^n-. M. ^>, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. <:>" %s M V.s 1.0 fM I.I 1.25 M IIM 12.0 U IIIIII.6 V] <^ /] A ^. Ta o :^ > '4 ''^14'' V /J ^ iV \\ o 00,000 to 25(i,0< lO.' '00 ii,.T^s. The latter ligur«^ gives t n times the amount of land now under cubivaiion in the entire Do- minion. The Soil of the greater por- tion of tliis region is'admirably adapted to the irrowth of wheat of excellent quality. Th supply of coal is abun- dant, and the entire country fr >m the bounda' \ line t) the Peace lUvcr Valley and irom Rel River to the base of th<' Rooky Motintiiiis, oflV'rs no serious e. yineeiiny obstncles to 'ho con- stnictio . of tt'H railway linns necessiry for bmigiiig its pro luolions to mal•ke^ It is ii^ri.iiiit d that thin region will easily alf > d the moiun of subsistence for 2:> <'Oo,O0') peoph'. That ihe utmost care sl.o ild be taken to devise and carry into eli'< ct 1 WISE AND LIBERAL POLICY in tae regulatio ■, sale, and managemenc of this great ])ublic domain requires no argument to prove. The b( ariu:( of its rapid settlement V)y an energetic and in- telligent popn^ati m upon the qu^^stion of our national deve1o])ni«nt ii a most imjiovbuit oce, and should c'>inin!ind the best efforts and the most careful consi- deration of the Government. In fact no other question at the present time, demanding the attention of the Govern- ment, is of as great moment. TI'O first and great requisite of the North- West is population. Tin mere possnshion of a vast wilderess adds nothing to the greatness of Canada. The millions of fertile acres are worthless till they are tilled. It is the actual settlt^r alone who can produce the necessary change. Wlion he goes in, the varied industries of prosperous commiinitieH will folljw and towns will spjediiy grow up. Towards the actuil di;velo|tiu(!nt of the country the mere .speculator will contribute very lif^le, and tite gams ho may make in land speculation > will merely represent the loss s istiMined by tlie farruecs who are compelled to purchase his binds at a great advance upon Government price. THE RAPID SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY can best be secured by a liberal home- stead law, and by offering such lands as are not set apart for honiesteads at reasonable prices to actual settler.^. To sell sucli lanfis in unlimited quantities to speculators whose purpose is to make the settlers pay a heavy advance upon the Government price is most unwise and unjust, and must seriously retard settle- ment. To ofter special inducements to speculators by selling j)ubIio lands to them at a lower price than is required of the settU'r is worse than unjust, and should be condemned by every Canadian who desires the welfare and prosperity of his country. In fact the Groveruraent should allow no middleman to come between itself and the actual occupant of the soil. The public lands should be deemed the heritage of the people, to be manaired by the Government in their interest. The price received by the Government should be in every case the price paid by the settler, and no more. THE WILD SPEC ILLATION that is now rampant in the North West bodes no good to the country. It has already reached the proportions of a mania, and must inevitably end in a collapse more or less severe. A similar land spfculation fever in the United States in 1835 and 1836 was largely instruiucntal in bringing about the crisis of 18;^7, and the complete prostration of ])ublic au" private credit. The course of the present Administration in adding uel to the flame of this furious land craw, by ailbrding unprecedented faci- lities for the wildest hiud speculations, is one of its greatest sins. Already millions « f acres which should have been carefully reserved for the actual settler have been placed in the hands of specu- lative companies on terms })ractically amonntin'g to sales at half price, as will be more fully explained below, and these com pari ies will inevitably ( xact irom the actual settler the utmost faith ing that it is possible to obtain THK ACTUAL SETTLER ONLY CAN DEVELOP THE COUNTRY As actual settlement alone can develop the countrv it is cle4»r that the Govern- ment should make graat efforts to secure a large immigration of bo7ia fide settlers, and it can well afford to make its policy a liberal one. The more question of the amount of revenue to be derived from the sale of lands is of much less imj)ortance than is the getting of the country settled by a population whose labors will add to the wealth and greatness of tho state, and whose contriljutions to the revenues of tho country will be laige and constantly increasing. Not only does the very nature of the case call for a lilieral policy towards settlers, but such a policy becomes doubly necessary from the course pursued by the Government of the United States. That country has vast tracts of wild land open for settle- ment. It fully realizes the importance of inducing settlement, and its policy towai ds actual settlers is a most liberal and enlightened one. If we are to com- pete with that country in securing the rapid settlement of our i)ublic lands we must make our policy at least as liberal as theirs is, or we shall fail to s( cure our fair ])roportion of immigration. A com- parison of the character of the policy under the two Government^, and also of the results secured bv each, will show conclusively that our own policy as com- pared with theirs is not sufiiciently liberal. ; THE TWO POLICIES CON- TRASTED. In the Un ited States all una) )propriated public land is open for homestead ; in the I^'ortli-West four fcecti< i.is in each Township are reserved tor the Hudson's Bay Company and for t-chool purposes, and sixteen section;^ tor railway grants, or for sale. Only eiglit sections iu each Township of thirU-six actions are available for homesteads, or less than one-fourth of the wjiole. In the United States all unappropiiaied lands are open for pre-emption ; iu the North-West only eight sections in each Township of thirty six sections are avaiUible for that purpose and the entire homestead and preemption reserve can at the pleasure ot the Government be sold at auction, or can, as will be more fi lly explained below, be granted to speculative com- panies in all that refiion i.ovth of the Canada Pacific road aad outride of ,at rid ire m, |ed ho Ide of the twenty-four mile railway belt. We have only to look at the results to to become convinced that our own policy is not sufficiently liberal to enable us compete with the United States in securing the desired cIjiss of |,opulation. In fact we get nearly all the speculators and land grabbers, wliile that country gets tue great muss ( f the settler class as the liomestead entries in each coun- try for tlie last two years will clearly indicate, ACRES ENTERED AS HOME- STEADS IN CANADA. 1878 308,640 1879 55:i,2i^6 1880 280,640 1881 438,707 Total acres 1,583,283 ACRES ENTERED AS TIMBER CULTURE HOMESTEADS AND ORDINARY HOMESTEADS IN THE UNITED - STATES. 1878 6,288,779 1879 8,026,785 1880 8,238.735 1881 6,791,900 Total acres ...29,346,119 From this table it will be seen that in the United States for the last four years the J ate of homestead settlement has been a fraction over eighteen times greater than in Canada, while in the last two years the rate has been a small irac tion less than twetity-one times greater. Had it been in proi)ortion to the ]»opula- tion of the two countries it would have been only twelve times greater in the United States than in Canada. CANADIANS IN THE UNITED • STATES. In 1870 over 490,000 natives of British America were living in the United States. It is not yet known to how great an extent that number has been increased, as the full census returns of 1880 are not yet published, but we know that Canadian eraigi'ation to the United States for several years past has been -very large. In 1880 there were 29,631 Canarlians in the new State of Minnesota, and 10,678 in the temtory of Dakota, and if we take into account the number of English, Scotch, and Irish nativity who had emigrated from Canada to the same region we will be safe in a.ssuaiing that in 1880 the Cana- dian population of Minnesota and Dakota WHS creater than the entire popu- lation of Manitoba. The Canadian emi- gration to Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Nebraskn, was probably still greater. These facts show that hitherto our land policy has not been sufficiently liberal to secure more than one third ot the Cana- dian emigration to the West, and that it has secured a veiy small portion of the foreign emigration. It is quite evi- dent that, so long as the American land policy continues to be more liberal to actual settlers than our own, their public lands will be settled with a i-elative rapidity entirely out of proportion to the relative population of the two countries. VACILLATING POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. The land poljcy of ihe Canadian Gov- ernment has not only been deficient in liberal provisions for the settler and too liberal to the speculator, but it has been fitful and vacillating. Since July 1st, 1879, four separate and distinct series ot regulations have been in for. e. The first were issued July 9th, 1879, and came into operation on the first of the following mouth. Under th-^se regula- tions five belts were established on each side of the assumed line of the Canada Pacific Railway, designated as belts A, B, C, D and E ; — the first 5 miles wide, the second 15 miles, the third 20 miles, the fourth 20 miles, and the fifth 50 miles. INDUCEMENTS TO SETTLERS AS COxVl PARED WITH THE UNITED STATES. In belt A homesti^ads were n^^t per mitted, while in the United States no Gov ;nment lands were withdrawn from homestead. Outside of belt A the size of homesteads and of pre-emption entries was restricted to 80 acres each, while in the United States 160 acres were allowed. Outside of belt A only 8 sections in a township were open for liomostcud entry, while in the United States all puhlio landi were op(,'n. In belt C settlcirt w.-ro to jay $2.50 per acie for pi-e-oiupuoiis ami $3.50 per acre for all public l.iuds not reserved for liomestcMd and preemption. In the United Stsitis pu 'He lands situated the «}vme (]i>!tai'Ce fr..m i;iilv\ay lines Wrre sold to til'* nctiia! set ler at $1.25 per acre. In belt D settba-s were to pay $2 per acre for pr^-prnptionsand other public lands, or 75 cont.s yr arrt' more than was charjied foi- lands of similar situation in the United States. In belt E lands were sold at $1 per acre, and in this belt only — situated GO miles from a riilway line — could setth'rs i>rocure land as cheaply as in the Uniieil S^fites. Under these regnlaiions spociilition was encouraged by offering la ds for sale upon a pay- ment of one teith down and the balance in nine annual instalments, and the law was violated oy pirmitting sales of more than 64rO acns to one perdon. A POLICY Tii \T LASTED SEVENTY-FIVE i:>AYS. ' • • The regulations of July 9tli were permi ted torennii'i ui force from August Ist, 1879, to Ocfolier 14th, 1879, and were then re|tlac( (1 by new regulations which m.ule a change! in the conditions of homestea'l grants and pre-emption ent'ies by perra ting j;rants and entries" of 160 acres. In this respect alone were our regulaaons mnde as liberal as those of the Uni ed S rates. Restrictions ns to lanfls the settler co\dd enter and the evils of credit sales were continued, and in belts B, C, and D the prices charged the actual settler continued to be from 7 • cents to $2.25 per a^re higher than prices charged to actual settlers in the United *^tf h nd were bouiiht at $1 and $2 per acre, miich of which has since been i^old to the aclual settler at from $5 to $10 per acre. These regu- lations rem«iiied in force smiething over a year and a half, and it was natural that the illiberal terms to settlei-s as compared with those of the United States, and the discrimination in favor o: the .«peculators, should have sent almost if not (jnite two-thiids of the Caniidians who were seeking homes west of ()i tario to Tklicliigun, \Visjonsin, Minnesota, and other American States. THE THIRD SEPJES OFEEGULA- Tio."^;s. 0;iT\I iv 2" • It tlui third series of resu'a- tiona were issued by the Dc^jtartnient of the Interior. Under these regulations cre- d t Sallys ceased, but the same conditions were continued as to lands open to homestead and pre-em[)tion entry. The price of pre-euiption claims and public lands within raUway Ixdts 24 i miles in width on each side of pro- jected railway lines was lixed at $2.50 per acre. The price of pre-emption claims and ])ubHc lands outsidet of rail- way belts was fixefl at $2 })er acre, or 75 cents per acre higher than lands of similar situation in the Unitfd States. As under the previous regulations, 8 sections were reserved for homesteads and 8 sections for ]>re emption claims in each township, which took all the lands within the railway belts except the railway grant, ti e scliool lands, and the Hudson's Bay reserves. The right of the settler to the iKinestead and pre- emption reserves I'ested, however, upon the insecure tenin-e of the Government's pleasure, and these lands l-y Oider-in- Council could at any <:ime be with- drawn and the land sold at auction. These regulations, however, will be chiefly remembered in cons.'^quence of the invention of a new and more perfect plan to DEFRAUD THE POOR AND FAVOR THE RICH. Under the provisions of this plan it was pi'ovided that individuals or corpora- tions might ohtain the consen' of the Go\ernini!nt to the pnvchas" in blocks of townships all the (roviirnmenr, odd- numbered f-eciions outside of the railway belts amounting to 10,210 acres in each township, at half price, or >?1 p^-r acre, upon the condition of placing two settlers on each odd nntnb(!r<- 1 section, and a settler up)n each homestead within thrje yejtrs, with thn right to take a morgage upon eich homestead I'e- !on r&y ach ere, two ion, to the amount of $500 for advances to the homestead settler. If at the expira- tion of three yarn the individual or company had failed to place the reqni site numVjer of seitlei's upon its lands the Government could either resume possession of the siinie, or exact the re- maining ^1 per acre, in which case the individual or company would have the advantage of three yeara' credit upon one-half of the purchase money without interest. Under this plan it Wixs also provided that an individual or a com- pany might, with the consent of the Government, pujchase in the townships within th" railway belts the lands reserved for pre-emption claims, amount- ing to 5,120 acres in each township, at $1.25 cents per acre, being one-half the price charged the actual settler; and the condition that 32 settlers should be placed upon ho '^esteads and 32 settlers upon the lands of the individual or com- pany within three years of the date of agreement, the individual cr company making the purchase being allowed to tajce a $500 mortgage upon each home- stead fof a'lva:ic<, 8 or lofins. Thcro was no condition as to the amount of land that should be sold by the company to each of the settlers ; and if 82 ti niiuts were placed upon their lands, the con- ditions of settlement would be fulfilled. Under this pl.ui all the land in town- ships within the railway b(!lts devoted to pre-emption could be sold to specula- tors at. halt" price, and if at the expiration of three years the seltletnent conditions had not been complied with the pur- chaser, upon obtaining the consent of the Government, could pay $1.25 per acre more, without interest, and take out die deed. Under thi.-s so-called colonization scheme corrui)t influences mi; ' t easdy be bri'ught ii to i>lay in securing allot- ments, and in getting the jK'rmission of the Government to waive the forfeiture clause at the end of three years and accept payment of the regular [irioe if conditions of settlement had not been complied with, as both matters were determined by the Minister of the Interior. THE FOURTH SERIES OF REGULATIONS. On the 23rd Decomber, 1881, tlio fourth series of Land Regulations were issued, to come into effect on January Ist, 1882. These provide that the public lands of the North West shall be classi- fied and desigrated as follows : Class A — Embracing all lands within 24 miles on either side of he Canada Pacific Ftailway or iti branches. Class B — Embraci g all lands within 12 miles on either side ot any prqjtcted line of railway, other than the Canada Pacific Railway, approved by Order-in- Council published in the Canada Gaaette. Class C — Embracing all lands south of the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway not included in cl jsses A and B. Class D — All lands other than those in classes A, B and C Under these regulations homesteads and pre-emptions are itsrrictedas before to 16 sections in eacu township; pre- emptions and public lands are held in class C at double the price of public lands in the United Slates similarly situated outside of railway belts, while pre-emptions and public lands in class D are 75 cents per acre higher. AT THE MERCY OF THE I^lINlSTliR. Under these i-egul itioiis homestead and pre-emption settlers luiv.i no security that their privileges will be tontii-ued or their rights regarded. They are placed at the meroy of any whim or caprice ot the Minister of the In eiior, who may at his sover<;ig>i pleasure make the homestead provisiunHof the Dominion Land Act a dead htter. Sub-sectiou C of section 2 of the regulations gives him power to withdraw i ome.stead and pre-emption hinds from settlement and otier them for sale in such townshipa as he may choose, at pui>iic auction. A jjart of section 21- of tin: Domitiion Land Act ot ISS'2, contains the following : " Provided also that, except in special cases, where otherwise oidered by the Goveriior-in-Council, no sale to one person shall exceed a &(iCtion, or six hundred and forty acres." Underthis innocent looking jiaragraph the Government assumes the })Owcr to sell at its pleasure, to companies or individuals, unlimited quantities of piiMIc lands, including the homestead uud pre eiuption reserves in class D. 6 THE SPECULATOR MADE LORD OF THE NORTH WEST. Those rogu\ation3 are remarkable for havinjr introduced under the names of colonizition ]»lan8 1 and 2, the most comj)lete anrl villainous scheme ever devised in Am rica for making the hardy pioneer and settler the prey of that natural enemy of all nevs^ com- munities — the land-grabher. Under ^ plan No. 1 agreements may b'^ made with any company or persons, co be called " the party," for the sale of the ]»ublic lands in class D not open to liouieste:id and pr; emption, amounting to 10,240 acres in each township and without restriction as to extent, at '82 pj-r acre, payable one-fifth down and the balance in four e,([wi\ annual instalments without interest, except upon past due instalments. PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF "THE PARTY." If at the expiration of five years " the )>arty" places 32 settlers uj.on the 82 liomesteads in a t)\Vhsliii), ar.d 02 settle! s upon its own lands, it is to be entitled to a rebate of oiiehalf ilie [irice of the land and rt'ceiv::H its tn.ot; at ij^l per acre. It m-iy also advance to eacli homestead settler !$5()') and take a mortgage upon his 3 GO acres for that amount. In each year a rebate of §120 is srranttid for each bonn fide settler placed on the tract during that year ; aiid at the expiration of the five years, if the whole number of 32 homestead and 32 other settlei-s have not been placed in a township, " the i)arty" is entitled to receive a rebtte of SI 60 for each settler so placed. If the homestead settler does not take entry for the pre- emption lot to which he is entitled, "the party*' or company may, within three months after tlie settler's right has elapse^, purchase the same. The regu- lations also provide that, if " the party" or company fail to perform the conditions of the agreement, the Governoi'-in- Oouncil may cancel the sale of the land and deal with " the party" as may seem meet under the circumstances. This so-called plan No. 1 is CONCEIVED IN THE INTEREST OF SPEOULATOES and is calculated to perpetrate a cruel wrong upon the actual settler. When put into operation it will bo found open to the following objections : 1. It enables the speculator to obtain control of iiumense tracts of land upon credit purchase by making a c^sh pay- ment of 40 cents per acre, w^ule the actual settler must pay $2 per acre for lands of the same character in cash. 2. It allow.-j the 8i)eculator to obtain his tract at half price by .illowing certain rebates upon the performance of certain easy conditions, while the actual settler can obtain uo rebate but must pay in full. 3. It enables the speculator to seize upon the pre-emption claims reserved for the actual settler if the latter allows three months to elapse before availing himself of his right. 4. It not only permits, but invites, corrii]»t j)ractice,s in the sale of influence for j)iocuriog grants, and in placing power iu the hands of the Minister of the Interior of a nature to be likely tci subject him to the temptation of having vduable cmisideratiou oilVred for his decision in favor of {i[iplicauts. T : I E P RE MI K 11 U P i ? A' \ E. Although plan No. 1 is sure to work must; mischievous and disastrous con- secpiences, plan No. 2 is ca))able of woiking a still grear--r degree cf mis- cliief. Undijr this plan all tlie pul)lic lauds, all the homestead lands, and all the pre-emption lands in bl cks of town- ship in class D, to be limited only in the discretion of the Government, may be sold to speculators at $2 per acre, with a provision for the rebate of SI per acre at tlie expiration of five years if 128 settlers have been |)laced in each township, a portion of which rebate, at the rate of $120 for each settlei placed during the year, is to be paid bajk an- nually. Under this plan the home- stead and pre-emption reserve in each township is swept away, and the actual settler is left at the mercy of great land holders. The speculator may pur- chase all the land in each township ex- cept the two school sections and the Hud- son Bay sections, or 20,480 acres in each township out of a total of 23,040 acres. There is no condition as to the amount of land that must be sold to a settler, and the 123 who are to be introduced. lie all wn- the be ith per if ach at iced an- jine- each tual reat pur- ) ex- lud- ach ores, ount tier, i\ced into each townHhin mav be nlaced in a * •/ ft group ou f mall holdings in one corner of the township, or tliey may be tenantb subject to eviction at the will of the landlord. Under tliia plan No. 2 great landed estates can be formed, with the lands in solid bt»dies of oreat size, even if the settlement conditioRj are complied with, and the lands obtained at $1 per acre ; or the purchasers may retain the title to the whole of his laud, rnd by bringing in farm Bervauis and tenants may obtain the rebate of i$l per aci-e. THE PROFITS THAT MAY Sit^OUKED. BE Under planNo.2.if the speculator com plies with the easily pfrloimed settle- ment condition requisite to secure the rebate, the sale ot oneHjuarter of his lands in a township at ij4 per acre leaves him with three-tjuarters of the land in each townshii*, or 15,^60 acres, costing nothing. If the entire tmct is sold at ^2 i)er acre it leaves a protit of 100 i)er cent; if itt ipii per acre the protit is 200 per cent; i'' at ^i per acre the i>rolit is 300 j)er cent. THE TWO SCHEME ! WORTHY OF Fi'.U DAL DAYS. Schemes such as the so-called col- onizHtion phi us No. 1 and No. 2 are worthy of the feudal ttays, when the tiller of the soil was a vassal. They do not belong to a civilized land or a progressive age. They are framed in the iuterest of speculation alone. They trample upon an i coiiitemptuously spurn the rights of the only class who can found communities and develop the re- sources of the great heart of Canada's hope for the future. They wei'e con- ceived in iniquity and shaped in sin, and the Government guilty of such a crime deserves the reprobation of every honest man, and especially of that class who till the soil or earn their bread by the sweat o their brow, for it is their dearest interests that have been sold to political favorites and land gamblers. 3,000.000 more have been agreed to. These grants under plan No. 1 woulcj absorb all the piildic lauds tiol reserved for'JioviSotciid ii'iid pi'emn/jtiuii in 078 toivnships. Under plan A^>. 2 U wuuld take all the piihlic laada, the homestead lands and the preeinplloH lands in 489 townships. The effect of this course upon immigration inta the North-West in the near future will bo disastrous. The settlers now Uockaig into tint coun- try will tinJ no available lands for sal©. Under plan No. 1 it will We found that landed coiui)anies control all the acces- sible lands except the homestead and pre-em|)tion reserves, and there is no i guarantee that the lust refuge of the actual settler will no' be sA^tipL away by selling homestead nd pni-emption re- serves at auction to the greedy friends ot the GoveruuKUit —the gra^piny specu- lators. Aside from preemption claims the settler will find SCARCKLY \N AORP. OF LAND I FOR SaLW at Goverinnent prices, Tlie speculator has boujht it at lialf i)rioe and will sell to the settler at a "uiudred p'u- cent, ad- vance, or as much utore as he can wring from hiui. 8o gri-at an outrige upon 'those who euiigiate lo the North Wes for the pur()Ose of secuiing laud and makinjr themselves lujmes has fortu- naiely b..en hitherto unknown in the , lesisl;' oion of Au^ilo-Saxon states. WHAT HAS ALREADY DONE. TJEEN Already 7,000,000 acres of land have been granted, and applications for TIMBER LEASES AT^D PASTURE LEASES. Not ilone in its maiiagement of theagri- cultural lands of the North West is the policy of the Government open to grave objections. Valuable timber limits may be let to favorites without competition or public sale, and pasture leases of m- mense tracts of lands may be disposed of in the same improper manner, THE TRUE POLICY. The public lands should be held by the Government as thehoritage of the hardy men who reclaim and till them, and who, in doing so, are compelled to brave the dangers and privations of the wild- erness. If the landri are sold they should be s )ld to the actual settler at first cost, and no middleman should be 8 'T allowed to come between the Govern- ment and him to coin money from his toil, and needlessly increase his hard- ships and difficulties by selling him land at a heavy advance upon the first cost. THE POSITION OF THE LIBEl?AL PARTY. Upon the question of the settlers' and the laborers' interests in. the Eublic lands of the Dominion tho liberal party has taken an unequivocal and an advanced position. It condemns in unmeasured terras the subservient truckling to political expediency, the chicanery and the fraud which would permit the taking away from the people oi their sacred heritage in the public domain. It condemns the Qovornihent : 1. Because its policy is dictated by speculators and because it has forgotten that Canada is a free and democratic land. 2. Because it gives immense tracts of choice agricultural lands to speculatois at half price. 8. Because its policy is calculated to create iu Canada great landed estates. 4. Because it seeks to introduce that tenant system which is the curse of the British Islands. 5. Because it would compel the bona Jide tiller of the soil to pay vastly more for his acres than the Government re- ceives. 6. Because it loses sight of the future and the millions, and barters priceless inheritances and great issues for the benefit of camp-fullowers and gamblers. THE LESSONS OF A CENTURY In its prsition upon the land question the Liberal p rty ta!LICY FORMU- LATED. The position of the Liberal Party of Canada is set forth in the resolutions, moved in the House of Commons April 12th, 1882, by Mr. Charlton, on amend-- raent of the motion of Sir L. Tilley to go into Committee of Supply, whi,;h art as follows : Mr. CHARLTON moved in amend- ment, that Mr Speaker do not now le ve thf chair, but that it be Resolved, Tmit the present Land Re- gv.lations provide that odd numbered sections in the Canadian North West, outside of the Candian Pacific Railway Belt, shall be o])en to sale witlijut con- ditions of se tlement. That the so called Colonization Plan No. 1, provides that ])artie3 may pur- chase large tracts of laud on en ditat$2 ])er acre, with a proviso ior the rebate of one-half of the price on certain con- ditions, thus reducing the cost to $1 per acre ; or one-half the ju'ice charged to individual settlers for their pre- emptions, or other purchases in odd sections. That the so-called Colonization Plan No. 2, provides that paities may pur- chase larjre tracts embracing all the Government lands within their area (from which homestead and pre emption settlers are thus to be excluded), paying ^2 per acre, without any express con- tions of forfeiture in case of non-settle- ment, Jind with the addition;)! advan- tages of a large rebate, amounting under 9 certain conditions to $1 per acre from the p- ice, in case the purchasers choose to effect a so-called settlement within each Township, but without any pro- rision as to the acreage to be given, or the interest to be secured to each so- called settler. That these regulations are calculated injuriously to affect the future of the country by facilitating the creation of large lauded estates, by placing ex- tended arras of the choicest lands in the hands of speculators, who have favor- able opportunities of securing them in anticipation of the stttler, and who may hold them for a large advance to be paid by the ultimate setter, whe eby the country will gain nothing i price and will lose through the diminished ability of the settler to contribute to the public revenues. That in the opinion of this House our aim should be to people the agricul- tural regions of the North West with indepeiidf lit freeiiolders, each cultivat- ing his own farm, and payins' therefor no more than the public treasury re- ceivPH; and that, save in \ he case of town plots; or other exceptional cases, the sale of North West agricultural lands should as a rule be made to actual setters only, on reasonable conditions of settlinient, ai d iu quantities limited to the area w hieli can be reasonably occu- pied by a settler. The motion was lost on a strict party TOte. Yeas, 47 ; Nays, 1 12. THE OUTIES ON €1^A!j. A tax Ofs't \ms r»t(or!y Jaileul oJ is *b|iM;r— liM UiEJijsfc biiiirdi. II »u the fc»v The duties on coal are a leading fea- ture of the so-called National Policy. They were imposed with the view of giving to Nova Scotia miners the markets of Ontario and Quebec — of keeping Amori;3an co:il out of the Do- minion, and securing Canada for the Canadians. At first a uniform duty of fifty cents per ton was placed on liav ^ and soft coal, although none of the former is found in Canada; afterwards the duty on soft coal wns increased to sixty cents per ton.Tho tax has been paid all right enough; it has gou'- into the pubiio treasury, and helped to make the boasted four millions of surplus. But has the object of the Government been realized 1 Has it given to N' -va Scotia mineiu the markets of Ontario and Quebec, or shut American coal out of the Dominion 1 A short and simple statement of facts will show that it has not. THE SOLID FACTS. In 1877-8, the last full year befort the tax was imposed, there weie im- ported into Ontario from the iJuiicd States 588,412 tons of hard and soft coal. In 1880-1, with the tax imposed, there were imoorted 810,970 tons. Ii». stead, therefore, of American coal being shut out and Nova Scotia coal getting the market, the supply of American coal has been increased by 5^22,658 tons, and the Ontario consumem are made to pay an extra tax of $4')0,000. Another fact is supplio • by a retur* prebentad this year to the IIouso of Commons, showing the quantity of coa. carried from Nova Scotia ports through the St. Liiwrence Canals and St. Ann's Lock on the Otttwa. Tlirough the former in 1877-8 it was 3G,G:iO tons, and in 1H8()-1 it wns 31,402 tons. During the latter iu 1 8 77-8 it was 52, 6-44 tens,aud iu 1880-1 it \vas45),0 -7 tons.In 1878 the total was 87,27*) tons, and in 1880-1 it was only 80,459 tons. WHY THE DUTIKS HAVE FAILED OF TilEIK OBJECT. These facts show conclusively ♦.hat the coal dut"es have failed of tlieir ob- ject. The Nova Scotia niiners have not got, and cannot h- lie to get. the home markets that the Goveiniuent promised them. And the resaou is obvious : They are one thousand miles farther away from the Ontario ujatkets than their Pennsylvania rivals. From New Glasyow in Nova Scotia to Toronto is 1,158 miles — 660 miles over the Inter colonial and 498 over the Grand Trunk. By a s))ecial auangement made with the Government the Grand Trunk carries coal by the car load from Chaxidiere Junction to Toronto at the very low rate of $1.76 per ton, or h just one-third of a cent per mile. The rate fro'ii New Glasgow to Chaudiere Junction over the Intercolonial — 162 miles longer than the Giand Trunk haul — is only $1.78 ]ior ton, or one- fourth of a cent per mile. This makei $3.54 per ton for the whole distance. Add the price of coal at the New Glas- gow ))its, $1.72 per ton, and the cost laid down in Toronto is $.').2G piT ton. The fi(!ight at the stnie low rates to London — a distance of 1,279 miles from New Glasgow— is §14.52 per car load, or $3A)C> jier ton. Add the ])rice of coal at the pits and the cost delivered at London is f lund to be $5.68 per ton. To Hamilton — a distance of 1,198 miles from N(!w Glasgow via t'ne Great "Western from Toronto, er 1,224 miles via the North Western from George- town — -the freight is.S45.84 per car load, or $4 08 per ton. Add the price ])a d to the coal miners and the cost to the Hamilton dealer is $5.81 per ton. From Pittsburg in Penns3'lvania to Toronto is only 240 niile.s, a d the co^t of freiiiht nn givi^n by Sir Charles Tu]>p»-r is.'r2.4() ]hm- ton, or one cent })e>' mih* — ;iiust four times the Intercolonial rare. Ad 1 tin- priw ol' sofi to 1 at Pitts- burg, $1.22 pi r t-ii, and the duty GO ceuts jjerton, and thetotal cost laid down in Toi-onto is $-1.22. l\as than ilie Nova Scocia coal. The Cost laid down in Hamilton (40 miles lu^arer Pittsburg) at tlie same rat(; for freight is $3.82 pi-r ton. Take off the duiy and the cost would be $3.22, or $2.59 |ier ton less than the Nova Scotia coal. In Loudon the difference would be very nect tliat their coal ciui over be sent into Ontario with profit. They are handicapped to the extent of at least $2 per ton. The duty is no ad- vantage to them, and it is a heavy burden on the ones who pay it. BUT WHO PAYS THE DUTY 1 Sir Leonard Tilley says producers and consumers pay one-half each. Sir Charles Tupper in his character of "great strecther" says whatever suits the occasion. In his speech on the Budget in 1878 he said the con- sumers paid it, just as the consumers of coal oil in the Lower Provinces paid the coal oil tax. He said the same thing to the electors of Pictou last year, telling them that the people of Ontario paid $400,000 on coal duties, and to that extent he said the people of Nova Scotia were relieved from taxation. In his speech on the Budget debi'te this year he said the American producers jndd the whole of it. But Sir Charles Tupper may be left to dispute the question with himself. It is very well known in Ontario and Quebec who pays the dut\ on coal. li. is well known that American lealere fix the price on the first day oi r ich month for he month, that no churge is made in it until the price is fixed again, and that in dealing with a b'uor they on't *sk or care whether he lives in Toronto or Montreal, Chicago or New York. With a market for 66,00- ',000 tons in their own country they are rot likely to sell a jKiltry 1,000,000 tons to foreign cus- tomers at 50 or 60 cents below the mai'ket price, moie especially wlitn the foreign customers are dependent ou them for .'supplies. The simple fact that the average price of coal is 70 to 75 cents higher in .■'nrnia than in Poit Huron, and in Windsor than in D( troit — places only a mile apart on opposite sides of the interna- tional line — onglit, to settle the question of who pnys the duty to eveiy man of average comn on sense. WHY THE DITTIES OUGHT TO BE STRUCK OUT. There are many reasons why the coal tax ought CO be repealeil — why it should never iiave been imposed. It will suffice to indicate a few. 1. The tax is not fairly distributed. It is paid by people in the towns and cities, where coal is chea|ier fuel than <«rood. Nine-tenths of the people of Ontario have never directly paid a dollar of coal tax. The remaining tenth, which includes the mass of artisans and workingmen, bear the whole load— a tax of $400,000 a year. 2. It is a tax on industries. Every blacksmith's shop in the country and a i^ great many factories aiid machine shops are made to pay it, and it goes (o swell the cost of production. 3. It is a t IX on railways and steam- ships, — making freight and passenger traffic dearer, or else ke- ping down profits and robbing workingmen of their wages. 4. It is an unnecets..ry tax. The re- venue of the country is §4,000,000 in excess of requirements. 5. Ifc has failed of its object. It has not given the Ontario markets to the owners of Nova Scotia mines, and it never will. Those reasons amply justified the Liberal party in the House of Commons in asking for the repeal of the coal duties, but Mr. Jjauiier's^ motion to tliat end Wiis opposed by the whole sti-eiigth of the Government and was defeated on a vote of 120 to 47. AN UNJUSr AND ODIOUS BURDEN. The coal taK is an unjust and nclious bur(l(>u on the few who are forced to pay it. it i< rcjvolting to- evei-y sciuse of justice and fair tax; and the Cloveniuient tha< 'imiiosed it and stands by it must go d toi^ether. TlfSliiillSSTl A Revenue Tariff versus A Protective Tariff. Cause of DepsmanOafl Ties, Cause of Hevival and G-ood Times -Has tlie Farmer a Home ICorket ? ' Have Qrain Duties Benefitted tlie Farmer ? "Wer^ Increased D'^ties needed for Eevenue ? llad we no Hanu- factures Idct'^Q the IT.F.? In the discussion of matters r Juting to the trade policy of Canada, it must ever be borne in mind (hat the issue involved is not between free trada and proteclion. The circumstances of the country are such that a large revenue is jequired to meet the interest upon the public del)t and the exj>en3es of the Gover ment. A large sum must be laised chie'fly from duties upon imports, and the question at issue between the Liberul and the Tory pari.y is, whether we shall have a Tariff for the i)urpose of raising the necessary auiount of revenue, or whether we shall have a protective tariff with high dutie-i, levied for the puijjose of excluding goods from our markets rather than for the purpose of CMllecting duties upon importations. Ah to the rate of duties that must be imposed urder a revenue tariff in order to n.eet our v( quirenient-', it is quite ch^av that the rate must be high. Under a taritl", designtnl for the jmrposes of revenue, idl manufacturing industries of Canada would receive a fair degree of j>rofecliou — one, indeed, quite high eroui,di tosatisly all leyitiuiate requirements especiilly ascoal wo.ildbe rdmittf^d free, while iron and o'her vaw mattn-iah, if noi. ))lMeed upon tlie free I'st, would be admittt-d at l.lwratl^sof duty. In f;iet,ni()st or tlio m mulafturing industries of ( anadi would V)e more ]ear, EZ^SITDITURE UNDER THE 3^ ACK SITZZE GOVSRITMEITT. Year ending June .30, 1874. .$'^:< .31(),.316 " " 1875.. 2;^71S.07l " " " la'id.. ii4.-iS8,372 " '• •' 1877.. 23,519.301 ♦• " •• 1878.. 23,503,158 The rapid increase of expenditure since Mr. Mackenzie ceased to exercise his honest and prudent leadership is shown by the following table of EZFENDZTTTBE X7XTDER THE MACOOITALD G0VEBIT1£EITT. Year cndiug June 30, 1879. .$24,455,381 { 1881).. 24,850,634 " " " 1881.. 25,502,554 •• •• •' 1882.. 27.672,223 " " •• 1883.. 27,999,485 This shows an increase over the last year of the Mackenzie Administration as follows; For year ending June 30 1879., 1880. " " " 1881., •• " '* 1882., " •' •• 1883.. $952,223 1,347. .76 1,999 396 4,169,065 4,496,327 The guppletnental estimates to May 5th, 1882, are included, but further estimates of large amount for 1883 will be brought down next session. The only change msnde by the MeKenzie Governmenn, in the tariff under which Canada had prospt^red wa» an increase of 2^ per ant. and other minor changes which all gave additional piotection. THE PANIC IN THE UNITED S^rATES was chi( fly due to the un])roductive in- vestments in railwayy and to the creation of manufacturing establish- ments greatly in excess of the re- quirements of the countrv — the latter due to extreme protection. It was aggravated and prolonged by au irre- deemable currency unstiWe a d fluc- tuating in value. So severe wa.s the depression tlat 2,000,001) men were said to have Iteen thrown out of < mploy- uiont. As tl'O United Slates was the mai'ket for our barley and the chief nnirket for our lumber, the depression and fall in piic'S there coiild not fail seriously to affect us. So serious was the decline in the prices of lumber that OUR LUMBERMEN LOST MONEY steadily for years. Many of them became bankrupt, and great numbers wore driven to the verge of bankruptcy. The American troubles also brought on 13 oommprcial trouble in England, ai.d iliat reactftfl on us. To arid to the trouble we hal one short har\csi,, that of 1870, when we failc 1 to r.iisn our own broad; two othera, those of 1874 and 1877, were below the average These causes sufliciently account for the hard t mes, and it was entirely be- yond tlie power of the CauadiAri Gov- ernment to avert the deprertsion, because it result d f rom rauses v ithin Canada and outside of it that were entirely beyond human contr. 1. THE CAUSES OF REVIVAL AND GOOD TIMES While the depression was due to causes entirely b- youd the control of the Governuient, the returaof prosjjerity was also due to causes entirely inde- pendent of the Goveiiiment policy, as will be Inietly shown. On the 1st of Januar}', 187'.», tlic !'nittd Stat( s )'e- turned to specie payment. The period of ilepressiou had continued with great severity for over Hve years, but imme- diately upon tills step being taken a inaction coinm< nci d and a period of great prosperity s< t in whicli has con- tinued till the ))resent moment. The lesult was, hijrht r prices for l»ailey, lum- ber, and all of our ])roductions that found a mavkft in th" United States. The advance in thi; price of lumber, esjiecial y, was very j;rt at, and for two years past the price iu Canaila has been at least one-half liiglier than the price from 1874 to 1878. Since 1878 two bad harvests in England have created an unusual demand for our breadstufFs, and in conjunction with the exti'aordi nary demand arising from this cause Canada happened to have more than avemge harvest-s. The result was an increase in the export of the i)roducts of the fari>- so largt^ that the improve- ment in this respi ct alone was sutlicient to pr duce ^rieat businesb. J3...VV improvement lu iY on GRAIN EXPOiriM OF TWO I'LRIODS. If we C4>iitpare the exjwrts of bi-ead- stutiBduiing Mv. Mackenzie's adminis- tration witli the ()eriod since then we shall tiad a roiiiai kahle contrast. To wrive M ih*» wiitunl net, exjinrt of the country the total imiK)rt is deduot/od fiom the total export, the balance being the actual net ex])ort. For the two perioils the total not export of grain, floar and meal of all kinds is as follows in round numbers : FOR 'j'HE FIVE YEARS OF MAC- KENZIE'S A DM INiSTR ATION. Fisf^al year ending June 30th : 1874 r $11,914,000 1875 8,967,000 1876 I3,8r,:<.000 1877 2.597,000 1878 12,261,000 $49,592,000 THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF MACDONALD'S ADMINISTRA- TION. 1870 .. $14,877,000 1880 17,n21,(M)0 1881 13,748,000 July 1st to Dec. 31st — 1881 14,700,000 $00,346,000 Thus it will be seen that the net export of grain, flour and meal during the five years of the Mack' nzie admin- istration was $10, 754, < 1(10 le.is than during the three and a haU' years of the Macdonald adinini'-tr \tion ending 31st December last. If we take the EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS and of animals and their pro luce, the ]>roduce of Canada, for the two periods, as given in the Trade and Navigation Returns, we shall find the following results : EXPORTS OF ANIMALS AND THEIR PRODUCi': FOR TllK FIRST PEUIOD. Year ending June 30 — 1874 iB;14,67n,160 1875 12,700,507 1876 13,517,654 18*7 14.220,617 1878 14,019,851 $09,187,804 14 FOR THE SECOND PERIOD. 1879 i5l4,100,604 1880 17 607,507 1881 21,300,219 July 1 to Dec. 31 — 1881 13,175,279 $66,243,679 EXrORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FOU THE FIRST PERIOD. Year ending Juno 30 — 1874 $19,590,142 1875 17,258,858 1876 21,139,665 1877 14,089,376 1878 18,008,75t $90,676,295 FOR THE SECOND PERIOD. 1879 $19,628,464 1880 22,294,328 1881 21,268,327 July 1 to Dec. 81— 1881 18,786,705 $81,977,824 Annual average of the exports, ani- mals and their produce, 1874 to 1878, the produce of Canada for 5 years, $13,827,50. Annual average export of same, 1870, to Dec. 31, 1881, 3^- years, $18,926,707. Excess of annual aver- age of export of animals and their produce, the ])roduce of C inada during the hitter period as compared with the former pi riod, $5,099,20;'. Annual aven'.^e of the export Kgricultuial ])ro- ducts the produce of Can«da, 1874 to 1878, 5 years, $18,135,258. Annual average ot the expiatof the same, 1879 to Dec. 31, 1881, 3i years, $23,422,284. Excess of annual average of export of agricnltund ) roducts, the produce of Canada, during tiie latter ptriod as com- pared with the formei-, $5,286,976. Annual excess of the export of animals and their pioduc«' and of agricultural products, theprodiice of Canada, during the period of th«' Macdonald administra- tion, as compared with the Mackenzie administ.ati(m, $10,386,183 The largely increased value of the exports (jf the country as shown by the above tables from the Trade and Navi-, gation Returns was quite sufficient to bring about a revival of business. RIGID ECONOMY PRACTISED. There was also another cause for recover}' from ])rostiation — one always present in cases of commercial depres- sion, and one of itsf If quite suflicient to cure the •> il. Wb refer to i igid economy and retrenchment of expenses on the part of the'people. Commercial depres- sions are caused mainly by overtrading, private extravagance, and reckless pub- lic expenditure. The natural antidote to these evils is a season of retiench- rnent and frugality. This antidote was in active operator in Canada,and would, of itself, have brought a return of pros- perity. Thii? brief but plain consideration of the case points most conclusively to the following as the undoubted and sole CAUSES OF THE REVIVAL. 1. The return to specie payment^^in the United States and the setting in of a great tide of prosperity in that coun- try leading to a great boom in our lum- ber market, and an advance in the price of barley and other productions that we sell to the Americans. 2. Two years of short harvests and scarcity in England, causing an active demand at high prices for our food i)ro- ducts, and coaling conjointly with two excellent harvefits in Canada, the result being a heavy increase iu our exports of food. 3. Five years of economy and re- trenchment of ex| ensts praciiced by our people during the depn^ssion, which alone, \*ouid havj brought a return of prosperity. THE FARMERS' HOME MARKET. In 1878 the promise was made that the N. P. would give the farmer a home mftrk^t fov all the grain and food raised in Canada. Alter three years of pro- tection we find that our exports of farm products are greater than ever before. The export of agricidtural products, the produce of Canada, for the six months ending December 8lst,1881, were $18,- 776,000, while for the entiro yenr of 1878 they were but $18,008,000. The ^ ^5 re- OUX' lich of :et. pro- farm iore. , tho iiths ir of The average annual export of animals and their produce has been $5,099,000 greater for the last three years and a half than during tha previous five years. The average annual export of agricul- tural products during the last three and a half years has been$5,28G,000 greater than during the previous live years. Tlie experience of the Araei'ican farmer under protection has been of the same chai-ac- ter. In 1880, after 20 years of protec tion, the promise of a home market was so far from being realized that the food exports of thw country reached the enor- mous sum of $397,000,000. Of every 100 bushels of wheat raised in that counti-y 36 were exported. The trutli is that eitlier Canada or the United States will require to produce more man- ufactures for export than for home con- sumption, (as is now done by Eng- land,) before a home nr^rket can be furnish ed;and this cannot be done under protection, for if the domestic manufac- turer requires protection against the foreign manuf (cturer he cannot export goods and compete with him in foreign markets where both meet upon the same footing. RESULTS OF THE N. P. Tho N". P. is. Th(! poor man's fuel is taxed. The foo'l consumed by the inhabitants of th(! Mariiiuie Proviuces is taxed. Tlie lumberuitiiH implements and outfit are iieavily taxed The farmers' goods and tools arc, furnished him at higher rates than would have uoeu the case if the Cartwriglit turili' lia I remained in force, and the ^alne is true of the laborer and the fish<'rniati. A revenue tariff would have ali'oided ample j)rotection and caused fair returns to all the manufac- turing eu'ei prises of the country. The N. P. allord;! undue protection to the sugar reLiner a^.il t,he cotton and woollen manufitcturer,and permits the realization of proli s greatly exceeding a fair interest upon the capital invested, while it taxes the iron, tho coal and other materials used by a great number of manufacturers and nu\kes their business less remunerative than would be the case under a judiciously arranged rev- enue tariff. It is a policy which bene- fits a very few individuals at the exi)ense of the farmer.the lumbetinan, the laborer and the fisherman. PROTECTION TO THE FARMER. The advocates of tho N. P. sought to secure the sup])ort of the farii.er by promising a home market and of otlioi- coarse grain, in eflfect we traderl coarse grains for corn when it answered our purpose just os well, and we could make money l>y the exchange. At no time Kince the impesition of gi'aiii diitif^s 1 as (lie ])rice of grain in American niavk( Is permitted its impor- tation into Canadian markets at a cost to depress tiie market rates here had no duties stood in the way. At no time has the Canadian farmer received the SLIGHTEST ADVANTAGE FROM GR\IN DUTIES, and almost unif y the Seo-etiry of the To edo Board of Trade. Turouto quotations are taken froui the Toronto if ail, NO. 2 WINTER WHEAT. Avenge price in each year from pric • on the third Wednesday of each month : Toledo. Toronto. 1870 $1.22^ $1.08^ 1877 1.4!)^ 1.13 1878 1.07 1.!'6 1871) l.U^ l.(,7 1880 1.12J l.T.S 1881 1,13 1.18 Average Cfl.lUJ $1.16 From this table it is seen that during the period the average price of No. 2 winter wheat was 3| cents greater in Toledo than Toronto, and that in only one year, viz.: 1880, was the To-onto price a slight fraction higher than in Toledo, the difference in favor of Toronto being one-qnarter of a cent per bushel. If we take the average price in each market during the months of August, September, ' *ctol)er, Novemb' r and December, which constitute the shipping Reason, we shall find the following result : NO. 2 WINTER WHEAT Average price in Augus*'., Sentember, October, Novemb' r ;«nd Decenibr of each year fr.^m quotations on the third Wednesday of each month: 1870 1.20? 1141, 1877 1.4!)i ^ .25 1878 ^m ■■^^ 1879 1 •">(.:' 1.1^1 1880 1.01 ^ )3 1881 1.36^ ..28* 1.13' 1.20i In 1880 the price durmg the five mouths i^eriod averaged I U-IO cent* per bushel higher in To>'onTo than in Toledo. In this yea- the United States had a very large surpl is and the pi'ice was constantly reirulated by the ''.\port deinaiid, an\ $ iJ $1 19 iucrea«e. We may surely estimate thai our revenue would have increased one- third as fast as theirs during the same j>eriod under the influence of the same cause. Sir LEONARD TILLEY estimates the revenue from Customs the present year at ^2(J,5(jO,000. This is a sum over $5,500,000 greater than would have been I'equii'ed to meet the expenses of the Government had the Liberal parrty re- mained in power, and that vast sum re- presents the amount of needless taxa- tion to which the people of Canada are subjected under the present Govern- ment. THE N.P. D0R«4 NOT SKDIJRE CONTROL. OF €4NADI4N MARKETS. It was asserted when the present tariff was under considei-ation that it would sectire so great a dftvelopment of thft marmfMctunng tTTt<>rosta of the country as to give to the Canadian farmer a home market. We have seen that the Canadian farmer is farther from a home market than ever before. But let us enquire whether the exclusive control of the markets has been secured to the manufacturer, and whether the import of jroods that can be manufac- tured in Cuaada has ceased. IMPORTATIONS CONTRASTED. Our importati.;ns of cottons, woollens, and iron, steel,and the manufacturers of the same, for different periods were as follows :— 1874, Cottons, $11,341,000 ; Woollens, 11,160,' 00; Iron Steel and manufactures of the same 12,934,000 Total, $35,435,000. For the year ending June 30th, 1879, after five years operation of a revenue tariff policy the importations were as follows: — 1879, Cottons, $6, 535,000 ; Woollens, $6,992,000 ; Iron, Steel, and manuf«ictures of same, $6,- 457,000; Total, $19,904,000. In 1881, after three years operation of a protective tariff, the importations were as follows : — 1881, Cottons, $10,267,000; Woollens, $8,739,000; Iron, steel, and manufactures t.:ereot, $12,460,000; Total, $31,466,000. Showing an increased importation in these articles of $11,481,000, or 60 per cent, under the three years of protec- tion. COMPARISON BETWEEN AND 1881. 1877 As a cai'efully prepared estimate of the total amount of goods snsceptib'e et manufacture in Canada im- ported in 1877 has been prepared, and much labor would be involved in pre- paring one for the year ending 30th June, 1879, and as the differ- ence between the two would not be material, a comparison of the importa- tion of goods susceptible of manufacture in Canada is made between the year 1877 and 1881: 1877, Importation of goods susceptible of manufacture in Canada, $42,830,000; 1881, Impor- tation of goods susceptible of manufac- ture in Canada, $58,695,000. TncroaHe in 1881 as compared with 1877, $15,- 865,000, or 37 per cent. This showing does not indicate a very remarkable degree of success in attaining control of the Canadian market. During this protective period our export of manufactures has fallen off over $1,000,000 per annum. In many lines our imports from the United States have largely increased ; and the increased importation of goods which might be manufactured in Canada is actually much greater than the returns indicate, owing to the great increase in smuggling since the in- creased duties made the inducements to do so greater. THE NET OUTCOME. The net results of three years opera tions of the N. P. may be very briefly and fairly summarized as follows : 1. It has not given the farmer a home market; but, on the contrary, our ex- ports of farm produce have steadily and rapidly increased. 2. While causing the fa.-mer to pay more for cottons, woollens, stoves, hard- ware, implements, glass, blacksmith goods, waggons and carriage goods, fur- niture, sugar, and a large list of articles needless to enumerate, than he would do under a revenue tariff, with lower duties and free coal and iron, it has conferred no benefit upon him through the imposition of grain duties, because so prices are lower here than in the United HtHtes, and duties are therefore useless. 3. It has not benefitted the lumber- man, fur his market is abroad and can not ill the slightest degree be affected V)y the N. P., while increased duties in- ctease the cost of producing lumber by making blankets, chains, saws, axes and supplies of nearly all kinds dearer. 4. It has not benefitted the laborer, because it has largely increased the cost of fuel and the necessaries of life, and has not increased the price of labor. Any advance in that respect is due to the great exodus to the United States and the North- West; the advance, if am , arising rather from scarcity of labor than from increased employment. 5. It has not benefitted the fishermen of the Maritime Provinces, because his market is abroad and is not affected by the Iv. P., while the tax increases the cost of his clothing and food, the latter increase being due to interference with the natural course of trade which com- pels him to buy flour and meul in an un- natural market and at greatly increased cost for freight, and without conferring the slightest benefit in return upon the Ontario and Quebec farmer. 6. It has not even benefitted the manufacturing interest as a whole, al- though it may have benefitted a small number of sugar refiners and cotton i mill owners; for the returns show thafe our export trade in manufactures is de- creasing and that our imports of manu- factures that might be produced in Canada are steadily and rapidly in creasing. 7. It imposes a burden of taxation needlessly heavy, and compels the tax- payers of the country to contribute a sum to the public revenue the present year $5,500,000 greater than would be necessary to meet our expenses had our affairs been prudently managed since the present administration came into power. For all these reasons we assert that a revenue tarirt policy, designed ta raise a revenue sufficient only for our actual wants, with the duties so ad- justed as to promote most advantage- ously our various interests, — with coal admitted free, and with iron and various other i-aw materials required by our manufacturers either placed upon the free list, or admitted at very low rates of duty, would afford all the protection that our industries could reasonably require, and would be more conducive to the prosperity of our manufacturing interests, except in isolated cases, and also to the prosperity of our farmers, lumbermen, laborers, ar- tizans and fishermen, than the presenii policy is. dc- lU- in in on IX- a mt be mr ace ito ert Ito- )ur ad- ge- oal 3US Diir bhe ,tes the aid ore 3ur in •ity ar- eni)