Future Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier was in Boston on this date in 1891, working to shore up his Canadian-American foreign policy credentials. His visit came after his defeat at the hands of Sir John A. Macdonald’s Tories earlier in the year. Despite this setback, Laurier was already planning for future success. While in Boston, he delivered an address at the city’s storied Faneuil Hall, adding his name to the list of famed orators who had spoken there. Excerpts from Laurier’s address are below.
Hon. Wilfrid Laurier: I can assure you that it is a moment of pride to address a Boston audience in this great historic hall. Everyone who learns to love freedom looks up to this Faneuil Hall.
The question on which I will speak on today is the question of bringing closer relations between the United States and Canada. I represent one-half the people of Canada and speak their sentiments. Our banner is marked for the great freedom of trade which we believe is necessary, and this we have entered into our political platform.
We appeal to Republicans and Democrats alike, and I care not how they differ on other questions, but on this question, they should not go into politics to settle it. (Applause.) The trade question is a great one. One of your greatest parties believes in free trade, while the party does not. You believe that there should be protection to protect your own labour, but there never was any discussion or dissent about the truth of protection to free trade.
To those who believe in protection I should say that the trade policy system would not be affected by reciprocity. You could settle this question without referring to the subject of annexation. We, the Liberal party, are being accused of being traitors to our country and told that reciprocity would lead to annexation. It would not.
(The) Canadian people are pleased with (the) American people and so am I. But I never will discuss the question until forced to. And then I will not discuss it on a political basis, but on its own merits. It is not a political question, but one of political economy. The prejudice of my fellow-countrymen is so strongly appealed to that their better judgment is biased. Would the people of the United States benefit by reciprocity?
The relations of Canada and the United States have not been what they should have been. There should be nothing but the greatest cordiality between the two countries. Blood is thicker than water and must tell. War between the United States and England would be fratricidal at the present moment. The hard construction put on the treaty of 1860 was unnecessary. All the wrong, pardon me for so saying gentlemen, was not upon my side. We should treat as brothers our future relations henceforth and forever. [Applause)
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.