But it is for her to decide, and Canada would be the last
to force her bread down the throat of the British labourer
at a higher price than he can afford to pay for it.'
What's that, my boy? Is it high-mindedness? No, sir, it's
lukewarmness."
"The Dominion makes me sick," said young Murchison. "It's
so scared of the Tory source of the scheme in England
that it's handing the whole boom of the biggest chance
this country ever had over to the Tories here. If anything
will help us to lose it that will. No Conservative
Government in Canada can put through a cent of preference
on English goods when it comes to the touch, and they
know it. They're full of loyalty just now--baying the
moon--but if anybody opens a window they'll turn tail
fast enough."
"I guess the Dominion knows it, too," said Mr Williams.
"When Great Britain is quite sure she's ready to do
business on preference lines it's the Liberal party on
this side she'll have to talk to. No use showing ourselves
too anxious, you know. Besides, it might do harm over
there. We're all right; we're on record. Wallingham knows
as well as we do the lines we're open on--he's heard them
from Canadian Liberals more than once. When they get good
and ready they can let us know."
"Jolly them up with it at your meetings by all means,"
advised Bingham, "but use it as a kind of superfluous
taffy; don't make it your main lay-out.
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