CANADIAN CONDITIONS. 21

A meeting had been called for the selection
of a candidate for the Dominion Parliament.
Delegates, many of whom came more than forty
miles for the purpose, assembled from the constituency
 concerned and political speeches were
delivered in French and English. Some ninety
fully accredited delegates were present, all engaged
in agriculture, and of all nationalities. The adopted
candidate, in the course of a lengthy address on
Canadian politics, referred to the suggested scheme
of Mr. Chamberlain, and none of his remarks were
more enthusiastically applauded than those in
which with considerable indignation he repudiated
the suggestion that farming in Canada required
any artificial advantages in the British market.
So astutely have many advocates of the policy
represented it as requiring no sacrifice on the part
of the Canadians, that these farmers were inclined
to resent the attempt to purchase their loyalty
with bribes and to repudiate the suggestions that
they were fit subjects for British charity. They
were aware of the marketable nature of their
produce and were suspicious of designs on their
independence or freedom. They looked on the
whole matter much as a prosperous tradesman
would look on a gratuitous offer of small charity.
They doubted the origin of the suggested dole.
Was it to be wrung from the people of England?
There were many in the room who had emigrated
from England and were able to compare their
present prosperity with that of the industrial