shall enter, whether upon the path of participation in the benefits of free and liberal trade relations covering AngloSaxon America, or the path of exclusion, imitation of the policy of the other country, and retaliation upon it for what it has perpetuated and imposed upon us. Let us await the future calmly, resolutely, if you will, without fear or care as to what the result will be, determined that we shall be governed by those conditions and developments, and shall view from a patriotic standpoint, whatever, in our belief, the necessity of our country requires from us in the line of action. BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMONG the speeches made by me in the course of the propaganda in the United States was one before the Chamber of Commerce of Boston, on December 10, 1903. That address was afterwards revised and condensed, and published as an article in the North American Review for February, 1904. In the introduction to this volume I have already acknowledged the kindness of the publishers in allowing me to use that material as the basis of this report of the speech. Boston Chamber of Commerce, December 10, 1903. MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN-Between the Gulf of Mexico and the republic of Mexico on the south, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, stretches a vast territory, over 7,000,000 square miles in extent, with resources of soil, mine, forest and fisheries many times in excess of present development, bounded on the east, west and north by oceans; impregnable if united in purpose; inhabited at the present moment by 84,000,000 English-speaking people; the home of the highest form of civilization, and possessed of the most advanced condition of human liberty. What shall be the future of this most favoured of all continental areas? Shall this early morning of its history advance to a splendid noonday of power, development, and mutually advantageous relations, with ultimately 400,000,000 of our race dwelling together in peace and unity? Or shall we deliberately shape the conditions of the present in such a manner as to establish two rival, mutually repellant and possibly hostile powers, swayed by prejudices and animosities, and spurning the conditions that shall bear the blessed fruits of peace, harmony and mutual advantage? For, this vast area, united in so many ways, is divided in the political allegiance of its people. The southern portion is the home of the greatest nation on earth in wealth and power; and one of the greatest in population and advancement, the United States. The northern portion is organized politically as the Dominion of Canada, a dependency of Great Britain; insignificant at present in population and wealth as compared with its great neighbour, but mighty in its hope of progress along the line in which the United States has led, and already entered upon a course of industrial and political advancement which challenges the attention and admiration of the world. It is about the future of this territory thus united in so many ways, and thus divided in political organization that I am to speak to you to-day. In the history of the two countries there was a period of twelve years, from 1854 to 1866, when their trade relations were of a mutually advantageous character, and were exerting a powerful influence in the creation of community of interest and the broadening of mutual relations. This favourable condition was due to the fact that a reciprocity treaty existed between the two countries, arranged in the first year of the period referred to. The Civil War in the United States gave rise to circumstances that aroused unfriendly feeling towards Canada, based upon misapprehension as to facts, for the great majority of Canadians were friendly to the union. A mistaken impression that the treaty was much more favourable to Canada than to the United States was also entertained by the majority of Americans. For the period during which the treaty was in force, the balance of trade was decidedly in favour of the United States. According to Canadian trade returns, the total imports and exports, 1854 to 1866 inclusive, were: Imports from the United States... Exports to the United States... Balance of trade in favour of the United States $332,927,000 259,875,000 73,052,000 These returns did not include Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. According to American returns, the total exports and imports to all of British North America, 1854 to 1866 inclusive, were: Exports to British America. Imports from British America.. Balance of trade in favour of the United States $343,326,000 318,760,000 24,566,000 It is true that for the last three years of the reciprocity period the balance of trade turned, at first slightly, and for the last year decidedly, in favour of Canada. This was due to the abnormal demand for horses, and certain lines of agricultural and animal products, caused by the Civil War, and to the forced export of 1865-6, under the stimulus of the twelve months' notice of abrogation of the treaty; but the operation of normal conditions would have assured the maintenance of trade balances favourable to the United States. During this period of free trade in natural products, there was no extensive export of manufactures to Canada, as is the case at present; and the condition of things in this respect now existing would, with free trade in natural products, give to the United States a much larger relative balance of trade. Another circumstance that caused the favourable balance of trade to the United States to appear much smaller than was actually the case, was, that no inconsiderable portion of the exports from Canada to the United States consisted of products passing through the United States for export, the direct export trade of Canada with Great Britain by the St. Lawrence route being at that time very small as far as related to farm products. Following the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty in 1866, came an attempt to renew reciprocal trade relations in 1874 through a reciprocity treaty negotiated by the British minister, Lord Thornton, and the Canadian commissioner, the Hon. George Brown, with the United States state department. This draft treaty put natural products on the free list, and enlarged the provisions of the treaty of 1854 by |