The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & ExperiencesDenison, George T. (George Taylor)
History
The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & Experiences
Denison, George T. (George Taylor)
Canada -- History -- 1867-1914
to Canada, instead of going to hostile countries, as they had done in
the past.
Canada was getting a good many of such people, but not half enough;
and if she had preferential tariffs in that sense, it would keep the
blood and bone and muscle in this country under the common flag: it
would keep them from helping to build up hostile nations, and would in
that way be a source of strength to the Empire. He hoped that would
be considered an answer to his friends from Manchester, on the point
that there would be give and take, and not as had been said, simply
"take" on the part of the colonies. He thought that was a most unfair
statement to make; but he had now presented the Canadian side of the
question.
Another extraordinary thing had happened. A gentleman whom the people
of England had appointed to take control of English affairs with
reference to the colonies, had lately declared that the colonies ought
to make a treaty among themselves, leaving Great Britain out. That
was rather a flippant way to meet offers of friendship, sympathy,
and loyalty. Two hundred and seventy-four members of Parliament, he
believed, had written requesting that no preference should be given.
He desired to ask what had Great Britain done to those men that they
should want to prevent England getting an advantage? Why should they
object? Why should they interfere? What had Great Britain ever done to
them?
His friend, Mr. Wilson, had told the delegates of the French
manufacturer who said, 'Why do you not come over and build your
factories in France?' British factories were already being built on
the Continent to-day. British factories, with British money, British
brains, British enterprise, and British intellect, were now being
built in the United States; but while that was the experience of
England, Canada, on the other hand, was able to say that United States
capital was being utilised in Canada and giving work to Canadian
workmen. That was where Canada was reaping the advantage; and it was
not to be wondered at that the Canadian delegates came to England and
asked the English people to look about them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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