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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 T I i^Mf(ivHPimp|ppi7ii^MHR:|P!;p«p»p^^i^wppHB^!qi A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE ISSUES OF THE PRESENT PflLITiCAL CONTEST. MARCH 1891. "■Pll?! ^^ n MT FRIENDS AND ASSISTANTS IN fiUSINSSS. No one can Jeny tlio need of a bettor condition of afluirn Imtwfien thfc United States ;tnd Car^ada than hun uf lato existed. All nations 8hould boconiw moro and more aliie 1 on th° liroad ground of the right to trade in an honorible and open maniipr with each otlnT. HubJMt to no greater barrier or tax than necessary to give each country the requisite income to pay their fixe;! charges and their ordinary f!\penditur«:s of Government, and which in a country like ours includes the vjonstruction of public Mrorka and the opening of jjreat arteiieu to ostend our oonun'irce ami trade with the world and attbrd reasonable means of ingress and egress to and from tiie various parts of our land. This implies a tariff for purposes of revenue. In such, I think, is contained every fair and e(|uitablc pi-otection for the in(histries we have established, and ns iniiny nipr<; as are reasonably adapted to our people anil .surrounding?. As free trade with the world and direct taxation are by oitr leading men acknowledged to be impracticable with ns at present, a tarill" for revenue applied to the wants of the {>eop1e of (Jauada, calls out the qualities inherent in theui that will not. only warrant tlteir manufaoturing for our own peopV.butsupjdyini; many of the wants of other lands. In this, to my mind, i.s the true policy of economical and wi^se legislation leading to the steady i»rowLh and prosperity of our agricultural interests, and to solid progress on the part of our self-reliant nmnufactuiers. I think the great- est advancement in everythiu? that ;idded to the honor, integrity and real pro.sperity of the United Sta'es, on Und and sea, was under a tariff of this character; whih" utider a jwlicy of extrenK; protection, you have but to visit the great centres of that i:oui>try to .s'ie many of the manufacturers buing abso-- lutely forcwl lor their existence to com*: together to regulate production, t«» influence legislation, to raise or lower prices, not according to their ability to produce, but according,' to the variations of tariff, tic, iniposed on raw material, on labor, and many of the accompanying factors which make up the cost of the goods produced.- The same laws that inHuence and make such oiuibincs, govern and lead the workingman and mechanic to enact and secure the exclusion of foreign or competitive labor frf)iii their shores also lead farmers to combine when they can, but as they represent so large a portion of the community, and such a diversity of produ<'t<;, their combination l)ecom«s almost, if not quite, impracti cable. They prwluce not only for the wants of the people of their own land, but they liand over to the merchants their surplus products which go out to the world's markets in exchange for what the people of other countries re«{uir«i in retur.i therefor. These protluots, largelv raw material, constitute a great part of the traffic of the railways, canals and /ivers, and on the cheapness and (|uick- iiess with which they reach the world s markets, on the prices at which they sell, as well as on tlj*.- cost of the goods exchanged for and delirered to th« homes of the Kasses, largely depend the profit, or the loss, of the people at large. Alanufacturers reco;;nize this fact in Canada, where they receive the pro- tection of a tariff as a whole that only produces the ncccessary income to pay our current expenses, to secure the construction of railways and improvemtnti of our water highways, to enable our products to be distributed in the world's markets, in the quickest, sure. a f»ir rfttupn on their caj>it;il invpntod, and there is not now viaihle to ra«*ny neccewity for irn imroatn in tlie nxifitiiig duties. In those spctious of nur provinoo, whore ropiMitwl ftiihiM of crApu and low prices Lqvh heoii evprricnivil, oin farmers un" hanlly justitied in continuing to raigo cereals in cxchsh of C'iinadi;m or torfi;;i« rciiuin'mtuits ; particularly in this •o with barley, which th<; prnplo of tlie I'nitod States hfivc repcatwUy naid by act of Congress thoy do not w;int, (Iiat they hiivo quite enough of their own, perlmps not as i,'ood an ourw, but tjuitc ;,'oo(l enotij^di for thoir usi-. You, td business men, sensible trading n)ei., know foil \vkA\ if you persist in .endiuf; your eostomers what (hey tlon't want, ooniinoditiea whieh they have naid thoy will not hav.i and aijai list whii-ii they have raised barriers to keep thctn out, that in such tradoti or e.\«)iiiiigHR you ^et. very little for your gooils. Ifow much better every way to r.iiso biirley only as a rotatini; i roji, raiMC what the other customers, wliich (Mir policy of ;jovprnMient have secured to you, n!(]uire, aiid thfn realize that our e.\i ellent land will enjoy tho change. This part of mother earth has booouie * ired with our continuous 'Ty for barley, l)arley, and of tho yearly j;rundjlin!j[s slie has li 'aril as our fanners liave found the return per acre loss and less protitabl(>, Our fields eouiprising, in many caaes, unused powers to produce other grains than l»arley, will surprise us with their yield of oats, wheat, corn, ln^ans, pens, etc. Our returns from cheese factorieK and butter dairies when supported by eows tinivini; on tho excellent fodder of the silo will, as they have done toother sections of Canada, bring delight from the excellent returns. We will be sharinn in the prosperity that many others enjoy, and this part of Ontario will then be u factor for good in a treaty of ox- change with the United States while now we are apparently quite the reverse. Those of tho people of Ciinada, who know of tlio threo or four years of repeated failures of crops in rhis .s«^( ♦ion of Ontario keenly feel for you. The members of the late government, uk well I am sure, neognize your position and wants, and would be recreant to their recorded oH-m-s to the United States of reciprocity, recreant to their promises and honor, if they fail to make an earnest effort to improve the relations beiwecn (^anada and the United States. 1 believe they are now, and they have been, willing to go to any honorable lengtli to secure a freer exchange than ve now enjoy. W^e must, however, reraemb««r that the foundation of every business transaction, of ev(;ry purchase and sale, of every swap or trade, is an exchange to giv(f to the. other what each lacks or wantK. You cannot generally force a trade and got value, and what is true in our individual transactions is true and applicable to the nation. 1 do not wish to question tiie motives actuating the loading champ- ions of Commercial Union or I'nrestricted Reciprocity. No doubt they thoroughly believe th it the advantages they have portrayed would be realized by its adoption. They have certainly been in ea- nest, they have thrown into their ettbrts time, means and ability of no mean o.der, but! legret tx>iind they have elicited nothing further from Mr. I'.lainc than the de.;laration of exclu.sive 71688 born of n taritl"so over })iot('ctive as that of his country, for he A'irtually says: Open your markets without restriction to the people of tho United States and we will see what we can then do for you. [ fear the leading advocates of Unrestricted Keciprocity with the United States have placed too low a value ort the assets of (.'anada, have been loo mani- fest in their desire foi* a free entrance to their markets, to ol>tain equitable (Minditions of exchange. The Presitlent and CongJ'essof the United States have d(!clared, reiterateil and sealed with an over-increasing barrier,culniinating in the .McKiuley tarilf, their proclamation to the people of Canada that they do not want our hay, our barlev, our horses, or our eggs, and in th«* face of tltat un- nustakable declaration conlirmed by the dying utterance of the late Secretary Windom at the Nfw York banquet, iirni ivu-'f'y i-y thus loti-Tof iSeorotary Blaioe, 1 regret to Ut-iieve that to induce thorn to witlidraw from their posi- tioH would r)o at a ruinous sacriticc of some, or all of the grtat trade privileges we now enjoy. They would in substance exact that we should buy the bull: of mmm ■•fr our KWiU from tlioiii, ftiul to iiiril{(> ashutanco rlutilily siir«i that othor natiotiH would not ijiifl«l« wl»at. wf lliid nect?s«ary 1o iinpono, l^t:.,id«B nnkiii'^ dutialile many lino« \ This vcrv condition i" to my mind indirntivc of th<- fact that, they who urn speiikint; toi- iho Unitod Stntrs. (hut 1 am ;;lftd to l-v- liev«' thpv do not spfiik for ill thi' poopl-* of thnt ;»r»'at louutry) l.iiou that if our tnrifl on th" goods and j)ro world ; and thai r,f the Canadian products there am included- in this catejrory, wheat, cattle, rye. outs, cheese, butter, titnber, apples, plxw- phates, copper and nick le. Thus the })rices of the corresponding produota of tbe United States are governed by the same world's demand ; consef[ijenfcly in a free exehangft with the Unitewing knowledge of the wants and products of every nation, an acciuaintance with which our excellent schools and colleges are disseminating among our sons and daughters, nmong the bHsin«S8 oHsn of to day and of those being educated to take tlxMr places, creat iug a <{*t&iie natural to t/ie Anglo-Saxon, wlio possesses an ability equal to that ^l«sire, to engag*" on land and sea, athtmicand abroad, in the commercial under- takings and exchftBj^es of the world, in which a jiumber \v Uan.ida an- already takiug part. i havo also sonietimes thought the advocates of the Unrestricted HecikpPOeity policy have overiooktMl our great railways connected witii nearly e\ ery county, extending from every province to the tvvo great oceans, establishtnl at jfjreat ex{)ei' Hture of tune etlbrt antl money ; an expnuliture authorixed by th« older men of our country, approved of time and .again by those younger, and which has resulted in bringing within our reach many of the far away markets of the world. L wonder sometimes if they have lost sight of nature's wonderful highway, the great lakes and noble St. Lawrence, largely within our borders, that at its mouth the .ships l.iearing the merchandise of the workl are heg^innipg to meet the ti-ains of our great railways laden with the pix)ducts, not only •! CifciiMlii, lMl^ wirli luucli fniii) (lot IJiiid**] Sliitt^K hikI iiorobs tlio Paeiflr ; and thai at that tcniuims, tliat in«><>tini{ ^ro(llul, in the ({nrdoti island of Prince Edward mui tlio pif>liKc Auiinpolis valluy, while in do** proximity ure our great tisherio.'i. At tin* very liarbors am some of No'.a Stotia'H iiiex- hauittiblt' i:oal licils, nil coiubining Mt iiiiiiiiiiiiin (>ost tn renrw tht> lardpri, r»- •to«k the bunkcTH and to liflp make ujt thn ear^oes of the great vnhiolui of trattiu that theiti r.utft in incn*Aiiing numbers to exoliiin;Rt aixt sooth y tin- liiv;h {tosition attained by our commercial marine t\ow bcin;,' added ti. upon tlio Pacilic by a fleet of Bteamers, carrying our Hag to Australia, Chira and Japan, and aH a matter of fact around tho world; by tho enterprise of our manufacturer.^, railway manag- ers, bankers, merchants, meuhunics and workingmcn all recognized as fit factors in utili<:ing nature's great gifts. The progruinnie for the internal developeinent of our country was as grand a^ it was bold, but grander still has been tho patien>'<', energy and nerve neces- Hary to carry it on to th« succesii attained. Th*) energies of our ablest men have baen put forth ou these lines. I'he wisdom of this course is confirmed by the industrial factories throughout the Dominion, by the growtli of our oapitni as a people; by the growing strength of our banks; by tho O. P. R. and Pacific Ocean enterprise; by tha growth of inter provincial trade; by the progress of our educational system; the increase of railway.«i, telegraphs and telephones ; thn reading habits of the people, as manifesteci by the number of papers published, unmistakeable evidences of prosperity in nitarly all parts of the Dominion. By continuing on these lines we will be in such practical proximity to free trade, that should it come, our manufacturers will be in harness-trained and ready — our great arteries of trade to all parts oi the globe will be open; our splendid ocean marine, carrying our flag on every .%ea; and our people already interested and taking part in the commercial enterprise of the world. Untrue to our heritage, to our position, to ourselves and to our posterity would we indeed be to forego these advantages and in an hour of rlnpression or narrow-mindedness fail to grasp the grandeur of the future that is within our control, and which many believe we have already entered upon. The work of constn'.ction is hardly comijletc — the last spike in the railway reaching to the extreme end of Cape Breton, the nearest railway terminal of North America to Britain and Europe has recently been driven. Some of the new ships which are to trade from our Pacific coast to China, Australia, India and Japan are only just completed and commencing their journey around the other side of the world to take their places and to do their part in this great commercial work. When we recollect the immense investments the people of this country have made in these great works which have called forth the best elibrts of our most able business men, I fear the great injury direct and indirect, that would result from a reversal of the policy that has already accomplished KO much. The records unmistakably show that our country, as a whole, is prosperous, and except in isolated cases, which I am glad to believe are very few, if any, aside from our own district, substantial progress oes their departure denote ioM of aflicction. interest or lonfidenc,; in tl^c al)iiity of the people wiio have re mained ? The achievements of the Anglo-Saxon are too plainly stamped on the pages of history, in everything that Ivors cif I hivalrv, commcrci., love of houje and country, to lead me to helieve that these youi.g men who have Ryne out froni Canada, not to poverty and vxant, hut lo honor and inlluence, would to- day advise UH to i;ive up our i»rivilegi of huvinj: and selling in the world's markets, a privilege which l^nre-itrirted Ke( iprocity wuh the States only, as I imderfctand it, woidd seriously curtail. Many fri>n\ all rlasses in Ontario have gone out to the new provinces to occu])y and enjoy the fertile and chea|» lands which have heen opened for settlement therein. They have gone to become owners of their own I'arms and tin ir own homes and to nmuld the future of those great ]>rovitice^ in the same way that the people of New ICngland have left their farms for the cheap and more prodiutive lands of the western slates. It is a natural exodus of men whose* hief capital is (heir i-ner^y, ane thus going out into the world, still it is for their good and the benefit of all. The success attained by so many (jf those who have thus removed wdl in- fluence many more to follow their e\ami)U . The farmers of Ontario have felt the competition of their own sons in the west, but the ordinary laws of supply and demand will in a reasonable time correi:t: al! the ine(|ualities whicli n.iturally wise from such shiftings of ]ioi)uIation. We must not losn sight of the fact that in no part of Canada have the efforts of the through lines of railway, etc., on towu> and villages been more manifest than {•ctween Toronto and Hrockville. Formerly all the trade ot the back i (jiintry came lo ship[)ing places and harbor.-, at the ircmt, tor then nearly ev(;rything was moved to market l)y the wait;r route. But, although m;my of the old frontier towns have lost traile, through no fault of their owr». through no fault olany one, but simply in accordance with the natural course of events.the back towns,!. indsay, J*eterboro. the many villag. s^ and the whole seeiicm of what we know as the back country, have gained far more than those in the front hfive lost, and f do not think that any government legislalion or effort of individual or people could have successfully interfered with this n.-iural order of events which thougli lead- ing to a shrinkage of values in some localities adds materially to the who''-. In estimating the progress of our coimtry in wealtli, population and general pro-i pcrty we must aggregate the condition of trade, values, advanceipent or reiro- gres!;ion of all the provinces. A conclusion based on a province, or a sei lion of a province only, would be misleading and unfair. Our farmers may fancy thev will obtain for their products, higher prices in the markets of the United Slates, but they should not forget that for some time they have been receiving for their wheat, corn, pork, small fruits, vegetables, etc., considerably more than they would there receive, and the increase they would get cm a few lines would, I lielieve, be lost in the increased cost of those necessaries of life which must be brought from across the seas through the United Statcj or our own ports to supply the needs of our people. If the advocates of Unrestricted Reciprocity believe freedom of trade and all that it implies to be good, and acknowledge, as they must, that free trade between Canada and all other nations is impracticable now, why do they advise our people, made up of agriculturalists, dealers in natural products, manufac- turers, sailors and workingmen to discriminate against and jeopardize our growing commerce with Britain, France, Germany.SouthAfrica, Auslralia,China and Japan (biMlie inivilcge uf Hcilinf; witli iiiu < mtoiiur, .uul (Itat < iiMotner liuund IkmuI and foot by an ovc^hii;h pn>le(tivi- tariff which freo traders Mid reventic tarifl men by surh an alliniu'e would thrrcby (kt hel|tin^ tu piolong? If, ax those ad vocntrs claim, a \o% tarilf on m>inc «»f thf foreign );oodH we have to buy ho cripples our rraile and' rost of production as to barely let us reach succoMfuiiy th« marketn of the world wiih our < hcese, hnnb combines, produces bad crops, cripples tlic fanners by adding to the ( ost of hw goods [mr- chased without rorrcspondinglv i'urcasing the pric<' of the great staples he has to sell, and which are the chief < oinmodities with which wo trade with the world, surely a tax of 60 cents on the doikr on the gix>ds wc purchase would Ik dunbK' certain to add to the evils rather than the profits of the people ! Ij«t mm review what hns SriMi iIotk— ironnidcr liow we <'ii(i liaii.lli' our natetii to ensure tho grfSteat goofniiy an lioncHi, worthy inua will- lng]y toils and ditnios hiinselrto givn to liis t'atnily i\ lielter fivturr; «o, lui " whole, all through the |>a«t, th« |)eopIe of CHnadn hnve home niiioh in tnriiV ami tu.\(>!t to neciirr ncoessibility (u inarkotfi, to give (Miipiuyineiit l<> lal>or iiii<( tikpilHl, aixl ikUi to tiie proi* )>crity of llio future. This ^jroat work hu« been doiie mII yreat achii'vemcnts are ac- coaapliflkni— as miiul), if nut more, fur tlionc who CDtneHHei 111 rorlliosc 01 the eximitijf period. Any one who is ml all acquainted with ihn eeaMoIess oner;T.v un<1 tjiiivikncss of the American penple; who reoogni/.c what they lia»o mA-oinpliehcdi llm high rlmracterof the goodi pro worki no unworthy coinpetitora >!' Great Rritaiu or any other IunH oi ira otita accomplishment; that the party ailvo<. Were our Government to im- pose*, jwrpetuale or increase a larift" which would take from llie [>eoplo their hard earned savings, by tariff or tax, money not requisite for the tlxed iharges, current tx- |)enditure8, rational inlernal improvementf<, to develupe our country^ trailc and com- merce at home and abroad, no advocacy or vote of miru' would ( ontinue them iu power. Bear in mmd, men routit he broad*miuded, chnritablo. Iil>eral enough to admit the average frailty of judgmcn*, of nuinkind, and it i« beyond reacon to expect that any set. of men, house of commons cr any Ixxly of reprt'"entativo-<, can so wisely legislate as to secure universal approbation or prevent a ccrt.Vui amount of intrigue, error and wrong in the public service or in any service. [ believe that the ('anadian govern- nients have iu the past averaged quite as high in honesty of pur|K>se as any 'ikely lo have l«en placed there could have done. I believe they have from their o.\i>erience(, mtelligence and etatesmansliip attained to many excellent result^. I («» but thiuk it would b«» most serious error to now give up the full completiou of the great work* we have been so long eameetly engago-1 in, surrender that full enjeymeut of the world'a trade, engaged in direct, or through Britain the great comtuercial centre of the universe. wWtrf t>in piyiiini'M ofkil liin'I'* urt (!«ii*^ntniicil, ami \iUrrp 'iii' wH*i»i, ii 4 laiivs aiiU Uliur Ui»ia than OMi be r«iliii«U in Miy otiiri' lunii». iiml when the iMiiMf ^'irat ftaplM of th<- liiiiltil HtiiisM art' aiiMi inark«ti>(i. NVc Mi> ul a mii^iul (joiitl ill our ullano — Our 1 k'Ii nrigliljur wnon iif K> utii-ii our iitark<^u to him, ami vol all lUv limu lutiinuiif u ru}(Miilv ofuouWuiom* tlial makn u* liriaitait-, MiMty (/ana>li«nH iii'^<> u-^ for^varil. Wi; l<«ik iicisf* llu' lM>i-ilf^i'; wo m^«- lh»ir taritl. olocnini of jiiliriK liy llic |m>oj>I(!, iitillii>ii-« ^vitllllra>vll i'iumi ll^^ oltii'ineU of triuic hoyrmrl (lio leyitiiiiad: 1 ■'luiiTiiiuiiH ot'i^ovorniiu'Mt, ainl ilivitlt* iMi|>iliiii«t<. \V<- ■mh* u |M4 0l'i>|i|, iukI wIio kaiil ttic founlKlioii o| their gr<«l (^oiiutrr. Wi- wifiionK uii iiilniiHl Mm;;;;!'' ill iiro'^ir^^-, .uuuy iiiilu>'irii's torr<' I i.iniiix lor l»rot«!tiori or '3i> \\\u> li(|uiiiulioii, Iiohiuihc io Uu'Ui iIk tirnio^ i>i llioir ra«v uiatrhal->ttM' luamifaofurfd ptoilm.t of Home olliuf iu'lu«try — liat i-ion iu <'on«<.'<|H«"iu"o of tlic larill materially lMcr<'n-'<*i|. The t'iiiiiiiic<'tin-eaiiiltruili',aii(i nearly evrryiKiii^pruilio "(inv««rag>-«||iji>h . «M- III uoHt tliaii ii. otli(>i\vif an' hifli I>rotni»«i^ onl> Iroiii the m'ci'fl^ity of (he ciix'tiiiistama'-* turi'oundiii^ ^ ir opera- tions. For tlio profcrvnlioii of capital and liti«iu<'t policy of a larifT for revenue only, waa the abrogation of the excise duty on spirits and tobiiccow «o as to necessitate liie keeping up of the customs tax. Thii wouM proltably ajjain, be resorted to by the party now in jwwer in the United States, »o secure to their support those who would have free whiHkcy ami '.obacco. They impose a duty on goods that inn«t be obtained from foreign landn, and which their people and our peoph> ro«piire, of twice whai i\ e imjxise. They take from their jjeople hundretis of millions ot dollars a year, uxin;; it on pensions, playing on the nobl- est symiMithies of their gcncrou!< people to deplete the treasury so as to warrant the continuance of their excessive tarill'. They take from the masses additional milhonga yemr to use the pauio in Vmying from the capitali-tH the country's notea or bonds issued daring the war to save the Union, and paying liierefor '20 to 'Jti |)er cent, premium, that the people v/ho iieoil the money in tiic liUHinetss of Mo.- country may not see it idle in the treftsury vauUf. This issue is not a question of parly or men. It is one involving ilic ;;re*t principles of tnide, thefoundation of our comtnerce, not only for the inesent, but forkll time, which we, uii a people, are to consider and decide. Think of our oondition under Unrestricted Reciprocity with the Umteil States aiom^ii M'ith liOc. on the iloUar duty on all the goods we bring from Britain and the wdHd ai large, or whatever rate the high protection isU of the United Stat^ may elect we'irijall pay, ami" prbaps bound to adopt a rarift'that may be hostHe twaations with "vbam we may de,^iie i.> trade. If we fouml the alliance irksome, if we found it alitlBsiit^ us from the inothciiand, if wc found t-unada drifting further and further away from the >ound priiicipie.'= of DritaiiiV eomiucrciul jwdicy, (the best in the world), we may be ^0UDd for years to llic end of the contract or treaty, and then when relcftsrd h« a nation be withoiit fclatu-< — unrecognized ami coniparRtivoIy unknown. What ft retro- greasion! Depending upon manipulations of turiffrf, drawbacks, Itonntics, and unwar- ranleii protection at tlicexinjiiHe of our own ncigiibors and cMuiitrynien, and not upon «)ur own Helf-reliatit energies, prudence, exiierienee and sKill. Ail over the land citizens are Rssembling, listening, discussing and seeking the light to guiiie aright. I liavf no doubt that ilic inassof the peu|>leuf this Doininioa iie.sire to act for the best, tor wliut is right for the. nsclvcs, thi.'ir neighbors, their families, tlieir sister provinces and for posteiily. In their Hearts they .ire attached to the molhi'rland. I'liey have kindly feci- log'-' J'rr their American roii>ins ; every man would like to do nmre busincps with theni, and particuliii:\ is this sc in the few counties aboui tlie bay, lake and river, where the disappoint- ment of Several harvtsis lias been most trying, and where lior.scs, barley and hay have lieen so l.irgely pro'luced. V'e niuit seek to raisi; the products that the uorld wants in preference to those only which one c;i;ion'.ei will buy, and steadily pursue tlie course nl internal e, My nilection for my n.uivcland, tiie United States, should not be i|UL-»lione'! ; uiy interest in all th:.t >avori of progress atjd prosperity and that adds to its honor needs noajwlogy. Neither need I say that whatever dishonors, belittles, oi detracts from its futuie gives nic regret. If I 'lid not believe that as rlose a conformity to Uril.iiu's !i.-,cal policy, a.s il is possible for our con- dition and surroundiiiys to admit of, was the best both foi ua and fo. the United Stats.«, that such a policy is the read to succe?;sful dcvelopeiuenl ol trade and eommercc, prospeiity, honot and wealtli, I would ml advise to that coiir.>c ot urge yoa as 1 do to hold fast to .ill thai allies you to sucii principles and such a futi.re in preference to adopting the teachings o! those in this contest wiiose system would entail a serious restriction in our trade and commerce with the world. It may be liiai 1 think too much of what Canada lias done, believe too much in what she can do, e.xpccl too bright a future. Il may be tliat I look at Canada through the eyes of one who holds old associations over dear, and who values the old homestead too highly. Be that as it may, and be the future bright oi dark. T believe our best courte is to stand firm, shoulder fo shoulder, every man unitedly opposed not only to this new deiurture, but also opposed to any protective tariff beyond that necessary for our requisite expenditures in payment of our debt, in carry iu^' out the functions of (jovernment and developing liic tratle and cominerce of every province ;iiid section of our great (."untry. J bclu'vc tliorj are tlioiisands of business moii wlio are agreeii tiiat our taritffor icvenue only, coupled witii tho high standard of bu^siiness ability and enUirprise of our inan'ifucuirerHjbaspruihiced Siitif^factoiy returns to those indu&tries at present existing, and will lo those that are yet to be established, and that in this system is every neces- sary onci'ura;^<^nicnt and protection to be found. While agreed that although It oostu fliepeoplMnorp, asevery customs tariirnmst, than would free and ur:iei?tricted trade with all countrl<>.«--which is undoubtedly out of the question at present— I believe that by MO other .«ysiein than tliat iu vogue would thegiTif public works of our country* under H'lr cifcunistunccs as a pcoijle, have been constructed to the extent realized" While there no rioubt have been, ami fvlway.-? will be, some crror.^ and extravagan- ces in ex|)Cniliture by every govcrnmcU in power and under every pyslem, still I be- lieve 1 am ri'^lit in contending that our tariff Jiuft be considered as one of revenue, and contiimo to be !=o considered po long 21 it is madu to ii'\ir lightly ou raw material, and be reiiuccd on the nccee'«aries of life a;< rapidly as the improved income from excise and (•ustom« will permit. I believe that a government «itli Sir .lohn Macdouahl at it« lieail, in dialing with the qne.«lioii of reciprocity with the United States will l>o ti-)und manifesting that wisdom and discretion, notwith^landiuc any unkind r«'TnarKS made in the heat of debate, that will ecciire from that people allied to iis by so many ties, a treaty, truly reciprocal, honorable and fair to both countries. The interosis involve*! are too itupnrtant and va.-t to warrant oiir delei;atiug such negotiations to other than our most experienced and prmient Htatesmeu. I have no doubt but that Sir .lobn Macdonald's ability and statesmanship luarks hiio, and the men he will call to his itabinet aa those beat fitted by far to Jtake up, carry on and complet'" all Teciprc-citj iiegotiatioDS, to the honor and wellfare of our people. " E. W. EATHBUN. 9 »■ >