Last Saturday the Canadian Parliament was dissolved and the General
Election was fixed for September 21st. The election, of course, will be fought almost entirely on the question of reciprocity with the United States. It is to be noted that the appropriations have not been voted to carry on the whole financial administration of the country till the new Parliament meets, and in the interval recourse will be had for certain purposes to an issue of Governor-General's warrants. The dissolution is also the first that has taken place by pro- clamation of the Governor-General. The Toronto corre- spondent of the Times says that Sir Wilfrid Laurier is expected to speak chiefly in Quebec and Ontario, and Mr. Borden, the leader of the Opposition, in Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces. The Nationalists are attacking the Liberals bitterly, and may introduce some complications owing to their unnatural alliance with the Conservatives, but the result of the elections must depend, after all, on the feeling in the rural constituencies. This, so far as one can judge, is in favour of increasing the opportunities for trade with the United States. If Sir Wilfrid Laurier's confidence is not misplaced a Parlia- ment pledged to take a considerable step towards Free Trade
throughout the continent of North America will be returned and the question of reciprocity be placed beyond dispute by the time the Duke of Connaught reaches Canada to take up the Governor-Generalship.
Previous page
