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 ROCEEDINGS 
 
 AT 
 
 NiAGTV'RA and TORONTO. 
 
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CENTENNI/^L OF THE PROVINCE OF 
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I'L^FENMAL OF THE PROVirE 
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s 
 
 CENTENNIAL OF THE PROVINCE 
 OF UPPER CANADA 
 
 1792 1892 
 
 Proceedings at the Gathi-:ring held at 
 Niagara -ON -THE -Lake, July i6, 1892. 
 
 AND ALSO THE 
 
 Proceedings at the Meeting held in front 
 
 OF THE New Parliament Buildings, 
 
 Toronto, September 17, 1892. 
 
 Pkinteu fou the Centennial Committee 
 
 HV 
 
 ARBUTHNOT & ADAMSON 
 1893- 
 
 II 
 

 117850 
 
PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA ^ 
 
 3iilV K), m)2, 
 
 The Onk Hundredth Anniversary of the Estab- 
 lishment OF 'iTH': Province of 
 Ui'i'i:!^ Canada 
 
 TIllC Act called the Canadian Constitutional Act, passed 
 by the Imperial Parliament in 1791, created out of the 
 
 (3 territory heretofore administered under the Quebec Act, 
 
 the two new Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada and 
 endowed them with representative institutions. The new 
 constitution marked a stage in the history of the Enj^lish 
 Colonial Empire. Although before 1791 the people of Nova 
 Scotia had established for themselves the right to hold a repre- 
 sentative assembly, yet that right was still, like the privileges 
 of the former New England Colonies, a precarious incident 
 growing out of a Royal Charter. The Canadian Constitution 
 under the Act of 1791 was the first free representative Colonial 
 Constitution irrevocably guaranteed i)y Act of the Imi)erial 
 Parliament. 
 
 Thus it was by it for the first time that the Commons of 
 ETigland conclusively recognized the citizenship and co-'j(|ual 
 rights of their fellow subjects in the colonies. It secured the 
 broad foundation upon which the great modern union of British 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 '■ 
 
 nations now stands ; each nieinber, althouLfh loyal to the same 
 crown, being, in respect of its internal affairs, virtually inde- 
 pendent of any Legislature except its own. Looking at the long 
 continuance, the steady constitutional development and the 
 great promise of the Empir''; that has grown up on those founda- 
 tions, the sunnnoning a century ago of the first Parliament 
 elected under the constitution of 1791 seems to have a signifi- 
 cance not only in the history of the Province but in that of the 
 Dominion, and it may in the fviture be seen to have a place in 
 the political history of the modern world. 
 
 In view of these facts, on the petition of the President and 
 and members of the Incorporated Pioneer and Historical Society 
 of the County of York, presented to the Legislative Assembly of 
 the Province of Ontario in the session of 1892, the sum of !{!>2,ooo 
 was voted to the above named society and associate historical 
 societies of the Province to enable them to take steps towards a 
 celebration in the year 1892 of the Centenary of the Parlia- 
 mentary Institutions of this Province. The Rev. Dr. Scadding 
 v.as elected Chairman of the joint committee, and Mr. J. L. 
 Hughes, Secretary. 
 
 It was arranged that the iTith July, being the date on which 
 the proclamation was issueil declaring the electoral divisions of 
 the Province of Upper Canada, should be made the occasion of 
 a summer meeting at the town of Niagara, the first capital, and 
 that the centenary of the date of the actual meeting of the first 
 Parliament at the town of Niagara on the 17th September, 1792, 
 should be celebrateil by a similar meeting at the new Provincial 
 Parliament buildings in the city of Toronto. 
 
 In addition to the local observance of the two dates men- 
 tioned, a medal was struck commemorative of the occasion. 
 A representation of this medal forms the frontispiece. 
 
'■ 
 
 CKNTENN'IAI. PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 7 
 
 Pursuant to these arrangements, a largely attended meeting 
 took place at Niagara on the i6th July, 1892, and was presided 
 over by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, 
 George Airey Kirkpatrick. The committee and other guests 
 were received by the Mayor of the town of Niagara, Mr. Pafford 
 and by Canon Bull, and the members of the local committee. 
 
 Detachments of the 19th Battalion, the 44th Battalion, the 
 2nd Regiment of Cavalry and the Welland Field Battery 
 attended by invitation, representing the local militia of one 
 hundred years ago. 
 
 The Proclamation summoning the first Parliament was read 
 by the Lieutenant-Governor on the Commons near Old Fort 
 George, and was received by a royal salute of twenty-one guns 
 by the Welland Field Battery. 
 
 His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor preceded the reading 
 with a brief historical sketch as follows : 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen. — We are assembled here to-day 
 to recall the incidents of a hundred years ago, and to celebrate 
 in as fitting a manner as we can the hundredth anniversary of 
 the granting of constitutional and popular government to the 
 Province of Upper Canada, now the Province of Ontario. 
 
 During the French regime in Canada the white population 
 was scattered over a wide area, and located in places suitable 
 for the prosecution of trade rather than for the practice of 
 agriculture. W^est of Montreal the chief settlements were at 
 Cataraqui (now Kmgston), Niagara, Detroit, Michillimackinac, 
 and on the Ohio, Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The nucleus 
 of each settlement was a fort, which served to protect the 
 French traders and their families, alike against Indian savages 
 and English rivals. 
 
8 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 The whole region above referred to was known under the 
 name of "Canada," while the French territory to the south of 
 the Ohio River and to the west of the Mississippi River was 
 called " Louisiana." 
 
 During the period from 1757 to 1763 the "Seven Years' 
 War" raged in different parts of the world — Europe, India, the 
 West Indies, and the greater portion of what is now the United 
 States and Canada east of the Mississippi — involving Great 
 Britain and France in a final struggle for supremacy in North 
 America. 
 
 In 1759, the last year of George II. 's reign, Quebec sur- 
 rendered to Admiral Saunders and General Townshend, and in 
 the same year Fort Niagara was taken by Sir William Johnston. 
 In 1760, the first year 01 George III., Montreal surrendered to 
 General Amherst, and it was expressly stipulated in the articles 
 of capitulation that the settlements of Detroit and Michilli- 
 mackinac shoiil be included in the surrender. 
 
 In 1763, by the Treaty of Paris, the whole of Canada was 
 formally ceded by France to Great Britain. The territory 
 covered by this cession was never accurately defined, but it 
 included undoubtedly the whole of the region north of the Ohio 
 and east of the Mississippi, beside the great Valley of the St. 
 Lawrence. Later in the same year, 1763, George III., by 
 royal proclamation, created the " Government of Quebec," with 
 an area and boundaries almost coincident with those of the 
 Province of Quebec to-day. In 1764 General Murray was by 
 royal commission appointed the first civil governor of the new 
 "Colony." In 1774 the Quebec Act, passed by the British 
 Parliament, enlarged the Province of Quebec by including in it 
 all the territory ceded under the Treaty of Paris, 1763. Beside 
 the now existing Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, it comprised 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEHDINGS AT NIAC.ARA. Q 
 
 the States of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
 part of Minnesota. 
 
 JJy the Treaty of Paris, 1783, all these States were separated 
 from Quebec, which uas confinetl to the north bank of the St. 
 Lawrence westward of the intersection of the 45th parallel of 
 latitude, and were included in the United States of America, 
 the independence of which was by the same treaty fully 
 acknowledged. 
 
 The Quebec Act of 1774 created a legislative council, made 
 up of members appointed by the crown, " to ordain regulations 
 for the future welfare and government of the Province." By 
 1 79 1 the influx of English-speaking settlers from the neighbour- 
 ing self-governing States had made apparent the unsuitability of 
 this legislative machinery, and in that year the Constitutional 
 Act was passed by the British Parliament, creating a Legisla- 
 tive Assembly and Council for each of the two Provinces of 
 Upper and Lower Canada, into which Quebec was about to be 
 divided by order of the King-in-Council. 
 
 On the 24th of August, 1791, two such orders were passed. 
 The former fixed the line of division between Upper and Lower 
 Canada as it is to-day between Ontario and Quebec, and as it 
 has been throughout the whole of the century ; the latter ordered 
 the issue of a warrant authorising the Government of Quebec to 
 fix a day for the Act to go into operation. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor Alured Clarke, in the absence of the 
 Governor, Lord Dorchester, proclaimed the 26th of December, 
 1 791, as the day when the division of Quebec into Upper and 
 Lower Canada should take effect. Mr. Clarke was appointed 
 the first Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada, and on the 7th 
 of May, 1792, he issued, at Quebec, the proclamation dividing 
 that Province into electoral districts for its first Parliament. 
 
lo 
 
 CENTENNIAL PKOCEKDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 Colonel John Graves Sinicoe was appointed the first Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor of Upper Canada. At Kingston, on the i6th 
 of July, 1792, he issued the proclamation dividing the new 
 Province into electoral districts for the election of the first 
 Parliament of Upper Canada. 
 
 That first Parliament met at Niagara (then Newark) on 
 the 17th of September, but it has heen deemed expedient to 
 commemorate at this place tlie issue of the proclamation rather 
 than the assembling of the Parliament, because the former may 
 fairly be regardf^d as, from a constitutional point of view, the 
 more fundamental event of the two. 1 now read this 
 
 PROCLAMATION. 
 J. Graves Simcoe : 
 
 " George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain 
 France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., 
 etc., to all our loving subjects, whom these presents 
 concern : 
 " Whereas, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, lately 
 made and provided, passed in the thirty-first year of our reign, 
 and of authority by us given for that purpose, our late Province 
 of Quebec is become divided into the two Provinces of Upper 
 and Lower Canada, and our Lieutenant-Governor of the said 
 Province of Upper Canada, by power from us derived, is 
 authorized, in the absence of our Right Trusty and Well- 
 Beloved Guy, Lord Dorchester, Captain-General and Governor- 
 in-Chief of our said Province of Upper Canada, to divide the 
 said Province of Upper Canada into districts, counties, circuits, 
 or towns and townships for the purpose of effectuating the intent 
 of the said Act of Parliament, and to declare and appoint a 
 number of representatives to be chosen by each, to serve in the 
 
 i.i 
 
CENTRNNIAI. PHOCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 II 
 
 Assembly of the said Province : Know ye, therefore, that our 
 trusty and well-beloved John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, our 
 Lieutenant-Governor ol our said Province of Upper Canada, in 
 the absence of the said Governor- in Chief, hath and by this our 
 proclamation doth divide the said Province of Upper Ca.u.la 
 into counties, and hath and doth appoint and declare the number 
 of representatives of them and each of them to be as hereinafter 
 limited, named, declared and appointed." 
 
 Nineteen counties were named, as follows 
 
 1. Glengarry. 
 
 2. Stormoi.t. 
 
 3. DundrTs, 
 
 4. Cirenville, 
 
 5. Leeds. 
 
 6. Frontenac. 
 
 7. Ontario. 
 
 8. Addington. 
 
 9. Lennox. 
 
 ro. Prince Edward. 
 
 11. Hastings 
 
 12. Northumberland. 
 
 13. Durham. 
 
 14. York. 
 
 15. J^incoln. 
 t6. Norfolk. 
 
 17. Suffolk. 
 
 18. Essex. 
 
 19. Kent. 
 
 " 
 
 The number of representatives to be elected to the Legisla- 
 tive Assembly was fixed by the proclamation at sixteen, 
 distributed among the counties as follows : 
 
 Glengarry 
 Stonnont 
 Duiidas .. 
 
 Grenville 
 
 Leeds and Frontenac 
 
 Ontario and Addington 
 
 Prince Edward 
 
 Lt;n;ic)x, Hastings and Northumberland.., 
 Durham. York and Lincoln (First Riding). 
 
 Lincoln (Second Kidin£r\ 
 
 Lincoln (Third Rid-'..-) 
 
 Lincoln (Fourth Riding) and Norfolk 
 
 Suffolk and Essex 
 
 Kent 
 
 Total 16 
 
12 
 
 CKNTKNNI.M. I'KOCKKDINGS AT lORONTO. 
 
 The Patent was executed under the Great Seal of tlie said 
 I'rovinceof L'p[)er (Canada, sif,Mied by "our trusty and well- 
 beloved John (Iraves Sinicoe, Esquire, our Lieutenant-Governor 
 of our said Province of Upper Canada, and Colonel command- 
 inj,' our forces in Upper Canada, etc., at our Government House 
 in the town of Kinj^'ston, this sixteenth day of July, in the \ear 
 of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, and in 
 the thirty-second year of our rei^^n," VVm. Jarvis, Secretary. 
 
 'J'he readingof the Royal Proclamation on July iGth, i<S92,was 
 followed by a royal salute of twenty-one guns, fired b) the 
 Welland Field Battery, after which Mis Honour resiuned : 
 
 It is good for us to talk of the days of our ancestors and 
 recall the trials and hardships which the people endured in the 
 earlier days of the settlement of this country. We have among 
 us to-day some of the direct descendants of those who took part 
 in the establishment of constitutional government one hundred 
 years ago. We have here today a grandson of one of Gover- 
 nor Simcoe's ministers. That brings us very c'ose to him. 
 While we are commemorating the issue of the proclamation by 
 Governor Simcoe, it is well that we should look at the tnaii who 
 was distinguished for many acts of intrepid bravery, for his calm 
 and correct judgment and for his true and honourable conduct 
 in all actions. He was sent here on account of the eneigy, 
 judgment and discretion which he had shown in the service of 
 his King in other parts of the world. He was sent here to 
 govern a people, few in numbers, but a people who had suffered 
 losses and privations, and endured untold hardships for the 
 sake of the old flag ; men v/ho for their loyalty and fidelity to 
 their King, had lost property and suffered hardships in the 
 American States that had succeeded in achieving their independ- 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAC.AKA. 
 
 13 
 
 ence. In 1783 peace was cleclarcd between the mother country 
 and the Anieriv.an States, and the order came for New York to 
 be evacuated by the British troops. The Governor of New York 
 found that he had in his charge a larj^'c number of loyalists who 
 had conit: from dilTerent States to seek the protection of the 
 old Hag which they had served, and for serving which they had 
 suffered, lost their property and been imprisoned. The Gover- 
 nor had several thousands of these people, and he knew not 
 what to do with them. He heard that there was a man named 
 Captain Michael Grass in the garrison, who had been a prisoner 
 at Fort Frontcnac during the time that the French held that 
 stronghold. He sent for Captain Grass and asked him, " Will 
 you undertake to pilot these loyalists to that country ? " Captain 
 Grass undertook the task. Ships were engaged and provisioned, 
 and they set out upon the voyage along the rugged Atlantic 
 coast and up the majestic St. Lawrence as far as Sorel, which 
 was reached in the winter of 1783. There they encamped, and 
 came up the River St. Lawrence in batteaux in June, 1784, 
 as far as Johnston and waited till the country was surveyed, 
 preparatory to the apportionment of the land. 
 
 When the Government was informed of the success of Captain 
 Grass's transportation of these loyalists to British soil, he was 
 told that he should have first choice of a lot, and he chose a lot 
 on which part of Kingston now stands. He afterward exchanged 
 that lot and took one farther out in the country, and his grand- 
 son lives on that farm to-day. Other refugees crossed the 
 Niagara and settled along the north shore of Lake Erie. These 
 were the people, a few thousand loyalists, when Governor Simcoe 
 was called upon to assume the Governorship of Upper Canada. 
 There were at that time also about 10,000 Indians here, many 
 of whom, like the loyalists, had fought for the cause of Great 
 
H 
 
 CKNTKNNIAI, I'ROCFiKDINCS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 Britain, and were loyal to Uritish connection. (lovcrnor 
 Siincoc found this country at that time covered by a dense and 
 almost impenetraiile forest, and he made his journeys from 
 Kinf^ston by water. When he went to Detroit he had to go 
 through an almost trackless wilderness. When he went a few 
 years afterward to lay out a site for a town where Toronto now 
 stands, there was not a house between Niagara and Toronto, 
 and he had to pitch his tent there. 
 
 Let us all endeavour to learn something of the early history 
 of our country and see what our forefathers have done for their 
 posteril_y. When we think of the progress of Ontario we ought 
 to feel proud. What a change has come over this country. 
 How differently we travel, coming here on those magnificent 
 steamboats or the railways. How different means of transit had 
 Simcoe and the member?", "f Parliament whom he invited to 
 give him the benefit of their advice at N'agara in 1792. How 
 science and literature have progressed. Arts, agriculture, com- 
 merce and manufactures have all advanced, and have made this 
 country one of the most prosperous and contented on the face of 
 the globe. When we look at all the comfortable and contented 
 homes that are spread over this immense Province of Ontario, 
 with her rich fields of waving grain ready to be gathered into 
 the storehouses, with her herds of cattle grazing on the pasture 
 lands, and, withal, her great wealth, we ought to be filled with 
 gratitude. 
 
 We are not only a prosperous and a contented people, but a 
 God-fearing people. Any person who travels over this country 
 sees upon every hill-top churches with their spires pointing 
 heavenward, telling the people of God's love for man. There 
 are many subjects to which I might refer for reasons showing 
 why this country is happy and prosperous. Let us think of the 
 
 iH 
 
 .1; 
 
 tl 
 
1 
 
 CENTKNNIAL I'KOCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 15 
 
 heroic deeds of our ancestors, of f \c privations and troubles 
 which they had in st-ttlinf,' this country in earlier days; and let 
 us be thankful that Canada to-day remains true to that flag 
 which such men upheld. Let us every one, man and woman 
 and child, determine that as far as in us lies we shall endeavour 
 to keep this country true to the old flag. I feel thankful that I 
 should be permitted to-day, as Governor of this important, popu- 
 lus and rich Province of Ontario, to speak as one of the 
 successors of Governor Simcoe ; and 1 hope that my course 
 dm.ng my term of office will be such t'-at we shall still further 
 perpetuate these names here, and that we may hand down this 
 valuable heritage to our children and our children's children 
 with their fame unsullied. 
 
 The next proceeding was the reading of prayers by Rev. 
 Canon Bull, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, who officiated as Chaplain. 
 He read from Captain John Brant's Prayer Book, printed in 
 1 774 and containing translations of the Epistles into the Chippewa 
 tongue made by the Captain himself. As a part of the Prayer 
 of General Thanksgiving these words were read : 
 
 ''Especially for the mercy and froodness vouchsafed to the 
 people of this Province durinfr the past one hundred years ; for 
 nurture, protection, <rovernnient ; for education, civil rights and 
 privileges, and for temporal prosperity.'' 
 
 At the conclusion of these interesting ceremonies the members 
 of the association and their guests ' partook of luncheon at the 
 Queen's Royal Hotel. There was a large gathering in the 
 beautiful town park in the afternoon, when appropriate speeches 
 were made by several distinguished Canadians. 
 
 Shortly after four o'clock the Lieutenant-Governor took the 
 
i6 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 chair and called on the Honourable Sir Oliver Mowat, Premier 
 of Ontario, as the speaker of the day. He spoke as follows : 
 
 May it please Your Honour, Ladies and Gentlemen. — 
 I am glad to take part in a patriotic celebration in the old 
 town of Niagara, so rich in historical and patriotic associations. 
 That proclamation issued by Governor Simcoe at Kingston a 
 hundred years ago this day was the first step in the political 
 history of the Province, and was doubtless an event of inter ■< 
 interest, as it was of great importance, to the white population 
 of the Province at that time. 
 
 That population was small — 10,000 souls only, as some esti- 
 mate. These early settlers of Ontario were distinguished for 
 industry, courage, and a sense of religion and its duties. Take 
 them all in all, they were a noble ancestry, of whom a country 
 may well feel proud. Whether their loyalty was a mistake and a 
 misfortune as some elsewhere aver, or whether, on the other hand, 
 it is to be rejoiced over, as the people of Canada generally have 
 always felt, there can be no denial that it was at all events a pro- 
 found sentiment on their part. According to their view, in allow- 
 ing this sentiment to guide their conduct they were acting or 
 principle and performing duty. They were as fond of the good 
 things of this life as their neighbours were. They were as much 
 attached to their houses and lands, their goods and their chattels, 
 as others were, and as desirous of success in life for themselves 
 and their children. But when the provinces in which they lived 
 ceased to be British provinces and became parts of a new nation 
 hostile to the old, they forsook all the material advantages and 
 prospects which they had in their old homes, and followed the flag 
 of Britain into the wilds of Canada, preferring the privations and 
 hardships and poverty which might be their lot there, rather 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 17 
 
 V 
 
 tlian to live under the flag of the revohition. The material 
 sacrifices which they made at the call of what they believed to 
 be duty and right, as well as just sentiment, constitute a glorious 
 record, and that record has influenced the sentiment and con- 
 duct of the Canadian people over since. Those early settlers 
 had been born British subjects, they loved the British name ; 
 British subjects it was their determination under all tempta- 
 tions to remain, and on British soil to live out their lives, 
 whatever the determination should cost them. 
 
 In 1812 there came to Canadians and Canadian sentiment a 
 new trial. Oreat Britain was engaged in a great European 
 war, and a majority of the people of the United States of that 
 day deemed the occasion fitting and opportune for adding 
 Canada to the Unioi., by force if necessary, or by persuasion if 
 the inhabitants would be persuaded. They offered to Canadians 
 freedom from British domination ; l)ut Canadians had no griev- 
 ance against the fatherland. Such of the United Empire Loyalists 
 who still lived had not changed their minds since they came to 
 Canada. Their sons and the newcomers into the country shared 
 the old preference for British connection, and all sprang to arms 
 to defend tlie land of their choice at the peril, and in many cases, 
 the loss of their lives. That feature in human nature which 
 prompts men thus to fight for their country, even to the death. 
 is one of the noblest in our psychology. It is a necessary inci- 
 dent of a national spirit. As a Canadian, I feel proud of the 
 display of that spirit which Canadians have made at every stage 
 of their history. I am glad to know that it exists still. I am 
 pleased with the illustrations of it which we have had in our 
 volunteers, God bless them ! as well as on the part of our 
 people generally when they have had opportunity. 
 
 I am glad to know that Canadians of the present day as a 
 
'V "■^._; 
 
 18 
 
 CKNTRNXIAI. I'ROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 body are not disposed to say of tlic sturdy, self-sacrificing men 
 who wc-re tlie first sellhas of our Province, that they were 
 hhiiiderers and wrotif^doers in the sacrifices which they made o 
 property and prospects and material interests generally, and, 
 in so many instances, ol lif(> also, 1 am f^lad tf) khow tliat. 
 ("anadians of this da}' have as a body no inclination to undo 
 the work of ihost' noble founders of our Province. As Canadians 
 we, too, are glad that hy reason largely of their fidelity Ave are 
 British subjects here in Canada, and wc live here slill on 
 British soil. Wc- are Jiritish sul.jef.ts, and we have at the san'e 
 time a special love for Canada. We. feel a special interest in 
 Canada's welfare. Since the time of tlK; pioneers the con- 
 stitution of the country has been greatly developed in favour of 
 the residents. 
 
 A century ago it was thought best that the several colonies of 
 British North America which remained loval to the empire 
 should have scM'sarati; (jovernnicnis : and at fir^t separate legis- 
 latures were establisluul, wliik^he Imperial authorities, with the 
 approval of the colonists, retained in their own hantls the execu- 
 tive power and a veto on c(Dlonial legislation. P>ut, as the 
 population advanced and as the colonists acquired exptnience in 
 the limited amount of sf^lf-govemment which the Imperial Act of 
 1791 secured to them, larger powers and popular control over 
 the evecutive b(>came necessary or desirable, and were from 
 time to lime obtained, until the Confederation An of i867» 
 which was passed at thi' reipiest of the principal North American 
 Provinces, formed them into one great Dominion, under a con- 
 stitution framed in all respects by their own representatives, the 
 representatives of all political parties. 
 
 For half a ccmtury now the policy of the fatherland has been 
 not to interfere with our affairs, except to the extent that v/e our- 
 
 V 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 19 
 
 selves ask; and we have all the self-government that through 
 our representatives we have ever asked, or that tlie Canadians 
 as a people have hitherto desired. The fatherland has also 
 given to us without nionty and witho'it price all the Crown 
 lands in JJritish North America outside of the I'roxinces, as 
 well as the Crown lands in the I'rovinces, amounting to 
 millions of square miles — the Crown lands outside of the old 
 Provinces iiaving heen given to the Dominion as a whole, and 
 the other Oown lands to the sevt ral I'rovinces in which the 
 lands lie. Thus Canada has now an area of 3,610,000 square 
 miles — ahout equal to the United .States, iiichiding Alaska, 
 and nearly as large as the whole continent of liurope, the seat 
 of so many great nations. Our (jwn l^rovince alone is larger 
 than the aggregate areas of the New England States and New 
 York and Pennsylvania. Half a million scjuare miles of Cana- 
 ls dian territory is well timhered land -^r prairie land, and is suitable 
 for the growth of wheat — a larger wheat-growing area than there 
 is in the United States or in any other country in the world. 
 Another million square miles of territory is fairly timhered ami 
 suitable for grasses and the harder grains. As a wheat-growing 
 country, our own Province equals or excels every State of the 
 neighbouring Union, and in Manitoba and the Canadian North- 
 West the wheat grown is the fimst in the world. Canada is 
 also unequalled for raising cattle. Our lisheries, timber and mines 
 are other sources of wealth from which considerable profit is 
 derived now, and untold riches will result in the future. Canada 
 is also unsurpassed in the adaptation of its climate and soil for 
 raising and maintaining a vigorous antl active population, and 
 this is the most important consiiieration of all. 
 
 Such is Canada ; and this great country, won in the last 
 century by British blood and British treasure, has by liritain 
 
V 
 
 20 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 been confided to its present population for development and 
 use. 
 
 It is pleasant to know that until the last ten years of its his- 
 tory Canada advanced faster in proportion than the States of 
 the American Union as a whole, or than most of the individual 
 States did. As to the causes of there not having been Uke pro- 
 gress during the last decade, we Reformers ascribe the falling off 
 to the N. P., or so-called National Policy, and the high taxation. 
 Conservatives argue for other causes; and this is not an occasion 
 for discussing the question between us. 
 
 It was in this great and growing country — this Canada, so 
 extensive in territory, so rich in resources and so abounding in 
 advantages for ttie future development — that most of its present 
 inhabitants were born ; and it is the land of adoption to the rest 
 of its population. In view of the relations to it of us all, and in 
 view of the history of the country and of what is now known of 
 its immense possibilities, there have grown up among its people, 
 alongside of the old attachment to the British name and British 
 nation and of the pride felt in British achievements in peace and 
 war, a profound love for Canada also, a pride in Canada and 
 hopes of Canada as one day to become a great British nation : 
 British, whether in a political sense in connection or not with 
 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ; British 
 because Britain is the nation of the birth or origin of most of us, 
 and has the profoundest respect and admiration of all ; British 
 because Canadians retain more of British institutions and British 
 peculiarities than are possesse ' n other lands ; British because 
 of most of its people being more attached to Britain and more 
 anxious for its well-being than they are with respect to any 
 other of the nations of the world. As a native Canadian, 
 I am glad to know that this sentiment is not confined to natives 
 
 >9 
 
. CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 21 
 
 of the old land who reside here, but is the sentiment of their 
 descendants also. It is not birth which alone is the ground- 
 work of national sentiment. Following the example of our 
 fathers, we who are Canadians by birth lovingly call the old 
 lands " home " as they did ; and those old lands are as dear to 
 most of us as they were to our fathers who were i)orn there. 
 But we are Canadians none the less on that account, and we 
 love Canada none the less. In my early days I used to mourn 
 over the little Canadian sentiment which there then was amonir 
 Canadians, whether by birth or adoption ; but a gradual change 
 has been going on in this respect, and Canadianism is now the 
 predominant sentiment among by far the largest proportion of 
 the Canadian people. 
 
 The future of this Canada of ours is matter of great in- 
 terest. What shall it be ? We have no grievance against the 
 * ■ ' mother country making us desire separation from it on that 
 
 account. What led to the American revolution was a practical 
 grievance inflicted by the then ruling classes. It was chiefly 
 the taxation of the colonics for Imperial purposes by the Imperial 
 Parliament which made the colonies rebel. They rebelled 
 reluctantly, and but for that practical grievance and all it 
 implied there would at the time have been no rebellion. But, 
 however content loyal Canadians may be with our present 
 political position in the empire, people of all parties, both at 
 home and here, are satisfied that our political relations cannot 
 remain permanently just what they are. As the Dominion 
 grows in population and wealth, changes are inevitable and 
 must be faced. What are they to be ? Some of you hope for 
 some sort of Imperial Federation. Failing that, what then ? 
 Shall we give away our great country to the United States, as 
 some, I hope not many, are saying just now ? Or, when the time 
 
22 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 comes for some important change, shall we, as the only other 
 alternative, go for the creation of Canada into an independent 
 nation ? 1 believe that the great mass of our people would 
 prefer independence to political union with any other people. 
 And so would I. 
 
 As a Canadian, I am not willing that Canada should cease 
 to be. Fellow-Canadians, are you ? I am not willing that 
 Canada should commit national suicide. Are you ? I am not 
 willing that Canada should be absorbed into the United States. 
 Are you ? I am not willing that both our British connection 
 and our hope of Canadian nationality shall be destroyed for ever. 
 Annexation necessarily means all that. It means, too, the 
 abolition of all that is to us preferable in Canadian character 
 and institutions as contrasted with what, in these respects, our 
 neighbours prefer. Annexation means at the same time the 
 transfer from ourselves to Washington of all matters outside of 
 local Provincial affairs. Ontario's will is powerful at Ottawa. 
 No Government has been in power there which had not the 
 support of a majority of Ontario's representatives ; and no 
 Dominion Government would stand for a month without that 
 support. If things do not go there as we Reformers should like, 
 it is because Ontario, through its own representatives, has not 
 so willed. But at Washington the influence of our 2,000,000 
 or 3,000,000 of people would be nothing, though Ontario's repre- 
 sentatives would be unanimous. If we want free trade now 
 we have only to elect representatives favouring it, and free trade 
 we may have. If we want not free trade, but a revenue tariff, 
 we have only to send to Ottawa representatives fav^ouring a 
 revenue tariff, and a revenue tariff we shall have. But in case 
 of annexation to the United States, Canadians might be unani- 
 mous for either policy, or for any other policy, and their 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 23 
 
 un.-iniminity would ;iinount to nothinj^r unless a majority of the 
 65,000,000 of other people shoukl also favour it. J]y annexa- 
 tion we should thus practically be {giving up to our neighbours 
 for ever the absolute, uncontrolled and uncontrollable right of 
 dealing throughout all time with all our federal affairs as our 
 neighbours nn'ght deem for their own interest, whether their 
 interest were ours or not : our interest or our opinion as opposed 
 to theirs would not be of the slightest moment. Even a (]uestion 
 of peace ov war with the fatherland would be decided by others. 
 The war might be most unjust, as other wars have often been ; 
 our children and our money might be taken from us in the prose- 
 cution against the nation of our affections of an unjust war, the 
 outcome, perhaps, of hatred or jealousy. 
 
 Then, again, if the (juestion of mere material advantage were 
 the only question for us to consider, it is at least doubtful 
 whether the masses of our people would, all things considered, 
 derive any material advantage from the sacrifice of ourselves 
 and our country to our neighbours. It is easy enough to show 
 that but for the United States tariff there are important articles 
 for which our producers would just now realize larger prices in 
 the United States markets than they realize elsewhere. No one 
 can be sure that this would always be so. Further, it is as 
 certain as anything of the kind can be, and it would be blind- 
 ness to ignore the fact, that, though the farmers in the United 
 States have no McKinley Act to prevent their having free access 
 to the markets of all their States, yet these farmers as a body 
 do not appear to be in better circumstances than our own farmers 
 are, if they are in as good. Their farms appear to be as exten- 
 sively and oppressively mortgaged as ours are, if not more 
 extensively and oppressively. In a word, farming in that 
 country at this moment, with all the advantages of a free market 
 
t ) 
 
 24 
 
 CHNTKNNIAr. I'KOCEKDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 in nil the States, does not appear to he paying better than farming 
 here, if as well. Nor can 1 discover that their mechanics and 
 labourers are, on the whole, more comfortable than our own. 
 
 So many of our people cannot get employment ; but I see 
 from the newspapers that hundreds of thousands in the United 
 States are in the same position. Further, the last Dominion 
 census shows that there are 80,480 persons of United States 
 birth living among us. Many thousand persons of United 
 States birth nuist thus have fountl in our population of 5,000,000 
 attractions for themselves and their families greater for business 
 or other things than in the 63,000,000 of their own country. 
 And these American residents are not the scum of the American 
 people, Ouite the contrary. They are more than equal to the 
 average of their countrymen in their ov/n land. They belong, as 
 a rule, to the most industrious, active, intelligent, law-abiding 
 and church-going class of our population. If a still larger 
 percentage of Canadians have gone to the United States, for 
 their life-work or otherwise, it is to be remembered that a 
 country yet new, but with 63,000,000 of a population, must pre- 
 sent more openings for Canadians than Canada with a population 
 of but 5,000,000 can have for American citizens ; not now to 
 speak of those other causes for the recent Canadian exodus, as 
 to which our two political parties differ. Don't let any of our 
 people who happen to be feeling the pinch of adverse circum- 
 stances assume in a hurry that people in other lands are on the 
 whole better off than their own people. 
 
 I arn told that some of our ambitious young men are attracted 
 by the idea of political union, as opening to them political posi- 
 tions outside of Canada : but they should remember that, on the 
 other hand, political union would increase in perhaps a larger 
 degree the competitors for political positions in Canada. The 
 
CENTliNNIAL PROCEIiDINGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 25 
 
 political positions in the Dominion, which arc open to British 
 Canadians only — the Legislative Assemblies, the Dominion House 
 of Commons and Senate, the offices of Dominion Ministers and 
 of Provincial Ministers and of Provincial Lieutenant-Governors, 
 not to speak of many others — ought surely to alTord ample field 
 for our young men, whatever their ability. 
 
 But it is in the masses of the people that I am most interested. 
 Almost any national or other important movement may be a 
 material benefit to ,'i few, and yet be no material benefit to the 
 many. The late war in the United States between the North 
 and South did great good in abolishing slavery. The war cost 
 several hundred thousands of lives and many hundreds of 
 millions of dollars. It made millionaires of a few, and it added 
 to the worldly means of a good many others, but it is at least 
 doubtful whether the masses of the Northern people since the 
 close of the war have enjoyed any increase of material advantage 
 from the results of the war, however important those results 
 may be in some other respects. So it is (juite proliable that a 
 few Canadians would be benefitted by that annexation to the 
 United States which they are desirous of bringing about ; but 
 whether the masses of the present Canadian population, as 
 distinguished from the few, would have any adequate return 
 for the sacrifice of their allegiance, of their nationality, of their 
 national aspirations, and of the advantages which in various 
 ways they now posseL.s, is (^uite another question. I do not 
 believe they would. 
 
 I speak to you against the annexation of our country to the 
 United States, believing aversion to it to be the feeling of all 
 or almost all whom 1 am addressing, as it is my own feeling; but 
 I speak without one particle of animosity toward the United 
 States. Some of my most esteemed friends are natives and 
 
a6 
 
 cf.nii:nmai. puockfcdincs a r macaka. 
 
 citi/.ens of that country, ,'Ui<l hut (or the animosity of their 
 nation toward onr fatherland 1 sliouid hold the whole people in 
 most a(Tec:tionate brotherhooil. Lil<e the people of Ontario, 
 they are ICnjjjlish-speakinf,' people. They come from the same 
 mother nations that we do. There is much that is common to 
 us in literature, in laws and in reli{,dous faith. 'I'hey are, in'an 
 important sense, (.)ur brothers, and I should be j.,da(l to promote 
 the freest intercourse with them in e\ery way. lint I don't 
 want to belong to them. 1 don't want to give up my allegiance 
 on their account, or for .uiy ad\antages they may olTer. As a 
 Canadian, 1 don't want to give up any aspirations for Canadian 
 nationality as the alternati\e of political connection with the 
 fathirland. I cannot bring myself to forget the hatretl which 
 so many of our neighbours cherish toward the: nati'n we love, 
 and to which we are [M'oud to belong. 1 cannot forget the influ- 
 ence which that hatred exerts in their public affairs. 1 don't 
 want to belong to a nation in which both its 'political parties 
 have, for party purposes, to vie with one another in exhibiting 
 this hatred. 1 don't want to belong to a nation in which a sus- 
 picion that a politician has a friendly feeling toward the great 
 nation of the origin of the most of them is enough to ensure his 
 defeat at thi! polls. 
 
 Some good men seem to fear that Confederation is unwork- 
 able, because so many bad things, as we Reformers think them, 
 have been done at Ottawa since 1878. But, looking at those 
 facts from our own Reform standpoint, let us recollect that what we 
 regard as the worst acts are parallelled, or more than parallelled,' 
 by what has taken place in Federal or State Governments and 
 Legislatures to the south of us. We may not look merely at 
 instances there in which, happily, corruption or wrong has been 
 defeated or punished, but must look to the far more numerous 
 
CKNTENNIAI. I'UoCKKUlNtiS Al NlAdAKA. 27 
 
 instances in which corruption or wronf,' has triun.phcd. There 
 would he no advantaf^'e to Ontario in jumping,' out of the fryinj^- 
 pan into the fire. My thinkin-,' badly of what has bean done at 
 Ottawa does not f)r(\ent my appreciation of our constitution, 
 nor my aspirations as a Canadian nationalist; and for several 
 reasons from our own Reform standpoint. ( )ne reason is, that 
 this Province of Ontario is itself to blame for the existence of 
 the obnoxious Ottawa (lovernnient, if obnoxious it is. Our 
 trouble as Reformers has been that, unfortunately as we think — 
 fortunately as some who hear nie think we were not able in 1878, 
 and have not been able since, to coiuinrc a majority of the 
 constituencies (we hope to convince them) that they should return 
 to the Dominion Parliament Reformers and not Conservatives. 
 
 Some of my brother Reformers in Ontario think Confedera- 
 tion unworkable for j,'ood because of Quebec. 1 would submit 
 for their consideration that we have no rij^du to assume that to 
 be so until we i'iml Quebec maintaining a parly in power after 
 the chief I'rovince of the Dominion has ceased to support it by a 
 majority of its representatives. There is not the slightest reason 
 for supposing that a larger proportion of the people of Quebec 
 are in favour of the " National Policy," or are against unre- 
 stricted reciprocity, than the people of Ontario, and these two 
 matters at present are the principal points of legislative difTerence 
 between Reformers and Conservatives. I am satisfied that 
 there is no danger of Quebec's placing itself in antagonism with 
 an Ontario majority of the members in the House of Commons. 
 The result of the late general local election in Quebec is an 
 instructive fact. Mr. Brown's success in getting the consent of 
 Quebec in 1864 to representation by population in the House of 
 Commons is another fact which ought to relieve the fears which 
 many entertain as to what Quebec may or may not do. 
 
a8 
 
 CKNTKNNIAI, I'ROCEEfMNGS AT NIAGARA. 
 
 Another thinj,' should ho noted by any, whether Reformers 
 or Conservatives, who may be led to look on annexation as the 
 only way of escape from what they lliiiik still f,ncat('i ills. 
 Annexation, if it ever comes, is not ^oiu^r to come soon, is not 
 goinf,' to come in time to relieve any of our people from tht; pre- 
 sent depression. Many drawbacks and difficulties woukl have 
 to be overcome before annexation could become a fact, if it were 
 ever to become a fact. We hav(,' failed so far to <ret a majority 
 for even unrestricted reciprocity, and there would be immensely 
 greater difficulty and delay in getting a majority for annexation. 
 Very many are, like myself, prepared for the one measure who 
 are with all their hearts against the other. There can be no 
 annexation unless and until a decided majority of our people 
 want it, and this will not be unless and until their present 
 
 loyalty is driven out of both political parties ; nor until the 
 people of Quebec, the people of the Maritime Provinces, the 
 people of the new Western Provinces and the people of Ontario 
 are prepared for direct taxation for the support of their local 
 Governments. Unrestricted reciprocity we might have at any 
 time that a majority of our Dominion representatives should go 
 for it on terms to which our neighbours would agree ; but for so 
 mighty a transaction as the absolute transfer of half the continent 
 to another nation for all time, much more would be necessary 
 than a bare and perhaps accidental majority of the members of 
 the two Mouses; much greater assurp.nce than such an act as 
 that would be demanded, and needed, that the mass of the 
 people really and deliberately desired the transfer ; and if that 
 should be ascertained and made beyond question, there would 
 have to be long negotiations for carrying so important a matter 
 into effect. My point here is, that whatever may be said for 
 annexation, if immediately attainable, the agitation for it is no 
 remedy for any class of present sufferers. 
 
 to*. 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGAKA. 
 
 29 
 
 If we arc not for annexation, our clear policy as Canadians 
 is foi the present to cherish British connection whatever else 
 any of us may be lookinf 1 rward to in our political and national 
 future. Canada is not yet prepared for independence. If, as a 
 people we want it, if anything like the; same proportion of our 
 population wanted it as did of the Americm colonies at the 
 time of the revolution, and if this were inacK -) rle:irly appear 
 in a constitutional way, the fatherland would, beyond doubt, 
 give its consent. Naturally it would be given for our inde- 
 pendence much more readily than for nnnexation to another 
 power, even if that other were not a hostile power. Consent 
 to either measure would be given reluctantly and regretfully 
 on the pj.rt of probably most British electors, and would 
 probably bo given willingly on the part of some. But the Pro- 
 vinces of the Dominion are not sufficiently welded together to 
 form Canad'x into an independent nation. There is something 
 of a Canadian spirit in every one of the Provinces, and there 
 is reason for the hope that the Canadian spirit will be constantly 
 growing stronger in them all. Meanwhile, our great North-Wcst 
 is being occupied by immigrants to it from the older Provinces 
 of the Dominion, and by those immigrants from Europe who, 
 for whatever reasons, prefer Canada to the United States. But, 
 outside of the constitution, the strongest ties which up to this 
 moment bind the Provinces together are their common British 
 connection, their common history as British colonists, the com- 
 mon status of their people as British subjects, and their common 
 allegiance to our noble Queen, who has lived long enough and 
 well enough to obtain the respect and admiration of all the 
 civilized nations of the world. These elements of unity are 
 valuable helps for one day consolidating the Provinces into a 
 nation, but they are not sufficient for this purpose yet. If any 
 
30 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEL; UINGS AT NIAGAUA. 
 
 of US desire Canada to become in time an independent nation, 
 if any of us are for Canada first, if we prefer our own people to 
 any other people, if we prefer our own institutions to those of 
 other people, if we prefer, as many of us do, the character and 
 the sentiments and the ways of our own people to those of any 
 other people, if we do not wish that as a political organization 
 our dear Canada should be annihilated, if we do not wish to be 
 ourselves parties to its receiving its death-blow as a nation, our 
 proper course is plain, the course of us all. Conservatives and 
 Reformers alike. It is to cherish our own institutions, to foster 
 the affections of our people toward the fatherland, to strengthen 
 their appreciation of the greatness and the glories of the empire, 
 to stimulate their interest in its grand history in the cause of 
 freedom and civilization, and to give now and always to the 
 Dominion and the Provinces the best administration of public 
 affairs that is practicable by our best statesmen and best public 
 men, whoever they may be. 
 
 Some point to the McKinley Act as a reason why Canadians 
 should transfer their country to the United States, and states- 
 men and politicians in that country are said to have been 
 advised to adopt a policy of peaceable but vigorous coercion 
 as a sure means of getting over Canadian objections to 
 annexation. A policy of coercion by McKinley Acts and like 
 means would be a policy of insult as well as of injury. Inde- 
 pendently of all other considerations, self-respect would forbid 
 our permitting such a policy to be successful. Coercion by 
 such means is as little defensible on any morr-l grounds as 
 coercion by war and conquest. I hope that the leaders and 
 thinkers of our political parties in the Dominion will find means 
 of neutralizing the evils of any attempted coercion. The evils, 
 meanwhile, would not be great as compared with what was 
 
I) 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NIAGARA. 3I 
 
 readily borne for conscience sake by our Canadian forefathers 
 and predecessors, and I know that their spirit is not wanting in 
 their sons and successors at the present day. 
 
 No. I do not want annexation. I prefer the ills I suffer to 
 the ills annexation would involve. I love my nation, the 
 nation of our fathers, and I shall not willingly join any nation 
 which hates her. I love Canada, and I want to perform my 
 part, whatever it may be, in maintaining its existence as a 
 distinct political or national organization. I belie\'e this to be, 
 on the whole and in the long run, the best thing for Canadians, 
 and the be t thing for the whole American continent. I hope 
 that when another century has been added to the age of Canada 
 it may still be Canada, and that its second century shall, like its 
 first, be celebrated by Canadians, unabsorbed, numerous, pros- 
 perous, powerful and at peace. For myself, I should prefer to 
 die in that hope rather than to die President of the United 
 States. 
 
 After brief but eloquent and enthusiastic addresses from Dr. 
 Ferguson, late M.I^. for the County of Welland, Lt.-Col. 
 George T. Denison, Dr. Oronhyatekha and Sheriff McKellar, 
 the proceedings closed with the National Anthem. 
 
 % 
 
PROCEEDINGS AT TORONTO 
 
 September U, 1892, 
 
 The one Hundredth Anniversary of the Opening 
 OF THE First Parliament of the Province of 
 
 Upper Canada. 
 
 T 
 
 "^ I Y^HE 17th September being the centenary of the date on 
 which the first Parliament was opened, addresses 
 were delivered in front of the new ParHament Build- 
 ings in the Queen's Park, Toronto. A pleasing feature was the 
 music and singing of school children numbering several hun- 
 dreds, representing different city schools. His Honour, the 
 Lieut. -Governor, the Honourable George Airey Kirkpatrick, 
 presided. He was accompanied by Mrs. Kirkpatrick and 
 attended by Captain Kirkpatrick, A.D.C. 
 
 A guard of honour was furnished l)y " C " Company of the 
 Canadian Regular Force, under the connnand of Major Buchan. 
 
 The Hon. Thomas Ballantyne, Speaker of the Legislative 
 Assembly of the Province of Ontario, opened the proceedings 
 with prayer, reading the form prescribed for use in the Ontario 
 Legislature. 
 
 His Honour the Lieut. -Governor then spoke as follows: 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen. — I have much pleasure in accept- 
 ing the invitation of the committee to preside over this meeting, 
 which is intended to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of 
 
34 
 
 CKNTKNNIAI. I'KOCKKDINGS AT lOKONIX). 
 
 the openiiif^f of the first Parliament of Upper Canada. There is 
 no place more appropriate to celebrate the one hundredth ;).nni- 
 versary of the opening of the first Parliament of Upper Canada 
 than Toronto, a city the site of which was selected by Governor 
 Simcoe one hunched years af^'^o. W'htm he came lu're in 1792 he 
 had to pitch his t(>nt upon the shore, as there were then no 
 houses nor buildings of any kind. Ik; cut down the trees, laid 
 out streets and prepared a site for the city, having confidence 
 in the future ; and now you will all agree with me that the 
 appearance of this populous city fully justifies the selection made 
 by Governor Simcoe. Nor could there be a more appropriate 
 place in the City of Toronto to hold this demonstration than in 
 front of this stately pile of buildings which marks, by its large 
 and massive proportions, by its beauty and symmetry, the great 
 progress which has taken place in the political situation of this 
 Province during the last one hundred years. You can judge 
 by the si'^'e of that building of the vast business which is done 
 to-day as comparetl with what it was a hundred years ago, 
 when a small log house at Niagara held the Legislature of this 
 Province. And another advantage that this situation has for 
 this demonstration is that we are within ear-shot of those 
 magnificent educational establishments which mark the intel- 
 lectual and the moral progress of this Province. We are all 
 proud to know that our educational system has extended as it 
 has, and that the people of this country of all classes, rich and 
 poor alike, can receive as good an education in Ontario as they 
 can in any part of the world. I am not going to tell you of all the 
 changes that have taken place, and of all the wonderful progress 
 of this Province and what we may hope for in the future. I am 
 going to leave that to the speakers who will address you. There 
 is one thing to-day that is the same as it was one hundred years 
 
cknti:nni.\i. I'I<()ci;i;i)Ings at 'iouonto. 35 
 
 ago when (lovernor Siincoe opened up the first I'arliament of 
 Upper Canachi, The guard of honor which received him was 
 tlu! same ;is the guard of honour receiving me to-day — British 
 red-Goats ! No change has taken place in this respect, and I 
 am sure we are all glad to know it. We are proud to have this 
 great heritage that has been given to us. We will try to hand 
 it down to our children with the same record which has been 
 given to us. 
 
 At the conclusion of the singing "The Maple Leaf" by the 
 I'ublic School children, the Hon. Mr. P.allantync said : 
 
 One hundred years has passed since England, who has been 
 grandly called the mother of Parliaments, and who has nobly 
 earned the naiue, conferred in a modified form the principle of 
 self-government upon her colony in North America. In a 
 modest, yet in a very true sense, this beginning of our freedom 
 has since then been slowly broadening down from precedent to 
 precedent. It is instructive to notice that of all the representa- 
 tive British assemblies that now, like her drum beat, encircle 
 the globe, the transcript of the constitution of the parent State 
 which was then bestowed upon Upper Canada was declared by 
 Governor Simcoe in his first speech to Parliament, a century 
 ago this day, to be infinitely in degree beyond whatever, till that 
 period, had been given to any other dependency of the Empire. 
 So little was responsible government understood or appre- 
 ciated in the earliest dawn of our constitutional history. What 
 was then conceded to the two Canadas was undoubtedly a great 
 boon, compared with the military rule which had existed from 
 the time of the conquest ; but it is to be regretted that the wiser 
 councils of Fox did not prevail, and that eflect was not given to 
 his demand that the Act of 1791 should be made a "Constitu- 
 
36 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 tional Act" in fact as well as in name. Had this been done, 
 years of agitation would have been prevented in both Provinces — 
 agitation which in the case of each of the Provinces had its 
 culmination in a rash and ill-advised resort to armed rebellion. 
 And while we must give the gallant band who, through their 
 loyalty to Britain forsook the homes they had established for 
 themselves and their families across the border to seek shelter 
 under the folds of the old ilag in the then wilderness of Upper 
 Canada, all credit for their devotion and patriotism, we cannot 
 but wonder that they should have allowed their claim to be in 
 any degree minimised by the action of another band, who, it is 
 now frankly acknowledged, quite as truly earned the title of 
 patriots, misguided though they were in their methods, through 
 their struggles and sacrifices for those liberties which are every- 
 where the inalienable right of Englishmen. Representative 
 government, in its fullest sense, should have been freely given 
 at the outset of this colony of immeasurable possibilities, not- 
 withstanding the sparseness of its settlement, numbering at 
 that time a white population of only about 20,000 souls. The 
 half measure was a serious mistake, as is the case with half 
 measures generally. The division of Canada into two Provinces 
 and the isolation of the races was another capital error in the 
 statesmanship of Pitt, for experience has taught us that if we are 
 successfully to work out the destiny which we believe to lie before 
 us, it cannot be as a divided, but must assuredly be as a united, 
 people. We must gather together the embers of nationality 
 and patriotism, and fan them into a fiame. Nearly fifty years 
 after the passing of the Constitutional Act of 1791, by the 
 re-union of the Provinces, in accordance with the recommenda- 
 tion of Lord Durham, the error of the great English Commoner 
 was, in a manner, remedied ; but it required the Confederation 
 
CEr4TENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 3^ 
 
 Act of 1867 to crown the edifice, l)y binding the Biitish North 
 American Provinces into one great sisterhood worthy of being 
 called a nation. This is the beneficent fruit which has sprung 
 from the seed that was planted in the soil of Canada one hun- 
 dred years ago ; this is the development of the then feeble germ. 
 The sturdy child in British America of the grand old Anglo-Saxon 
 mother has herself in turn given birth to vigorous offspring, 
 and has not only established a system of government for the 
 parent State to copy from, but has sent home her most distin- 
 guished son to help in putting the machinery together and 
 setting it in motion. The little representative body which, with 
 limited powers, met in this city towards the close of the last 
 century in a humble structure, in marvellous contrast with the 
 present splendid legislative edifice, would have been astonished 
 could they have foreseen this magnificent outcome of their infant 
 efforts at nation building. In their modest way they set us 
 the example which we have in part followed, but have in a 
 greater degree, we think, improved upon. We are now, happily, 
 at last, through struggle and sacrifice, in the enjoyment of the 
 fullest measure of self-government. Let us see to it that we 
 give account to the generations yet to come, and especially to 
 those who will stand in our places as representatives of the 
 Canadian people when another century shall have rolled by, of 
 the faithful discharge of the important trusts, duties and respon- 
 sibilities which are at this time of our manhood confided to our 
 hands. 
 
 Hon. J. M. Gibson, Provincial Secretary, was next intro- 
 duced. He said : 
 
 It is gratifying to observe the interest taken by so many in 
 celebrating the centennial of an important event in the history of 
 
<.t 
 
 3S 
 
 CKNTKNNIAI. l'l<f)CKHniNGS AT lOKONTO. 
 
 
 our country. In llu'sc days ol work and bustle, when nicn are 
 all intent upon the duties of the present, it is well that once in a 
 while we should pause and take a retrospect of the past. One 
 hundred years aj^o the first Parliament of this Province was 
 assembled for the first time, and Lieutenant-dovernor Simcoe 
 delivered his first openin},' speech. It was the occasion when 
 this country was presented with a constitution. The Imperial 
 Act of 1 791 had provided for the provision of what was formerly 
 Quebec into the two Provinces of Upper Canada and Lower 
 Canada, and it <,'ave to the people of this country, as a part of 
 the constitution, a popular Assembly. The form of Government, 
 however, was scarcely a popular government. The principle of 
 responsibility to the representatives of the people had not been 
 conceded, and it was only after years of struggle that this 
 principle prevailed — half a century later on. It was in 1841 
 that there was granted to the majority of the people of this 
 Province that influence over the executive Government which 
 constituted the essential element of responsible government in 
 England. Nevertheless, the Act of 1791 did grant to the people 
 a voice in the making of their laws and the right to be heard in 
 connection with the Government and administration of their 
 affairs. All of us are agreed that this Act, when compared with 
 our present constitution, was a crude measure, but it provided 
 for a great improvement on the previous condition of things. 
 From the year 1760 to the year 1763 the people of this country 
 had been ruled under a system of martial law. P""rom 1763 to 
 1791 the people had been governed by a species of civil and 
 military absolutism. When, therefore, in pursuance of the 
 Constitutional Act of 1791, Governor Simcoe, on the 17th of 
 September, 1792, opened the first Parliament of the Province of 
 Upper Canada, he inaugurated a new era in the history of the 
 
 1 
 
4« 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCT 'NGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 39 
 
 country. The event was the foundation of the constitutional 
 liberty — the popular government — which we children of the men 
 of those days are now enjoying. A hundred years ago to-day, 
 out of the sixteen representatives who composed the popular 
 Assembly, not all, but a sufficient number to form a quorum, 
 found their way to Newark, some travelling probably days and 
 weeks by small boats, others by other modes of locomotion. 
 The contrasts between the modes of travelling in those days and 
 to-day in our drawing-room cars, with their dining-room 
 attachments, are strong and emphatic. Allusion has been made 
 by his Honour to the rather small and primitive quarters where 
 the Assembly of that day was compelled to meet together 
 and legislate in the interests of this Province. Nevertheless, at 
 that first session Acts of great importance were passed. One of 
 them gave to the people the English law as to property and 
 civil rights, and another the safeguard of trial by jury. The 
 Lieutenant-Governor's residence was called "Navy Hall" — 
 high sounding and pretentious in name, but in point of archi- 
 tecture a log house. We are told that the year after the opening 
 he set out on a voyage with the intent of selecting a more suit- 
 able locality for the seat of Government, and history tells us 
 that in a small boat he skirted around the lake, finding his way 
 to Toronto. I do not believe that history is accurate. History 
 never is entirely accurate. I do not believe that Governor 
 Simcoe skirted the shores of the lake. I believe that when he 
 came to the narrow part of it he cut across the lake, for he never 
 would have passed Burlington Bay. Nor would he have passed 
 the site of the Ambitious City, which I have the honour to 
 represent. Undoubtedly, in my opinion, and in the opinion of 
 50,000 people who live in that city, Hamilton would have been 
 the spot which he would have selected had he not cut across 
 
40 
 
 CKN ri'NMAI. l'KOC-l'i;i).N(".S Al" lOUONTO. 
 
 the lake instead of skirting aroinul the shore. His Honour has 
 said that Governor Simcoe first lived here in his canvas house- 
 tent, pitched somewhere at the intersection of Garrison Creek 
 with what was formerly the Northern Railway, hut a more 
 pretentious building was afterwards erected — a log structure — 
 in the north-eastern part of the city, at the head of Parliament 
 Street and on the banks of the Don. 1 cannot ascertain that 
 our first Governor took up his permanent residence in that then 
 far-off log palace, because history informs us that occasionally 
 he made excursions to his house, which was called " Castle 
 Frank," sometimes in small l)oats up the River Don, and 
 sometimes undertaking the difficult journey over the bridle road 
 which had been cut through the woods. I shall not follow or trace 
 the various improvements which have been made in the matter 
 of Lieutenant-Governors' residences. The people and the 
 Legislature and the Government of the present day cannot be 
 accused of extravagance in these matters, but, at the same 
 time, I am sure his Honour will admit that there have been 
 vast improvements in the matter of gubernatorial residences. 
 The same remark will apply to conveniences for Parliamentary 
 deliberations. Without tracing to you the different improve- 
 ments in the various buildings which have been from time to 
 time occupied by the Parliament of Upper Canada and the 
 Legislature of Ontario, I may say that in this city Parliament 
 has always had vicissitudes in connection with its accommoda- 
 tion. The plain, brick structure which was built in 1820 was 
 burned down in 1824. The buildings on Front Street which 
 are now occupied — but, thank heaven, are soon to be unoccu- 
 pied — were completed, or at least a portion of them, in 1832. 
 In the meantime the Parliament of the Province was accom- 
 modated in an hospital building for a portion of the time, and in 
 
CKNTENNIAI. PKOCEHDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 41 
 
 a court house for another portion of the time. Now, when we 
 look at the buildings which are in view before you, we certainly 
 have reason to congratulate ourselves upon the vast improve- 
 n^.ent in the matter of legislative buildings. They are indications 
 which mark the progress of the country, and probably as 
 correctly and as strongly as any other indications which can be 
 suggested. 1 think the country has made immense progress dur- 
 ing the last one hundred years. What was a dense wilderness — 
 a forest— throughout the length and breadth of the land is now 
 a country of magnificent agricultural farms, thriving villages and 
 towns and populous cities. W'e are a contented and a happy 
 people. Our agricultural resources, modes and methods are 
 equal to those of any other country to-day, and the best proof 
 that could be given in substantiation of this you have had in 
 your city for the last two weeks in the shape of the Industrial 
 Exhibition. The educational system of the country has already 
 been alluded to, and possibly may be further referred to by my 
 friend and colleague, the acting Minister of Education. We 
 have reason to be proud of our educational system — and I shall 
 not be charged with boasting in asserting that our system of 
 education, as a whole, will stand favourable comparison with 
 that of any other country. The adminstration of justice happily 
 gives rise, and has for a long time past given rise, to little or no 
 complaint. The people are satisfied. The integrity of our 
 judges is never impugned. We have a good system of jurispiu- 
 dence and practice, and what was formerly known as a 
 distinction between law and justice has, under the legislation of 
 the last twenty years, entirely disappeared, and lawyers will 
 soon fail to appreciate any difference between law and equity. 
 Then, Sir, we have the best — I was going to say the best 
 Government in the world — but I will not say that, because 
 
43 
 
 (•KNir;\NiAi. I'KocKKniNc.s Ai" louosro. 
 
 some of my friends hert> think my testimony is not admissible on 
 that point ; but I l)elieve you will all a^rev with nic that we 
 have the best Premier in the world, at all events. The fact that 
 he has enjoyed for a longer unbroken period than any other 
 man power as the head of a Government, with the full con- 
 fidence of the people, is ample substantiation of the truth of my 
 statement. By way of set-off, perhaps I may say also that we 
 have a most efficient and the best equipped leader of an 
 Opposition anywhere to be found. All, however, will cordially 
 unite in the hope that both Sir Oliver and Mr. Meretlith will 
 long be spared to occupy positions of usefulness in this country. 
 While great progress has been achieved in the past, the present 
 seem to be days of accelerated progress. We appear to have 
 accomplished as much in the past twenty-five years as was 
 accomplished during the previous seventy-five years. What 
 shall be the experience of the next century in our country's 
 history ? What shall our children's grandchildren have to say 
 when celebrating another centennial anniversary on the '7th of 
 September, 1993, ''^^ they look backward and take a view through 
 the intervening years of us as we are and what we are doing ? 
 ^t us hope, at least, that however mediaeval and unenlightened 
 (jresent modes and methods may appear to them, they may 
 .je justified in according to us, their ancestors, some measure of 
 praise for the honesty and earnestness of purpose with which we 
 are working out the problems of our day, and some tribute of 
 praise and honour for the loyal and patriotic impulses in con- 
 nection with our aspirations for the future of this country, which 
 we all love so well. 
 
 The school children sang spiritedly the chorus by A. T. 
 Cringan, entitled " Hail to the Land." Hon. Mr. Harcourt, 
 
CENTKNMAI. PKOCKKIMN(;s AT TORONTO. 
 
 43 
 
 Provincial Tnasurer, was well received as he stepped to the 
 front of the platform to speak. He said : 
 
 We can all join enthusiastically in the celebration cere- 
 monies of to-day. I say all of us, since, while thos' who are 
 fortunate enough to be able to claim thi., I'.ovince as their 
 iiirthplace may have a special reason to rejoice in our celebra- 
 tion, all others who have made this land their home by choice 
 will none the less because of that fact rejoice in its prosperity, 
 and welcome its every sif,m (jf progress. Some there are who 
 think that our people are not as patriotic as they should be, and 
 that we should therefore lose no opportunity to instil into the 
 minds of our youth a spirit of earnest, broad and healthy 
 patriotism. Those who thus complain point to our neighbours 
 to the south of us as an illustration of a people who in season 
 and out of season, in their schools and colleges, yes, from their 
 pupils cv'iu, as well as in their press and in their literature 
 generally, unceasingly strive to diffuse a love of and a loyalty 
 and attachment to their form of government and all their 
 institutions. In their school books this aim is never lost^ sight 
 of, and in some degree the patriotism they evoke is both narrow 
 and obtrusive. Only such historical facts are kept prominently 
 in view as will kindle 'n their youth the fire of patriotism. The 
 recorded speeches of their public men from the days of their 
 first President, when they dreamed of a great republic yet to be, 
 until now, while they show sharp differences and reveal the 
 icrimony of warm debate touching the party questions of the 
 hour, tend all one way in this matter of love of country and of 
 home. The spirit of pessimism as to their country's high 
 destiny has never had a lodgment even temporarily in the minds 
 of our cousins across the line. So, too, with their pulpits and 
 
 SBBSBBi 
 
44 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 their press. No opportunity is lost. The flame of patriotism 
 never flickers. Statesmen, orators, ministers of the Gospel, 
 teachers, editors make love of country their warmest theme. 
 Although we occasionally notice, as partly the resv.lt of this 
 fervid patriotism, a national blindness on their part as regards 
 the rights of other peoples, or, at best, a tardy recognition of 
 such rights, we all commend their loyalty to country. Some 
 one har .id that it is by a happy illusion that most men have a 
 tendency to think their own country the best. May we not in 
 this Province indulge in this thought without any illusion ? 
 With boldness we can invite comparison with other lands as 
 regards all those elements which make up national prosperity 
 and happiness. An invigorating climate, vast and fertile 
 regions, capable of richly supporting a large population, a 
 country extending from ocean to ocean, and stretching over 
 seventy degrees of longitude, untold wealth of forest and of 
 mine, magnificent lakes and mighty rivers— all these are ours, 
 and as crowning blessings we enjoy in a singular degree an 
 immunity from all pestilences, such as tornadoes, earthquakes 
 and famines, which blight less favoured lands. Our humblest 
 citizen has guaranteed to hmi fullest rights of person and of 
 property. We have liberty without license, a benign religion, 
 with great variety, it is true, as to forms, practice and profes- 
 sion — inculcating, however, in its every form, truth, honesty, 
 sobriety and love of man — everywhere exerting a wide and ele- 
 vating influence. A good education is easily within the reach of 
 all, and the door to preferment opens on equal terms to the son 
 of the poor and of the rich. Colleges and universitie?, of which 
 other countries might well be proud, maintain high standards, 
 and open their doors invitingly to all classes and to both sexes. 
 Our great educational facilities, unsurpassed nowhere, must in 
 
CKNTRNNIAL PROCEKDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 45 
 
 time contribute in an increasing degree to the material develop- 
 ment of the country and the prosperity and happiness of our 
 people. Our newspapers, city and provincial, reaching almost 
 every home, well managed and ably edited, exert a powerful 
 inHuence and contribute largely to the education of the masses. 
 Our school system, recognizing the importance of mercantile 
 and mechanical pursuits, makes special provision for the mental 
 training of those intending to follow these occupations. We 
 have a School of Agriculture, with a comprehensive and practi- 
 cal course of studies, which has already accomplished much in 
 clearing the way for more profitable and scientific methods of 
 tillage. In a somewhat slow and modest way as yet we have 
 been developing both art and literature, and not a few Canadian 
 artists and writers have won honour and distinction abroad. 
 This centenary celebration invites us to recall the past, and 
 reminds us that we have been making history, and that our 
 country has grown steadily, safely and rapidly. In some 
 channels and directions more rapid progress can be claimed for 
 other lands, Init we must not lose sight of the fact, as clear as 
 any which the page of history teaches, that slow growth and 
 gradual progress are ever the surest, and ttiat northern nations, 
 while slower than others in their historical development, have 
 often in a niarked degree assisted in swaying the destinies of the 
 world. We have a history of which we need not be ashamed. 
 One hundred years have come and gone since Governor Simcoe 
 (whose features are preserved in stone, carved on the outer 
 walls of these handsome buildings) founded Upper Canada as a 
 distinct Province. During the winter of 1794-5 he took up his 
 residence near where we now stand, and busied himself in 
 planning for the future of this large and prosperous city, the 
 history of which from that early day until now, with its safe, 
 
46 
 
 CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 marked and uninterrupted progress, fills so prominent a chapter 
 in the history of the Province. Decade after decade witnesses 
 advancement and progress in every part of the Province. We 
 fiiH, for example, dotting the wooded shores of some of our 
 northern lakes, inviting, popular pleasure resorts, where in those 
 early days the Huron and the Algonquin tribes fought as only 
 Indians can fight for victory and supremacy. And, looking 
 backwards from the vantage ground of this our centenary year, 
 we can point to many other transformations equally complete 
 and pleasing. If we cannot in our history point to a glitter of 
 startling occurrences, we can do what is far better — we can 
 show a gradual, steady progress in everything pertaining to the 
 comfort, happiness and prosperity of our people. A Legislature, 
 thoroughly representative of a vigorous, earnest people, has 
 session after session passed laws timely and prudent, safeguard- 
 ing oar rights of life and property. What country can show 
 legislation more advanced or leading up to better results than 
 ours ? In what land do we find a people enjoying more fully 
 than we do the rights of self-government, or where is there a 
 people more fitted to be entrusted with that precious right ? 
 Our laws have been well administered. Our courts of justice 
 have won the unlimited confidence of the people. May we 
 always have upright and learned judges, men of probity and 
 culture who regard the unsullied ermine as dearly as they hold 
 their lives. We can thus look backward with pride and satis- 
 faction. What can we say as to our future ? What of our 
 destiny ? Our destiny under a kind Providence will be jiist 
 what we will make it. It rests in our own hands. We may, 
 in the face of all our great advantages, mar it if we will. As it 
 is with individual destiny, so it is with national destiny : we 
 are largely the architects of our own fortunes. We have laid. 
 
 \f 
 
CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AT Tf)RONTO. 
 
 47 
 
 as I have shown, deep and safe and l)road, the foundations for 
 a bright future. Imbued with the healthy sentiment which has 
 prevailed in the mother land for centuries, attached to the forms 
 of government, cherishing her precedents and traditions, we 
 have passed from childhood to youth. We are approaching 
 manhood, and its strength and vigour must depend upon our- 
 selves. What is needed, then ? We must appease interpro- 
 vincial jealousies; we must modify mere local patriotism; we 
 must cultivate an increased national feeling, and show in every 
 way we can that we have crossed the line of youth and pupilage. 
 If our public men will be true to themselves, and govern us with 
 wisdom and foresight and high statesmanship, and if our people 
 will be intelligent, honest and vigilant, then we will enjoy a 
 degree of success to which no limit can be fixed. Much depends 
 on the acts and principles and policy of our present rulers, who. 
 as a sine qua iioii, should have a firm and unfaltering belief in 
 our future. We have met difficulties in the past only to over- 
 come them. The alarming constitutional deadlock of a quarter 
 of a century ago resulted in the confederation of the Provinces. 
 Our course, for the most part, has been in smooth waters. We 
 are now face to face with serious and general agricultural 
 depression, and consequent loss of population. But this depres- 
 sion is not confined to any State or Province ; it is world-wide, 
 and. comparatively speaking, we have great cause to be thankful, 
 liright days will soon dawn in spite of manifestly disadvantageous 
 economic conditions. We have had the seven lean years, and 
 the fat years will follow. This seems to be a law of our planet. 
 I must now give way to other speakers. May kind heaven long 
 continue abundantly to prosper this fair land of ours ! 
 
 Mr. G. F. Maktkk, M.PP., Muskoka, on behalf of the 
 Opposition in the Ontario Legislature, in the absence of Mr. 
 
r-1 lfc» Itll ■ 
 
 'y 
 
 48 
 
 CENTKNNIAI. I'ROCICKDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 Meredith : One hundred years ap;o, when the first ParHament 
 was opened in Newark, we are told that there were only fifteen 
 members. They passed eif;ht Acts in the first session of that 
 Lef^islature. To-day we have ninety-two members, and i would 
 like to know who could tell you the number of Acts passed 
 at the last session of this Mouse ? Then they had a log build- 
 \u<f to meet in ; now we have this beautiful structure. The 
 Government of this country has spent more annually for 
 education in conjunction with what is raised by the municipali- 
 ties than any Government extending over a similar area and 
 having an equal population. In lygi Governor Simcoe travelled 
 in birch-bark canoes from Montreal to Newark (now Niagara). 
 Where we have our highways now, there were then but the 
 indistinct pathways through the unknown forests. Look at the 
 magnificence of this great city, with its commercial activities 
 and splendid educational institutions. If we have made such 
 gigantic strides during the last one hundred years, what may 
 w(> not expect in the future ? The historian says that the 
 demon of Party had not entered into the politics of that day in 
 the first Parliament of Upper Canada ; so we can say at this 
 day that the demon of party politics has not entered into the 
 Government of Ontario, which is mainly attrib-itable to the 
 course .ulopted by our honoured leader, Mr. Meredith. I will 
 say a little about the growth of the minerals of this country. 
 They are now undevelopeil to a great extent, but, so far as the 
 investigations of the miners have gone, they have proven to be 
 very rich : and we look forward in the near future to a state of 
 affairs that would be envied by any country under the sun. 
 Then we have the great wealth of the forests, from which, 
 during the last twenty-five years, we have received about one 
 million dollars a year, which is spent for the benefit of the 
 
w 
 
 CENTK.N'N'IAI. PKOCI'KDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 40 
 
 people instead of taxing them to meet the expenses of Govern- 
 ment. In the matter of railways: in 1850, just forty-two years 
 ago, Lord filgin turned the first sod of the Northern Railway. 
 To-day we have nearly every township in the Province sup- 
 plied with railways. I am sure you will say that in this respect 
 there has been great advancement. There is no part of the 
 United States in which the mass of the people are healthier, 
 wealthier or happier than in the Province of Ontario. Long 
 may this state of affairs continue, let it be who may at the head 
 of our Government ! 
 
 Mr. WILLIAM McClkarv, M.PP. for W'elland : As a repre- 
 sentative of the gootl old loyal Niagara district ; coming as 1 
 do from that bountiful part of our fair Province of Ontario, I 
 could not be anything less than a true Briton, for every acre of 
 that land, were it animate and could speak, would give to us 
 volumes of the instructive and inspiring record of the gallant 
 and heroic past, of the deeds of our forefathers, the founders, 
 legislatively and politically, of the Province. I know, Sir, that 
 what the Hon. Mr. Harcourt said in reference to our friends 
 on the other side of the line being ultra-loyal and teaching their 
 children to be ultra-loyal, is not looked upon in some quarters, at 
 least in our country, with favour. I am told, time and time 
 again, that ] am loyal simply because my father was loyal to 
 England and P^ngland's Queen. There is something in that, but 
 not all. The loyalty of the true subject springs from a far more 
 genuine and deep-seated source. All true Canadians are loyal 
 to England's Oueen. If we love and admire her for her per- 
 sonal qualities, we respect and revere her because she is the 
 representatisx^ of a great national life and the exponent of the 
 best form of government that this world has ever seen. No 
 
 ■ 
 
3" 
 
 CKNTENNIAI. F'ROCFKniNGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 man ran remember what lCnj,4and has done in promoting our 
 interests — how she has poured out her millions in our defence 
 and for the enforcement of our rij^fhts- without being loyal to 
 the mother land. I had the pleasure of listening to Sir Oliver 
 Mowat speaking in connection with another portion of this 
 celebration at the old town of Niagara, and I was proud to 
 know that we ha\e a Premier who entertains such opinions 
 regarding our country and our country's future. I am glad, as 
 a young Canadian, that there are in places of power and influ- 
 ence, men who are trying to do something toward the building 
 up of these opinions. It may be fairly said that our young Canada 
 has started out on her career under the fairest auspices ; and if 
 the ship thus committed to the storms of time be manned by 
 right good loyal men, enthusiastic men — men who will work in 
 the interests of our common country — there is nothing to hinder 
 us from making Canada nnv of the greatest nations that the world 
 has ever seen. 
 
 Thk Likutknant-Govkrnor : I have great pleasure now in 
 introducing to you the venerable Rev. Dr. Scadding, President 
 of the Centenary Committee of the Historical and Pioneer 
 Association. 
 
 The Re\ . Dr. Scadding said: The Ciovernment is to be 
 congratulated, the Parliament is to be congratulated, the whole 
 Province of Ontario is to be congratulated on the completion, or 
 all but completion, of the hue pile of buildings before which we 
 are assembled. May that pile stand in safety here for many 
 generations, symbolising and setting forth before the world the 
 dignity of the Province, just as the Palace of Parliament at 
 Westminster symbolises and sets forth the dignity of England, 
 
s'# 
 
 Cr.NTKNNIAI. I-ROCF-KDINGS AT TOKONTO. 
 
 and the noble Parliament Huildiiif^s at Ottawa do tor the 
 Dominion of Canada. 
 
 Handsome public buildiiif^^s and handsome public grounds 
 do much to foster patriotism and lu\i- of country and self- 
 respect in a community. From the very first this seems to have 
 been felt amongst us here. In 179J when the town plot of 
 York was first laid out by the pioneer land surveyor Augustus 
 Jones, under the immediate eye of the first Governor of the 
 Province, care was taken by that Ciovernor to have reserved as 
 a site for the Parliament Buildings of the new Province of 
 Upper Canada a spacious piece of ground immediately to the 
 east of this town-plot — immediately east of what is now known 
 as Berkeley Street, and bounded on the south by the waters 
 of the Bay. I have in my own possession early plans which 
 show the original Parliament Buildings in this position, and at 
 this moment the name Parliament Street, leading from Bloor 
 Street southward to the water's edge, is a reminder of the same 
 fact. In this locality the provident Governor caused buildings 
 for the accommodation of Parliament to be forthwith com- 
 menced, and here, doubtless, he would himself have met the 
 assembled Legislature in 1796, had his term of office been 
 prolonged. As it was, the discharge of that duty devolved on the 
 then Administrator of the Government, the Hon. Peter Russell, 
 who, in 1796 transferred the Government and all its appliances, 
 Parliament included, from Niagara to York, when the new 
 buildings were at once put to their proper use. 
 
 Niagara had never been intended to be the permanent 
 capital of the Province. All the arrangements for the residence 
 of the Governor there, and for the carrying on of his Govern- 
 ment there had been simply provisional and temporary. The 
 buildings here erected were those destroyed by the Americans 
 
52 
 
 CKNTENNIAI, PROCREDINGS A P TOKON TO. 
 
 in i8ij when York was taken possession of by them. As soon 
 as possible after the war, the Parliament Buildings were restored 
 on the same spot, but of larger dimensions than before and built 
 substantially of brick. These l)uildings I myself remember, 
 having more than once witnessed the opening of the House there 
 by Sir Peregrine Maitland, a holiday being allowed at the old 
 district grammar school for the purpose of enabling us boys to 
 be present at the pageant, a spectacle which of course made a 
 great impression. 
 
 1 remember very well the sensation created by the accidental 
 destruction of these buildings by fire at the close of the year 
 1824. After this Parliament shifted its ([uarters westward, 
 taking refuge for a while in the hospital buildings just west of 
 John Street, and then subsequently in the Court House near 
 Church Street, finding ;). permanent shelter at length in the 
 buildings which are now on the point of being vacated. ThesC 
 buildings were erected during the administration of Sir John 
 Colborne, and covered a large portion of a public scjuare which 
 had previously been known as Simcoe Place, and had been 
 intended in 1797 as a recreation ground for future citizens. 
 In that building the; Parliament of the United Provinces of 
 Upper and Lower Canada was for a time accommodated, and 
 therein 1 have heard Poulett Thomson deliver an official speech 
 from the Throne in the chamber appointed for the use of the 
 Upper House, but now utilized as the library. Mr. Poulett 
 Thomson was afterwards, it will l)e remembered, raised to the 
 peerage, and took his title from Sydenham in Kent, and Toronto 
 in Canada. 
 
 The Government and Parliament of Ontario have been very 
 generous in their grants for the celebration of the opening of the 
 first Parliament of Upper Canada at Niagara, September 17th, 
 1792. 
 
 t 
 
CKNTKNNIAI, I'KOCHICDI NC.S AT TOKONIO. 
 
 53 
 
 As chairman of the centennial committee, I have clone my 
 best in regulatinj^ the expenditure incurred at Niagara, in order 
 to save what I could for the purpose of securing something 
 permanent as a result, and we ha\e managed in this way to pay 
 for the bronze centennial medal, which 1 doubt not generations 
 hereafter will examine with interest, as also for the laying down 
 of a number of memorial boulder blocks marking historical sites 
 in Niagara and its vicinity, as also, for a monumental drinking 
 fountain in front of the Niagara Court House. 
 
 In regard to the expenditure here in Toronto 1 have been 
 equally desirous of saving something f(jr the purpose of securing 
 at all events one visible enduring relic of our centennial com- 
 memoration. I desire to say something to form the nucleus of 
 a fund for the erection of a statue in honour of the wise and far- 
 seeing first Governor of our Province, this statue to be placed 
 most appropriately (as I suppose all will agree) in front of this 
 noble pile, the successor and representative of the modest edifice 
 erected in 1793, eastward of Berkeley Street. I had hoped that 
 the formal marking out of a distinct site for this monument at a 
 certain distance immediately south of the main entrance might 
 have formed a part of the ceremonies of this day, and 1 have 
 reason to believe that this would have been the case had it been 
 decided how the grounds around the Parliament Buildings were 
 to be definitely laid out. In the meantime, I am anxious that 
 a fund for the monument should be created, and carefully 
 husbanded until some noble result shall be secured. 
 
 I look with envy, I must confess, on the good fortune of the 
 city of Brantford in its possession of that magnificent monumen- 
 tal group, which has been erected there in honour of the 
 Mohawk chieftain, Brant. I say that our first Governor, to 
 whom posterity and Canada at large owes so much, deserves to 
 
54 
 
 CKNTENNIAl. HKOCKEDINGS AT TORONTO. 
 
 be similarly honoured. Let a fund, however moderate, he 
 established for the accomplishment of this purpose and a fitting 
 site set apart in these grounds. I"'uture Parliaments will, I am 
 sure, be found liberally disposed towards the project until it can 
 be carried into effect on a becoming scale ; and the city of 
 Toronto itself, if properly approached both in respect t(j indi- 
 vidual citizens and the corporation, may be confidently expected 
 to be generously disposed towards some worthy monument in 
 honour of its first founder — emulating in this regard the citizens 
 of Montreal, who are at this moment so worthily engaged in 
 erecting a fitting monument to Maistmneuve, the originator of 
 that great commercial community. Of all monuments that may 
 be in contemplation for the adornment of our new and noble 
 Parliament Buildings here in Toronto, this to Simcoe should 
 certainly have the precedence. 
 
 Thk Lieutenant-Governor said : I am sure that I am 
 only voicing the opinion of every one in this vast assembly when 
 1 tender to the Rev. Dr. Scadding and the Committee which 
 had charge of these proceedings, hearty congratulations upon 
 the success which has attended their efforts. The addresses 
 we have heard from these gentlemen to-day have been eloquent, 
 instructive and interesting, and I am sure that every one of us 
 will go home and remember the lessons they teach — to revere 
 the past and to look to the future with hope ai>d confidence. 
 
 The National Anthem closed the proceedings. 
 

 
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STATlCMlvNT 
 
 TORONTO AND NIAGARA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. 
 
 REC F<: I I'TS. 
 
 r.S(j2. June 4. — Cheque Ontario Government Ui.ooo 00 
 
 July II. " I.incoln County 20000 
 
 19. " Welland County 100 00 
 
 Aug. 27. Cash, ^Tedals sold jG 00 
 
 Oct. 14. Cheque Ontario Government 1,000 00 
 
 I)ISi5URSE.MENTS. 
 
 Nia(;aka Ckntknnial Celekkation. 
 
 i8c)2. July 16.— Advertising #133^3 
 
 Lunching — Committee, Bands 
 
 and Guests 182 80 
 
 Memorial Fountain and Monu- 
 ments 148 50 
 
 Bands 172 50 
 
 Decorations 213 31 
 
 Firing Salute and Morse Feed . . 88 00 
 
 Lacrosse Match 41 00 
 
 Cab Hire 60 00 
 
 Centennial Medals '79 75 
 
 Reporting and other expenses .... 103 18 
 
 $1,322 89 
 
 Toronto Centennial Celebration. 
 
 1892. Sept. 17. — Platform and Seating $83 88 
 
 Bands 1 10 00 
 
 Cab Hire 175 00 
 
 Lithographing and Printing 83 25 
 
 Reporting and other expenses ... 65 33 
 
 Memorial Volume 107 00 
 
 624 46 
 
 Balance on hand 
 
 \VM. RENNIE, 
 
 Trctjsitrcr C. 
 
 ft2,JJt) 00 
 
 1.947 .^5 
 
 $388 6f 
 
 C. C. 
 
 I