UNITED STATES AND CANADA 109 



(hear, hear) — and intercourse, not only with the 

 United States but with all the world. (Cheers.) 

 That is the true, unrestricted reciprocity. (Hear, 

 hear.) It is a very restricted reciprocity, indeed, 

 which would make you dependent for your financial 

 freedom upon the government of another State, 

 and, perhaps, pave the way for the surrender of 

 something which is still more important — I mean 

 your political freedom. (Cheers.) Some people, 

 it appears, who have adopted a well-known saying 

 of Mark Twain, appear to think that as upon this 

 continent the lion must lie down with the lamb, it 

 would be better if the lamb consented at once to 

 lie down inside the lion. (Laughter.) I confess 

 that I don't entertain that opinion — (hear, hear) — 

 and I don't think it worth while, even if it were 

 proper, to discuss to-night the various proposals, 

 more or less disguised, more or less insidious, for 

 your painless extinction and possible absorption. 

 (Cheers.) I have not discovered in the course of 

 my stay in the United States any general desire on 

 the part 



OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 



who have a good stock of territory of their own, to 

 increase it and increase their responsibilities at the 

 same time — (hear, hear) — and any such arrange- 

 ment as that which I have been considering, if it 

 comes about at all, must come about after full dis- 

 cussion and with goodwill on both sides. (Hear, 

 hear.) Gentlemen, when you become tired of the 

 mild sovereignty of the Queen, when you cease to 



