16 CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

platform at the previous election had been unrestricted
 reciprocity with the United States, and
they had been badly beaten, for the Conservatives
denounced their policy as disloyal to the Empire,
and swept the country. In 1896 the Liberals were
returned to power on a low tariff programme, and
Sir W. Laurier became Premier. The Liberals
realise that a tariff such as the Canadian tariff
taxes the consumer, but they choose this method
of taxing him for reasons given above. They
regard it as a secondary attribute that the tariff is
Protectionist, and while they realise the political
power of the manufacturer, yet they endeavour
to keep taxation as low as possible. In Canada
there is at present little room for theory, and policy
is dictated by expediency to a very large extent. It
was soon found impossible to lower the tariff by
direct means. As an alternative, however, Sir W.
Laurier devised the masterly policy of giving Britain
a preference of 33% per cent. of the tariff The
effect was four-fold. It carried out the pledge
given at the election to move towards Free Trade ;
it vindicated the loyalty of the party; it administered
 a rebuff to the United States, who, so long
as Canada was a suitor, turned a cold shoulder upon
her; and, lastly, it established the new Government
in the favour of the British people. Butit wasa
free gift. Canada asked nothing, and knowing that
Britain had nothing to give, expected nothing in
return. Thereby she kept full liberty to maintain
or discontinue the preference at her own free will,