the extraordin-
airy efforts being made TO arouse an
anti-American sentiment through the
eastern provinces of Canada for the
purpose of defeating reciprocity
The anti-American agitation is now
persistent, widespread and thorough
ly organized. 1t is the cool judgment
of the rail friends in Canada of reci-
of the real friends in Canada of reel
procity and good will between this
country and the United States that
the anti-reciprocity fight in straying
away from a discussion of its merits
as a measure of political economy. is
in danger of degenerating into a NAL
ignant political disease of an inter
national character that will require
many years of careful treatment TO
eradicate, if. indeed ii can be cured
in an ordinary lifetime Some of the
most serious minded men in Canada
are today giving the subject weighty
thought and are exerting united
quiet influence to set az naught the
influence which they fear may result
IL, ,,pdofAt, thA yOcal6oh u-orL Of Oap.
erations in attempting to bring the
two great North American nations to
state Of mutual good will and gen
uine neighborliness.
The wide international effect OF an
anti-reciprocity victory next Thurs
day, which is not regarded in well-in,
formed circles as probable, but is not
highly improbable, is in these last
days of the campaign receiving the
attention that should have been CIV
en- to its weeks ago.
But it could scarcely be forseen
that the anti American campaign was
likely to suddenly occupy prominent
part of the fighting plan OF the oppo.
sition. Such, however, is the fact,
and there is here in Canada today an
unexampled, continuous, bitter and
malicious hatred breeding campaign,
which, if successful, must be follow
ed by long years of effort on the part
of the sane. level.headed peace-loving
Canadians TO restore the status quo
of the days just after the introduction
of the reciprocity measure in Parlia
ment last January, before the oppo
sition was bullied or cajoled into its
at first halfhearted decision to oppose
the measure. The decision reached
at last by the opposition was so dis
tasteful to many candidates for par
liamentary honors in the present cam
paign that n handful of opposition
candidates are already pledged TO vote
for reciprocity If Laurier is returned
to power by the electors next week
The problem then was to arouse a
real interest in the campaign against
reciprocity
The only solution at least so fal
as the English speaking constituent
cies are concerned, seemed to be tina
provided by the ultra-tories of Toron
TO and Montreal, who entered whole
heartedly into an extensive campaign
to arouse all the old anti-AmericaI
prejudice and passion OF years gon'
by. Hundreds of examples of thei
) subsequent activity might be cited
but it is perhaps sufficient to mention
the continuous reference to Presiden
! Taft in responsible conservative news
,, papers of Toronto and Montreal a
tricky Taft, Taft the swindler,' Ell
While these same papers day afte
day print cartoons depicting Uncl
Sam as a low. debased creature,
reptile. a tricky fox, a hoggish fellow
, hishonorable, mean. skulking, a beas
OF prey, a defer of certain things
President Taft is shown daily b
: these papers as a repulsive indiyidl
al
q The whole performance is carrie
y on with a sort of ghoullsh glee An
= orleans are shown as gloating owe
the destruction of Canadas nationa
4 itv and reveling in her downfall. Al
u nexation is not a strong enough VOL
any longer for these attackers
49, American honor, and the anti-recipr
city vocabulary is searched for wore
to impute all that is low and mes
to Canada's southern neighbor
D The effect of these appeals to Il
lower feelings OF humanity is fear'
by large group Of representative c
nadians, among whom are a consl
cradle number of old.fashioned CO
II servatiyes. who feel that Mr. Border
campaigners are relying upon nc
= dangerous and shameful and utter
- unworthy appeal for success.
A Visiting Englishmen are astound
Y by the performance and frankly s
4 so. The effect, however, is not ligl
' ~ regarded by the government, who
A supporters feel that the generally W
, recognized reputation OF Canada
4 for good manners and generally g
j cious demeanor is not only impel
| led by the things mentioned but n
4 the effect may be much more serio
Y in the possibility of farreaching
A ternational affairs
Y Should the opposition win at
A elections next week by means Of
' campaign based upon such metho
A those who furnished the ammunitl
and fought the battle will be pro
4 nent among the recipients of hon'
u and anti-Americanism will have fou
place in Canadas policy. IL is
n farreaching effect upon Canada's "
Y fare internationally and upon the 6
A eral movement among civilized y