78 CANADA AND THE EMPIRE

Canada an all-round preference in the British
market, is the sum total of their demands.
The majority of the Liberal party have very
different ideas. It is the revenue tariff party, with
Free Trade ideals. It welcomed the present preference
 when it was given as being a step nearer
Free Trade, and holds the opinion at the present
time that it has been beneficial to Canada. Its
strength lies largely in the country districts (except
some parts of Ontario), and it has little sympathy
the manufacturers. The agriculturist desiring Free
Trade feels that the Protectionist manufacturer
is only a handicap to his prosperity. If a preferential
 tariff were ever put into effect, the
former would undoubtedly feel much tempted to
sacrifice the latter and lower the present tariff to
Britain. He is naturally, too, not particularly
desirous of an all-round preference in the British
market. This represents the feelings of the majority
of the Liberal party in Canada. There is, however,
a not unimportant minority composed of French-Canadians
 engaged in manufacturing in Eastern
Canada, and we shall have to specially refer to them
later.

Here, then, are two essentially different attitudes:
the Protectionist, who is ready to demand an
increase of the present tariff against Great Britain,
and an all-round preference in the British market;
the revenue tariff party, more prepared to be satisfied
 with a preference on food only, and to increase
Britain's present preference. If Mr. Chamberlain's