Mr. Laurier's Liberal Government in Canada is about to approach
the Government of the United States with a proposal for Free-trade or something like it with the Union, and of course the outcry is raised that that means a policy injurious to the British connection, and likely to end in something like incorporation with the United States or else a policy of discrimi- nation against England. That is a rather foolish cry. A step towards Free-trade with the United States is a step towards Free-trade with England, since any policy which encourages Free-trade with one Power, encourages the people of Canada to study the advantages of the Free-trade policy generally, and of course with England ultimately as the great apostle of Free-trade. It is obvious, too, as the conversation with the Hon. Alfred G. Jones, a Canadian statesman now in this country, who was interviewed by a reporter of the Daily Chronicle on Monday, shows, that at present anything like a discriminating duty against England will not be tolerated by the people of the Canadian Dominion. Liberal opinion in Canada would utterly reject any such idea as discrimination against British goods, said Mr. Jones. And for our part we see nothing but good in free commercial intercourse between Canada and the United States. Loyalty to the Queen is a sentiment which cannot be undermined by friendly commercial intercourse with the United States. Canada and Australia are not less loyal, but more loyal, to us for being allowed to construct their own tariff at their own pleasure.
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