The Alaska citizen., 1911-09-25

livered to the electors of Canada by Sir Wilfrid Laurier and K. l.. Borden for and against the Reciprocity Treaty on July %:
 Al all times during the last forty years. il has been the constant ef- fort of all political parties in Can ada to make with the United States an arrangement for the free exchange of natural products between the two countries.
 In 1854. Lord Elgin. on behalf of Canada and the Maritime provinc es. treaty for that purpose. which lasted until 1866. and which, within the memory of many still alive was of the greatest advantage
 Ever since the termination of that hence in Canada. whatever their diff. i ferenCes on other questions, have
 
 again secure this free exchange of natural products. Nor is this to be wondered al, 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 the industries depend the growth of our manufacturing and commercial interests and the prosperity of all classes in the Dominion. The latest attempt of the ConSer by Sir John Macdonald himself. who dissolved parliament in 1891 for the purpose of submitting to the elector- ate of Canada the expediency of his approaching again the American au thorties fir renewal of the treaty of 1854
 In 1893 the intention to obtain re ciptocity with the United States, if possible. was made prominent fea- ture in the platform of the Liberal party. upon which that party atrain- ed power in 1896.
 After the present government took office it renewed this offer to the United States; but, meeting with no if larlaTaI that th1 overtures of this nature would be made by Canada.
 Within the last twelve months the president of the United States sent to Ottawa two commissioners from Washington for the purpose of open ing negotiations looking toward the lowering of the tariff barriers which have hitherto stood in the way of freer exchange of commodities be- tween Canada and the United States. These negotiatiC ms in January last eliminated in an agreement between duties of each country on such pro- ducts might be reduced or altogeth- CT removed
 This agreement was strenuously resisted in the United States by var ious interests, on the alleged ground that it was all to the advantage of Canada and to the detriment Cf the other country, but the view that it was mutually advantageous to both countries finally prevailed in con gress. and the agreement stands to- day as an offer by the United States reciprocity which, fer more than 40 years. has engaged the earnest and constant efforts of every leading Canadian statesman.
 The present Conservative party in parliament seeks absolutely to re- verse the lifelong policy of it's great leaders in the past, declaring that il will oppose to the bitter end the very principles enunciated by both Sir John Macdonald and Sir John Thompson in the last election ad- dresses upon which each of these statesmen ever appealed to the Can adian people,
 Not content to debate this proposi- tion upon it's merits, the Conserva- tive party in the house of commons has adopted system of organized and avowed obstruction to prevent any vote being taken in parliament by which the opinion of your rep resentatives could be expressed.
 Day after day, when the presiding officer has tried to put the question, he has been met by dilatory motions, by endless speeches, by obstructive ward on some spacious pretext, but in reality nothing else than an abuse of freedom of speech in parliament tary debate.
 Such pretenses are simply clum- sy attempt 10 give some color to un warranted and undignified Obstruc- | tiOn.
 To overcome that obstruction, after session which has already lasted eight months, would not only mean the continuation of the unseclnly spectacle presented by the opposition in the house of commons since the