WHAT BRITAIN MIGHT DO. 117

Balfour speaks of the American fiscal system as one
who has studied it from books. Mr. Balfour is rather
like the closet naturalist—he never met the beast in
its native jungle. Had he done so, he would have
known, I think, that the United States fiscal system
is a corrupt and demoralising system, that it is
politically and commercially unsound, that it affects
the distribution of wealth—a most important point—
most injuriously. Now, sir, Canada, so far, as yet
has maintained itself as a free country; I venture
to say a freer country than the United States. A
counfry where life and liberty are better guarded
and justice better administered. And I say, for my
part, that, as far as I can judge, Canada wants no
dwarf Pierpont Morgans or miniature Rockefellers
among her people. Canada does not want Standard
Oil Companies or Steel Trusts. Canada does not
desire to see her commerce at the hands of two or
three irresponsible autocrats who can make footballs
of millions of their fellow-countrymen.
« Mr. Chamberlain, who is a practical man, knows
better than Mr. Balfour, and I observe in one of Mr.
Chamberlain's recent speeches he defines the United
States tariff as a tariff of abominations. Mr. Chamberlain,
 however, is not over-clear always as to what
he means. 1 am not quite sure that Mr. Chamberlain
has thought out all his propositions. 1 am very certain
that his Canadian advocates have not. Possibly
United States Protectionists would have dome so,
because self-interest is a wonderful sharpener of
the eyesight, and I think they know whereof Mr.
Chamberlain’s propositions may come to end. Now,
[ will tell you what I think should be done—you can
judge for yourself whether it is desirable that it should
be done. First of all, I must clear the air of some misunderstanding,
 I do not say that Mr. Chamberlain
contradicts himself, but I am bound to say that
in dealing with Mr. Chamberlain's proposals I have
got to put in certain caveats. If Mr. Chamberlain