XXXVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



flourishing, and for the remaining years of the term of 

 the treaty a great war was being waged in the United States, 

 which weakened their competition with ns in other mar- 

 kets, and gave us a ready sale, at war prices, in their markets 

 for almost everything we had to sell. The average citizen at first 

 thought favourably of Commercial Union. The Loyalist element was 

 not asleep, however, and it was sioon felt that an entanglement such as 

 Commercial Union would necessarily involve, would in the long run 

 be likely to end in the annexation or absorption of Canada. This was 

 contrary to the dream of the Loyalists of the Revolution. They fought 

 for a United Empire — a United British Empire. For that idea they 

 had made all their sacrifices, for that they and their descendants had 

 always stood true to their Sovereign and to British institutions. This 

 same idea animated all other loyal Canadians, and a movement in 

 favour of a Commercial Union, or a system of mutual preferential 

 tariffs, between Canada and the Mother Country, and the rest of ihe 

 Empire, was soon started, and an appeal made to the people to adopt 

 that policy in preference to any arrangement with the L^nited States. 



This proposition appealed at once to the feelings and instincts of 

 the inhabitants of Canada, and soon the policy received very general 

 support, and after some years of struggle and agitation and work, the 

 Canadian Government adopted the principle and gave the preference to' 

 Great Britain. The movement originated in Canada, and has been 

 pressed on by Canada. At the request of Canada the German-Belgian 

 treaties were denounced. Canada took the lead in establishing Imperial 

 J>enny postage, as well as in forcing on the construction of the all 

 British Pacific cable. 



All these movements are in the direct line of the dream of the old 

 U. E. Loyalist fathers of our country, and no one can fail to see that 

 their traditions and precepts and example, have, through the influence 

 of their descendants, had a very considerable share in bringing about 

 the present state of affairs. The movement has spread" into the other 

 colonies, and several of them have followed Canada's example. 



The cause that Canada has made her own has been taken up in 

 Great Britain, and strenuous efforts are being made to induce the 

 Mother Country to meet these advances of her colonies and consolidate 

 her possessions in such a way, as to preserve and secure the markets 

 of the Empire for the Empire. The desire is to put a stop to the system 

 by which every foreign nation is fostered and nurtured at the expense 

 of the assets and resources of our Empire, which should be preserved 

 and employed to strengthen and support the interesits of our own race. 



