this country are a loyal people. It is some- well known that the measure of our success times alleged by the Conservatives that dis- is found in our exports rather than in our loyalty pervades the ranks of the Liberal imports, for what we sell is the true indiparty of this country, but I am happy to say cation of our prosperity. This is seen in all that there is very little disloyalty in the departments of life. The labourer counts country, and that we are always proud to his prosperity by what he receives, not by give that allegiance to the mother country what he pays for his living; the business to which she is entitled. But, while we are man judges his progress in business by what willing to do that, we must remember that he is able to earn, not by what he pays for we have a country of our own deserving of the support of his family. So it is with our allegiance, and our patriotic efforts for the trade of the country, the true measure her advancement, and while we love and of our success and advancement is found revere the land of our fathers, we love and in our exportations to foreign countries. revere the land of our children still more. Now, I desire to draw the attention of the It is the sentiment of the Liberals of this Government and the country to the extent country, and I have no doubt it is the senti- of our exportations to countries which the ment of a large proportion of the Conser- Government, when they established the vatives as well, that in our consideration National Policy, promised us should afford Canada should be first, Canada should be large markets for our products. Take South last, Canada should be all the way between, America, for instance. In 1889 we sent to and it is from that standpoint I have al- the countries of South America products of Ways endeavoured to discuss Canadian Canada to the value of $1,889,000, and in questions, irrespective of the interests of any 1890 we sent $1,511,000, a much less quantity other country. I desire to make some re- than in the year before. In 1891 we sent ference to our external trade. The Speech $1,063,000, and in 1892 $1,027,000. Last from the Throne tells us that this trade is year there was a slight increase to $1,327,000. increasing year after year. Now, Mr. These figures prove that these countries, which Speaker, that should not surprise anybody the leaders of the Government said would who knows Canada, for it could not reason- afford a large and lucrative market for our ably be expected that five millions of people, exportations, have actually reduced their possessing the intelligence, the skill, the purchases from us within the last five years energy, the push of the Canadian people will under the paternal care of that trade by the halt in their upward progress. The cause party now in power. If we look to Germany, of surprise should not be that we are as a country with which we should carry on a prosperous as we are, but rather that our large export trade, we find the same conprosperity is not still greater. In looking dition of affairs. In 1892 we exported to over the external trade of this country, one Germany goods to the value of $943,000, but cannot but observe that the Government last year this export trade had fallen off to has failed to gain for us a number of mar- $751,000, a reduction of about $200,000 in kets which it promised to gain years ago. one year. Now take another country. You You will remember, Mr. Speaker, that when will remember, Mr. Speaker, that efforts have you were on the floor of this House and taking been made by the Government now in power part in its discussions, the Government you to establish trade with France; several plenisupported promised to open larger markets potentiaries have been sent to France within to our people in which our industries would the last few years for the purpose of negotirealize higher profits than before. This was ating a treaty with that country. particularly the case about three years ago, will acknowledge, and the country will acwhen the McKinley Bill had been passed, knowledge, that there is no other country on and Canadian products were prohibited from the continent of Europe with which we should entering what I believe to be the natural have a larger trade than with France, for, market for many of those products. South as I have said before, a large proportion of America was pointed out as a market for our population is of French origin, their important lines of Canadian products. Sir habits, customs and feelings are largely the John Macdonald, years ago, said that the same as those of the people of France, and Liberal party when in power neglected to it would therefore naturally be expected that extend the trade of Canada among these between two such peoples trade would grow countries that required so much of our pro- rapidly. But, instead of that, our export duce, and grew so much that we required trade with France is falling off year by year, for consumption in this country. But, Sir, and we are losing our grip upon the trade if we look at the results of the efforts made by of that country. Let me give a few figures the Government we find that they have to corroborate the statement I have made. signally failed in extending our trade with As far back as 1873 we sent to France prothe countries of South America; indeed, the ducts of this country to the value of $632,000. trade of Canada in these countries was In 1883, ten years afterwards, this trade was greater a few years ago than it is now. The only $617,000, and, notwithstanding all the members of the Government and their sup- efforts of the Government, and notwithstandporters generally put importations and ex-ing their claims for the success of their policy, portations together when they speak of the external trade of this country. Now, it is

And you

that trade last year fell off to $264,000, or only a little more than one-third of what it

was twenty years ago. Now, Sir, this proves to my mind that, so far as the trade of these countries is concerned, the efforts of the Government have been futile. There is a group of islands lying to the south of us, and a few years ago I heard the eloquent Finance Minister of this country say that there was a likelihood of a great trade being established between Canada and these West India islands. Indeed, the hon. gentleman was sent there about two years ago at the expense of the Government to confer with the people

of those islands in order to establish better trade relations between them and the people of Canada. He went there, and, as a result of his visit, or the result of something else, our trade has been falling off instead of increasing, with One of the reasons of that decline is that he would not give them the same favours in the Canadian market as the United States did in their market. They said they could not continue to buy from us when we would not allow their products into our markets on as favourable terms as the United States allowed their products into their markets. Now, let us see what our

the West India Islands.

Look at what the Massey-Harris Company has accomplished in the last five years. I have under my hand now figures of their operations during the last year. Five years ago, when they first sent their agent into Australia to sell reapers and mowers, they were laughed at and told to take them back to Canada. "Where is Canada? We know nothing of Canada. We are dealing with the United States; their goods are good enough for us in that line, and we don't see why we should buy from you.

where Canada was.

Well, certainly that shows a great deal of ignorance on the part of the people of Australia. I suppose the hon. Minister of Trade in order to point out on the map of the world and Commerce took a geography with him the people of Australia were as ignorant of Do you suppose that Canadian industries and Canadian products as he repesents them in that portion of his speech? Is it not wonderful that five years there and founded this trade, the people of ago, when the Massey-Harris Company went Australia were so ignorant of Canada that they took from this country more than double the value of the products that they take today, or, to be accurate, 56 per cent more? trade has been with the West Indies. In 1873, long before the National Policy had any Australia were so ignorant of the products of Does he mean to tell me that the people of existence, our exports to those islands were Canada and of our industries that twenty $3,989,000. In 1883, ten years afterwards, and five years after the National Policy was than we sent them last year, notwithstanding years ago they took more of our products introduced, trade had fallen off to $3,125,000. the increased facilities for trade which have In 1893, still under the National Policy, and since been established ? Now, figures, it is notwithstanding all the efforts that have been made to promote that trade, including position, I will give you the figures of our said, do not lie, and in order to establish my the establishment of two lines of steamers trade with Australia. In 1889, the very year running between Halifax and the West Indies, that the Minister of Trade and Commerce our exports had declined to $3,146,000; this said that the people of Australia were so iggreat reduction taking place notwithstanding norant of Canada that they asked where she the facilities, and notwithstanding the ex- was, we sent $661,000 worth of Canadian propenditure which the Government of this ducts into the Australian Colonies. Surely, country had undertaken to establish those they were not ignorant of Canada when they facilities. Now, I do not think there is any took so much from us. One year after that cause for satisfaction in these facts. Satis- they were getting more ignorant, for they faction has been expressed in the Address from the Throne in regard to the extension of where Canada was, they only took $589,000 ; only took $471,000. In 1891, still forgetting our trade. Sir, do you see any reason for and still forgetting the position she occupied satisfaction in these facts? Do better markets and better prices prevail for those to on the map of the world, in 1892, they took whom better markets and better prices have Trade and Commerce was there, they had $437,000. Last year, when the Minister of been promised ? Sir, I wish now to refer to almost forgotten Canada and only took $289.another country, a country at the antipodes 000 worth of our products. Is that a satisto our own, the Australian Colonies. It has factory showing for the exports of the probeen maintained by the Minister of Finance ducts of this country to Australia? I canfor the last few years that a very large trade not agree with those hon. gentlemen who could be established with that country in think so. Now, I have a few more words to many articles that we produced; and last year the Minister of Trade and 'Commerce say in regard to the statements made by the year the Minister of Trade and Commerce Minister of Trade and Commerce before the was sent by this Government on a visit to Manufacturers' Association in Toronto. He Australia, and they paid all his expenses, to asked those manufacturers why they did not ascertain if there was room for the products send a larger amount of their product into of Canada, and if a trade could not be pro- Australia, and he is reported as saying : fitably established. After making a full investigation, he came back, and a few weeks In 1892 the United States sent to Australia ago he addressed a meeting of the Manufac-over $11,000,000 worth of goods and imported over turers' Association in Toronto; and if he is $8,500,000 worth. What were the principal goods properly reported in the newspapers, he used they sent in which we can compete? I find that these words: they were in agricultural implements, breadstuffs,

brooms and brushes, carriages and horses, patent You will notice, Mr. Speaker, there are two medicines, chemical dies and medicines, cotton conditions on which this tariff revision is to goods, fish, canned salmon, cordage, canned fruits, be made the first is, that care must be explosives, india-rubber boots and shoes; india-rub-exercised not to touch the manufacturers and ber, manufactures of; iron castings; machinery, to preserve the principle of protection, and nails, saws and tools, scales and balances, sewing the next is, to be very careful to have suffimachines, engines, stationary; boilers and parts, cient revenue for the next election, not to stoves, ranges, &c., wire, all other manufactures of affect the treasury of the country. Not one iron, leather, boots and shoes, harness and saddles; word is said about the interests of the conother manufactures of leather; oil and cement, sumers who have been burdened by this malt liquors, slate roofing, stone, manufactures of; tariff during the last fifteen years, not one musical instruments, organs, pianos; oil, whale word is said about the labouring classes; and fish, kerosene, lubricating; paints and painters' tariff revision is not to be consistent with colours; paper, printing and wrapping; plated wire, their well-being but with the principle of soap, toilet and common; tobacco, cigars, vege-protection on the one hand and with having tables, canned; timber, manufactures of. These enough money in the public treasury on the are the articles which the United States have been other. The Government will disappoint the sending to Australia. Why should not the manu-expectations of the people when it is seen facturers of this country compete with them?

tariff."

that the object of this reduction, amendment Now, Sir, the Minister of Trade and Com- or readjustment, if you may call it so, is to merce has given away the whole principle of be carried out solely and entirely in the inprotection. I ask you, Sir, and I ask the terests of the treasury, so as to have money people of the country, if Canada can compete to spend lavishly, and to furnish the same in the open and neutral markets of the world protection to the manufacturers as they with England and the United States, in those bave been receiving for the last fifteen years. articles here mentioned, why should the con- One of the most eminent statesmen in the sumers of this country be burdened by a world, a man who has attained the extraordihigh tariff to protect them in their own coun- nary age of eighty-four years, has stated try? If the manufacturers of this country that protection is a system of legal robbery, can make those articles and send them six and not one whit the more respectable because thousand miles across the sea, paying the the state is the culprit. This system which freight, paying the agencies, paying insur- has been in force for the last fifteen years ance, and paying everything that is involved has burdened nine-tenths of the people and in sending those articles into a foreign coun- acted as legalized robbery as regards their try, and then go into the open market in com- interests in order to place a proportion of petition with English cottons and English ma- their earnings in the hands of the favoured chinery, with United States cottons and few who constitute one-tenth of the populaUnited States machinery, with Canadian cot- tion of the country. You know very well, tons and cottons from other countries-I ask Mr. Speaker, the origin of the word “ you why it is that nine out of every ten of It came from Tariffa, the name of a great the people of this country should be bur- sea robber residing on the northern part of dened with these high duties in order to pre-Africa on the shores of the Mediterranean, vent these parties from having competition in who built a city and a castle for himself, the country of which they are citizens? and who when the merchant ships came I challenge from the east towards the west raided and any hon. gentleman on the other side of the House to answer that robbed them of a portion of their goods. question satisfactorily to himself or satisfac-But the merchants having been despoiled torily to any reasonable man in this country. of a portion of their goods placed an addiBut according to the Speech from the Throne tional price on the balance and made the conwe are to have the principle of protection sumers pay it. Is not that the principle of Does not the tariff levy continued; we are to have the policy of the the tariff to-day? last fifteen years continued as a burden upon one-third or one-fourth of the whole value, the people yet. Let me read to the House and is not an additional price placed on the the paragraph of the Address which refers balance sold to the consumers, the manufacto this subject and to the continuance of turers and merchants thus recouping themthe policy of protection. It is as follows:selves from the pockets of the consumers? Very truly can it be said that the tariff is At an early date a measure will be laid before you a robbery of the many for the benefit of the having for its object a revision of the Duties of few. But, again, protection is a promise Customs with a view to meet the changes which to shelter the manufacturers. What does time has effected in business operations of all kinds the Government say to the manufacturer ? throughout the Dominion. While my Ministers It says, you go on and manufacture your do not propose to change the principles on which goods. It is true you cannot manufacture the existing enactments on this subject are based them as cheaply as manufacturers in Engthe amendments which will be offered for your con- land, Germany and other countries. True, sideration are designed to simplify the operation of your skill may not be so great and your the tariff and to lessen, as far as can be done, con machinery not so perfect, and there may be sistently with those principles and with the require a waste of capital; but we will see that the ments of the Treasury, the imposts which are now waste which takes place is counter-balanced in force. by keeping you from the competition of

I

producers in other countries. Is not that benefit from the National Policy, even if they the very sentiment expressed by those who receive very much advantage. Is it right support protection, and is it not thus the and just to take money out of the pockets manufacturer receives an advantage of this 90 per cent of the people, whom Again, protection protects the product of you cannot protect, and to place it directly labour from competition, while it puts in the pockets of those who receive the adlabour itself on the free list. I ask every vantage of protection? I say that it is a hon. member who will look upon this blunder, and it is a policy which will never subject in a reasonable and sensible light, develop the interests of this country as those if it can be supposed for a moment that pro- interests should be developed. But there is tection is being afforded to the labouring another argument against protection which I class, or that protection ever raised the think should be considered. Protection is the wages of the people one cent? When the parent of combines, trusts and monopolies, labour market is fully supplied the value of which fleece the consumer. I am sure 1 labour is low, and when the labour market need no argument to convince the hon. memis stringent then the price of labour rises. bers of this House on that point. The ConWhen we have spent over $3,000,000 during troller of Customs, a few years ago, saw that the last fifteen years in trying to bring to such an extent that he asked Parliament labourers here from foreign countries, and to give him a committee to investigate into have sent agents to London, Liverpool and the combines of the country, and the result Manchester, and to France and other coun- was that a report was presented to this trics, of the world, setting forth the advan- House which showed that the combines and tages to be obtained here in the labour mar- trusts and associations of that kind, had ket, and urging workingmen to come here fleeced the consumers of Canada to an exto compete with our labourers, is it not hard traordinary degree; so much so that it was on our labourers to have to meet this com- deemed advisable to bring in a Bill to prevent petition, owing to the action and influence them carrying on their nefarious traffic. of the Government, while at the same time had a little experience this summer in comthe products of foreign countries cannot bines. I wanted some plate glass, and I come in here because our manufacturers want asked for tenders from the plate glass comto make large profits out of their products. panies of Ontario, but noticing the heading The whole system is wrong from the founda- of the tenders, I found that they were all tion to the last shingle on the roof, wrong headed “ Dominion Stained Glass Co.," and east, west, north and south, the whole system that there was only four or five dollars differhas no basis on which it can be justified. ence in the amounts which they asked me. Therefore, the country will regret very much I, went to work and I found in another prothat this principle is to be continued. Pro- vince a company that was not in the combine, tection compels 90 per cent of our peo- and I purchased from them, and by so doing ple to pay a bonus, a subsidy, to go into I saved 20 per cent on the prices asked the pockets of the other one-tenth of the me by the glass combine of Ontario. Does population, and at the same time forces the not that go to show that if I had bought from 90 per cent to sell their labour in the free the Ontario combines, and if I had not gone markets of the world. Take the farmers of out and beyond my own province, that on this country. It has been acknowledged by the little purchase of $325 of plate glass Conservatives last year, and probably it will which I made, I would have been fleeced $75. be acknowledged by them this year, that it is There can hardly be a business in this counimpossible to protect the farmers, that so try to-day that is not in the hands of a comsoon as there is a surplus in the country bine, where they meet and decide how much which is to be sold in the foreign market, product they will put on the market, what and which comes into competition with the price they will ask for it, and in which they products of other countries in the open mar- control the independence of smaller concerns ket, the bushel, pound or ton, which goes into and in every instance fleece the public. What that foreign market gives a price to the is the cause of that? Nothing else but the bushel, pound or ton of the products of a protective system, for if there were free similar character that remain at home. That trade or anything approaching it, there would is an economic question on which there is no be free and open competition, which would divergence of opinion. It is not possible to prevent the manufacturers taking this unfair protect the farmer except in some small advantage of the Canadian consumers who localities, special points, geographically close are made to pay and protect them. But, to the United States; but taking the broad Mr. Speaker, protection enables the manu principle, it is impossible to protect the farm-facturer to unload a glutted market at a ing interest, because it exports a surplus of loss, or at a lesser profit, and to recoup himproducts. The farmers constitute two mil- self then at the expense of the consumers lions and a half of our people, and when you of Canada. Hon. gentlemen know that, add the labourers on the farm, and the whether they be Conservatives or not. You labourers employed on works such as canals all know that the large industries of this and railways, they constitute 90 per cent country export and sell to outsiders, very of the population, and therefore only about frequently at a lower price than they ordin10 per cent of the population receive direct arily charge; and that when they come

back to this country they raise the price to hands by the expenditure of the thirteen milthe consumers of Canada, who are thus lions, because he has to send it out to the forced to recoup them for their loss or their same consumers, but if he invested in other small profit. Let me give you an instance of manufactures that three millions which he this. The cotton companies of this country could spare out of his distribution business, found last year, or the year before, that the it would give employment to thirty thousand markets were glutted. They could not sell men. As another instance, take the importatheir products with a high profit because tion of coal oil. We imported last year 5,600,there was too much in the market, and so 000 gallons for the various consumers of they concluded that something else must be Canada, and the distribution of that will emdone. They sent $245,000 worth of cotton ploy a certain number of hands. Under the to China, and sold it in the Chinese markets tariff, we have got to pay $437,000 for the in competition with the German, the Indian, oil and $430,000 duty, which comes to nearly the English and other cottons. Now, if they $900,000 altogether, which a man engaged in realized a sufficient living profit they do not that business would require to distribute that want protection, and if they did not receive | amount of oil under the present conditions. a living profit they could not afford to export But suppose we had free trade. $437,000 it in this way. What did they do? Im- would buy the oil; he would require the same mediately after unloading on the Chinese number of hands to distribute the 5,600,market they came back to Canada and 000 gallons, he would give employment to raised the price of cotton 15 per cent to the just as many people, and have $430,000 of his Canadian consumers. In this way the Cana- capital to invest in and develop the country dian consumers not only paid the legitimate in various ways So you see, that the proprofits upon the cottons they were using, but tective tariff is a waste of millions and milthey were made to pay as well to the cotton lions of capital (as I have said already, nearly manufacturers the loss they sustained, or $90,000,000) in the entire distribution of the the lesser profit they obtained, by sending country. But, Mr. Speaker, protection has the goods across the sea and competing with another fault. Protection protects the rich the producers in other lands. There was a and discriminates against the poor. I am base iniquity perpetrated on the consumers prepared to prove from our own official docuof this country, and the country to-day will ments that it discriminates against the poor be very sorry to hear from the Address from man and favours the rich man, and I chalthe Throne that that system of iniquity is lenge any hon. gentleman upon the opposite to be continued. But, Mr. Speaker, protec-side of the House to prove anything else, for tion has another fault. Protection renders the figures here are incontrovertible. The non-productive millions of the capital of Can- arguments are of such a character that they ada which might be used in other ways. cannot be gainsaid; for, Sir, when I place Let me explain this. In the work of dis- before you these facts, and ask you to contributing the products of this country there sider them in that light, no other conclusion are millions of capital invested. It is esti- can be arrived at. On the imports last year mated that there are about three hundred the average tariff was 30 per cent. Here are millions worth of manufactured articles dis- some of the tariffs paid by the farmers of tributed to consumers through the various Canada: mowers, reapers, ploughs, drills, 35 markets of this country. Supposing that per cent, 5 per cent above the average. Forks one man undertook the business of distribu- (two and three-pronged), 50 per cent, 20 per tion, he would require a capital of $300,000,- cent above the average tariff. Forks (four and 000, in addition to what he would require five and six-pronged), 46 per cent, 16 per cent to work his business. Under free trade, he above the average. Hoes, 48 per cent, 18 would only require $210,000,000, or 30 per per cent above the average. Garden rakes. cent less to do the same work, employ the 49 per cent, 19 per cent above same hands to distribute the same articles, the average. Barbed fence wire, 54 and here we would save ninety millions of per cent, 24 per cent above the average. money that might be invested in other in- Now, look at another schedule of duties dustries of the country, which would give which will show how the poor man is disemployment to about ninety thousand men. criminated against. On checked shirting, Let me give you another illustration of the the cheapest in the market, the duty is 48 loss of capital in distribution under this high per cent, on the dearest 222 per cent; on tariff. We will take the article of iron. gray cottons, the cheapest, 36 per cent, the We import, in round numbers, about ten mil-dearest, 21 per cent; on flannels, all-wool, lion dollars worth of iron each year, and on the cheapest, 40 per cent, the dearest, 25 that we pay $3,000,000 duty. If there were per cent; on tweeds, the cheapest, 42 per no duty, a man could undertake to distribute cent, the dearest, 26 per cent; on beaver the whole iron used by the various consum- overcoatings, the cheapest, 80 per cent, the ers of this country for $10,000,000. That dearest, 30 per cent; on nap overcoatings, would be the amount of capital he would the cheapest, 75 per cent, the dearest, 33 have to put in his business, but, under the present condition he pays $13,000,000. There are three millions more which are lost and unproductive. He does not employ more

per cent; on serge cloakings, the cheapest, 58 per cent, the dearest, 33 per cent; on blankets, the cheapest, 130 per cent, the dearest, 33 per cent. On only three of these