Sir John Macdonald, Premier of the Canadian Dominion, has delivered
an important speech upon the McKinley Tariff. He asserts that it is intended, among other things, to compel the Dominion to annex itself to the Union, or to declare itself an independent Republic ; and that Canada will do neither of these things. She will not sell her birthright, more especially as the "foreign ignorance and vice " in the United States will ultimately produce revolutions, amid which Canada will look on at the struggles of the fierce democracy with philosophic calm. As to standing alone, Canada is not strong enough. " The American lion and the Canadian lamb might lie down together ; but the lamb would be inside the lion." The immense prosperity of Canada had made Americans "covetous" of their territory ; but "we are not going to become humble American citizens at Mr. Blaine's dictation." That is out- spoken speech, and pleasant to read, while men in England are afraid to utter the most needful truths; but we fear Canada may have a bad quarter of an hour as regards trade, though she now looks straight across the water to Asia. She could defeat the McKinley Tariff if she had the nerve to accept Free-trade ; but her citizens cannot bring themselves to endure direct taxation.
