John W. Hills

“ The actual ideals of both political parties on Imperial questions are identical, and can be described very shortly: both are unanimous in desiring preferential trade within the Empire, both hope that the future will bring closer union, and both think that Canada should carry more of the weight of the defence of the Empire. A General Election is not perhaps the best occasion for ascertaining the political ideals of a people, and in Canada last autumn the speeches of the ordinary candidate, as of candidates elsewhere, were filled mainly with local and personal questions. ”

“ The results of the building of the line have often been described, but can hardly be exaggerated; it converted the country from a series of separate communities, divided by wide distances and by wider spaces of time, closely bound to and dependent on the States lying immediately south of them, into a homogeneous country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Had reciprocity continued, and had the railway never been built, Canada's trade would have followed its natural direction of north to south ”

“ The great merit of Canadian statesmanship lies in the recognition of the potency of these two forces, and of the importance of getting them to act together; a commercial treaty is rendered far more durable if it is based on a common nationality. ”

“ The McKinley tariff of 1890 was followed in 1896 by the definite adoption by Canada of Protection. For the same reason a market in Europe had become a necessity, and she naturally turned to Great Britain. Hence the preference granted in 1897 and 1898—a preference which was increased, it should be noticed, after the enactment of the Dingley tariff in 1897. In granting this preference Canadian statesmen were actuated by Imperial motives, but it is of the greatest importance to realize that it was also a necessary step in the country's economic development. ”

“ But her independence to-day is not complete. Fifty years ago, when the Grand Trunk Railway was built, reciprocity with the States existed, and it was thought perfectly natural that the Atlantic terminus of the line should be Portland, Maine. But thirty years later, when it became a question of continuing the Canadian Pacific from Montreal to the Atlantic, public opinion had chanced. It was felt that the Atlantic port must be on Canadian territory, and St John, New Brunswick, was chosen. ”

“ It probably will take the form of Canada increasing and improving her land forces, and possibly of her building and manning ships to form part of the British fleet. The last is clearly the line upon which every effort should be concentrated. The country is rich in raw material, and would gladly foster some, at any rate, of the highly-specialized industries upon which modern shipbuilding depends ”

“ In the press and on the platform it receives general commendation and support.' That certainly is a moderate statement. So unanimous is the country that little argument is required, and consequently a much larger space in party controversy was occupied by the new Transcontinental Railway. ”