The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-08-01
Canadian Government Leader
States The Issue Plainly
OPEN ADDRESS TO PEOPLE
Deplores Stand Taken by the Con.
servative Party In 0bstructing Free
Exchange Of Natural Products Be.
tween the Dominion and the United
States.

Ottawa, Ont, July 31.-The opening
gun in the campaign which will de-
termine the fate of the reciprocity
pact between the United States and
Canada was fired yesterday by the
liberal leader, Sir wilfrid LAurier,
who Saturday dissolved the parlia-
ment and called for new election.
It was in the form OF an open address
to the Canadian people, and In It is
set forth very clearly the issues in
volved in the present campaign.
The question at issue is not new
one, Sir Wilfrid asserts, reciprocal
relations with the United States hav-
ing been sought by both parties for
over half century. The present
conservative party, he declared. is
seeking TO reverse this lifelong policy
OF its leaders of the past. The enact
ment Of the agreement, the premier
predicts, would further improve the
friendly relations existing between
Great Britain, Canada and the United
States and would be an important fac
tor In bringing about a general treaty
of arbitration.
Sir Wiifrid then referred to the
reciprocity agreement Of 1854 entered
into between Canada and the United
States, which terminated in 1866.
Ever since tie termination OF that
treaty" said he, ''all public men OF
any Prominence In Canada. whatever
their differences on other questions.
have been unanimous in the attempt
to again secure the free exchange OF
natural products. Nor Is this TO be
wondered at. seeing that in the indus
tries OF agriculture. fisheries. lumber
ing and mining Canada possesses ad-
vantages not enjoyed by any other
country on earth, ard that upon the
markets secured for the products of
these industries depends the growth
Of our manufacturing and commercial
interests and the prosperity OF all
classes in the Dominion"
Sir wilfrld. after reviewing the
negotiations which eliminated re-
Gently in agreement for a free ex-
change Of commodities between Can
ada and the United States. said:
This agreement was strenuously
resisted In the United States by vari-
Gus interests on the alleged ground
that Il was all 70 the advantage OF
Canada and 10 the detriment OF the
other country. but the view that II
was mutually advantageous 10 both
countries finally prevailed In congress
and the agreement stands today as an
oifer by the United States 70 Canada
Of that very measure OF reciprocity
which for more than thirty years has
engaged the earnest and constant ef-
forts OF every leading Canadian states
man.
The present conservative party In
parliament seeks absolutely TO re-
verse the lifelong policy OF its great
leaders Of the past, declaring that II
viii oppose 10 the bitter end the very
principles ennnciated By both Sir John
A. Macdonald and Sir John Thomp-
son In the last election, addresses
upon which each OF these statesmen
ever appealed to the Canadian
people,
The speaker then referred 70 the
attempted obstructive tactics Of the
conservative party In the house Of
commons to prevent any vote being
taken IN parliament upon the agree
ment and said.
such pretenses are simply a
clumsy attempt to give some color to
unwarranted and undigniied obstruc-
ton. To overcome tha obstruction.
after a session which has already
lasted eight months. would not only
mean that continuation OF an unscem-
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