The Canadian Commonwealth by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut
page 72 of 266 (27%)
page 72 of 266 (27%)
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east and west. Reciprocity to divert traffic north and south seemed a
menace to their receipts. To a man these systems were against reciprocity. You have forced us to work out our own Destiny, said Canada. Very well--now that we are at the winning post, don't divert us from the goal! We love you as neighbors; we welcome you as settlers; we embrace you as investors; but when we came to you, you rejected us. Now you must come to us! Deep beneath all the jingoism these were the economic factors that rejected reciprocity. It is all a curious illustration of the difference between practical and theoretical politics. Theoretically both parties have been free traders in Canada. Practically free trade had thrown them both down. Theoretically Canada rejects reciprocity. Practically trade across the boundary has increased one hundred per cent. since she rejected reciprocity. Theoretically Canada was protecting her three transcontinental systems when she rejected reciprocity. Practically the growth of lines with running rights across the boundary has increased from _sixteen_ to _sixty-four_ in ten years. When American industries have become rooted in Canadian soil beyond possibility of transplanting, no doubt the fear will be removed; and at the present rate of the increase of trade between the two countries the tariff wall must become an anachronism, if it be not worn down by sheer force of trade attrition. Comical incidents are related of the Canadian fear in individual cases. There was a Scotch school trustee in Calgary. He had voted |
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