The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-09-20

" N1E reciprocity CduupdlSu Ill Oan-
II ada is nearly over and both
~ parties in the struggle are con-
fdent of a victory on Sept. 21,
and both apparently believe their
prophecies. Tons of campaign ltera-
ture have been sent throughout the
Dominion. The government literature
tells the electors that reciprocity in
natural products has been the avowed
policy of gll Canadian governments,
Liberal and Conservative, since con-
federation and that it means increas-
ed prosperity for the Canadian pro-
ducer without hurting either him or
the consumer The Conservative lit
erature tells the same electors that
when Canada really wanted reciprocity,
and wanted in vain, the country was
young and unable to offer home mar
ket valuable enough to keep the farm
er going. 1t also tells him that reci
procity leads to commercial union and
that commercial union means annexa-
tion and the end of British traditions
in North America.
Generally speaking, these two sets of
opinions are the substance of what
platform orators have been giving to
the people of Canada in all of the
nine provinces.
Nationalists' Campaign.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier held only one
meeting in the province of Ontario and
has since been campaigning in his own
province of Quebec, endeavoring by
the force of his personal influence with
the French Canadian electorate to
stem the tide of nationalism. The
most pressing danger to the govern
ment is to be found in the Nationalist
campaign headed by Henri Bourassa,
a former Liberal, in Quebec.
Rourassa. who is the grandson Of
Louis Papineau, a French Canadian
patriot of bygone days, has broken
with his old leader and has recently
acquired extraordinary strength in
Quebec as the champion of the so call
ed rights of the French Canadian mi
nority. He is making his fight on the
naval policy of the Laurier govern
ment and the participation by Canada
IN British foreign Quarrels and wars.
He refuses to admit that reciprocity
is the main issue before the country.
and in large section the younger lib
eral element sides with him.
To the extent that he is against
Laurier, Bourassa is with the Conserva-
tives, although he denies that he is in
league with them or thinks with them.
The fact remains that if his campaign
succeeds the Laurier government will
no longer be able to count upon the
substantial majority hitherto contrib
uted by the province of Quebec, and
added t. this comparatively slight
Conservative gains in the other PROV
inceS would mean the defeat of the
Laurier government and the end of
reciprocity.
r. L. Borden. the Conservative lead
er, will close his campaign in Quebec.
Mr.. Borden has spent most of his time
in Ontario. province which gave him
a majority in the last parliament,
which majority he hopes to increase.
Ontario and Quebec to Decide.
Ontario and Quebec between them
must decide the election. A landslide
in either province will send the gov
ernment out of power or will send it
back stronger than it ever was. It is
not too much to say that the Laurier
ministers are absolutely confident of
the latter result. They are paying
much attention to Ontario and Que
bee, but are Mt the same time giving
more care to the maritime provinces