118 CANADA AND THE EMPIRE.

means to state that certain principles are principles
upon which Free Trade stands or falls, I must dissent.
If Mr. Chamberlain states that not only are those
facts to be considered, but there are other important
facts which must go to govern the statesmen in dealing
 with these complicated questions, that is quite
another thing, Briefly, if he designs Protection I
have nothing to say for him, If he means reciprocity
I have a great deal to say in his favour. If Mr.
Chamberlain declares that the United States owe
their present prosperity to Protection, I deny it
emphatically. If he says the United States has
prospered in spite of it, I agree with it completely.
“lf Mr. Chamberlain, on the other hand, says
Canada prospers because of Protection, I take the
liberty of contradicting him flatly, and so do the facts.
If he says Protection does avert periods of depression,
 I say he knows nothing of the history of this
continent, at least of its commercial history. I
cannot agree with him of he says that any fiscal system will
avert depression. If he says it would be a great gain
if nations would exchange on fair terms, I agree
entirely with him.
“If he states it is worth while to make temporary
sacrifices to bring about such a state of affairs, I agree
with him again,
“It is not improbable that Lord Goschen, it is not
improbable that Lord Salisbury, it is not improbable
that even the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Rosebery,
and not improbable that research will show that Adam
Smith and John Stuart Mill and Mr. Cobden would
be found of the same opinion. Sir, if Mr. Chamberlain
 declares that Protection hurts countries that do
business with Protectionist countries, he says what
is true. If he says that he can tax all food products
 from all countries without adding to the prices
somewhere, I say Mr. Chamberlain is clearly wrong.
But if he says he can tax the food products coming
from one pavticular country without increasing the cost