194 AMERICAN FARMS. 



in September, 1888, gave utterance to most extraordinary 

 views on this subject. He said : *' I say again, that we 

 have every reason, from the policy of the (United States) 

 Democratic party, to believe that we can have virtually 

 the old reciprocal relations and still keep the Canadian 

 market for the Canadian manufacturer and the Canadian 

 farmer as well." How these two opposite things could be 

 accomplished we are unable to understand : keep the 

 home market for the farmer, and at the same time throw 

 it open to free competition.' 



What has been done by protection to make a home 



' The following, from the St. John Sun of August 23, i88g, states 

 the position of the government of Canada exactly : " In declaring 

 their approval of reciprocity in natural products, therefore, govern- 

 ment journals are not hedging, but simply restating a position from 

 which they have never withdrawn." 



The opposition press are equally correct in their claim that no 

 public man in Canada has ever opposed ' ' free trade in natural products 

 only " ; therefore the farmers' interests are not represented in Par- 

 liament. 



The following is the standing proposition appended to the Canadian 

 customs act of 1879 : " ^1^7 '^^ ^ o^ ^^e following things, that is to 

 say, animals of all kinds, green fruits, hay, straw, bran, seeds of all 

 kinds, vegetables (including potatoes and other roots), plants, trees and 

 shrubs, coal and coke, salt, hops, wheat, peas and beans, barley, rye, 

 oats, Indian corn, buckwheat and all other grain, flour of wheat and 

 flour of rye, Indian meal and oatmeal and flour and meal of any other 

 grain, butter, cheese, fish (salted or smoked), lard, tallow, meats 

 (fresh, salted, or smoked), and lumber may be imported into Canada 

 free of duty, or at a less rate of duty than is provided by this act, 

 upon proclamation of the Governor-in-Council, which may be issued 

 whenever it appears to his satisfaction that similar articles from Can- 

 ada may be imported into the United States free of duty, or at a rate 

 of duty not exceeding that payable on the same under such proclama- 

 tion when imported into Canada." This offer has been modified 

 slightly, but not in the interest of the farmer. 



