The 'Reciprocity Agreement and the arguments by which it has
been assailed in this country all confirm the Spectator in its view of the very great Imperial dangers involved in attempting to interfere with the complete freedom of the Colonies in fiscal matters. Free Traders, in spite of their dislike of the protective systems in the Colonies, have always held that we have no moral, as well as no legal, right to dictate in the slightest degree to our fellow subjects on this point. Surely Tariff Reform Imperialists should be able to practise the same self-denial in ..regard to their economic opinions. The fiscal controversy should be kept exclusively for home consumption. Apart from these general considerations, we are at one with the Daily Mail when it asks the following question—a question which it quite rightly declares has never been answered by the Opposition :—" How can we expect the Canadian farmer to take a preference Of 3d. a bushel for his wheat in Great Britain When he can get a profit of 7id. in the United States ? ""If," adds the Daily Mail, "any Member of the British House of Commons had given an answer to this question, there would be some reason to expect Canada to reject the United States -offer."
But Canada will not only sell where she can get the best' terms, she will also buy in the cheapest market, and we have, no fear of that not proving for the vast majority of goods to be the British. In any case, we disbelieve wholly in the ridiculous notion that, because Canada will do good trade with the country south of her, she will desire to destroy the ties that bind her to the Empire and will seek absorption, and so national extinction in the United States.
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