The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-12
OvERSHADOWS
. OTHER QUESTIONS
Reciprocity Agreement Draws
Attention i'll Parliament and
Throughout England
DEBATES ARE SPIRITED
Free Traders Welcome 1t as
Further Expansion OF
Their Principles.

- ~ 'sIA's.s3A >.
Especial Gable to 'rhc rime5- Dispatch.
London. February 1.-THE debates
In the House of Commons this week
have been almost as interesting 10
Americans. as to the old folks at home
for the question which overshadowed
all offers was the reciprocity arrange
ineht between Canada and the United
states THIS question embraces tho
srestcr question or the ruture rola-
tons. political and commercial. OF tie
Hritisli empire and the American re-.
public.
! Tile debates have been full Of in
tercst because they have brought into
clear RELIEF the Fundamental dincrenc.
between free traders and protection
lists. The former. who include III.
nisterlalists. la borites and home
rulers. centhusiasticaliy welcome tn
reciprocity arrangement, not merely
because II is Il step nearer free trade,
but because 1t is certain 10 mako for
closer and more friendly relations he
! tween tic empire and the republic
The later, dispiritch. outnumbcred
ana defeated minority. hate the agree
lnent because II makes a breach in Tho
tariff wall by which.they hope forever
10 divide Canadians from Americans.
IN Chambcrlains words. they declare
the agreement takes Canada out OF
the Imperial orbit. and draws her into
me vortex OF continental politics and
continental interest OF the United
states
Remove somc Barriers.
10 tho tariff reformer every nation
that does not fly the Union Jack anu
own allegiance 10 King George IL a
foreign and q rival nation whose In
ternationai trade 1t is to British IN.
tcrest t. .hwart and limit as much as
possible. AS Americans in this par.
ticular instance are tho foreigners, We
haTe tho spectacle OF British Tories
wrinEing their hands and tearing their
hair over the agreement because It re-
moves some OF the artificial barriers
that have been set up for The purpose
OF alternating Canadians from Amer
leans and keeping alive sentiments OF
| antaEon'sm and mutual jealousy E
The american republic should regssd
With the livciicst satisfaction tho evil
dcnccs afforded by the last three cleo
tons OF the ascendancy OF the British
Liberals Ever speech made In tile
House this week proved more clearly
than ever tlI.t TO British Liberals the
American republic is another Father
! land. TO the Liberals tho American
people are not foreigners; they are
brothers and their Interests arc identi-
| cal. In nrarly every Liberal speech
there may be disccrned q passionate
longing to undo the mischief wrought
By George III. and the Tories OF his
day by restoring In one way or an
other the shattered unity OF tho Eng
| glish- speaking world
Pr0mines Much for Future.
Tbo
coined. therefore. not merely as good
In itself but as holding promise or
realization iii the future OF the great
Id al Of Anglo-Amerlcan reunion.
| II another reason was wanted to
| convince Americans that every good
American ought to be a we'll wisher
| Of the British. Liberals and an III wisherM
| to the Tories. 4 would be found in
| the fact that the former are friends,
the latter enemies of irish home rule
| ! went down to lie House OF Com-
mons last Thursday u sense the poll
| teal temperature and to admire the
new frcscoes in the smoking room. X
| which every American who visits Lon
don this year should make a point OF
seeing. There found Devlin, the
I'idus Achates Of Redmond. whom
| Nearly dubbed the "Duodecimo Demos
! themes" Devlin is well known through
out the English speaking world as the
rising hope OF tile Irish Eationalists
How long have YOU been IN Far
| liament?' I asked.
| Nine years" ne >repl ed.
land how loEs are you 70 remain
hcrc?"
1.-TWO years more" he said "and then
| I shall sit in the IrlsA Parliament at
College Green"
| Therein Dcvlin expressed the hope
which the Liberal victory has given
| to the Irish nation. 7 have never been
able 10 understand why an American.
can regard without antipathy the party
which, as it's name implies. exists for
| the purpose Of frustrating the ma
! tional aspirations Of the IRISH people