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Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsqua ie document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■M «■■ REFORM GOVERNMENT <• • • I" THE DOMINIOi^. THE PIC -NIC SPEECHES DELIVERED IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO DURING THE SUMMER OF 1877, n Tin HON. A. MACKENZIE, PREMIER AND MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS HON. E BLAKE, PRESIDENT OP THE COUNCIL, HON. R. J. CARTWRIGHT, MINISTER OF FINANCF, HON. L. S. HUNTINGTON, POSTMASTER-GENERAL, and HON. D. MILLS, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR. Published In response to numerous Inquiries and susrgestions from all parts of tU» Dominion, by the Reform Association of the Province of Ontario; and prepared fo- ♦he Press by the Secretary, Mr. O. R Pattullo of the t/oodstock "Sentinel." * Vatanta . PRINTED BY THE GLOBE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1878. I ' ^ i iiii l>H> JF rrff 160670 !■ ' ^, t !• TABLE OF CONTENTS, PAQBS. KINGSTON, 1.13 Adebesses to Premier from Refomi AsRociation and Wcrking-mnn, - 1-2 Hon. a. Mackenzie, ----- . 2-13 FOREST, . . . ■ . . 13.35 Address to Premier from Reform Association, - - . . 14 Hon. L. S. Huntington, 14-16 HcN. A. Mackenzie, - - 17-35 NEWMARKET, 36.55 Hon. a. Mackenzie, - 36-44 Hon. R, J. Cartwrigut, -----... 44.55 UNIONVILLE 5604 Hon, a, Mackenzie, - - - 56-64 CLINTON, - - - - C5-79 Hon, L. S. IIuntinoton, - 65-69 Hon. a. Mack nzie, 69-79 FERGUS, - - - 80-106 Hon. R. J. Cartwrioht, . - 80-91 Hon. D. Mills, - 92-100 Ho;. A. Mackenzie, - . . . . . . - 100-106 COLBORNE, - - 107-119 Hon. R. J. CAa'fWRiGUT, 107-115 Hon. A'. Macxenzu', - . . . . . 116-119 ORANGEVILLE, 120-122 Hon. a. Mackenzie, - 120-121 Hon. L. S. Huntinoton - 121-122 BRAMPTON, • 122 124 Hon. a. MACKENf.it;. , . . - 122-124 77 9BS ^ IT. I'.AOKO. GALT, 124-125 Hon. a. Mackenzie 124-1 "25 Joseph Hymal, M.P., 12'» SIMCOE. 125-127 If ON. R. J. Cartwrioiit, 126-127 Hon. a. Maceenzie, 127 AYLMER, 127-133 Addt'ess to Premier from Young Men's Reform Club of St. Thomn.s, 1 37-1 28 Hon. R J. Cabtwrioht, - 128-133 TEESWATER, 134-151 Hon. E. Blake, 134-151 PORT ELGIN, 152 IGfi Hon. R. J. Cabtwrioht, - - - 152-1G6 WINDSOR, 167-179 Hon. D. Mills, 1G7-17S) I i !l ■Mi IS. IV\(JKA 124-125 124.125 125 125-127 126-127 127 127-133 127-128 128-133 134-151 134-151 152-1G<; 152-106 167-179 167-171) 1 THE DEMONSTRATION AT KINGSTON. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27th. Addresses Presented and the Premier's Reply. To the good oM Toiy City of Kini;ston is due the credit of holding the first of the spries of splenditl Demonstrations which ha vo mkun place in Ontario during the year in lionour of t)ie Reform fje:uter8, and nowhere co>ihl the reccj)tion accorded have bein warmer, or the succchs of tlie Demonstration nioru com{)li)to and gratifyini;. F'rom six to cigiit thousand jjcoplo wt-ro present, including, besides thos.- from the city, many well-known Reformers from the County of Frontenac and adjoining districts, east ami west. Upon tiie arrival of the two I'romicrH, a largo procession was formed on llayin.irket >S(iuare, and, accomjianiod by several bands, marched through the streets, which were gayly ami handsomely decorated, to the Crystal Palace, wluro the speaking took place. The cliair wiM occupied by an old Kingston Reformer, \Vm. Foiti), Esq., and ill addition to the spee(di of Mr. Mackenzie, addre.s.ses were delivered bj' the Hon. Messrs. Cautwuiuut, Mow.vr ami Haiidv, C(d. lloss, M. 1*., A. McNaub, M. I*., H. M. DiiuocHE, M. P. P., and Wm. IUjui.nhon, M. P. P. Mr. F. (tIldi;usi,k,kve road the following Address to the Premier on behalf of the Reformers of Kingston : — To the lion. A. ilackemie, Premifr, de. ; jTliu Ilefi)niiera of Kiniritton rejoioe to bid you A cordial welcome. Wo are pleased to see that notwithstanding your nmiiy and arduous labourii, your health, so unporlaht to the country, is uiiiuiiiaiied, and we tru.st il luiiy long be preserved with your services to us. It waH not to he 8ui>poscd that you or your Administration would be allowed to enter uixin the government ot the country in lS7a witlumt boini; niadu the objeut of altacit, liowever unju.stly, by tliose whom you hueccoded under eircumstanecs m disureditablo to them, animated by envy, and Muartin); under huniili.itinK dtfrr.t, liutfieU plans, and disappointetl ambition ; but wo n;;rot for the honour (f our country that these luifouinieil attacks have been continueil with painful iteration and increasliig virulence scMsion after session, wastin); the public tiiue, hinder- ing; the pro^cress of useful and necessary Ici^iaiation, and throatouin;; to discredit ]>arliamentary government in tho eyes of the people. Much a course is unpatriotic, and would only b-) resorted to by men Impelled more by (tersiuial aims tlian by a desire for tho welfare of their country. It also becomes hijfhly unpatriotic when wo consiiler the ditliculties these .. men left behind them, which had to bo disposed of by your Administration. Instead of seekiii); to einbartnss you, '\ they should have come to your assistance and to the aa:>istance of the country, tu help to overcome the ditliculties •_ they had created rather than to aifgravate tliem. We have no desire that the measures of the Oovernment should not be subjected to the fullest examination and discussion, nor do we for a moment underrate the importance and usefulness of an Opposition which discliarucs its functions fairly and within parliamentary and constitutional limits ; hut wo hold that the reputation of our public men is the pro|)crty of the country, which has a riiiht to complain when attempts are made to tarnish this without any proiwr cause or foundation for the slander. Wo are glad that those attempts have signally failed as they de- served, and that you still command the willinif and loyal support of a large majority of tho ))eoplo'3 representatives . in the House of Comniong and of tho neople thenischcs, and that the country still maintains a steady conlidence in yourself and your Administration, and will long hesitate before returning to tho former improvident reijitiie. Making a fair allowance for the fallibility ever attaihing to tlic must able and ticst men, we see nothing in your cireer or in your administration of the affairs of the country that in the slightest degree shakes our loyalty ami at tach- ' inent to ycmrself as the trusted representative of those great iwliticnl printi|>le9 professed by tlie Hcforin party, tho success of which principles has built up tho great Kmpiie of wiiich wo form apart, and has made its polity a guide to kbe nations. The countrj- knows the serious difflculties whidi you had to enoounter when you took office In 187.3— tlie unsatis- factory state of the public finances, tho improvident and impossible undertaking entered into with British Coliinibia by the preceding Uovenunent as to the I'a'-'iflo lUilway, hcsierty, whirh waa not iimlortakvii a day tnn eoun ; aiirt we nilvnt mention other evl- (It'iicoK of the interoRt you have inanifeittcd in our ani-lent I'lty, all entitling you and your cnllraffuea to a cordial re- ception at the liandi of KInipitoniaiiR, even irrpif>cctive of |M)liii('ii. In ronoiuaion, we thanic you and your colleaifnm present toracooptinK our invit^ttlon to ipenli to um on the more Important alTnir* of the country. We heartily welcome you here. Wo tender yon our ci>ntinuelitlcal conduct, and to publicly cxpresH their pride and trratiHcation at seeini^' two of the moat diitingulsheJ poaitlons In the Uondnion occupied by atuteamon whoao onrly liiHtorv la ao pleosimtly and honourably aasociated with that of tida city. Aa leudeni of the Liberal party, your public lives deaerve our com- mendation, diaplaying, aa they alwaya have, an carneat aolicitude for the welfare of the workiu); chiKaoH, ami devoted, as they ever have iwen, to the vindication of the principio of equ.il ri|;htH to all. We desire to here ai knuwled);e our thanki fur the riKhteoua Lion Law enacted by the proacnt Liberal Oovernincnt of Onlario, which baa proved a val- uable boon in proteotln); tho rlKhta of the builder and contractor from beiiiK trampled upon ai formerly. An extoiiaton of the Juat princlpica of thla law, lo aa to iheltor the workinKUian from the loaa of hia bard-eurned V»kc8, wovild iiorfect a piece of !ei;iHlatlon which fi a credit to the Lll>eral party, and proves the aincerity of its claims to be rei{i;rded as the true friend of the p jople. Aa workingmen, It la very tp-atiiylnfr and InspirlnK for us to be reminded, aa we arc on thla occasion by a irlance at tho p.'Wt, that the highest diatinction in the land is open to honest worth, and that no social barriers exiat amoni; ua to prevent anyone (|Ualifted in eliarncter and talents from aorvin/r <>ur respected Moverei;;n in the most lofty positions. Such rotlectlona are calculated to promote our loyalty to tho Crown and contentment with our country and its Institutions, and to assure us that we live in a commuidty really free, where workini^men are not a dcaplaed class, but where they can even aspire to control tho destinies of the Dominion. Though not insensible to the pressure causeri l)ear u|m)ii the prosperity of the country which ho has to ^;(ivorn. I'lidcr tlio most tav(iuralil<' circuiiiHtancfs any one would feel iieci'Msititeil ti> ask oocaMimially uut merely the indul;;cncfl but the forbcaram^e of friend and foe alike in a country like this. The Oovenunent AasoUed by Coiutant Abase. But since the day that my collcaRuen and I assuniod the reins of ollico we hav<> been met with one c'.ntinuous strain of coarHC and Bystcinatic ul ise, which ajipfars to huvo rcachrd its cnlminntin^ point at the mectinuH hold by the Conservative li>r.der8 tfiroii^lmnt the cnuiitry at the present iiionumt. (Hoar, lii'ar.) Hut, sir, I am not very much sur|)riscd at th.it, for I recollect very well the events which were developed in the earlier days of the tiistury of this country. Sir Jobn as the Champion of Civil and Rollglous Liberty. I Wf.} ttstonisuoil, however, to tind that Dr. 'rup])er, a few (•vcninjis a^;o, in pronouncii';; the hii.'he«t enlo^'iums upon his leader, Sir .Fohn Macdoiiald, called that lion, giiilloiiian the wi'll- known champion of civil and religions liberty. (Hear, hear.) Why, sir, in the presence of many grcy-haireil men, the hon. gentleman must have appeared as the pcr.^ioniticatioii )y teriaii and Metln list clergymen wiire sent to gaol because they dared to perform the ccremcdiy of marria^o ? (Hear, hear.) The hon. uentleman, who is now introduced to the public of Canada for the tirst time as the champion of civil and religions liberty, was one of the defenders of thatsy.stcm ; one of those who strove to perpetuate in our country the dominancy of a creed i( not of a race. (Hear, hear.) 1 spent my earliest days in the political agitation incident to these struggles ; luy lirnt political meetings were held in behalf of that cause which has been ridiculed by one of ita piin- cipal opponents being characterized as its champion. (Hear, hear.) Karly Struggle of Reformers for Equal Rights. Well do I remember the struggle we had in those days for our rights, and how at last, in December, 1847, we succeeded in electing that noble man, Robert Italdwin, with a bnnd of Reformers strong enough to place him in a position to become First Minister of the day, and settle once for all the question of religious equality, in spite of the oppo.sition of Sir ,lohn and his party. (Loud cheers. ) I know that in a young country like this, passing all'airs rajiidly shape themselves into history, public events fast recede from view, and the vast majority of those whom 1 now address had no part in the struL'glo to which I have referred, lint I refer to it now merely to say this : that the Reformers oi this v,ountry will remember — those who were not alive at that time by reading, and those who were alive by having been in tlie midst of these events — with gratitude that it was the great leaders of the lieform \inrty who lirst gav-e perfect civil and religious rights to the people of Canada. (Hear, hear, and cheers. ) It Las been asked what is tiia difference between the parties at the present moment. Party Organisation and Warfare. We are told by a certain claas — certainly not a very numerous or a very influential one — that there is no necessity for party organization in Canada, because all that 8e])arated parties in bygone times has beon settled ; that the questions that then divided us, now divide us no more. That no doubt is true to a certain extent ; and it is also true that the men who Hrst settled all these questions are the men who are most likely to administer the Ooveniment in accordance with the principles of those great measures which were disposed of by the Reform iiarty under Mr. Baldwin and his successors. And it becomes highly necessary that the party lines which separated the Conservatives and the Liberals in the olden times should continue to exist, althouoh I am far from saying that any political party can be justified in carrying party conflicts so far as to injure the prosperity or prospects of the country. Political warfare ought always to be respectable, and I can honestly say on behalf of those whom I lead, and I think I can also claim it for myself, that we have made every effort to make those party conflicts in which we havo been engaged as respectable and as moderate as it was possible to do. It is tiue we may have occasionally to speak pretty strongly of the conduct of our political opponents, but I have yet to learn that it is necessary in party battles to impugn the motives of political opponents, or t(» question their veracity, or to pour forth a stream of coarse abuse such as has been induli^ed in by that well-known gentleman. Dr. Tupper, and his associates, Mr. Wm. Macilougall and some others. Mr. Wm. MaodougalL Of William Macdougall I shall s.ty very little. I may refer to some things ho h:is said, not because thej' are worthy of attention on that account, but because Sir John Macdonald now vouches for him as one of his honest friends— one who enjoys with his chief the affections of the Conservotiv» party, and who must, therefore, be accepted as an authority by that party. For Mr. Macdougall's opinions I care very little, because I am not aware that I ever did anything to incur his good opinion. (Hear, hear, and laughter.^ I propose to-day to devote the short time which I have at my disposal — not to meeting all the charges indulged in by my opponents at late meetings in this city, nor the charges levelleil by the same gentlemen at other meetings, but I shall devote myself to a few particular points, and as I have to hold other five or six meetings within the next ten days, I shall devote a portion of my time at each meeting to r li IS K (leveloplni; Rtnteinonta whioh I conid not poMthly attoml to in ext^nio at any nno mnetinf; In the lir-.t pl.n'o, I nliall eiy ro,'iriliHj^ iJr. Tti|i|H)r vvlmt I luMrd of a ^{okiI old Motliodi«t Maying about n Horinon whioh ho had tho ^nod fortune to iicar preacliud many tiinen hy a cvrtuiu proacher — " lUoss tho Ijonl, thin is tho sixtonntli tiiiu> I've lioard it, and it just booiiih to inn the sHino (dd ncrinun, neither Imttcr nor worso. " (Lauglitcr. ) 1 don't, liowovor, ohjoct to a tiling bocaiiHu it in rtMieatod, am!, indoit>l, it is a rnattor of porfeut iudili'uronue to as whotliur Dr. Tuppur rcpuatH his Hpoochos sixtoun or twouty times. Dr. Tnpp«r'» "Fiusts." I havn simply to deal with his statomcnt of facts-yes, facts, wo will call them, for Sir John Maciloiiald carefully avovnd his opinion on tliu pliitform liurc in Kingston that everything that Dr. Tuppnr stated was a fact. (Laughter.) I buliovo ho is the only man in the Dominion who could have ventured on HO extensive a statement. (Ivoud laughtcrj However, we must take wliat wo gi't and bo thankful, (l,au^dlto^ ) It is one source of grHtdicatioii to us to know tliat after wo have been in ollicu for nearly four years those gentlemen nro unal)lo at this moment to bring a single statement to tho proof of all that thry insinuated rather than alleged against ua. (Cheers. ) Sir John Challenged to make good Ontalde Statements In Parliament. Last year, in addressing an audience in my own county, I told them that I shoidd challenge Sir John Macdonaid on tho floor of I'arliamont to make good his statements regarding me. I lost no time in fultillinij the promise I made, for I repeated tho offer the very lir.st day that the lIouMc mot. (Choors. ) [ ga/e the challenge threo sovoral times, but to this hour he has never taken it up. (Hear, hear, and clieera. ) lln allowed the whole session to pass, and never made a single attempt to i)rove his statements. I offered him a Committee and every facility for the examination of witnesses on oath, but the offer was not accepted, aud now the same stiile slanders are being repeated from county to county as if they had been eatabliHhcd by sworn evidence. Dr. Tupner states them as facts, and Sir John vouches for their correctness. I sup- pose I can only reiterate my challenge to these gentlemen to briiii; them up on the floor of rurliament. (Hear, hear.) |.\ voice : " Ho won't doit."] I don't lelieve ho will, but perliaps I may overcome his conscientious scruples by bringing thn matter up myself. How tho Tories left tho Conntry on their Retirement In 1873. Let me refer for a moment to the position in which thcHc gentlemen left tho country. Sir John .says that wo succeeded to office on his resii^nation in 1S7.'}, and he resigned, be says, be- cause ho doubted if he had a sutticient majority to cany on tho Government succesafully. .sir John simply resigned at tho last moment, bee:uiso he found that if he had gone to a vote he ■would have been defeated in a House of his own choosing, for many of the men elected under his own auspices withdrew their confidence, and would have voted him out of ollico on finding of what ho had been guilty. He hail not tho moral couraije to face a vot(!, and now he proclaims to tho country that he wa^ an ill-used man becau.io he whs obligetl to resign. Crisis of 1873 and Sir Hugh Allan's Monoy. I have been very much amused at the way in which tho lion, gentleman and his coUcaguea refer to the events of 187S, and to the circumstances whi(di were ])roved on oath by their own Btatemeuts as to the bribing of tho electors in the elections of 187-, and tho receipt of SlUiO.OOO of Sir Hugh Allan's money for tho direct purpose of corrupting tho electorate of this country. Why, sir, Dr. Tupper coolly talks of this as a misrepresentation, a mere misunderstanding, and Sir .lohn says he was defeated because of the circulation of foul slanders against his fair fame. So that it would seem that we are to be obliged to have another Uoyal Commission issued in order to show whether the evidence taken on oath by Sir John's own (Government was incorrect or not. It seems it was .ill a mistake to suppose that Sir Hugh Allan contributed money for the purpose of corrupting the electors. Sir Hugh's "Handsome Subscription." True, Dr. Tnppor says in one speech that Sir Hugh All.au gave a handsome subscription to the election fund, and Sir John received it in the same .sjdrit. That is the way in which the affair is H])oken of. I do not wish to say a single word disrespectful to Sir Hugh Allan ; but I believe if there is a business man in Canada who more than any other understands his own business, that man is Sir Hugh Allan, fie is a prosperous merchant, and has done a great dea of good to Canada in organizing his fine steamship line, and 1 wish him abundant success in thivt and his otluir enterprises. But I sincerely venture to hojir tliat ho will not mingle iir politics — at least 1 hope that he and Sir John will not mingle in jxilitas togctnor. (Hear, hear, and laughter. ) He is a Scotchman, a shrewd busiucss man, possessing many of the character- istics attributed to his typical fellow-countrymen. You have all heard the old slander which Dr. Johnson first uttered .against Scotchmen — thiit farthings were coined for the purpose of enabling them to contribute to charitable objects. (Laughter.) I don't believe that myself, (laughter), but I do believe that if there is a Scotchnuin in Can.ida who knows tho value of the farthing better than .another it is .Sir Hugh Allan ; and I don't think he was likely under the circumstances to give to Sir John and his colleagues a sum uearing §200,000, and to expend on his own hook — to use a somewhat vulgar phrase — SlCO.OCO more, merely to secure tho success of the Conservative party, as Dr. Tupper says. (Hear.) That gentleman calls it a handsome subscription, and asks : "Did not Jlr. Cameron, Mr. Cook, any a cerlniu III8 to mo the out to a tiling whothor L)r. , for Sir John crything that Joiiiiniou who A'e muBt tako to know that lid moment to ;u(l agaiu.tt ua. snt. ^uhl challenge anling niu. I t (lay thut the r he has never 1(1 never made acility (or the he same Rtale hcd by Bworn ;tui'S8. I 8up- r)n the Hocir of 11, but pcrliaps I country. Sir 1, he saya, be- cesafully. Sir ae to a vot(j lie 1 elected under llico on finding w he proclaims his colleagues by their own it of .?:«iO,000 this country. rstanding, and his fair fame. ssion issued in was incorrect ited money for nbscription to in which the Allan ; but I stands his own nc a great dea ant success in not mingle in (Hear, hear, the character- slander which the jiurpobc of that myself, 10 value of the •lely under the d to expend on urc the success it a handsome era spend Kirge r Hugh Allan's t a contract in I oonfipqiu tiro (if having contributed tJiat money. Wo have Sir llnLih Allan's own sworn evidence, in wlii.h ho Ntnt(M that In; eared nothing fur either of tlieiiolit iil lattionn htruggiing for the mastery in this eniintry, but he thought that .*«ir .lolin Macdonald mid Sir *Jeiirg(! Caitier were the men he shoulil deal with, so he courted them a.HHiiluously and made a h.Midsonio siibseritition to their ulertion fund. And njw- wo are told that it was all a niistukt, and that Sir .lohn \lac- donald was ejeeled Irom ollice beeauRO of foul slanderi. I hear hoiiio oiio in the audience n\y that that story is worn out. 1 don't think it is. (Hear, hear.) it will never be worn out while t'anrida has a history; au I it wdl be a black day for this country if it is ever worn out (llear, hear.) Tho "Paolflo Scandal" Boforred to because the Tories Justify It Now. Not tliat I idlach any iinport-ince to it as .in eleetioiieeriiig element ; not that I meant to refer to it at ail of my own accorii, had not these niep, after eonimitting a great piililie erinio, attrmi>ted to justify it in tho light of day at tho present moment If tliey will not h.'t it rest, if that shockiu" politica! crime is to bo rcsurrreted by th(! sauH- men who hai! jierpetrated it, \vc shall certainly evaniiiie thv> ekeiuton and trace its hi."tory, (Hear, hear.) The lion, gentleman seems to think that bccausi. tho present Administration have dillieulties to contend with wlii li would task tho ener^;ie8 of an.' Movcrnmont— diiliculti(!s which were left to ua as legacies by our predecessors, and which it has been impossible fully to ovi rcoino -that it is fair and honest in iiini to use all the oll'ensivo weapons which hav(! been used in order to east discredit on the Ad- iniiiistration of the country. Dlfflcultles In the Way of the lAboral Govommont. When we as.Mumeil otllcu wo did so when a hi '. cloud wan hanging over tho country, oiio which obscured tho fair fame of Canaaa in sight of « v ci\ ili/.ed nation, and was watched alike by the people of Kngland and the United States as bi i nging peculiarly to the people of ( 'anada. It rested with the new AdminiHtrution to dispel th .t cloud, and iiidueu the jicojile of {lu- rnited States and Europe to believe that all the pubVc men of ('anada w^u not tainted >v'ili tho same sordid and corrupt motives which led to the ' iiniasioii of th.'it great crime. (Cheers.) Sir Jinn's Prospf rltyi Wo had to contend with other dithclties at tli' 1. iin. Tho hon. gentleman chi'ins for him- self, in ono of his recent spec hes, that while he r'' ^n.- i pe;ioc, prospeiity, and loyalty prevailed all over the Dominion. Why, sir, when we c-^ nc in j otiioe we found a rebellion at H"d Wiver harelv of i'.ion to .send a deputation to England with full power to close negotiations for the purchase of one-third of tlio American conti- nent as an otTscl. Wo have Mr. Macdougivll's evidence to show that these people wery altogether opposed to this act ; and we have also his own testimony to the fact that he was sent out there merely to enable the Government to get rid of him. He says : " As to the fact itself — in spite of your dis- loyal intrigues and the ' parish ])olitics ' of your allies in the East ; in spite of Jesuitical plots in the North-west and Ministerial conniv.ance and imbecility at the Capital ;" an .1 so on. 1 give you this eviclencc to show you that instead of the country being at rest, it was in a state of tur- moil ; that instead of these men being entitled to 'oe classed a.s super-loyal, they imbrued the country not merely in financial dithculties, but in political dittioulties of the gra.cst possible character; that instead of seeking to open up the North-we.st, they ojiposed it. \Vhen we came into oHice we found these great (piestions unsettled. Wo were obliged to maintain a reginii nt of soldiers in Manitoba to l;ce]) the people ipiict In th<; east there was a strong feeling of discontent. There were everywhere indications of a war of races and interests. And lb Hi ' iilC I II lli '. Ill I I ,|l 6 v/o liad not meiely to deal with all those difTicult questions, but wo lia'l to punish the guilty, and at the same time to do it in such a iiiaiiiiei- as would sIkiw to tliy the half-breeds of tiie North-west at the organization of the territory created a dcei), strong feeling of synipatliy among the Fieneh Catholics of Lower Canada. They believed that Riel was a victim, and to some extent that was true. Bu+ liiel and his fiicuds had to be t.iught that they had not merely violated the law of the land in taking posse.s.sion of the governn)ent of any portion of thi- country, but had violated it in unlawfully and feloniously taking the life of one of Her .Majesty's subjeets. The Stuin on Canada's Honour to bo Effaced by tbe Now Adminibtration. All these matters liiul to be dealt with Ijy the incoming Government ; and when wo consider that along with these diiliculties we had to contend with the eti'ects of the.se men's great political crime, in its bearing on our financial position, immigration, and otlierwise, to speak to the rest ot ihe world and nKiintain the fair fame of Canada, I think 1 can claim that wo pursued as moderate a course as it wa:- possil)le to do, and that onr succe.-s has been beyond our expecta- tions. (Hear, hear.) We have never given any provocation to our opponents to pursue their present course. The Pacidc Scandal Debate in 1873.- Evidence of Moderation of Liberals. 1 ask any man at this daj- to read my spieth in which 1 indicted Sir John Macdonald and his Qoveiiiinent, and say if anything could have been done more temperately and moderatidy. And as that was true of my own speech, so was it of the speeches of every member on the Oi)position side of the House. We felt tliat a grave crisis in the history of our country had conic, and that while taking action strongly as party men, it was also our duty, in view of the great interests at stake, that tliis should be done in as dignified and as beconnng a, manner as might be witnessed in a court of justice. (Hear, hear. ) After we assumed office ourselves, I ask any one to examine the record of our speeches and our motions in Parliament, and our course generally in regard to matters which our predecessors left in such frightful confusion, and say whether it was possible to adopt a more moderate course tl'.an we adojjted. Tho Alleged "Midnight Attack," L e. the Elections of 1874. I am accused among other things of having made a midnight attack, as they call it, when I advised the Governor-Genei-al to dissolve Parliament in 1S72. Does any man, be he friend or foe, imagine that I was such an idiot as to go on with the business of the country with a Par- liament elected under the auspices of Sir Hugh Allan's money and its corrupting influence ? It is true I had promises of support from a majrrity even of that Parliament ; it is true we might have gone on for a short time ; but I had a vivid recoUection of the folly perpetrated by S.indfield Macdonald, in 1862, in accepting the very same counsel, which led to the defeat of his Government, when my honour" ble friend beliind me fell with them. We apjiealed to the countrj' in a proper and eonsiii,utional spirit. 1 addressed the electors, pointing out to them the course intended to be adopt'^d by the Government. The Election Law anticipated by having Elections all on One Day. 1 told tlicm that when the 'Touse met it was our intention to have an election law passed which would make it imperative on all Governments for the future to have all the elections held on one day. In order to be perfectly consistent — though we are bound by no law, and might have kept the elections of Sir John and others dangling for weeks, as they did mine in 1872— we ordered that all elections in the Dominion should be held on one day except in Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and Algoma, which could not be readied in time to allow it. Thus we took the earliest possible opportunity of putting our long-advocated opinions into practice, without resorting to the device that we would wait for a law. We made a law for ourselves, and bound ourselves by the jjrinciples we formerly advocated. The result of that policy, giving every num who was a candidate the utmost possible chance of attending to his con- stituency wi+liout having candidates from other constituencies to annoy him, was that we succeeded in obtaining a vast majoritj' in the House. The Liberal Majority in the House. Talking of majorities— by the way, tha hon. gentleman has stated in several meetings that our majority was 102, aiul tliat it was now reduced to 41. That is a pretty tall statement — (lau;;liter) — but I sujipose, like all tho others, it is what some people at least would call a fact. The truth is that on no division did we ever have a majority exceeding 76, and in the last ses- sion our highest majority, in consequence of the sickness of a number of our friends, was only 52. It is also true that they gained altogether thirteen seats, while wo gained four from them since the general election of 1874. Any one can form a judgment for himself of the accuracy of the hon. gentleman in that particular statement. But, sir, it is perhaps time that ] should advert to some of the matters which aft'ect public opinion more or less at tho present time as to our policy. .^ Pacific Railway Policy. And first with regard to the charges made concerning the Pacific Railway. I am accused by these gentlemen of having changed my policy in regard to that road since 1 assumed office in the Administration. They say that 1 formerly proposed to build it in a certain way, lam \ the guilty, ;eii thu jiart atiiig a hos- -west at the tlie Kronch Jilt that was 1 the law of had violated ion. wo consider rcat political i to the rest s pursued as our expecta- pursue their als. onald and his ratcly. And le Opposition >inc, and that rent interests • as might be I ask any one irse generally say whether 3all it, when 1 lie friend or with a I'ar- ng iuflui-nce ? it is true we )orpetrated by the defeat of lealed to the out to them )n law passed elections held iw, and might nine in 1872 — Cape Breton, it. Thus we into practice, for ourselves, that policy, ig to his con- was, that we meetings that dl statement— uld call a fact, tlie List si's- |ir friends, was ncd four from himself of the haps time that at the present am accused by unied office in ia way. I am ■■i content if we can build it in any way. We were left with a legacy in our hands in the shape of a promise made to British Columbia that they should build the Pacific Railway within tea years that it should he commenced witliin two years and finished within ttn— and we have been obliged to deal with the discontent in that Province consefjuent upon the impossibility of fulfilling the rash promises made by our predecessors in office. We have acted on the prin- ciple of obtaining any mode of progression by which we cm at once satisfy the determination of the people of the rest of the Dominion that we should only proceeod iotentiona when I can." So it seems that we had the best intentiora at the time, and that good, generous, and dis- interested politician, Dr. Tupper, was willing to cok'sider that we had done the best we could. Tories Impatient at tbe Prolor^ed Life of Uberals. One session of Parliament passed away, and a .second, and a third. Why, sir, the Conserva* tives supposed in 1873 that we were quite incapable of governing this country at all ; they said we would not be in office three months. It was only Conservatives who were entitled to govern thw country— only they who were capable of governing it. Bometblng most Vie Done. But when they found that we were passing through session after session with almost nn- dimmished strength and activity, they began to think that something must be done, as the time for a general election was approaching, and charges must be made if they could not be found ; and that was the origin of the infamous charge about the steel rails, which, like most of the others, was insinuated rather than made. > Dlreot Cbarges Scarce. In fact there never was a direct charge made except in <>ne case, and that was that I had given information in advance to a reUtive of my own regarding the tariff on tubing. » I IK r ill 1 KM 1 11(1 I- •»! I Mi 8 Tbo Way to Moot them. I prosecutofl on the instant the publisher of the newsipajjer who made that charee, nnd the result W!i8 tlic pM-miting of a rule for the issue of a criminal information for libel. If the good and >,-onorouH lir. 'ru[)i)or is anxious to make a direct and speeitio charge against me on that matter, or on otiicrs of the kind, let him just imitate the conduct of that publisher, and he shall jwoniptly be afforded the very same opportunity of proving them. Acting in the Public Interest only. I then stilted, as I do now, that the Clovernment acted entirely in the public interest ; that thoy had no purpose to serve either for themselves or for any one of their friends or neighbours. Frnin the day we took office to the present hour there has been notliing of the kind upon which any one of our opponents can lay his linger ; we challenge the fullest investigation, eitlier before a Court of .lustico or a Parliamentary Committee. (Loud cheers. ) It was alleged that a brother of my own was a partner of one of the parties who tendered for a contract for some of tliese steel r;ul3. Now, even if that had been true, there was no harm in that. (Hear, hear.) A >irotlier or any other relative has just as good a right to tender for a public contract as any one else, provided the tender is fair, square and open. (Hear, hoar.) In this case public no- tice was given, and a large number of tenders were received. The lowest was acceiited in every instance ; but i state as a matter of fact that it was a deliberate falsehood to assert tlnat any brother, relation or connection of mine, had any intere.-*t or share in a contract, or an agency for H contract, or anything else of the kind. (Cheers.) I challenge them to take a Connnittee and have witnesses examined on oath to find whether or not 1 am speaking the truth. (Cheers.) Tories Decline a Committee. That, sir, is the cowardly manner in which they enden.voiir to stab the reputation of public men, while they dare not venture on an examination where witnesses could be placed on oath. And yet this story has been bruited abroad from door to door, and from one Conservative gathering to another — in fact, it seems that these people have come to the conclusion that if they are ever to reach office at all it is to be by pursuing throughout the country a course of systematic slander, .)y stabfiing indiscriminately at the reputations of all who stand opposed to their progress. But this is by no means a new system of tactics with them. Slander an Old Habit. I recollect that in 18o4 Sir John Macdonald one day said of Sir Francis Hincks that he was steeped to the lips in corruption, and the next day joined with him in a new political combina- tion. Thoy persistently abuse the character of men who have at least borne their share in the political struggles and the progress of the country equally with Sir John Macdonald and those who are engaged with him in this disgraceful work. I shall say no more on that head, although I have abundant testimony at hand at any time, if the matter should be brought up, to prove the absolute accuracy of my stateipents. Progress in Getting Balls on the Line of Railway. I merely say in relution to the prosecution of this great work, the Pacific Railway, that with all the industry we could exhibit, and every exertion that we could make to push that work, it has taken us all our time to have 15,000 tons of rails carried into the Province of Manitoba. M'e have fifty miles laid with rails, and we expect in the course of three months to have 130 miles more ready for the rails. We have used 11,000 or 12,000 tons of these rails in finishing the laying of steel rails on the Intercolonial, which was required in the public service. Dr, Tupper told us a few days ago that he was going to carry the war into Africa. Well, I shall anticipate him a little in that respect, and carry the war some little distance into his Africa. The Tory and Liberal Bail-Buying Contrasted. It may be interesting that we should give you a little information about the manner in which rails were bought by the late Adminis' ;ation. We have never bought a single ton except by public tender ; we have never on any occasion allowed a single person connected with the Government to proKt one dollar by any of these transactions. Now, in the last few months these gentlemen were in office they purchased without tender no less than 6,000 tons of steel rails through a brother-in-law of a Minister, who got two and one-half per cent, for his share. He presented fal.se invoices, which revealed on examination that he had got not merely his percentage, but had charged nearly £\ a ton more than he had paid for them to the manulacturers. We com- menced an action in order to recover the amount f)f difl'erenee between what he had paid and what he had charged the Government, and a judgment was recorded in our favour, and against this brother-in-law of the then Minister, for £4,000 sterling. Another suit is now pending, and there is no doubt that we shall recover a further sum of £5,000 on these transactions, which took place just before we went into office. Comparing Prices of Rails. They paid for rails when they were delivered on the Intercolonial an average of $85 5.3, the rails being of the vcrj' same quality as we bought a few months afterwards for ^.''>4 GO delivered in Montreal. In fact, we were receiving on the Intercolonial rails for which they had pai_of $85 53, the r)4 GO delivered y had paid .'?85 And yet these iiiipr()i)riety in doubt tlicy are Viv would luive itely necessary that we flliould have the rails at that time, nnd il)# quantity I havp naiikod would fully represent the whole saving wo could have effected, liut it we were blatnoable at all, it wjim Kiiii])ly liccause we exercised a wiee foresiijht in endeavouring to aeoure far the public the advantages of what wo honestly believed to be the lowest prices wo couhl obtain. If we hiid takiu their jilan, and employed a near connection of a member of the (Jovemmcnt, and allowed him to pay what prices he pleased, and then, after allowing him two and a half p';r cent, eonimiss-ion, had given nim a haiicNome advance on first cost, we siiouLl certainly have deserved the execration of the public. This wa.s what was d»ne by our accusers. (Hear, hear.) I don't believe there are five hundred Reformers in the country — I don't believe there is one -who would justify a transai tii'ii of that sort if perpetrated by those whom he liad helped to place in power. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The Contraot System Contrasted nnder Tory and Liberal Rule. W^e have endeavoured to the utmost of our power to place tlio eoiitract Hystcin on a sounder and better footing than ever it was before ; and when I mention the simple tact that out of uineteen millions tendered for, some sixteen millions worth of contracts were awiirded by us to the lov^est tenderer, while the late Government awarded less than one-third to the lowest, you will be able to judge of the practical results of our efiorts to reform the system of awarding contracts. (Cheers). I don't say that the late Government gave out contracts corruptly, I c- cause I do not know they did so; I merely give these fa^'ta, which, if they had just been reversal and tested by their suspicious minds, would have formed the groundwork for innumerable charges or insinuations of corruption. (Hear, hear.) 1 shall now refer for a few minutes to the taxation of the country. Our Taxation. I do not intend to trench on the province of my hnuonrahle friend the Finance Minister, who will take an opportunity of dealing with these subjects ni rxtcnsu, and in suehawaya.-! to leave nothing to be desired in that direction. I have merely to present a few figures relating to one particular year of our term of office, and one year of theirs, in order to show who has been extravagant and who has not, and to meet by one simple e ateiuent from the Public Accounta the mijrepvesentations on this subject to which we are subjected. You have been told by Dr. Tupper and Sir John Macdonald that the present Government have increased the expenditure of the country to a much greater extent than they would have done, or than they did during their season of power. Expenditure In 1867-8. When I tell you that the entire annual expenditure when they took ofKce was $13,fiS7,02S, and that in the last year in which they were in power, viz., 187.'J-4, it h.ad reached .SL*.'J,3l(vU6 75 — an increase of nearly ten millions in six years — you will see who suiT'ermost by eoiiipanson. Now, in order to make a fair comparison, let us deduct from the total expenditure of ]S7.'i-4, viz., S2.'J,31(),316 75, the abnormal expenditures, or exceptional payments of that year. Tiiey are as follows :— Mounted Police, §199,590 14; North-west organiyatioii, S12,2G2 41 ; boundaiy survey in the North-west, 870,293 O'O ; boundary survey in Ontario, $2,430 ; military stores, $144,906 ; Customs refunds former years, $69,330 02 ; interest on debt over 1872 3, ^515,230 34; charges on management (increase), StJ5,022 46; Total, §1,087,973 97. Deducting tliis aggregate from the total expenditures, we have §22,228,132 78 as the total normal expenditure for that year. Our expenditure for the last complete year of our term of olhce, 1875-76, was $24,488,372 11. Deducting the same exceptional items as before, viz.. Mounted Police, §369,- §518 39; boundary survey. North-west, §134,105 18; settlers' relief, Manitoba, §83,405 80; and interest on debt over 1S72-3, §1,191,697; in all §1,778,726 37, and we have a total normal exjien- diture on the .same items of §22,709,645 74. In order to get the actual normal expenditure for that year we mast also deduct the following items of abnormal expenditure : — Insurance inspec- tion, §8,032 91 ; Indian grants over 1873-74, $130,166 69 ; sinking fund over 1873-74, §309,- 033 ; weights and measures (new), $99,785 05 ; inspection of staples (new^j, §.■(37 72 ; adultera- tion of foof the great Pacilic Scandal iniquity, Mr. A. B. Foster, a Senator, was supposed to know a great deal about it. It was known that he <;on- dcmned the transaction, and that he was a railway contractor, engaged extensively in this branch of business, and it is now alleged that the Government gave him the contract for the Georgian Bay branch as a particular favour, to enable him to recover his shattered fortunes. It is also alleged that we afterwards took the contract oil' his hands, and p.iid him back improperly the money he had deposited as security, and that in doing so we did an unprecedented act. It is also alleged that we agreed to lend him a certain quantity of rails, and that these have not been paid for or returned, ^'ow, with regard to the tirst allegation, I may say that the con- tract for the Georgian Bay branch of the Paciric Railway was duly advertised in the public press. Lowest Tenderer Received Contract. Mr. Munson was the lowest tenderer ; but he assigned his contract to Mr. Foster, whom we ■^cepted as the assignee of the lowest tenderer. Canada Central Subsidy. At the same time we granted a subsidy of 812,000 per mile for 120 miles of the Canada Central Railway, extending froin the vicinity of Douglas towards Georgian Bay, the eastern terminus of the section for which Mr. Munson had tendered. It was evident that the surveys of the Canada Central Company could be made more cheaply and better if the same party had the contract for both roads, as a connection had to be made. Tho Canada Central Company ga.\e their contract to Mr. Foster, who, as I have stated, had the contract from us for the S.") miles which we were to buUd. The countrj^ proved to be much more ditlicult in way of railway construction than Mr. Foster had anticipated at the time he took the contract ; and ho asked ■ lor a revision of the terms of the contract, which the Government were unwilling to grant. Georgian Bay Contract Annulled. Hut when he found that he w.as not likely to proceed with the work as expeditiously as We could anada were .standing gazing in each other's ta .es, ready to leap at each other's throats. A terrible state of all'airs truly ! I was in public life at the time, and I never knew of tliis horrible condition of tliint;s until I heard of it fr-"" him. I do know that on the 14th of April, 18f)4, Sir .Fohn Macdonalil voted tliat there were lao ^insti- tutional changes needed, and that on the very next day his Government was ilefeated, and tlien he saw chan>,'es were needed. (Cheers and laughter.) Why did he so suddenly tiiscover the necessity of constitutional changes ? Hon. George Bro\/n and the Liberals in 1861. It was because Mr. George BroM'n, the leader of the Liberal party, said, "Oentlemen, you may keep your places in the Government if you like. We have a m,)jority in Parliament ; we have defeated you ; but we aie willing to let you remain in your phiees if you only give us the constitutional changes that you said yesterday weie not needed." .*>ir .Jolin and his friends saw the necessity for constitutional changes with astonishing rapidity — (lau:.'hter) — in fact, they would have given an unlimited number of changes if they were only allowed to remain in power. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) 1 have known him and his followers to do worse things than that. Old Trloks of the Present Opposition. I have been long enough in public life in Canada to know that when Lord Eli;in, one of the noblest and best of our (Joveinors — (cheers) — took a manly course in sustaining his constitu- tional advisers, these gentlemen hoisted the black Hag at Brockville, tiieir mob in London julted him with rotteu eggs, and in Montreal they burned the Parliament Luildings. Wo might have known in 1804, when we defeated them, that something of the same sort would be done aijain, and Mr. George Brown told them, " Don't be afraid ; you will get your pl.u-es. We want our principles carried out in the Government, and if you are willing to be our tools in that, as you have been in everything else in the legislation of the country, we would vote to sustain you in place and power." They did it; and Sir John Macdonald, in violation of his declaration tlie day before that no constitutional changes were needed, determined to carry out those changes known as Confederation. Now he says he did it all. (Hear, hear, and laughter." He must surely supimse, that people are lo.sing their memories ; that tht whole history of the p.ist was blotted out on the 1st of July, 18()7 ; that on that day not only was Confe'leration inaugurateil, but everything else swept away which could bring to the memories of any one the events that transpired a few years before. Such are the men who constitute Her Majesty's Loyal <)ppo.«i- tion ; 8U( h are they who will constitute Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition aftei' the next general election '-. this country. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) heir tactics twenty ife by the grossest I say to them, lall fall harmlessly with you." !Si: commanded a ni.i senteu a retrograde ^S- I X J 1411 h \ , i«j M THE DEMONSTRATION AT FOREST. FRIDAY, JUNE 29th. Speeches by Hon. Messrs. HuiUington and Mackenzie. Demonstration to the Premier by his own constituents of the County of Lambton was the village of Forest. The attendance numbered fully ten thousand, every section of The Demonstration held in the county contributing its quota, and many prominent lieforiiiers were present from neighbour- ing Ridings. Upon their arrival from Sarnia, where they had been wannly welcomed the niglit before, the Premier and party were met at the station by a largo concourse of friends, and an immense procession of carriages and pedestrians followed tliem to the pic-nic grounds. The speaking, which commenced immediately after dinner, was interfered with by a very heavy sbower of rain, which continued to fall at intervals during the whole afternoon. Nevertheless, a large proportion of the vast assemblage demonstrated their ardour in the Reform cause and their high appreciation of the speeches delivered by waiting until the close. The chair was occupied by Mr. Wm. McGregor, President West Lambton Reform Association, and besides the Premier and Postmaster-Oeneral, the Hon. T. B.Pardee, M.P.P., 0. W. Ross, M.l'., and T. Oliver, M.P., spoke briefly, the Hon. A. S. Hardy being prevented from tloing so by indisposition. The Cuaihman briefly addressed the meeting, and then called upon Mr. Campbel', Secre- tary of the East Lambton Reform Association, to read the following Address, which may be taken as a sample of the many Addrcs.sos of wclcomo and confidence presented to the Premier and his colleagues at subsequent Demonstrations ; — To the Honourable Alexander Mackenzie, 31. P., ifrc: HoiiouKED Sir, — Wo the Reformers of Lambton, with ahiffh appreciation of j-our sterling worth and uprightness aa a man, and your ability as Premier of this rominion, cordially welcome you here to-day. Via have long, with pride and admiration, marked your political carter ; and having had the honour of first callln,' you into public life, with heartfelt joy we congratulate you on the name, fame, and position you have achieved for yourself, and the lustre you have reflected on the constituency which you represent. Kecreant, indeed, would the Kefonners of Lambton be to every nobler impulse of the soul If, after faithful service done, with a devotion to principle, unwearied toil, and integrity and purity of purpose unsurpassed by any public man in Canada, they would not now rally round you as they do here to-day, to do you honour. Then, on behalf of those assembled here, not from blind party zeal, but in behalf of the enlightened intelligence of men who read, think, and judge, we tender you the cordial sympathy, the unflipching support, the confidence, and the gratitude of the Reformers of Lambton. May a kind Providence long preserve you in health of body and vigour of mind, to guide the affairs of State, as you have hitherto done, with wisdom, zeal, and efficiency ; and, invincible in the consciousness of duty performed aright, the shafts of malice and detraction will fall hamilcsa at your feet, and your name, enrolled amidst the good and the true, be handed down untarnished to future generations. It gratifies us to believe that your colleagues in the Government are equally deserving with yourself of the con- fidence and esteem of the people, and we cordially welcome to-day those of ihem who have kindly accompanied you. With the best wishes for the happiness of yourself and yotu worthy partner in life, again we cordially welcome Km. Signed on behalf of the Reformers of East Lambton, Forest, June 29, 1877. A. McGregor, President. D. J. CAJlPUIiLL, Secretary. Mr. A. McEvoY next read an Address similar to the above on behalf of the Weat Middlesex Reform Association, to both of which Mr. Mackenzie responded briefly. SPEECH OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. Hon. Mr. Huntington was introduced and was received with loud cheers. After some in- troductory observations, he said that he had been represented by some people as a very selfish politician, and whether that was true or not, he certainly felt his selfishness rising a little to- day when he saw that the electors of Lambton appeared to consider that they had a monopoly in their appreciation of the Prime Minister of Canada. It was true that they had brought him into public life, and had given him an opportunity on the floor of Parliament to show what werenia marvellous powers of speech and intellect. But he (Mr. Huntington), and others who had entered Parliament with Mr. Mackenzie.and were, like himsfilf, young men, had chosen him as their leader — had placed him in such a position that when the Reform party went to victory he must be the champion of their rights, and have an opportunity of exercising those abilities I 16 REST. ackenzie. >f Lambton was jvery section of From ncighbour- iomeil tliu night friends, and an grounds. The y a very heavy Nevertheless, form cause and The chair was on, and besides loss, M.l'., and m doing so by Jampbel', Secre- which may be L to the Premier th Atid uprlghtneu the honour of first poaitioii you have ul If, after faithful )3e unsurpassed by honour. Mencd intelliifcnce art, the conndence, affairs of State, as of duty performed ad amidst the good yourself of the con- ' accompanied you. cordially welcome resident. , Secretary. West Middlesex After some in- IS a very selfish ising a little to- lad a monopoly id brought him t to show what and others who id chosen him a« it to victory he those abilities which to-day mad a the pp )iilo of Lainbtnn so iiiMud of him, that lionfsty which made tlictii honour him, aiiil thnso stcrliii;.,' ijualitios wiiich wont ti) make u)! the iiead ami heart of a Iciid- in^r pulilic man, and iiad given him such a liold up(m tlio all'eotions of the Canadian people gone- rally. (Loud clieers.) He went on to say, regarding ilic unwillingness of the (Jonservative leaders to hear anything of the chaigi-.s establislied against thom last session, tliat if, as they averred, there was nothing wrong in these transactions, tlienthoy need scarcely lie so sensitive as to any- thing that was said regarding them ; and if there was wrong-doing, the guilty parties were scarcely those who should presume to tender advice as to how much or how little should bo said of it. In allusion to a remark of the Chairman, he said that it was not tiie fault of the I!o- form party that the Pacific Scandal was alludeper had been duly ap- pointed Sir .John's successor. It was an ill wind that blew nobody good, and if Nova Scotia was to furnish the leader, they in Quebec wished her God speed, especially as they would tlius escape a greater evil. (Hear, hear.) They knew the Doctor's peculiar manner of dealing with facts ; his high appreciation of the intelligence of his audiences ; still, if he was just the kind of a Tory out oT whom to make a worthy successor to Sir .John Macdonald — if that was the kind of a man the Conservatives of Ontario desired to see at the head of their party, they in Qucliec were willing to accept the situation, devoutly thankful that a worse thing had not befallen them. (Laughter.) There was something very strange to Iteformers in the way in which tlieir Conservative friends set about choosing a leader. Keformers would consider it necessary iu such a case to consult the rank and file of the party to some extent before taking so important a step, but Sir John Macdonald, Dr. Tupper, and Mr. William Macdougall settled the whole matter for their party. Mr. Macdougall and the Purchase of Political Support. He then referred to the controversy in the newspapers as to Mr. Jlacdougall's right to a seat in the Local Legislature, and said that in one of his letters Mr. Macdougall had related part of a conversation which had taken place regarding Mr. Miicdougall's possible entrance into publio life between him and a member of the Cabinet shortly after Mr. Macdougall's return from Europe. Whatever reasons might have existed against publishing in the newspapers a private conversation, Mr. Macdougall could not very well find fault, as he had been the Hrst to make the conversation public. He (Mr. Huntington) happened to know what recollection the member of the Fetleral Government referred to had concerning that conversation, and that it was in some respects quite different from the account given by Mr. Macdougall ; though that gentleman's story of it had a foundation in fact, it was considerably garnished. Mr. Macdougall had stated on that occasion that he did not quite see his way to act witii either political party, yet that in view of the fact that he was pressed by his friends to enter political life, he might feel disposed to go on one side or the other according as the principles tney advocated suited him, but that ^v he never would support a party led by Sir John Macdonald. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Hunting- ;• ton) was not there to say whether or not Mr. Macdougall was right after that declaration in en- rolling himself as a follower of Sir John Macdonald, but it was quite certain that he was not always so ready to follow that gentleman's leadership as ho now appeared to be. Dr. Tupper at one of his meetings had stated that certain contracts had been given to Mr. b'oster on account of political favour, and that he had gone over because his financial position was shaky.V He (Mr. Huntington) would like to ask that gentleman if he was prepared to apply that rule to the Con- h servative party, and say that every man who crossed the floo'- to that party did so because his- financial position was shaky ! (Hear, hear.) Was he prepared to ap)jly it to the case of Mr. Wm. Macdougall, or to that of Joseph Howe, or to the multitudes from Nova Scotia who, .accord- ing to his own prediction, will be found supporting him at next general election ? He (Mr. m 'H :a I 10 Huntington) was not charging that thoxu wn-i' < jinch of nnlo and |iuro])aao, but he simply wished ♦ <> show that Dr. Tuiipor'a rulu wmild work Imtli ways. Olfar, lii.jir.) J Conaorvativo Stylo of Worforo. llo wished to refer briefly to tlio stylo of attack which liad lieon the rule in the Conncrvativn fiio-nioH licld througlidut the country. It liad been a war of uciinioiiy and )>itter Hlaiider, and lad befiii carrief wiped out. If such a thing as a standard of political morality be admitted at all, tlion to hold up our public men and say that Sir John is as griod as any of them Would be to pronounce the severest censure that could be passed upon them. Nortbom Railway and Sooret Service Dlaclosures. He then referred briefly to the Northern Railway and .Secret Service disclosures, and said that the Conservative leaders averred that the members of the Government were thieves and robbers, but they did not prove it ; while the Reformers had charged them with public robbery, and had proved their charges. Keferring to a remark made by a man in the audience with reference to the charges made against hmiself by the Conservatives, Mr. Huntington said that when dealing with political questions he never defended himself from attacks relating to his own private aiTairs. However, he might say, without being accused of blowing his own trumpet, that he had been connected with large interests in his own Province, and had had heavy trans- actions with bankers and financial men, and up to 1873 no word of reproach against his personal honour had ever been breathed. (Loud cheers.) The first insinuation had been made in Parliament by Sir John himself, and he (Mr. Huntington) had had uo hesitation in asserting that up to that time any one wlui had made the accusatiou against him to any of the bankers or financial men with whom he had been dealing, and had represented him as having dealt dis- honestly or unfairly with them, would have been spat upon by those to whom he made the accusation. He was able ami willing to wait events, and to leave it to the people of this country to say whether these charges were true or were parts of a policy of slander, and the etiects of events which took place in 1873. Referring to Sir John Macdonald's appeal to his friends in the House of Commons for protection against the effects of the Northern Railway disclosures, he said that the country would sympathize with his desire to be protected so far as they could do so. He then contrasted the general sympathy manifested by the Reform party for the Con- servative leader during his illness with the brutal attacks made upon Mr. P.lake by the Con- tervative party when he was dangerously ill. lie concluded by remarking that while they all had duties to their party, the greatest and highest duty of any citizen, in the interest of civil rights, was to be (Jauadian. faithful to the Constitution of their country, stern in their desire for honesty n the jiulilic service, living for their country, and striving to lay its foundaiions broad and deep. Let them all for the moment lay aside their differences and utter a sincere desire that they might be guided in the direction of their political duties, and then whatever mistakes might be made by a Government would bo overshadowed in the end by a firm, patriotic, and Christian devoti(m to tiie duties of citizenshii), as under the British Constitution they should be. (Loud cheers. ) I i 17 he aimply wiihid \ the Connervativo )itter Hlaiiilur, ami o reply, iuittt^ad of char;;ed with thu rs if tiiose charges , until the pcopln ; tlie way for that of detraction and ;a8 to fay. "Well, , a railway cliarter y were making a lo that they would was being done hy Hlanders upon the bceu sot going by u, there wati not a parallel for such a Hpcak of the mnii y of the jjeoplo by tiie or priuoijile- - en what was right nan a heaven-born ieWR through their il, that the verdict get the peojilc of nzif, who wuH an the tubing ;. Blake 1 roulietl a copper •I, and till hia]>lace t; these storicH, or , man whose heart whom one-half the 'ersaries oy telling •e true, he got his ;o a level at which ;. If such a tiling b!ic men and say .'ensure that could closures, and said were thieves and th public robbery, he audience with ntiugton said that elating to his own his own trumpet, had heavy trans- oach against his i)n had been made ;ation in asserting uy of the bankers having dealt dis- horn he made the )lo of this country and the eHects of to his friends in Iway discloauros, far as they could )arty for the (.'on- -;iako by the Con- ivhile they all had est of civil rights, desire for honesty aiions broad and incere desire that er mistakes might tic, and Christian hould be. (Loud TIIE I'HFJIIEirs SI'EIXll. ITon. Mr. Mackhnzie, on rising to address the audience, was received with rcfcatc^ loundi of dieeriiig. lie said ; — Mr. Clmirman, Ladies and (Icntlcincn of Lnmbton, I rr:;ret cxcoc-ume tho paternity of that measure in his speech last session in the tiouse. Yo;i will observe that np to Coidederation, up to the time of the passing of that Act, we had our iW : I"' i ; li ';! I ) !■■ ■ ■ ■-*!• JiJ •*»»«t^ ^:a!i .:tm 18 yfi'hn might iiiflnnni^c to iionie extent local politioal inutti'm, niui also, in a parlinnientnry rphro, intluuiicu iniiiiy iiittiilteiN of !'ai'Ii,'iino tiiMt place, that HJnce the ina'igmation of tlie proHcnt (Jovernment tho moiit ,81'nijiiilouH care liaH hecn taken to have the eontruct HVHtem ho adniini'tereil tliat it would ho tiutli and honnur nnd domestii' privacy, in order that it may make seine political cajiital for their )..irty. 1 believe •n governnieiit i>y party. 1 have long been allud with the leuiicrs of the Itcfomi ]>arty in I'ailiaiiient and out of it, and in ])rocess of time 1 became leader of that party myself ; but I wnulil Siionerstep out of )iolitieal life to-moirow than have to resort to that species of sslaniler and misrepre^cntati HI which has become the entire stock-in-trade of the ]ue.->ent Opposition. (Loud ciieeis.) 1 shall show you in a few minutes how grossly, in a nniulier of ca^es allectin" jiKittei's in my own dcp;irtmeiit, those misreiircsentatiiuis have been used, how improper their own conduit in public life has i)ecn, and how utterly inconsistent with their own record are tho allegations wliieli they niake against me. At Kingston, two days ago, I dealt with some matters to wiiicli 1 will not refi'r heie further than to say that I pointed out that these very gentlemen did the same tilings themselves in the ordinary administration of allairs for which they were blaniin.,' mc '■«. 1 instanced the loan of one hundred tons of rails to the Canada Central IJailway to linish the Kiad to Pembroke, it being of prime necessity to the great lumbering interest that that load should be linished to rembioke for getting supidies uji last fall. We took as security IfTO.OOO W(uth of railway bonds, which 1 have no doubt are of mucli more value than the rails loaned, which (ini'luding the l'J7 additienal tons taken) were ■worth .S^itOOO altt>gctli<'r. I pointed out that not only was this a jierfectly proper and legitimate transaction, but a far less heinous one -assuming it to be a wrong one at all — than these gentlemen's own transactions when they lent to a gas comi)any in one of our cities the hum ot .$10,01M) in cash without any authority from Parliament whatever. I don't say tliey are to be condemned for that particular loan ; perha]i3 there were circumstances which might give it that complexion ; but I will not enter into them here. I merely point out how manifestly unfair it is for thein to impute motives to me for such an act, when they themselves did something far worse in preei-sely the same way. They may have been right ; I know I was, and that I can justify myself in face of the public. Sir .Fohn Macdonald made a very remarkable statement in one of his speeches in regard to tho letting of contracts. He said, " Let any Conservative try to get a contract, let any Conservative apply for olHce, and they would not get it. " I can only say as to applications for oftice, I am afraid that I have had more from Tories than from lleformers — (cheers and laughter) — and some of them from the same gentlemen who have been spouting at these Tory i.ieetings. Sir John says : — Sir John Macdonald on Lotting Contracts. " Tlie latter he did not object to, because ho did not appoint his political opponents to ofllco, and he did not ex- pect .Mr. .Mackenzie to do so oitlior. Isut when tliere was public money to ho tx]>cnded or public works to bo erect- ed, it was the duty of the Government to see that tho most cffluiont contractor shniild l)o frot, and at the lowest ])rice. They would see, if they looked at the records of the contracts that had been given out by tho present Gov- ernment for the last three years, that the principle, which was not only a principle of honour and economy, but a prin- ciple of the law of our land, that the contract should be given to the lowest tenderer who gave the proiMjr security l-,;ul been broken systematically and continuously." ' I wish you to observe particularly the strong and emphatic, the almost hypcrbolicallanguage in which the hon. gentleman indulges. He goes on to say : J " It was a principle of the present Government to make the first question concerning a contractor, " IIow did ho vote at last election '>." A man mi^^ht offer to build miles of railway or jmrlions of a canal at half price, and if by some hocus iKicus ho was found to be a Conservative, althou;;h his was the lowest tender, Jlr. JIackonzie tho head of the Uovcrnment would tell Mr. Mackenzie the Minister of Public Works it must not be given to that man, but to another who was true to the cause." •• There is a bill of indictment for you. It is one, I venture to 8aj% which would consign my- self and colleagues to political perdition, but I shall not only deny it, but prove the grossuess of the calumny. i il nirntiiry RPnio, L'lltH I'Xori'iHillg ij; Huvcruly tho e no Inflaenoe. iiDfiit thu inoftt >iat it wiiiilii ))u iii'iit tn (il>t(iiii it iilioiild KiiU'pr k'L'ry lew woriiH tuuk pluuu uii ilical opponent ily jiioiier, but eweil, lu'cause, a man may bo ikcn tho wrong ovil that a niin- r, to that kind mysi'lf, to tho juct altojjotht'r, jpn•t^ not wfll- of the fomalo ,narty in myself ; but I ici'ius of slaniler out Opjxifition. ' ca^es all'L•^•tin^' improper their 11 ri'i'oril arc tho :li some niatttn'M very j.'cntlemen I'liieli they were 'entral llailway u)^ interest that i as security I lie tlian the, iltogether. I nt a far less n transactions 1 without any lat jiarticular )ut I will not lem to impute n precisely the self in face of is speeches in contract, let to applications rs — (cheers and at these Tory and he dM not ex- works to bo ercct- .iTid at the lowest tho present Gov- noniy, but a prin- le proiHsr security, }olical languags tor, •• now did he ce, and if by sonio zie tho head of the lan, but to another Id consign my- :hG grossi^ess of \ 10 Mr. Blncdonald CliaUengod In Parliament to Prove his Statement. Sir, T cliallenc'il lnm l.Tst yeir to produce his i^vidonce before n Cotnmittef of tho ]Tnu80 of rommoiix ; I chailen);)!d him the tirHt day uf tho iieiNiou to proi'ecd with hi'4 investt;,'atiiiii and make his Htuiiip HpeiM.'hes in my preReiico in I'arlianxtnt, and I twii'o oUitimI him a Cnnimitteo of liJM own clioosinL; — on one oceaMinn I Raid I was willing that lio xhould be tho wlioh; ( 'oniriiittee liimiielf - (hiar, liear) — tliou^jh I ani nowltound to say, after his recent upeechcs, that 1 wonlil h;. -o xnuio sli^^ht Huspii'inn that i would liardly Ket fair play. (Hear, hear, and oiinurt. ) Whut ha!« iH'cn the oourso of tho hon. f,'entleman in rej,'ard to tlii.s matter ? He ailowiid Parliament to meet and rise without making a wij^n that ho wanted an inquiry — without makim{ thci Hli>;htist nttrnipt to luocied with his ]iroof— and tho moment he in clear from liis res|>oiisiliility uh it memher of I'arlinment ho commences his annual pere^jrinations, accompanied by thoso who, after he has stated his so-called facts, htretch them as far uu tho credulity uf their vury cruduluu:i audieiictu will alliiW. (Hear, hear.) Godorlob Harbour. I have to call yonr attention tn one particular case, that of tlio Hodcrirh linrbour. Their eysteni li.is been this ; They name some particular transaction ; they tind fault with it-- it matters not thou;.'li it could bo proved immediatelv that tliey were wronj,' — thev ;^o on i ■ , jating and eii- laririni,' until they magnify it into a tir.st-ila.ss grievance. It is tlien called "a jol)," and is ro- ferred to afterwiird.'« as Konnthiiij.' proved to be wroiij,', iIioukIi tlieir statcnients have been shown to bo only a nimjile I'alselioDil. That was tho way with tho no called (iodcrich harbour "jol>." They lirst saiy tho way, ia not .'.n cfTicer of my own appointment, who lias been in tiic I)eiiartmcnt half a lifetime, a iikui known for his probity and upii.,'htiiess, as well as for his great ability as an engineer — reported to tho Depart- ment that Mr. Tolton was iiot a p(us()n who would be ipialilied, in hi.s opinion, to carry out tho work ; that one of his sureties was .a person who liad given a great deal of trouble to tho Dep.irt- niont in another contract ; and he advised us to give it to the next lowest. Ho stated, further- more, that it Would bo impossible for Mr. Tolton to execute the work at the price;: named in his tender. Mr. Ellis, not Moore & Co., Received tho Contract on Passing Tolton over. ' ' The next lowest were not tlie ])erson9 who ultimately got the contract, but a Mr. Klli.'^, wlioso tender was .about S'J1'J,(X)0. Ho was -assigned the contract, but declined to proceed, so we passed on to the next, ns is tho usual practice. The next was the firm of Mooie & Co., who obtained the work, and if we made any error in giving them tho contract, we committed that error in tho public interest. 1 have yet to learn it was an error ; it may have been ono ; we do not i)ret(!nd to be inrallible. At all events, we did precisely in tli.at case what has been the recognized prac- tice of this Hepartnient to an extent that would .amaze you. Now, in order that you may have aome idea of the correctness of this statement, I have taken a list of the contracts let by the lato (loverninent during the last three years of their existence, and 1 will read out to you the nanie.i of the parties who were the lowest tenderers, those who received the contracts, .and state tho diflerence in amount between the lowest tender and the sum obtained by each actual contractor. And there are cases in which no reason whatever is assigned, except that the tenders were too low, or that the Minister w-os not satisfied — nothing but the mere statement of Mr. Langevin, Minister of Public Works, that he considered the tenders too low. (Ile.ar, hear.) Speolmena of Contract Letting on Lachlne Canal by Late Crovemmont. We will begin with the works on the Lachine Canal. In the case of one contract for piers, booms, and basins, Mr. Clement Deschamps was the lowest tenderer, his figure being $2,705. Mr. Dennis O'Brien was awarded the contr.act at §3,955, or at a loss of §1,250. On contract; No. ,'1, for two slips or basins, the lowest tenderer w.as J. Blackie, at 892,222, but the con- tract was awarded to S. Bonneville, at 8101,542, being a difference of S9,.320 as .against tho lowest ; and the only reason .assigned is this, that tho Minister instituted inijuiries, and tho in- formation was such as would not warrant him in giving the work. (Hear, hear. ) You see there is no report of an engineer mentioned in the case. Then in another contract J. ("ouvtney & Co. tendered .at §.381,707, while Lemiiy & Bowie, whom we hapjien to know are strong political friemh oi the hon. gentlemen then in power, were given the work .at .?4(J2,2S4, or a ditlerence of .SSO,.'i77. The Minister in this case simply states that the lowest tender w.as far below tho actu.alv.aluc of the work. J. Courtney & Co. ag.ain tendered for another section of the work at S498,G85, and Messrs. A. P. Macdonald &. Co. — one member of which firm is, I believe, pretty well known in 'West Middlesex as the Tory candid.ate and member for years— (he.ar, hear)— > obtained the contract at §()2G,728, or a loss of S12S,043. (Hear, he.ar. ) And— would you believe it ?— the only statement made on giving this enorni(ms amount of money to Mr. A. V. Macdonald, 20 11 whose proclivitieg you all know, is simply the assertion hy the Minister that the other firm ten- dered far below the i>ctual value i.f the work ! J. Wooil or A. P;irr tt'iidered for a small con- tract atSj,S5() ; and it w:is given to Mr. Micluiel Hennessy at .5S,845, being a dillerence on this email tender of ?2,lt8'J. Mr. J.angcvin says that the en'^im-er reports the work wortii §1 50 per lineal foot, and the Minister therefore recommends that Mr. lienucssy shuuld gtt the contract US' lie comes nearest that ligure. ^llear, hear.) Spccimccs of Contract Letting on Wclland Canal by Late Government. Now let us take some of the contracts on the Wcllaiui Cmal. Mr. G. Jiarvey, who -is well known as a Buccessful contractor, tendered at iJ'JS, 700. Messrs. W. H. Manning & Co., of To- ronto, got the contract at §li.'(!,70il, or a ditlorence of $■2", 000. >' .inning &C'o. were as9i'.,'ned tha contract on tlic ground that the Minister believed that Mr. Harvey had not means auHicient to carry it on. 11. J. ISutton & Co. tendered for another contract at 6i*7,!'20, but it W'l.s a'^.signed to Mr. John Riown at •Sl'J0,4i;) ; thi.s s^ame .Toliu Drown was t!ie gentleman wlio travelled from liodcrieh to tiie Canal, and from the C;iiial to 'ioderich, in th'3 general election of 1S7-, to e.Kcrcise his inlluence against the th-n Opposition. Tlie contract wa.s assigned him on the gionnd that the two lowest were too li w, and the ne.\t tv.u had each a contract, and so they ruacliod Mr. John Ih'owri. (Laughter.; 1 wi.sh you to note iiarticuiaily that two were passiil dver fortho reason that they had each anotlier ci'Utraet. ^lie:lr, hear.) Jn tlie ne.\t eontrai't 11. J. Sutton tV Co. vere tiie lowest tenderers at $100, S70, but Mr. John lirown alsO rtceived this (me, tliouc;h his tender was t'J10,3] 5 higher. Tlie rea.'^ons assigned are exactly tliose given in the la-^t, namely, that the two lowest arc too low, and tiie next two have e:.i.'h a contr:iet ; in other words, two contracts are given to Mr. John iJiown over the heads of tlio lowest tenderers, on the ground that two other and lower ten\hich appear in the retain i have in my hand, as follows: — 3 I i ' I ■Km'; tlier firm ten- • a small con- Brenco. on this .rth §1 50 per tho contract :nt. who -IS well & Co. , of To- e assit,'ued tlia s sutiicient to •n.s aHsigiiL'd to tiiivuHed from 7-, to exercise 10 jjround that ' reached Mr. il over for tlio ; il. J. Sutton i.s on.', though J la-.t, iiain.'Jy, ur wunls, two on tlio ground id already one ti & Co. AVere at §1 -JO,. "3 SO, a ; were both too 10,000; theirH round that t);e he lowest tc-.H- I contractor of ] suppose hi;ii 'Ihc tender of !pted at $'-ill,' ^ reasons there ! third had an- ees ; the sixth -that is, their ens of oousid- m m 4J a o > o C 2 a o •d o •tt ^ •4-1 ^ o O -J M o 3 .9 •" 60 a So 3 = 'f^ ■-• a> ^ c. c; — ; -j^ ""^ ■!.« - _- -; r - ■- *^ ^ a ' ^ c u 2 O _g 5 -p: -j: 'r- •— i t4 — c ■s a S ?-i jj tS > > : ^'2 2 ■" *- * -i X a o -J ' ^ ( n ^ ^ ? *-. -J -s i.^ ! a 1i i i- -- > O -J ? -J -3 J, ;c '~ -5 -^ 2 r,-" ^a ; — "^/""xS — •~r?-»"--*oc'*-tj rt z: X — — ^ - 3 '^ - ^ .2 >.-5 cr a -* ^-??i-^.^ '-' i> ^ * a a -J 3 0-2 *■• 0) 4-» *- ,.•« o ^ ^ -S a ^ o ^2 " *-' "• S— ' a o " a 3 ■^ « . t- ;;; - cS i» o a o 3w ei '.-> o o >^ >-i irt •^ — r. ""■" — - t: r-" * r* cv T> — 7^ Lt ^ ».-i 1 ^ ■* r: »-~ ~ •5 — Jt •t C- r- H CI i. -. '^ g O g 3 ^» ■*-! ■« a t*+» -e -*-j '■^ .*-» P— . OJ -A ?^h3 I— r3 to o CO .0 c-i «-» o -« CO r-i r-t CI 00 ■ V ' — ■ . — — *- .^ :3 c o ■^ •"; — ~t ~ ■"■ ■_> •-S-s \ ^ ^ : c c r • : ^ — ^ «^ . i '■■'^ •y : ^»^-« > > V) CO 1 lll-J er II a c d a o C-'J ■^ ■r* -r »-" .."^ t^ l^ 1^ I- CO : "^i ; CI : '-i : c • c3 : P M a ^ - 3 M &, tcl.2 M w • )-( is ^J^ Ch H ►^i«^W <{ kP •^ a ?; « ;i - CD C c o CI r4 c o I^ t 11 I ^•Hf k % m "I W J> Uliii I, o O & o o e •a >■> o o o a ■3 o 6 o V ft 14 >^ n fe «^ -- y. : u leu. a E u a. M S g O St ■/; is o u in U'A III o"B.l I i to .a 1 is ^1 o o 2 >» *< i< ^ V > OT o 5 «.-; M 4J . 3 M lo a p (:< o I— I w ^ -r u H 03 C3 s s o 60 " tn * Jet *^ 2 i. n ^ -w o c; o o o w K 5 ^" B to ^ ?! =S o S -- -:^ -r ■- "r ;i -^ r -w S -3 ^ •- _o a 'i : -5 -jj ::^ C -t o o c- O -M - o a-^ ;- S o O Cj O) » "? i' to i C3 C =- g C r* *~ 5 2" .-?^ o f= * c o ^ rt H IT rt ci o >>£'^ "a *^ - O fa o « -:J •« o -• •r " ^ .2 = ■* tc4^ c " " o tCH-i g n ^ ^ i^ C 2 > .— ^ - 03 C ^ — ■ 2 rt c::5•=■ " e S S rS o to o o3 M 5 "-r c ^ - • t. u; ^ -K tc fer= V o £; C c3 1-5 CO o n (N CO O O c, to 1 lO to CI CI 1-1 ■«)■ ai © -o 1-5 c'j ti^l-'S W^ Ci C/D to l^ -!f ^,:< •/; ffl 1^ CO o CO CI O C3 CO OO o CI 5S cocT C-1 Ci CI (M f— !:> o « --I eo CO o to'o" eo'co'*" to "S" .-1 I» to CO o to cf CI to o o o o r- O p- C-l o .n r- o lO Ti O 1-00 o I- — 1 o © © c o O o V "a a; ci 73 •S 2 s^ N -i^ IT. '^<*3 is ts o ii o fa -J o o O ■/: o o fa ? c rH E--7 c = c -? 2 tc o P5 6 C -J CflOf oe^ o 13 H Ul C-5 l?l CI CI 1^ o 1^ a i o H o to c Of 00 1-1 tc cc •* C7 05 CC 0? txi c o o « I" p-1 e« ^ t3 o P4 « B CD n fa a p I U to .2 t- tc£- M •■a o O to c B 1 o o 1 B O o H -M 3 ,B W) tf ^ ;« 2 o .§>§ E S HH 3 •S^ 3 I a 3"f o CO- I ^ B li to I O a - o s 3 r" Crt i) > 3 2 ■S So* 3 tf-l %-n I OJ rt o w s ^ t! s C-2:0 O 2 'f 2 S ■s « ^ .3 « ■^ •-* *-* 5 = . « .jj to i» 'J s ^ ;3 °, -^ s ill a a s o r/-j CO O a a Ss o ■ ■■5 u o CJ a Ho 2 o ^ "^ :S '•■' e ** 5 *-* o 3 ° 3 ^. 3 u a £.2 >.2 5-3 o^ ^ 'ii-^' *-> K :« Q .-1 " H s o O ui o -M a a c3 ^ (15 ■♦^ ^ >, • • 'i 1 1 a -fl o"-^ K =" o - o 5i 'r* .. -*^ tfl a. : »— o > •S ^ o" ;5 S a u o a " 03 S3 ■ a o : a «-:» rs -. S ^ « •«-> t» o ^C r-f -3 ^^^ ci ^ z; a 01 a o o S «- !* ^ « o o en „ ec ■— I :^ * w a S " •'« ■^ - S-^ S ° is ?. o " o iJ J m a g^ -3 S ^ a » -Ss-2^ 2 Si « 01 ^ CO t3 =* a W OJ *- fti o . CO _ -is t, a) S 03 .a CJ l>. I 8 s a 5, 1^ C— I 1^ 0, "X; m a a O rH C3 — CI o CO lO c o o — — CJ CO CO isf i-T ocT Cl s co" o 1.-5 o l.-S o Ci •»*' CO CI I— 1 M •<«< © CO o ■^ o tl 1^ t») o •o c^ CO 1^ o CO --H M< CO \n M eo o CI CO CO Oa CO o o •^ CI K> C4 >. a £ o ct " ' ^ 1 fcs ■4-* o a j 1 ■ O ?0 o a ^1 rS fb _u •c^ a ^ a ^ ■ >^ P r- e- -§• P 'rt •o (^ O ee 5 ? a o rt a; o B o •c a; « O B "C u B 41 ■c lb 1 V ■1 o « 1 C 8 00 o w T3 c" o t .-4 !£ O CO s CI a rt £! c« o a 4) 3 i B rt 0/ B ncil ; 3rd lowest, 11(1 resources ; 4tli sign tcndur, Com- h lowest accepted. i M i T c l>: CO «a 1 O o o ^ rt CO m o o B •- o 1.1 §4 % o o tc •s^ .1 o ^l- B .111 13 (U rt .,B a; « -»-> -4-* -3^ '- o ^ n si 5 « CO ,B o « B„- «<.■;: B 03 tit:! > V o 4-» a £ E o o »>* «o +3 1 ca o 4-> B Oh c; a "3 ■n 3 3 O O •n « ts tn "rt 4-> o B 4-'" si -M O P.I-H ^■2 o c B 0) i. ^ i. CI _:4 4-' 4J vi rt o c »; « 0) ;s O/ ■n^^ m B i» ^ o -^-i ^ B ^ M B if ?■.;:; ., B o r~* o *i o 4-» ^*^ 5" OS Oj *•• f>H -M 4-1 o -i-J 4^ 3 .^ o rt -*-^ ^J* j; p. ^ ^- "3 B B C3 CD jj « ■*-> rij ?= zj CO -r> »-l .tS 4J M K -^ O ^2 ii2 t^ o o as '« ^co- — . «o C3 O ^ ^5 O 4.1 o B i* g ■3 O E M 34. ?: :5 1-^ c-i 1^ ""^ ^co' CO 05 . •^ O l^ c» to «k I- - ^ fl o 1-- •<1< ■^ 1 K hJ l-H CH ■ < »* ~~" ^o~ -^ ^^~ o -, CI o »*• ■-■^ CO CI f "! S CO o_ C5 I'. C-. o •— ■ 1^ b; -^ C Q i'. M OD co" «D~ »>r OJ CO £3 CO >.-5 1.-5 c= o -^ W M S •^ ira ■Tfl lO OJ CO ^ < ^^ tn" c^~~ i^~ CO o »■" "0 -f* "O f f. J K-; »Q o O. c •^ irT ■«* c" o" CO '£ 1*^^ «-» O 03 i.-o CO c* M ■«« CO ■* t- CO CO < hJH o -^ o o d b «y 6 «« O »< o 1 O H 3 -rt <« : -2 2 CO 1— ( B B o 2 ■c "d s p CJ r-'4 . — ■/: '• ■^' 2 •3 to I 1 is B b~1 6 U ':1 !« H ^ .-J 1^ a rt •-5 t-i U^ ^ 1-^ - o_ - <^ Ill "lOA "! ai^ii.I Ci m~, ' c-r rr ~' i'i" 1 , — " l-M ^- _- »— ' ■— t ^ m ^ t^ CO lO (>- p-» rH p-t d <1 > - « *• J <• d cj (4 ^ b tu ^ a o M w ** V • w IJ J M iz; 3 31 o ;^ fc! O o 1 m <• • .• •• t 1 2 o » «• • •■ >« *• ^ •? Ji 7; u B s .i r 1^ ,iC ^ - ci a '^ "7 CI eo CO 6 3 cc a O 4J 4) • -' o — ■~r3 ^ -rl a-S rt ^^ ■^ c ^ c ^ 'W S ^ oj CO *J ^ - o ^ s: . >- c o 5^ to— I : S'w^ « i g ■^ -<-< o .« ^ M V) C3 O :^ « =^ • .;=; ;3 w ■ ^ "^ 3 ■ '^ - a . g « .2 © o o o o o o o X i* ^ o _ ?; cj i u =" CO 3 +; ■'is O " *>- "■ = ■« 3 , — < ■— » y: £; = . OJ . ;. t. t. 5. *; ^^-35 ^ « O C > CO C - Co c ;, o ^ .„ ^ .. M 5 t> ca — >'• o. c > 0) ,:3 t. — — :3 _. _^ rr o •-,?■-=! ■ .«■■* , « g o i "t^ S :-*— o w X m 5 _j O :^.2 !*• js a rt _■ S '~ lU 00 > e o in •' so?' 0. « 'a '3) a *-> o 3 -3 -a *^ o >■ '^ 3J 3 r 1) o 3 «-3 o ^' .^ 4j K -73 - a ? 3 ^ p3 C c3 C ,4_» ^ *J g |-2 S"^ 2 ■" K ^ O 3 -?•:: "2 -i ^ _: "S -= OS to ■ IP C3 S ? ■" O ■2 T a ** ' i; -3 11 '2 3 i; J a 1 . -3 " i E ^ cj =^ • C cl5 . o ! -^ * « i^ O c3 >-fl a fcO a >■ o e3 c o c O ec oy ^ r) :j o o o t; o m — -^ ^ :2 i g = = = -^ rt s •< s -' uj J__ o I.- o •" o tJ J 1» o 4; i^ o a rt — i. 3 ^ ^ S QJ ■^ a ~ > D , It " -; c-oi c 'ot X ;, t- ^ - f ^ ■ n ^ -^ o o n o 1^. t.^ CO o tn CTj f o -^ 1 1 CO cs o ■o cs rM (^ C' 1 .. O o 1 , o o VJ o 00 T— * -*> 'M CO lO 1.-5 M o CI oi" CO O 1— ' O ;;: id a .3 ;:3 1 d t_0 c 1— ( l-H '-i a O a cM ■^ ' - rt o i fo o — — O = Q .^ c o •td O CJ o •n n +-• --) o o ■^ ■■>. a ii to to to o O J-> W w W 773 := -3 £ D a 5 -:3 nS B B o O CI CI 1-1 Ck< >1 »-^i ^a .1 U;;< M a DO a o o o o o o CO - I - o i; CI c/. »."5 '"■ C ^ l-i '—' c" O ^— ' c VJ 'ti •^ \A .•^ =y ^ rt r -^ a O t—i s a u f7 ^ O ca o Ci W C3 CI 03 C) o CO OJ o CO •■ ,;> .^•.;il llfi y. n r^ ^ m L, 6^ c t; = c z a c 5; ^ =• r, ^ * ^. 5 =, =^ <5 be i c s .2 S Q CO --Jo 2 « •^ a< -3 OJ fc- T? 2 2^ 5i 2 O . t- J: 1= £-= C ^ '-J i-< C3 c: 0) ■5.2S« 5 g tS X 2 O; ^ ^.;£ aj Hi^.5, o t: :50 i2 i= -3'B - VJ W "^ tfJ ^ en's *- '-^ o 'fl S '" * t 'M C5 s 5« _ O ?- « S rt — a « ?^^ b o 5-. 1 2 3 2 g ^ ° > -3 y o " .=- -ii J- ti ^ O 00 S ° ■<: 3 « >rt — *^ Is — • i > rt a o -s _- ^ - ^ C S cJ X . '^' i J, « _ ' a- ., o I i -3 d CI r3 a CI g r a 4) OJ 2 « = =4 ^ob so ill to to c to C3 to a to tt r J t: S t _ •:r.-; - /- tf z = i^ ~- X If. c3 ^ £ J; i f r " I* u 5 , '^ r, ■ — ■♦J -5 ^ ©So ._ 5 o 5 - : T - Vf W Cm "o e 2 S5 2 trc:' S U.tc?;'m ■S ^ X O C f -w c« — ' o b: S-S-a-li n > — -*-' *- ^ I o '^ B p S ° I -e K ^ ft." =--j ^ ?- M "T w '^ » 5 i c3 1) -M u -, > — > .-o ^ s s g ;< « 2 as." ■■« E- - - ^ is — ' ^. -3 c is "X' ■ a = V :=: ~ r: = tn J t- ^ "* - 1- ~ ^ : -J "^ '^ '? ~ 5 s C 3 p o 5? C4 j-i-a OS +e ■ §"2 c s ^ c o t- 5 « .~ b 4) 5 _'c fc, :S '1' rt p 3 > •• ^ •— « n i> o' •" _■ o a ® rt S • - "u a « -^,« c3 33 « o > *: a ° I r-S _ 4) ^ « •« (- C in o .Sh m ,^ o ^ tJ c J- to fl =1 o^ a -3 ° C " a oj la a to o 173 o a _ . i3 3 g « o d IK - *j fc- a uj cy ^ « -e -3 «^ >- il a o S-r3 E-S _^ a 'C « a a a ^ to a -w a +* t. a Ij a to v > S , a •'^'3 O -3 a g o o -^ - r* U (A r^J «) a 5 o o a -+3 ^ c5 e-4J w a jj ■!-> p i a « '^ .-' !* ^ c o -s o -3 k is O ^^ ^ t" -^ t:; s V) > CO ;a ^ •: •3 _2 ,-J •« a a a o a .:? 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Ct: K) —• ci" ■< CJ. _3 -^ Li a CJ W P4 a r,^ r3 a a 3 : ^ i a o fr* 1 a «J a '" • >~ ! 3 rt 1- i , o Hi •— 1 C! e c: ,^*' ^ ^o t-^ • a a cS a o e CO a ft, c« c;::^ ^ i— ? hi* c3 '^ 72 5 § 1 S a a to I ivm ,.;-■' '!»» I'll a SI M ■ ft. t: - D c i >-. a S H UI 1"A "! a"«d ' y K i) o) « ^ t. *j ^^ *« '^ «r> - 2 3 S .. H y rt o s ^ =1 " -.5 ** "2 4)' w "2 " ' O 4J M ^ ■< a> .-" Kl r-j a- ^ is — n eg -J i a o -5 iO -2 ^ o to CI e c5 . -^ B . s - 'T •- -r; ^ s c W ...to r! C 2 o a tr..ti to c o CO if c to 3 o c -' .. o 'E i '5 o O 3 ^ O o *^ • ^^ to _ I" (A to R CO 3 03 « C, -3 to^ Fo - to «-a . c *^ U iH 4) "" ►- a o 3 CI go irs « ^ o..:J crj •-*; Qto 3 C 5 ^ I iS ^"S c^ c '^ o J J 1-J >— ^ « ■" Si Oj o QJ 3 CO O £ - M M S ►."5 1*1 CI o s CI CI o o c <-. o C-i o CI c^ CI CI c. 5 CI l."3 CI I-- M O ■^ CO O O M< o 'S o" ei CO CO o cs ©" ^ O w o O o P. ^5 5 ff 3 -^ W W W hii •_) -J u o « 6 * O d d •^ O O Cfl •y •y +j -M .KS !3 a > em -f o >-7 o H d a O el It o !2! «^ p^ o >-? o o p^ M EH to c trt t-) ," >, r^. o a p 3 .a 1^ tn to c 3 n a o r3 > d ta a 3 0) •ta to 3 pa c o 3 o S ■y 3 O ^ K o OT ; d a to fl to to c ri H d W d W to 3 w « s Li H &ig O o e-i -" o _ 3 CD .iJ" O 71 o eo »- to o O t.1 I-) CI a o to a ■^ u O o 8 g o n o to .5 ■T3 >-< to >, rt o o o -1 ..^Tf rt - ^oci; i .4.J ■».< ^ I to 11^ CO o >o o CJ a.) to 1-1 p fa 4-r! : 01 .!3 d .a o ; o -a 1 3 f l-5_ S U3 2 ir^ 5 «^ ■ p ■*-» O CO O rH lU • * o a en H en o s 3 "5 \*^ o t ^ O S el = ' - ,"3 , C - Qj > o ^ "rr, ' « O ? -V " , ! &, cj 2 ^ C3 >i rt rt o ^ i£ COS ^ t-'^^orS^g ^ ■T3-n CO S 3 ^ 71 O > Ui t- ^ O • ° 3 s .2 ° a O 0) >• Fa t I 3 o "^ It o O a o5 • tC7]-^• o 3 *i 3 o^ 3 o !!? -2 a: 3 i^ J 3 3 .t:: 3 ;-pd t to , 7^ ^ :ji a 5 to c: o :3 , 3 i> O — ' -M "P to «^ ico '5 rt >-. CI o -^ r' t^ 'n ^ c; »-i tc - 'TS ^* aj o o f.:o ^ --• E |..^ g "x ■^ c^ ^ :5 i ■*- -^ c 'P ■*-• -w * ■ 73 ^ Q -2 en ■« •> -* -^ t/: r"! ^ EC |?< o "^^ t; o . ^1 , 3 b -J — I ^ i« ^ „ »H jr ■Ji 'n S .-I r— 1 1—1 ^ .5 ^ 1 ? '■ i -p ^ 3 '— O) « o *2 o is ■? =^ ,4 *^ 'Tl -C r— 3 S-^-^ o u a ti aj o C U 71 _ '*" C3 ■^ 'JJ O :S u -' "^ cj .:. O V? CO O CI rl 1^ O «0 O '-J ir^ CO CO CD Cl_ l~ i-T o* c-« o o CI o to : § 3 CI J 2. rt 5 I CI o o o" CI rt , a ^ 3 •■-' ■/J Qj :j o o CI is o 'p CI a — o ^ 3 O cT o ^^ 3 CI to a "S to e> a o o ^ to CI to a a c3 ►J CI 3 o O to =4 o cf to o o 04 O 4) i 3 - o o \n lo >o »^ CI i^ o CO CI 00 CO o CO O '."3 lO 1.1 O O 1^ o O fcO "^ r-< o CI CO i-i CO f-t CI l-"5 c^ CO oo CI Cl o « o CI 1^ o c» o o o »J to CI CI C/J o 8 i.-r Cl .-3 eo •««i CO Cl O r-i » Cl O rH CO -r. Cl -* o o o o o o ».-. >--5 r-c O ►-5 bo 3 s •c cq 3 a o tn 3 O P O i4 3 o p 1-4 Cm o •y m O P a •-5 1-^ a o 3 d o 3 o '/; J a cd CO K-5 to'" r3 3 o *-- 3 o p o a 3 ci to a ■.-> 'O _-^ L 2 < 6 Cl 3 ■3 d a a O Cl s o •3 «o 1^ 1^ u-5 -»r O o c; Cl O .-1 3 o 3 3 P. rt 3 t.9 a K ,« rj ►'if rt rt 3 l« C3 t^ C H o >^ 3 o 3 o to .a t3 o O >, R 3 PQ CO in m t^ o 3 o CO r3 o K •15 o o 1-1 >. t: 2 ^ "^ § _^ Q_ : ^ : o : ^ s a 3 o o 3 )3 •3 o Cj a o CO CO CO o o o o O to to" Cl" /'l o CO kl o fo a a o ^ t3 3 O 3 !s E m a o to c l4 I < M if thoRO ."'2 -wvrc anoojitoil n't anil not of tlio ooiitnu tois : lowest tiiiilurs jn-i'sciitoil to if wliii'li tlio lowest teiiileiev-, iiii. DltTcronoo on Canals botwoon Tenders Aoooptcd and thoso Lowcat. I mny jiiHt H.ay that nn tin; eoiitrarls on the Laehine ( 'an;il, tlie W'ellaml ('anal, ami tho Ca- rillon Ciinal alone tlii'n? is n (llll'erer.ee of j!">;(7,r)lH Ix.'tween the sum of llie loWi-^>it temier.s, iiasseil over as I have deHoriheil, ami the ft;:j,'r(\L:atu of those ai'(.'e|iteil. (Hear, hear.) Yet tliese mvu, in tl:(! face of tlieHe faiits, »;iilleil from their own ilepurtniental lii.slorv, have tlie eool, unhliish- iii;» assurance to tell the jiublic that 1 have " systenjatieally and continuously lujeeteil tko low- ei'tivcly duririj' a aeries of years, takini; in their case tlieir three last years — acrordini; to their own statement — 1870-71, lS7i-7'2, and 187--73, and taking; as ours 1S74, ]S7"> and 187ti. 1 have had it pre. pared in two ways, one representinj; tho actual numlier of lowest tendeiii that ii.ue been acee[ited or set a.tide from eanses other than thoso ai'isiui,' from the action of contractors them- .selves; in other .vords, sliowinj,' tli(! nuinher of lowest tenders acce]iteil iiy the (iwernmiiu, J(>hn Jones may send in a tender wiiicli may he accejited, and then he may refuse to j,'i) on with thework, and then John Jtohinson hoeomes the lowest; any person who retires voluntarily from liis tender is not spoken of as u tenderer at all. Tho Tory years 1870 to 1873. Tn 1870 the late flovcrnnicnt let alto^'ethcr ;V_' contracts, ani heing the lowest, and 20 rejected for reasons of the (iovernment so that in the lirst year fiuoted they rejected 'JO ot' tho lioim jiil' them. Tiic total amount contracted for that year was §!), l.S."),4.'{0, not i5-,4r)r),;}"jr), or about one-fourth of the whole reached the jiartiea who tiMidercd lowest. In 1871 there were let altoj:;i'ther 7") contracts, and of these 58 were assigned to the lowest tf-n- l,7(>-">,'i">(>, or considerably less than oni'-h.alf. In ]!-i7'i there v.-rre 77 contracts let, and of these .")(), or nearly two-tliirds, were given to the lowest tcmlei'Ts. Of the amounts of the contracts, nearly one-half, or S84*i,r)40 out of .?l,(llir).,'U.'{, was (nilnaccd in the lowest tenders. In 187.'J there were 7<') eontracij let, of which r>'i of th" lowest were acce]itetl. The total anioinit of the contracts that year was S,")/.)lJ0,S02, and tlie amount represented by lowest tenilerers was .$l,97S,3ol, or about onetliird. Tho Reform years 1874 to 1876. Now we come to the first year the ])resent (iovernment were in ofllco, in which 0(1 contr.i'ts •were let. Of these 70 were accepted as l)cin^' tl.c lowest. V lu can see at once how the pro- portion increases. The total amount of money expended by these contract.^j was §."),;")()(), ,'i,'{,"), nf Mhieh the lowest tenders represented considerably more than one-half, or .•?'_*, 087, "47. In the year 187i), when wc had the new system in complete ojieration — a'ld 1 will explain it picsently there were altogether 7.'? contracts let, and of tliese not less than (ii) were awarded to the lowest tenderers. (Cheers.) Tho total amount of money represented by tho contracts that year was $O,'2G0,7()(», and the aggregate of lowest tenderers was 5!'J,0!)7,2Ur), or almost the whole ajnount. (Hear, hear.) Theninl87(), the laiiiig additional tenders, lint these "were, of course, rejected. 'I'lie jiarlies \\ ho had sent tiiese came to us and said that they bad certiiiiily ]uit tliein in in time at the I'ost-otlice, and as we siipjioscd there might bo a mistake, 1 said to the l)epiity-Miiiister that wo had bi Iter 0])en those tenders. One of tiiein hajijiciied to bo the lowest ; but before wc iiotitied the jiaities at all, an oliicer in my (le]iai'tniciit, who bad no right to know of the contracts at all, went secretly and notilied Air. I'aliii that lie was the lowest, and that ho might go on with tlii^ work. ^Vo came to know .•ift-orwards that the lowest wore not mailed at all in time, but that the oliicer 1 have referred to had it ill his power to give inforni.ition about the tenders. \N'e agreed, therefore, to carry out our rule, and we gave the contract to tho lowest of those received in lime. It was said that 1 did this because 1 wanted to give the contract to a political friend, a Mr. Murphy. I had never mot that gentleman in my life to my knowledge ; I have not soon him yet. 1 may add also that the man who sent in the lowest of tho rejected tenders came into my oflicc and claimed consideration on the ground that he was a piditical sujiiiorter. (Hear, hear.) So that I was in the position of rejecting the tender of one who called himself a political supporter in order to give the contract to one whom I had never soon in my life, ((.'beers.) Montreal Examining Warehouse Contract. Another one : — The examining warehouse in Montreal was let by publico com]ietition. The foundation we did not know much about. It was not known how deep we woiild have to go for it, (vnd the contract was given for the superstructure altogether above a certain level, and the party who afterwards obtained the contract was the lowest by abi".it §1,000. But wo knew there ■would be a certain amount of additional work in the foundations, and I refused to give the contract unless the contractors should agree beforehand to perform this extra work at jiriccs tliB architects fixed upon as a fair value. They refused to do it. 1 then sent for Mr. A'artin, the next lowest tenderer, and ascertained his securities. In the meantime the first jiarties re- turned and said they would take the masonry work on the foundations at the architects' valu- ation, and thereupon we gave the contract, they being the lowest for the xvoik advertised. These are the three cases upon wliich these gentlemen have sought to base their wonderful faVric of slander, misrepresentation and falsehood, and nothing else, ("ould anything be done more straightforwardly than in the action of the (joverumont in these three cases ? There is another matter I will refer to if time and weather permit. Knmlnistlquia Lands. I have been charged with being a jiarty to the valuation of land at Lake Superior to an amount very much in excess of what this land was worth. Well, it is perfectly well known that the Minister never values la'id — at least he should not do so, and I never did, though I may give you an instance in ■which a Minister did value certain lands. The truth is simply this. In regard to the Pacific Railway, Mr. Sandforil Fleming, the Chief Engineer, determined that the location of the terminus should be on the Kaniinistiquia River, which falls into Thumlcr liay about three or four miles from the present vilhige of Prince Arthur's Landing. I (uitirely ajijiroved of the selection made. It is a river abour 100 yards wide, with dee]) water for vessels that navigate the lakes, and we can build wharves there at a tenth part of the ex- pense at any i)lacc eWo. 32 Hi 'i«^ lip What was Palil, and tho Ounnttty of Land. Wf) liavo paid alxmt .?'i(»,(iO<) for the rinlit \ eeiits per foot soiiio years ago, but for which the valuators allowed him only 32^ cents. • [Senator Vidal, the administrator of the est.ate, came to me and complained of the low price awarded for the laud. I said, "1 cannot help it. J f you will make out a statement of your ease 1 will send it to the valuators, anaiul people, and these are nearly all in the towns of Chatham and Newcastle. 'J'hey wanted, or juctemled to want, a place where they might have a deep water wharf to whieli vessels of largo draught might bo brought; and I'eter ilitchell, the Minister, appliecl to I'eter Jlitchell tlie owner of tho land, to pnrclia«e it for that i>uvpose, and agreed to jiay SHJ.COO for it. 'i'lio land lias never Ijeen used to this day but for occasional ser- vices. (Hear, hear. ) I don't say « liethcr the price was too large or too little ; but if it vfim just. I tliink l.ind is very dear in that particular quarter — it is about twenty times tho price ot land at tho Kanunistiiiin.i, where we expect a great continental railway to have its teiminu.s on our lakes. And yet these are the parties who have the assurance to come before tho yeo- manry of this country and hurl thi>se charges against iiiyKclf and friends, who have endeavoured to carry into practicil ed'ei't the ivlorms tiiey advocated in t>pposition. There are two or three other matters to which 1 wi:dx to refer lirietly. Plan of Building tho Pnclflc Railway. You have seen tho accusation that 1 have been spending a great doil of money on tho Fort Francis locks. 'J'hose not intimate with the geographieal description of tho country from Fort William to Selkirk will understand that my plan, as (hnelopcd in iiiy election specidi at ijarniii, and my jilan now in reg-ucl to the I'acirie Kailway, was, that it was r.npossible to cany out the bargain which the late C()\ ci nincut iiiijiruvideiitiy and inipro2:erly tii iile Mith Liiti-h J'.MUUilu < 33 h.-xnUs of thix r twu niilea of ya, \vo apjiolnt ijfiiil (lualitii'd- (itionst, wi^ \K\y tiilio oviilciicu lis, ft very ftl>lo i\ iiiiriliant nt I 1 duii't know tvA ;is one man •in,i,'stiiiio, friiiii L'liii'ii. No una tion, the result n. Mr. I'anlue, • -wt'll aci|ii!iiiit- icd Mr. WilHon, li the v.-.liiiition ^vii in that i ity Canada to-»lay. 3 yet rcniainin^^ jharj^e it.i 15iit or with favour- Mr. t'huirinan, ,r3 a>;o. I said I, and I did in 'anal, for which sd him oidy ;V24 i.iued of the low a statement of ul to reconsider ly in tiie jpublic t tliey had con- for the land the wo have been t of way on the ritjht of way for >ther district — 1 iiul at Kaminis- ing, and no one er in the Ifousf; .^lii,CU'J for tAvo a iiujiulation of ivns of Chatham ;ht have a deep cr Mitchell, the at iiuriKise, and • oocasiimal ser- but if it was ncs the price nt ivo its terminus before the yco- iv(! cndeavoureil are two or tlucf icy on the Foit iiitry from Fort |iec(;h at ljanii:i, to carry cut tie Jiiti-h J'-UiiUiliJ —made apparontly with no other object than to bo in a position to let onorniou* contracts an'l get enormous suuih from the contractors wherewith to corruj>t tha puldie of this i.\tM try. Our object was to keep that promise as far as it coulil i>o kept corisiHtpiitly with our mein-i, but wo liail (lutcrniinod that upon no account hhouid wo tax the bulk of the Dominion for the mere benefit of ton or Hftocn thousaml pt-opleon tho I'acilie coast. (Hear, hear, ami cheeis ) At tho same time we admitted th.it we were tinder a mora! o))Ii^iition to tho ])eot)h! of lliititili Coliirnliia to carry out as far as possible the proiniso our |>redeceHsorH had made. They were the triiHti-p^ of tho public, as wo were, and my idea was this— that wo sh(ui!d boyin at Fort William, at which iioint there i.i uxcellent water navigation during Keven or eigiit montlis of tiie year, as soon as possible, without waiting for the completion of the surveys west ; that from there we should l)uilossible to the crossing point of the Winni))e<4 l!ivi^r at Kat Portage (now Keowati i : that we shonhl build as murji on the wwst end us would liririg us from Selkirk, on Red Kivei, o tho waters oC the Lake of the U ooa build tho road between .Selkirk ami Kort William, the distance suiiposeil to have been 4'A'2 miles, but which ix not more tliun 4us miica by the surveyed line. We have contracts going on which will eiuible im to liavo the road from Selkirk to V/innipeg River (110 miles) by the end of next season ; und wo have contiuets to English River— ll(i miles— from Fort William westward. At a distance of alniut 7(1 iiiileH *o reach the waters of Iac iIoj Mille Iacs. When we reach these two point.'^ west and east we liavn only a few portages — I think six in all — the longest tiiroe miles, the others very short, which we can overcome by (iheap tramways for Hiit}icnlt part of the country to obtain any inforimiiioii about for contractors, and that it was very desirable to proceed aa soon as possible. The lata Government undertook to build two steamers in this very country by contract, but owing to insuperalde dillicuities the contractors abandoned the work, and the Coveinmeiit had to linish it themselves by day lalH>ur. There is one amusing incident in this days' lahour connuctii>n. Sir Jobn on the Enormity of Doing Work by Days' Labour. I had my finger on tho spot at tho moment Sir John was making a charge of doing the work by days' lalxmr, aixl I was in a position to tell him that in that very di.strict and on that very roail he had expended f the amount of money that wo have ex- pended on public works, exclusive of railways, during the last ten years. Comparative Expenditure on FubUc Works-lSCS to 1870. In 1868, the first year of Confederation, there was expended l)y the tl\eii Government, on public works, exclusive of railways, §81.5,210 85 ; I8()i), $(i7<>,H)3 C.5 ; l«70, 5i:2. ISH.iW ").S ; 1871, §3.389.02.'?; 1872. S(),21.5,()49; 1873. St), 775, Mil 41. In 1874. our tir.st year. *.'i,r>7:<,(>4S 'Xi ; 1875. S(i,()00,:«)2 00 ; 187(5, 8(i,0.*J3,378 ; and the estimate for the current year, which closes on Saturday, S^i, 702,500. We thus have for the years we liave been in ollice an averatrc of the enormous ainounr of six millions ; while their .average was consil> . their party auytliing. are imbued c.nd it is ihe constant of the Con- I just ask ;o get these responsible J laughter and cheers. ) But with regard to the so-called reaction, it is only noticeable in the of counties which, like the two Ontarios, were never known to belong to one side or the other but have been all along turning first to this side, then to that. ' How some Quebec Counties were Gained. They gained two or three counties in Lower Canada by means which no honest man wilt justify— by bringing the power of ecclesiastical thunders and spiritual influence to bear in their favour. I shall never be able to say that I gained an election contest by such means as those.. (Hear, hear. ) But it will take them a long time to reduce our majority to any noticeable extent aV the rate at which they are now progressing. It is like a man Btanding on the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence, where there is an eddy in the stream, and when he Rees a little narrow current running upwards he rashes back and tells the whole country that the mighty stream has reversed its course, and is running from the ocean, though he knows that the great flood of the waters flows steadily on, unmindful of the eddies whicli any petty object may set flowing hither and thither. (Loud cheers.) I do not believe it possible for the people of this country to bring about a reaction which would carry into power the men who have committed a great wrong, and even at this day boldly stand up and justify that wrong. ( Hear, hear. ) 1 can forgive the public man who commits a blunder — I think it should be forgiven — but where there has been de- liberate wrong-doing, and when, four years afterwards, after the voice of the people has con- demned that wrong, the perpetrators come forward and boldly justify that wrong, they have> no right to demand any condonation at the hands of the public, far less a verdict of justifi- cation. The Liberal Prospoota. In conclusion, I beg to say that, so far as my knowledge of the prospects of the Liberal partT^ of Canada goes, they never looked better or brighter than at the present time. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I believe we have so conducted public afiairs as to banish every symptom o£ religious bigotry, and have reached a state of things in which men of varions oreeds can liver happily and peacefully together under the broad folds of that national banner of which, as Cana- dians, wc are so proud. (Cheers.) I believe the policy of reform w hich the Government has initiated and carried forward in every branch of the puQUc service is one that will be sanctioned and accepted by a vast majority of the people. Depression and Protection. I know that some people imagine that in a period of depression the Government can do a great deal to resuscitate business and induce prosperity ; but any prosperity we may have is owing, not to legislation, but to the hard work, the industry, the pr-xluctive powers and energy of our people ; and any attempt to bolster our manufactures by giving them an extra- vagant amount of protection would simply amount to the imposition of a heavy taxation on the farmer. (Hear, hear. ) The farming interest is the one that sustains this country. We have already given to our manufacturers 2J per cent, more protection than thsy had when we came into office in order to reach a larger revenue. I believe that if we were to give any more it would simply have the effect of limiting the amount of our importations. That would limit our revenue, and we would be obliged to resort to direct taxation in order to meet the tinancial wants of the country. It is in.possible to offer anything like what people call protection, be- cause it is neither our market nor that of the United .States that controls the world, but that of England. (Hear, hear.) You can take your choice of selling grain either to the Americans or to England. The Americans sell grain to England ; we sell ours either to the United States or England ; and nothing would raise the vi •• of ^rain one cent except as regards corn — and of that our farmers consume nearly the wholf , e; "ci^t what is used by the manufacturers of whiskey. I will say no more on this question i.l prt.tuut, as I purjwse discussing it at some length on another occasion. I believe tl.e i;icat mas.i of the people do not brieve that the way to alleviate distress is to impost: m^rc taxation. The idea is iUo^cal, aiid cannot com nend itself to any reasonable mind. Our oojeji if, to make this a cheap couairy to live in. The i)rices of what we sell are regulated b;^' the i'nglish market, and not by anjtuing oa tins sule of thfr Atlantic. I ag.ain thank you for yout kind reception of my.self and my frie ids. and I would gay as my last word to you on the ;jrese it occasion, that it will always Ik ,1 reiuunibruuce with me, that it the moment when s'luder aiul personal venom are dui.ig their worst, the people of Lambtou turned out by the ten thousand in honour of the Adnani'jtration which I have led for some years, and wliich either I or some other meml>er of the Reform party will have the honour to lead for many years to come. (Loud ami pr-'lv/Uo'ed applause.) the spirit )rse than a monstrour. went and up to the ." (Loud THE DEMONSTRATION AT NEWMARKET. MONDAY, JULY 2na, 1877. Speeches of the Premier and the Finance Minister. !»!*' s i I. II ;f' »'vr-^ North York Tlcformorsheld thei' Demonstration at Newmarket on Dominion Day — the tenth anniversaiy of Coufedeiution. In all respects it was a complete success, giving unmistakable proof (>t that old l)aiiuer county's continued devotion to the principles of Reform. From eight t» ten thousand people were on thu grounds, the chair being occupied bj* the member for the liiding, Mr. A. H. Dymoud, M. P. The speakers were Hon. R. .1. Cartwritjht, Hon. A. Mackenzie, Hon. A. S. Hanly, and Hon. L S. Huntington ; besides whom the following members of the H'ust; of Gominona and J>f the Ontaiio Legislature were present : /E. Irvmg, M.P., Q.C ; H. H. Cook, MP. ; Dr. Wilea8Ure it gives me to be able to address so very large an audience as is now gatliered together to hear addresses from some of tlie public men of the country. I do not shrink from the ordeal of meeting ;ny fellow-countrymen here or elsewhere to tender an account of my stewardship as a meuiber of the Administration. Nor did I ever hesitate when I was simply a member of the Opposition to come forward to speak freely and frankly of the public qufstions which at that time were the siibjijcts of thought ami discussion. (Hear, hear.) You have hail throughout the country during tlie last few weeks abundance of public speaking — such as it is — (hear, here, and laughter) — ami it is hut fair that the Government wliose position has been assailed, whose inemhers have been vilitied, whose administration of public alfairs lins been grossly misrepresented, should, in an occasional manner, tind time for addressing the same people who have heard the gross attacks which have been heaped upon them. Charges Insinuated ' rather thAn Made. At previous meetings I have taken occasion uo refer specially to the charges — or rather the insinuations — which have foumla place in the .iddresses of my opponents; bikI I purpose, before these meetings are ended, to answer every charge which has been insimiateil rather than maile against the < tovernmeiit ; for, us you will jicrhaps have observed, these gentlemen have never dared to make a direct cliar;j;e atl'ecting either my own perscmal honour or that of my colleagues. ((Jheers. ) The only person who has made a direct charge against me is now arraigned at my in- st;uice at a court of justice, when he will have an opportunity of proving his allegations. (Hear, hear.) The Opposition Invited to Make their Charges Spooiflo in Parliament. I said last year that the very least that ccmhl be done by Sir John Macdonald and Dr. Tupper, after t!ie statenu^uts they had made in their peregrinarions through the country last season, was to bring directly before the H(mae of Commons, as the highest judicial body in the'nntioii, the eharues which they seemed to prefer against me. (Hear, hear.) Hut, as I stated at another meeting, the session came and went, and no movemF'iit was made in the direction ; but no tooarr are they free from the reK])on.sibkli>ies of their (Ktsition as membi^rs of tlie House of (.'(imiiiout than they proceed to reiterate what have now >iecoine the stalest kind of Blaudets, devoid of even a particle of foundation in fact. (1^1 ear, hear, and cheers.) Oppoftltton Xzpectations of OlBoe. I have observed that, thft adilresses of niv opponents — to which I must necessarily allude — at these meetings consist of two classes of subjects : one is the reviling of particular opponents, and RKET. linistcr. Day — the tentb unmistakable From eight t» for the Hiding, A. Mackenzie, aembers of the VI. P., Q.C ; H. fcxton, MP. P. ; Idress from the the Reformers party drove to Leury, both the ig WM received lien, I need not ance as is now itry. I do not iler an account ite when I was of the public hear.) You peaking — such whoso position bliu affairs has losing the same -or rather the purpose, bef'^re ;her than made len have niiver my colleagues, yned at my in- atiuua. (Hear, ent. nd Dr. Tupper, lat Reason, was tlie nation, the ted at luiother but no t-oo;ii'r of (Jonniions del a, devoid of rily allude — at Dpponents, and 37 the other is the indulgence in delightful anticipation of the time when they should again become Ministers of the Crown. (Hear, hear.) They seem to think that it is a matter of tlie utmost solicitude to thejjeople of this country that they shohld become its rulers— [A voice : "They never will !"] — that their admiring audiences are anxious for the day to arrive when a new Pacitio Scandal may be formed out of the same elements which comjiosed the old one. (Hear, hear.) They seem to imagine that the people of this country have forgotten — as if they could ever for- get — the events of 1872 and 187.3. They appear to think that because some admiring Tories 8|icak 0* the accusations, which at that time were clearly proven, as slanders and misrepresen- tations, as a " gi'oss outrage'' — so one man characterized it — "on the Conservative party," that every person has forgotten that there was no slander about it— unless, indeed, one can slander thes*! people by telling the truth of them — (laughter) — no misrepresentation ; that every- thing wiis established clearly, conclusively, on their own evidence ; that they retired from office sooner than face a vote in a House of their own election ; that so completely hail i)ublic opinion stampe 1 them as guilty of that outrage which my hon. friend the Postmaster-General broughv against them, that they quailed before the stern voice of an indignant people. (Hear, hear, and clieers.) And now they think that the just verdict which the people passed on them is to be reversed ; they speak of the matter as if they were grossly ill-used. I am leminded by the remarks which they make on that crime of a story told of a certain clever lawyer and his client. The client was indicteu for the crime of horse-stealing. When he was tried, the lawyer made so clever an appeal to the jury that they brought in a veidict of acquittal. After the trial was over the lawyer said to the man, "Now, Joe, that you are acquitted, tell me fraidily if you stole that horse." " Well," said Joe, '•' I thought until I heard y«.u address that jury that 1 did steal the horse, but now I must say I have my doubts about it " (Loud laughter.) These people seem to have grave doubts in their minds whether such a person as Sir Hugh Allan ever existed, and whether they ever got that additional ien thousand for which they asked ; indeed they seem to think it impossible that such a thing as the whole transaction ever could have happened. (Hear, heai-. ) We arc met here to-day to discuss political events which aiiect the history of tliit country, for we are fast making political history for Canada. Object of Meetings. . We are met to review the events of last session. 1 am here to defend the actions of the Government for the last tour sessions, and I venture to say that when the statements I have made at previous meetings and those which 1 shall make at this and at other meetings yet to be hehl, as well as the statements which my hon. friend the Finance Minister has made to-day, and those he has yet to make, are reported in the public press, they will cause the slanders which have been uttered against us to drop like tattered garments from those who created them for their own purjjoses. (Cheers.) What possible object could I and my colleagues have in doing the things which they cliarge against usY Would it be any object for nie and other members of the Administration to enter on a course of utter politiciil dissipation, and thus dig our own graves in the estimation of the electors of this country ? (Hear, hear.) 1 have been sixteen years in Parliament in Opposition — ns well as a member of an Administration, either in the House of Commons or in the Provincial Legislature, and during all these years, I n;ay have been charged with errors of judgment — I may have been guilty of making political blunders which should, perhaps, consign me to a less conspicuous position than 1 now occu[)y. A Free and Just Criticism of Government Policy Invited. Let these blunders be pointed out— h^t there be a free and impartial criticism of every act of my Administration— yes, of my life, public or private— (loud cheers)- but let not myself and other members of the Government be made the subjects of a mere system of reviling, of gross slando.rs* which have no real existence even in the heated imagination of those who utte. them (cheers; —those gentbmen who are .so very anxious to lill our slioes and oicupy the places from which they were driven by the indignant public opinion of an indignant country. (Loud cheers.) Still I am not very sorry that these gentlemen have made their perambulations through the country, because if we are right, the right will appear when the people have heard both sides of the story ; and jf we are wrong, we deserve no mercy at the hands of the electorate of the country. Conscious of our political uprightness, we court the fullest enqu/ry, the freest investigation into our political history. (Hear, hear. ) Tory and Reform Loyalty. We were told last year that the members of the Administration weie disloyal. They were graciouly pleased to exempt myself from that charge ; 1 was the only loyal mail in the Govern- ment, in Sir John Macdonald's estimation. That is a very, very stale device on the jjart of our Tory friends — (hear, hear) — and reminds me of what the great Irish orator, Edmund Hurke, said when the charge of disloyalty was brought against him by Mr. Oswald. He said, '' I yield to no man in respect to His Majesty, in loyalty to the Throne, but I do not thiik I am bound to extend the same feeling to His Majesty's man-servant, his maid-servant, his ox, and his ass." (I.aughtcr and cheers.) It is too late in the day to bring charges of that sort against the Liberals of this country — (hear, hear) — against the men who proved themselves the upholder* of British constitutional liberty ; the men who have brought this country to the })itch ot perfection it now occupies as a civilized and well-governed country, and have enacted laws in it which command the all but universal respect and allegiance of the people. Yet we arc to be treated to something of this kind year after year in orcler to throw discredit upon those who are Her Majesty's Ministers for the time being. 38 Ifki^^' »tfi'* A Tuppevlan Beprosentatlon of Times anterior to 1867. ^We are to-day celebrating the tenth anniver.-ary of thu new confeilerateil system of govern- CBtient. We were told a few days ago hy Dr Tupper in one of his speeches tirvt there was a foarfnltime just before Coafcderatiou ; "that the people of Lower Canada wore sti ring at each •other's faces', ready to spring at each other's throats, and thut we in Upper ( 'anaila wore also "in a terrible state of commotion. I never heard so before. (Laughter.) It is tme tliere was ;^reat ditRculty in governing this country, with the population in Lower Caniula so -Jiuoh in texcess of the English-speaking population. The Real Trouble In Governmont. The people of the Lower Province having peculiar feelings possessing laws of their own, and a diirercnt social and political system, there was some didieulty in harmonizing all the interests involved. Tbe Uberals first Advocated the Federal System.- Sir John against any Change to the Iiast Moment. And as long ago as 1859 the Liberal party of Ontario suggested a system of Confederation of the Provinces which might have the effect of removing these difiieulties. Sir John Macdonald and his Conservative allies opposed this until they were defeated in 1864, when he became a convert to the system, and we succeeded as a Parliamentary body, through his subserviency to office, in carrying it ; for he was willing to let us carry anythin.^ on the face of the earth, so long as ho might thereby retain office. (Laughter and cheers.) We said to him on the occasion I have referred to, " Since you re so fond of office, stay in office, only give us tho principles we want ; jgive us the measures anu , u may hove the office " '.Cheers.)' Torle.<) " '-'uat we should always let them Govern. And because we were sr gt ' jus then, they think we should do the same thing now, when ■^hey have nothing to give lu^ r, ; w hat we have already. You have no doubt f oHowed the •course of tho discussions during ti. j last four sessions in the House of Commons. And you have .-no doubt followed it also in our Canadian House of Peers — the Senate. The Senate a Strong Tory Aggressive Machine. You know that the Senate is tilled by appointments by the Government. Most of you are cmware that since tho foririation of the Senate ;il appointments were made to it by tho late Ad- ministration, every one of them but two being their own political friends. You arc aware, -doubtless, that the Senate has been used, for the last two sessions particularly, as apolitical •^engine of the most effective character, so far as they can make it so, in assaulting the Govern- ment. You are aware that the Senate, instead of showing itself a thoroughly independent part of the Government machine, has allowed itself to degenerate into being a mere political weapon in the hands of those who gave it existence. I don't complain of that. I simply point out the fact. Tories very mild In the Commons, where they l^ave no Power. The Administration were too powerful in the House of Commons to permit any unfair -.advantage to be taken of it there ; and as they could not assail us in tlie popular branch of the Xiegislature, to which the people themselves sent their representatives, they made their assaults (upon us in the Upper House, where our repi-eseutatiou was so small as to be practically power- less ir stemming the torrent of attack which they set loose upon us there. In the sessi.m of 1874, immediately after the general Section, when we had a majority of between 70 and 80, -.these gentlemen were as dumb as you please ; they had not a word to say ; they were afraid v.that we would bring up their political crimes as means of attack. Never was BesSrous to Revive the Shame of the Paoiflo Scandal. I never did that ; and at this moment I would not care even to discuss an event which cast f-so black a cloud over our political horizon, which dimmed Canadian patriotism, and told to the ■'whole civilized world that we had a class amongst us who cared nothing for the honour of their -■sountry, provided they subserved their own personal and party ends. (Hear, lyear. ) I say I ■^would not enter upon the discussion of that event, or refer to it, but for the fact that theso ■ gentlemen themselves constantly refer to and endeavour to justify the Pacific Scandal. What iiuks been their course ever since T In 1874 and 1875 we had no assaults upon our policy. Railway Act of 1874 Approved by Conservatives. When I introduced the present Pacific Railway Act, it passed through the House absolutely ■^without the alteration of a single word or syllable — without the addition of even a comma to its •'Contents. Within the last two years that policy has been attacked with tho utmost virulonco. We are accused of adopting a different jiolicy w^ith regard to the Canada Pacific Railway frem the one we adopted when wo took office. Suppose we do. 1 am ado])ting the policy wo are • driven to from circumstances. I would adopt the policy of driving along the grass sooner :;than ruin my horse and waggon by driving along the clay; and if I saw somebody ahead of me "(Vbo came to grief in the mud, 1 would be a fool to follow him. (Hear, hear.) Sir John's Paolflc Railway Polloy. They committed the Government to a promise to British Columbia to build the road in ten ^lyeara. Wo have now only four years more in which to redeem that absurd promise. [A voice : " ilow are you going to got out of it ?"] Well, you will be 8Hrpri,>ie8e a duty on coal, wheat, and other cereals. In 1871 he voted to abolish the very law he hatl been so industrious in promotiHg ; he committed the shocking crime of iufanticid'^ — he killed his own child, and then trampled the creature in the dust. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) We are asked to give way to such men as these. (Cries of " Never.") It may bo true, as the Doctor says, that the Finance Minister is. compared witii some people, a bungler ; that 1 am a signal failure in the Public Works Depariincnt ; but we are both willing to leave these questions to the judgment of the people rather thai, to the ipse dixit of the member for Cumberland. (Hear- bear, and loud cheers.) Ctoorge Brown and tbe Government. It may be true, as the Doctor's chief avers, that I am merely upheld by George Brown, and that the moment • George Brown falls I must fall. It would almost seem, aeeonling to their statements, that Mr. Brown travels around with us like our own shadows. I have not the sbghtest doubt that the fertile imaginations of the Tory lenders could see at this moment the figure of that grand Reformer — (loud cheers) — standing behind me and whi8]>ering into my ear. (Laughter.) These people have a mortal dread of the great journalist of Canada. (Renewed cheers.) They know from what took place in this country years ago what that same George Brown can accomplish with tongue and pen. (Hear, hear, and cheers. ) And, sir, whenever a fit of political auue seizes them tuey see George Brown standing like a nightmare before tliem. Cheers. ) His rery name is a source of terror to their ranks ; and they tLink they belittle ms 40 IXKW ■I ,... P' >,.; by tellinfj the pnMi'c that Ocerge Brown runs the machine. I only wish ho were ; no one woiiM be more osition were said to have unwittingly come under the law. Mr. Mackenzie Bowell, who was the owner of a newspaper, was said to have been paid by the Government a subsitly to the ex- tent of six and threepence, and that he had forfeited his scat. He (Sir John) declined to second the Bill or to support it, and Mr. Mackenzie went to Dr. Tupper, who also dtclimd. But, after Dr. Tupper and he (Sir John) had told Mr. Mackenzie that they would not support the Bill, he (Mr. Mackenzie) introduced it and carried it.'' It is quite true, as Sir John Macdonald says, that he and I had some conversation about it — though 1 uuderstood that conversation to have been private, and I never made use of it in public — but as he has chosen to stump the whole thing as a malicious lie, I will tell you exactly what passed. 1 asked Sir John Macdonald, as leader of the Opposition, to have a conversation with him about this mattei. 1 puinted out that there might be a dozen members in the House — we knew of a few — who might possibly be subjected to a penalty of £500 a day for every day they retained their seats, ami 1 suggested that it would not be wise to pass a Bill granting an indemnity to members, but which need not in any way alTect their seats, this bemg a matter for settlement by the law. Sir John Macdonald said he entirely approved of such a measure, and he asked me to pre{>are a Bill in this sense, and he would see his friends. I saw Dr. Tupper before this, and he promised me his hearty support to the Bill. I prepared the Bill in accordance with the understanding to which Sir John Macdonald and I had come, and 1 sent it to him to look at. He sent it back without a wcrd of approval or disapproval. I afterwards sent him a note askuig him if lie was prepared to second it, it being, so far as principles were concerned, a joint ett'ort of his and mine. His note in reply was that he could not second it, as most of his friends were opposed to it. I next sent to Dr. Tupper, and he replied that he approved of the measure, but as his friends weie divided on the question he could not second the Bill. 1 do not say he approved of the Bill formally after 1 gave nim a printed copy, but I do say he agreed to the policy which was foreshadowed before that Bill was printed. Another accusation Sir John Macdonald made is this: — "Gentlemen, there is not a more shameless system of bribery than that which has been carried on by the pre- sent Government, whether it be by buying up men by giving them contracts as in British ( 'o- Inmbia, or by buying them up by uftice as in Prince Kdward. In every Province you will tiud the most unblushing system of corruption directed against the representatives of the people. It is bad enough to buy a vote, but when the Government sets to work deliberately to corrupt the whole representative body, to seduce the representatives of the people from their duty by offer- ing them inducements, there is a blow struck at the very l)asis of representative i.iaututiona — and that blow has been struck by the present Government." Sir John's general Aeonsatlon of Bnylpg Members should be nuule Speolfie. No laneuage could be too strong to denounce such a statement as this. I recollect reading an incident relat^ of a man who was Known to be * very profane swearer. He was taking a load of pumpkins Up a long hill, when some bays came up trum behind, took out tlie uulboard of the waggon, bis horses sprung forward, and he looked back to see all his pumpkins rolling down \it^f 42 i I !.(.*«* .,»'• ,.,,,, I ill*' : if ■■!•• . > . iliSl! the hill, lie sat specohless, and the boys said, " Why don't you swear?" " T can't ; why no lan- guage cai. do justice to the occasion." (Loud laughter.) No language, I say, can be put in the mouth of manto denouncesoshamelessa pieceof political profligacy — to denounce such a speech aa that from a gentleman in his hi^h ]>osition — a stiitenient so scandalous in its conception, so in- famou.i in it i utterance. (Hear, near.) Let him name a member or a man who, as lie says, was bought by the giving of a contract. Surely he does not refer to the case of Mr. Anglin, for, as every one knows, 1 had no firmer and few abler supporters in Parliament than the member for Gloucester from the moment 1 first took ofhce. We had worked togetlier in almost everything since I sat in Pai'liameut ; and it ia a curious thing if one is to be obliged to buy one's stauucbest frieuda. Mr. AngUn's Position. Mr, Anglin is known as a distinguished member of the Roman Catholic Church, as the editor of the /'/■cfmaH newspaper, one of tlip ablest journals in the Dominion, and an indepen- dent supporter of the Government. It will be remembered he spoke in the .strongest terms of condemnation on the famous Argenteuil speech of my hon. friend the roalniaater-(: enc ,J — such was not the caso with a very largo number of those sitting opposite the hon. gentleman. Mr, James Domville brought a charge against the Minister of Customs thnt he sold goods to tiie (jovernment — a charge which was wholly untrue. When I came into office 1 found this same James Domville had a contract for delivering railway spikes on the Intercolonial at S96 per ton, although I was getting them delivered a few months later on the Pacific Railway at $54 per ton. Yet James Domville, like Sir John Macdonald, had the as.surance to bring this accusation and to make these gross attacks against honourable gentlemen on my side of the House. Sir John last year declared that no Conservative could get a contract— that, no matter who was the lowest, it was taken from him and given to a supporter of the Government. A statement with less foundation in fact could hardly be imagined. 1 have endeavoured at the other meetings which I have attended to deal with specific charges made against the Government, and as I have stated at these meetings, it is my intention to go over these charges one after the other, 80 that when reports of my speeches are published, they will form, I hope, a very conclusive answer to most of the attacks made upon us by the Conservative orators at their meetings. Public Tenders— How Xtealt with by Tory and Reform Oovemments. I have given data to show that while we passed over less than one-sixth part of the amount of the lowest tenders sent in to us, they, for the three years they were in office, had passed over two-thirds of the lowest tenders. This will show you how scandalous and untrue is the position of affairs with regard to contracts as stated by them. You will Hnd in reference to all the other charges and insinuations they have made, that there is the same conclusive answer. General Qnestlona of Policy. I should have liked at meetings like the present to deal with great questions of policy, to forecast the future of the Deminion, to refer to our present political system and to what i con- sider has been its grand success — to congratulate ourselves, on this the anniversary day of our Ccnfederatiou, upon the fact that that sy-stem has resulted in the practical equality of eyery Canadian, which was not enjoyed before 1866 — „ Tbe New Political System. — a system v^hich gives to Ontario and all the other Provinces the complete management of their own a'ilairs. At the same time we have undoubtedly very seriotis difficulties to contend against, rv ith a vast territory to govern, which we are practically unable to enter upon at the present moment. North-West Territory. Lieutenant-Governor Laird governs a country as large as the whole of Siberia, perhaps the largest territory governed by any single man, and that country has to be settled and its latent resources developed. We can invite all the nationalities in Europe to combine with us. We have now Germans, Icelanders, besides people from England, Ireland, and Scotland, pouring into that ountry. So with many other great questions att'ecting more or less the whole of the people of this country. All such matters might fairly be discussed in very long speeches were it not that we are compelled to attend to these false charges in order to dissipate in the minds of all the belief that there was a shadow of truth in any of these things that affect the personal honour of Ministers or the political character of the Administration. I would urge on you to continue your services in the cause of Reform— services long ago acknowledged by all Canadians in relation to the distinguished men you have hitherto sent, and to continue to support the gentleman who now represents you, and who has been a warm friend of the Administration, and a zealous member of Parliament in relation to all the business that comes before the House. I allude to Mr. Dymond. Milling and Agrlonltnral Interests and Protection. A friend sends a note to this effect :— " Explain why the milling and agricultural interests are not receiving that attention in the tariff that their position demands." I don't know that their position does demand it. I do not even think it is possible for the Government to [jive protection, but I do say this, that if the Government could protect and make everybody rich, without making any one poor, we would be very happy to do it ; and if any one shows mo how one man is to be made rich without taking money out of another's pocket 1 shall lie very glad to do it. It is the markets of England that jtemlate the prices of the great staples that we grow, and our people can sell their peas to England or the United States as they cnoose — they will sell wherever they get the beat prices ; but now you cannot imi>08e any protective duty 43 of our every ie rests >w that to ^iv« r rich, • how y glad bat Wtt — they e duty on articles coming into this country that will raise prices, when tlio pricoa hero are regulated by the ])ricu3 in Kiigland. It cannot be ili)iie. ItHijuito true that in one respect the miller might be benetited, as wo supply llie great bulk of the tlour to the mining reijionH of Nova Scotia ; we might c'jni])el thorn to take our Hour at lngher prices l)y preventing tlieni from buy- ing from Portland or Boston. But this could not bo done without iutliuting au injuutice on those people. (Hear, hear.) Cool and Grain -Different Speocbea fi-om Opposition in Different Places. Perhujis you will feel disposed to take Dr. Tnpjjer's punai^ea-tliat is, the imposition of a duty upon American coal coming into Ontario, and thus force Nova .Scotia coal up here. Dr. Tapper has been speaking at London and other jjlaci'S where they use a great deal of American coal, but he lia — if it he trnu tiiiit •Janiula is rriluci-d to tho degrading' jiosition of havini; to choose l)(!t\v('en two sets of kniives hihIlt (iill'iMUMt (;oiours — then I siiy your duty is not to rejilace men whom you know on tlirir own conffssion to have misused their jiliKT.s in order to aci.onii)li.sh their private ends ; not to rustore to a ni'W lease of power the present Fiist Minister an"l his colleii^ueH, hut to waih your Imiids of liotli of us. No piobh-m ia more liopeless, as was we'l said hy Mi'. Cailyh', thmi timt of ediiiinf^ an honest policy out of the jcint action of a community of knaves ; and if, as these gentlemen sny, all our leadini{ pul)!ic men are so steeped in corruption, it is your duty, as it is your riuiu and jiriviief^e, to efioose from anion}? yourselves honest men who will fairly and faithfully administer the government of the country. (Cheers.) I come hefore yon putting forward no such vile plea as that. I say that althou;;li the present Ministry are not infallible; although they may have eoinmitted mistakes, a-s every man is liab'c to do ; althougli under circunistaueea of great diiliculty they may not have always beeu able to choo.sc the best and wisest course — though it may be that the edurse wiiieh we honestly believed to be the bust and the wisest cannot tte proved to be so — yet we do claini that on the whole wo have honestly administered the alfairs of our country ; we come before the eleetors seeking their suppc. t on the ground that we have done tho best we could, and that that best, though not puifeui, yet in ua good aa could rea.somil)Iy have beeu eK]iucled. (Loud cheers.) An Old and Stale Triok. It is nn old and rather a stale device when men have been charged with a particular cvimo that they should seek to direct attention from the subject by accusing the men who have brought thein to justice of similar ollenecs. (Hear, hear.) If men jjroveil giiilty, on their own confession, before a Commission appointed by themselve.^, of the gravest corrupt i>ractice.s — if men who, at the same time, have been proven by the most incontestible evidence to nave been al.so guilty of the gros.sest extravagance, and who furtherHiore by the unanimous verdict of tho country liave shown themselves (ill many im]iortant matters) incompetent for the jiroper discharge of their duties, should again niesent themsulvea as candidates for your favour, there is nothing more natnial than that tliey Kiiould seek to divert your attention, should seek to turn away your minds Irom the con- sideration of the offences they committed, by charging their successors with precisidy similar crimes. And that is exactly what has been done, and what kp being Uuue now ; iu that cunsiats the whole real policy of the Opposition of this country. (Hear, hear.) A Special Charge. There is one special charge to which 1 purpose specially directing myself, which th»y have taken every o- portunity of bringing against tiiis Government. Knowing that on many occasions we have provi d them to be guilty of very great extravagance, they retort on us by saying that we also are extravagant, incompetent, and corrupt. On the Hoor of I'arliament they fcave attempted again an7, to dare to advance such a charge against any man or any Government. (Hear, hear. ) Leading Facts. There are two main facts connected witli those gentlemen's proceedings which I would trouble yon to hear in mind. When they took office in 18(57 tliey found tlic annual average expenditure of this country to be something like l/iirtcnii ainl a half nii/liumi, in four ' nhers. When they retired from otlice in 1873 they had committed this country to an aun ' ; :iienditure of twenty thref miUwvs Ihrm hundred mid Dix/.een l/wicuniul dollars, being as nearly u.i jiojsible an increa.se in little more than six years of ten miUiuiis of dollars on the whole of the ordinary expenditure of the country. Additional Liabilities Incnrred. But that was not all, because they had at the same time incurred further lial'ilitie.s amounting to no less a sum than nearly Ihrccmillions addilional to the $'2.S,3i6,00O alreuiy nie;iti(..;ed. Lest there should be any doubt as to the accuracy of this assertion, 1 will give in detail the seveial sums which go to make this additional amount of three millions ol' dollars of liabilities which they incurred, but whiidi had not theu become part of the ]iernianeiit charg<'8 on tlie revenue. In the first place, over and above the total expenditure of 1873-4 there must he added to the interest on the [Miblic debt the sum of $225,000, being the second half-year's instalment of interest on Mr. Tilley's loan contracted in September, 1873, which did not enter into the public ae.countj< of 1873-4, the money having been borrowed so late iu the year that only one half- year's intei'est could be charged against that item. Before jiroceeding I may as well observe here that I am not necessarily eondemniupt those several expenditures, btit I am simjily pointing out to you the position in which they had left the finances ot tl»e country when my hon. friend the present First Minister ftssumed power. To re- 46 .suriic iiivniinlyRis. Thoy had also mlcreii nf.oij a fiygteiii of [iidinn froatics with tho Indian tribes •it th« y«ithwist wliiili Imve involved an udditioniil cxjicnditureof 8-iOO,000 p*r annum. Further, tlifv IiikI created a Mounted I'olice whirti, if maintained ut the footing; Ibey had fixed, involved a fiirflier exiiemlitiire ot Jl.lO.OOi in round uunibcr.s. They had jirovided in the statute bcok for, mid hitd exhrnded, a considerable Huni of money in prelitiiinnry stejiH for organizing a iystem of weights and measures, which the jiresent Government foun( 8100,000. They hid passed two Acts regulating the statutory inn-f.eue of $iiarUs in the Cifil Servicf and the mode of 8U|)(>rannuating civil servants, whereby a considerable annual ndclition to the public expenditure was ne(;e8sarily incurred, the amount jirobably averaging soma $'25,000 a year, or amounting in the three years of which I am now treating to some $76,000. A very large portion of the Intercolonial Railway bad not been finished, and as the present Gov- ernment hud to nrovide for the working of that railway, it is quite clear that to the gross e* "•id>- ture of ]h7.'t-4 there will have to be added from three to four hundred thou.sand dollars • wovkitig cxpeiL^ies of that portion of the Intercolonial Railway which was not then in oij .i, but whi'h his since been completed. Then by the terms of the treaty with Prince Edward Island, they had providoovtnnce, which 1 siiall enumerate presently, and yet we have done all that without adding, at any rate, viori than three or four hundred thousand «nditure wtiich took jdace in 1873-4 over 187'-H, I i>ru|i»Mt< to giv« you a short suniinary of tho iiiniii itninn which cuuipose tlin additiou to the ex|ii!ndituru ot the |u'o- ceding year. You will remember that in 1873-4 soinetliing like four million dollars in round numbers waa added to the general public exnendituro — that expenditure which is Known ns charge* able to the ordinary Consolidated bund. Here uro the chief items, i\nd 1 will leave it to you to say how far we are to be held fairly responsible for these additions. The firnt item, and the largest one, was the assumption of the Provincial debt and the subsidy to Now Hrunswick, amounting to 1850,000 per year. Now, if there were two men in Canada who more than any others prutustod against that unfortunate measure it was Mr. Mackenzie ami myself. V«u have only to refer to the records of the debates of that period to find how strongly we o[iposed granting the additional bonus to the Provinces, and that we did all in our power to prevent it, knowing that we were not in a position at that moment ta be generous, and that, considering the liabilities already under- taken, it was an act cf the grossest folly to saddle ourselves with nearly one million additional to our permanent debt. Then came the outlay caused by the admission of Prince Kdward Island, (|uite apart from the expenditure in connection with their railway, to which 1 have referred, amounting to over $500,000. I repeat now, as I have often said before, that I do not in the slightest degree blame "■hf jwiiple ofcJPri.nce Edward Island, i;. view of tho tunituWltii liabilities which weitiid iiicurred, for insisting on securing very excelUnt terms for themselves ; but it is utterly absurd for these entlemen to allege, as regards the admission of Prince Edward Island — carried by them, and aningecj ly them— that we are to be held responsible for one jot or tittle of that expenditure. Then the/ chosu to inerease the indemnity granted to members of Parliament, and to make many other additions to salaries of officers, entailing an addition of between $300,000 and $350,000. Then they were good euough to render it necessary to have an extra seasion or two, and ulthough they may perhaps plead that they submitted to that extra session rather unwillingly, still, inasmuch as they were the culpriti to be tried, 1 think they should in all fairness be charged with the cost of bringing them to the bat of justice. The amount of this expense was $200,000. Then they made certain altera- tions, to which I do not object, in the mode of conducting the Post Oflice business, resulting in an addition of about $300,000 to the public expendifme — although, of course, mostly balanced by receipts. They also organized the Mounted Police roe at a cost oi about $200,000, although that only represented a part of the actual expemliiure of that year. There remains about $225,000, being the additional half-year's interest and sinking fund on Mr. Tilley's loan, for wliich we were in no way responsible. They had also given out contracts for a great variety of public works usually chargeable to income, amounting in all to $250,000 in excess of the sum expended in 1872-3. Further, they had contracted treaties with various Indian tribes involving an additional expenditure of $100,000. They had also incurred a great variety of aniounts lor miscellaneous expenditures amounting to between $850,000 and $1*00,000. In round numbers these items made a sum total of about ftw millions of additional expenditure. You will observe that of these items which 1 have recited, there is not one over which we, when we assumed office in 1873, could have exercised any control whatever, except, indeed, part of the election expenses. All the rest of these expenditures were formally and advisedly contracted by these gentlemen, and I repeat that no more di-shonest or more puerile attempt was ever made than the attempt to charge us with being responsible for the chief portion jf the increase of 1873-4, because we assumed otJice after four or five months of that year had elapsed, and I need hardly say I have far too much conlidence in your intelligence not to "believe that once that matter is brought fairly before you, you will not be deceived by these charges. Comparison of 1873-4 and 1875-<. 1 now propose, having dealt briefly with the general facts as between 1873-4 and 1876-7, to deal in some detail with those as regards the expenditure we incurred in 1875-C. You will observe that in 1873-4 we had attained a gross expenditure of $23,316,000. In 1875-fi our total expenditure ranged to about $24,488,000, showing an cxciss over 1873-4 ol something like $1,172,000. Now, if you can beur one circumstance in mind it will greatly facilitate my dealing with the subject. Our expenditure at present is divided into three great heads. The first is iutere.st on public debt and subsidies, which are known as " Fixed Charges, " and which, when once incuiTed, are absolutely outside the control of any Ministry. The second is known aa " Charges on Revenue,"— that is to say, charges in running the Post-office, working the canals and railways, and various other minor matters, such as expenses of the Customs and Excise, which are in a certain sen^e charges on both sides of the account, and although, in a certain measure, under the control of the Government, still practically they must almost be regarded as items of fixed expenditure. Real Test of Boonomy. The third and Inrgest division is known as "Ordinary Expenditure," and consists of snch Items aa civil government, administration of justice, ordinarj' public works, and other things of that kind, forming an expenditure by which the real extravagance or economy of a Ministry can always be best judged. If a Ministry is found to be largely increasing iU ordinary oxpenditui-e, and 18 unable to give very good and satisfactory reasons for so doing, you may be sure that they are dealing somewhat extravagantly with the public funds ; but if they are found steadily confin- ing this expenditure within its existing limit, and, still more, if they are found reducing it largely, you may be sure your resources are not being idly and uselessly squandered. I will pass over for A moment the ordinary exjwnditure and charges on revenue, and take up the charges on the public debt and subiidies. Under this head in 1873-4 the expenditure was $10,266,000, in 1876-6 xt 43 % W^ 0f. t. ui^ ■•.r>- jjlto *■■' rv 1 1 i i ill ,„,ttSl \i\t\f '•U'lif' %1 ■! i*m 1?iS lis was $11,122,675, showing a dilTerpnce of about .?S70,000 on fired charges for those two years. It, hecomes n iiiiuter of the fjn'ate.st iiu]ioi-t,ini;e, si-eiiif; that tlii.-i $870,000 compris'-s the great bulk of the ex.osH iis l)(*twi't;ii 1875-6 and l'<7;5-4, to ascertain hnw far thi-s Government is fairly ehargt'u'>le with any extravagance in respect to that amount, and also to ascertain wiio are tlie parties really reHjion^ilile for incurring in it the first instance. Now. tor this increase, be it bad or lie it good, I do not say that the late (Tovernment were necessarily blameworthy, but I do say that they are directly and entirely re:,ome six i,- seven years. (Hear, hear.) We, on the other hand, commencing with a total amount of expenditure >.♦' .'?8,a24,- 000, did. indeed, nominally increase the expcndituie to .^8. 569,000 in two years, but we tn'- to be gravely told that thou'^h it is perfectly right and proi)er that they should nearlv frdlc the /,uLlic <;x;w>(Wi<(trK in .six vciirs, we :ire to be hu led IVum power hs persons guilty of fin- grns.scst extia- vai.fan<'e, and a S!'t of corrupt iiK^iijiables because we added in the space of two years the sum ef $240,000 to the public expenditure. Now, I wish lurtlier to call your attention to the fact that even of this §240,000 for the boundary survey between Canada anit tlii United States, no .ess a .sum than Si;i4,0OO was not actually sjicnt in the year 1875-6, but, on the contrary, every pennv of it was expanded in 1873-4, thoiigii, owing to the fact that that survey was conducted by lm|ieii"al oiliccr.s we were notable to obtain an audit until 1875-6. and hence it ajipears in the accounts lur that year. If yon withdraw from the 58,5(59,000, ordinary exjienditnre for which wr \vvr>- icspoiisible in :>>75-6, that sum of ?>1 34,000, and add it to the .■b8,3'J4, 000 for which these gentlemen were respon.sible in 1873-4, you will have this result, that the actual verified expenditure for that year (I say verified, because there were other items like this properly chargeable to 1873-4. which 1 do not proiwse to faike into account) was $8,460, 00() in round nuinbers, whereas our actual expmdi- tnro for 187.'i 6, deducting that sum, atnouuttMl to §8,454,000— or in other words, our ordinary expenditure wa.s absolutely at the end of the two yejirs a trif.c Irnn than theirs, al'hou^h we hud iH-en obliged to provide for a great number of extraordinary calls from wliiclitin! late (Jo'v- eminent were fre.-. HI ■S 49 Extraorclluary Calls. First, tlicro was a con^idt r.ililc anicmnt tor tlic I'-vjieiiscs of the Supreme Court, wlnVIi I put ronj^hl)' at S7r),000 or §80. 000; tlicn wp Imd I'urtlur to jirovidf a cortaiii .sum for Canada's ex- peiists at till' riiil.iilrl]iiiiM lOxliiliitioii, wliicli w;.s cltMrly :iii extraoKliiiiiry cxjieiulitiUL'. There WMS also till' loan to tlie Mi'ii'ionitcs, aiiioniit-rf; to ^fliio.OOO, tlioiii;h a )iortioii of this smn will be chargi'ii iifjaiiist the year just closed. We had further to provide for t lie relief ot the unfor- tunate si'tth'is in iMnnilolia To tJie extent of aliout .?.s;i,(iO') ; we Iiad gr.uitcd pensions aniouriling to sonic 8:''0,o00 to till- shattered relics of the old veteians of l.Si2. ami in rec;ard to it 1 may say that if you are disposed to condi'iiin Mr. i\l u'lcenzie's (ioverniuent for tliat aot, we will liow in all meekness to youi' eensnve ; lint if thiit Iih the w ust act of extrav.ijrince which ean he charged against us, 1 nijstake very much the leeiini,'s of the old pioneers of North York if Mr. Dynioud or nny other of our sripiiorters lose a sini^h' vote on account of that exjieiiditnre. (Loud :'licer3. ) 'J'iien, ^'eutleinen. in (■luryini,' out tiie policy of o\ir predecessors — which I don't oondenu), and ■which J am not censiiiiu'.,', Init to which 1 h ive a perlcct ritiht to rail your attention, lieeause, it was a ]iolicy which tiiey tnicourawed, unve came into otiiee ; therelbre this result accrues, that whereas Wi- liail to provide for extra ei^lienditures over and aliove that which hail fallen u|ion their shonlders in lS7.">-4 to the extent of ei'/hl hinidicd and scvf.ntii-five Uicusdiid dollars, we were enabled to do it for something like four or Jive thoutiand dollni-i Irss than they did. (Cheers.) If you will now pass on to the third great subdivision of the jmhlic expenditr.re — that which is com- nionly known as "(Jhargi's on lieveiiue " — you will tinil that wlieieas their oiiginal clmrfjea in 1S()7 iimounted t.j Sl,SSo,000, they contrived to an^^^.ent it in the course of six years to ?4,73(j,(UKl — (hear, hear) — ov in other words, they iifarhj tr-l,!.-d if. We, in the two years between 1874 ami 1S7(), augmented it from S4.7;i<).00() to §4.7.4t;,00r). heini,' a total increase of S'1(),000, every ]ienny of which, I may say, was caused by the necessity of putting; in force the Weiirhts and Mcasuics Act, which they h ft as one of their many Iciiai'ies to us, good, bad, and iddill'erent. We may, ]ierhaps, have been to blame for putting ihul Act in force ; we oU'^ht, perha])s, to have known that no good thing could come from .-Ui h a source as Dr. Tujiper — (laughter)- — who was the original autlior of that measure, but certainly we are not fairly chaige- a!il>! with extiavagaiuM.', because when they li''t the Act nn the statute book, and incnrred a huge expense in mr.king pieliminary expenditures, we felt that v.-e wi-re ob.iged to expend a further nil. nint for the purpose of cairyiiig into operation the Act which tlicy themselves had pas.-ed. (Hear, hiar. ) It is true that though on some points we managed t-6 is the one most unfavourable to us, and the year 1873-4 the one most favourable to them, because we hod not then begun to experience the etlects of the policy to which they had couiinitteter of Public VVork.s, thought it his duty to com- plete these enterprises. Under the deparinient of Ocean and Kiver Services you will find that the exjienses increa.sed from $407,000 to $540,000, partly caused by the transfereiico of thi^ several bodies of ])olice from that heail to the head of River and Steam Service, and jiartly by the puii'hase of two large and valuable steamers for lighthouse purposes. The <,'reat increase in the expemliture for Mounted Police 1 have already refeiicd to. In Indian grants our tota! cxpendituie undui that head was necessarily increased from $140,000 to $27(), 000 ; aiut in the luaVterof Ooniininu lands in Manitoba we had succeeded in making a reduction of $70,000, having reduced that ex|iendilure from $283,000 to $212,000. In the matter of Doiniuiou forces iu Manitoba we have reduced the expenditure from §209,000 to §81,000. Summary of Results. Putting it briefly, we may summarize the results as follows: — Fir.st, the 'excess of 187() was caused wholly by the necessity of luoviding for public works commenced by our predecessors ; seconilly, that if the ordinary expenses of 1870 be adjusted by the subtraction of the cost of the boundary survey, it was absolutely less than that of 1874, in spite of the many additional and ex- tniordinary items ; thirdly, that 1 have every reason to believe that the ordinary expenditure of 1877 will be less by one and a half million- tjjan that of 1874, notwith' tandiiig that we have to proviile nearly $900,0 lO for new services; fourthly, that the true gross expi-nditure for 1877 will hardly exceed that of 1874, in spite of all those adw declare tliat it was our duty in 1874 to foresee how far the great deprp"»!on that has overspread the country might go, and that we were justly censurable, because, although we took considerable jnvcaulions, i-i i m 51 nistration y lie more [)ai'iug the ntion that ;ioii it was stiatioii of )iir exiien- (if the Su- ;ice in the ol County at th(! Su- Majfsty's i>y at li'List ttfi- of the iinils, t)iat igation be- I wliich nil t i'ov niMin- is chiefly itiarics. on 1-. Blake it 000, wlule u is almost ■s their ex- iction with (10 ; it was i$:5S5,0(iO, ■t'urity hcd tter of pen- total of the >urs. You 1S71, it in- t, and til at with I'efju- slidit. The ' ijl'iO.OOO; igeil, when n. Tliey •able to in- that you ity toeom- ;1 that the the several puK'hase leiiiliture iiuer that ninu hiinls [iiniliture dueed the 187() was [ecessors ; •ost of tlie al and ex- liture of •e have to for 1877 )'J0 foi in- Rubject SO desiro to ry was in eralile re- maintain dure tiiat le country cautions, w« did not go far enotigh. That may be very well, but allow me to say that most asstirclly Ttet Majesty's Opposition had no ground to bring that accusation against us. ^V'lly, sir, when I int rose to piojiose additional taxation, they decried me as an alarmist, as one running down the enitt of this country and wantoidy disturbing the whole course of trade. Tlu'y alleged that 1 was dekii- ing the people; and when I talked of the necessity of putting on new taxes, asserted most positively that 1 was actiiig in gross ignorance of the situation. I leave it to you to say what would bam been the position of Canada to-day i/ we had lost one hour in imposing those taxes, or had been in* duced on the faith of these assurances to stake our whole future on such a chance. I am prej>srid to admit frankly that I did not anticipate such an extensive depression as has fallen on the country; and that although we had made ample provision for a sharp gale, we were not prepared forsneiis commercial hurricane as we experienced. It is the duty of a Government to matte lair and reaevK- ablc calculations — not to anticipate evil before it comes, but to be prepared and ready to meet it when it iloes come. The calculations of a Government shouLI allow what appears to be a .suflicieat margin, but should not anticipate an extreme case. Such extreme cases, when they arise, most be met as they come, and 1 no more admit that the Government or the Finance Minister of Ji« day are to blame for not having prejjared in 1S74 for such a state of things as we had to deal with in 1S7(), than I would say that tlie captain of a vessel was to be censured because he did not in- niediately on ([nitting port prepare his ship as he would do when overtaken by a tempest. And I say the preparations we made and the taxes we imposed — although it was not possiole to foresee the full extent of the depression, or to guard en'irely against all chance of' a deficit^still have lieea so far useful that we have passed through thi.s unexampled crisis with less of injury and danger to the body politic than was the case on former occasions. And had our words been listened to whes pressed on I'arlianient in 1873, at the time of the assumption of the Provincial debt, and of tbe iihnission of I'rince I'^dward Island, one costing §850,001) and the other .?500,000 per year, then would have been no fear of a deficit to-day, no matter what reduction might occur in the ordiouj revenue. Time to Pause. The time for Interference was in 1873, when the debt was assumed and Prince Edward Islaui admitted. Hut the Government of that day refused to listen to our advice, and we must bear the consequences of their folly. As to my estimates of the probable receipts of 187(j-7, I am now is z position to .say that our expectations would have been fullilled tothe letter had notour calculatioaa been deranged by the occurrence of an unusually bad harvest, which reduced our receipts at tiic very least from five to ten per cent, both in cutitoms and excise. Those of you who have studied the fiscal policy of this country, and tlio.se who know how deejdy the welfare of all classes and r&nk* are connected with that of the farming po]iulation, will understand me when I say that no calculatioM can be expei^ted to come within five or ten per cent, of the fact, when we have to contend witk such a harvest as that which overtook us last year. But if this be made a ground of attack on us — if it be a cardinal fault in a statesman not to foresee eighteen months ahead, what calamities a hid. season may inflict on the country, what are we to .say of the amazing accuracy of the forecast cf coming events displayed by Mr. Tilley in 1873, and still more by Dr. Tupper in 1874 T Dr. Tupjper's Proplieoy. I have here the speech of Dr. Tupper on the occasion of the imposition of the tariff of 1871^; to which I will call the attention of the jieoide of Canada, in which Di. Tapper has recorded far all Lime how very accurately he foresaw the present position of this country. " He (Dr. Tup]>ert maintained that it was not necessary to impose a single dollar of additional taxation on the people. * * * The hon. gentleman (the Finance Minister) had admitted that he had miscalo»- li'.ted the tme resources of the country. He (Dr. Tupper) was encouiagel by this to venture another suggestion, and that was that instead of impo.sing the three millions of '/cw taxation, and instead of deranging the trade and business of the country, and instead of trying a new experiment, he would let wf U alone, and rest upon the tariff which he (Dr. Tupper) had shows him he might rely upon to yield an additional one and adialf millions year after year." Mark this well. Not only did we not need new taxes, but we were to have an additional one and a-half millions year after year. He then proceeded to say : — " He (Dr. Tupper) maintained tliat it wa* not necessary to impose a single dollar of additional taxation on the peojde. » • » Ijook to where they would, to the east, west, north, and south ; look in eviuy direction they would, exc'cpt into the inner consciou.sness of the Finance Minister himself, and they found everything in as ])rosperou3 condition as any country was in on the face of the globe." Nor was Mr. Tilley one whit behindhand. He, in 1873, almost at the very moment I was oiiiiosing t!is cn.>rniun« ailditions which he was making to the general expcndiluie of the country, was good enough t» speak in this v."ise ; — "Supposing there should be no increase in the importations and general trade of the country, which is sujiposablc, but which certainly will not be realized." That wa» Mr. Tillcy's iM)sition — no mere chance expression, mind you, but his ileliberato o|)iniiin, main- tained andjustilied from one end of his builget sjieech to the other — it was " siippusahh " tliai tlve importations of 1873 nnght not increase, but as for exixicting a diminution alid such reverses a* We have had to contend with, such a contingency never entered into Sir John Macdonald't calculations, or those of Mr. Tilley, his Finance Ministir that was, or into those of Dr. ( iiarle* Tujiper, his Finance Minister that is to be. What 1 call vour attention to is this : — I am not condi'inniiig them lor what they said ; but I wish to )ioint out to you how much in error tlwy were when in 1873 and 1S74 — when any man who had read the signs of the times eonhl i>ot fail to see indications of the great and disastrous reaction whiih was coming over this country — their Uilviei. was .such that, had 1 taken il, I would assiiieilly have had to deal, not with om; or twfl deticits, but wilh/owr succeaavu delicita of liu^e dimensions. And let me ask you, had i gone ta 62 ii -- J Enpland, ■with a drfioit storing me in my face, to borniw monpy, I ask you wTint would have hcnn my rtM!c]ition there ? Wliat wniild hiivn Ium-u tliii criidit of Cuiiiida to-ilay f TIks crudit of Cmiaila Wiis safe, heciuise tlte (iovfriiiiii^nt of (Iimada had the inanliiic^ss to hiok tlie tliiiiu lu tlie fnci', and impose taxes whieli, if not, ([iiite siitlii'iciit to clcir our way of ditliciiltiL'.-i, w'ns sullicimit to Have our credit, and enalile me to Imrrow for Caniida hir;,'e sums iu the uiarke'-a of the world, ou belter terms than ever Canada hail been able, to borrow befor- Zs a Deficit Proof of Incompctenoo ? I notice thnt not only T*t. Tupper, hnt even Sir Joliu Macdonald, who is »»pnprally a pood ieal more cautions if not more accurate in his statements than the lion, niftiibcr for ('umber- land, has been jilcascd to inipnte the fact of one (hticit liavin;^ existed as a signal ]iroof of the incoii)]ietence of tills Adiiiiiiistration, ar.d more particularly of the Fiiiimce Minister tliercof. "How, <;rntlcmen, out of their own months will they be jud^'ed. Let us a^.smiie tliat every deficit ■which occurs, no matter nmlcr what circnmstances, no matter whit misfortunes may have over- ■taken a country, is a clear proof of incomjietence on the part of those charged with the adminis- tration of atl'airs. Sir Jolm A. Haodonald's Record. Knowing somethinc; of Sir John's own previous financial history, I thouglit it well before toming here to order the odicers of my Department (without any reference to me) to prepare a abort statement of Sir John's linancial rifcord durin;i the eight or ten years which he administered the afl'airs of Canada vilhout tlu; invaluable assistance of Dr. Charles Tupper. From this itatenient I find that during the year ending 31st December, lSr)8, the total revenue was 85,270,- 627; the total expenditure ■was S8,()45,94-l, being a total detieit in that ycHr of .S:'',,-!7r),S17. (Hear, Lear, ■> In tiie year ending lil't Oeccndn-r, 18.5<(, the recei]its were $(),r>97,017 ; the exiien- diture $8,091,701, Leing a total dciicit of §1.494,744. In the year 18(50, the receijits were 57,436,585 ; the CApenditnve $'.),440,57(), or a total delicit of §1,973,989. In the year 18()1 the revenue was $7.54 3. 92(;; the exjjcnditure ?9,.^.42,9;54, or a deficit of $1,199,008. in lKt>2 the receipts -were $7,377, IG.'), the expemliture $0,441,497, the amount of the delicit $2,0(54, 3:{'2. la other ■words, he had a delicit: the first of tbc.so yi.'ars of 39 jicr cent., the second 18 i»er cent., the third about 21 per cent., the fourth about 'jj, and the tiftli nearly 22 percent. "(Hear, bear.) Kow, if, as Sir John asserts, the existence of a deficit is a manifest evidence of the incompetence of an Administration, and in order th.at yon may understand what benefit you may expect from the change, if you turn out this iiieoinpeteiit crew, and ]>ut in iliercentages they amounted to. It Is tnie, I may be told that all these occurred before Confederation ; or, in other words, tliat they had no Dr. Charles Tupper ; that Sir Jolin was relegated to the tender mercies of such "inferi]>ropriate financial remedies; no sage of Cumberland to look "east and West, and sonth and north, and everywhere except into the inner consciousness " of that visionary alarmist, the present Finance Minister — no wi.se medicine man to see, as clearly as Dr. Tupjier did in 1874, that there was no ground for fearing a dimitiution of imports, and no necessity for iui{K/bing additional taxation. I n O n M ■y. O H H >■ > '■^ . have bcpn of Ciiiiaila le fiici% unci iiuit to tiiive 1, ou belter '0- 3 I '1 I f 9 ■y. O CO •^1 IS - r 3 o o c z PI -< I s. i a a o 3 ?? 2. o -r ...J W w PI 7i H C trr- ^ •3 fl ^ 1 :::. 2. CO in p B P- O P P B P- o B o I 5i ;s 3 ^ r Pi > ^ re o ? H B ^ 2 tg e- CO 5 1-1 p- W CD W O B ►3 re P- o i p- a> p. 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P tr ■' - ' ^ tL* ^ ^*^ ^ P- — ii O C .-' :> c o ;,. 5 2 »- -_> <» X ^ Q > h C > H 54 Tuppor on Blake and others of tbo Administration. Dr. Tiipper, miroTviT, was s^oul (luou^h to '^Wa a short skot.-'h of a feak on hi.s own behalf; but I think I know something of Charles Tiip|ier, and I believe 1 know •ometliint,' of Edward i-!lake — (eheers) — and I am not very greatly Mnjirised that .such a man as Charles Tn])])er should exjire.ss sneh an o])inioa of Edward Hiake. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I can only say that the bare idea of Dr. Tujumr pretending to measure Edward H'ake suggests to my iiMnil, as it will to many of you, the natural dilliculties experienced by the people of Lilliput in trying to take the measure of Mr. Gulliver. (Hear, hear, laughter and cheers.) l)r. Tapper is * learned physii;ian ; I don't know whether he is eijually well aoipiainted with bn-'''Hrcs as with medicine, but his remarks upon Mr. Lilake bring most forcibly to my ndnd eei Lain lines of Al«.xander Pope's upon a similar happy ciiticisni attempted by the varioua Dr. Tuppers of that era: — Pope on Tapper. The critic's eye. that niicroncopn nf ^t, Sees hiurs and pores, examines l)it by bit; How part iil;itcs to i>art, or tlioy to wliolo. What niouiilHthe features, wliat inspires the soul, Are thiiig'^ tlie S!>(fe nf Cumberland will see When man's whole frame is obvious to atlea. (Loufl laughter.) I hope Dr. Tupper will forgive the comparison; at all events ho will please remember that it is the late Alexander Pope's — it is not mine. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I am bound to say, however, that the Doctor is un exceedingly energetic and lively tl(;n, that ho some- times ni:ikes him-self very troublesome, and that he j)osses.ses aiKjther attribute of that animal —he is very ditilcult to catch. (Loud laughter nnd cheers.) You nniy put your hand on him here, and lo ! he is tliern — (renewed laughter)— and wh' n you think you have hiiu there, ho turus up as lively us ever in another corner. (Renewed laughter.) Political History of Dr. Tapper. But, as Dr. Tupjier is, as I have shown yn, the sold liojie of the Opposition, the sole element in whii h tli(! men of 18(50 dilfer from those of 18(57 and 1874, it is well worth our while to examine the grounds upon whiih the Opposition rely on him as a linancier and political leader, if it should be his fate again to ligiir,- on the arena of the Treasiiry lienches. I am not vitv well versed in the politics of Xvova Scotia, but I remnnber that in 186'4 they had a considerable interest for us, and at that time l)i-. Tiipper led a well-organizcd and powerful paity in Xuva Scotia, to whieh he had Bucceeiled on the retirement of Mr. Johnson. He was then Premier of his native Province, with a remarkably well-organized party at his back ; ho hud before him the work of carrying (Confedera- tion in one of the most loyal Provinces of Her Majesty's dominions. Tiiere were many reasnns that made Nova Scotia disposed to be amenable to any re(piest:i which emiinated from tin; Homo •uthoiities. They were always glad to fall in with Imperial iH)liey ; ghid to do anything to advance the interests of the Empire. How did Ur. Tupper fultil the task imposed on him ? How did he satisfy the people of Nova Scotia ? Where are the poofs of his maivelKms sidll in the manageuient of his own ]iolitical all'airs ? Where of his fir.am i.d or adniiiiistr;itiv(! ability ? Let US glance at them in detiil. When he came to Ottawa in 1S')7 he was himself the sole represon- tative of the Province wlio supported Dr. Tnp| er — the .sole relic of the well-organized ]iarty which he led in 18(14 ; and from that day to tliis, after three years of his leaueiship, that paity have not been able to raise their heada in theirnative Province. Nova Scotia In Revolt. Tliat very Province, naturally one of the most loyal Provinces in the whole Dominion, wns by his arbitrary conduct and nniortunate niamigement driven to the very verge of revolt. (Hear, hear.) Then, too, this gentleman who is proclaimed as the snge of finance — the man who is to ri'Store our credit, revive our trade, ]noteet our manufacturers, and restore you ail to the very piimaele of ]irosperity — li,\d so well arranger will re'-ognizR thrae nrgnniPnt.'j ; he will rcrripmbfir who wllis[ievrr! thune tliiiit;* aloiii; niir boii am) [H'oliiibly i\\uti', apjireiMate the !»eiiiMnsitv whicli spiit'il them. Now, 1 iri.ay he tolil tli;it F iiiysi'lt' voted lor tjiantiiic tlicse lu-tti-r terii/s to Nova Seotia. Tliat is quite titu', aiiil that has been iiiail« a iiiattci'ot' re|iri()sperous, when they were driven IVnm power de])iession and disaster overtook us, nnd when they got hack to their old places an era of prosperity again dawned upon the country. (laughter.) if I believed that general prosperity eonld ho restored i>y so simple a process as turning out the present Ministry and ])Utting others in their places, I would say you cuuld not rid yourselves of ns a day too soon, ii' any p'Mson.il .saerilice on our part will bring even a partial measure of j)rosperit}' to the couiitry. we are not. I Iiojh-, so small- minded that we should care to retain onr jilaces one moment longer than we lielieved we were fill- ing our oiiices in your interesta. I have not come belbie you claiming tlnit we aie infallihh-, but I do claim that to the best of our power and ability wo are endeavouring fdthlully and honestly to discharire in vi nr interests the liigli ti list you have reposeil in us. Wliethei' our ]i()iicy is the best for the countrv, whether the course we have adopted is the l>est and wisest that could havo bi'cii adopteii considerim: all the circumstances, is a (|n(>tion which we leave to the calm ;\nii honest jiuliMnent of the eltetora of Canada, and 1 lor one have no leuri for the leauit. ^Loud and long- continued cheers.) i THE UNIONVILLE DEMONSTIUTION TUESDAY, JULY Orel. {('K. The Demonstratinn of tliR neforiiuM'S of East Yoik was lianlly less sticocssfiil tlian tint of tlieir neif^hb'Xiis lit' tlif Noitli Uiiliii",'. Tlii; decorutioiis ami griu'nil iiriaii.t,'t'iiiiiit.s iinnle )py the ''oiti- niittce at Uiiii'iivilli! wt'iu ui^rtVct, and tin; attiniihiin-« (in tlie ]iici}ic ^nmnils iiuiiilicri'il ov»!r (ivo tliousaiiil. Mr. W. JI. Dii.l, rrc'siili-nt of llin Kast I'LJiliiii; Iti^I'mni Assdciatiuu, |ii»'siilii|, ami iidilifs.-sfs, to u-liich lioth lion. ;^i iilli'inun replied, wcri; rt-acl to tlie two I'lt'iniers, on lichall' 'if the Assoi'jaiiun, l)y lue Si'i'ietary, Mr. SViu. iCakui. The speakers \vern Mr. .las. .Meti die, M.I', foi the Kidi'i','. iiou. Mr. Mowat, IIou. Mr. lluiitington, ilou. Mr. MuLkuuiiie, aud .Mr. Jo.sepb llymal, M.i'. SPEECH OF TI!E PSlE'.I!Eil. ;'!'¥*'■ Ill'' ■ ill l:' ' ■i|t. i^ Hon. Mr. M.\rKF,N7,iK w.-xs then iatroduceJ, and was received with loud cheers. After some introductory remarks lie said : — Co-opoi'atlon with Local Governments, I oh.terve that somp of the Tory iiewsiiajieis are olijeetini; to Mr. NTowat and nij.seir apiiearing toc^etller on the ■^aliie jhitroMij, on llie ground that I niysell' ainont; otin-r Keforiners ohjeuled in by-j;oMe yeur.s to the tlovernnientof Ontario lieinj^'controlhd hy the (nivi'mnieiit of the Doiiiiiiioii. I don't take back a NJnj^lu Word of those I uttered on tliat .snlijeet. (Hear, hear.) But, sii, it is far dill'erent now. We don't interfere with Mr. Mowat's Jei,dslation or udmiuislratiou, aud i am y tiuit system of <;overn- ment the Dominion authorities are divested of everythin<^ relating to Tiuinici]ial and school matters, of everything relating to all local political ([uestions, and are tiius enaliled to devote their entire time aud attt^ntion to tho.se larger ([Uestions which must necessarily occupy a Oovernment which controls the destinies of one-half a coutiuent. We have in the Dominion an abundant amount of woik without seeking to interfere, a.s the late Government did, with the administration of alVairs in the Trovince of Ontario. In those times the tiovernment of Ontario was hut the mere creature of the larger Administration — (hear) — they were like one of those jumping-jacks which yon may see in the windows of a toy store ; the authorities at Ottawa pulled the string, aud the untouiatous at Toronto did the dancing. No Meddling with the Local Aathorities. It will be an evil day for tlie Dondnion aud the Province when the Federal OovpminPnt seeks to interfere with the autonomy of the Provinces. (Hear, hear.) It is much better in every way, better in the general inteiest, that each sliould ]iursue its own ))articular line aud attend to its own affairs, just as the nuinicipid hodies of Ontario are piactieally uneontrolled in a:iy way iiy the Government of tliat Province, whoever may be in power. It is one of those things upon which we may be allowed to congratulate our.-iulves at suuli a meeting as the pre.seiit, that our system of government, from our scliool sections upward to the Feih-ial (Jovernnient, is one of the most artihlieally correct in the world. (Hear, hear. ) i will uow refer briefly to some of the charges which have been made against us by our oiipiujcnts. The Present Administration not a Coalition. One of the.se acensations against my Aduiinistratiou is, that althuu'^h I had declaimed loudly for years against any eoalition, 1 took the tirst iiera,sion to form a eoulition myself 'fhere ee.dd not be anvlhing further I'roin the truth in many respects. .\ eoalition tJoveinment means a (iov- ernment lorined by parties of opposite political views on some subjects, which they have agreed either to iguoie or destroy i y their joint action, Sir, in the Uovcrumeiit 1 formed wu were alluuitet' I 57 5 — (hear, hrar) — nnited npon every qiipstion of public policy that eouM come before na. We were uiiitfil, ill iliti tiist. jihicc, in coiiil(MnijiMt,' the Into Adiiiiiii.sliatiou ; we wi-re uiiiteil in condoiiiuiug tlitt tnuisaotions which caused ilicir pdlilical dcatli, and \ipoii the (luestiouH which we iiroposed, u our Adiiiiiii.sti'iitiiiii .survived, to submit f.)r tlic cousidiiatiiiu of I'arliaiiic.nt iiiiiiiciliatefy after- warib. 'I'lii.s l)fiii<; tiie case, there rciiiained no real ground of attack on that score ; l)Ut, merely beciiuse Mr. Uartwri;,'lit and Mr. Scott in previous ycurs had l>ceu ass'iciatiMl with the other pdlltical party, tiicy ai;cus(' u.s 1)1' liavin^ formed a coalition. \Vhy, sir, Mr. (Jlad.stone wa.s once one of tlie must proiiiiiicnt v ri ers in the rani<.s of tlie (..'oiiHcrvative ])arty in Kngland. He said he h:id reii.-per was then engaged was one which gained him thy execrations of the Nova Scotia people, and this has been shown by the miseralile support they have given him in liis own Province. Yet he ventures to come to Ontario, and to attack, in liis own iieeuliirly coarse way, every public man who stands in his path, hoping to succeed by sheer abuse in driving hin o)iponents out of liis way, so as to enable him to carry his destiuctive poison over the fair iiekls of Ontario. It shall never be done. (Hear, hear.) Ontario not a Good Field for Tupperian Operations. He will find that the day will never come when such transactions as his name is connected with, either in No\'a Seotia or the broader iiehl of Dominion politics, will be forgotten by the peojile of this country. It is true that these gentlemen, last year and this year, have been havinjj a sort nf lieid day to themselves, because we have the Government to adininistcr, and you all know what ditlii'ullies the Ministers of the Dominion have to contend with in bringing to order the chaotic .system which we found on coming into office. The ditiiculty of conducting a vast system of ]iulilie works and all the initial ditiiculties had to be contended against. The readjustment of a deranged tinanrial system, the recoiieilenient of dillViences of a sectional character whieh naturally existed lietivcen the various paits of the Dominion, were difficulties that every om^ who understands them will know i.idde it ail lint impossible for us to attend as many public gathtiings as we would have liked to do in vindication of our own course and in reply to the attacks of our o|)ponent3, Canada possesses an Independent Reform Press.— The Tory Press no InSueace. B\it we have reason to be thankful tiiat we have a niaj^niHcent Keform press in all paitsof the country, that it readies nearly every household, and that the leading organs of the Tory party have so debased tiu'inselves by misre|iresentiitions, calumnies, and personal attacks that at this moment they have become almost totally destitute of a ]iarticle of influence in the community. I therefore appeal through these gatherings, and the speeches that we have time to make, to the intflligfuee ot the editors of the Retbrin press, to pre.sent to the whole people what we can present to comparatively but a small nutnber. In speaking for a few minutes ol' events connected with the administration of affairs in Canada, let me call attention to one or two points in which it is sought to show ytni that our oidy liefenee against the attacks of our opponents is in showing that our predecessors did exactly the same thing. Example of Tories no JuatlScatlon for any Wrong Act, bnt their oonrse Debars Attack upon Liberals. Far be it from me to cite their example as any justification of any single act of mine. (Ilear, he.-r.) I know I should have verv little standing ro(un in your presence if niy defence was bnsed up(>n anything so weak as that ; but when they say, as they .0 say, if not directly, certainly infeicntially, that we are guilty of certain thin;^^, they mean, of course, that these things are wrong. If they are wi(mg, how are t!iey to justify themselves in relation to matters exactly in tlie same line which they have done ? I say we have done nothing that can in the slightest degree justify the attaeks which have liecu made upon us ; but 1 say further, that if you charge that these tliinga are wrong, here are your own actions in regard to the same matters ; how do you justify them I I do not plead their example at all. Let us take tivo or three casus in illustration. Sir John on Contracts. Sir .Tohn says that if a Conservative tries to get a contract, even if he is the lowest tenderer, he is passed over, and the contniet givi'u to some friend of the Government. I might chaiacterise this assertion in one short S.ixon word, and say it is untrue ; hut I am willing to do more, and show you what the results of our system of giving coutracts and of their syatei:i have been respec- tively. i 69 iM'stiinila ve would I'llt3. dcrer, he acteriae ore, and lespeo- The Truth about Contraota. I went Into the mattftr at considorublelciiitth at a iirnvious mcptinfj, and I may just my lirully that during our three years of office, out of 193 rontracts let, lt)4 were j.^iv('ii to tlic lowest tcnilitri'M, while out of 280 coutractH let in the previous four years only ubuut 103 reached the luwe;>t tenderers. Amount of Contracts under each Government. Wo laid out worka to tlie extent of §19,198,350, ami out ol that total amount the lowost tenderers received $1(5,144,475 ; while they laid out duriiij; tlie lour iircvious years S20,S27,7r)2, and of that only ?7, 045, 872 reaehcd the lowest t(Mid(!rers. (Hear, luvw.) lu otiier wonls, we iiad sixteen out of nineteen, tliey had seven out of twenty, given to tlie lowest tcnilfriTs, iiikI yet the Conservative leader has the effrontery to conie before a putilie autheueeaml siy tiiat tlii^ Ailniinis- tration monopolises tiio contracts for public works in favour , :>. i-' I- "'■ >•■<**■ *! 'I liii 't ^1- Ooorglaa Bay Branch oeeeasary to do Joatteo to the Baat. It rrnn not our intention to builil arou;id the two great lakes — llnron and Superior -for niBTiy years to coiiie ; but you will beur in mind timt tha Province of Oiitmio had » liirge ttiuouiit of money invested in the Grand Trunk, with a port on linke Huron at Sarnia. I nni sure tlmt none of you will forget tliut the (Jovernnient had a large amount ol money given tliiough the riuviu''e of Old Canada to the Northern liaiiwny to reach another port on Lake Ilumu. Ws found it necressary, in order to do justice to the easti-ni Province, to have railway conuection with (ieoigian Buy, which would place them oti an e tlie nio\ith of French IJiver to iMoiitr>':il, ami when there tlicy were one hundred miles nearer the I'acilic ternilMUS at Lake Snpe'ior than they ari; when tliev are at Colliiigwood. We were in fact building u part of the great trans-i'onlinental system whicli has its terminus at Halifax, the greater portion of whicli we own, toQncliec. We had reason to believo that about hincly miles of the (Jeorgiua I5ay branch coidd bo built in about two years ; and we knew we hud about 70, 80, or jicrhaiw 100 mih^s to build from Pembina iioithwiiid to the main Hue on I!cd Kiver, and from lied Kivcr easlwarel to Lake Superior we hiel about 410 miles. Steel Ralld Bought on Air. Fleming's Rccommondatlon by Fublio Tender. It was for the purpose of building tlicsu acctioiis that these steel rails were bouj^ht, at n time when the Chief Knj^incer, Mr. Kl'nung, nrgi d oi\ the Govci ;iment to buy them, as he believed the pri('es of iron and steel had fallen to tin' lowest point they h:id ever reached or -were likely to reach. Wo advertised in nil the leading conunercial newspapers for tenders. We received tenders, and gave the contract to the lowest tenderers, for ;')0,00l) tons of steel rails. Of these, 1'J,(MI0 tons have been reipiired for the Inteicoloiiial, so we have only 38,(^00 tons applicable to the jiarts of the Pacilic I'ailway whi(!h 1 have alluded to. You are aware that the Senat-? defeated the Nanainio and Ksipiinudt Bill ; and tlcnigh we have 5,000 or tl.flOO tons in Hriti.sh Coluiuliia, we are not al)le to use tlieiti, though they may be used within a <'ompaiativeIy short ])erind if we succeed in letting the contracts on the main line. The Ooorginn H.iy branch, for reasons which I will explain, was not ]iroceeded with, and we did not reijuiie the niils we expected to use at the time we l'(uight them. These are the facts, and they are facts Dr. Tup[)cr knew in the session of 1875. I gave extracts at a former meeting from his speech on tliat (jccasion, in which the utmost he had to say was to express a doubt that we had been somewhat i)ieniaturc in Jic purchase, but he said ho was always ready to give the Government crcilit for good intiMitions. Rail Purchoao All Bigbt at Firat. ' It was all right then, and it was all right up to the time whe i thoy found they coulil get no charges that had any foundation, ami ko sit to work to make them. (Hear, hear.) It waa insinuated that I had let the contrauts to favourities ; that a brother of mine was interested in one of them. I might let such an in3in\iatiuu go for what it is worth. I have lived thirty years in my own county, and whatever may be said of my political opinions, there are not twelve men in that county who wouhl suspect me of mural wrong. (Hear, liear, and cheers. ) And 1 hope the people of (intario, before whom I have stood for sixteen years in Parliament, will not readily oelieve that I could be guilty of political wrong intentionally. (Loud cheers.) As I said, 1 might have passed that insinuation over ; but I prefer to meet it directly, ami state that no brother or other relation of mine received, directly or indirectly, nearly or remotely, in any kind of way, gnoil, bad, or indillerent, a single cent of profit in that or any other public transaction. (Loud cheeri.) No Feraon Conneotod wltb Mr. Haekenzle had any Intereat In Rail Contracts. While I characterized this as a base falsehood, as I do now, I said that my brother or any relative of any member of the Government has a perfect right to be a contractor provided there wrj nothing wrong in the issue of the coiiUact. (Hear, hear.) But the entire story was nuvde opt of whcjle cloth — there was not a particle of truth in it. A finnin Montreal, in which my ' other at one tinie a sleej)ing partner, were agents of the firms in England who were ten '"rini but before they became agents at all in this matter my br.v'ior withdrew from the firn ' •' mil have the alightest doubt cast ui)ou my position in the matter. (Cheers.) Supposing ecu a member of the firm who acted as agents for the English firm, it does not follow that was any wrong doing ; but n.s it is, there never was a more shamelessly untrue accusation bi ' against a public man in this country. (Hear, hear, a vl cheers.) Why don't the Tories at least Attempt to Prove their Insinuations And why don't they proceed to the proof if there is anything wrong ? Why don't tney take a Committee and investigate the matter? I oll'cred them a Committee for two years in Parliament, 80 that they might call their witni'sses and ]mt them on oath, and so ascertain what fimndation theit! was for the story. The reason they don't do so is because that would spoil their little game — (hear, hear) — and stamji them as a set of calumniators. So, instead of coming forward boldly anil making a charge in ]iropei form, they go through the country saying to the people, " Well, the thing looks bad ; he may not be guilty, but — well, the thing husa bad look about it." (Hear, hear, and laughter. ) A Tory Lady's Views. I was nriUFpd ,nt hearing what n very respectable old Conservative lady said to a friend of mine in Hamilton the other day. She belongs to an old Conservative family, reuils all the Tory newS" papers, and is a veiy strong Ccnseivutive Lciself — lor of course we cannot get all the good people 61 to coins to ns in a day, (Lanf;htcr.) She expressed to my frienil hrr very crcnt sorrow t1i.it Mr. MiirkiMizic should l>i! ^'lilty of doing gin-.h tliin'.;s im those, (f/niiilitcr. ) "Hut," said my fiieiii)() prr niih- its a lionus. This was not j^ivcn to Mr. h'ostcr, but to the Cani'da t'cntnl Coiiipaiiy. and that Company let the eoiitr.u't — as they were bound to do niuler Order in Council — to some one, ami that .some one happened to be Mr, A. U, Foater, who is one of the piiiieipul proprietors ot the road. Monov to bo Advanced on Ilnils. In that Order in Council .ifiviii}^ .^I'J.OOO |ier mile thi're i.s a provision that when any rails aro laid down lor tliis extension anywhere upon the line of the road, 7.') pi-r i^i-nt. of the value of tin' rails iihall be jiaiil to the contractor. The <|Uantity ot the rails so laid U[ioii the rnad wa.s about 2.0(*0 tons— 1 loi^jct the precise number ; and Mr. Fleniiiii», tho Chief Eiif.'ineer, valued these rails at ij48, of which seventy-five per eeJit. would be $'W ]>er ton, the amount that was paid. Nona of tho Ralls Bought. And yet you have been told within the last few days tliat we bought two thousand tons of rails from Ml Foster, for which we jiaid him §48 per ton. There was not a single rail buiiLiht from Mr. Foster ; but after the Order in Couiii^il was jiiissed, under the Act to which these gentlemen assented, lie received 75 per cent, of the amount at which the Chief Eiigineec valued the rails. That is absolutely the wh»le story. Lending tho Central Company Rails. But they say we lent the Canada Central 100 tons of rails. Yes, we did, just as you would lend a friend a few rails to keep the cattle out of his crojis, if he couhl not obtain them otherwise. The truth was, that it bficame highly necessary to complete the road from Pembroke to Renfrew — a distance of about 40 miles — so as to be in readiness for the fall trade to the lumbering districts. That took 3,t500 tons of rails. They were short lOd or "200 tons, and they asked one of my colleagues in my absence for this loan of that quantity of the rails that we had given an ailvance kjion. They reaiiy belonged to the Company, but we held a lien for the amount of the advance Upon them. That quantity was lent, and they took 227 tons, their gross value being §8,172. A Shocking Crime for Liberals to Release Lien on 227 Tons of Rails. This is one of the cases which I will illustrate by b reference to their own conduct in tlio same re.spect. They say it was a shocking thing to lend a few tons of rails to tiuish a road to a ^loint to which it was in the public interest that it .should be tinislieil. All Right for Tories to Lend $10,000 In Cash. Suppose it WAS wrong — which we do not admit — what right liail they to lend to the Ottawa Gas Conqiany Sl'^'^W in «!ash witliout Parliamentary or any other authority, whi(di they did .si'veral 3'cars ago 1 ( Hear, li'iiir. ) I don't think I need .'iny a word Uirtlier on that subject ; for it will bo perfectly clear to every one who wishes to give a fair hearing to both sides, that nothing couhl be more tipright than our course iu that matter. (Cheers.) I hive ft'ijueiitly comjiared our ]inrchase of rails with the last purchase maile by these gentlemen, and you are doubtless aware of how far they have any show of ridht for eompl.iint in the matter. tJurs were bought l>y public (-ompetition at the lowest price t.iat was known at the time, though of ccnirse they have gone down to a lower prite since, but imi ([uite sn low as they .say. Last summi'r we purchased rails by jnibU'; com- petition for £8 lis. at Prince Edward Island, and we are buying some this week at about £7 15* 62 ;)>' S] fti m' We tool? advanta/^e of wliat we believed to bo the lowest state of the market, and the utmost that any jhtsou can say is that we should Imve waited a little longer. As to that, we could not have wailed much longer. Dlfiflonlty In Transporting Balls to Interior. With all onr industry we liuvc only succeeded in getting fifteen thousand tons delivered at Wiuniiicg, on the lied Kiver, and we shall be aide this year to have enough graded to take twenty tlidusand tons in that ]iiiiticuliir nciglibonrhood. We have laid fifty miles west of Thunder Bay, and we .'•hall liiive .seventy bcloic the year is over. The purchase was therefore a wise one, and one that could not have long been delayed, and it is also to be remarked that in everything, from first to last, we acted nnou the advice of the Chief Engineer. A Mode of Slander. Let me refer to one sy.stem of dander the ConseiA-atives have adopted. When I produced a lett<'r from Mr. Fli'tning advising tliis or that course, they say, " Why, he is sheltering himself behind one of bis otiicers." liny say, *' Yo. are the Minister; you are sujirenie, and you can overnih' your oHicer.s. What rigiit have you to act upon their responsibility ?" jMy reply is that Mr. Fleming is in his ])la(:e as an adviser of tlie Governmen*', and I would not dream of going a'.,'ainst Ills advice as an enL;ineer liaving a technical knowledge ivi such matters. But when I act in any possible instance ■without his advice, they find fault, and say that it is my duty to follow the advice of the Chief Engineer. Tbey use Mr. Flemlngr. Mr. Fleming has been obliged to leave the country on account of his health. He was Chief Engineer to the Intercolonial liailway, he has conducted all the oj>enition3 of the Pacific Eailway, nnti 1 need not say to moat of you that perhaps no man on the continent of America is more cele- brated as a civil engineer, and certainly no one more entitled as an engineer to the confidence and resyiect of any Goveinnrent. Yet the niomeni his back is turned, we fine' passages in the Tory newspapers declai ing that Mr. Fleming has been driven away because Mr. Mackenzie had quarrelled with him, had ill-used him, had overruled his advice. It was said that Mr. Fleming was not allowed to do what he conceived to be right in lliese matters, and articles were written to show what a scandalous thing it was that an unprofessional man like Mr. Mackenzie should Bet aside the technical knowledge of an able engineer like Mr. Fleming. Ziotter to Mr. Fleming. I requested my Secretary at once to deny these statements. Then one of their newspapers writes as follows : — " Tlie .Ministerial ))apera wish to deny that tliore Is any ground for the stato'-^ent that the Premier and Mr. Sand- lord I'lumiii),' have not bt-tTi on cordial terms siiico the eontraUittion by tlie la^'. of a gtateuieiit niaile by the Pre- mier in tliu House. We plead yuilty to being tlie authority for the original str.ttuient, and maintain that it is the fact. Mr. Maekenzle and Mr. Fiuniinfr partoii mure in an^er than in sorrow, and the Chief Engineer will not lielikely to resume his position under the present Oovernment— all Ministerial deeir.alions to the contrary notwithst;uuliiig;. We mi^ht be more specitic, but our statement is sutflciuntly plain to be understood. Mr. Mackenzie emiihaliially Bluted a certain fact ; Mr. Flemin;; as emphatically denied it. Uesult — gloom, coldness, and the departure of Mr. Fleming." This is a pretty strong statement. I requested my Secretary to write to Mr.. Fleming and call his attention to this article, and here is the letter, which was received a few days ago : — BIr. Fleming's ZtOtter. 31 Queen Victoria-Street, E. C, • London, 5th June, 1877. Wm. Buckingham, Esq., Secretary Minister Public Works, Ottawa: My Ueau Sir, — I have this day received and am obliged to you for your note of the 21st May, enoloslnp an article from the Tordnto Mail of the llith ull., respecting my absence from Canada. The writer of the article is undoubtedly far astray in the statements which he makes and in the reasons which he subniiti resiwcting my absence, and it is natur.d to suppose tliat 1 should wish to have llicm contradicted. The Minister of I'ublic Works has never, to my knowli dijc, evinced the slitfbtcst desire to have nie removed from the office of Chief Engineer of the Pacific Piailway. On the contrary, he has frciiiicntly expressed a wish that 1 slionid continue in tlie positicm which I have occupied since tlie beginning of the survey. Tiiis wish was repeated before my departure from Ottawa, on the occasion when 1 stat.d to biiii that fur private reasons it was absolutely necessary that I should for a time relinquish the active duties of ni^v iithce. There has been mi difficulty in getting on with the Minister ; there has not been the slightest delerinination ilisplayed by liim or by any person, or by or on the part of any member of his Government, not to Work Willi me, as tar as the Pacific Uailway is concerneJ. On the contrary, due consideration has invariably been given to my opinions and sugjie.stions, and, to a very largo extent, tbeMinistei and the Government have been guided by them. It is not to be expected that during the fourteen years I have been a public servant in a somewhat pro- niinent positiuu that tbereshould nut at times be dilToreiices of opinion between myself and those underwhoin it wa» my duty to act. 1 have occasiunaily found myself dilTering from them, and my opinions rejected. I have never, how- ever, slirnnk from expressing my views learlessly whenever I have felt it my duty to eubniit them. Latterly my firofessional opinions have gener.dly been assented to, and the Government has been guided by them, and 1 have had ntinitely less difficulty in eoiiuucring operations on the Paciflc Railway under Mr. Mackenzie than 1 had as Chief Kiigineer of the liitereoldiiial Hallway under other authority. I am not aware of any differencos of opinion between lilr. Mackenzie and myself at this niunieiit ; there is certainly nothing material, or that would in the slightest neces- sitate any cliange in our relations. Pirsunal and domestic duties alone eomiielled me to ask for leave of absence, and with" that in view, I spareti no effort up to the moment 1 left Ottawa to complete everjthiiiir. and leave my office in such a condition that little difficulty would be experieneed in carrying on the work during mv absence. I sub- niltieil to Mr. ilaekeiizie likewise, that owing to the advanced stite of the survey, my absence would now be possible without great incimvenieiice to linn or to tlie Govermnent, and especially as 1 left an able man to act for me until my ri'luin. .Mr. Mackenzie, siiniewbat reliKUmtly us it appeared to me, but most kindly, yielded to my views, and in connei|ueiice lam now eujoyiii^ a respite from the active duties of my office, wliicU 1 trust I may to some extent have earned. Believe me, etc., (Signed) SA-VPFORD FLEMING, (Loud cheers.) I have another letter, received since, which 1 will not rend, but in which lie stateB in eliect that he leyruts exceedingly that the animosity which prevails iu jioliticaJ circles ahould bo end 63 snch as to dfiprive him of that rest which he needs so much, and which it appears he is not to b« allowed to obtain. I can tell you tlmt no offii'cr under the Government, no character in puljlic life, no person on earth, will get a moment's peace if their peace stands in the way of these persons' aiivitiieenient. (Hear, hear.) They will sacrifice everyone Iiut tlieniselves in order to accomiilish their ends. Like Arternus Ward, they are willing to sacrifice all their wife's relations. Tories Inducing Civil Servants to Betray Confidence. They are sometimes willing to do what no honorable man would do — to burrow among the offices of our Department to obtain secret information and ascertain what is going on. In f:ict, to Bucn a di3;4r iceful extent has this system of espionage been carried on that we tind it some- times impossible nroperly to carry (ui the affairs of the country. Now, with regard to the steel rails and other questions, I do not pretend to justify our course by anything they do, but I say, Buppose we do wroii!,' in the direction you intimate, lei us examine your record in the very Biune respect. We say that wc purchased these rails at an average price of §.54 (iO per ton ; wo purchased them by pui)lic tender, by open competition in the market ; we gave the contracta to the lowest tenderers, and received what Mr. Sandberg, the celebrated Iron Inspector, said were the finest rails ever manufactured in England — mamifactureands playing, and at every cove the labourers an.- leader of tlie Liberal party and the |irinciples he represents, and e\ery- wlurc he had .«:con the same evidence of reaction as he met licre to-('ay. (Cheers.) It was high tiiiu! that the public sliouhl have an opportunity oi seeing the leader.s of the (Jovernmcut alter tlie movem ■tit inauguratiMl at Kingston by Sir John and Dr. Tupper. He thought Mr. Maoken/ii', as well as liis collcn nes, entertained tin; same view. He tlionght no honour could be conferred greater than tliat wiiii h day alter day had licen conferied by iiiifornicra on them as an evidence ol (.niilideiiee ami nood-will. Ko one eouht maUc li^^ht of the fact that a public man who is woilliy Ol the conlidciice of those wlio sujiport iiiin must be scn.-itive to the appr- iaticm of his f'lemls. 'I'n serve a iicuple who did not appreciate must make even an lioiiest inai, laller, hut it iiiiist lie ;tii em mh. a^i'iiieiil to a pulilic man to go on and labour ciiinestiy and faithtully for a eiiiitimiuiie. u. tliac conlidence and hoiiouraliie reward that everywhere Reformers liad in store lor t'le chief of the Relorm party. 6 t)b H f^m $\ -■' m Befonuers always the Pioneers of Liberty and Progress. He was not so ignorant, nor were tliey so ignorant, nor were those who take an interest in the history of the great Reform party so ignorant, that it was necessary to recall the part that had been played by the Beformers of these noble counties in the west in the great constitutional battles that had been fought during the past forty years. Whenever a great reform has been advocated, whenever public opinion has oeen sensitive to wrong, whenever the people make an effort for the purpose of distributing power unfairly held by a few autocratic men, then the work has been done bjr Reformers, or by the children of lleformers. He had come here to ex- press his opinion, but it was far from his intention to be distiisteful to any one ; and while he would be frank, he wished to say ho had no desire to hurt Conservatives. But facts were stubborn things, and sometimes they could not be mollified. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Tupper, at one of the recent great demonstrations in honour of Sir John, spoke of the latter as a great and good man, an^ pointed with pride to the record of this great legislator, and his earnest devotion to the development of the principles which underlie the legislation of this country. Now, Dr. Tujipsr is but a recent importation into Ontario, but it was said he intended to run for one of the Reform constituencies of the Province, and take the lead in the "amelioration" of this country. He (Dr. Tupper) might have told his hearers th.atSir John and his party were violent opponents of the secularization of the Clergy Reserves, which to-day were a noble monument for the benefit of the people of this country. After struggling year after year against 'ihe wishes of the people, but in the interest of the Family Compact — which then had more influence man to man than it has to-day — opposing this reform, when he saw his majority had dwindled away he accepted the leek and shilling, and carried the great measure, becau.se 1 1 eformers were willing not to put him out of ofTice. Reformers have not been so anxious of office as to sacrifice their principles. In this as in many other cases he (Sir John) was prepared to reverse his engines, 83 to speak, and turn tail upon his professions. He had also opposed Reiiresentation by Population, but nis resistance to this measure was not carried very far, and they were to-dny realizing the benefits it conferred. He (Sir John) was called the father of Confederation. Sir John Macdonald opposed Confederation. He yielded only when his Government felt the ground slipping from under them ; and then it was that the coalition with the Reformers of Upper Canada was farm- ed, and they came together with the determination to carry out Confederation upon such a basis as was agreed upon. He (Sir John) never glorified very much over the Constitution he made. You would think from the way that Conservatives talk about Sir John and his carrying Con- federation that he was a William Lyon Mackenzie or a Louis Joseph Papii^eau. Apropos of this question of Sir John's excellence, 'hey need not be surprised that Sir John himself has ample appreciation of the great statesman who stands behind him, and they heard at these Conservative pic-nics that if the mantle were to fall from Sir John it must fall upon Dr. Tupper. (Laughter.) There was a little of "You scratch me and Pll scratch you " in this determination. There were n)«ny respects in which Dr. Tupper would be a success. (Laughter.) Xiangevln DepoEcd as the Prospectivo Conservatlv* Leader. As a Quebecker he (Mr.Huntington) must call their attention to the sense of relief he and his co-provincials felt at the announcement of the new leader. He asked his hearers to remember the session of last year, when that great and good man, Mr. Langevin, who had been ousted from power with Sir John, was returned to Parliament. When he came to Ottawa it was found that some of the people there, some of the Ontario members of the party, were afraid to touch him for fear their fingers would be covered with pitch, and so, to put liim in line, Sir John consented to attend a dinner which was given to Mr. Langevin, and at this dinner Sir John gave him all the excellence that he would have bestowed on St. Peter or St. Paul, and told him that he was the new leader from Lower Canada — the successor to Sir George Cartier. And tliey of Quebec thought the man to succeed Sir John was Mr Langevin. He (Mr. Langevin) did not make them feel good, and they therefore arceptcd the crumb of comfort which this second declaration concerning the leadership gave. They felt like the Frenchman in the story he would relate. In the stage-coaching days m England the travellers were generally provided with beds on either side of the halls of the hotels, in which they could rest while waiting for the cnacl e.s. In one of these beds once upon a time lay a little Frenchman, a painter, anxious to secuie the coach for Wolverhampton. He was very much disturbed while trying to rest by two of his fellow-travellers snoring. Towards morning the poor Frenchman heard a gurgling sound in the throat of one of the sleepers, and the snoring for liis part ceased. The Frenchman at once cried out, " Thank God that one ees dead. " (Laughter.) It was with such a feeling that tlic people of Quebec learned of the political dissolution of the distinguished member for Charlevoix. The Conservative Pai-ty Fighting Without a Policy and Oiily for Office, His experience of political strurrgles in tho times which are past told him that Avhen two great parting have been pieparing themselves for mortal oond)at there was some great ]irinciple at stake, and upon which tlie people differed. He asked those who had read the si)eechi's of the Tory leaders to say, if they could, for what principles tliey were contending. All these speeches contained was the praise of Sir John Macdimald. There wa^ no record in history of a man having his virtues extolled as Dr. Tupper extolled the virtues of Si' .ioliu Maedomdd. Tliere was nothing more fulsome or extravagant in hi.story in the sense of eulogy than these gentle- men going about the country as humble admirers of the virtue reflected by the mendicr for Kingston. They had made great speeches, but he asked, beyond the eulogy they contained, what were the great principles round which they asked the Conservative party to rally' They say an election is coming on ; that there is a reaction in this country wliich will drive Mr. 67 llieii two liiinciple It'R of the a man There geiitle- limiiilicr Intiiined, li They I'ive Mr, Mackenzie and hia friends from power, and they aay that they expect to get their plaeea. But vas there no other object in this great struggle — in this commotion which they are raising? Was there notliiug to tight for but the restoration of Sir John to power ? Was there no princi- ple to which he is allied — no doctrine which he wished to promulgate ? Was there notliing he vialied to put upon the statute-book to improve the condition of the country ? Excepting perhaps the question of protection — upon which the two parties are divided — he failed to see m single plank lu the Conservative platform. When Sir John fi'll in 1874 he fell under circum- Btaiices which forc;ed his party to suffer with him, iind which had the eH'uct of demoralizing that party. When Sir John felt his party deserting him, and his adversaries were being returiu'd in overwhelming majorities, he d'clared in private, and now he repeated it in public, that he would make the people of Canada reverse that verdict; and it was for the reversal of that verdict that these tlonservative ])ic-uicr. are being held. It was for thatpurpo-e that Dr. Tupper told the people tiiat Sir John had done right in taking money from Sir Hugh Allan. The Conservative party went to the country for tlie sole pur[iose of inducing the peojile to declare that the sale of thij I'acitic Cliartor for the purjxise of carrying the elections wiis a fair, an honest e.vercise of constitutional authority. They have no other measure afoot. They prided themselves about the I'acitic llailway, but on this subject they were now as dumb as dumb could be. They have n:)t a word to say about it; no policy on tliis great undertaking. True, they spoke re^'arding the fiscal policy of Canada, but Sir John's protection resolution read both ways. Their object was to quiet the Pacific Scandal: to reverse the verdict tliat had been given. The peojde of Canada must be compelled to reverse the verdict, and declare, according to Dr. Tupper, that Sir John did right to sell the charter, that he did right in taking money from a man who was o;dy his friend for a moment to put down his ])olitical ojjponents. He asked all, l{eforineis or Tories, if he had overstated the case, and if his description was not true to life ? And thi« being so, it was not much of a wonder that the boasted leaction could not be found. In answer to a question about the steel rails, Mr. Huntington said he was able, and so was the Premier, to give his querist all the inform.ation he wanted du that topic if he would behave himself ; and vhcu he was informed he hoped he would lay the unction to his heart. (Laughter.) He had S.aid a little while ago that the Conservative part}', led by their chiefs, was prepared to go to the elections without, orvc shred of principle — without a desire to place a great measure on the statute- book — the only object being to induce the electors to reverse the verdict of 1874. i.' The Somoralizing Process Explained. ■ He desired to call attention to some of the details by which this was to be accomidished. Of course you could not bring the Conservative party to abandon all its principles. You could not take a party of gentlemen and induce them in a suspicious case to forget all their mothers taught them concerning honesty being the best policy, &c., but you could overcome their scruples by stunning them. There are certain men with such a strong sense of what is right and proper that you cannot induce them to do wrong unless you drug them. There are men who cannot be made to follow in evil paths by ordinary temptation. lUit if you can reach the ear of these, and make tl4,om believe that every man is a liar, that there is no morality, you may after a whUe re- duce them to total depravity. That was just what they found in politics. By a judicious exer- cise of stale slanders, Viy a judicious exercise of charges of "land sale jobs," ic — which if they were true, as represented by the leaders of the Opposition, would consign to the penitentiary Ml". Mackenzie and his Cabinet — it is hoped to destroy that sense of honesty which prevailed among the better class of Con.servatives in 1874, and bring them up drugged" to the polls with the idea that while their leaders are bad, the others are no better. Thus demoralized, the Con- servatives will be prepared to ilo battle as a folorn hope ; but they will be under the necessity of waiting for a change with a great deal of fortitude. Buruing auestions Settled by the Present Government. He had given them a leaf out of his book in regard to Sir John's speech, and he thought it was only fair to call attenti(ni to some incidents with which ihey were familiar. 'J'his would strengthen their devo'Lion to the great party of Reformers. When Mr. Mackenzie took oflice he found the country exercised over the burning (piestions of that time. These questions had become allied with the politics of the country, and Mr. Mackenzie fonnil himself pledged to deal with them. He found bis adversaries pre[)ared tu take every advantage, to sow the seeds of dis- sension and discord in this country, to arouse tlic jjrcjudices of the various nationalities ; but with a wise regard for his principles, by a cool, generous, and patriotic statesmanship, he ap- I)'ied himself to the settlement of tho.«e (piestions. They had the Manitoba all'air to settle. Sir John Macdonald had with one voice (u-dered money to be given Hiel to keep nut of the way, an I with anotiier voice cried, " I wish to (iod 1 couldcatch him." Next, iJr. I'upper, who went to the North-west, returned with the declaration that those people would revolt. Kext, Wm. Mae.'loUL'all marched up the hill with twenty num, and then marched down again. Tliey found many dilliculties in this m.ittcr. Th" Conservative papers were trying to fan the flame by work- iii_ iin tu'- feelings of the Krench and the Catholics, and the Conservatives themselves gave it as tiicir I [linion tli.it Mr. Mackenzie was not able to deal with these matters. With what success h : liaii ile.ilt with them they all knew. And there was not a Conservative to-day who would dec are that be had not made a fair and successful settlement of this IS' orth-west business— it Wistiie best possible arrangement under the condition of tilings. Then there was the burning qnesii.ui of the New Brunswick School Law, and they knew how that malter had been settled. Next there was the British Columbia muddle, which, jierhajis, was the worst thing left by the 1,11)0 tluverninent. Yet this British Columbia dilhculty has been so arrani'ed as not only to main- tain the contidciicc of the Colonial Oilice in the Canadian Government, but to give satisfactioa to thu Columbians themsclvua. 68 m i:>L It sisa 6lr John and Sir Hugh— A Knightly Colloquy that Might have Taken Place. He next allndeil to tlie relations between Sir John Macdonald and Sir Hugli Allan. Sujiposa these two gentlemen had been successful in their joint transaction, and that Sir Hugh liad com- menced to build tlie road. In their business relation in connection with the roud Sir Jolni would some day have to say to Sir Hugh, "There is a curve in that road at a certain [point, and you must change it." " I cannot change it," Sir Hugh would reply. " But you must," would be given in Aiswer by Sir John. The reply would come from Sir Hugli as he signiUcintly put his hand in his ]iocket, " Ah, I have got some letters in my pocket. Sir John, some tolegram.s ; I furnished you with some money, and you wrote receipts for the siime ; if you want me to straighten out that road, I'll straighten out you by producing the pajjcrs." Did he (Sir John) believe that Sir Hugh AUiin entered into the bargain for any other reason than tliat of being able to carry Sir John round in liis pocki^t and making money out of liim ? Sir Hugh Allan cared no more about Sir John Macdonald tinin he cared about tlie men wlio furnished cargdcs to his ships. And had Sir Hugh had the good fortune to have secured the I'acilic contract, whom did the people tliink would have been the leader of this country? Sir Hugh Allan or Sir John Macdonald — the one who furnished tlio money to brilie the electors, or tiio cowardly traitor who forgot his duty in the fear of being beaten, and prostiatcd an old and noble party by binding himself hand and foot to a commercial ring ? This was the man who, at the recent pic-nics, was said to be the man before all others— the ideal of the Conservative party, and who to-morrow would only leatiiig that tiicre should be legislation regulating this (luestion of " by-bidding." The Min- isterot .liistice was, so far as regards hia abilities and his personal honour, beyond criticism, and Olio wortliy to follow his jiredccessor. There was a warm spot in his (Mr. Huntington's) heart for the lleformers of Huron, who had stood by him in tlie struggles of the past. He feltgreatly encouraged by the reception awarded them to-day. Such honours he accepted as a sufficient re- vard for all the traducing aad vilifying to which they had beeu made subject by their enemies,. (Loud applause.) SP££C1I OF THE PREMIER. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie was received with loud cheeis. After some introductory observations lie said : — It has been my intention at those meetings which we have attended, and those wliich we propose attending, to speak of specific subjects at each meeting, so far as that is prac- ticable. Hut I find that at nearly every one of tho.se gatherings there are two or three indivi- duals who are exceedingly desirous, no doubt from the purest patriotic motives, to obtain some special information on the subject of steel rails. (Laughter.) Bringing Slanderers to Book. Now, I propose before I go any further to ask the gentleman who interrupted Mr. Huntingtoa while he was speaking by making some remarks on the subject of steel rails, to come right for- ward to the pi.ttform and tell us what he has got to say on the subject. (Hear, hear, and cheers. ) I am (luite serious in making this request ; I know you will all allow him to ask his questions on that .subject, and then if I don't succeed in convincing even him that there was nothing wrong or dishonourable, nothing to complain of in my conduct in regard to the steel rails matter, 1 shall be willing to give up political life. (Loud and long-continued cheers.) Mr. Johnston states Ills Case on Steel Bails. After Mr. Mackenzie had repeated his invitition several times, a person, said to be Mr. Johnston, Deputy-Reeve of Wawanosh, made his way to the platform and proceeded to deliver a s[)i'ech. He said that " he and others were verj anxious that Mr. Mackenzie should explain "how he came to make that purchase of steel rails. It had been represented that a great many " thousands of millions of dollars— (roars of laughter) — had been spent very foolishly in the " ])urcliase of steel rails wlien the market was at the highest point ever known. (Renewed " laughter. ) At that time, when the market was higher than ever it had been before — (laughter) — ■" the Minister of Public Works, a man who, havii.g formerly been a workingman himself, they " naturally suppo.sed would be better fitted for that position than any one else, went to work " and ])urehascd all these rails at the highest price — (laughter) — when they were not needed. " He wanted to know why they had been bon^htat .such a time, aud why it was that these rails " were lying rusting all the way from Manitoba to Halifax, so that the country had to be put " til the expense of buying paint to keep them from becoming entirely useless ? " (Roars of la Lighter.) He was proceeding to refer to other matters when Mr. Mackenzie intimated to him that after allowing him to ask what (luestioiis he pleased regarding the steel rails mattei, he \\ as certainly not going to give up the time allotted for his speech in order that Mr. Johnston niiglit address the meeting on other topics. Mr. Johnston having been asked if he had said all lie wished to say on the steel rails question, and having answered in the aflirmative, Nailing Falsehoods on the Spot. Mr. M.^CKENZiE proceeded ; — I have often noticed that there is nothing like nailing these po(i|ile on the spot— (hear, hear, and cheers)— and that 1 am right I think you wiU all be convinced within live minutes. 1 know that not a single one of them who come to meetings for the pur- ]in se of making intemiptions, under shelter of the crowd, is able to come on a platform and iMieii his mouth without putting his foot in it. (He.ir, hear, and laughter.) This gentleman li. ins by asking me why the (lovernment bought this quantity of steel rails when they were Hot re(|uiie(l, at a time when the prices were higher than they had ever beeu known before. Price of Rails Under Late Government, $85— Under Present Government, $34 per Ton. .Now, what will he say, what will his friends who jiut him forward say, when I tell him thai At, the very time that we bought these rails at §5-1 60 per ton we were "receiving a delivery of 70 ^1' m S 6,000 tons of rails liouglit l)y the jircvious (jovcriiniciit at $85 r>3 ? (Flenr, hear, anil cheers.) He says that $54 (iO whm the highest price over |iaiil, niul I liavo the tignrca to show that tliey bought them at a jirice of ^-■'^1 jier ton higher than the tigjire we yiaid. I'erhajis that 'rciitleman will go to his Tory lenders and ask them to refund the money. (Hear, hear.) Not only so, Imt we bought them by jmhlie coMipetition; we advertised for tenihirs; we received ii great many tenders, and we gave the eontraet to six or seven parties, all of tiiein the lowest tendrrefs. 'I'liiy bought (I'.OOO tons without any tender at all at the price I have n.-imed. Nay, iiioe ; they gavo a commissidu of 2i per cent, to a brother-in-law of one of themselves to buy the ruils. Ho bought tlu^n and charged the Government of Canada jClO.OdO more than he paiil the m^miiftc- turers of the rails. (Hear, liear, and loud cheers.) An7, to secure the perfection of our sys- tem of government, but simply to endeavour to l and keep themselves in power. Their solo object in coming before the country now is to oust die present Administration and put them- selves in their places. In England it has been kiiown that the (Jovernment would resign, and the other party, feeling that there was nothing to justify them in assuming the reir.s of Govern- meut, would decline to do so. This has happened once and again within our own lifetime. Office the Only Object of Tory Politics. But the question with these gentlemen is not what principles are to be defended in Pailia- ment, or what the Conservative party is to do when it gets into oliice ; the fiist question with them is to get there, and then they will tiust to chance and circumstances to enable them to meet the obligations of the moment. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, you will remember this, that the Liberal party remained out of office lor twenty years, and they accepted it upon such con- ditions as would not merely give them office, but the hope of carrying our their prmciplea. Anything for Office Sir John's Motto.— Events of 1864. In 1864, the Liberal party defeated Sir John Macdonald's Government. One day Sir John spoke strongly against all constitutional changes on principle ; he said there was no necessity k 72 i-i ,>*• \*"'''i^ for any cliango whatever, ami ho refused his assent to any change. That was on the 14th of April. On tlio Ifith IjIh (lovonnnunt was detuattMl, and then, wir, wo said to him, "It you chouse to a(h)i»t tlie coiiKtitutional (diangea that we have nrepariid for your nucd« ten years ago, you can ri'tain your oliioe — only give na our principles. ' And they did it. (Loud iipplaiiso. ) They would do anything on earth— they would revolutionize this eounti-y ; they would sever its connection with (Ireat Hiitain ; in fact, I lielieve in my heart Llu'ro is notliing that the priiici)ial Tory leaders are not prepared to adopt as a itolicy — provided it serves t> keeper to get thrm into office. And what lias been their courno this year, and indeed for the last two years ? It has been one of uniform ('onti'mptihlt: denunciation of their opponents, with no olij(!ct in view, without having any principle at stake, l)ul simply an enileavour, tivst, to unite all the (Vmser- vative party together ; anil, secondly, to iletach, if they can, sumo of iiiy Bupporters in I'arlia- meut or in the country, so as to enahle them to reach ollice. Offloo, Office the Staple of Tory Speeches. I have read their speeches, one aftei' another, and e\cc|it tlicir violi iit denunciations of my- self and my coHeagues as incompetent, as Llunderers, as traitors, as fraudulent men, as every- thing that can he conceived to bo l)ad, there is aliHolutely iu)thing in tliem liut intimations that they would have such and such a, majority in such and such pi'ovinces at tlie next election, and that they are sure to got in jxiwer witlun the next few months. (Hear, hear.) 1 belii^ve, and I have always believed, tiiat it would he most disastrous to the Liberal party to remain in ])ower one moment longer than they can keep their princijiles and eairy them into etl'ect by jiractical legislation. (Cheers.) And although I do not pretend to be lacking in a feeling of pride in the position 1 have received at tlie hands of the pcojile of Canada. I do say that 1 would take in- tinitelj' more ])leasure in sitt^ing on the I'urthe.'-t back bench of the llou.sc of Connnons aa a purely imleiiendent member of I'arlianK'ut than to occupy the llrst of the Treasury IJeiLchea if eom])elled, in order to occupy that seat, to propound a policy at variance with my [nevious utterances to the great party which 1 have the honour to lead. (Loud ajiplause.) Sir, 1 hope there is still left in this country such a thing as high-ndndedness in political life. (Ibar, hear, and loud cheers.) There is such a thing amongst the public men in Kugland, whoni it is our humble desire to inntate — those who goveiii the empire of which we foiiu a jiart. There was such a spirit in such men as Disraeli and I'alnieraton ami Derby, and who will doul)t its existence in the ndnds of such great political leaders as (ilavlstone and John Bright? ( Loud applause.) I had an opportunity, two years ago, of mixing with tliese nieii, and of listening to their debates, and of noticing the decorum which characterizes all their utterances ; and I observed the entire absence of the extreme democratic vicdence wdncli pervades the wouhUbe aristocratic class of this country. (Hear, hear.) Hut, sir, until we learn to use our own i)olitical system and our own Parliamentary life with a view — to use my own words uttered in 1874, and which I re- iterate now — to elevate the standard of public morality in this country, you will never find that the great political jiarties which must manage the (iovernment in this country have reached or can occupy properly the places the country has assigned to them. 1 do not shrink for one moment from any iuvestigatiou which these geutlemeu may institute into any matters allectiug my own conduct. The Way to Meet Libellers. The only charge of a personal kind atl'ecting myself was one wduch was printed by an imperti- nent and insolent journalist, who stated in jilaiu terms that I had done a certain wrong. I immediately took proceedings against him in a court of justice, and if anybody chooses to make a similar charge in regard to the steel rails, I shall give him au opportunity of proving his charge in a similar way. (Hear, hear. ) Indications of Confidence in the Governmental Policy. 1 am glad to know, not only by the presence of this vast multitude to-day, but from what I have learned at other gatherings, that there are indications everywhere over the countfy that the policy which has been pursued by our own Administration in the past has commended itself to the people of Canada. I may refer to what happened the day before yesterday. Dr. Fortiu, who was Speaker of the Hou.se of Assembly of Lower Canada, was the inendier for (Jaspc. I knew him well, as a very worthy gentleman, though when we were in Parliament togetlier he sat on the side opposite to nie. He wr.3 unseated for bribery at the election — not by himself, but liy his agents. A new election was ordered, and Mr. Fortin, who was formerly elected almost with- out opposition, was opposed by our friend Mr. Flynn, of Quebec, a man who had the disadvantage of not living in the county, but who was elected by hundreils of a majority. (Loud cheers.) .\lr. Speaker Anglin has been again elected niend)er for Gloucester by a majority of S.'ii), notwith- standing all the abuse which has been heaped upon him, and the gross injustice with which he has been treated by the Cqnservative jiress. Every kind of means is being used by our oppo- nents which they hope will help them in carrying the elections. In Lower Canada the Liberals of that Province — I mean the political Liberals — have been denounced by the supreme ecclebias- tical authority there, and the Opjiosition hope that this will prevent the free exercise of the franchise by the eleolors of that Province. How Charlevoix was Lost. It Jo well known that it was by such means as these that Charlevoix was lost to us. Mr. Laugevin was un.seated, the whole Court, Catholic and Protestant, concurring in the o]iinion that the means emijloyed in his favour were imjiroper, unjust, unlawful; and after he was un.seated ho was returned to Parliament by so small a majority that it was a mere chance whether he was returned or not. 73 The Roaotlon In Favour of the Oovemmont. Tlion in the county vacated by my hoiiuunible tViend tliu Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Polio- tier, the Li luii'al candidate, woa del'uatud by u Bmall nutnbur, IiIh detent buiii;^' doubtlcHs due to thia same inl!neu(;e nud agency; but a few weeks later, when tliut a>oar and Piioos. But on buhnlf of the LToat mtiHs of our working nopulution wo pointed out that according tu official Ktatistica in tliu iTiiitud States the pricea of lubour roao from IHUO, when thuir proteutivo ■yatom liegan, to l&TA, when an agitation of a decided character sprang up againat it, ext.<.tly sixty per cent.; that is to aay, a man wlio ruceivcil :}! bofore recuiveil $1 UU then, while tliu prices of coinntoditios entering into household conuuniption rose i)'2 per cent. ; h' that the work- ing man who has to buy his clothca, his fooiik;h Dr. 'I'upprr nays we do not glow enough wheat for onr own eonHuniptifin. (Laughter.) Wiiilo 1 do not apen ? NVe should be eompellel to buy smtie Hour and wheat ill a fdieii^n market, ami le tliiiiha it would be a great beiiilit for us if we were compelled to hiiy sotno for uur own coiisumptiim and j)ay taxes for it when we got it. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) That is his logic. Look at the matter iis you please, you will lind that the only truo ro.id to national weMltli for tho farmer, the meeiiauic, or the manufacturer, is to remove all restrictions from trade that it is [)onil)!e to remove. The Eifoot of the Repeal of the Corn Dutlea on British Farmers. I am old enounh to remember the time when tho great anti-corn law agitation was carried on in I'^nglaiKl. I have heard (Jeorge Thompson and his compeers, iJobden and his friends, at nii'ctings, denuuni'ing the.ne corn laws, which im[)o»ed a duty on whc;it and other grain though tliev could not rai:-e enough for their own inaintenauce, and I rimiember that the farmers were almost rioting in some districts, believing it would be -uinous to them it the duty were aliolisheiL 'I'Ik! fact is that they became ver}" nnich more prosperous since than they had been before. At that time the average rent in England ami Scotland, it not in Ireland, was ahout £,'2 sterling, and when I was in tho old country in lb7">, I found that the same farms rented for i';i ; and farm servants who had formerly been recdving £10 or £V1 sterling and l)o:ird, wore now ruueiv- ing from £'J0 to £'21 and boai'cl, and their hou.ses weie ver; much im|)roved. Agriculturlsta Prospered on Removal of Protective Duties. In fact, when the protection was removed, the wliole agricultural interest seemed to bound forward into a stato of greater prosperity, which allected landhnd and tenant alike. If we are true patriots, we have to work, not for the benefit of one cla«a, but for the bcnelit of the entire interests of the country which we have in our hands, and it would be an evil day for Canafla if the attention of our farmers were diver ted from its proper functions by their endeavouring to make riKUiey by vainly obtaining a duty in the shape of protection to cereals. It could not be done exi jpt in the single article of corn. As regards the manufacturers, as I have already told them, they might for a moment get a higher jjrice after the duties were incriaseil, but the etlcct would certainly be to introduce disorder and disorganization into our whole trade system. A Revenue Tariff or Direct Taxation. You have now a 17J per cent, turitf for revetiuo purposes, and if we impose more you will get a higher price for your boots and shoes, machines, 4c. But we must have a revenue, and as we could not rai^e it on a Higher taritf, you would be obliged to pay property taxes or a poll tax to make up the deticicncy. There would be nothing left for us but to appoint an assessor to go round aiKi make a direct levy on the people, and tliat is something which, I fancy, none of you would like to see. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Apart altogetlier from the (juestion of its wisilora as a fiscal policy, I am sure I have only to mention it to show that it would be neither palatable nor convenient to you that such a sy.stem should prt;vail for raising a revenue. (Hear, hear.) I am aware that in some counties certain gentlemen are very fond of calling tlieinselves tho farmers' friends. I believe Mr. Fanow figures in this county in that capacity. Dr. Urt(Ui pro- poses protection as a panacea for all the ills that farmers' tlesh is heir to, and I remember once giving great offence to that gentleman by saying that I thought he knew a good deal more about calomel than he did of what was good for the interest of the farmers. (Hear, hear, and laughtir.) 1 am afraid these self-styled farmers' friends are rather susjiieious gentlemen, and that they fancy that our farmers are a very simple lot of people. They are like the demagogue out West, who appealed to the sympathies of the farmers because, as he said, he was a farmer himself, his father was a farmer, and so was his grandfather. " In fact," he said, " I might say I was brought up between the rows of corn," when some irreverent fellow in the crowd slumttd out, "A pumpkin, by thunder !" (Laugliter. ) I don't want to call any one names— (laughter) — but I'm half inclined to think that these two gentlemen, who so loudly proclaim themselves as par excellence the farmers' friends, will bo found, if you only ])robe them, to be but very sorry 8[ scimens of a certain kind of vegetable. (Loud laughter.) I think you will -•^eethat, to put it mildly, this remedy of theirs has a very suspicious look about it. They say, " Don't the Americans put so many cents a bushel on our wheat ? Why not put as much on theirs t" Willing to Tax Americana if wo caa Colleot it. I say " Yes, by all means, if you can only get it." (Hear. ) I am willing to tax the Ame- ricans as much as you please, if you can only collect the tax after it is impos^ed. We tried it once, and the result was that a number of loads of wheat came in before the change in the tariff was known, but after that they avoided our shores, sent their wheat to England through other channels, or in bond, and so the entire amount we collected in about a year and a quarter was 76 'vtr- \m M only aliout 3120,000, and tho next year wo would have got nothing. (Hear, hear.) Our canal tratlic would bo injured, and the niilla which arc built all along the frontier for the nulling if United States wheat would be left idle. A milliT asked me at Newmarket why we didn't gno the same protection to Hour that we gave to other manufactures, and 1 said : " Siinj)ly ho. cause it would be of no use to you. Your Hour is aeut to England, or to any other place where it can be sold." Tax on Flour Wrong and Useless. " Now, suppose a dutj' were imposed that would enable you to go to the Lower Provinces (whore they raise no grain worth mentioning, and no wheat), it couhl only bo got in this w.iv, Tho lishernion in Nova Scotia, Ne.w Brunswick, and i'rince Edward Island have a coiisulcr.ilile trade wiMi Portland, Boston and other towns in tho United States. They sell their tisli ami bring bad: Hour, generally as ballast, carrying it for 10 or 15 cents per barrel. Jf we weie tu impose a duty of 25 or M) cents on dour it would destroy these people's ti«de in time, wliidi amounts to perhaps 40,000 or 50,0(.'0 barrels per year. To the e.\,",nt of that duty on the Ihnir which goes by Boston and New York our millers might get theadvu-'fatreand no more, and that, if spread over the millers of this country, would aliord the.nr porhai)." one-ninth of a cent j jr barrel on tho dour made in Canada." (Hear, hear.) But even if it (lid all'ord tlieni more, how can you go to work and tax the people's bread in the Lower Troviuccs unless you allow them to tax something elsevvliere ? (Hear, hear.) The Tax on Coal— Cost of Frco Coal In Godcricb. They tried last year to carry a tax on coal. I asked a manufacturer in Oodorioh, who is not a political friend of mine;, how much lie could get coal delivered for at his cstaldi.shmciit. He saiM $.3 per ton ; but if he had to take his coal from Nova Scotia he could not get it deliverod lu'lnw §7 per t.d in these matters, it should be one which all'ects all persons alike, ami does ocpial justice to all classes of the community, whether farmers, mechaincs, or mannfactnreis. (Cheers.) But there is another phase to tliis question. I have said to the. manufactuieis, " Gentlemen, if you are determined to have protection as a system, that system must exieud over all." Labour must be Protected by Excluding Immigrants. " There are mechanics coining in thousand;, from England to Canada and tho United .States, and if you are to have protection on the articles you make, we must have protection for our labour. We must not lower the price of wages while we raise the price of your manufaetu'es. (Hoar, hear.) You mustgoto the very foundation, and protect our lab(mrers as well as otiiers." I now propose to refer to two or three statements made by Sir .John Maedonald at some of the recent Conservative gatherings. There is nothing, 1 am sure, which tells more upon the pul)iio than to tiud disinterested conduct on the part of Ministers and public men generally ; and wlien Sir John said 'hat not one of his colleagues ever accepted lucrative gfKcos while they were .Min- isters of the Crown, he made a statement which uo doubt commended itself to the people to whom he spoke. Sir John says : — Sir John on his Colleagues' Greed for Permanent OfiSces. "Sometimes they disappeared fnim Ill-health, sometimti, because thtj could not secure their elections, and some- times liccause old ajje had come upon them ; but / don't now renieir._er a siiiffle one of my colleagues who bouy:lit a refUKB for himiielf in apublic ottico after having been lionoured with a scat in the Cabinet." Now, if this statement had been strictly correct, it might have been a matter upon which they might indulge in a little self-congratulation, though, for my own part, I can see no leason w hy distinguished members of the Cabinet should not till important ollices in the country. (Hear, hear.) But let us see how his statement tallies with the truth. Specimens of Sir John's Colleagues who would not " Seek a Kefugo." Mr. William Macdougall was a member of his (Jovernment since I8(i7, and he was appointed Lieutenant-Covornor of Manitoba. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. W. V. Howland was a member of his Cabinet, and he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Mr. Archibahl was a member of his Government, and he was appointed ]^ieutonant-(iovernor of Manitoba, and afterwards of Nova Scotia. Alexander Morris was a member of his (iovernment, anil he was ap- pointed Chief Justice of Manitoba, and afterwards Lieutenant-Governor of that Proxineo. Christopher Dunkin was a member of his Cabinet, and he was appointed to a seat on the iicncii. Joseph Howe, a member of hia Adnnnistration, was ajipointod Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. Sir Narcisse Belleau, a mend)erof his Government, was appointed Licutenant-Ciovernur of Quebec. Mr. Hugh Maedonald, a member of his Cabinet, was ajipointcd a judi;e in Nova Scotia. Mr. Tilley was a member of his Government, and was ap]iointed I,ienteiiaut-< ioveiiior of New IJrunswick ; and Sir Edward Kenny, another of his colleagues, was a])pointeil Adnunistrator in Nova Scotia. (Hear, hear. ) When Sir John Maedonald ventures before any audience in Canada to make such a statement as that, he must not (»idy have a very bad memory (laughter), but he must fancy )u8 hearers know nothing of the political history of tlicir country. (Hear, hoar.) 1 have given you a list of ten Cabinet Ministers who were appointed to olhce, being at the rate of two per year while they were in power. . ) Our catidl tlie nulling i,f re didn't ^'uo "Simply 1„>. r place where A'cr Provinces ; in this wuv. L <;()iisi(lci'al>le tlii'ir tish ami [f we wiice tu 1 time, wlii( h y on the ticmr ore, and t)iiit, of a cent ] jr ni more, how illow them to h, who is not lent. He sai.l livered helnw lee of Ontario vho use coul, be protcctf'il, of eulliotidii. HIS alike, and aunfactnri'i.s. anufaetureis, must extend ''nited States, ;Ction for mir laniifactui'ea. 11 a.s otiieri." t some of the n the ]iiii)iie and when 3y were Miu- >ple to whom 0113, ftnd some' 8 who Bouytit a wliieh they leuson why try. (Hear, IS appointed land was a . Arehihahl mitolia, and 1 he was ap- t I'ldvinee. the JnMieli. ir of Nova it-( iovernor ;:e in Nova iovernor of niinistratiT audience iu (laughter), ly. (Hear, .e, being at 77 Reform Ministers who Accepted OfBce. What has been onr record in the same respect during the four years n-e liave been in oflRce? We apjiouited Mr. Dorion Chief .luatice of Quebec ; Mr. I). A. Macilonald, Lieutenant-Gover- nor of ' intario ; Mr. Foiirnier, a .fudge of tin- Supreme Court ; Mr. Iloss, Collector of Customs at Halifax; Mr. David l.aird, Lieutenant-Ooveruor of the North-west; and Mr. Letellier, Lieuteiiaiit-Oovernor of QueViec. We liave made six apjiointments in four j-cars ; they have made ten in five years ; so that they made at the rate of two per year — we made at the rate of one and a half per year, of the very class of appointments which he condemns. Now, 1 don't condemn it. Chief Justice Dorion. I think, for ex.nmple, it was extremely fitting that such a man as Mr. Dorion f?hould be made riiief .Fustice of his native I'rovinee. I think he was more entitled to surh honour than any man tiien in public life. His name I can scarcely menticm without a feeling of reverence, for if ever 1 had a sincere afTection for one of my own sex — I have liad an afTection for the other — I liad that affection for Mr. Dorion. A man so pure-minded, so religious, sodevoted to his coun- try, s*o disinterested. I liave never known in my v hole political life — (hmd cheers) — and, sir, even this man has been assailed over ami over again in the grossest and most virulent style by the leaders of the Opposition, llr. b. A. Macdinald was appointed Licutenant-tiovernor of On- tario. Ho was a distinguished Catholic, a native of (ilengarry, where hi.s grandfatlier was horn. It was supposed by some people that because he was a Uoi-ian Catholic his name would be re- ceived with disfavour ; but I am jiroud to say that no man co:d.l have more successfully performed thednt- sof liis oiiice than he has done, and that no one deserved his office better. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) So with the rest of the a]i])ointments I have named. 1 might name other.9 made by them before (.'onfederatioii, but during the time that Sir John was either Premier or a leading man in the Co' ernment. Specimens of Sir John's Colleagues before 1867 who would not "Seek a Refuge." They ap| ointcd Mr. Draper a judge, Mr. Yank<)mini<)n books they became Dominion statutes. What he did was simply to introduce the old statutes, making such amendments as were necessary in the new state of affairs. He says we oppose d liim " factiously and strenuously." Well, if he is to hold any more meetings I would like him to take the journals of the House and the reports of the debates with him, iind show the public from the records a single one of these laws that we opposed factiously and strenuously. (Hear, hear. ) An Invitation to Show the Proof. Let him point out one that we opposed at all. Why should we oppose criminal laws wlifdi we must have ? In.stead of doing anything of the kind, we devoted ourselves as an Opposition to cementing the new system, and I was repeated'y complimented, as Mr. Huntiiigtim and other members of the House will remember, a.s the "distinguished member for l.."n)bton," because 1 assisted them when some of m^) colleagues were not verj' strongly disposed to do so. The statement is utterly devoid of truth ; it is just as far from the facts as his statement that we used their measures, and that we did not repeal any of them. The Volume of Liberal Iiogislatlon. Why, Mr. Blake, as Minister of Justice, passed through thirty Bills last session. We passed altoi^ether forty-three Bills, and by these we must have repealed fifteen or twenty of the statutes that Sir .John referred to. Let us look for a nu)nu'nt at the bulk of their legislation and ours. The number of Public Acts passed in 18(57 was 17 ; in 1>>08, .58 ; in 18')9, 45 ; in 1870, 40 ; in 1871, 34 ; in 1872, 43 ; in 1873, 66' ; and 1874 (our first j.-ar), ,33 ; in 1875, M ; iu 187fi, 39 ; and in 1877, 50. And of Private IMUs there were introdu'^etl *nd carried in 18()7, 4 ; in 18()8, 10 ; in 1S6(», 28 ; in 1870, 19 ; in 1871, 24 ; in 1872, 74 ; in J>r7:J, 60 ; in 1874, 67 ; in 1875. 42; in 1876, 30 ; and in 1877, 38. The average number of pag' « of statiit*;H which we passed was 429 ; the average number of Acts, public and private, 95 ; while thev average number of pages was 38t), iiud of public and private Acts 74^. (Hear, hear.) Now, eir, let me enume- rate a few of the leading Acts which this Government introduced and carried. You all know that during our first session we introduced and passed an election law whie^' simplities the general election system very materially. By the old plan, which Sir John maintained to the last, it required three or four months to get over an election. He issued the writs for his own counties first, and then for ours, so that he could send his men into our counties and keep us constantly fighting with all the influence of the Government. When we eamc into power we voluntarily gave up any advantages mc might have under the old law, and as soon as possible passed a Bill by whicli all the elections are liekl on one day. (Loud cheers.) ^ Controverted Elections Law a Measure by the Liberals. Thus you find that our opponents are taking credit for being the authors of the Controverted Elections Lnw. Why, sir, that is purely and wholly a Reform measure. Mr. Blake introduced it, and they voted it down ; and after the election of 1872, when tliey had got the use of the I'a ■ilic Scandal money, when tliey knew that they had not a majority of over twenty iu the House— and we reduced it on one occasion to sixteen — when they found thoj' could no longer resi.st the passage of the Controverted Elections l,a\v, they took Mr. Blake'u Bdl, reported, introduced it themselves, and pas.scd it It was a good one in some respects, but Mr. Blalie on coming into office put it into pri>per shape. How Toi-ioa and Liberals Mac aged the Intercolonial. When we came into oilice we found that four comnrssioners were conducting the afiairs of the Intercolonial Railway, one on a salary of .*4,()00 a year, and the others on a salary of iip3,0ii0 a year, (Uie of tlicni lieiiig a member of Parliament. 1 introduced an Act at once to alxilish the Conmiission and make it a duty of the Minister of Public Works to conduct the Intercoloinal Railway as a public work in Canada, and we saved by that means the sum of §10,000 per , jar. The Military College. So we pass(Hl laws relating to the Military College, w^ amended the Libel Law, passed the now Building Societies Aet, tho Registration of Shipping Bill, and the Supreme Court Hill. Let me say a word or two about the last named of these. Supreme Court Bill. Sir John said at some meeting that he had jirepared th(! Supreme Couit Bill. He never pre- pared a Hill of any sortabout the Sujirem- Court, but he did pay a Toronto jndL'e .'■V/OO to jtn'- Jiare a Hill, which we did not ae(.ei>t, though we had as good a right to umi^ it .is tht-y, seriug tnat the country paiil for the Hill That law was prftmised several times, but they never weiestroi .; enough or determined enough to jiass it. They had an op]iositioii t4) it in Lower I'aiiada wliieii they could not overcome. We passeil it at once, thus )iroviding in a broail, ))attiotie sense for a final Court of Appeal in our own country, instead of sending litigants to I0n.;lai!d, w In re niiiiy of our comparat.vely poor peofile had been ruined, and where the rich had alinnst a lert.iiMty of winning agiJiist the poor suitors. Sir John ami iiis friends factiously opposed the measmc. Theyt thinkii he told But tell wh nil ratio succeas 79 ■J*- They tried to prevent it being made a final Court of Appeal, and at one of his meetings last year, thinking he had the secret ear of the Colonial Office, that he could move the strings in England, he told the people that a little bird had whispered to him that our Act would be disallowed. Tbe "Little Bird" that Told Falsehoods. But that little bird is something like some Tory li'iulers. It could not, or does not, always tell what is exactly true. Our Act has not been disallowed, but, on the contrary, it is the ad- miration of English and Canadian lawyers for its completeness, and it has been eminently successful in its operation. The Election Law. I forgot to tell you how ofton an Election Law was promised l)y the late Government. Tliey mentioned it in the Speech f rom tlie Throne about five times. They introduced one once, but it was such an abortion that none of their own friends would have anything to do with it, and the brat was put quickly out of the way. The Insolvency Act. They promised repeatedly to ii-«tri.duce an lusolvtucy Act. They got Mr. John .Abbott, a prominent man on the Conservative zvie, to introduce one, the Ministry conveniently shirking responsibility in the matter b3- getting one of their supporters to introduce the Bill. \Vliuii they had succeeded in carrying it tlif y said, "Well, didn't we do that splendidly ?" Tliey s^ay we only amended the Insolvency Law. Tliey had none to amend. The law did not in any 8>'nse belong to them, and they are trying to assume the parentage of a respectable infant, when they had murdered their own. (Laughter.) We promised the Bill, we introduced it at oneu. and passed it, assuming the responsibility ourselves, though I am bound to say it is an extremely dillicult matter to satisfy the public on a question of insob.-cucy. Sir John as a Workingman Champion. Si -.Tohn received an ovation from the working men on the strength of a law which he passed, and which he claimed was to save them from a great deal of annoyance, but thej' found tli.at in- stead of protecting them it resulted in their persecution ; but \]r. Irving and Mr. Blake jjre- pared a Bill, whicL was amended last session, and which provides for the same freedom of con- tr^ict between man and master as in any other case. (Cheers.) Then we have a law relating to Corrupt pra'-tices at elections, such as will have the effect of securing purity of election, (licar, • 'jar, and cheers.) Extradition. So with the question of extradition. Thau has been in the bands of Mr. Blake, and, as you all know, there is no man in Canada more com])etent to deal with such a subject. (Cheers ) Our Act of last session is the first complete Canadian Act on the sul)ject of extradition, and it will effectually prevent the evil of making the United States a harbour of refuge for the criminals of this countiy, and the evil of making Canada the resort of runaway criminals from tlie otiicr side of the line. Maritime Jurisdiction. If you look at the journals of the House, you will also see that the subject of maritime juris- diction on our lakes has also been dealt with by some of the lawyers ; for our inland marine was subjected to certain inequalities which were not felt by our oceau marine, which was governed by the British admiralty laws. Fire and Life Insurance. We also dealt with fire and life in.surance, au'l many other subjects of more or less importance. We are quite willing to submit our legislation to the intel!:geut consideration of the people of Canada. Mr. Blake and his Assailants. I have one word to say in regard to an absent colleague. I regret exceedingly that any man, and especially one who was once a Minister of tlie Crown himself, should Lave spoken of my col- league the late Minister of Justice, Hon. Edward Blake — (cheers)— as one of the speakers did the other day at the meeting not far from here. The man wh<) would traduce the character of a gentleman who is by all odds one of the ablest and m.ost upright men who have ever lived in Canada— (hear, hear, and cheers)— in such a manner as was done rt that meeting, can only be branded as an un[)rincipled coward — (hear, hear) — and 1 do brand him as such. I don't care what they say of me when I am present, for then every man can defend hini'e'f, and no man can do that better than Mr. Blake if he were here. On his behalf, and on behalf of the (iovernment generally, I wonhl just say that we look with unutterable disgu.st on the niaii who could jien or utter such sentiments as have been used regarding the late Chancellor Blake ; a man w liosfj dis- tinguished services to his ccuntrj' v ill never be forgotten ; a gentleman who was a leadiii;: man in the Beforin party, and who reluetantly b-ft Parliament for more om rous duties, :i,;;l imw he is to be subjected to the coarse abuse of every shameless Tory who e,i>-c:; to m. as the best way of showing their appreoi- atioii of true Liberal i)rinci))les, to do their best to return men to Parliament who would aid in giving effect to those priuciplea. (Loud and long-coutmued cheerb.) "^^-Jfm r'':.A hiit'^"' THE DEMONSTRATION AT FERGUS. SATURDAY, JULY TtK Speeches of the Hon, km, Mackenzie, Cadwriglit and Mills, mm "tiU As at Clinton, the pic-nio at Fergus -was precederl hy several impromptu demonstrations of welcome to the Premier and his colleagues. £» rotite from Goderich the day betore, the party were met upon the arrival of the train at Seaforth hy a large assenit)lage of Keformers, and an Address was presented on behalf of the Keform Association of the town, by its President, Mr. Wm Gray. At lierlin a similar gathering, accompanied by the (Terinan band, had assembled, and hearty cheers followed the arrival and departure of the train, the time of .stoi)page not being sufficient to permit of the presentation of an Address. In the evening, at Gueiph, tlie Drill Shed was crowded by an audience of from fifteen hundred to two thousand ladies and gentlemen, and an Address, expressing the fullest confidence in his Administration, was read to the Premier by Mr. George Elliott. President of the South Wellington Keform Association. In reply, Mr. Mackenzie spoke for nearly an hour, and was followed by his colleagues, the Hon. Messrs. Huntington and Mills, each of whom was very cordially received by the audience. A reception and torch-light procession closed the day's demonstrations. At Fergus, next day, the Demonstration was but a repetition of those which preceded it. An immense procession escorted the Premier and party to the grove — Kinnettles — where a fathering of some ten thousand afterwards assembled, the Chair being occupied by Col. Clarke, I. P. P. for the Riding, besides whom the following members of the Commons and Ontario Legislature were on the platform :— Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, Hon. Mr. Huntington, Hon. Mr. Mills, D. Guthrie, M.P., Col. Higgiubotham, M.P., Jas. Yoimg, M.P., I. E. Bowman, M.P., Dr. Landeikin, M.P.., JE. Irving, M.P.. Jas. Massie, M. P.P., J. H. Hunter, M. P. P., D. D. Hay, M. P.P., and T. Ballantyne, M.P. P. The Secretary of the Reform Association, Mr. John Craig, read an Address to the Premier, a similar one having been presented to him, on the arrival of the train at Elora, by Col. Clarke, M.P.P., on behalf of the Reformers of that village. Mr. Mackenzie responded briefly to both Addresses, and speeches w6re subsequently delivered by the Finance Minister, the Minister of the Interior, and the Premier, THE FINANCE MINISTER'^ SPEECH. The Hon. Mr. Cartwright was first called upon, and was received with loud cheers. He said : Mr. Chairman, T/.idics and Gentlemen, looking round upon this enormous assemblage I have only one regret, and that is, that 1 fear I shall hardly be able to send my voice f;ir enough to reach the very large number who have met to-day to hear, what I hope they will find to be, a fair and frank discussion of the policy of this Government ; but although it may not be possible for me to make myself heard by you all just now, 1 trust that through the columns of the public press you will be able to read, and after reading to examine and judge for your.selves of tlie truth of the facts which, on my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, 1 am about to present to you to-day. Object of those Gatherings. Now, as my hon. friend the Premier has explained elsewhere, onr more special purpose in addressing these assemblages is to refute certain very unfair and unfounded ciiarges brouglit against the present Government, not openly and boldly upon the floor of the House of Parlia- ment, but at places where it would necessarily be impoasible for us to be represented or to ob- tain a hearing. Desire of the Government. What we desire is, that the people of Canada should examine carefully the various speeches which have been achliessed to them by the leaders of the Opposition, and tlie answers which are given by the various members of the Government. We ask you to examine anil weigh the evidence which wh preseni to you, and when you have done so, we feel no tear of the verdict which the iutulligeut eleutoi-s of Canada will record. ' ecra. He emblago I r enough !ul to be, possible 11 a of the rsolves of about to SI Special Charges Against tbo Go7ernmcnt. Now, there are two spouial cliarges which hiivo been liroiit,'ht afjainst this Government, which more particula.-ly affect the; Department over which 1 jireside. With one of these—tiiat of ex- travagance in our administration of affairs — I have dealt on another occasion, and as my remarks on that head will be fully reported in the course of a few days, 1 will refer you, so far as the details go, to the speech itself, which will appear in the several newspapers supporting our cause. But as this charge is one which naturally and properly exoites a great deal of interest among you, I will take this opportunity of calling your attention, very briotiy, to certain prominent facta which 1 have elaborated in more detail in the speech referred to, and wliich I hope will show you, particularly when you have examined the proof I there submit, how utterly baseless and unfounded thai; char<.'e is. On that occasion I showed that whereas the present Opposition have made it a special charge against us that we have siiamelessly, and in defiance of our speeches and promises, greatly increased the public expenditure of the country, they themselves had raised the total gross expenditure from thirteen and a lialf millions in ISGT to nearly twenty- tliree and a half millions in 1874. That is to say, these fair-minded gentlemen complain loudly that whereas they in six years had added ten millions to the gross annual expenditure of the country, we, up to the year which has just clored, have increased that expenditure by some three or four hundred thousand dollars — I cannot give you the exact figures, because these have not yet been fully made up by my Department. lUit, at all events, the sum I have named is not likely to be very largely exceeded. I showed also that for a large portion of even that increase Vvc are in nowise to be held responsible, as a considerable amount of it is due simply to cross entries in the shape of interest on tlie accumulated investments of the sinking fund of the public debt. I might be well content to ask you under what possible circumstances these honourabl gentlemen can make a charge of extravagance against any Government that it has in- creased the public expenditure by about one-third of a million, while they themselves increased it by ten millions. I might well leavj that simple fact to speak for the mode in which the Ad- ministration of this country has been conducted resjiectively by themselves and by us. But tliat is not all ; for Ijcfore leaving office they had taken care to incur various contingent liabili- ties which we could not possibly avoid meeting, and which have amounted to little less than three millions of dollars additional annual charge on the public funds. Therefore we have a just right tt) say, that besides adding the sums which I have named to the annual expenditure since lb{)7, tiiey would have added three millions more up to the present time had they r<.'iiia:ued in office, whereas we hu'.e only added between three and four hundred thousand ilcllars. (Cheers.) Best Test of Economy. I further showed that, in that great branch of the jjublic service which is known as " Ordiuaiy Expenditure," and in the administration of which the economy of a Ministry iy, best shown, whereas they had increased their total expenditure from three millions and a half to eiglit millions and a half in the course of six years, Mr. Mackenzie and liis Administration liave, i\]> to the end of the year ju.st closed, succeeded in redecing that expenditure from ab(nit §8.400,000 to about $7,000,000 in round immlicis — 'cheers) — having ett'ected in that branch which best shows the true administrative al)ility of any Government, in these three years, a reduction of nearly one and a half millions, and tb.at, too, in the lace of the fact that we liave been obliged to provide for many expensive services not included in the ordinary expenditure of 1873-4, or in the unpi'ovided liabilities above mentioned. Increase of ISVS-l over tS73-3. Following up that line of argument, I sliowcd conclusively, I hope — .and for the details I refer you to the speech I then deln-cred — that the enormous increase which had occurred in 187.1-4 was wholly and entirrly due to measures of the late (ioveriuneiit, over which we hail no control. And if these gentlemen attempt before you and others to put forward the paltry plea that because they were turned out of office in November, 187.?, they were not rcs|)onsible tor the expenditure of a year for which they had drawn up the estimates and given out tlio contracts under which these expenditures were made — if they venture again to say that we an; respon- sible for that expenditure, then I refer you to tl' details of the items of which that increase was composed. I do not believe that they \\ill find an audience in Canada, no matter how un- intelligent, who, when these items are detailed, will fail to see the strict and literal accuraoy of the statement I have made, that for that iiiereaso in 1873-4 the late Government was entirely responsible. The Details Given. This increase is mainly composed of sueh items as these : — $8*20,000 for the subsidy to Xew Brunswick, and for the increase of the interest caused by the assumption of Provincial dciits. It is a matter of notoriety that I myself, as well as my colleagues, with perhaps one exception, opposed that measure to the utmost of our power ; and if y(m look at the records of I87;J, you will find our votes recorded in opposition. The next item in point of magnitude is about $."vJO,(X)0 for the admission of Prince Edward Island — a measure conduirted by these gentlemen themselves. 'I'hen there were §225,000 for the half-year's interest of the loan contracted by Mr. Tilley in September. Who are Responsible ? Are we responsible for items like these, or for the increase of $.'?00,000 made on account of certain alterations in the mode of keeping the post-office account, or for §3")0,ll(K) cau.sed by the idditional Indemnity to members, and by an increase of salaries in a variety ot services. • r for rlie increase of §'200,000, caused by the institution of the Mounted Police, or for §100,0i)i) a liU- 7 1 ■ ,--^1 '•k 82 tional treaty money to the Indians T These are the chief items that go to make up the four millions to which I alluded, and I leave it to you if for any ouo of these items any fair-minded iii*a caa hold tL . present Government responsible. Comparison of Deficits/ Then, too, as these gentlemen have chosen to impute the occurrence of a deficit to gross incompetency and want of statesmanship in the present Government, 1 took the oppcjrtuiiity to recall to the minds of the people o*" Canada what sort of dericits, not ranging; over one or two years, but over six or seven years, marked tlie Admiuistration of Sir John Macdonald and liis friends from 1858 to 1865. I showed that -wliureas the total deficit we incurred aniouutud to barely seven and a half per cent, on the total expenditure for the year ISTS-G, in th'; year 1858 their deficit amounted to thirty-nine jjer cent, on their annual expenditure ; in otlier words, that their deficit in proportion to their means was five times as much as our.s, and that that proportion was nearly kept up for four or five years in succession. That is my ca.se, and I ask nothing better than that you should one and all consult the public records and ascertain for yourselves which of the two parties has adhered more literally and accurately to the facts in the statements we have severally made. Special Bu illness -Tbe Fiscal Policy. On the present occasion, however, :iiy special business is not so much to deal with the ad- ministrative as with what may more properly be called tlic tiscal policy of the Government. I am aware that this subject is one that admits in some of its pliascs of considerable argument, and what I desire to call attention to is this, t!iat in dealing with the affairs of a widely ex- tended country like ours, the Government of the Dominion must make it their first aim to administer, so far as they know how, justice equally to all classes tlierein, and, even if they desire, for political or other purposes, to favour a few friends, they are bound to consider care- fully how far the favouring of those friends might affect tlie interests of the whole general public and the interests of the Administration of which they arc the responsible heads. I know that when any country has been visited by a severe commercial reaction, such as we liaveexpcrii-nced, oven when it is clear that it arises from causes which no man or (iovcnment can control, no inconsideri.ble amount of the distress is certain to be charged to the incapacity of the powers that be. That is a very trite and a very well-known axiom in political science. An Old Saw. There is an ancient saw — I have forgotten its exact word.s, but I think it runs somehow thus : that one bad harvest tries a Government, a second bad harvest sliakes a Government, and a third bad harvest breaks a Government, no matter whether that Government be a good or a bad one. We have had one bad harvest, and no doubt it did try the Government, but 1 trust you are not going to have your fait'i put to a further trial by a second one, and, indeed, I am happy to say that tliere exists a good prospect that the energy and industry of our people this year will be crowned with a reasonable amount of success. Marls of Demagogue. It is also a trite and well-kno%vn axiom of political science that when a country is in a state of distress, then is the opj)ortunity for your true demagogue ; nor can you find a surer mark or a better mode of distinguishing between the demagogue and the statesman than in this — that the demagogue, of whatever rank or station, will always be found imjmting that distress to the Government of tlie day ; while tlie true statesman will search carefully into the causes of that distress, and will deem it, as it assuredly is, a political crime of the first magnitude to stir up the feelings and passions of the people by holding out hopes of succour which lie knows no Government, no power on earth can grant. Gentlemen, if it is true, as some of tliese people assert, that the Government can stop hard times by a wave of tlieir hands, and restore pros- perity by mere legislative action, then 1 say that although the crime of refusing such succour would be very great, it would be insignificant when compared with their folly in such refusal. Interest of a Government. Every man knows that a Governinent, whether good or bad, must be anxious th.at the country as a wliole sfiould be prosperous and contented ; and if we honestly believe it in our power by legislative action to restore prosperity to the homes of Canada, it stands to reason we would be most anxious and desirous to do so at once. But if we are unable to see that the remedies which have been suggested would fairly meet the disease, we may at least claim that you should believe that we are honest in our convictions when we rct'iise to use tliose remedies, inasmuch as no persons, as I said, would profit as much as the Government by the cessation of hard times and the return of prosperity. Now. gentlemen, in connection with these hard times very different policies and very different ex])lanations of their origin, and (as might be expected) very widely different remedies, have been proposed by the heads of the two political parties into which Canada is now divided. The Two Policies. It may be well for mo to sjiend a few words in reviewing briefly, first, the two policies which are presented by the two political parties ; secondty, the explanations which are given of the present distress ; and, lastly, the remedies which each side suggests for its cure. There is one policy of which I am myself the exp"iie it here to-day, wideh holds tliat all taxes nre a necessary evil — an evil which every people m, t endure, but one which no Government is justified in in- flicting except for the good of the wnolc public. There is another policy which holds that the porit disu- and tl 8 ies which un of the ere is tiiie utcessiiry icil in iu- that the more tftxea yen lay on a people the richer they become. There is one policy which holds that the tariff should he framcil for revenue purposes, and for revenue purposes only, and another which holds that the astute statesman will so frame the taritfas to enrich a few monopolists at the expense of thfl whole people. There is one policy for the people and one policy for a small fraction of the people, and, as might be expected, you have one set of man who steadfastly deny that it is possible for you to grow rich by ever so porscvcrinj,' a system of takin;.; money out of one pocket and transferring it to another; another set who maintain that ranado is to grow wealthy by iloubling every man's wages and by tvel)ling the prices of all that those wages can purchase. There is one policy which may lie defined as a policy of truth, of justice, and of common sense, and another which may ecjually well be defined as an apfjcal to every false sen- timent — to every ignorant prejudice — to every selfish instiiut. There is one which may be called a revenue policy, and another which is called — I think miscalled— a protective ])olicy, though 1 cannot see at all that it protectw even tliose whom it [irojjoses to protect. The first of these is the policy of the present (iovornment, and the latter is the ])olicy of the present Opposi- tion. I might add, only that !>r. Tupiur miirht take it as a jjersonal matter, that one is the policy of the true physician, and tlie otiier is the policy of the quack. (Laughter.) Two Explanations of Distress. The explanations ofTered for the present distress, the severity of which I do not at all deny (it is a lamentable tact which we must all admit and deplore), are almost as diverse as the policies which have been enunciated. Now, there are some of us— old-fasliioned fossil Tories like myself, for instance — who entertain such alisnrd old-t'ashioneil notions as to believe that if a community is unfortunate enough during a period of three or four years to spend a good deal more than they earn, and attlie same time, from unforeseen misfortunes, to earn a good deal less than they expected, they will be likely to fall into circuiiistunces of pecuniary ilistress. Now, the people of Canada during a period of tliree or four years ili.l, from causes which I need not now enumerate, import something like ten or twelve millions a year more goods than it was judicious for them to buy, and it is equally true that iluring the same periotf, from some unfore- seen misfortunes, the people of Canada earned upon an average some six or seven millions less than they expected to earn. If you add these sums togetlier for a jieriod of four years, you will find that, one way and another (in all probability), lor 1 am now putting the thing in a general way !vnd not ])retcnding to minute accuracy — we spent in those four yearii about forty or fifty millions more in purchasing goods than we really could afford. Well, uiduckily, at the same time .^ur purchasin-j 'oower was reduced by about twenty or thirty millions, or, in otiier words, we were some eigu y millions poorer than wc expected to be at the expiration of that period ; and, at the same time, not only were some of our best customers very badly hurt by the commercial reaction, which extended over almost every civilized country as well as ours, but it is also true that many of our people luad transferred themselves from fairly jiroductive pursuits to others which at the best can only he called distributive. Now, my position is this, that this unfortunate distress, which, as I have said, extended over pretty nearly the whole civilized world, was produced by a combination of the causes I have named, and not by any which a Government could control. If this explanation, whose only merit is tliat it is pKiin and simple and true, does not satisfy you, there are sundry others to lie given more in acconlance with the gospel as expounded by Sir Jolin Macdonald and Dr. Tupper, which, so far as I am able to ascertain what they mean — and it is not always an easy task as regards their speeches in the House of Commons or at the meetings of their sujiporters — is this, that Canada some four or Hve years ago, in a tit of temporary iiis-iuity, parted with her true guides, philosophers and friends, in the persons of these hon, gentlemen, and hence the outpouring of Divine wrath upon her un- fortunate people ; hence came wars and rumours of wars; heiu i bad harvests; hence com- mercial reactions ; hence every sort of ill that human flesh is luir to, including, 1 presume, earthquakes in South America, and tidal waves in t!ic Pacific, all of which, as yon know, have occurred in unwonted abundance since Sir John went out of otiice. At any rate ;ill these things were subsequent to, and therefore necessarily consequent on that event — at least if I)r. Tupper is to be believed. And, lest there should be any injustice done to Dr. Tupper, I will read from Hansard his explanations of these unfortunate circumstances, as given in the House of Commons last session : — " Wfc have had a period of seven years of our natidiiiil existence of unexampled prosperity, and no "ountry in the Wiirkl presents a more bnliiiuit example of wliut a country did achieve in such a short |>er!o'd as sevei. years. Tliis has heen followed by three years of adversity. liut, sir, we liave these two periods -a iiermd of uiiex;i'ii|iled pros- perity, and that whieh the ho-.i. gentleman ritfhtly eliaracterized a few cvenintfsatro in thii< I'lirliament asime of deep distress. Now, sir, we not only have these two periods, but we liave them separated by a sharp line of deinareatiou, and that line marks the change in tlio Government of this country." I have only three objections to make to that statement. One is a slightly important one, and that is that it w.vs not true that we had seven j-ears of unexampled prosperity. During the hrst three years of 8ir John's Administration the imports and revenue were almost sta- tionary. Our imports in 18G7 were seventy-one millions ; in 18(i8 they wtre sixty-seven mil- lions, and they had reached only seventy-two millions in IStiO. In 1873-4 they had" fallen again from the liuure they had reached in 1872-.S by about three millions ; in other words, his seven years' iine.\.implcd pro.sperity shrink into three when you come to a))|)ly the ruthless test of figures, though I admit that that is a trilling inaccuracy compared with some statements that emanated from the same source. Problem for Dr. Tupper. In the next place, if Dr. Tupper thinks that prosperity is a proof of the goodness or the bad- ness of a Governnieut, I ask him on the first opportunity to explain to an intelligent Ontario ^■m m *Wll 84 IP: 1 "'lirf! t M audicUJc how it was that the period of 1857-8 to 1867, when Sir John had almost absolute con- trol, was not a period of unexampled prosperity, but was one marked by deep distress and heavy and prolonged deficits. When ho explains this, I shall be happy to follow him with a ctmuter refutation of his doctrines. Two Remodlos. Leaving Dr. Tupper and Sir John to arrange this little problem at their leisure, I dare say it will not surprise you to lind that the ren.edies we propose for the depression are still more widely apart than are our several explanations of its causes. It is not our fault that our remedy, like our explanation, is of a very plain and prosaic character. We do not believe that wo can obtain prosperity by Acts of I'arliament. We believe that the people of Canada have spent a good deal more than they shoulil have spent, .and have earned i'onsideral)ly less than they should liave earned, and 1 am sorry to have to tell you that, under the circumstances, very much of thia distress is entirely unavoidable, .ind that there is one way out of it, and only one. The people of Canada can only {'row richer by the cxerci.se of greater frugality and hard work. I know well that this is not a pleasant doctrine, and 1 have no doubt that 1 would be better received in certain (piarters if 1 were able to say that all that the people had to do was to sit still and be made rich l)y legislative interference. That is not the way that this magnificent country was reclaimed from primeval forest. Every one of you knows that such of our people as have grown rich have done so by energy, determination, and hard work. So have they grown rich in the pa.st, so are they now growing rich, and so may they continue to grow rich. Undoubtedly a Government may do something under such circun)3tanees. It is bound to stop all unnecessary outlays, and set an example of frugality ; but it is not bound to advocate doc- trines in which it is incapable of believing, and from which it does not see that any real genuine good can come to any considerable part of the community. Now, sir, it need not be wondered at that my plain, i)rosaic ex]ilanation, and still less my plain, prosaic remedies tor that distress, will not suit the lofty geniuses who planned the Pacific Itailway, and who planned also the Pacific Scandal. (Hear, hear.) These gentlemen disdain to advocate, either by precept or ex- ample, these tame, trite doctrines of working and saving. Perish such vulgar ideas ; they have their panacea ready — they can jiiake j'ou all rich by Act of Parliament, It is true th Tupper the Canadian Jack Cade. cir system is somewhat old and stale ; indeed it may not impr -;u„j '.i^mi^' IS true tncir system is soniewiiat out and stale ; indeed it may not improperly be dc as a modern ada])tation (not improved) of some of tlin projects of that lamented reformer, Jack Cade. Mr. Cade, who, if he had lived to-day, wouKl, 1 dare say, be tlie Dr. Tupper of his country, declared his intention of passing an edict that on the day he was made King of Eng- land every man should have his wages doubled, and should only work on half time ; that the •one-hooped pot of ale should have twelve hoops, wliich should co.st no more than one hoop ; with divers other reforms of a highly practical cliaracter, including the immediate suspension (sus. per coll. ) of all lawyers — the cost of the whole to be defrayed by the public treasury — on the principle so lucidly explained by Dr. Tupper that the more taxes you put on, the richer a coun- try becomes. Jack Cade was a protectionist in his day, a man of large views, and in advance of his time, and it is a thousand pities that his career was ruthlessly cut short by the benighted people whose interests he was trying to advance. Careful not to Commit Themselves. Now, if you examine in detail Dr. Tupper's and Sir John's speeches on this subject, you will all notice that whatever they call themselves they do not eoininit themselves to anything whatever. 1 defy any man to read Sir John's resolutions or his speeches and say whether he has not left himself ample room to refuse to put on a single cent of additional taxation if he does not find it convenient to do so — (hear, hear, and laughter)— while the whole gist of Dr. Tuppin''s speeches was that their 15 per cent, ad valorem duty was as good as our 17i per cent., and if he got back to oilice he would prove, no doubt, that it was better to have his 15 ])ct cent, than to retain our miserable 17.^. Our crime is a curious one. We have absolutely refused to declare that l)lack shah henceforth be white, or tliat if you subtract one from two, you will have three remaining, that being, I think, a pretty fair representation of the theory that by the imposition of additional taxation you will make the people richer. We have refii'sed to suspend the ordinary laws and operations of nature pro bone publico ; nay, more, we doubt the wisdom of attempting to do so by statutory enactment. I do not deny that if these gentlemen could show that we have that power, we should be held seriously blameworthy for so refusing ; I only venture to insinuate that if we are unable to deliver men from the consequences of misfortunes, more or less brouj.'ht about by their own acts, we in doing so only act in conformity to the ordi- nary rules which have hitherto been applied by Divine Providence to the government of the world. I know of no Government on earth that can possibly deliver a free country from the consequences of its own foUies and mialortunes without the active co-operation of the people themselves. We may deplore the existence of these consequences and try to alleviate them ; but the remedy lies in the hands of the people composing the community from one end of the country to the other. Now, I propose to examine in some little detail some of the arguments advanced by Dr. Tupper and his friends in regard to this question of protection. Two Kinds of Frotcctionlsto. I would say, in the first place, that 1 fully recognize the difference which exists between the two classes which may be said to compose the protectionist body. There are certain protection- ists who are moderate and reasonable in their views — who, as far as I understand their position, are hardly protectionists at all in the proper sense of the term, but who very naturally ond^ea- 85 Honal)ly feel much acgrioved at the unfortunate policy which tho Govornment of the United States lias jier uivered in for so many years. 'I'liis is quite a distinct and different thin)^ from tlie ordinary orotection as advocated by the other persons of whom I speak. When I speak of protection generally, 1 wish it to be understood that I refer to tho secoml and not to the first of these classes — not tliat J am able entirely to agree with many of my friends who advocate those particular views of protection, but berause there is a wide and sharply-tletined lino of demarca- tion between tliese two classes. 1 tliink it is highly desirable tli^t you should give this (jucatioo the most careful and serious consideration. Results of Frotootlon. What I desire to do is this. I desire, lirst of all, to show what protection will cost this toun- try ; next, the mindjer of pei/plo amongst us who may fairly l)e said to be iicnclitcd, even for a, short time, by a protective polic^y ; and lastly, to show sometliing of the ultimate moral and political ell'ects that would result from the adoption of a so-called protective system. 1 lay it down as a maxim that in every free country where free government is ])roperly understood, no Government is justified in imposing any ta,\es unless it be for the benefit of the whole people. That is a prini;iplo for which you have long fought and liave successfully carried out, and are doubtless prepared to maintain. If tho protectionists can show that the additional taxes they propose to impose are for the benefit of the whole people — are, in other words, just taxes, they will then have made out their case ; but the onus must rest on them, or on any man who pi-o- poses to impose additional taxes, of showing that tliese taxes are necessary and just, and in tho public interest. Cost of Protection. In dealing with this subject, then, 1 wish to call attention to what protection really and actu. ally would cost the people of this country. 1 do not moan to say that the manufactures which now exist, and which in spite of tho hard times are in many quarters continuing to llourish amongst us, cost anything like the sum that other manufactures which require a still heavier tariff \vf)ul(l be likely to cost. Probably most of our genuinely successful manufactures would be carried on without any tariff at all ; and 1 am very strongly of opinion that if any man in Canada linds liimself unable to manufacture an article without receiving a protection of 17i per cent, or more, that man will prove to the people of Canada a tolerably expensive luxury. It is com- puted by statisticians in England and the United States, that every hand — man, woman, or child ---employed in factories produces on an average very nearly .SI, 200 worth of manufactured goods per year. Now, 17A per cent, on that sura amounts to no less than .?2 10 per annum, and therefore it is perfectly clear that in any manufacture started here requiring protection to the extent of 17^ percent., for every hand so employed the peo])le of Canada in some shape or other pay a tax of $210, and a considerably higher amount if the tariff is increased. It has always appeared to my mind, in the case of new manufactures requiring a tariff additional to our present duty, that they are but a dubious gain to the country ; ami when people talk, as they are now doing, about readjusting the tariff, I want to put it plainly before you wh.at that readjustment would do for you; how many hands it would employ ; and lastly, what it might probably cost. In 187() we imported in all about ninety-four million dollars worth of goods. Of this amount, after careful calculation and examination, I am inclined to think — although the best computation must necessarily bo but an approximate one — that it would be possible if we imposed a sufli- ciently heavy protective duty to manufacture something like thirty million dollars worth of goods within the country. Numbers Interested. Applying the rule that T have just laid down, it follows that the manufacture of these goods would employ some 23,000 hands — not full-grown men, Init factory hands generally. I have to observe that the goods that can be manufactured are goods from which we derive tlie greater part of our present revenue, and that therefore the fust difficulty that would meet you would be that, whereas we get in round numbers about .?G, 000,000 of (Justoms duties on goods imported into the country, you would lose that duty, and would have to make it up by direct taxation, which, while pressing heavily on the whole community, will press more severely upon the farm- ing community in particular. That represents a portion, and perhaps not the largest portion, of the loss which would be sustained, inasmuch as all the deputations that waited upon me on the subject, and with whom I h.ad conversation, admitted that, in order to carry out that re- adjustment on a large scale, the present taritf would have to beat least doubled ; in other words, although by a certain readjustment some thirty millions of dollars might be added to the pro- duction of Canada, and some twenty-five thousand people employed in producing that amount of goods, you would have to pay at the very least twelve nullions of dollars for the luxury of seeina them made in Canada, or at the rate of about §400 or $500 per head year by year for every one of the hands who would be employed. Diversion of Labour. As for the plea that this would bring population into our country, I may say that the ex- perience and example of the United States shows conclusively that that would not be the effect, but that there would be instead simply a diversion from the ranks of the farming community and of the artisans dojiendent on them to those of factory hands, .-.nd that the productive power of the country would be lessened by what these twenty-five thousand hands would have produced. I don't deny that it is possible Ijy a certain readjustment of the tariff to give em])loyment to a considerable number of additional factory hands, but 1 distinctly assert that you would not in- crease the productive power of the country, and besides, in addition to the present heavy weight of indirect taxes, you would have direct taxation in a very onerous form levied upon you, and you ^m ^•;iii •IMO'", iH '■*•■'" is 86 '^m' Irl^' ' S«*«f' i woulrl bo oliligod to pay as much again in order to inaintiiin tlii'-se inanufao.turoH whicli thPFe gentlemen Huy can only edine into existence under such ii taritl as I liuvu described. Now, i" take up the next hratioii of the (jiii-.stion. .Sn])pose that wo made tlii«(,'iL;antic ch;inL,'e— «u)>|>o8o we reversed our whole lineal policy, imd compelled the pe()j)le of Canada to piiy .*r_',(MJ(), ()()() ocr year for the support of some twenty-five tliousand factory employees, what portion of our j)eople might expect to he henellted therehy V As to this (juestiou, I have no better statiaticH to give you than those in the census returns of 1871. They are not entirely accurate, hut it is reasonahle to pre- sume that the various classes of our population have increased in about the ratio therein dis- closed. Those of you who have paid attention to this subject will know that out of the three and a half millions of people residing in Canada in 1871, something like one million were then employed in various more or less remunerative pursuits. They were divided as follows : — 000,- 0()0 were put down a.t agrici.,turi8tH, althougli that number should have been 100,000 more, be- cause among the unclas.silied list were probably no fewer than 100,000 who were really agricul- tural labourers. Then came the very large so-called "commercial" class, 7."<,000; [irofessional men, 39,000 ; domestic servauts, (i(),000; and linally what is known as the " industrial class," 213,ii00. A Gross Fallacy. No fallacy has been more widely s|)read than tiiat of NU])posing that this so-called protective movement wouhl extend protection and encouragement to these 21,^,000 people. Were that true, I admit that the question would be a very much more serious one than it is, and it is one of the best j)roofs of the gross ignorance, and 1 might almost say gross dishonesty, with which this question has been treated, that the advocates of protection claim these '21.S,000 as persons who would benefit by a protective system. They omit to point out the fact that at least nine-tenths of these are artisans of various kinds, employed in the rural districts, depending upon the far- mers, aiul affected just as much as tlicy are by the goodness or badness of tlie harvest. 1 am not going to rest my .statements on mere random a.-^sertions, but will give you in detail the nund)ers of the various classes composing this '2i.'{,000, as far as it is possible to do it without too minute elaboration. Of tliese 'J1.'>,0(M) scattered over every part of the country — not mass.ed together in large citi's, but dependent upon the welfare and prosperity of the farming communitj', there were in 1871 :— Milliners 8,874 Seamstresses 7, 'Ml Tailors 7,700 Shoemakers 16,12:{ Fishermen IS,."?!!'-' Lumbermen J),900 Shipwrights 4,'2")0 Bakers 2,(100 Butchers 3,598 eijii?; Blacksmiths \5,C>M Cari)enters ^2,581 (-'oopers 4,449 M.asons 5,888 Mechanics 5,408 Waggon-makers 5,025 Glaziers 4,11(5 Saddlers 3,102 Millers 7,134 Printers 2,700 and a great variety of brick, tile and other such manufacturers, making in all a ti 'al of about 190,000 to be taken from the 213,000 I have named, leaving from 20,000 to 2r.,000 jieraons em- ployed in various factories who may be more or less interested in the movement in favour of pro- tection, including all occupations not euumera^ed. That is a matter of importance, because it shows conclusively that 1 have been generous in this estimate, and that 1 have given them a very considerable number of classes who 1 know from their own confcissions and statements are holding their own in the midst of these times of ilepression, and do not require an additional tariii'. In any case, take it as you like, you have this result, that, apart from the number whom you might possibly employ by means of sucli a readjustment of tlie tariff as 1 have spoken of, and who, let me repeat, would not be added to our ])opulation, but only diverted from one form of industry to another, there are perhaps from 20,000 to 25,000 jieople who can bo considered by any strctcli of imagination likely to be really benefited ; in other words, jjerhapa one-fiftieth part of our total population. Justice to All. Now, God forbid that I should say that this Government or any Government should overlook the interests of even the one-liftieth jiart of our population, or refuse to see ju.stice done to the smallest class in the community. If they .show theiv claims to be just, 1 .sliall be the first to give them that justice to which they are entitled ; but Heaven forbid also that for the sake of this one-tiftieth part of the ]iopulation we should do a rank injustice to the other forty-nine- fiftieths. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Xow let us consider a little in detail what our friends the manufacturers really ask of us. I have had a good deal to do with manufacturers myself, and am pretty largely concerned in the i)ros[)erity of that interest, and I know that there has been very considerable distress among that class. Wbat is tho Governmont to do 7 I am extremely sorry for this, not only in my heart but in my pocket also ; but I cannot help asking these men, " What do you wish us to do?" Do you ask that tho Government cf Caniida should lay it down as a maxim that we are to relieve you from the results of even un- avoidable misfortunes, or from your own mistakes ? If you lay down that policy, to what are these things to grow ? It would simjily come to this, that every time there was a commercial crisis, every time the markets were glutted or the farmers had bad harvests, the Government would have to step in and afford relief. In other words, if the misfortunes of one claas of the people were made good at the public cost, the misfortunes of all other classes would have also to 87 8,374 7,377 7,700 16,123 18,3(;'2 9,900 4,250 2,(i00 3,598 overlook lie to the iirst to le siike of 1-ty-nine- Icntls the Iself, and Ihaa been ll cannot liimeut of jeven un- Iwhat are imercial [rernment 89 of the te also to be mode good; If manufacturcra are to bo relieved at the public expense from the consrqnenoM of niistakuB or miafortuuns, why should not fiirmcrH uIho itu rvlieved out of the nuhlio purae if their harvests are bad t If commercial men are oveitakeii by a crisis thoy must auo Imj relieved, and if professional men do not obtain a sulUcient nuiiibur of clients tlu-y would have to be m:iintaiu(!d at the public expense, Xay, wliy should not distressed politicians like Sir John Miiodoiiald and Dr. Tupper also come in for a sliaro of relief? (Lauj^litcr.) You laugh, but wliynot? Where are we to stop in this doctrine of univeisal jjrotection ? There is a third point involved, which porhapa has not been touched upon sutllciuutly, but it is cue which every Canadian should consider welL Social and Political Beault. You have to consider what will be the coii.smjucnco of the future protective policy In its inor:il, soriiil, and politii al aspect. I said a year a^jo, wluui discuasinj,' tliis subject on the Uoor of I'arliaiuent, that there is one reason which weighed with inc very much ; and 1 pointed out at tliat time that although it could bo shown that tlie adoption of a imitcctive syHteni would en- rich a few, it would enrich that few onlj'. It would make a few rich men miiUouaires, while it would make poorer the great bulk of the community. Rings and Lobbies. I also pointed out that once you open the door, onco you depart from the broad, clear principle of a revenue tariff or taxation imposed by the jjcoijIc for the benelit of the whole Eooplo, you throw wide the gates to every im!i;.'iiialilc species of bribery, corruption, and dis- onesty. 1 said that wherever you have a protected interest, at any rate in the sense in which these gentlemen speak of protection, you must have rings ; wherever you have rings you will have bribery and corruption. You will have a permanent lobby exercising its despicable trade in the halls of the Legislature, and though you may have banished corruption from tlio electorate, you will lind vou have only sent it a step further, and established a dangerous system of lobby- ing that will be ready to bribe members of tlie Legislature in onicr to obtain the benefits of pro- tection for this or that favoured few. I ask whether it would not be enough to destroy the virtue of any Pailiament? If you consider the tremendous engines of corruption you thus put in the hands of dishonest statesmen, I think you will see that tlie moral and jiolitical aspects of the question are of the very gravest importance. 'J'o give you but one instance. The other day a very worthy man was oaddressing mo on this subject in my own otlice. He was largely in- terested in manufactures, and he said to me, " If you adopt this policy, 1 tell you candidly you will enable me to reap a handsome revenue out of the live or six hundred thousand dollars I have invested in manufacturing enterprises, and which now do not pay me one sou." He was a man who would have scorned to approach me with a dishonest ju'ojwsition, but yet I could not help thinking to myself "if you are likely to receive such enormous benelit from the policy you advocate, what would some other men in your phvce be likely to do if they thought they could obtain a handsome percentage on the money they had invested in manufactures ?" Now, you can work out that problem for yourselves. Cause of Corruption in the United States. It has been worked out in the United States, and I speak of what I know •when I say that one of the greatest causes of the corruption which has grown so prevalent in American politics is, that their fiscal policy is ao contrived as to make it worth the while of men possessed of many millions to distribute some of their millions among the Congressmen and the Senate of the United States to obtain protection for certain special industries there. (Uear, hear, and cheers.) Element of Discord. Then, too, these gentlemen should consider carefully what an element of discord they would import into our young Confederation by this policy of protecting certain interests at the public expense. I know well what would have been the result if in 1S71) the Government had felt it to be their duty to come down and make a considerable addition to the taxation of this country. Dr. Tuppcr's Confession. My hon. friend, the Premier, when I closed my budget speech of 1876, went over to Dr. Tupper, and said, "Now, Dr. Tupper, confess, are you not disap[)ointed ? Were you not going to point out to the Maritime Provincea that tho iron heel of an Ontario Finance Minister was crushing them down for the benefit of the large and rich Province of Ontario ; were you not disappointed that we did not announce an increase of the tariff? " To do Dr. Tupper justice, he did not deny the soft impeachment — (laughter) — though, with that address and promptitude which characterizes him, though he had prepared a thundering harangue upon the folly and wickedness of increasing the taxos of the people at that particular time, lie rose to the occasion, and with equal vehemence denounced me because J had not made any addition to the taxation. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Now, if we had unhappily listened to the voice of the charmer and adopted a policy which would have appeared to favour one part of the Dominion at the expense of another, it would have driven in a wedge which would have tended directly to the separation from US of the more distant provinces of the Dominion. But as statesmen and an patriots we are obliged to consider, not the interests of one part of Canada, but of the whole — not the interests even of our friends, whom we should have liked to have served, but the welfare of the whole community. ^Cheers. ) True Interests of Canada. I must add this, that no man can dean c iiKjre than I do to see our Canadian towns grow and thrive. But, whilst I admit that it is our duty by ail honest means to foster that growtih — while fXf) If 4 ■■^i*"\ m. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ^^ IIIIIM IM 2.2 I? y£ 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 M 6" — ► V] (9 /^ C'»^ '<^ s e. S'M Cl <$> ew > i-^" ^ A // / ^, Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST M,' N STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 # v 4 ^9) 6^ Kip M:s ^ 88 1 desire ^ see all classes prospering in this country, I havo for a long time become convinced that a syetciu or a policy which tended to promote the unhealthy growth of towns at the expense of the rural districts is most disa-strous to the true interests of any country. In other lands the mistake hus been made of diverting men from the wholesome cultivation of the soil and cluster- ing them together in the unhealthy slums of great cities, thus leading to an ifrtiticial increase of the city population. To such a policy 1 am from conviction and observation steadily opposed. I do not desire to see my fellow-countrymen deserting agriculture to seek the temporary excite- ment and advantage of certain city vocations. Such a forced and artiHcial growth must of necessity be of a temporary character; for, after all, the cities of Canada are not what make Canada. They are the healthy outgrowth of our rural populations, and anything tending to injure the rural population will ultimately injure the growth and demoralise the population of the cities themselves. Looking at tiie many signs and symptoms in American politics indicating a return to a better fiscal policy, if we were now to yield to the suggestions made to us, we should not only weaken the hands of those desiring to open a fair reciprocity of trade between us and the United States, but we would at the same time open the door for a great amount of smuggling, such as at o:ie time went on from this country to the United States, and which in the case of a high tariff on our side would undoubtedly occur very speedilv from the United States to Canada. Preminm on Smnggllng. Tlie experience of all countries has shown, and tlie experience of every man who has studied the subject will lioar me out in saying, that the moment you make articles easily transportable from one place to another — with only an artificial barrier between two countries, such as exist between this Dominion and the United States — the subject of heavy taxation, you will offer a premium for smugglers from Gaspe to Sarnia. These are all difficulties which have presented themselves to my mind and to the miiitl of the Government. 1 merely call attention to the general facts — it is tjuite impossible for rae on the present occasion to go into minute details — to show iiuw certain results 1 have pointed out would follow from the adoption of snch a policy as has been suggested to us. Polloy of the British Empire. Then there is another consideration. I do not want to impeach the loyalty of our adversaries. Sir .John is a K.C. B., he is a titular Privy Councillor of England, though for reasons not iTjcnerally known he has never during five years found it expedient to go to England and qualify himself to advise Her Majesty Queen Victoria in that capacity. I am not going to say why Sir John has been so modest or so dilatory in presenting himself in order to qualify for that high position, but since he has arrogated to himself the right to speak for the loyal men of Canada — siiice he h.id presumed to say or insinuate that he, and he alone, can be trusted to be loyal to the British '''uipire, 1 ask him and his friends to ponder well on this plain fact, that if they adopt the syv;ti!n Viiey now advocate of raising a hifh and broad wall of protection around our country they \\'ill be flying in the face of the policy of the whole Empire, and will be doing that which E;i;;li .li statesmen of every hue of politics are agreed is a mistake and an injury, and that tlio partiua who would bo hurt most would not be the American manufacturer, but the English manufacturer, who is manufacturing without any aid or assistance from hia (Government, and iu whose markets we are at perfect liberty to compete. Let them remember that their policy is one which, so far as any commercial policy can do so, must tend to the disruption and separation of the ties which bind us to the mother land. (Hear, hear.) Much has been said of ihe distress which now exists in Canada. 1 have asserteil again and again that the distress in Canada was not a local distress. I ventured to give some explanations of the causes leading to it, and I have always insisted that we in Canada were only suffering our share — and perhaps, if the truth were known, a very small share — of the great wave of commercial reaction which is spread- ing over the civilized world. Universal Depression. The other day I had occasion to examine with some care a very long and elaborate essay on the cause of the unusual commercial depiession now e.Yisting, written by a gentleman of high rejiute, an authority of the highest character on this subject, the late Walter Bagehot, editor of the London Economist. Air. Bagehot went very minutely into the causes for this distress, and showed that, so far from its being local or confined to Canada, it extends not only over Great Britain and the United Statee, but over Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia, and also over France — the latter being a country which, from various circumstances, was as little likely to suffer from that depression as any country in Europe. Now, consider what this means. France contains 3(),00(),000 of i)eople ; Great Britain 32,000,000; the United States and ourselves, 44,000,000; Germany, 40,000,000 ; Italy, 26,000,000; Austria and Hungary, 30,000,000; and Russia, 85,000,000. You will see that not less than 300,000,^00 of people, comprising nine- tenths of the civilized world, are suffering at this moment from commercial distress, produced in a great measure by the same identical causes, though in our case it was aggravated by an un- usually bad harvest, a misfortune from which most of these countries were exempt. Not only is nine-tenths of the civilized world so affected, but that nine-tenths contains probably nine- teen-twentieths, or very nearly that amount, of the really available wealth of the whole world. They have (iovemments of the most diverse kind, fiscil systems of widely opposite character, and yet we find the self-same distress prevailing and the same complaints on the part of m-nufac- turers, the same diflieulty iu disposing of manufactured goods, the same falling off in prices — in fact all those symptoms which, according to Dr. Tupper and isir John Macdonald, are sure signs of misgoveruinent on the part of Alexander Mackenzie and his colleagues, and most particularly of tliat most infamous of his collca<^ues the present Finance Minister of Canada. (Hear, hear, and laii' htcr. I 89 ne convinced ; the expuuse her landH the [ and cluster- il increase of lily opposed, lorary excite- wth must of ; what make i; tending to population of cs indicating ule to us, we ■ade between it amount of tnd which in the United ) has studied iransportable iuch as exist , will offer a ve presented ition to the ite details — nch a policy adversaries, reasons not 1 and qualify say why Sir or that liigh of Canada — loyal to the iy adopt the our country that which nd that tlio the English nent, and in sir policy is eparation of the distress Canada was ding to it, •liaps, if the h is spread- tte essay on nan of higii )t, editor of listress, and over Great i, and also ittle likely this means. 1 ourselves, 0,000 ; and rising nine- I, produced d by an un- Not only bably nine- hole world, character, )f ni"uufac- I prices — in e sure signs jarticularly r, hear, and One Caqm of DlstreMi, I ▼entnr« to say that in m^ poor judgment one of the most serious misfortunes under which we labour is to be found in this, that unhappily, from various causes, a very considerable num- ber of our people have withdrawn from the pursuits of agriculture and the various handicrafts connected therewith, and have dfivoted themselves to what may be called unproductive pursuits. It used to be said in old times — although I suppose it will be considered a worn out doctrina nnder the promised millennium of Dr. Tupper — that no more than one man out of twenty of the population could be withdrawn from productive pursuits without risking a permanent impover- ishment of the whole community. Let us now see how the population of Canada is distributed. Wo have 700,000 or 800,000 able-bodied men in Canada, who may be regarded as the real pro- ducers and creators of wealth in this country, and of this number probably between 500,000 and 600,000 are directly employed in agricultural pursuits, and of those who are called the " industrial classes " at least nine-tenths are dependent upon agricultural pursuits and the welfare of the farming community. I find in Canada that out of these 700,000 men somewhere about 75,000, in round numbers, have transferred themselves to commercial pursuits, otherwise known as shopkeeping in its various branches, or to professional cniplo}'ments. I should bo the last to say that a very large number of these persons are not most usefully employed, but I do say that, when you come to consider that statement in detail, I think you will be disposed to agree with me that in that diversion of so disproportionate a number of our people to unpro- ductive pursuits is to be found a verj^ considerable cause of the extravagance and consequent depression which now prevails. In 1871 we had nominally 75,227 persons employed in the so- called commercial pursuits. From these are to be deducted aboUt 25,000 who are properly carriers — that is, engaged in transport — leaving about 50,000 who may be described as merchants or shopkeepers of one kind or another. Then there are ",bout 39, 000 professional men, though from these I deduct about 14,000 teachers, as I look upon them as being as usefully employed as any Eart of our population ; the remaining 25,000 go to make up our doctors, apothecaries, notaries, twyers, and clergymen. I don't wish to utter a single reflection upon the usefulness of any one of these classes, but if I am to believe the statements which I hear from members of almost every one of these professions with whom I come in contact, they are all largely overstocked, with perhaps the single exception of that of clergymen ; and precisely the same tiling occurs with respect to that portion of the community engaged in commercial jjursuits. In fact, the state of affairs seems to be that in almost every one of those pursuits there are at least three men now-a-days trying to make a living by doing two men's work, to the great injury of all concerned. Diversion to Non-Prodnctlve Pursuits. Now, I think it will be admitted that 75,000 of the very best of our people are by far too many to be engaged in non-productive pursuits. I will not venture to say exactly how many of them are unnecessary, but 1 don't think I would be overstating the matter very much if I fiessed that out of these 75,000 we could well spare 25,000 for more productive pursuits, am a Canadian born and bred, but I have always felt that, excellent as our system of education is, much as it is to be desired that it should expand and flourish, still it is very desirable that that system should be so directed that it should teach our young men in the country that they make a great mistake for their own prosperity and peace of mind when they quit the honour* able occupation of farming or of ordinary handicrafts to join the multitudes of useless shopkeepers or half employed professional men. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) As I said before, I don't wish to cast any reflections upon those engaged in these pursuits per se. Many of them are wanted ; but in view of the fact that these occupations are nearly all so overcrowded, it is a great mistake that so many of the very pick of our farming population leave the farms on which they are use- fully employed and co to the towns to engage in what are supposed to be lighter occupations. You must not only deduct from the national wealth the useless expenditure of those people, which may be put at 3600 per man as a low estimate ; but you must remember that when they are thus uselessly employed they cease to producp at all, and the consequence is that the country must maintain them, besides losing the value of their productive labour. If you calculate the cost of niaiiitaining 25,000 men at 8600 each, and add to that tlie sum of .^-iOO or .*?oOO apiece which they might earn in productive pursuits, you will be able to judge if there must not be a very considerable impoverishment of the country from that source. Wliat ttals Diversion Costs. I think it may fairly be computed that the loss the people of Canada sustain from that unfortunate diversion of useful labour from the farm and the workshop to the counter and tlie professional desk is not less than from $20,000,000 to $30,000,000 per year, a sum equivalent to the whole taxation required to carry on the government of the Dominion of Canada. (Hear, hear. ) According to ordinary statisticians, tne largest standing army you could possibly main- tain would be 35,000 men, and if you have twice that number and more employed as I have de- scribed, you readily see what a burden this standing army of 75,000 men must be to the country. Blaln Sonroes of Wealth to Canada. After all said and done, the three great sources of our wealth are our farms and their products, our forests, and our fisheries and ships. 1 do not say that our manufactures should be abolished. I do not undervalue their importance, nor do I say that there aie not valuable sources of wealth in our mines, but at present the wealth of Canada must ))roceely when Sir John Macdonald advocates protection, though he does it in his own fa.viii(>n — and in such a way that it would he utterly impossible for the most adroit protectionist to nail him to anything unless it suits himself — he is perfectly consia- tent in doing so, for from tirst to last during the greater part of his career his determination has been to carry on the ijoverunicnt by a well-orj>anized system of bribery. (Hear, hear.) B^irst of all he bribed individuals, tiicn he took to bribing constituencies by grace of Sir Hugh Allan and others, and then he went in for bribing whole Provinces. And Sir John Macdonald, if he is put back in power, will, if it suits his purpose, go to work to bribe whole classes of the community ; and I am willing to admit that such is his skill in the art of legerdemain, that he is aide to go the whole round of the circle, tirst bribing, or making believe to bribe, one class of the community, then another, and so on, and finally leaving them at last all far poorer than ho found them, but still believing that they had all got a goJiX thing out of Sir John Macdonald. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Those of you who know anything oi the system of lobbying which is carried on in Washingtofi, and of the political engines there set to work for ])urpose8 of cor- ru))tiou, will understand in a moment huw well a protective taritT could be manipulated by the right man in the right place ; how it could be manipulated for the advantage of any Qovermnent. Why Sir John Wants a New TorlfT, I don't wonder that Sir John's mouth waters to get hold of it. I don't wonder that he sees as in a vision whole horded of hungry manufacturers all asking only this one little matter of protection — all willing to send him "another ten thousand " if that can be conceded. Now, I deny once and for all that any person can frame a taritf that would enrich the people except by the simple process of remitting taxes ; every tax that I renut is so much gained by the people of Canada, and every tax I put on, no matter under what guise, is so much out of the pockets of the people. But if you wish for a diflferent policy you can have it. There is no diflBculty in allowing yourselves to be hocus-pocuiied in the guise of a readjustment by which a good many believe they will get richer, and by which undoubtedly a good many of you will become poorer ; but you must not expect the present Government to stoop to such tricks to retain themselves in power. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) What we can do honestly and fairly to help you we will do. Convince us that wo can make you rich by putting on taxation and we will only be too happy to do it. Sir John and Dr. Tapper. It is true in this matter of protection I am bound to say that there is a very considerable difference between Sir John Macdonald and Dr. Tupper. Sir John, whatever his sins may be, is an able and remarkably intelligent man, and anybody who heard him speak in Parliament in defence of protection and in defence of his resolution, and heard the lamentable and miserable failure which he made in that speech, would see what an intelligent man he is. He is so intel- ligent that he was unable even to appear to believe what he himself was saying. (Laughter.) Dr. Tupper, on the contrary, rises quite equal to the occasion. His speech was far better than Sir John's was, the quality of the two speeches being in inverse ratio to the relative intelligence on fiscal and other matters of these two hon. gentlemen. Sir John is a man of whom it may be truly said, " Video vuliora, deteriora sequor." He knows the right when he sees it, thoush it may not please him to follow it. But, as to Dr. Tupper, having followed him pretty closely, I have come to the conclusion that he is mentally colour blind, that he cannot tell right from wrong, that he cannot tell fact from fiction, or truth from falsehood, and therefore 1 have to a very great degree ceased to hold him responsible for any statement he may utter. Duties on Coal and Floor. One thing, however, is noteworthy. Wherever he has spoken on this matter I observe he is very true to the instincts of self-preservation, and he has been particularly careful not to say anything that can alarm the susceptibilities of the special audience he may address. When he Coes down to the liower Provinces he goes as a determined advocate and champion of a duty on coal ; when he comes to Ontario he advocates a sharp duty on dour ; but he uever says any- thing about a tax on flour in Nova Scotia, nor about a tax on coal in Ontario As this policy of imposing a duty of so much a barrel on Hour and so much a ton on coal, and the advantages to accrue therefrom, has been one of the standing arguments in favour of protection, I will en- deavour to show you what would be the result or such a system. Suppose the people of Nova Scotia required some 500,(XK) barrels of flour per year, and suppose the people of Ontario re- quired to use, say, one million tons of coal, and suppose we carried out their theory and put a tax of one dollar or fifty cents on each barrel ci Hour imported into the Dominion and two dollars per ton on coal, that being the lowest tax which would leave any chance of enabling Nova Scotia coal to compete so far west as Guelph with American coal. Let us now see what result would dow from this precious bit of protection to the people of Canada. In the first place, I beg to say that, bearing in mind thai the price of wheat is regulated bythe price in England, I don't believe that any farmer or miller here would receive any substantial beneiH from the duty proposed to be imposed on flour imported from abroad. But one thing is certain, that the people of Nova Scotia on the first necessary of life would pay a tax of about $5(X),0(K), 91 ^ market. I >em no good, 1 in the open ive no doubt her market* at when the tion, thoDgh Bible for the Bttly consis. termination Fiear, hear.) )f Sir Hugh MacdonaicI, asses of the ain, that he one class of rer than ho Macdonald. )ying which uses of cor- ited by the ovemmeut. Iiat he sees ) matter of i. Now, I ) except by the people ho pockets lifficulty in ;ood many me poorer ; jmselves in wo will do. too happy nsiderable may be, liament in miserable 8 so intel- htor.) Dr. Sir John's e on fiscal bo truly ;h it may y, I have m wrong, to a very bserve he ot to say When he I duty on lays any- is policy vantages will en- of Nova tario re- and put and two enabling lee what the first price in benefit certain, 500,000, not into the public treasury, but for the benefit of a few millers and forwarders in Ontario. Similarly, :iltbough the people of Ontario require, and will continue to require, cheap supplies of fiR'l as among the first necessaries of life, yet were those ideas to bo carried out, you would h:ive to submit to a tax of from one to two millious of doll.-xrs on imported coal, which is to a creat extent a raw material in most of our manufactures, as well as a positive necessary of lit'u to a large number of the community. That tax would be paid for the benefit of a small class of coat-owners in the Province of Kova Scotia. Cost to Country, and Why? The result would be that the people of Nova Scotia, witliout contributing a penny to the goneral public revenue, wou!d pay a tax of S5' system, so tried, so proved, so experienced, which we show such incom- petence, such blindness, such gross ignorance, such want of statesmanship in refusing to adopt? (Heai*, hear.) What ! new, when Canada is in a state of deep distress and depression ; when the people find it hard enough to pay their way, is this a time when we should put further bur- dens upon their backs? (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I leave it to yon now; and next year, when you will have to decide what policy you will have, to give the answer; and 1 say, without fear, that the intelligent and honest judgment of the people of Canada wiU render just suoh a verdict as they have rendered before. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) 92 SPEECH OF THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR. The Chairman, in a few cnmplimontary terms, introduced tlio next speaker, Hon. David Mills, wbo said — Mr. Chairman, Lvlies and Gentlemen, 1 have a great deal of pleasure in coming here to-daj' to 8pcak for a short time to this very largo and intellij^int assembly. It is one of tho advantages of representative government that it comp<-Is all partief — those who govern and those who would if they couUl supplant the Government — to appear before the people and defend the policy which tliey have pursued iu the past or propose for tiie future. The jmblic men of the country are obliged to take the electors into their contidence, and explain and defend what they have done already and what they propose to do, althougli I must say that I have been unable to discover what the Liberal Conservative chieftain* propose to accomplish should they a,Tain be called to jrawer by the people of Canada. Rights of tlie People. Yon know that Sir John Macdonald denies that the people have a rij'ht to know what the policy of a Government or its opponents, should they succeed, is to be. lie says you must look only to the past. You may be competent to judge of what ha.s been accompliahud, but nothing more. As to the future, it is not to be a matter of judgment or of conviction, but of faith, or perhaps 1 ought to say credulity. On more than one occasion he reminded my hon. friend the First Minister that he did wrong in going to the country with a well-defined public policy. He said that Mr. Gladstone etreit in the same way, and on the occasion of discussing the answer to the Speech from the Throne the tirst session, he declared that even the Liberal party in England were of his way of thinking, and lie read an extract from the Spectator to verify what he said. But the extract was by no means broad enough lo cover tho ground Sir John Macdon- ald had taken. What it did say was, that it was very qujestionable whether Mr. Gladstone had a right to submit as a part of his policy the remission of customs taxes. It was a declaration in advance, if he succeeded, how the tariff' would be changed, and it was, moreover, presenting to a large number of the elet^tors a consideration which might improperly influence their votes. It was argued that to submit certain fiscal changes to the people at an election was approaching very closely to the prohibitory law against bribery. Now, I am not going to discuss this parti- cular case. There was, no doubt, a time in the British Isles when tliere was very much to be said against a member being held to reflect the opinions of those who elected him ; when some of the great cities in England were without representation ; when Glasgow, with lO.OOU well-informed men capable of exercising the elective franchise, ha.! le.ss than thirty electors ; when many constituencies were private property, and the owners had the right under the law to present the nation with a representative in the House off( -ommoiis : there was some force in the doctrine that the few who stood within the electoral pale were not in a position, nor wer. they entitled, to speak for the great body of the nation, its wealth and its intelligence, that remained without, A Change of Polloy. But what is the position of the Conservative party at this moment t They are seeking to secure poptdar favour by changes in the fiscal policy of the country. They promise to the labourer better wages and more constant employment. They arc promising to all classes o. Eroducers higher prices. Having been barred by recent legislation from giving bribes, not aving access to the public treasury, they seek to purchase support by the promise to make each richer at the expense of his customers or his employers, without taking anything from them. You observe, then, that conservative as are the leaders of the Liberal-Conservative party in Canada, they are obliged in some way to labour for the sanction of public opinion. We know what the views of the old Tory party were. We know their cardinal doctrine of high prerogatives. We know that they professed to be the special friends of the Crown. We know they claimed more than the Constitution allowed, and having made their claim, they ex- pected the chief magistrate of the nation to be their patron. They rallied to their side every one who was interested in the perpetuation of an ancient abuse — every one who enjoyed a monopoly or a spi-cial privilege. But Torj'ism is dead, and its voice has been choked by the dusts of time. Where now are the opponents of Responsible Government ? — where the advo- cates of Church and .State ? — the denouncers of Municipal Institutions ? They are an extinct race of warriors. Tlie Liberal-Conservative party, the modern representative of this dead race, are obliged to fight against the progressive tendencies of the age upon other grounds. The platform ujion which the Tory party stood has been destroyed. Sir John xVIocdonald and his friends now recognize the force of the apostolic injunction to become all things to all men, if by any possibility they can win some over to their ranks to give them aid and comfort at the next election. I believe that when that time arrives it will be found that they iiave greatly nnder> estimated the general intelligence of the people. I believe they will find that, although the public indignation against tliem for their incompetency and corruption may have cooled, the electoral body of this country are not prepared to reverse the judgment which they so unmis- takably pronnuuced in 1874. They are not prepared to agree with Dr. Tupper that he, and Sir John are able, honest, and greatly wronged public men. A Mutual Admiration Society. UTou have, no doubt, obberved that Dr. Tupper and Sir John Macdonald began their political campaign by giving recitals as a Mutual Admiration Society. You know that there are occasions statt pose an ii Dr.' liste 93 tlOR. I a great deal till intclli^i'iit wis all parties lit — to appear ropose for the ir conlideni'c, o, although I taina propose low what the ou must look 1, but nothing t of faith, or n. friend the lublio policy, igthe answer jral party in » verify what ohn Macdon- ladatone had a declaration r, presei.ting their votes, approaching B8 this parti- i much to be him ; when with 10,000 rty electors ; ider the law ome force vj n, nor wer, igence, that » seeking to uise to the 1 classes o. bribes, not se to make thing frum ouserv'ative ic opinion, doctrine of rown. We tn, they ex- side every enjoyed a ed by the the advo- 041 extinct •lead rate, nds. The d and liis men, if by t the next tly nnder< lough the ooled, the so unmis- at he, and r political occasions when it is highly improper to employ puffers. Hut we ' ..n't intend that the public shall be d** ccived. When they are just agoing, they will be knocked down it their true value. They ar« putting themselves up as patriots, but they will be taken as the greatest frauds that' have ever appeared in public life. Dr. Tupper told the electors of Kingston tliat Canada owed them a lasting debt of gratitude for bringing into public life and keeping there " Canada's greatest " statesman. He defended the Pacific Railway Scandal. He inveighed a^'uinst those who ex* posed this disgraceful transaction, and predicted the return of Sir John tu power, sustained by an imm'iuse majority. Sir John Macdonald said to the people of Kingston : — " You have heard Dr. Tupper. You know his scrupulous accuracy and his prescience. Good people of Kingston, listen to me. All l^r. Tupper has told you is strictly true." Ciitiolalng tbe CtoTonunent. These champion proclaimers of Conservative reaction and prophets of evil to the Reform party huve, wherever they have spoken, declared the present Uoveruinent to be wholly inc im- petent. They say that Mr. Mackenzie and his colleagues have violated every pledge they have ever given ; that they had shainolcsBly falsified their principles ; that they had preached econo- my and practised extravagance and corruption. 1 am not here to-day to specitically answer this indictment — I am not hero to plead not guilty, and to establish that plea by adequate and convincing evidence. These charges have been specially levelled against the First Minister, and he has set himself to the task of answering tlicm, which he has so far done with a com- pleteness that must be satisfactory to those who have heretofore given the Government their support. Principles of tlie Reform Government. The fundamental principles of the Reform party arc the constant recognition by the Adminis- tration of the supremacy of Parliament, the adininiutration of public alFairs in obedience to and under the sanction of law. Ah a party we hold that we should legislate in accordance with the enlightened spirit and the progressive tendencies of the agt;. We hold that the Gov- ernment should always be carried ou in accordance with the well-uiulcrstood wishes of the ma* jority of the people. We do not say that the majority are always right. But when we think thom wrong, I trust the leaders of the llefurni party have sutticient honesty and sutficient public spirit to retire froji odico, and to take their places with the minority, until, by argument and public discussion, we can again get a majority to tliink with us. I hcpe we have had some re- gard to those principles, and if it can be shown that wchave in any degree departed from them, we ought to amend our practice accordingly. We know that it is possible for an honest and capable Government to bo injured by its own neglect of public discussion, and we are here to- day to deny what is untrue, to refute what is sophistical, to state what we believe is true, ond to defend what we think is right, so that not only those who are present, but the whole of the j)eople of this country, may see with unclouded vision things just as they are. I trust that the (government will not prove recreant to the great principles by which the Reform party are united, and by lidelity to wliich they are alone entitled to direct the atlairs of this country. Opposition Pretensions Disposed oC It would have afTordcd mo peculiar pleasure on this occasion, did time permit, to enquire into the pretensions of those public declaiiners who are putting forward with so little modesty their claims to superiority. It would be to me very gratifying to examine their political re- cord OS Ministers, and to point out how far their conduct as advisers of the Crown fell short of susiiining those pretensions now ^o confidently made. I would take issue with them upon this ground : — I deny that they have jver exhibited any of the qualities which entitle a public man to be regarded as a statesman. No men ever called by the favours of fortune to govern a nation had a more splendid ojiportunity — no Government ever more disgracefully failed. There is not aciuestion with which they were obliged to deal, where more was required of them tha.\ to aer- vilely imitate what had been done elsewhere, where they did not signally laiL Sir Jobn Opposed to Confederation. You know that Sir John Macdonald hns recently claimed tojiave been the author ot our Federal system ot government. In no proper sense is he the author. He is no more the author than James II. was the author of the Petition of Right. He opposed Confederation. He dis- sented from the views held by a majority of the Committee to whom the question was referred, and declared himself in favour of a legislative union of the Provinces. He claims to be par ex- cclleitce a practical statesman, and yet with this fact before him, that wherever the Anglo-Saxon race have gone they have failed to establish u consolidated government over a large extent of country, he persisted in liis scheme. The old thirteen colonies which afterwards became the United States, the several colonies of British North America, the several Colonies of South Africa, and the Australian group, were all historical protests against the suitability, if not against the possibility, of having a single Government ruling a people distributed over so vast an extent of country, and who, altiiough they may in time have some common interests which may unite them for certain common purposes, must for ever have local interests peculiar to each sec- tion, about which every other section can know but little, and which must, if dealt with by a common assembly, be the constant source of discontent or corruption. I think 1 might lay down as an axiom this proposition ; — That under representative institutions a people can only be honestly governed by a single Parliament in cases where there are general subjects to be dealt with by the assembly, in which the people everywhere have a common interest. Measures which may be of very great moment in one section of the country will never be adequately considered by the representatives of those whom they do not concern. But whether you agree u \ i with me or not in this view, tho fact remains all the same, that wo were divided into pro^incrt, each of which had its own political organization, around M'liich certain historic associations clustered, and which could not he obliterated without fp-cat detriment ; and this Idol of the so- Cklled Conservative party proposed that these elements of national vitality and public spirit •honld be destroyed, and a single mound on the plain erected to make us one people. Mors Svldenoea of Incapacity— A TolUas Indictment But there are other still more obvious evidences of tho incapacity of tho late Oovemmcnl— of their inability to comprehend the facts and the circumstances with which they were obli^'tvl to deal. I might refer to the acquinition of the I^orth-wcst, and tho half-breed rebellion ; the attempt and the failure on three occasions to carry an election law ; the attempt and failure two Hessions to carry a Supremo Court Act, and the promised introduction of the Bill a third session, which was not kept. They opposed tho trial of controverted elections by the Courts ; they opposed simultaneous eloctums ; they opposed vote by ballot ; they gave us the Washington Treaty ; they admitted British Columbia upon terms not necessary now to discuss ; they pro- mised a railway from Lake Nipissing to tho Pacific Ocean in ten yearn ; they sold a great public trust for money to corrupt the electors ; they gerrymandered tho constituencies ; they sought to retain the power of appointing irresponsible partisans as returning officers, who would, in vio- lation of their oaths ana of the law, refuse to return opponents whom the people had chosen. These together make a list of acts and measures indicating greater incapacity, downright dig- honesty and corruption, than can be found crowded together in the same time in the history of any other country in which representative government is established. AnzlonB to Depart. Sir John Macdonald told the electors of Kingston that he had been thirty-three years in pub- lic life ; but many of those who had in tho beginning of his political career supported him had gone to their graves ; that he felt that it was almost time for him to go too. Buried saints, it is said, perfume their graves ; but what an odour of sanctity envelopes his political life ! It seems, from a report of his speech, that his friends earnestly protested against his early departure. They were not willing that he should join those unknown saints of tho Tory party, who had at one time fought in the ranks, but had years ago fallen. He was persuaded to remain. He saw that it would bo a selfish act on his part to desert the post of duty as a party leader in this world, while there remained in power those incompetent men whom he had so long resisted at so mucli personal discomfort and at such a pecuniary loss. It would indeed liave been an unpatriotic thing to have joined the company of those old supporters, instead of remaining to fight the pre- sent Government. You know, ladies and gentlemen, what great sacrifices Mr. Pecksniflf made for Tom Pinch, and you cannot doubt the unambitious and disinterested efforts put forward by the leaders of the Opposition to wrest the country from the unclean hands of Mr. Mackenzie anil hia corieagues. The Betrayer of Nova Scotia. I>.'. Tuppor, Sir John tells us, deserves well at the hands of the people of Canada, because he had, single-handed, manfully fought the battle of Confederation in Nova Scotia, and had by his great exertions brought his Province into the Dominion. W© have here at leastfone 'point of difference between Reformers and Dr. Tupper. I say that he did not deserve well — that if he fought single-handed he fought treacherously, ho betrayed his Province, and earned for himself the detestation of the people. Our whole theory of repreb3ntative government is government carried on according to the well-understood wishes of the people. The Legislature of Nova Scotia was elected, not to destroy its own authority, not to change the political existence of the people, but to govern the Province. I deny that it is a sound political doctrine that you may do evil that good may come; that because Confederation may be a good thing, therefore Nova Scotia was properly dragged into the Union against her will. 1 deny that Dr. Tupper is entitled to the thanlcs of the people of this country, because, contrary to tho wishes of the people of Nova Scotia, he did, oy an arbitrary, corrupt and unconstitutional act, trick that Provinc3 into the Union. Nova Scotia had tried Dr. Tupper and had lost all confidence in him. She opposed Confederation partly becauffe he cursed it with his support. Imagination, not Facts. Dr. Tupper has attacked the Government and charged it with corruption, but he has not put forward a single instance which shows that the Government have sought to purchase support. He makes assertions, and refers to transactions that have an historical existence, but which do not prove what he affirms. The Doctor's facts leave much to be supplied by partisan bias and the heated imagination of their author. There was once an Amencan painter who invited a friend to see what he regarded as a most accurate representation of the Israelites just across the Red Sea. " Where are the Israelites ?" said the friend. " I see," said the artir.t, "you are not a good critic of art. This picture is intended to be true to life. You see the; picture of the water there before you. You are supposed to be standing upon the Egyptian side of the sea. The sea is many miles in width. It is a great stretch of water. How could you, then, expect to see the Israelites when they are on the other side ? " " But," said the friend, " where are the Egyptians T I don't see Pharaoh and his host,'' "Another instance of false criticism," said the painter. " The Egyptians are in the bottom of the sea. You see, sir, tho picture is true to nature. What you cannot see in nature is not made visible in the picture. You have simply a great stretch of water before you." (Laughter.) Now, Dr. Tapper's evidence oi corruption is of the same kind. He says that Mr. Mackenzie made a contract for steel rails. He says Mr. Mackenzie has a brother Charles. He says the rails were purchased at a 95 into pro7inc(«, iric asoociationB I Idol of the 80- rul publiu Bpiht oplo. I Government— !y were oblij^ed . rebellion ; the and failure two a third Hcssion, B Courts ; they :ho Watihinf^toQ CUBS ; they pro- 1 A great public they sought to • would, in vio- )le had chosen. downright dig- 1 the history of 56 years In pub- ported biin liad 'icd saints, it is life ! It stems, enarture. They (vlio had at one He saw that • in this world, )ted at so much an unpatriotic t) fight the pre- PecksniflF made jut forward by Mackenzie ami mada, because ia, and had by tcast|one 'point i^ell — that if he led for himself is government iture of Nova xistence of the that you may herefore Nova )per is entitled the people of Proviuc3 into She opposed he has not put jhase support. but which do tisan bias and vho invited a just across the ■5t, "you are picture of the de of the sea. then, expect " where are te criticism," ;he picture is e. You have s evidence oi for steel rails, rehased »t a \^ certain price. Bat ererything else is wanting. The other statements are not among the facts. They are tlie creation of thiit faculty which is to most men the fool of the other sensoa, but to Dr. Tu[)por it is worth all the rest. Tapper as a Propbet-Rls Object. The Doctor haa confidently predicted that the present flovernment will be driven from power by a wronged and indignant people. I tell him I don't believe it. When the time comes for testing the question, I oelievo it will be found that the facts will falsify his prediction. We know — you Know — wnat all this cry means. It means that these two leaders are out in the cold, and want to fiet in ; are hungry, and want to bo fed ; naked, and want to bo clothed ; tired — constitutionally tired — and want to rest in office. They were— in the discharge of a great public trust, which they betrayed — a])pointed to serve the i)ublic ; they served themselves — thov took their master's goods by which to make to themselves friends ; tlay have been indignantly cast out, and out they will remain so long as wrong is reprobated l)y the people of Canada. (Hear, he.ir. ) Sir John and Dr. Tupper have been busy telling the fanners that they have grievances which ought to be reilressod. They tell the working men that thsy are their friends. They a])peal to the miner and manufacturer to aid them in regaining jMJwer. They address themselves to all classes, like Canning's friend of humanity to tiie needy knife grinder. They say, " How hard the times are ; how destructive is the potato bu^' ; your hat's got a hole in it, and so has our breeches. Tears of compassion stand ready to fall as soon as you toll us your pitiful story. rVe have come out just to tell how we love and pity you." The farmers do not complain of any special grievance. There is nothing they produce for which they do not find a ready murket. Farmers are told that when Sir John was in power the country was prosperous. Every mechanic found a ready market for the products of his skill. Their object in such a course is to rcgiiin power. They say in efifect to the people, " We want to do you good ; wo want you to put M.ackenzie out and put us in, and thereby confer a benefit upon yourselves." These hon. gentle- men tell you we have been very extravagant. Dr. Tupper a few years ago said that my hon. friend hail added three millions to the taxes of the country ; and Dr. Tupper now says that the taxes imposed upon the products of other countries are not paid by the people of Canada, and, therefore, we have not been putting taxes upon you— they are paid by foreigners. Agricultural Protection. 1 have a special interest in coming here to-day, because in my last election Dr. Orton visited my constituency, and undertook to convince the farming portion of the community that they were very wrong in electing an out-and-out free trader. As such it will afford me special inter- est to discuss with you the (luestion of protection to agricultur.il industry. The protectiouista may be divided into a great many classes. Retaliation— Opposition Inoonalstenoy. They all favour retaliation against the United States because tlie Americans have imposed a tax Ufion the produce of Canada, and they say wo are actually paying the national debt of the United States. Dr. Orton stated in my constituency that the people of Canada have paid near- ly three millions of dollars per year into the Treasury of the United States. I have taken some interest in looking into this question of retaliation, and last session 1 was amused at these gentlemen crying out in favour of retaliation, exhibiting as they did sucli confused ide.is on taxation. We had on kerosene a duty of fifteen cents, which, on 8,OO(),O0O gallons ought tO' have yielded a revenue of $1,200,000. The Americans have a duty of forty cents per gallon. If we adopt the policy of retaliation we ought to have increased our duty from fifteen to forty per cent. Did Dr. Orton and the other advocates of retaliation propose this ? No ; they abandoned their policy, and supported the Government proposition, by which the tax M'aa reduced to six cents a gallon. If they had faith in the policy of retaliation, they ought to have opposed us and asked for more. The oil interest is doing little in Canada. In Bothwell, where scores of wells were in operation ten years ago, there is not one to-day, and if we were to adopt the principles of these gentlemen, we ought to prohibit this oil coming in from the United States. Now Dr. Orton says, if the Yankees put a tax of twenty per cent, upon Canadian horses the Canadian farmer loses that amount. Why then did he relieve them from this tax on koro.sene oil ? Ho says in regard to the taxes put upon Canadian barley, that the Can.vlian farmer undergoes that much loss, and so pays a large amount of money into the treasury of the United States. If that be true, why all tliis row about the imimsition of one cent on the pound of tea ? Why, according to the Doctor, tliat comes out of the Chinaman. My view is tlie con- sumer pays it ; but if the Doctor is right, the Chinaman pays it. If the Doctor is right, the tax on broadcloth is paid by the English manufacturer, and that on cottons by the manufacturer of New England. Why, then, this complaint of the burdens of taxation ? We are, according to Dr. Orton's views, simply taxing the foreigners who trade with us. Our oppon^nts are wrong upon one point or the other. Well, if we pay the tax that is imposed upon the products of other countries, we certainly do not pay the tax upon the products of Canada going into the United States. Whnt Official Returns Show. I have been looking over the returns for the last twenty years of the trade in the various agricultural products of this country, and I purpose giving to-day the prices received by the farmers of this country for the various years, and you will see that the fiscal policy of the United States has not interfered in the least possible degree with the prices which rule in Canada. It is said we ought to retaliate, that we ought to impose upon the people of the United States the same taxes th.at thi-y impose on our jiroducts ; but, to show that this would 96 not benefit at io the leut, I will give you the statistic! I have already mentioned. In 1875 wo exported into the United States S,400,000 bushels of barley, for which we received $6,.'<59,0UU. We did not import in that year 6,000 bushels from the United States. What use woul(l it bn to tax this amount of barley ? In 1876 we exported 100,000 bushels of beans, reoeiving there- for $100,000 ; but we did not purchase a bushel from them. Of what use then would a tux «|)on beans be to the farmers of Canada T In 1875 we exported of peaa to Great Britain 2,247,- 000, bringing us (2,188,676 ; and to the United .States 679,000 busnels, for which we received $.'i02,176. The Americans put a tax on our peas, while En(;land admits them free. Wo re- ceived as much per bushel from the American buyer as from the British, who put no tax on these peas. Well, did this tax come out of the Canadian farmer or the American consumer ? We Bont in the same year to the United States 1,. 360,000 bushels of oata, and to Great Britain 1,600,000 bushels, the prices being the same at the same points of shipment. The Amoricann uut a tax of Hfteeu cents on each bushel they imported, and yet we got as much from the United States as from England. AVho paid the American tax T In 1875 we exported from Canada to the United States 4,299 horses, receiving therefor f442,000 ; we sent thither from Ontario in the same time 2,167, for which we received $24.3,000. We imported into Ontario in the same time from the United States 174 horses — that is, we sent from this Province 2,167 horses, and M'o bought from them 174 horses. Well, now, could we tax these 174 horses so as to realize iw much hi they did from the 2,167 ? In regard to cattle, we sold the Americans in 1875 25,357 head fur $601,000 ; we bought from them, mostly for British Columbia and Manitoba consump- tion, 6,397 head, for which we paid $164,497- We exported from Ontario alone into the United States in the same time 14,919, receiving $301,349, and bought from them 369 head. Does it matter at what rate we tax American cattle as regards the price we obtain for our own T Would a tax affect the prices you receive or bciietit you at all T The people of Ontario sold lost year to the Americans 85,628 sheep, and we bought from them three sheep. Now, Dr. Orton says that vou are ruined by American competition, and that you ought to impose a tax upon Ameri- cans by way of retaliation or protection, and keep these three sheep from ruining the prosperity of the Canadian farmers. (Laughter.) The Wool Onestlon. Then if you look at wool : it is said the Canadian farmer is subjected to unfair competition* for while the Americans impose a high tax upon Canadian wool, we permit wool from the United States to come in free. I shall be able to establish to your satisfaction that it is to your interest, as well as to the interest of the manufacturers, to permit wool to come in free, and that it does not affect in the slightest degree the Canadian farmer. I am speaking on this with some competence, for I am a farmer, and would not be disposed to adopt a policy detrimental to the interest of the class to which I belong. In 1875 we sold the people of the United States 2,636,521 pounds of wool, receiving for it $917,000 ; we imported 4,885,818, or more than double what we sold, for $314,673 — that is, for $102,327 less than we sold our own. In short, we received two pounds of wool for one of our own, with an addition of $102,327. It will be a long time before the people of this country oppose such transactions. The wool of Canada is from Cotswold, Leicester, and other long-wooled varieties of sheep, and is not used in the manu- facture of tweeds and the finer kinds of cloth. The manufacturers who use our wool reside in the United States, and we send it to them. I will show you by the returns that the taxation imposed by Congress has in no way affected the prices, but that the Canadian farmer receives aa large a price now as when wool was admitted duty free into the American market. We permit our manufacturers to import American wool, as they prefer the shorter wools for manufacturing purposes ; and they are enabled to produce tweeds at a cheap rate, and not only to control the Canadian market, but also to send them into the American market successfully. Proteotion to Manufbotores. In looking over the census and trade returns of the United States since 1860 — that is, since the protective policy has been virtually inaugurated — I find, upon a fair estimate, that the people of the United States have contributed toward the building up of the manufacturing industries there by way of taxation the enormous amount of $6,000,000,000, and the result of that is that lost year, of the $522,000,000 worth of exports sent abroad, but $28,000,000 was of manufac- tured goods. I ask you whether that has been at best a wise policy which would take from the pockets of those to whom the money belongs $6,000,000,000, in order to encourage manufacturing industries, which, after all, were enabled to produce but ten per cent, of the entire exportatious of the country ? You have been frequently told by our ojiponents that the American manufac- turer is 8U]iplanting the Englishman in his own market. What are the facts* Last year England purchased from the United States $220,000,000 of their products; of this but $6,000,000 were the products of the manufacturers of the United States, 1 ask you whether this is any evidence that a protective policy has been successful in the United States. My hon. friend the Finance Minister has told you of the mischievous effect a protective policy has on the morals of a Legislature, in creating a system of lobbying and bribing members to secure protection fur certain manufactures. The money used in this bribery eventually came out of tne consumers of the goods protected. Who Pays the Dnty on Exports T It is said the Americans have been injuring us by sending into Canada wheat, flour and Indian com, and I wish to coll your attention to this question. Before doing so perhaps I had better give you some evidence of the fact that the duties imposed by the American Government dpou the various products of the agriculturists of Canada have in nowise affected the prices of the various articles which have hem aent into the American market from Canada. I have hero In 1875 we $6,»59,00U. rouUl it be [vine there- ould a tax taiu 2,247, - ire received )e. Wo re- no tax on consumer ? reat Britain American n 1 the United a Canada to Ontario iu n the aamo horses, and bo realize a.s 1875 25,357 }a consump- ) the United id. Does it rn T Would Id last year Orton says ipon Ameri- e prosperity competitioni ol from the it is to your in free, and on this with detrimental nited States : more than I. In short, It will be a { Canada is n the manu- ool reside in the taxation ',T receives as We permit mufacturing control the ;hat is, since it the people ; industries ;hat is that of manufac- ke from the uaufacturing exportatiouB an manufac* ear England 00,000 were my evidence bhe Finance morals of a otection for consumers t, floor and rhaps I had Government the prices of I have here 97 t le prices of the various farm products for the twonty-two years from 18A4 to XBld, during I leveii of which yeain reciprocity prevailed, auil diiiiux the otlier eleven our (iroduoe was suliject to hiuh dutiew. *ln I8M, tin* i.niiadiatis rccrivi-d on tlie iivei'.iKC lor the lioraea tliuy mild 84i.'< 27 l«r hoatl; in ISSft. ?74 '^ti; l«f»(i. 177 08; 1857, $7C OO; 1858. S7» 07; 1851>. »84 77; IMOO. *8l 1)7; ]Mi\. ^8', 40; \Mi-2, #77 13; imi;i. J7.' 71); 18(i4, $78 46; 18(;.> $79 (>1. The»«< weic the years diii'Mig wliiuli n'ii|ir the piiccH ol lioiind cnttli-, we received in 18.''i4 nn average per head of $'J.1 83; 1855, S23 28; 185(i, $21 29; 1857, $26 II; 1858. fi'i 24; 18.59, $26 .06; 1860. S27 70; 1861, 824 60; 1862, 820 .31; ISG.S, 823 6.1; 18G4. *3e 70. Those were diirin,^ the v a's of reciprocity. Since then, under protection, we received lor honied cattle, iu 186.j.'s;21» ! 1; 18(16. 822 85; 1867, 324 86; 1868. 824 77; 1860. 821 88; 1870, $27 91; 1871, 822 62; 1872. 828 12: 1873, §25 57; 1874, 824; 1875. 821 13; 1876, 823 70; the averaue in these latter years being tpiite an high as when they were admitted free from duty. Who. then, ptiyM this tax of twenty per cent on cattle imported into the United Slates 7 The average price |icr hund that we received for sheep in 1864 was 81 75; 1855. S'J 10; 1856, 82 83; 1857, $2 88; 1S.-.3, 82 20; IS.VJ, 82 2!); 1860. 82 7«; ISCl. 82 72; 1862,82 47; 1863. 82 75; 1864. 84 68; 1865. S3 61; 1866, $3 40; 1867, 82 HA; 1868, 82 28; 1879, 82 32; 1870. 82 63; 1871, 82 64; 1872. 82 87; 1873, $3 03; 1871, 82 74; 1875, 82 63; 1876. 8;J 59; the average being ju.it ns high during the eleven years wii 'II duties were imposed as when the sheep wore admitted free. Next, take the prioc!> of some of the cereals. Iu 1854— and luiiid. this was th« period of the lius.iian war— we received for wheat an average price per bushel of §1 45; in 1855, 81 86; 1856 81 .'19; 1857, |l 09; iS.'iS. $0 96; 1859, 81 06; 1860. $1 10; 1861, 81 08; 1862. $0 96. 1863. 80 85; 1864. 80 93; 186.'i. 80 94; 180«, 81 32; 1867. 81 62; 1868. 81 15; 1369, 81 13; 1870, 81 04; 1871, 81 13; 1872, $1 30; 1878, 81 37; 1874, 81 34; i875, 81 13; 1876, 81 11. I wdl now give you the price got for our wf>ol during the sameiKdiod; 1854. '24<-; 18.55. 25c; 1856, 26c; 1857. 21c; 1858. 22c; 1859, 30c; 1860, 28c; 1861, 28(:; 1862, 34c; 1863. .35c; 1864. 45c; 1865. 43o; 1866. 42c; 1867. 34c; 1868, 27c; 1869. 28c; 1870, 3lu; 1871, 29c; 1872. 42c; 1873, 46c; t874, 35c; 1875, 34c; In76. 32o. I might go over the firices o' barley, rye and other cereals with much the same result, thu.s establishing the incontrovertible fiict that the duties imposed by the Aniericnii Congress upon the produce of Canada do not fall noon the people of Canada, but are paid by the consumers of these articles iu the United Utate*. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) CsDAdlan, BrltUh and United States Tritdo Selatlona. I M'ish, before quitting this subject, to call your attention to certain trade relations that ex- ist botweeu Canaila and the United States and (ircat ISritain. There are a good many of our people engazHd iu the carrying trade, and we import from the United States a considerable share of their products, but which ore not consumed in Canada, but arc sent to the English market, and the only reason for these transactions is th.it those engaged in the carrying tntdo derive a considerable proKt fiom the business. For the four years ending December, 1876, we imported of animals and cereals to the value of 819,430,000. and we exported 833.638.000, a dilTerence of $14,208,000 in favour of the exports. During the same time we imported from the United States $14,7.30,000, and exported 819.844.000, or $5,114,000 more than we imported from that country. It may be asked why we did import this 814,730,000, and export the 819.844.00U of produce t Might we not have exported $5, 1 14,000. and kept the whole of the remainder of the aniuiaL and ccrenls for our own use T We did this because it is cheapest, because it is most convenient, be- cause a profit is to lie made. We import the produce of the United States, though we raise the like ourselves, for the same reason that we import American coal into Western Ontario although we have large hupplies of coal in Nova Scotia— l>ecau.se it is more convenient to export our own jtroduce at certain ]>oint8, and more convenient to import the same products of the United Statea .it other points. During these same lour years we imported of the pror- i.^hment of those who are trading with it. The prosperity of the United Stat iiii|M>iti'il lieyoiiil what wo exiiorli'd tu the vahii! of .^(i,0(>U,(MK). Well, haM that injurofl'2,71S, cents, is it anybody's business? If ho can save by so buying $100, is the country injured hy that transaction ? Should not the farmer be permitted to exorcise his judgment on thi.s niattoi without Government interference ? It is perfectly clear that no interference by our (iovernnieiit would benefit the farmer, and it is also clear that, however well Dr Ort(m may be (jualitied ti> administer piiysic, ho is not (lualilied to further the interests of the farmers by dosing them with his trade nostrums. (Cheers and laughter. ) Coercing tho Americans. These gentlemen say, "Oh I we will coerce the Americans into reciprocity by retaliation." Wo admit that reciprocity is a good thing, but we cannot get it. I don't think we arc likely to coerce forty millions of people into free trade by such means, but if we are able to aUvw that'under our system tho farmers of this country are more prosperous than theirs, that onr woollen manufacturers are more prosperous than theirs, we will have done' a great deal loward.s coercing the Americans into the adoption of a truer economical policy. It is very extraordinary that tiiese gentlemen, who gave to tho Americans, without any eijuivalent, and notwithstanding the opposition we oirerod, the use of our canals, the navigation of our rivers, tlio use of our fisheries — the only means by which we could possibly inllucnoo the electors of tho United States — should favour a retaliatory policy, that they should complain that we have not adopted a policy which would coerce the Americans into granting us more favourable terms. Causes of the Depression. A great deal has been said against ua. The hard times have been chargnd agafnnt thn Canadian Government. I think that during the last four years the Canadian farti.'rs have had little diirnuilty in disposing of their jiroduce. The dnlne.ss of the lumber market had a great deal to do %vitli the doiiression ; but are we to be held responsible for tho revolutions that exist in some of the Itejmblics and States of South America — when peaceful, good customers of ours I'or lumber — the inability of the j)cople of the United States to purcliase tho products of our forc'^ts, for tho civil war that at present exists in Cuba, all of which prevents the people of these coun- tries from purchasing largely of our lumber ? We have sold as much as ?,'?6,000,000 of lumber a year, and thia money found its way into the pockets of all classes of the community ; but owing to the present inability of our princi])al customers to jiurcliase from us, the annual income of the people of Canada has been correspondingly reduced, and wo must suffer such depression until that trade revives. I ask you what policy the Government of this country could adopt that would relieve this stagnation in the lumber trade ? Last year wo had a Parliamentary Com- mittee, and made inquiry into this subject, and we asked the lumbermen if they had any remedies to propose— any suggestions by -".vliich the lumber trade could be restored. They tild us they had nothing to suggest. Nor could they. It was impossible that that trade could be 99 and Fng. li, l>«yniii\ ! oxjttnli'il iiiuidi till) 0(IIIHUIIII'<1 M M;i;i!ivt:(l value of the two in vo dill not Hendui^ to )0.000 tor- nt Canailo. L prolit lias neans that )I)iiiK. Our And wliy ? itionistB of ug trudo of the coarse you would of corn for lie for forty »t remnint'd )i till! trado Of this we nee, prini'i we export- ,le to those ch added to irchasc and • bushel for •th as much y corn at ."i"> ■ injured liy thi« niattei Joveniint'ut lualitled ti> them with •etaliation." arc likely ihlc to show that tmr ■al towards ,iaordiuary ithstandiii.t; use of our iiiteil States adopted a against thfi rs hiive had had a j^reat a that exist t) of ours tor our forestN, these coun- 10 of lumber mnity ; but nual income depression 1 adopt that ntary Com- ey had any They V'ld 1© could be rrvivcd until thouo people wlin formerly puroha-iod from us lial become more prodpcrons tlinn they hail leecntly Iteeu, l)r. t»rton ban told you wlint taxes vou have piiid as IniniirH ii.to the treasury of the C'liiteil States. 1 have point'eil oui thit you paii nothing and I have given ocular fvideueo of the truth of the •itatemeiit that in no .lepartmeiit have tlie farmers been in- jured by the lis.al polii y of the b'uited .State.i.-- Tlie leaHoii why ue idiouUl favour reriproeity i* tliat trade would thereby bo extended. Under the present lelatioiis twenty p»r cent on thn rost of all Canadian pnidiicu is naid liy the Aiiierieiiu !■ piiHumer into the I'niteil States tic .miry. A\ere there reciprocity it wouhl permit of an inere.i«ed puieliaHe of {joods. 'I'liere would be a lar>{er inurkot than at pn-^" nt, and both jmrtie-s wiiuM be beiu lited. Wliat is now paid into the American treasury in the form of tiixi on t'anadian barley, would thenbepriid to the Caiiadiim farmers for new produeo. And so witli other articles. Tiioxe genii' ineM w ho talk in favour of retaliation forget this fact -that if retali.-.tion is a good thin^ tliey oii.;ht to tell us why tlie {'ouservativo tiove nment oi England don't adopt it. They are niMe a(l.<( ted than we. Tiiey semi ne.irly $;!'K),(X)0,(H)U il tin ir manufactures into the Inited .States. '.Vhy don't the fieople of Kngland adopt a retalii.: iry policy ? Hei-ause they believe it would not be wise policy ; leeause retaliation would hurtth>,m ; and it is because it is against the interest of the ixdj-le of the United States that we expect in a reason.-vble jpcriod of time tluir (iscal jmlicy will bo ch mgcd. Amorloan Opinion Chanrl->fr< It is a mistake to suppose that the people of th:^^ country are largely in favour of pioteclion. Govfirnor Tilden, the Democratic candidate in the rcci . ' '■ I'sidentiul electinn, ran us an avowed free trader, and you will find on oxaminatnm that tho \y. • of the Tnited States are not, as a whole, favourable to a protective policy. The advocates i , protection here say to uh, " Look at the wise people in Washington, and follow their exanpK.' AVc have no smh extroordinary admiration for their systdm, or so much conliden- in the superior v ' ,|,,m ol the Coiip., r our.selves, and we do not choose to adopt a policy, wrongly named a national i>olicy, 'ii ir'..:.ition of tlie United States ; we choo-:. to adopt a truly national policy, one which we i-t .lefend bifore an intelligent peo|de i.i{- .:ose who ire prepared to bui 'port the present flo\ 'rn .iit throughout the Dominion. l..et me say here that this question ot retaliation, man" ,'»'-'ar,- ago, was discussed in the House of Commons in England. When Sir llobert I'eel proposed t < repeal the Corn Laws, !ie was asked by some of his friends to see what other countries .veie di»;)oa' . *o follow his example of Ireo truile. Sir Robert Peel told them he did not believe that tbe pr )p!e of o!h-r ei ritrics wore suilieiciitly well inl'Drmed upon the subject, or had studied it s'Uhcieiitly toadojit tlie- puii''>>l. Hoi Ixeo trade to the same extent as he proposed Kngland bIiouIi' ad.ipt them. What Sir Robert Peel lald about Uotnliatl&a. On that occasion he said : — " J tia' e no giJnrtiniee tocrlvcyou that othfir rountrics will linmpdlntolv follow our cxnmple. 1 t.lve you tli.t ii'l- TOMtafe^' ill tlie argument. Wearied with our Ion;; ami uiiiiviiillii,' '.'ftoristo oiilcr in osuli^t:ii'|ii'-y ccimueriinl tr.itii'S witli otlicr imtions, weliave rcsehi'il at lt'ii.,'lli I'l fonsult our own interrsts, and not to piiiii-'li nilicr coiimr.r.-. i.ir the wroii^ fliey do Mt, in (■ontimiiii); tlicir Muh ilufioH upini tlio iMi|)ortalioii of our pniducl:! lenl niuinifnctur' i, iiy continulni; iiili'' •Intii'S our«elvun, ciicourii^lnu unhiwfiil tniile. Wv have had no connn'iiiii'utlon with aey forcii;!! Cuvernmurit u|i»n the gulijeetof tliuse ruluciioiis. Wo i-aniiot proihUe tlint Knuief will iiiimetll; toly innke a corre.')- pondiii',' reduiHion in hur tarifT. 1 cannot promise that Kussia will prove licr ^iratituile to iia for our rtduetio:i of duty on her tallnw by any diminuUoo of lierdCos. Vou may tlierof'urc «;iy in o|i]i.p-,ition to the piu.'<..'nt ji! \ii, ' Wiiat means this 8upcrtiui)U.K lilierality : >ou are KO'UP to do away with all thcie diilii's, and yet you expect nolliine In return?' 1 may, |>crliaps, l)o told that many tor(i;;ii countries since the former relaxation of duties on our part— and that would he porfei:lly consistent witli the tact— foreii,'n eountricn whidi have lieoelited l>y our rulaxatims, have not follow ed our example: iiiiy, have not only not followed our e.\aini'le, hut have aeluully applied to the im- portation of British gooils hitfhcr rsktcH of duties than formerly. I <|uile admit it : I ^'ive you all the liiiiellt of tha'. arjrunient. I rely uixm the fact aa concliHixc proof of the policy of the course we are pursuin;;. It is a fact tliat other cnuntrii? have not followed our example, and have levied hi;,'ner dutich in some cases uiion our (joods. l:o». what has Ueii the result upon the amount of your e.xpoi wV You iiavu deliud the re;fUlatioiiH of these count rien; your export trade has greatly increa.>M'd. Now, why Ih this so? • • • • liut your cx|xirt», whatevci Im! the tariff of other countiics, or however apparent ihe iiiifrutitudc with whiih they have trentcil you your (■>,p.)rt trade has been constjoitl^ iiu'reasin;,'. • . • . i J say, tliurrfori , to you that these hosUle tarin' , so f.ir from beln;; an ohjection to coutiiiuinj your policy, are an ar^'unicnl in it-i favour, liut, di petul uion it. ■ • iir examjile will ultimately prevail. • • • • in opite of the d'-ii'c of (iovernmout and Uo id . o: Irac'i! to r.iirie revenue by rcstricti>u duties, reason and common scn.sc will induci' i-elaxatiun uf hi^h UuticK- Unut is my lirm belief." And the increased trade and prosperity of England and t!ie improved condition of the U'^ri- cultur.il cla.sscs is evidence of thcwi-dtun of tlie vicv.- I'eol cntcrtaineil. He was told by Lord George T'.entinok that the agricultural classes would be found beg'j.iiig their breail tlnoii.i.hont the king'lomif free trade were adojited. But how difri.rent was the result ! Sir llobert I'lol's expectations turned out correct, aneotations of the country. I maintain that the present Government has been successful in its etforts which have been m.adein the interest of the people. I deny that tha Keform party is in C'.mada a failure. 1 maintain that it is still in its youth as a governing part}', still full of life and vigour, and when the opportunity oilers it will be sustained by the people. v''hee:-8.) THE PiiGHIER'S SPEECH. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie was then introduced, and was received with hearty cheers. He said: Mr. Chairman, I.Adies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to have an opportunity of .neeting so many of the lailies and gentletnt-n of this county, and I am glad to observe that in point of numbers this meeting is nearly equal to the vast assemblage we addressed two days ago at Clinton — a meeting which even the Mail admits was attended by 10,000 of the people of Huron; BO, making tie usual allowance for that newspaper's estimate of Reform gatherings, you can form some idea of the vast number who were present. (Hear, hear.) At the present time it is peculiarly desirable that in the place where a political gathering was held by our oppoueuts we should have an opportunity of expati.atiug somewhat on those public questions which liave b.'oome the subjects of general disousamu over the whole country. I have remarked at other tuuetings that it was not my purpose to discuss at every gathering of this kind all the various (juestions which have been referred to during the last few weeks, but to take up at each meeting some particular questions of the number which we propose to discuss in the course of the series of meetings we arc now holding. Members of Cktverr^aent Willing to Defend Themselvea. I freely admit at the outset that it is rather the function of the members of the Administra- tion to defend and justify their own policy than to att«ck the iiolicy or the acts of tho.se who are opposed to us. 1 admit that it is peculiarly the function of the Opposition of the day to criticize the policy of the Government if they disapprove of it, and attack particular acts of the Administration if they consider we are blameworthy in these acts. Opposition Cannot Complain If Application of their Beasonlng Is Uade to ThemselTOS. But in reply to the asseverations of our opponents, it is always just aud fair to compare the tr.insactions which they condemn with those in preiismng his spe^-ch in the Senate, in which reference is made to this subject; and I r. Ti.i)per andSir.Iohn Macdmald are perambulating the country, each in his own way and manmr, trying to make it patent to the country that we have really belied the promises we have macio. Ta Fholrsoo. Senator Macphprson's appearance on the public arena as an essayist or debater, with two others in the persons of the late Premier and Dr. Tupjier, reminds one of a passage in Aytouii's £>eiii8, hall English uid half Gat>lic, which describes the feud between the claos M»c^hensonaiul cTaviaU ;— " Phoirson iwore a feud Aguinut the vIaii McT.-ivish; Haruhed into their laiul To murder a;id to ravinh : For ho did resolve To extirpate the vi;terg, With four and twenty tnwi And Qve and thirty pijiurii. But when he had gone Balf way down Strath Canaan, Of his Hg:htin' tail But three were rcraaintn*. They were all he hnd To back hira in bi ln'.ttle. All the rest had p>iit< To drive off ta catllu." (Lond laughter. ) In the present case Senator Macpherson becomes an essayist, and Sir John A. Macdonald and Dr. Tupper are " The only twa that's left To back him in ta battle." (Laughter.) And before this redoubtable triumvirate we are expected to vanish, as an Administration, into thin air. Like Davy Crockett's celebrated coon, we must "come down" when the gun is pointeil at us. (Laui^hter.) I think the Finance Minister has shown you conclusively to rinei]ile. no nnitter how jirecious it may be to them — and we all kuow how precious all principles are to the Cou- Bervatives. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Tories always willing to Servo their Country. There is nothing in their profession or the doctrines which they hold that they are not wil- ling to sink in i)rder that the country may ha%'e the inctinnible bonelit of their services as a Government. (Hear, hear.) It surely ought to make every Canadian ijroud to teel that there is a political party wlio are actuated by motives so pure and patriotic as to be willing, tor the country's sake, to forget anything and everything they have ever done in order to be iu a position to serve the people. (Hear, hear, uud laughter.) I scarcely think it would "Ije fair in 103 len who re- ksimI a cou- lul I found laid, while s f.irmeily. iita now for it Bolti tlion •Kc are tatts y to lu'licva iiitt 1 thiiik A'itli a good ciijle in the at once de- f free trade and as dis- I'arliuuieut, .liat he was ruins into career and r instance, f and civil Dr. Tiipjier 1 and reli- v'liieli yicso t tlie same tlieniselves niieors.) I linutes to a is my bu.vi- f— to assail tliey don't t, sir, there ack ; or in stance iuto al failure ; that lie is .hatevcr iu Icrs in any imblic, be- nt there is lar : to wit, ■wards and it once Jlr. in. (Loud get him at t assuming intellectual men w hoin men in a set of men , liear, and r>t. Yotir I Provincial ■e. (Hear, is of sliow- no matter the C'ou- iro not wil- !r vices as a that there ng, tor the to be iu a ITje fair in OS to take advantage of patriotism so pure as tiiat ; it would bo too hard to a"?k them to make such a wontlerful sacrilico on tiie altar of their country, a.s a whole stock in-trade of Tory principles and professions. (Lau;;hter. ) No! Wu should rather .say to them, "You have sullVred enough for your (country — (laughter) — for any sake don't foci called upon to do any move iu that line ; go in peace, aud the country will forgive you." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) But 3U]iposing they were ai;ain to resume the reins of ])ower— what will they do? Wo have a fair right to ask this ([Uestion, and to look to the auteicilents of those who aspire to the Oov- eniiuent of this counti-y. (Hear, iiear.) XoVr', 1 admit th.it if they went through the country opposing some of the measures or the policy oi the (ioveninieiit, endeavouring to convince the peo|)lo that we are entirely wrong in our policy -and an houist policy, if a wrong one, may bo as bad for the country as a dishonest one— then 1 s.ay that they would be oc^cupyiui: at least a good position, however successlul or unsuccessful they nii;;ht be iu proving their statements. Beginning, Mlddlo and End of Opposition Speeches. But when they come befiire a meeting, in the lir.st breath they say, " Well, gentlemen, we are delighted to know that there is a reaction in the country, and that in a few months wc will bo in office ami these fellows out." And tlisit is the prefa 'C, bei:inuing, middle, .and end of their policy — to get into oliice. (Hear, hear.) They begin then to show why we should not be in office. But reasons might possibly be shown why wc should not be in otlice, and still that they ought not to be in our places. The people believed in 187'5- almost unanimously, that the political leaders of the Conservative party had become defunct, and that it only remained for respectable members of the party to gather up the fragments of the wreck, and endeavour to put the ship together by some new means, and lautnh it on the political sea with a resiicctable captain and crew. But now they come to us with the same old wrecked ship, aud the same captain and the same engineer who let the engine get out of order before ; they ask the ('on- servative party to trust themselves in that ship once more, with a cajitain whose certitieate of competency was withdrawn in '74, simply, it ajipi-ars, because there is no other person in this country capable of leading the Conservative party but Sii John Macdonald and his /ooir'/i tcwns, Dr. Tupper. If that is the case, then 1 oH'er iny sincere condoliiices to the Conservative party — (hear, hear, and laughter) — and I know they will receive thoin in a proper spirit, knowing how sincerely I feel for them in their atUiction. But let us examine those whom we are now told are the great leaders of that party. Everything Forgiven to Tories, Pacific Scandal Included. They aay that all the past is to be forgntten ; all accusations of fonncL- misconduct are dubbed foul slanders, and that piece of political ini(iuity, the Pacific Scandal, is 8i)oken (ff as a Eassing cloud which has passed away, and left the sunshine of a Conservative reaction beaming rightly and strongly on Sir John Macdonald's head once more. It was supposed that this was the only political iniquity of which they were guilty, aud it was bad enough to consign to political perdition one-half of their own supporters, but it was not the only transaction of the same kind of which they were guilty, and I shall take up a i^iw minutes iu referring to another transaction or two which bear almost as black a stamp as that which marked the Pacihc Scandal. The Northern Railway. You have all heard of the Northern Railway of Canada. Most of you have seen Grip's wonderful picture of the Northern Railway cow- (laughter) — in which the various ('onservative leaders are represented iu various attitudes drawing the milk from that forlorn and hapless animal, or carrying it off in dishes of every kind and shape. Ridiculous as the picture is, it represents a serious phase of our public affairs. The Northern Railway had lent to it a largo amount ofjmoney for the purpose of helping to build the road— something like £500,000 stei ling, if I remember aright. It got iuto difficulties, and we agreed to put the lien we held for this amount behind an amount which was rcciuired in order to put the road in good repair. Soiuc English gentlemen took up this sum and became bondholders, and thereby ace quired the right to vote, their voting power exceeding that of the ordinary shareholders. There was a good (leal of uneasiness in the country about this road. It was known to he paying considerable dividends to the bondholders, but none to the shareholders, and very little interest to the Government— aoue on the lien proper, though some ou the amoiuit of £50,OOJ of bonds for r\ time. The Amount to be TaUen by late Governmeat In Payment of Lien and Bonds. Immediately before this Government came into power the late (Jovernment proposed to cancel the entire debt of the Company for the £100,000, though they held bonds to the amount of £100,000 nominally, so that they were receiving a nuro trille for the entire lien. We opposed that proposal as an inadequate settlement. Shortly after v/e came into otllce the question camo op again. In the meantime some of my colleagues investigated the matter pretty fully, and we found that there was reason to believe that the Company could well manage to [lay (fouljle the sum that the late Government agreed to take in settlement ; in other words, that they might obtain one million dollars instead of half a million. We introduced a Bill into Parliainent to take this amount. The Bill was carried through. They were unable to pay at once, and we Introduced a Bill to extend the time. Information given of Frauds In Payment of Monies belonging to the Government. In the meantime an officer in the Company submitted to mo a statement whicii showed there were gross frauds perpetrated by the directors of that Company. The Government im- mediately issued a Commission of Inquiry, and we were assailed for so doing as if we had com- mitted a terrible act of wrong. The CommiiwioQ, however, developed facts of an extraordinary oharactfir. in4 Senator Haepberaon oad the North«m Railway. It was fount! that the leader of the Government, who had ag)eeoscd to nave been carried by the free, unbiassed will of the people, they deliberately put their hands into the public coffers and took this money — just as much as if they had taken it from the Trea- sury proper. (Heir, hear.) It astonishes me beyond measure that men who could be guilty of transactions of this sort are not afraid to face a jiuhlic audience (hear, heir) in Ontario, ami it does say a great deal for the loug-suffering forbearance — or something else — of the Conser- vatives in the various places whcie their meetings have been held, that these geiitlenicn have come and gone without anytmo liaving been found bold enough or honest enough to ask a single question of these men in regard to such transactions. (Hear, hear.) I have founil that when Conservatives come to our meetings they are extremely an.\iou3 to get explanations about the parchasb of the steel rails, but, wonderful to say — No Enquiry by Tories about NortUom R-vilway Matters, —though I have on eve al occasions explained that matter freelv, and I believe to tlie satisfaction of every fair-minded man — (lie.'ir, hear) — they stick to that question, and never put thoir enciuiiies in the direction of Northern Railway m.atters (Hear, hear, and cheers.) 1 have been delighted to have had the opportuniiy of givini; the clearest possible explanations about steel rails and other matters connected with any l)ranch of the public service. Yet I liave never heard a word or a whisper of enquiry from the loyal, the super loyal Conservatives in re^^ard to Northern Railway matters. (Hear, hear.) What can it mean? Has somebody cast a glamour over tliem ? Have they been dosed with chloroform — (laughter) — or some other mysterious and potent diug which binds their tongues to eternal silence on these subjects T Tbe Secret Service. Then there is another trar saction about which they are equally silent, and that is the Secret Service money. (Hear, hesr. ) 1 have frequently found fault with the manner in which that money was disposed of. It has always been suspecteil that a great portion of the largo sum — — nearly $200 000 — voted for Secret Service puqioses was not expended in any service that was beneticial to the State. But if the Conservatives defend by their silence the policy of taking tens of thousands of dollars of the public funds through the Northern Railway exchequer, they are not likely to find much fault if Secret Service money has been used for a similar purpose. I don't say it has been so spent, but I will show presently that there h».s btien an ominims silence, a withholding of information, which bodes no good as to its destination. (Hear, hear.) Casta in Bank to Credit of Committee of ConnoiL Ijet me state the sim])le fact, that about a year ago we found out that there was at the time we came into olfice a))out $."'2, 000 in the bank .standing to tlu; credit, not of the individual mem- bers of the late (Jovernment, but standing to the cre(iit of the Minister of Justice, the Finance Minister, the Minister of Inland Revenue, and the Minister of Militia, who were designated in the Order in Council, not by their names but by their olficcs. I never knew before that moment that there was a dollar of that bioney in the bank. I came to know tirst before the meeting of 105 ; the seesion of 1876 that Sir John had drawn $6,600 of thii money to pay what he called obliga- tions incurred before he went out of office, and had paid back S'i5,0'J0 into tlie Treasury. Well, the matter was in the hands of a Committee of the Privy Council, and he liad no more right to touch that money than any one of you had. ( Hear, hear. ) It no more belonged to him than it '^'ft^'^'^'frr'StiTfjuiOr tif Civiim. B^t the banker, supposing that the leader of a great political party, and a high-minded staU-sman, would not be guilty of drawing the money without proper authority, allowed him to draw it out. An investigation was held before the Public Accounts Committ«'e, and that Committee decided by a vote of 36 to 1,'i i^ nt the money was improperly taken, that no portion of it was in tne hands of .Sir John Macdonnld aud his colleagues, but be- longed to a Committee of Council, who were designated by tlu'ir ofhcial titles in the Order in Council. Has the money been paid back ? No, it is still held or disposed of in some way. I do not know what may be proposed to be done in this matter. Parliament has ordered that tho money shall be collected, ami what shall be done in the case has yet to be determined. Dr. Tnpper is the only man who has had the as.surance to say anything about 8e::ret service at any of their meetings, and I can tell you it would be a dreadful thing indeed that he would not have the assurance to speak about. He says ; — " What was the result ? Why, In a House where the Government have a majority of fifty still, • • • • when they had to vote one Govcn)ment supporter after another went nut of the House, asli:uncd of standini; bufure the people as having; attempted to fnsten such a-> Business of a Minister only to Pay Public Money. I hocamc a Miiii-tiT ill IsTl, iiinl tliu moiitiy rmiiaiiuMl to tlie oreilit of the lat« Miuisttrs witliout our kn()wleilj,'c till l)e(:<;iiilior, ISTTi, aiul it was my Imisiu'Hs, if it Mas any one's, to (lay tlic nioiioy to the parties to whom they say it was due ; and Sir .John Mucdonuld, hy takiiit^ tliis money surre])titiou:dy and iinprojicrly, dcchu'es that it is rii,'ht for a man who is res]Miiisilile to no one to disclose of these funds in any way he may choose, and tliat I and my e<»lleaguea, M-ho are the resiionsible advisers of the Crown, are not to he trusted v/ith the secret of the names of the jiarties to whom this Sd.h'OO is to be paid. I tliink I need say no mon', alter giving you these two examples of the manner in whieii wo may fairly expei;t these gentlemcu will administer the affairs of tlie eountry if they shoiild ever rej,'ain their iilil position. (Hear, hear, and eries of "They never will.") \Vhoever may be the rulers of Canada in the near future, if the present floveriimeiit are so incapable as they say, turn them out by all means, but do not put in our places men who have appropriated tlie publie money of the eountry for their own personal and political purposes. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) If you do believe that we are incompetent or dia- honest, by all means turn us out, but select men to till our places who will administer the aiTairs of the eountry in consonance with the sentiments of the people and with those great constitu- t'onal principles which are recognised as the groundwork of our political system. (Cheers.) It ii the solemn duty of the electors of Canada never to return to office men who have com- uiittt'l the gravest crimes, and who, after being found guilty of these crimes, come to you and say they were no crimes at all. (flcar, hear, and cheers.) I think there should be a statute of limitation on political offences, just as I believe that men who have served a term in the penitentiary in Sir John's constituency — (laughter) — have a right to come back to society if they behave themselves. If public men who have committed great political crimes C( me back to the country which has condemned those crimes, and honestly avow the wrong, admit that they have violated the law of the land, and say they are penitent, however long I should feel disposed to keep them on the cutty-stool — (laughter) — I should at the same time forgive the offence. lUit that is not the case with them. They not only go over the country and say that there was nothing wrong in what they did, but they accuse of slander those who say they committed a wrong. Tories Defend the Secret Service Misappropriation and Northern railway Alwtraction of Government Money. They defend the Northern Railway iniijuities, and say their disposal of Secret Se:vice money was legal and proper. I venture to say that they would not find in the whole of broad England a political man pos.sessed of a particle of integrity who would dream of justifying their acts in those two cases. (Hear, licar, and cheers. ) Said a distinguished member of the English Par- liament, whose name is a householu v.-ord in his country, when I met him in the Old Country, "Ah, Mr. Mackenzie, your ojiponents were rejected for their vices ; our party was rejected for its virtues." (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Sir, 1 do not expect that Canada will put any party into power for their vices, or i eject another party for their virtues. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But if 1 am mistaken ; if th.it is the tone of public opinion in this country; if we are to be subject- ed to this kind of treatment at the hands of the electors of this country — (cries of " Never") — then, sir, I say that you have no security left for this country, no security for our noble system of government, no security for any of our vaunted institutions which exist under the general (jovcrnnient, no security for the virtue of our public men. (Prolonged cheers. ) You may de- pend upon it that if you oiice relax the laws of public morality in high places, the contagion will siu-ead like a pl.igue all over the community, you will induce social and financial disorder, and an utter want of principle will be infused not only into our Federal and Provincial Govern- ments, but into the very centre of our municipal and school systems, which will bear its fruit for many years to come, and prove disastrous to our boasted system of self-government. (Loud cheers.) I find, however, that I cannot venture longer to trespass either on my own time or yours, and I will say, in conclusion, that I trust thatat our various meetings we have satisfactorily demoijstiated that our administration of affairs, whether right or wrong, has at all events been controlled by motives of high honour — (hear, hear, and cheers) — that no charge which could allVct the personal honour of any member of the Administration has been formulated and much less sustained by our opponents ; and that if you do deem us unworthy of your confidence, they at least are not the men whom Canada would wish to see in o>ir places. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers. ) And I have to say here, as T have elsewhere, that if our opponents think that what I have just said is not borne (mt by the facts ; if theyimagine they can establish a charge of wrong. doin;^, or self-seeking, or dishonesty against the Oovernment, or against myself or any of my col- IcMj^ues, let thcni do as we do — bring it up in Parliament before a Committee of the House of < Commons, wlicre witnesses can be put on oath and every statement put to the test of truth. (Cheers.) I thank jou most sincerely for having turned out in such large numbers to hear us address you to-day. I shall long recall with the greatest possible pleasure the happy faces I have seen to-day, the hands which have so henrtily graspe I my own, and the pleasjiut;, cordial greetings wliieli I have to-day received from you. (Prolonged cheers. ) I hope you will bring your kindness into still fuller i)lny by sending some one to Parliament to support the cause of Keform and the course which this (loverninent is pursuing. (Loud cheers and cries of "We will. '') I hope you will declare by your votes tliat you do not support the course which ! lielate Adminis- tration jnirsued while they were in olMce. This I have no doubt will be the general verdict of the country, and to me it would be exceedingly gratifying if it should also be the verdict of Cen- tre Wellini;tiiii. (Loud and long-continued cheers.) The meeting dosed with clieers tor the Queen, for Mr. Mackenzie and for the Chairman. « Ministers iiie's, to pay , liy tnliiiig s|)(>ii8i)>le to !ayu;;ii' in mind, though for the full iletails 1 will refer you to those speeches to which 1 have alluded. Difference of Policy. It is perfectly true that the policy 'ry widely and very markedly liom the policy ailvocated by cjur ciji|ioiiciits. I am glad that it is so. It is always a misfortune in political life whiai there are no erhaps in all points to the people of Canada, but at any rate in compnrisou with the administration of those gentlemen who brought the charge. And recodect that if in the course of this discussion 1 appear to deal not so much with the absolute merits of the question as with a comparison between our act.s and those of the gentlemen who preceded us, I (to it for this reason : from one end of Canada to another these men have pursued a most peculiar and extraordinary course. They do not come forward and say : The present Government have made mistakes; they have committed errors, and therefore we ask you to turn them out ; but they come forward and say : These men are far worse than we were, and your only salvation is to turn out that incompetent crew headed by Mackenzie, and put in power gentlemen who were unfortunate enonj,'h to l)e turned out for no better reason than because they inadverlently accepted the too extravagant liberality of Sir Hugh iUlan. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Comparison of Ezpenaea. So intelligent an audience as this inust be aware that if you take the cost of administering the CJovei-nment during- the year 1867— the lirst year of Confederation — and compare it with the sum which had been attained when we came into office, you will lind that ill these six years the late Administration had increased the sum total of the public expenditure from $]3,50i),000 in round numbers in 1867 to $'23,3U),0''K) in 1873-4 — that is to say, these frugal, economical, wise stat-esmen had added n>^arly ten millions of dollars to the total annual expenditure of the people of Canada within a period of six or seven years. Nay, more, they had incurred certain additional liabilities which I have enumerated in detail elsewhere, which re<^uire a further annual outlay of very nearly three millions — that is to say, they had added practically as nearly as might be thirteen millions of dollars, or absolutely doubled the public expenditure within about si.v yeiii's; whereas we, on the 1st of July last, when the public accounts are completed, will be found, unless the reports which have so far reached us turn out to be seriously in error, to have only exceeded the sum we found being expanded on entering office by from three to four hundred thousand dollars, and that, too, though we had to provide for these three additional millions, and discharge a great variety of public services which did not exist at the time we assumed office. Now, I ask you to consider the result. This Administration in thieo years have adiled the sum of three or four hundred thousand dollars to the gross annual expenditure, for the purpose, as I have shown, of defraying the expense of certain public works which were pl.-vced under contract by these men before we took oHice, whde our opponents iiad on their own showing added practically thirteen millions, or say even ten millions; and say, if you think the adding of $300,000 to the annual expenditure was a proof of the grossest extravagance on our part, while fcr these gentlemen to add thirteen millions is proof in them of wise and far- seeing statesmanship. But I am informed that some of these worthies -presuming on the imagined ignorance of their countrymen — have had the audacity to say that because we took olHce in the latter part of 1873. we were therefore fairly and justly responsible for two thirds of the expenditure of that ye.ar, which, as I dare say you all know, exceeded the expenditure of 1872-3 by about four millions of dollars. Now, 1 think that this audience, or any other audience in Canada, or any man who understands the very first rudiments of our Parliameiktary Government, will only require to be reminded that the expenditure of 1873-4 was based upon the estimates brought down by Mr. Tilley in 1873; that it was further carried out under cou- trarts made by these gciitlemeii, and in virtue of measures they had placed iu the statute book, to see at once how utterly false such an assertion would be. But lest there might be some hen who might fail to appreciate the force of that circumstance, I will briefly recite the chief items (it which that so-called increase was e.oniposed and I will leave it to any intelligent m.an in (-'anada — whether a supporter of the Opposition or of the Ministry — to say for himself whether tliis (Tovernment could be held responsible in any shape or way for one jot or tittle of that iiililitional expenditure. (Hear, hear.) Of these four millions the first and by far the larj^est item is $820,000, which was added to the interest on the public debt by the assumption of the debt of the Provinces, and by paying the sum of $150,000 to the Province of Nev.' Brunswick, which sum of $150,000 is to this day the sole and only benclit — or rather the privilege of paying tiiitt money is the sole and only benefit — which has resulted from that wise treaty funned by Sir John Macdonald an.i his English colleagues nt Wiishiiif;ton. It is a great privilece truly. l^t us prize it as it detjerves, as the one aud i uiy advantage which hr^ as yet accrued to any no ii.'iri, of tliis I)f)miiiiiin fidiu the tn.'aty-ni.iUiii ■, tHi'jiit ol " <)ur own illii Li loii.s uliicftuiii, o^l^<^^v^^ bolovi'il Joliii A." (ilciir, huar.) Only, 1 triHt you will remnn)l)ci' tliat liotli Mr. iMiick< ii/ic iiikI invsclf were Btront,'ly opposod t.i that ;|;riint, beeausi' wo folt, whatever might bo siii.l wr purt of tliiit {•ropoHal, L'aiKiilii wuh in no ]io;sition nt that time to l>o goncrous to the I'loviiiri-t •which coni|ionc(l it, nt the expi-nsi! of risking the inability to fulfil our own cxiHting obligatio! h. Wo opjiosed it tuoth and nail, and it was ciiriiiMl over our heads by Sir .lohn and hiasuiiportris ; and now, becuuHO we came intf> ollico before tlm fust year in whifli jiayment fell duo had expircl, we are to be held resjjonsible for tvo-tliirdu of that -iJ.siJO.WO which these gentlemen voted in our very teetli ! So also by the adniitision of I'rinee Kdwurd Island under a tri>ftty arranged hy them tiic sum of $.")(M), (MK) was added to the pross annual exjienditure of Canada. IJy the loin which Mr. Tilley contracted the sum of g'jnO.COO (repre.'enting the first half-yearly pnymcut of interest and sinking' fund on that loan) was added to the intenst on our debt. The cost of the Mounted Tolice— !i sum of §-00,000— was charged to the exjicnditure of that year, and that doca not rejiresent fairly, by any means, the whole sum that should have been charged to this it>y them.selves ; records which were inspected frorh day to day by men appointed by them, by nun in whom they had conlidence ; look over then? yourselves, weigh them carefully, each for him- self, and from those and from the statute book.s judge which of the two parties are mure worthy of belief, which are the more accurate, which the more truthful. Bittornoss of last SesBlon. I dare say that those of you who scan over, as I believe all the intelligent people of this country do scan with care, the existing records of the doings of Parliament during the late ses- sion, may have marked with regret, as did my hon. friend and myself, the tone of extreme aixl personal bitterness which di.sgrascd the annals of that session. It is always a matter of great regret when the relations between leading public men on both sides become so embittered ;xs they unhappily have become in this country. We felt at the time of the I'acilic Scandal th.-it one of the worst consequences of that transaction Avas that it had almost rendered it impossible for us to deal with men on the opposite side of the House as we would wish to deal with these in whom any considerable number of our fellow-countrymen reposed even a measure of con- lidence. The Origin of tbls State of Feeling. That, however, was not our fault ; it was oio result of the sin they committed, and they must bear the penalty of their own crime and take the consequences. Now, during the last year Sir John Macdonald, Dr. Tupper, and their fcdkuvers brought many and grievous cliarges agaiiit^t my hon. friend the Premier, which charges they could not prove, which charges they were nfraid to prefer on the floor of Purliimient, and which charges my hon. friend twice over asked thet.u to refer to a Committee, but they utterly declined to do so. (Hear, bear, aud clieens.) Unhappily these idle but ill-considered charges had left a very sharp sting behind ; and when it turned out, not from any action of my hon. friend, but from the records brought beforo Parliament, that Sir John Macdonald had misappvo]iriatod large snms of the Secret Service funds, that he and his friends had embezzled tlie funds of tlie country through the medium of the Northern Railway — I say when they found that the consequences of their own iniquitici! were coming u[)on them, tliey deterininecl to diverl; the attention of the people of Canada from the acts which were proven against tliou by their own testimony, and, as 1 said, thoy importol an element of bitterness into our rclaticns to an extent which I, in my thirteen years of politic.d life, or my hon. fiicud in liia longer experience, I venture to say, never saw equalled. Now, though I linve no syiupatliy with t!ie sin, 1 have a certain amount of sympathy for tlie sinners, and especially for that veteran sinner, Sir John A. Macdonald, and I have no hesitation in say- ing that for no political object and for no gain to either party can it be a desirable thing that the chief leaders of any ])olitical i>arty, and espi'ciilly men who have held such high oiliocs among the jieojile of Canada aa Sir John' Alacdoiiald held for nuuiy years, sho dd be ligntly held guilty of the crimes wliiih liave been laid to his charge. J'at I also say that if there is one thing which would be still less desirable, it would 1 e that the people of Canada should fcjibear to exact a iittiug punishment from those who committed such crimes when fairly proven guilty. (Hear, hear. ) And if I am obliged to dwell on those things, I don't do it in any spirit of ATndictivc- ness, but in a spirit of sincere regret that Sir John Macdonald should have so far forgotten himself— should iiave so far tainted his former record as to be obliged to admit out of hia own mouth the things lie admitted before the Public Accounts Committee in reference t' (lb per Ill turn, oin.iwn r. Muck' ii/if t bo Siii I '..r lie I'roviii.i'» : obligatKi: :t. IKHJlpOltr.s ; li.viexjiircl, It'll vottf politic.il •d. Now, le sinneis, on in say- thing that igh oflict's |htly held one thing r to exact ■. (Hear, indictivL- forgotten it out of srence t.j thi' manacjoinent and diHpoHal of tlii! Socro''. Si-ivii-e I'lirid, and bcfnri' tlii' Northern Railwav IiivuHtimatiim Committee iu reference to hiH dealiiigH witii tlie ^lortlierii Ituilway Company. (Hear, hoar.) Tho Soorot Sorvlco Money. Now, with reipeet to tho Sm^ret .Service, yon are aware that Sir John rorciVrd largo stimi at varioUH times, which he wa.f aMowed tr) acconiit for jirecimly an he |ilciiHcd until a very l.ito period, when a rcMolution was obUvined that from that time fortli Sir John or wlioever hapealed to by letter and on tho tioor of the House of Comnuuis, lie refused all infoiniation, ami forced as to bring down the item in the Public Accounts, and to this day he has not given the first particle of information. Usoloasnoss of all Safeguards. Now, T need not pursue that subject much further, tor you are men of sufficient intelligence and capacity to see and understand for yourselves how utterly con.stirutional safc.'U irds and all other safeguards are gone, if three years after a man lcavp.s olMce and becouK^s a private citizen, it is a lit and right thing for him to dtaw this money from the Oovmiment bankers and employ it as he sees fit. (Hear, hear.) 1 don't s;u' he sjiciit it imjiroperly, but by his own act he has discredited himself — (hear, hear) — and I can conceive of no purpose that )ie could have spent that money properly for which he coiiM not trust my hon. friend suHiciciitly to reveal to him. (Hear, hear.) Surely the present advisers of tho Ciown are just as able to tell whether that money was jiroperly spent in the public service as Sir .fohn Macdonald ; and if he complains that an unworthy suspicion is thrown ujion his chnracter, rem jiiibcr it is caused by his own deliberate refusal t.) trust his successors in otKce wit!, the details of the ciii[)loyiiiciit of the nioncy he has illegally possessed himself of. 1 am not quite sure of the total amount of this money, bi:; to the best of my recollection :?inO,000 in all \/ere placed in his haucls for Secret Service, r.ud I ask who can know or tell how that money is expended, if when (picstioned upon it he wouid not give a particle of information ? Northern Railway. Now, as I s.aid before, though I think that Sir .loha Macdonald was grossly in the wroi,g in regard to the Secret Service Fund ; thou-h 1 think ho clearly and pl.iinly violated his duty in dealing with that fund, yet that shrinks into positive insigniticance when compared with that most unhappy and untortuuate state of alfair-s which was brought out iu tho investigations of the Northern Railway Committee. (Hear, hear.) An Illustration from Nature. riiilosophers tell us th.i.t the only way wo can judge of the size and extent of those buried continents which form the basis of the Atlantic and Pacilic Oceans is by the small portions that remain above water in the shape of the various islands that stud these oceans ; and that the existence of these islands is clearly a proof that huge mountain chains onci" stood where the 8ca rolls miles deep to-day. And surely the facts which were arrived at in the course of the Northern Railway investigations show just as clearly that there was a vast mountain of corruj)- tioii, a vast amount of impro]ier use of jmblic money, a vast ni.ass of imjiropriety festering below the surface, if only we coulil for once lay liarc the miserable Fccrets of the ways and means which enabled Sir John JIacdonald to enjoy his twenty years of oilice. Perhaps it is just as well that we should not know, and jicrhaps you may think these words are very strong ; but if you bear in mind the circumstances of the crime ; that when Sir .Tohn Macdonald, the man who took that money, or for whoso beiiolit it was taken, ]icriuittcd it to be taken he was the iMinister of Justice — the Premier of this Dominion — sworu to protect the interests of this coun- try ; that that money was formally placed in trust to be administered in a particular fashion and applied to the discharge of (certain siieciticd obligations, and that the surjilus was to bo placed in the public treasury, and tliat iles;>ite the law. (h'Spite every ostensible precauti(m, it was used not merely for Aluil subscriptions and for a testimonial for Sir John's benelit, but to lis I av Mr. Cumberland's ozpenaea in one county, Mr. John Beverley Robinion's in another, to ihe embezzling, or tho stealing (to fueak in plain EngliHh) ; that highly re- spectable individual, Mr. Senator Macpherson, the highly respectable receiver of the atolen goods, well knowing them to bo stolen ; Sir John Macdonald, who wisely and jndicionsly, and with that acumen which he had so long practised, declined to know whence tho money came, declined to have anything to do with it, but had it placed in the hands of his wife's trustees, and now does not even pretend to say that the money was honestly got, but pleads that he is un- happily too poor to make restitution— of these three I say it is a dillicult matter to say which is the worst, but if there is any ditference at all, 1 think the man who so astutely kept himself clear of the possible penaltipfl of the law was the worst of the party. Mr. Cumberland, the manager of tho railway, might plead that he at least was acting in the interest of the shareholders, and might say to them, "I did it in your interest ; I waa in tho power of the robbers, and had to submit to what robbery they chose to inflict." You will bear in mind that this money waa aa much tlic property of the people of Canada as any item of taxes which is paid in at the Custom- houseb. It was so prescribed by Act of Parliament. Sir JoIm'B Cantlon. They all knew they were taking the money of Canada except Sir John, and that good man snid, " I will take the money, but I will take good care to be able to say that I know nothing about it." (Hear, hear.) I am willling to believe that a considerable portion of Sir John's tes- timonial fund was honestly obtained, was bestowed by people who thought that his long public service deserved that he should not be exposed to the danger of want and penury, but I sxy that if a testimonial is to be giveu to a public man at all, everything should be open and clear aa the light of day— (hear, hear) — for the sake of that man's hononr— for the sake of his country — for the sake of all concerned. Their Delloaoy. And if any dare pretend that feelings of delicacy forbid mention of such matters as these, I say there is no room for delicacy here. Delicacy, forsooth ! These gentlemen were not too deli- cnte to receive stolen goods, but they were too delicate to tell from whom they had stolen thera. (Hear, hear.) If there be among this multitude any Conservative gentleman of the fine old breed — (laughter)— any man who holds fast to what was once at any rate one of the leading doctrines of all true Conservatives — and I hope of all true Reformers, too — that the stainless honour of the public men of a nation should be dear to every man of that nation, then I say it is the clear duty of such a man, and of all honest supporters of Sir John Macdonald, either that they should make good the money that was thus so improperly taken from the public, or else withdraw their conHdence from the man who is living on the proceeds of that theft, and apparently is not aehamed to do so. Dnty ol Honest Conservatives. Were I, as I was in time past, a supporter of Sir John Macdonald, I would mortgage my best farm tr pay the money, or I would cease for ever to support Sir John Macdonald, sooner than allow a great party to be dishonoured by leaving it in the power of their opponents to aay to them that their chief is actually living, actually owing his daily bread, to the proceeds of money dishonestly obtained from the people of Canada. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I say again I am very unwilling to believe that there will be found any man within the ranks of the Conservative party who, if challenged, will deliberately say that that party is so small and poor that they will leave their chieftain — if indeed he be so poverty-stricken that he cannot make restitution — in tlio position of lying open to the taunt that he is living on the proceeds of money dishonestly obtiiined. And I say without hesitation that if you can find in any Court of Justice in this Do- minion any such ground of accusation established against my hon. friend, or against any member of his Government, we should be the first to say we deserved tenfold punishnuint for such an olleiii.c, and I advise you not to trust us one hour or one second with the reins of power after any such charge is established agiiinst us. Utter Demoralization. I have dwelt on this, I admit, a little severely. 1 have dwelt on it because I feel it is a kind of thing which is more than anything else calculated to demoralize the whole tone of our public m(Mi, and to demoralize the public feeling of the country. If it can truthfully be said that any great [)olitical party will stand up and sustain their leader in such acts, then 1 ask on what ground of justice are you to send to the penitentiary or to prison the paltry criiiiiiiol who has taken, not $2,5oO, but twenty cents from the till of some wealthy neighbour ? (Hear, hear, and diet just the oper fun 8-',o for 1 Hilar I 'an: Kail liefo the I elei; paid payii uiul Wo theBe, I cliuerii.) Now, bear in mind tlmt whcrevor you liiul niemb-nrH >;^l> poMitionH conduHuuniiin^; to uut at till! receivers of stolvn goiHU, llt^|H!llll upon it tlic <'aiik.t:r is siirt'iiiling deup, and a keen HUrgical upvrntion ia needed to restore anything like a seinblance of health tu the body politio. Details of KmlMulements. Just think for a moment of the Hums which under vivn(;u» pretexts wore wrung out of Mr. Cumberland, and the several jiurposes for which they were oxiiuuded. Firnt wi! have a Mini of $'2,000 for the Mail newspaper — and jierhaps, if the whole truth were known, a great tleal more, for the Mail iaUnt noble iin institution to be content with Hinall pickings— bcsiilcs, we are »1 1 HhareholderH in it -(laughter)— though I grieve to see that the property of the wlude neoplo of ('aiiadu was lately put up at auction and bought in forab. L. .Miiuphei-Hon, TrooHurer of the l<'iind (who called ttt t ; >:.'>'0 of the Company therefor), whlcli cheque was in nuttlcnienl of the aliuve-nieutioued HubHcrlptium ; tlmt thU I unt kvos vhar^'oal lH)nuHeH and Uovernment Mulmidies. Subsequently that ttniountwoii reohurifed to the Hon. U. L. Macpherson, and HO stands at present, and that these entries wore mode without the knuwIeJifo ot Ibo Hon. D. L. Maepherson." Then the report atatea :— A Triple Kntry System. " We find that in 1872 several sums, amountini; altogether to $5,440 erland this amount w 's charged In the books of the Company, one-thinl to contitiKencies, one-third to parliamenUiry exi)enscs, and one-third to legal exiHjnses, In instalmeut« of one-twenty- foiH'th |)er month to each account, and that the said amount of money wus improperly paid out of moneys which were applicable in payment of the Oovcninicnt claims." Then we find another further sum of $1,000, which was a general contribution towards the election fund of the supporters of the Government of that day — perha]ia Mr. Biggar had the benoKt of some of that money in his constituency. (Laughter.) Then Mr. Cumberland had %!4, 166 "in payment of his election expenses as a candidate for Parliament for Algomaand Card- well." Mr. Cumberland and Mr. J. B. Kobinson ajipear to have been allowed a very convenient arrangement, as they overdrew their accounts in the books of the Company, all which money has not been paid to this day. Adding all those amounts, you had a sum total of $'27,000 paid out of the moneys due the people of Canada fur the direct benefit of Sir John Macdonald and his followers, Tbe Unjust Steward. You all know the parable of the unjust steward, who told his master's debtor to write down tifty measures when they owed one hundreiL This was pretty well, but aa Mr. Biglow once observed — ".lohii R Robinson he Says, ' They don't know everything down in Judee;' " and we have more than a r .rallel for that case in these latter days. Our unjust steward says to the debtors of Canada, "You owe us several millions of dollars, and you could \'ery easily pay one million, but pay us .?'J7,(X)0 for certain special purposes and we will let you otf for $500,000 of the amount you owe." (Hear, hear.) This is actually what occurred in my hearing and in the hearing of my honourable friend. They brought down a Bill to Parliament in 1873 to wipe off all our claims upon the Northern Railway for the various amounts they owed — amounting to more than $4,000,000 — [iroposiug tu take the sum of $5(X>S0(X), and give them a receipt in full. Cost to Country. Fortunately the attention of my honourable friend had been directed to the matter, and he opposed the proposal so vigorously that the Government, who at that time had the Pacific Scandal hanging over their heads, were obliged to withdraw the measure, and two years ago Sr)80,000 in round numbers was paid into the public treasury for the worst part of the debt — for the lien which ranked subsequent to all the other encumbrances ; and probably before this year is out we shall have received one million dollars over and above the sum of §27,000, in payment of the debt for which in 1873 the Government were willing to take §500,000. (Cheers.) Cumberland's Horvest. Mr. Cumberland knew very well what he was about. Never did husbandman sow grain to better advantage than Mr. Cumberland, if he had had hit', way, would have sown that $'27,000. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I don't know what the average yield is here, but unless your land 'J 114 WM in exceptionally fertile, I think yon will say that when Mr. Cnmberland prepared to realize §500, (XX) for his Company by the judicious expenditure of S-7,000, he was expecting a toleralily rich harvest. (Hear, hear.) It was aliout as good an investment of money as I remember to have lieard of. Gentlemen, you may depend upon it that if the Ministers of State are permitted to deal with the public creditors in this fashion, and it is not remembered against tl "m as a damning crime, for every §27,000 going improperly to the Ministers, the country will in some shape or other, whether in the guise of protecting native industry, or under the guise of a national policy, or in such easy compositions with its debtors, liind itself forced to redeem every $27,000 80 got by the loss of §500,000 or more on each and every case. (Uear, hear.) Wliat of Other Railway Contrlbatlons? If one small railway could cnntrilmte 1527,000 — and, mind you, that is all we found OTit; we never will be able to get at the actual facts elsewhere, and we have no reason to believe tliat we got at the bottom even h re— I saj' it one small railway of 150 miles long finds it worth its while to subscribe to testimonials to public men, to bonus newspapers, to pay election expenses, and so on to the extent of .'ij)"27,000, what do you think might be done if they had the manipula- tion of the (irand Trunk, or the Pacific, stretching not for 150 miles, but 3,000 miles, across an unknown region? (Hear, hear.) What Sir Hugh Allan Expected. Consider that question, and you will know some of the reasons which induced Sir Hugh Allan and his friends to be willing to pay Sir John Macdonald 536S.OOO, if they could by expending that money establish friendly relations with the men who voted the supplies for and controlled the exjienditure upon that huge enterprise. (Hear, hear. ) You may rely upon it that the thirty millions for which they falsely stated they could build the Pacific Railway would have proved but the tiist instalment of the sums which would have been snddled on the country, and that Sir Hiigh Alhvn's S.H()l-!,000 would have been as expensive a luxury as the $27,000 which were receiveil from tlio Northern Railway would have proved, costing us, as it would have done if their measure had become law, the sum of .•?riOO,000. How the Premier Answers Chnrges. Xow, it is not my part to review in detail the numerous charges that have been levelled at my honoural)le friend the Minister of l'ul)lic Works, with reference tu the purchase of steel rails and other matt<'rs, but I will just call attention to this one fact : that when one man dared to put in print tile specific charge that my hon. friend had improperly given information to a friend or relative of his from which profit might be made, he at once appealed to the leg.i) tribunals of his countrj', and that already the culprit has tendered an ample apology for the slander he uttered — (hear, hear, and cheers) — althougli for tlie sake of clearing bis own honour and that of his eollcas,'ues my hon. friend lias detorinincd tli:it the (,'ourts of Law shall say, that the judges shall record, how false and malignant that slanderous assertion was. The Late Loan. Now, as regards one charge, more especially atf'eoting my own department, which these gen- tlemen have preferred over and above those wliicli 1 have already dealt with, referring to the rates at wliicli 1 recently borrowed money in the Kiiglish market, and to the mode which I adopted for borrowing it, I may simply say as reg.irds that recent loan it was made on better terms than have ever before been obtained by any ('anadian Finance Minister, be he who he may. (T.ond cheers.) I say further, that the general net result of these operations, so badly managed, Bo inconi[)etently discharged by nie, has been that not only has the average rate of interest on the whole ])ublic debt of Canada been consider.ably lowered, but as regards that part of our debt payable in England, and with which I had especially to deal, whereas when we entered office for every SlOO you borrowed you paid in round numbers .*!,'> 37, you are now paying for that $1(X) the sum of .'54 ()4. (Cheers.) In other words, we have reduced the aveiage rate upon our indebt- edness very nearly 12 per cent., and I hope that, if we are not embarrassed by complications arising from causes over wliiih we can exercise no cimtrol, before two or three years are gone ! shall be able to report to you officially still furtlier reductions. (Loud cheers. ) Two Facts. Now, it would be utterly improper for ir.e to weary assemblies lilce this by minute details as to the precise mode in which 1 efl'ccteil the floating of this loan. But I will just call attention to two facts, to two significant am' important facts, which I think will show that I would have been justly censurable by tlie intelligent people of this country if I had ventured to risk any- thing last Nii\ ember in such a crisis as tlien occurred. Speaking as Minister of Finance, as one who has a sjiecial right to speak authoritatively on this subject, I say it was utterly impossible to effc ct a loan earlier than I did. In fact, in last ,Fuly and for several months succeeding no loan could be made, nor did a fair opjioitunity ofl'er for effecting the loan until within two or three days of the time wlien I did efl'cct it, when the, armistice was signed between the contend- ing powers of Servia and Turlcey ; and so short was the time I had to operate in th.at the suDseription bor)ks haimd out ; we lieve that we it worth ita ion expenses, bhe manipula- Ics, across an ccd Sir Hugh ley could by pplies for and lely upon it lailway would 1 the country, 3 the §27,000 it would have levelled at my steel rails and ared to put in to a friend or ,) tribunals of ;he slander he lur and that of hat the judges lich these gen- eferring to the mode which I ade on better le who he may. adly managed, 1 of interest on art of our debt tered olfice for r that §100 the on our indcbt- complications ears are gone I nute details as > call attention b I would have 3d to risk any- I'inance, as one srly impossible succeeding no within two or u the contend- ) in that the peech of Lord I shown to the iig, and I have I then brought fee or four per lie condition of var luii^ht not of Parliament, it would have been impossible to obtain a loan, or at all events I should have have had to pay an onorinous rate to secure the lloating of one dollar of that loan. Only two months ago two of the very best and wealthiest corporations in England, who have peculiar facilities lor raising money which Canadians do not enjoy, attempted to raise money in London, and Uie result \v;;s a conipk-te r,::ilure. The securicy known as the Metropolitan Consols of London, whiih aie bach- ed by tlie credit of the richeit city of the richest country in the known world, was one, and failed to secure tenders for more than one-half of its issue. The city of Biriniiighnm attemi)tcd at the sam^ time to obtain a loan by tender, but i': 'ailed completely, and it diil not venture to renew the application. Two of our best colonies, Natal and one of the Au.stralian ccdonie.s, attempted to negotiate a loan in the same way, and they also failed. 1 leave it, in t;n'e of tlitsi- i'acls, to all candid men to say whether I did right in lloating the loan in November instead of waiting till now ; and, secondly, in floating it in the particular way in which 1 did, and which secu ed success, instead of risking such failures as those to which I '•s^ion arising from causes over which we can exercise no control — a depression which we could not fore see, auil which has been unexampled in our history. I say that it will be our duty to iiiq.'ose no taxes ujion the people of this country unless we are called upon to do so by imperative necessity. (Hear, hear.) Taxes Imposed. And when last year I felt it my duty to impose a small additional tax — a tax which has been objected to, I know — 1 took exceeding good care th>t by the remission we made in the d\ity on coal oil we should return to the pockets of the peo^jle, an,' eminently to the ])oi)ref ciassca, a sum 'exceeding two, and peihaps three or fourfold the oum we tiok out of their pockets. It ia (piite true that we were obliged to impose a tax of sor.i"^ five huidred th"\isand dolhir.s additional — a sum of two cents per pound on the article of ';ta — a tax which amounted to something like tw'enty-live or thirty cents per family ; but while we did this, we took off a tax of something like nine cents per gallon on the entire quantity of coal oil consumed in this country ; and 1 put it to you how many of you have found your tea dearer since that tax was imjjosed, and 1 also put it to you if you have not all ^ound your coal oil decidedly cheaper since that change in the tariff ? (Hear, hear.) ToKCB Remitted. Sir, I don't want to exaggerate, but I am told that in one way with another about eight mil- lions of gallons of coal oil are now consumed in Canada. 1 am told further, that altiiough it is true that we only reduced our taxes about nine cents per gallon, the result was to break uj) all the rings and monopolies which had been foriued and which controlled the market, and to give you the beuettt and more than the benetit of that reduction, and that from that day to this the l}rice has been at least twenty-tive cents less than it has been on the average during the last two years. I don't make this statement on my own authority, but on the authority ot men well conversant with the trade : and if it be true, then the result of our extravagance and incom- petence is that when we put on a tax of 8500,000, we at the same time made a reduction wliich put two millions of dollars into the pockets of the people of Canada. (Cheers.) 1 don't mean to say th 't it is desirable for the Government of a great country to allow their own theories of political economy to interfere too much with e"-isting institutions or vested rights, liut I call your attention to this. I admit frankly and freely that, so far as my own imlividual opinion goes, I have always believed tjiat all ta.\es were a necessary evil — (hear, hear) — that the liest thing we could do was to reduce jour taxes, as 1 propose to do whenever I can get the c)>auce. Folly of Protection. 7 also admit that, solojg as we are obliged i)y the necessities of our position to raise a large revenue, we must have a revenue tnritf, and therefore that this tariff in some way or other, whether you call it incidental protection or soiaething else, must accrue to the benefit of our manufacturers ; and I would just point out that Sir John Macdonald and Dr. Tupper and those who join with them in saying that protection is the one and only cure for the prevailing distress, never raised their little tinger to do anything for the cause which they now profess to have so much at heart ; and if for a moment they tried such a fiscal system, and attempted to found a " national policy," they trampled on their policy before the infant was a year old, and buried it ignominiou.sly in the sh.ort interval between the speech of Sir Francis Hincks and the attack made after dinner by some of his quondam supporters. That is the way they have done in the past, and that is the way they would do again. In a community where there is such a iliversity of intert^.sts as in ours, you must consider not what is good for one interest, or one class, or one Provinci', but how every measure will affect the whole of this great Dominion, and for this reason it is utterly impossible for these men to carry out the theories which they now profess. If they attempted"to do sucli a thing, they .vould aTay in one solid phalanx all our rural popidation throughout the Dominion, and the whole of the Maritime Provinces as one man, against any Govei-nment which would nttempt to tax ihem for the benefit of a few manufacturers scattered throughout the older Provinces. I must apologize to you for having so long trespassed on your patience, ami I will now leave to Mr. Mr.ekenzie the task of meeting such charges as hav: been specially levelled against him. (,Lou'i and long-continued applause.} IM 116 EXTRACTS FROM THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Paoiflo Railway. • " • * In the meantime we took the ground that the first thing to be ilono was to open up a liighway to these north-west territories through our own land. We were obliged, a.s it is now, to send all our own emigrants through the Uniteil States ; and I saw that until we got a large population to inhabit these stei)i)e8 and prairies we could not hope to have great success in buihling the railway, and we at once pushed the surveys in that direction. As soon as we had any portion of the line surveyed we let out the contracts with the sanction of Parliament. 1 might say, however, that the (Jpi)os! Son did not oppose a single one of these contracts. In the meantime we also established a ti'legraph line across the continent, building that line on the direct route where the railway was to be built, and as fast as the survey went forward the telegraph line and tlie operator went with the surveyor. We have now our telegraph system very nearly established to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, while in places where there are wood.s the woods are cleared to the width of two chains. We have 228 miles between Thunder Hay to Red Kiver under contract, and under our wise system of contract we are build- ing these 228 miles of railway in a country where no white inhabitant over lived, where only the foot of the Indian and the trapper ever trod, for a little less than one-half of what the late (lovernmeut built the Intercolonial. (Cheers.) Under the Carnarvon Terms we were bound to build a road as soon as possible between Nanaimo and Esquimalt, a distance of about 70 miles in round numbers. We have these 420 miles from Lake Superior to Red River, and about 100 miles of Pembina Branch to connect with the United States line. We have already graded in the Red River district about 120 miles, furnished and roady for the rails ; we have the rails laid on the roadbed about ready for nearly 6i) miles west of Lake Superior. Responsibility of the Chief Engineer and the Minister. 1 pointed out at one of these meetings that when we do act in these matters on the , 'e of Mr. Homing or .Mr. Page, or some other engineer, they find fault and say that we shelter our- selves behind the backs of our engineers ; whereas, if we happen, in questions which hce not of a strictly technical or professional character, to act upon our own responsibility they complain because we do not follow the advice of our engineers. You see it is utterly imjiossible to suit them. (Hear, hear. ) I might say here for your information, tnat 1 have invariably, in all matters requiring a scientific or professional knowledge, acted on the opinion of the Chief Engineer of my Department. I have looked on myself aa the political head of the Department. They arc really responsible to the public through me, and if I find a Chief Engineer giving me wrong advice, then I will be held to account if I do not dismiss him or deal with him in some other way. Mr. Fleming went to the Old Countiy lately. He has been engaged uninterrupt- edly for thirteen years on the Intercolonial and Pacific Railways. The great responsibility and the enormous an>ouiit of labour have reduced his physical sy.stem so much that he felt it abso- lutely necessary to get leave of absence in order to go to England for a few months. Specimen of Tory Malignity. The very moment that he put his foot on board, the Toronto Mail and the Halifax Herald, papers owned and controlled by Sir John Macdonald and Dr. Tupper respectively, immediately insinuate that he left the country because he found it impossible to get on with Mr. Mackenzie. They knew that a few weeks nmst elapse before the lie could be contradicted, and they thought that possibly this particular patch of mud of the many which they throw would stick so fast in some place that it <'ould not l)e scraped off before the general election. So all the Tory papers from one end of the Dominion to the other aimounced v.'hat a dreadful fellow that Mackenzie was. There was Mr. Fleming, the first man in Canada in his j.Tofes8ion, who had accomplished such marvels of engineering on the Intercolonial, who had coni^ucted (so far as he was allowed to do so) the operations on the Pacific Railway with such great success — here was a man like Mr. Fleming interfered with by Mr. Mackenzie, and he had to go to the Old Country to get rid of the intolerable burden of being under him. I read a letter from Mr. Fleming the other day in which he complains of this misrepresentation, states that he was never interfered with, that he never had a difference of o])inion, and that he A^as far more interfered with by the previous Administration. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I don't expect these people to print Mr. Fleming's letter. I have no idea of receiving anything like fair play from them, either for myself or mj Administration. It is by such means as these that they hope to carry the conviction to th? hearts of the people of Canada, that they and they alone are fitted to govern this country. Farmers and Protection. The question may be asked why we send grain to tlie United States, if they have enough. It is because of some local wants. They may require, for instance, to buy our wheat for seed, and we may want some of theirs for similar purposes. We buy their grain as a rule for the purpose of exporting to Europe, and they buy some of ours to mix with theirs for flouring purposes. They buy their peas and barley because we can grow these grains to greater advantage than they can . A trade is thus kept up between us. Now, during the time we had a duty on grain, we realized about $100,000 in the course of a year and a quarter, and the next year had the duty been liontinued we would not have realized a cent. The manufacturers, finding that they are not of themselves strong enongti to force us into imposing a 20 or 25 per cent, duty, go to the farmers and liope to get them to join them by telling them that if they had a duty on their products p,, b 117 M they would get higher prices. There never w.as a greater delusion . (Hear, hear. ^ If you go to the Western States you will liml the people paying nearly fiO per cent, more U prevalent in some places, the demoralization in others, and for the insanity, which ajipear.s to be increasing to such an extent in others. All our asylums are full, our prisons and penitentiaries are overHowing, and there has been for many years a growing sentiment in the country that the cure for all these evils to a great extent must rest in limiting if not in destroying the sale of alcoholic litpiors. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) .So far as 1 am concerned, 1 recollect veiy well, exactly thirty years ago, that I published iny first address to the people in my own locality in the shape of a re- port from a Temperance Society in favour of the princii)le of prohibition, as one which is justi- fied by all the claims that the people have on legislation l)y their rulers ; and from that day to this I have never ceased to believe in the absolute right of the people to enter on a course of legislation which would have that effect. (Loud cheers.) At the same time, 1 have always taken the ground that until public sentiment had reached such an advanced stage of maturity that we ivduid be (juite certain of a very large majority in favour of such a measure, it would be un- ui.-c ;uid impolitic to attempt to enforce a totivl prohibition of the tralli j. Whether that time lias now come or not, rests with the electorate of the country to .say. Some years before Con- federation, a Bill, such as is called in England a Permissive Li(iuor Bill, was passed by the late Parliament of Canada, which put it in the hands of the people to determine in their respective localities whether they would prevent the licensing of ho'ises for the sale of liquors. A vote has been taken on that measure in many counties in Canada during the last twelve months. In some cases it has been defeated ; in others it has been carried, sometimes by small and some- times by large majorities, but in every instance it is t[uite apparent that the agitation in the direction of prohibition has ac. (Loud and coutiuugd u|<|^iliiuse.) m SECOND SERIES OF OEMONSTRATK The second series of Reform Demonstrations for the season was, if possible, even more sxic- cessful than the first. At all of them the attendance was large, the speeches delivered — only some of which, and extracts from others, space permits to give — were received with marked ap- probation, and the other evidences of popular approval of and unimpaired confidence in the two Reform Governments, their policies and their leaders were alike numerous and unmistakable, ORANGEVILLE, SEPTEMBER 18th. The first Demonstration was held at Orangeville, County of Cardwell, on Tuesday, September 18th ; and despite the extremely Conservative surroundings, the assemblage numbered from four to five thousand. After being escorted by a large procession to the Agricultural Hall, the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie was presented with an Address on behalf of the Reformers of Duflferin, Card- well, and Eastern Wellington, by the Chairman, Mr. Joseph Pattullo, Mayor of Orangeville, and the Secretary, Mr. F. Munro. A similar Address was presented to the Hon. O. Mowat, on behalf of tlie Dufferin Reform Association, by its President, Major Parsons, and Secretary, Mr. George Dodds. Both Addresses having been replied to, speeclies were subsequently delivered by Col. Higginbotbam, M.P., Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, Hon. Mr. Huntington, Hon. Mr. Movat, andD. Guthrie, M.P. EXTRACTS FROM THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. A Personal Charge Replied to. • • • • • Sir .lohn Macdonald has ventured within the past few days t<» speak in a somewhat peisonal manner of an offence alleged against mj'self. He told the people of Amherstburg that when I went to England in 1875, I went there for recreation, but that you had to pay the expenses of the journey ; and another gentleman, Mr. W. H. Gibbs, stated that as my wife accompanied me, 1 must have paid her expenses also. (Laughter.) This is the stylo of speaking indulged in by these gentlemen, who call themselves the leading statesmen of this country, and I sincerely condole with the Conservative gentlemen present who are induced to follow through Coventry such leaders as these. But, sir, it might be worth while, as Sir Jolm Macdonald has questioned this matter, to tell you the real state of the case. I endeavour in- variably to avoid doing anything that would be personally offensive to my political opponents. I respect Conservative opinions when I know they are honestly held. I respect a Conservative leader who tries to give effect to those opinions by legislation, and who tries to argue Liberals into a belief in Conservative principles. But, sir, when any person occupying the position of leader of the Conservative party travels outside of the record, as Sir John does in this instance, 1 think it but fair that I should show the contrast between the travelling expenses of his Ad- ministration and those of the present Administration. Travelling Expenses under Late and Present Government Compared. In 1868 one of them visited Englanil ; another in 1868-9 ; two others in 1869-70 ; sinother in 1871, and anotlier in 1873-4. These five visits to England are shown by the Public Accounts to have cost $20,040 80. or an average of $4,008 1 G per visit. Undei- the new rajime there have been four visits to f^nglaud, at an entire cost of .§,'j,4t51 72, or an average of $1,820 jier visit. (Cheers.) Yon can see from the evidence who has been burdening the country by visiting England. Be- sides, 1 was not visiting England on private affairs. I had none to attend to there. My health was as good then as it is now ; and 1 may say to them that I feel perfect confidence that my health will be quite strong enough for a good many campaigns in the future. (Cheers and laughter. ) 1 went to England on public affairs, and neither my wife nor aiiy one else connected with me ever touched a do'lar of the pubH» money. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Thes*; gentle- men will perhaps give an account of their own expenses when th'iy next visit Orangeville, and I hope yf taxation ies in the you from crnmeut — 121 . that is, for the offices connected with the (Joverniticnt Departments and tlie nutside ser- vices of Customs and Kxcise. Take Civil (Jovenunent tirst : — In the yc;ir 1873-4 (tlio last year of the late (iovenunent) it cost ?883,68r) 53 to i>ay those .salaries. In our tir.st vear, 1874-5, it rose to .Sitt)!t,'J()5 73. You know tlmt my opponents have always claimed that' they were not responsible for the year 1873-4. Although they wore the goveruiiig party — although they intr.-^duced the estimates and provided the works for which tin-, money was to be spent, yet, because they went out of office rather .suddenly, when that little unpleasantness arose about the Pacific Railway in November, 1873, they claim that they are net responsible for that year. We say they are wholly responsible, unless, indeed, it be the item for a general election in January, 1874— an expenditure which I am sure all my P.eforni friendu will consider to have been a perfectly justifiable and very necessarj one. iHear, hear, and ilieers. ) It will be seen from the figures I have given that our expenditure was about ?'J5,<)()i) higher the next year. That increase we are bound to explain, and I am prepared to explain it. In the first place, the late (iovernment before going out of office made some large inci eases to tlie salaries or bounties, and made many appointments in view of their early retirement from office, many of which were wholly unnecessary in the public service — i.iany of which were cancelled at a later date. Summary of Officials Appointed by an Expiring Government. Let me read j ou a short summary of what had been done in this way from .lanuary 1st, lf the United States. Re was no enemy of that country; he believed it to be a great country, and ti! he solving problems based on British law and constitutional freedom in a way of which the world would yet be proud. Rut he believed at the same time that they lacked the constitutional freedom which Canada enjoyed ; that wo were free from the dangers of a too large immi<,'ratii>u irom which they sutl'ered ; and that our system was freer and better adapted to develop our )»-. f •v,' ,**! 122 individuality than was the American Bystem. (Hoar, hear, and cheers.) In consequence of these things, he believed we were building up sucecssl'uUy a better Parliamentary Hystemthan tliey enjoyed. He had long believed that it was better that each nation should work out ita own system ; and when Mr. Macdougall accused him ol favouring annexation, he made a charge ■which waa belied by all his public utterances on the subject. Opposition Anxious to Create Divisions and Frojndloes. There was a disposition among those people to create disabilities against the public men of the country by constantly thundering against them, and he himself had not escaped their malig- nity. It always afforded him pleasure to express views which he considered beneficial in a patriotic sense, but his statements had been grossly misrepresented. Sometimes he was reprs- eented as an ultra I'rotestant, sometimes as an ultra Catholic ; sometimes as following one game, and sometimes another. His idea of politics was perfect and complete equality. He had never made any declarations, either in public or in private, which were inconsistent with political and religious liberty for all classes of people. He represented a county in wliich dwelt Protestants and (Jatholics, both of whom supiwrted him as a man having a patriotic desire to promote the interests of the country without pressure from one church or another. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) It would be well, he thouglit, it all the people of this country were imbued with that desire. Let there be a united struggle to perform those duties which were higher than party principles. Let our children be taught the doctrine of toleration in all things. Let them be taught that their duty as Canadian citizens would be to look to the luture of this country on a broad basis, that everybody might be rendered better as the country should grow older. (Loud cheers.) BRAMPTON, SEPTEMBER 19th. The Brampton Demonstration was one of the finest of the series, and much the largest and most successful political gathering ever held in the County of Peel. Tlie l'r<;miur and Post- master-General were met \t Charleston e?i roMte from Oran^eville, by Robt. Smiih, M.P. ; James Fleming, Esq., President County of Peel Reform Association; Dr. Pattullo, R. Dick, and others, and thelice escorted in carriages via the Caledon Mountains to Brampton, the procession having been meanwhile augmented until it extended about four miles in length. At Claude an Address was read to the Premier by Dr. Robinson, on behalf of the Reformers of the village and locality; and at Brampton another was presented by the President, Mr. Fleming, for the County Eeform Association. A similar Address was also presented to Hon. Mr. Mowat. Besides the speakers — the Hon. Mr. Huntington, Hon. Mr. Mowat, and Hon Mr. Mackenzie — the following mem- bers of Parliament and of the Asseinbly were present: — A. H. Dymond, M.P., W. McC'raney, M.P., Robert Smith, JM. P., It. Chisholin, M.P.P., W. D. Lyon.M.P.P., and J. H. Hunter, M.F.P. The attendance was estimated at from ten to twelve thousand. EXTRACTS FROM HOX. MR. MiCKEXZIE'S SPEECH Mistake in Iiocating the Intercolonial Railway Route. • • * * Now, I may tell you that under the management of the late Administmtion the Intercolonial Kaihvay was built in the wrong place. It should have ascended the valley of the St. John River, and crossed the countiy from that river to Riviere du Loup ; but it was built by the base of tJie Gaspe Peninsula, the I lay of Chaleur, and on to Moncton, thus involving an additional expense to reach the same objective point of eight or ten millions of dollars — some say twelve millions. This was done in spite of the opposition from Ontario ; and at that time we pointed out not merely that it was the wrong route, but that by crossing the estuaries of so many rivers it would be necessarily much more expensive. It cost as nearly as may be $-18,000 per mile to build that railway, though there were the greatest faciliti(:8 for laud- ing rails and other materials all the way from Riviere du Loup to Stc. Flavie, again at the Restigouche, the Nepisiguit, the Miramichi, and so on by Shediac and Pictou. Paoifio Railway being Built at Half tbe Cost of Intercolonial. Now, the 228 miles of the Pacific Railway, beginning at Thunder Bay, now under contract, we are building with as good a road bod as the Intercolonial, only our bridges are of wood instead of iron. We have a great many of the famous steel rails there, and they are the best ever made — better even than those on the Intercolonial, and they were good. We have 228 miles under con- tract, and forty or fifty miles of that distance is over an extremely difficult country. We have one tunnel seven or eight hundred yards long through a very hard rock ; and the road costs us, under our wise and economical system of contracts, including an ample allowance for rolling stock, ^24,535 per mile, or about one-half of the cost of the Intercolonial. (Loud cheers.) Purohase of Intercolonial Supplies by Late Government. • • * * You will remember, no doubt, that I caused an investigation to be made into the working of the Intercolonial Railway shortly after I oune into ofiice. 123 Free Passes for Bverybody A Carnival of Corruption. 1 found the expenses of working tliat railway to he ciiornious ; I found that almost everybody that pleased, if ho had influence, got free p;i.sao8 on that railway ; I found tliat. materials wore iiouglit at fabulous prices from men wlio were political friends of the (ioveniment ; and I luuud that the worUiiii; of the road, which at that time extended only from fit. John to Halifax, and from Truro to Piotou, cost a great deal more money than was necessary. Contrast of Running Expenditure. During the year ending 30tli .Juno, 1874, the cost of workini,' that road was $1,025,830 8.3. Under my lirst year, ending 30th June, 187.'), when there was mcu-e work to Im done, the entire cost was $850,777 — or, in other words, I saved $170,000 in one ye;ir in working that railway. (Hoar, hear.) The next year — that ending .SUth June, 187<) — when I had over 200 miles more in operation, the entire coat of working the road was §!143,8.'i4, still about $80,000 under what it cost to work 200 miles less railway before I came into otHce. I give that as an example. Late Government's Dealings with Political Friends. Now 1 will give you some information which will .show what caused that extraordinary ex- penditure. There was a tirm in Halifax dealing in hardware called Fraser, Ueynolds & Co. Mr. Aliiin Grant, a member of that tirm, appeared before a Committee of the House of Commons and stated : — " I was not connected with the hardware trade previous to joining Mr. Kraser. For twenty-six years I was proprietor and editor of the British Colonut, and I wa.s Queen's Printer twice during the Conservative Administration. * * * ' When I commenced business 1 made application for the Railway business. • ♦ • I iiaaed my applicatiDU to him (the Superintendent) on the ground of my political position, not it- ail on account of my accjuaintanee with the hardware business. • ♦ • ^i^ Fraser contributed to the election in Halifax. I urged on them (my partners) doing all they could at that time. I think they were a good deal inlTueuced by me in this. I think Mr. Fraser contributed before he be- came my partner, but not to any important extent. I tool: an active part in all the elections down there, and would know pretty nearly how much ejich man gave. • • • We contributed pretty well all round to the elections." No Tenders Invited -False Invoices. You will find that from January, 1872, to this political firm's end in 1873, they supplied goods to the Government to the amount of SL,3,217 05, nearly all of which they succeeded in hav- mg entered at the Custom House free of duty, and they charged the full market price. No tender was ever invited. To remonstrances made by the general storekeeper that the prices were excessive, the reply was that " Fraser & Reynolds are not to be criticized," and they were given to understand that no complaint was to be made when Fraser & Reynolds did overcliarge. This was the evidence given by Saddler, one of the ' corekeepers on the road. Comparing these with the prices paid by the Grand Trunk Company for similar goodn furnished to them, and also the prices charged for similar articles by a very respectable firm in Montreal — Morland, Watson & Co., respectable Conservative business men — it is found that the charges of the Halifax firm in that very year were $18,413 78, and to this we have to add an average duty of 10 per cent., which would have amounted to $7,000. When the prices in the invoices of the firm, which were produced before the Committee, were compared with the prices charned, the profits were found to be from 46 to 140 per cent. These goods were delivered immediately, and mostly in bulk, from the Custom House, the transaction being thus made wholesale in its character, while the prices charged were avowedly retail prices. Some of the Details— Enormous Profits. Now, let me give you a few details. In that year there there was one principal invoice of bar iron v/hich cost $2 28 per hundred weight, and they charged the Government §3 G5 for it, making it cost about 8^ cents per pound, or reaping tiO 1-10 jier cent, profit. During the same mouth that this was bought they charged the Government for bar iron at the rate of 4J, 5^, 5i, and even 6 cents per pound, when the retail price in Halifax for the same kind of iron was 3 cents per pound. The profits on this iron were enormous, averaging 71^, 75, 83^, and lOJ por cent. In March they laid down bar iron at 2J cents per pound, and the following month the Government paid 4J to 6^ for the same article. In May an invoice of spikes, bolts, and nuta cost §1,122 66', while the Government was charged $2,295 88, or considerably more than double. In the same month they supplied some br.iss tubes, the invoice value of which was .§2,219 81, for which they charged the Government $4,895 50, or 120 per cent, profit. In May they paid a little over three cents per pound for iron, and charged the Covcrnment from ih to 6 cents. For plates and bars they paid $753, and charged the Government §1,189 2ti, or an advance of 59.80 per cent. They paid 32 cents per gallon for coal oil, and charged the Covernment 60 cents. For another kind they paid 62 cents, and charged the G overnment 97 ic. In Septembei they charged the Government $287 65 for locomotive plate, for which they paitl .'i^lJl .lO, or a profit if 137 percent. In November they paid 58 cents per gallon for lard oil, and charged the Goveiiiment 9'2i cents. In same month the Government was charged $1,'142 91 for engine axles, which cost th^ firm $860. Not to weary you with any more details, I will give you one more transaction Horn the long list which I intended to read had time permitted. One of their last transactions 'ev.^ro the Govern- ment fell was the purchase of car springs from this political firm. They charged the sum of $4,533 33, or 21 cents per pound, on a (piantity of car springs, the springs really costing them only ten cents per pound, so that they paid in all only ^2,138, thereby makmg a protitof, ^'J,415 on that one transaction. We purchase our supplies of these articles by tender. We get •■» ''i m> A f 124 iron for Icrs than two cents per pound ; cast iron from IJ to 2? cents per pounil. Wo are Diving at tliis moment for .*ffi 70 ear Bprings for wliicli the lute (Jovernmont paid 621 ."id. ( in bar i receiving at ims moment tor !ft> 7(1 ear Bin ^ ^_. the lirst eontract for car flpringR, iminodiately after we eaino into ofliee, we jianl nine iiiitn pt r ponnd, while they had been paying twenty-one cents to this linn (Hear, hear.) The Advantages of Publishing a Conservative Newspaper. Yon will y)l('a»e bear in mind tlhat tliis Hnii were the publiHluTH of a ( 'onsorvative newspaper. They tell us tliemnelves that tlicy contributed liberally towards paying the exi)eiiHe8 of the Tory party at elections and for political objects. (Hear, hear.) 'I'ho truth is, however, thiit we- the public of Canada — contributed that money, and not they ; it all caiueout of our pockets. (Hear, hour.) So you now have some idea of how contractors were dealt with in the olden times.' (Hear.) Now, I challenge the leail. Wo are $21 .')(). (ifi ilie t'ciitH per (• newspaper. )f tliu Tory ;h:it wc- tlio kots. (Ilf.-ir, liloii timi'H. f that party, huiids who ((.'heorB. ) y successfTil. before noon, mile out, nil 1(1 AiUlrt'H.s per head praetieallv given to liie Allan Steamsliip (.'ompany, and thi« is addi'd, i>l'eourH(>. to the expenditure in our second year, but does nut appear in the uxpuudituni lor their year. (Hear, hear. ) Total Kxpendlturoa Compared. Tlie total expenditure in 187M, iicmnling to Mi. M.iopheiMou a pamphlet, was 6277, HIW ; the Secretary ot the Dejiartment says it was .*!.'{04,(K)0. Mr. Macpherson tells us tiiat the tfital ex- penditure in 1S7">— our (ir.sc year — was $HO'-',770 ; the Secretary of the Ihipartmeiit tells u.s it was i5'J9(),(i!»2. 'I'iie expense of a;.'ents' salaries, and otiier expenses, not including the London (llice, wa8„iii 187.% i?7(>,487; in 1,>74, .?(>{), 4.').'{ ; in I87'>, $til,450 ; in 187li, «r>l,9:ir>. The cost nt the London ollicc was in 1873, .•?138,11!) ; in 1.^74, .S14!t,07> ; in 1875, ^I77,0pointed Mr. Jenkins agent. And speaking of that gentleman, I am bound to siiy, in the interests of truth and justice, that while he acted as our agent lit^ was most indefatigable in jiromoting the interests oF (.'anadian oniigration. I Jut, beside,-., we formeil a (janadian library, so that any Canadian going to London can have access to spacious rooms wiiere the leading C'anadian newspapers are to be found, where a list of Canadian visitors is >;ept, and a library of reference on Canadian atfairs. It necessarily cost a considerable sum of money to get this odice into full operation. That, however, was an exiienditiire that 1 consider not only a wise one, but one we were bound to make in the public interest, even if it was a larger amount than the London office had jireviously cost. (Cheers.) EXTKAfXS FROM MR. RYMAI/S SPKECII, A Challenge Accepted. ■ * • • That gentleman (Sir .lolin MacdonahU had stated the other day t.iat he defied any one to point out an instance, during his whole political caieer, in wliicli he had allowed any one of his })olitical friends to be benefited to the extent of a d'lllar out of the public funds. He would like to refresh his memory in regard to one transaction. A Cose In Point A Black Political Intrigue. They had all heard of Sir Allan McNab, who was a rival of Sir John's in 18.')4 for the leader- ship of the Conservative ])arty. Sir Allan had been the leader, and Sir .lohn wanted to be, and he effected his object by decapitating his rival during the time the latter was ill in bed with the gout. Sir Allan had told him (Mr. Kymal) at the time that tlie day would come when he would jiay Sir .Tolin off for his ingratitude, and when Colonel Prince died Sir Allan oU'ered him- self as a candidate and was elected to the Legislative Council. Among his old Tory associates of former days he had a good deal of influence, and Sir John Macdonald saw that Sir Allan could give him considerable trouble, and that it was necessary to lieal the breach in some way. Ho made Sir Allan Speaker of the Legislative Council with a salary of some .'?ii,0(X) ; but he did more. He pretended to buy a property called Dundurn, in the city of Hamilton, from Sir Allan McNab. and paid him a large sum of money for it, and after it was bought the Oovern- UKait had no more use for it than any person present had. How was this managed '! Sir Allan appointed the late John Hillyard Cameron as his agetit for the sale of the property, and Sir John made the same gentleman his agent for its purchase. There were no coiifi(tences liable to bo broken in such an arrangement, and the consequence was that Sir Allan got his money anil the people got nothing for it. Yet Sir John Macdonald had the hardihood to say that no friend (.f his had ever been benefited at the public expense. He ;Mr. Rymal) had had a I'ommittee struck to investigate the matter, and the transaction was unanimously condemned as a repre- hensible one. H Sir John Macdonald wished to have a copy of the Committee's report, he should be happy to forward him one. The poople of Waterloo and of Canada should look at the con- duct of the leaders of the two parties, and judge in whose hands their interests might most safely be entrusted. 81MC0E, SEPTEMBER 21st. The grandest Dtnnonstration of the year was that at Simcoc, by the Reformers of "Glorious ()ld Norfolk." The crowd was enormous— quite equal to that at Clinton — the proeossion miles ill Icngtii and specially imposing, the dccorationa tasteful and appiopriate, and the general arrangements unsurpassed. In fact, a political demonstration in all respects more successful It would be difficult to imagine. At Woodstock the Premiers and party were delayed for some time to permit of Addresses being presented on behalf of the Reform Associations of North and South Oxford, by their Presidents, Mr. John Douglas and Mr. James Brady, resjiectively. Short speeches in response were male by the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, Hon. Mr. Huntington, Hon. Mr. .Mowat, and Joseph Rymal, M. P. Arrived at Simcoe, the party were escorted to the giove 126 — » remarkably boautiful one, and admirably ndnpted for pic-nio purposes — and an Addrens from tlio Nortii Norfolk Kffnrm Association wan piesuntcil to tlio ifou. Mr. Mackenzie hv the I'resiili'ut, Mr. Itiohard McMicliael, and Secretary, Mr. A. J. Donly ; Mr. H. W. Allan, I'resiiiiint, presenting one to the lion. Mr. Mowat from the South Norfolk Reform Associiition. I>r. Huxtcr, M.IM'., also read an AddreHS to Hon, Mr. Mackenzie, from tlio l{efor;n(!ifi ot IlaKliiiiand. .Speeches wore thereafter made by .John Cliarlto^i, M.l'., H(m. Mr. Cartwiiciit, Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, Hon. Mr. .Mowat, Hon. Mr. Huntinjrton, nnd.loBcph Hynial, M.P. Anion^ those on the platform, besides the Bpeakers, were T. Oliver, M.l'., 1). ThoniiiHou, M.P., A'l, Irving, M.P., Col. Skinner, M.l'., John Clarke, M.P.P., and Dr. Ba.xter, M.l'.V. GXTKA€TS FROM ll(»\. MIt. CAKTUIliC^IIT'S SPEECH. sir John Maodonald'a Voracity I • • • «nt ho (.Sir .I(din) has had tlio audacity to declare that he had a letter of mi'ie which would hIkiw that I refused to support Sir Francis Hincks because ho was a Hefoimer. Now, in the llouso of C'omnioiis I had stated that I refused to support Sir Francis HmuUa be- cause I believed he was umillc to commaml the Ifrform sii/ipDrt. That was the ground I gave in Sir .John Macdoniild's own hearing, and ho did not dare to contradict the statement then. When 1 challenf^cd him to produce the letter he h.ad sjjokcn of, he read to the electors here a letter in which there was not oul word about my objecting on the ground that Sir Franci.s Hiiicks was a Pieform rejjrcsentative, and he went on to ask, what possible ground could he have tor siipposiiig that 1 objected unless it was because Sir Francis llincks was a Keformer '( Hero are his words : — " To me he pave no reasons for his withdrawal from tho party ; ho simply said he could not support the Goveniment that Sir Kiiincis Illneks was brought into. What could i suppose? 1 hiid a right to draw the inference, becautie be gave no ullicr rriieon," Sir John Violating Private Confidence -Thieves' Logic. Sir, there was not a man in f 'anada who knew better than Sir .John Macdonald did when he made his statement what my reason was for withdrawing my support. He had written to me ; I have here his letter— a huge letter of six foolscaj) sheets, filled, from the " Dear Cartwright" with which he commences to the "Dear Cartwright" with which he closes, with a series of reasons why Sir Francis Hincks was likely to be ncceptud as a leader by the Reformers of Canada. Now, I entirely agree with Sir John Mactlonald that all private correspondence should be held sacred, on one condition : that both parties to that correspondence shall con- tinue to keep it sacred ; but I say that it was an infamoun act for Sir John Macdonald to refer to my corresponden(!o, and not to dare to publish the whole. (Hear, hear.) I say that when Sir .John Macdonald brought a false and malicious charge against me he knew I had in my pos- session a letter of hia convicting him of falsehood in brmgiug that charge, and that for him to dare to say that a man may make a false and malicious charge against another, and then say, "Although you have proof in my own h.andwriting that that charge is a false and malicious one, you must not use it because I marked it private " — 1 say that this is about as fine a specimen of thieves' logic as I ever remember to have heard. (Hear, hear.) I do not intend, to-day at any rate, to inflict this long letter on you, but I will give you a synopsis of its contents, sparing the private names and references which it contaius ; and if Sir John Macdonald impeaches the trutlifulness of that synopsis — if he d.are deny that I have stated truly what it contains, tJun I will publish the whole letter, and every man in Canada will then have an opportunity of judg- ing for himself who speaks the truth. tH..'<.r, hear, and cheers.) A Bit oi Sevrti; Political History. It contains six mortal foolscap pages. The first page is chiefly devoted to Sir John's un- dying gratitude to the Reformers ij ; at ada for having in 1855, and afterwards in 1864, put him where he was. It is to be wishou that that gratitude had borne a little better fruit. The second paragraph is devoted to a short description of my friend the Premier and Mr. Blake, with a very ingenious resume of the reasons why he could not at that time "put salt on their tails." (Loud laughter.) The third paragraph goes on to show in detail what " steeped to the lips in corruption '' means, used from one public man to another, and that it is rather a complimentary phrase than otherwise. Then he goes on to dilate on the advantages to the old Eeformers of Canada of Sir Francis Hincks going into the Government, to deli\ter them from the tyranny of George IJrown and The Gi.om:, and on the immense rally there would be around him — as in the fcneral election of 1872, for instance. (Laughter.) Then follows a lecture on the best way to eep in power, which I think my honourable friend the Premier might take a lesson from. Then there is a ceneral valedictory to myself, and a summary of the qualifications of Sir Francis Hincks. In truth, it is really a k>ug argument to show that Sir Francis Hincks was a real Reform leader, nnd an unanswerable proof, in six pages, that Sir John, when he denied th.at I stated the (txact fact when 1 said that I objected to Sir Francis because he was not a Reform leader, was makmg a statement precisely as valuable as when he told Lord Dufferin, on his honour and his fealty as a sworn Minister of the Cr0I) paijes of j)ublio .Vots and .'(0 p.agos of private Acts 17 public Acts altogether and 4 private Acts ; in his .second year there were passed 08 jiublic .Acts and 10 private Acts, making a total of .S7!) pages ; in 18<)9, he had 45 public Act.s uod 'J8 [)rivate Acta making a, total number of b'2S pages ; in 1870 he had 40 public Acts and 19 private Acts, or 21 1 pages ; in 1871 there were 154 public Acts and 'J4 private Acts, or a total nundierof pages of 20.") • in 1872 there were 43 public Acts and 74 private Acts, or ,")23 pages ; and in 1873 there were (i8 public Acts and 6'0 private Acts, or 52.S pages. In our first year, 1874, there were passed 53 Eublic Acts and 67 private Acts, or 580 pages altogether, the largest volume of legislation that ad taken place since Confederation. (Hear, hear.) In 1875 we had 5(j public Acts and 42 private Acts, or 486 paf;es ; in 187G we had 30 public Acts and 36 private Acta ; and in 1877 we had 50 public Acts and 38 private Acts, or 359 pages. In our time we had passed an average of 435 pages of Acts and 07 Acts during each session. During the period of our j)redecessors' administration the legislation showed an average of 38() Jiages, or 50 pages less than our average, and an average number of Acts of 74i, or 23 less than our average. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) And yet he gravely told the peoide in this quarter that we had no legislation, and that there were only four Acts passed in a single session — a session in which, as I have 8hr>yn you we passed 66 public Acts. (Loud cheers.) AYLMEE, SEPTEMBER 22nd. The Reformers of East Elgin held their Demonstration in the town of Aylmer, the number present being estimated at eight thousand, liesides Addresses read by the President, Mr. T. M. Nairn, Reeve of Aylmer, to the two Premiers, from the Reform Association of the Riding, Mr. A. Blue, of the Journal, presented an Ad the East Ridinf? of the Comity of Eli;iii. Formed nnly last spriUK fui liie jiurpose ol promoting the advancement of Reform priaaii>leti, our club has had but a brief history. A humble auxiliary of the Eutit Elgiu itelonu Astuciation, it ib the >ii ^r 128 flrsteUibof the kind oryanlMd in tlio county. Wehclievc, however, tliat there is reason ♦> Impe tlmt otlior similar •i;Hlilnlii)n8 will slidrtlybe fonned, in time to ho of Bcinic nmterialassislaucuat tlii' next cleitiiMisto the |i(ilitical i)arty wliiih is iirijud to adaiuwlcdfre you as its lender. Five veiirs ago, when a Conservative (iovernmont wns m power at Ottawa, our county was honoured withu visit ironi you, .sliortly after receivinj; a visit from thetlien I'remierand one of -is eoll"ivK>ies. Our jjcople had tlien an opixuxunity of eomi)arin},' the leader, of the opiwsuiK politiail parties, and,no,wi .ist.:iudins tliodesperate and unscrupulous means used by the Consciv.itive leader to retain his hold on the constituencies, liotli ridiiiffs of Kljfiii, lod thetcjt of four years of powcrandof an 0\y position that has hesitated at iiothin- hut at olTci iiig proof of the charges it has invented ; and we venture to hopt that NM' shall continue to sec our country's atfaiis adniini.stered for nmiiy years to come by the lleforin party, and you as its honoured leader. To further that object our club has been orgaiiizt.-, M.P., Dr. AVilsou, M.P.P., Thoa. Hodgins, M.P.P., and Dr. Clarke, M.P.P. IIVTRACTS FROM HON. MR. CARTIVRIGHT'S SPEECH. an no d(i w; no mi I'r 111 du Li< tlu The Question of Testimonials Opposition Enraged. * • " ■* And, by the way, talking of testimonials, that reminds me that I hiid a few words to say on a recent occa •' m with regard to this question. Dire was the wrath I provoked in e\ ery quarter of the Opposition camp by these -jmarks. The Mail, in sheet despair of bringing me to reason, lias recommended that if I should repeat these statements. J should be met with a shower of brickbats and bludgeons. (Laughter. 1 It has been intimated, indeed, that Sir John Macdonald and Senator Macpherson -will demand satisfaction in mortal combat. Let them come. (Hear, hear, and loud olieers.) I have always laid down this rule in my public career — if I had made an unfounded charge, or spoken too harshly of any one, and my error is shown me, I will be willing and ready to make prompt and ample apology. But under no jiossiblo circumstances, when I have had occasion to denounce a wrong, will I, on account of threats levelled at me by any man, or by any body of men, cease to use my right as a citizen to denounce wrong-doers, nor will I, if their crime be a great one, hesitate to describe that crime as it deserves. (Loud cheers.) What was my offence ? Three Principles Right in the Abstract, but Unpleasant when Applied. 1 laid down three simple propositions. I said that, according to the traditions in which I had been brought up, and according to my reading of the Decalogue, it ^^ is diblionourable to lie, it was dishonest to steal, and dishonourable also to follow leaJera who did both. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) To these propositions, in the abstract, I do not doubt that all good men of all parties would yield their cordial approbation, but I fear that while they admit their truth in the abstract, they have a great disinclination to tham in the concrete. As Mr. Biglow observes :— " They are willing a man should go tolerably strong Against wrong in the abstract ; for that kind of wrongs Is always unpopular, and never gets pitied, Becauje it's a crime no one ever committed. But he mu.st not l,e hard on particular sins, lAir then he'll be kicking the people's own sliins.'* (liRughter.) That is my crime. I have been "hard on particular sins ;" I have been "kicking the .shins" of the Opposition members, and dire is their wrath and terrible ar3 their threate against me. What I said then, I say now, and I si>oak with deliberate purpose. I regard the whole transaction as most grave — in short, as one of the worst things which has ever come to light iilTocting th?; Macdonald Administration, and I denounced it not because I washed to hurt their feelings, but because it is ^nly right that the people of Canada should know— and no better illustration has ever been given — what were the means by wliich Sir John Macdonald kept power so long, and what he intends to do if he gets back into power once more. (Hear, hear.) Now, with re8)iect to the testimonial itself, I have always held that it was defensible. I know that many persons whose opinions arc entitled to very great weight have stated as their opinion that under no circumstances should any man, while he continued in a high position in public life, and especially while he held office as a Minister of the Crown, allow himself to receive presents of any sort on any pretext whatever. But I thought then, as I do now, that there were circum- stances which rendered it c.NiUsalilo in this case. Great sympathy no doubt was felt for Sir .lolin Macilonald when he was seized with what threatened to be a mortal illness some years 129 fSenator Macpherson and the TcstlmontaL I admit fi'.inklj' that I believe Senator Ma'plicrsoii's motives in Ljittinq up the fund were at any rato partly gnoil, tliough I fear that ho acted with some dcLjree of ostentation — that lie did not much legard the Scriptural injunction, not to let his ri,i,'ht hand know what hi.s left waa doiii',', and also that there was an element of shrewd calculation in tlio wlndc business. If you want to bestow charity, you luiow from very hi!,'h authority on what class of pe^ii)le to bestow it; nor do I read that you an- iMstructe'pry i:;rnvpst ii\ij^nt!>iice ns bearing on i^io cjinduct of all public men — 1 hold tluit it was Sir Jolin Macdonald's duty not to have accepteiT In i>i iiig a public man — any testimonial unless everything connected with it was clear and aljovcbeanl, and cajialdo of being ])ublislied to all the world. That was his clear duty, and that he should have insisted on from the lirst. Sir, I will nut tokiatc the poor (iretence f'lat he did not know who had subscribed to his t' stimonial. Before betook that money he siiould have taken care to prove that it came from " clean hands,'" and that he could take it without a smireh on his. One hundred thousand dollars is no small gift, ami Sir .John knew — no nian better— tliat the \ery lirst princijile of all agency is that no agent, of any kind or degree, has the smallest right to locoive a present from any of his principal's customers or clients without the full knowledge of that ]>rin- cipal. Sir.lolin Macilonald was tlic agent of tlui jieople of Canaila; he was a public man ; he ought to have known better, and he did know better, than to allow any testimonial to bo jjre- Bcnted to him without the fullest publicity attending it. Does this seem a har.sl) lulo to impose on a public man's conduct? One moment's reflection will show you not only that it is most just, but most necessary and inexorable. Do away wirh this, auu you throw wide the door for every kind and shape of bribery in di.sguise. Do away with this, and you may at oiue and for ever blot out every law against tampering with the indeijendence of Parliament. (Hear, h.ear. ) Sucli testimonials, unles> they are made publicly, are, 1 repeat, a most dangerous ])recedent, one which no man is jnstilied in accepting, ami one which shouhl not be pei mittcd to be given by ny peo- ple having a regard to their own interests Well, Sir John Macdonald shut his eyes, ami know- ing only too well what sort of money would be taken to get up this testimonial, declined to in- vestigate the matter, though he diil iiot decline to receive the money. (Hear, hear.) Sir John Ought to Pay Back the Money. Well, let that pass. I have given y(ui my opinion of his conduct in that respect, but after- wards, when it was revealed to him by the proceedings before the Royal Connnission that at least $'2,500 of that testimonial consisted of UKDiey iiripropcrh' taken out of a fund belonging to the peojde of Canada, I say most emphatically that it was his duty to have at ome refun.led the money, or seen that the money was refunded; and if it be true that he was unable to ])ay it back himself, then I say that every consi.Ui.ition of good feeling and jiropriety lequired tliac his friends, of whom he bo.ists S' .riny, should have come to his assistance, and should not have allowed him to be exiiosed t< t\>''. taunts and reproaches of his adversaries for so small a sum as that. (Hear, he.ir. ) Xow, consider what tlie result of all this is, Unless Sir tlohu Macdonald, or Mr. Matj lier.son, or the party to which they belong, choose to return that money, you must assume iiuit t\,>y have laid it down as a plank in their plaform that the theft of public money is an hiuou a'r)Ie thing, and that the application of such money to private ends 18 an honourable tliii>^. or Ise they must admit that Sir John Macduna' lis acting dishonourably in continuing to live on the m-oceeds of money so obtained. (Hear hear.) From that there is no possible escape. Th^j fac's are plain as day. Betrayal ol a Publio Trust by its Trustees, Bear in niin.l that a large sum of money was granted to buihl ''lis railway ; that in 1SG9, under Sir John Macdonald's Administration, with his full knowledge and concnvrence, a formal Act of Parliament was passed by which your clnin wa.: ]josti)oned, by which certain rights were given to the Knglish bondholders, and by -ivhich certi-.in regulations were laid down and trusts created as to the application of the railway recei))ts. These mep held the railway iu trust — first, to defray the legitimate working expenses : next, to p,ay the int>'re.«t on the I'lnglish bonds ; and lastly, to pay the interest ou liie :noney .lueto tlie jietpple of Canada. The-e terms were well known to Mr. ilacpher.son He v as umomberor the .Senate, a member oi the llailway Committee which passed that Bill ho lived i-' Toiouto ; he knew all about the Northeru Railway; he know its creditors, and tc whoT the money really belonged; and yet Senator Macpherson .lares to stand up in his ] lace ; ■ '. lefend that e."bezz!' nient; he dares to say that he sees no huim in it. Sir, I tell yoi. that 11 these parties wne trustees, formally created by Act of Parliament. ^Tr. Cumberland was lo agent of the bi/udiiolders ; he wa" a trustee to Bee that the terms of the Act were c.ul^tl c.t. -'onat )r ^i,l,epherso;l, lirst, as it, citizen, v.t», bound to see that the law was fulliried, and rexi. a,~. n legislator, was doubly bound to see that iie did not aid or abet in any possible 8h-.pe or way the infraction of the law he liim-' If helped to place on tht statute Look; and lastly, and cniefest of all, Sir Jolin Macdoi.ald, .'d.iii. ur if JO 9^ fc m ■; % 130 JoBtice and Chief Executive Officer of this Dominion, was specially charged to see that that law WM put in force, that the people of Canada were not defrauded, and thnt the terms of llie Art whicn he passed himself wero fulfilled to the letter. How did they redeem their trust ? No man can deny the facts I have stated ; no man can deny the existence of that trust. Taking. Receiving, and Living on Stolen Money. We find that one trustee took the money, auotlier trustee received the monoy knowing it to 'he stolen, and the third and the chief trustee of all is still living on the proceeds of that money so obtained, and can see no harm in the transaction. Now, I confess till very recently, had as I believed him to be in many things, 1 thought a great deal better of Sir John Macdonald tlian •this. I did not believe, I can hardly bring myself to believe yet, that Sir John Macdonald. a man who for twenty year.s exercised so potent a sway on the destinies of Canada, could have Btooped to so small a transaction as this. Moreover, I know Sir John JIacdonald has not been, on the whole, a man greedy of mere money gains, and therefore I am the more astonished th;it when these facts were revealed, Sir John's own common sense, his self-respect, or, at all events, his self-interest, did not lead him to insist on returning that money. Prpbjible Reason ISgjy . J»" T.-»hia(J>*us ?T->*-^;tvrn. t^'r irogrcSB b.; A " pre-Adamlte Tory." Sir John Macdonald is very fond of tellinf» you that one of the reasons I could not agiea ■with him was becau.se I was a Tory of the Torii's — a fossil Tory — bccau.se I was, as ho said ia another place, a pre- Adamite Tory ; though what that may mean i.s only known to himself. (Loud laughter.) There may bo some crumb of comfort to me in that case ; for, as a clerical relative of mine once obs'Tved to mo — "Take comfort, brother Hichar.l, I'or if you were a pre-Adamite Tory, you were a Tory before the fall." (Loud laughter and cheers. ) iSirJohn Macdonald has insisted that I am an old Tory, and that ho is one of that precious breed of " young Liberal t'onservatives" to whom Canada owes so much. It may be so. Permit me to mention one little anecdote. When I was before my constituents in the County of Lennox for the first time, one of the charges brougtit ; gainst mo— and it was one not so very easy to answer — was that one of my ancestors ni.iny years ago seutenci-d a poor fellow to be hanged for stealing a watch. I don't know whether the story was true or not, but at all events 1 had some trouble in convincing the electors that if it was so my ancestor only carried out tlie stern and tenil)le law that was in force in those days. But when I heard Sir John .Macdonald declar- in',' that the reasoii I did notW^^lmi^Vjis lioiyvusb I bcloni^ed t' ^he okL'L'or'' stock. jjjJujp,''^ was a '^oung LiDcrarConsen^^^TTcou'nruo 'dp thinking' tnat pei-haxs,. liter all, lSit .lohn wu-s lucky in falling into my hands, and not into the liands of my stout old grandfather. (Loud laughter.) Had Sir John M;icdonald come before Itichard Cart w light, the fust of that name who ever lived in Canada, on evidence one-half as grave as that which he has given against himself out of his own mouth, gentlemen, I shudder to think what the consequences might have beou to Sir John A. Macdonald. (Loud laughter.) Senator Macpbcrson's Moral Indignation. Now, geiUlemen, there is one ching tolerably clear, and that is, the great worth and value of the moral indignation which Mr. Senator Macpherson expressed pretty i)ubliely when he found Sir John MacdonaM was not going t(> give him the Pacitic Railway contract, but was going to give it to Sir Hugh Allan. You will understand from this little tiansaction what right Sen- ator .Macpherson had to feel indignaxit ; and I think the country will now become tolerably well aware that we did not lose much bv Sir John's assigning the contract to Sir Hugh Allan, and not to Senator Macphera^n. The difference between them is this : that Senator .Macpherson w;i3 quite willing to bribe .Sir John Macdonald with other poophi'a money, while Sir Hugh AlUn took th and soandal, 1 have, up to this time, seen no supporter of Sir John MacdomiM rise and denounce it ; I have scon no mem- ber of the Opposition jiress bold enough to say that Sir John Macdonald should not have taken the money of the people of Canada for his own private prolit. No Doubt about the Facts. And, remember well, there is unhappily no doubt about tha facts I have narrated. They are on record in the statute books of Canaila ; they are proved by the evidence of these men them- selves. 1 bring no slanderous charge : I state the facts ; I draw the inevitable conclusion ; and I ask you and everj' honest elector in Canada whether I have dealt too severely or too strongly with so heinous an offence as that which these men have committed or have been patties to, and in which they still profess " to see no Imrm ?" All their defence, so far as I have yet seen, is fir.st to howl at my lion, friend for appointing the Royal Commission which exposed the.se frauds, and then at me because I denounced these acts, ns 1 will continue to do, in the terms which properly belong to them. I say that in one sense these things are worse than the I'ncitie Scandal. It rose perhaps nearly to the dignity of high treason, but this is no better, though perhaps it may be Avorse, than an ordinaiy case of petty larceny. (Hear, hear.) Sir John and BIr. Auditor Langton— Contradicted by his own Witness. I would like to piiuse here, but there is still one matter connected with this business which I must bring before you. Vv'hen Sir John Macdonald was assailed for these acts in the House of ('ommons last .session, he rose and made the following defence, in reply to a certain portion of Mr. Hlake's speech. It is known to you Al that the late (iovernment consented to take js.'iOO, 000 in relinquishment and extinguishment of all claims against t!ic Northern Hallway (.'()m[)iny, whereas we are aliout to receive one million of tloUars for the self-same claim. Sir. John Mac- donald saw what a terribly damaging circumstance that was to him, and this was the defence he made in the House : — What Sir John Said. "His hon. friend from Cumberland, to whinii l:c iiiu.st ret;ini iiis most (jrateful thanlts for the manly dofer.co he hsd made in liis hcha'f, l!;ul truly said tliLit llie effort made to receive li;ilf a million a;d ; he, at all events, had no testimonial ,'iven t> him. He »'. n' to Toriintn to ejniniw thii booka ou a public officer, and on hU report the Govermnent felt itself aati.slled in cominj; down with that iiroposal." I W..8 by some accident absent from the House when those statements were made, but as soon as T saw them recorded in Hansard, I asked Mr. Langton to state ollicially to me the circumstances 132 nnder which he had reported that SnOO.OOO would be a sufficient sum to receive in relinquishment of the Oovcrinnent claims, lieie is what Mr^Langtou says. Ou the 6tli April, 1877, he writes me an official letter containing this statement : — How Mr. Langton Contradicts Sir Jolin. "I may n.s well state thiit the mitureof tlic invpsti'^tion ;it Toronto has been somewhat mlscoiiccived. We did not tind ^rtalc' ami i\x iniinntiuii a/' thu bmik.^. My histi'miioiis were luit tii makr (inn vUiliorule- invi'sti'iaHun, Mr. Cmii- bv.'rl.i.iil subniittuil to u.s a stateinent iit tlio Ihianoial position of tlie Coni])any, with Kic various 'jliiinis in their order of priority, and toe made an aoproxUnule cUimata of tlie value of tlie (jovtrninent claims aj;ainst the road." That was the labnuicd o.Kamiiiat ion and investigatinn on which those gentlemen relied. Mr. Ciimlierland told Mr. Langton wiiat he thouglit tiie nia 1 should p.ay, and .Mr. Langton, not lioiiig allowed to investigate the honjfs ot the Criiupany — wliich miglit have been very inconvenient, ■which might have ante-dated the report of the lloyal Commission — accepts the statement, liav- ing indeed no other alternative and no orhor evidence to go i;i>on, and that is the way the Gov- erntnent proceeded wlien they wished to present hall' a million of your money to the Northern Eaihniy roni^^^|^^>i'<>«^^ 'rcntleni(iu, \ (n : ^ .I jLav'ilicaj"'- froii^ir f " iirjj^od onaliTs -nvn litj^j^ji!; 'excuse : yoiT liave lizard .-om the very witness Tie appealed to a llat cntradiction of tlie st;ite- ment which Sir .loliii Macdonald made in the House. 1 leave it to von to ju help to carry on your paj>er, and it cost ;5l0,0t)0 to provide seats for two of your best su])porters — m}'self and the President of the Company, Mr. Jolui Beverley Uobinson — that 1 have always given you the beneht of all the political influence of the Nor^'hciii Railway Company." Then, turning to our chief agent, " You will please to renieip- ber, Sir John Macdonald, that you are now living on the jiroceeds of §2,000 of Northern Hall- way money." And then he would go on, " Now, those are the facts, here's my little bill. Put this through with what formalities you please. Send Mr. Langton to Toronto as often :!S you like, but understand he is to accept my statements. As for the books, I would advise you, for y-ur own sakes, don't let him exai'une them too closely. It might be awkwanl — for you. (Laughter.) You got Jf27,O0O in one shape or other for political ends ; now you have to acee])t my bill." And, gentlemen, they did accept Mr. Cumberland's little bill, even if they were not able to pay it at maturity, as they intended. (Hcai', hear.) They ilid bring down their resolu- tion— it stands on record in our journals yet — proj)osing to take SoOO, 000 for wnat was well v/oith a million, and but for the resolute oi)position of Mr. Blake and Mr. Mackenzie, and the fact that, ■with ttie Pacific investigation hanging over their head, they dared not prolong the se.'sioii, that infamous proposal would have been made law, and the lesult of that JjJi^OOO, so juiliciously cx- jiended, would have been to defraud the jieojile of Canada of full five hundred thousand dollars. Tbe Damaging Effect oi these Revelations in England. There is another consideration to be tak^-i into .account. Aii of you linow — and no men have been more desirous of impressing it on you than the leaders of tiie present t)pposition— how important it is for us to preserve a good undorstandiug vith the liniterial Government — how important to stand well in England — how important that the honour of our public men slioidil Lc looked on there as a thing to he as highly respected as the hommr of Knglish public men. 8o fat they .ire right. There is no doubt it afreets you in everv way — in your cr-dit, in your re])utation, and directly in your pockets ; nothing is more closely looked at or watched with more jealous eyes by Mnudisli capitalists than tiie etiiiduct. in sucii matters of leailiug ))ubl\c nicu in those States witii wliicli they have transactions. They may not, and very "ften they (io not, know neaily as much as they ought of our public atl'airs generaLy; but ihey do know ami they do take into account whether the pnbiic men of this or of any otiier I'onntry to which they lend money are personally honest men m- rogues. How stands tlie case ? Hero is this record of the deal- ings of the then (iovcrnnient with the Northern Ladway known of necessity 'o very many promi- nent capitalists in iMiglaiid, air'. — which 1 periiaps regret more tlnm anything eh-se — known to at least one ollicer of State of the highest rank in the Imjierial Cabinet. How can we ineserve a fair record with the Imperial Government? How can we expect them to resjiect imr publo men as they ought to be res|)ected, while these things are done — that is, if the (leople of Caiia'!a permit such things to bo done with imimnity ? Look to it well, for it concerns ecu narrow ly. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Sn\ I l>;diove it wouM have been better if Sir .lohn .Niacdoiiald liid taken that half million of dollars and llung it into the sea than to have allowed that miseraldtj 133 $2,500 to appear in his testimonial as taken out of the Northern Rril Tay fnnds, though helonging properly to the people of Canada. Now, 1 admit it is a most desirable thing that tlie [leojile of Canada should respect the lendint' men of both sides. 1 desire most earnestly that they should be able to do so, but I have to add, that we must take care on h,;th sides that public men shall be worthy of respect ; and 1 say that no mau who does such things can be worthy of your respect, your coutideuco, your trust, or your esteem. Repentance must Precede Absolntlon. And if I am told that 1 am repeating these things too often, that a generous foe would not constantly reiterate these charges, my answer is ready. I iim as prepared to bo generous as any miui, but on one condition. 1 demand, before being asked to be generous, that those men should show some signs of penitence for the wrong they have done, not only to themselves, but to their party and to their country. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Tlie n\omcnt thes« iuea show that they do really repent, my advice will be to forgive them, and to abstaiti from all further re- ably long probation and purged themselves of their iniquities. (Hear, hear, and cheoib.; i repent, when they confess that thoy have done wrong, and" that they are sorry for their crimes, 1 will be the first to a.sk my friends not agidn to .Tllude to these transactioii.s. But, though i grant it may be our duty, as we are ourselves fallible mortals, to forgive an erring Ijrother if ho comes to us and says. " 1 have sinned ; 1 repent ; I will make such restitution as 1 can," what J cannot iind recommended in Holy ^Vrit, or in any moralist, iieath"n or Christian, whom I have ever read or heard of, is that it is our duty to forgive him while lip persists in his evil- doing. No, sir ; no. And. I say, on the contrary, that it is our duty to stamp the mark of publiti reprobation, as I now do, on men who have been proved out of their own mouths thus false to the high trust you had committed to their hands— men wl.o (as far as in them lies) have dis- graced the name of Canadian statesmen tn tin: level of the uor.^t and most unscrupulous of the (Loud and long-coutiuucd applause.) :ioliticiaus of the Uuited States. THE TEESWATER DEMONSTRATION \T MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24tli. Illness prevented the Premier from attending the pic-nic at Teeswater by the Reformers of South Bruce. His c-olleagues present were the Hon. Mr. Blake, Hon. Mr. Cartwright, and Hon. Mr. Huntington, all of whom, be.sides the Hon. Mr. Mowit, delivered addressta. At Wingliaiii, en route from London, Hon. Messrs. Cartwright and Hiin'ingtou responded to an Address read hy Mr. Ellis from the Reformers of the village ; and upon arriv A at Tecswater a simihir Acldres.s was presented from the Reformers of the South Hiding of liiUce. The President of tlie Reform Association, Mr. H. B. O'Connor, also read an Address to tlie Hon. Mr. Bhike. Be.sides the gentlemen namert, ihere were on the platform the Hon. Speaker Wells, M.P.P., Jno. Gillies, M.P., D. Sinclair, M.P.'. Jhos. Gibson, M.P.P., and D. D. Hay, M.P.P. HON. MR. BLAKE'S SPEECH. Mr. Blakb, >, "Jsinf^ ' . & 'dress the meeting, was received with loud and prolonged cheers. He said : — Mr. Chuirmat' and men of Bruce, more than two years have elapsed .since 1 wus permitted to address yoa, on my acceptance of the office I have lately been obliged to quit ; and our altered relations, the new sphere of duty in which I have been involved, and the recent change, have naturally produced a mutual anxiety that we should meet, for the purpose of those explana- tions which it is the duty, and should be the pleasure, of a representative from time to time to make to his constituents. And yet I could have wished, had it been possible, that our gathering had been deferred even a little longer, since enfeebled strength and lessened force make it doubt- ful how far, and at what cost, I may be able to accomplish the tusk which is before me. I shall not attempt to address you at great length ; nor do I propose to discuss some tojpios of transcen- dant importance, with our views on which you have been already familiarized through the re- ported speeches of leading Ministers, and on some of which you will doubtless shortly hear my distinguished colleagues who have favoured us with their presence to-day. It is rather my pur- pose to render some account of my stewardship of the oflSce I lately held, and to consider certain charges recently made at Opposition meetings. Tbe Number of Cabinet Ministers. We have been repeatedly attacked because we have not reduced the number of Ministers, and the expenses of administration ; and it has been asserted, with my entire concurrence, that depart!nental expenditures, even though the totals be not large, are tit subjects for criticism, and furnish fair grounds for comparison between different Administrations. You will remember that it is not we, but our adversaries, who have instituted these comparisons ; and while, but for their attacks, I should, perhaps, have left the subject untouched, you will recognize the propriety, not to say the necessity, of its discussion in defence against repeated charges of incou.sistency, in- capacity, and extravagance. I have no cause to shrink from the controversy — (hear, hear) — and I enter with confidence on the investigation to which we have been challenged. It is quite true that in 1867, when the number of Departments was fixed at thirteen, I objected to the arrange- ment as too extensive, arguing that for the Federal work of the Dominion, then compri.--iiig only four Provinces, a f jwer number would probably suffice ; that it would be easy to increase the number should experience demonstrate its insutfieiency, but almost impos.sible to reduce it, even if it should be found too large ; that the principle of sectional and proportional representation avowed as the groundwork of the Cabinet of thirteen was most mischievous, incapable of appli- cation in case of the addition of new Provinces, and yet extremely difficult to ignore once it should have obtained for any length of time ; and on these grounds I contended that our first Cabinet after Confederation ought to have been fewer in numbei- than it was. Ifc is equally true that since the present Administration took office in the close of 1873 no proposal has been made for a re- duction in the number. For this, we are charged with inconsistency. Sir, the charge is uncf>ndid, unfair, and baseless. Altogether apart from the ditiioulties engendered by the creation and con- tinued existence for more than six years of the Cabinet on the principle to which I have re- ferred, the circumstances had in the interval wholly changed. Independent of the growth of the original Provinces, not less tuan four or five new Provinces had been added to the Dominion ; British Columbia, Prince Edward island, Manitoba, and the great North-west Territories, out of which was subsequently carved the district of Keewatin. Largely Increased VTork -Opposition Testimony Thereon. These additions involved a corresponding increase in the legislative and executive labours of the Administration. ISo obvious was this to the minds of the lato Opposition, that in the spring 135 [ION J {eformers of t, and Hon. t \Vii)<;]iaiii, ress read by Address was the Reform Besidi-s the illies, M.r., ifjed cheers, since 1 wms quit ; and ,"ent change, ose explana- s to time to ur gatliering ke it doubt- ne. I shall jf transcen- ugh the re- tly hear my hfr my pur- lidcr certain nisters, and rence, that iticism, and lember that ut for their opriety, not iistenuy, in- lear) — and I quite true :he arrange- pri^iIlg only ncrease the ace it, even iresentation le of api>li- ce it should Tst Cabinet e that finco de for a re- s uucr>ndid, )n and con- 1 I have re- )wth of the Dominion ; )rie3, out of labours of I the spring r- of 1873. when the late Government proposed large increases to the salaries of the civil function* aries, including the Ministers, we made no objection to tho continuance, even at increased salaries, of thirteen Ministers, and thus recognized in the most pointed manner that cliaiige of circumstiinces which our opponents now altogeth'jr ignore. (Hear, hear.) But, sir, they forget that they themselves once tnought differently. They forget that in October, 187.'<, at the com- mencement of that short but eventful session which ended in their resignation, they proposed, doubtless with the highest and purest motives, an increase to the Cabinet, holding out to the men who Were met to try them that inviting prospect in these words which they put into Hia Excellency's lips : — " The exteii.iioii of the bounds of the Dominion huB caused a corresponding increase in the work of adrainlsln- tion, and seems to call for additional assistance in rarlianicnt as well as in Executive Government. A Bill on thil bubject will be laid hefore you." Hail they not fallen you would have seen the Bill; and the men v.'ho are now attacking ns for absolute necessity. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Notwithstanding the large augmentation in thi! executive and Icjislntive work of (rovernment, we are to-day conducting the affairs of this country with the original number of Minister." — with that number which our opponents four years ag> pioclaimed too small. Now, those who are doing a great deal more work at the .same cost are really working at a great deal lower cost ; to do much more work with the same number proves that a .smaller number would have done at tiist ; it proves that we were riglit when we con- tended that the number was formerly too large ; but there is no proof whatever that for the present work the number is excessive, and the cliarge to which I have refi-rred is utterly broken down both by the obvious facts and by the confession of the accusers. (Loud cheers.) I am, how- ever, of the opinion that, without increasing the numVier of Ministers, a reorganization of some of the offices would be advantageous to the public service. T.ie political work of the Department which I have recently quitted is acknowledged on all hands to be very onerous. During last session a leading member of the Opposition declared in his place that no one man cojild efficiently accomplish that work ; and I think that the political management of the offico should be divided — some of its business being assigned to one of the lighter offices. Increased Business done at Reduced Cost. I have obtained for your information some statistics showing the increase of work in recent years ; and I may say that the business of that office approximately indicates the general increase of work in the other heavy Departments, inasmuch as its business largely consists of references from the other offices. The registered references in the office of Justice in 1809 numbered l,t\9^ ; in 1872 they ni'iii'iered 1,971 ; making an increase of 278 onlv in tho four yours. Rutin laV'S they ran up' to '-',7r)S (hear, hear) ; in 1874 to 3,403 ; in 1875 to 3,320 ; in 1876 to 4,344. In the first half of 1877 the numbir was 2,821, ami assuming tlie same proportion for the last half, the number for the current year would be 5,642. Thus yon will observe that the references for the current year will be almost tlire(^foiil those for 1872. (Hear, hear, and cheers. ) This increase is attributable partly to the growth of the older Provinces, partly to the business coming from the newer Provinces, whose work is far in excess of their proportion by population, as for example in the North-west territories and Manitoba, where we manage the whole land business ; partly to the alteration of the patent laws, and partly to other circumstances. Another test is furnished by the number of letters. In the fourteen months from February, 1872, to April, 1873, there Were 3,000 pages of correspondence ; in the thirteen months from November, 1875, to December, 1876, there were 9,000 pagca, showing that the work had more than trebled. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) These figures are independent of the arduous and complicared business connected with the North-west Police, which was for a short 'time conducted in the office ; and of the very .seriona extra labour involved under the re rganization of the Penitentiary administration. On the whole, I am confident tint the work of the office has more than trebloil since, 1872 ; and this increase, I repeat, necessarily indicates a very large increase in the work of the other heavy offices. Now, sir, I turn to the i|uestion of expense ; and I ask you confiilently whether, having regard to the results I have established, it would not be in tin last degree unfair to complain of an increase' in the expense of administration ? (Hear, hear. ) If there had been no needless expense in salaries and contingencies in managing the smaller volume of business done in 1872, is it not reasonable to conclude that the work could not be trebled without, to a considerable extent, increasing the cist I Could any of you, whether farmer or tradesman, treble your operations witlinut at the same time increasing the charge for management of your farm or your trade ? riie answer i..s obvious. (Hear, hear,) Work Dreadfully In Arrears Under Late Government. But what I have stated i.s only half the truth ; for I have been assuming that the work was formerly kept up to the mark, but in truth it was dreadfully behind-hand, the iirrears in some cases extending back for years, and a most painful system of delays had grown up. ; so that, not merely had the work increased, but the existing arrangements were inadequate to the efficient conduct of the smaller volume of buciness which formerly flowed in. You will .see, therelbrr, that there appeared to be no alternative but to propose a very large increa.se in the cost of manage- ment. But before I point out how the exigency has been met, a sense of justice- -in whicti 1 hope I shall never be wanting — iuipels me to say that my predecessors were circumstanced some- what differently from myself. The first incumbent of tlie office held also the jiost of First Minister, wfiich neces.sarily absorbed a large jiortion of his time and attention, anil my more immediute predecessors each held office for but a short period, insufficient for the accamplishmeut •""'■I wti 130 of any lari^e measure of reform. It was not till my aoconJ yea" tliat I was alile to coin)iIi;te tlie work of rt-orgiinizcition, involving as it diil, among other difliculties, the roliremont or transfur of various olliuers, wliich could be accomiilished only by degrees. Economics Effected. Now 1 will give you the results of that rcoixiinizution. The statT had been increased in 1873, and in November of that year, at the resijination of the late (iovernnient, the annual rateof char;^(! for salaries, including bonuses and an oiliuur c'hargcd on contingencies, was over §13.500. Several changes subsequently took place, and tlie rate of charge wheu I took office in May, 1875. was over §15.750. I was, as 1 have said, unable to make a reduction in salaries duiing the lirst year ; ))ut the reorganization which, with the assistance of my colleagues, I was enabh-d to ell'ect was such, tlial in June last, when I left the office, the rate of charge for salaries was only .510,7^/0— (hnul cheers) — a reduction of over §5,000, or about one-third of the rate when I tool ollire, and of $?,800, or about one fifth of the rate when ti>e late (iovernmcnt p'si^ned. ([lenewed cheers.) in mind, notwith.standing the enormous increase in the work, to wliich 1 have already called your attention. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) A Comparison of Contingencies Accounts. "But," it may be said, "you liave accomplished this by t r:\n.sfcrring to contingencies the regular charge fur salaries." That is not so. I ipiite agree with the argument which is fre(iuently presented, that the contingency account should be jealously looked to, and as it is one of which a great deal has been made by the Opposition, and it has been alleged tliat in every department of this (iovernment the contingent expenses have been enormously inireased by scandalous waste and incapacity on the part of -.Ministers, 1 propose to show you th(! working of the contingent account ot the office of Justice. In the fiscal year 1872-3, wliich I shall call for shortness 187'3, the whole contingencies for that otiice were §9,470 39 ; in 1570 they were reduced to §4,1190 37, and in 1877 they were reduced to §2,787 78. (Loud clietrs. ) Of the items which go to make u[) these tutals tliire are four or five, such as stationery, printing, binding, books, subscriptions to and ailvertiaing in newspapers, iu which no large reduction has yet been effected. These and some other small items made a total of §2,351 52 in 1873, whicli was reduceil to $2,2C5 86 in 1877. The remaining items (those on which it was found possible to effect a large reduction) were telegrajihing, cab hire, travelling and postage. In 1873 the telegraph account was §4,371 88; in 1876, §1,164 (JO ; ,ind in 1877, §330. (Loud cheers.) In 1873 cab hire was §1,035 50; in 1876, §38 80; and in 1877, §14 80. (Hear, hear, and clicers.) In 1873 the travelling expenses were §1,218 12 ; iu 1876 §322 66; and iu 1877, §51 35. In 1873 the postage account was §493 37 ; in 1876, ,§228 53 ; and iu 1877, §125 77; although, as I Jiave pointed out, the correspondence has greatly increased. The totals of these four items were : for 1873, $7,118 87 ; for 1876, §1,754 68 ; and for 1877, §521 92. (Loud cheers.) In 1876 the telegraph account I'-as cut down to about one-tburth ; travelling expenses to about one-fourth ; cab hire to less than one-twenty-fourth, and postage to less than one-half. In 1877 telegraphing was cut down to less than one-thirteenth; travelling expenses to about one twenty-fourth; cab hire to one- seventieth ; and postage t» one-fourth. The total saving on the four items for the first year waj $5,364 19, or three-fourths of the whole amount ; Iol the second year, §6,596 95, or about tbirteen-fourteenths of the whole amount. (Loud cheers.) Results of the Several Savings AooompUsbed. The saving on telegraphing alone was §4,040 out of §4,371 ; on cab hire alone §1,020 70 out of $1,035 50 ; on travelling alone $1,166 77 out of §1,218 12 ; and on postage alone §367 60 out of $493 37. The saving in telegraphing alone would p.iy the whole of the present contiu- gencies, and leave a surplus of §1,250. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) The savings in cab hire, travelling and postages, would pay nearly the whole of the contingencies. The total saving on the contingent account was for the tirst year §1,4I'4 out of §9,470, or nearly one-half; for the second year §6,682 out of §9,470, or nearly three-fourths of the whole aniount. Combining the charges for salaries and contingencies, the total charge for the contingencies of 1873 and the rate of salaries for November of that 3-ear would be over §23,000. When I took office they would bo over $26,600; and for 1876 they were reduced to loss than §21,000; Vvhen 1 left ofhce th";y had fallen to §13,537, about one-half, or a saving cf §13,000 on the rate when I came in, and five-twelfths, or a saving of §9,500 on the rate when the late Government re- signed, and this, mark yon, once again, in the face of an enormously iucrta.sed volume of work. (Loud cheers. ) Now, sir, I do not propose at this moment to enter into an imiuiry as to how the large sums I have named came to be expended by our adversaries in 1873 iu the execution of the comparatively small work of that time. Our opponents at any rate will not contend that their expenditures were wrongful or wasteful ; they will argue for their propriety and necessity ; they will tell you that they could not conduct the business of the State more economically than they did. Assuming for the moment, without at all admitting the accuracy of this view, I leave you to contrast the figures I have given, and to determine whether they furnish any ground for charging us with extravagance or incapacity in the management of these departmental matters, which it has been rightly said are peculiarly under our own eye and control, and iu resjiect of whicli, therefore, we have a special responsibility. Nay, sir, I go further — 1 retort the charge upon our adversaries ; I say these figures put them, and not us, on the defensive ; that they lead to inferences the very opposite of those which have been urged •gainst ns ; and that we may faiily ask you to decide that we have been able to walk iu a more excellent way than that followed by our luud-mouthed accusers. (Hea". '.par^ »nd chccra.) i:'.7 Oin]ili;t(! tlie 01' tiaiuttii' iwl ill 1873, teof cIuir;^K 10. Si'vcral 1875. was ! tirst year ; ct was such, 7J0— (loud iiri>, and of r'ed clifurs.) cady called f,'eiicie3 tlie l'rt'i[iii'ntly le of wliicli artincnt of .aloiis wasli- coiitiii;^ciit rtiiL'SS 187:3, §4, HOG S7, to inako up criplioiia to TliL'so and 2,2G5 86 in reduction) )li account 1 1873 cab leera.) In In 1873 the ave pointc(l 3 : for 1873, e telejjrajih cab hire to ling wa3 cut cab hire to e first year )5, or about ,020 70 out )ne §367 CO sent coutiu- in cab hire, ^1 saving on iilf ; for tlie nbiuing the ,nd the rate ;y would be [' left oflice len I came !rnment re- sed voiiiine an imiuiry in 1873 in ly rate will ,e for their if the State inittiiig the ine whether lagenieiit of iwn eye and Y, sir, I go I not us, on been urged k in a luuro )CI*ai £conomy and Eliicionoy Combined. But it may be said we have sacrificed fllicii'ni'y to fcomniiy, Tliat I emphatically deny. Tlie business of the oinee has been promptly done on business piinciples ; long-standing arrears have been wound up ; lUid wlini I left the iJtp.iitniMnt ii'V olliccrs re)ioited that tlirre was nothing behind-hand. (Clii'ers.) Jt has been found (in 1 will be fouiul possible to manage the odice with efficiency upon the jiresent scale of e.\i'cndinire, though the increusc of bnsincsH in the future may perhaps necessitate some small additions lo the staff. I cannnt part fiuni the subject witiiout saying that what has been done couhl not have been accomplished without the assistance of a most eflicient deputy, ami of other oflicers who tool; a ]uide and j.lciisnre in their work. I make no boast of thc^;e "results. It was my duty— my special duty— tn improve the organization of my oflice. In response to the charge of neglect of duty I have spoken ; and I shall expect candid Conservatives liere and elsewhere to cease these attacks for the future until tliey have examined, and unless they can belie, my figures. {Hear, hear, and chcera.) Besides _the c hansL'-e.i which I have mentionefl, others have bcei^nade in the same dejiartment. The Penitentiary Board Removed- Its teesults. The Board of Penitentiary Directors was composed of three members. It had a good deal of power, and involved a good deal of exjiense. Its work was not satisfai-tory ; and yon may jierhaps remember an investigation tiefore u Committee of the House in connection with some transactions at St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary, which did not reflect credit on the Hoard or its superiors. Mr. Kournier abolished the Board ; substituting for it one inspector, who is an oiricer of the Department of Justice. It is true that by this change more work was imposed on the Minister, but at the same time greater economy, a more direct responsibility, and a higher degree of ellicicncy have been ]iroduced. The financial results have been that whereas thi' annual charge for the years 1870 to 1874 was within a trifle of ^9,000, the charge for 1876 was ,14, or about half the former amount. (Hear, licar, and cliccis. ) The Dominion Police -Useles'- Officers Removed. So again with reference to the Dominion Police, who are under the immediate surveill.ince of the'Miiiister of Justice. The annual charge under this head for the year l87o was about .$17,200 ; the vote for the present fi.scal year is §11,000, a saving of over one-third, or about §6,200, the bulk of which was caused in this way : 1 found there was an officer at Montreal called a Commis- sioner of Police, whose sole duties were to receive his own salary and the salaries of two constables (who themselves had nothing to do), and to send returns to Ottawa of this transaction. (Lau"liter.) Wo superannuated the officer, abolished his office, dismissed the constables, and saved the money. (Laughter and cheers.) General Result of these Changes. The general result of the economies to which I have referred is, tliat whereas the aggregate annual charge for departmental salaries and contingencies, for police, and for penitentiary administration was in the time of the late Government §49,200, it has been reduced to §29,100 — a saving of more than two-fifths, or over §20,000 a year. The Mulklns' Superannuation. .AS I have mentioned the word "superannuation," 1 take the opportunity to advert to a charge lately made by one of the leaders of the Opposition with reference to a superannuation which took place in my office — that of the late chaplain nf Kingston Penitentiary, Mr, Mulkins, who was said to have been superannuated in order that he might marry, and that a place might be found for the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, a brother of the Finance Minister. It was remarked with equal wit and delicacy that, having become too ill to act as chaplain, he took the opportunity of marrying, and that having nothing better to do, he had since died, whereas if he had remained in the office he would have been still doing duty as chaplain. With Mr. Mulkins' private affairs I am not so well acquainted as the speaker, but I am told that he liad been married some six years before his retirement. He was nearly sixty-five years old, and had served twenty-five years when superan- nuated. His health had been impaired for sonu; years, owing chiefiy to typhoid fever, which he had contracted while visiting the prisoners, and to repeated attacks of which he wiis yearly sub- jected from the .slightest causes. He submitted some years ago that it was not fair, under these circumstances, that he should be forced to continue in liis office at the peril of these attacks, after his health had already been impaired and his constitution undermined by their recurrence ; and he applied for leave of absence, which was granted on condition of his employing a substitute approved by the Board of Penitentiary Directors. The Board reported to the Minister that Mr. Mulkins Iiad nominated the Rev. C. E. Cartwright, which arrangement was satisfactory to them, they having ascertained from the Warden that Mr. Cartwright was a clergyman in good standing, and well qualified to discharge the duties of chaplain to the Penitentiary. In the course of ihe inquiries iu-ior to that transaction, Dr. Lavell, the Penitentiary surgeon, certified that Mr. Mulkins had had repeated attacks of typhoid fever within the preceding six or seven years ; and that he was subjected to relapses from the sliglitest causes. The Rev. Mr. Dobbs, a respectable clergyman, also gave a certificate to the same effect. Mr Mulkins went abioaii for some time (Mr. Cart- wright discharging his duties as chaplain), and on his return in June, 1875, he brought a certificate from his English physician that he had treated him for an attack of bronchitis, attended with severe congestion of the lungs, and that he considered it essential that Mr. Mulkins should have absolute rest, and that he should resort to a warmer climate. He applied to be relieved from his duties ; but he also applied for the addition to his allowance of somp years of service, which it. was in the power of the Government lo grant. 1 refused that addition, but I thought it my duty, under the circumstances I have mentioned, and having formed the opinion that the duties of Wkl M m 138 clinplaln could not be eflSciently discharged by Mr. Mulkins, to agree to his superannnation. I recommended that act ; I am responsible for it, and I am quite prepared to defend it. After the sniieranuuaiion of Mr. Mulkins, it became my duty to recommend some one for the vacant oflSce. Having ascertained that the expectations which the Board of Directors had formed with reference to the Huitability of Mr. Cartwright had been more than realized, I believed him a fit person; for the offae of which he had been disi'harging the duties ; I therefore offered it to him ; he accepted it, and was ap[ioiiitcd. Tiiis, gentlemen, is a plain history of a transaction which took place before the late session of Parliament, which \vaa never challenged there — (hear, hear)— about which no papers were asked for, but which is now, on the occasion of the death (within a few months of his superannuation) of the late chaplain, brought forward as a gross and indefensible job — on the false statement that we had8U})erannuateda man who was in perfect health in order that we might iijijioint a Minister's brother to his oUice. These may be small matters, but they are doubtless legitimate grounds of attack if wrong; and if attacked it is our right and our duty to defend ouiselves in small things as well as great. (lioud cheers.) It is therefore tiltinK to make public the facts which, if our accusers had acted with fair play, they would have demanded where they had a right to demand them — in Parliament ; and to make them public at the earliest possible moment after the false charge has been thrown broadcast over tho laud. Administration of Justloe Natural Increase of Expenditures. There are some items in the expenses of the Administration of Justice which must necessarily increase. Every ellort to economise has been made, but while the tide of crime nuis so high, as unfortunately it has risen in Canada of lato years ; while the number of our convicts increases so rapidly ; while it is necessary to erect new penitentiaries in the remote Provinces of Manitoba and Columbia for the receijtion of small numbers of convicts ; while improvements are being made in other penitentiaries, it is impossible to keep at the same level the charges for services that are so increased. (Hear, hear.) All I can say is, that although these are not so immediately at the com- mand and under the control of the Minister as the other services to which I have referred, every effort has been made by systematization and organization, by rigid inquiry, by improvements in the modes of tendering and of accounts, by the most eflicieut use of the staff at our disposal, by the utilization, so far as practicable, of the convict labour, to reduce these expenses to the lowest point compatible with the public service. Some of these improvements are only beginning to bear fruit. The reorganization of St. Vincent de Paul, which was in a disgraceful condition, is, I am glad to say, acknowledged to be satisfactory. The completion of the new penitentiary for the Slaritime Provinces will put matters in those quarters on a footing very much better than the ])resent; and the sale of llockwood Asylum for about $100,000 has provided us with a fund, the interest on which will more than pay the expense of maintaining the criminal lunatics. Increase in the Judiciary. The remaining great item of expense with which the Department of Justice is concerned is the salaries of the judges. You know that under our constitution there is unhappily a divided power with reference to the judiciary, the Local Legislatures organizing the Provincial Courts, while the Federal authorities appoint and pay the judges. We have, under these circumstances, but a very limited degree of control over this expenditure. The fact that it has increased has been made the subject of a very -ignorant attack, not, indeed, in the House of Commons, but elsewhere. The increases are due to the following causes: — First, to the additions made to the salaries of the judges in the spring of 1873 ; secondly, to tli* creation, by several of the Provincial Legislatures, of additional courts ; thiidlj, to the retirement, tiuough infirmity, of some of the judges ; and lastly, to the creation of the Supreme Court. With the first ol these we have nothing to do ; over the second our control was, as I have pointed out, hardly appreciable, and no hint of dissatisfac- tion at our action on tiiis or on the third head has been exjiressed in the House ; and as to the Supreme Court, that institution had been proclaimed as a necessity by our opponents, was recognized as such by us, and has been established on the most economical basis consistent with its efficiency. Something has been said adverse to the change made by the Legislature of this Province in the Ontario Court of Appeal. I learn that my friend the Attorney-General of Ontario is to be here tn-day, and I hope he may address you in vindication of that measure, which, for my part, I should, under other circumstances, be very ready to defend, believing, as I do, that a change was absolutely necessary, and that tUe plan adopted was the simplest and most economical which cjuld at tl\c time be devised. I entertain the hope that at some future day the appeal may be direct to the Supreme Court, and it will be found in such case that all the present judicial strength of the Province can be utilized to advantage. However, with this I have, as a Canadian Minister, no direct concern ; and I will only add that I am prepared, when our assailants con- descend to details on tliis subject of judicial salaries, to meet them, and to establish that we have done nothing which was avoidable, or of which we have reason to be ashamed. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The Dispensation of Patronage. Now, with reference to the patronage which belongs to my late oflBce, you cannot have failed to observe that from time to time the basest motives have been insinuated as the grounds for ap- pointments, the merits of which could not be disputed. I shall make no long comment nor engage in any retort on this accusation. I have simply to say that these ippoiutiueuts were made with the most earnest desire on the purl of my colleagues and myself to choose the very best and fittest men for your service. (He.'ir, hear, and loud cheers.) It is of comparatively little consequence who fills a political office, because if the man who fills it fails to meet your expectations, or turns out incompetent, you can very soon turn him out, and so end the trouble ; but the man who is ap- poii free rem or t the uiei !ila< ]irii to 1 i,( e >er\ my be pea '['" adi l:5t> pointed a jtidgo, and as such may at any time hold in his h^inds the fato, Miiiether as to fortune, freeiloui, or good name, of any oni^ of us, thin inui! holds liis ofiicc by a tenure imicLicully not tar n-niovod from lift.-. Ho may be a blessing, but agrin he may be a eurae, to his country for twenty or tliirty years ; and therefore it is a most sar^red duty on thn part of a Govurnmont to search for the very l)cst men to administer these tn-mi-ndous responsibilities. Now, I say lliut the very best men have been sought, and 1 believe that as a rule the very best men have been found, and 1 am glad to know that the nppointmentB have given general satisfaction. 1 may add that the same jirinciple lias been appliel in th(( selection of the other ]iublie olhoers whom 1 have been called on to leconimend, and that I have in no ease ])ern»itted political claims to suiiersedothe consideration of eliiciency, wlii(;h should, in my opinion, be the one thing needful in a canilidate for the public service, (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Commutation of Sentences. Anotlicr ground of attack, out of session, on the admit.istration of justice, was as to the ex- ercise of the prerogative of mercy in capital cases. I anj spared the necessity of any vindication of my coui.se in that rcfird, because my accusers, bold and blatant as tiiey werebehuid my back and before the session, did not when we met venture, although repeated opportunities occurred, to re- peat the gross char;;es which had been made tliat th(! prerogative, had been sold for money ; or to ([tiestion, I do not say the integrity, but even the discretion, with which that prerogative had been administered in any one case. No le.ss than three bills were introduced, and one or more returns were moved for, on the subject of capital punishment, each furnishing fair ground for the discussion ; besides this the ([uestion might have been raised any day on a motion; but no man was found to say a single word, or uttei a biiigle whisper, of condemniition or disapproval, or even of einjuiry. (Hear, hear.) The pain and an.xiety attendant on the decision of these cases is very great ; indeed it is hardly conceivable to those who have not been called onto deal with them ; and 1 do not dis- guise from you that that pain and anxiety was aggravated by these unworthy eh.T.rges. But, as I liave told you, they were not heard in that place in which they could be met ; I am vindicated by the silence of my opponents ; and having now iio attack to answer, I pass from the subject. (Hear, hear, and cheers. ) Legislative Work Aooompllshed. Without detaining you by a more extended reference to the executive and administrative work, departmental and general, of the last two years, and being anxious to turn to the legislative work, I think I have said enough to show you that we have been fully engrossed with the pressing duties of our oflices, and that there is reasonable cause for our inability to be much amongst our con- stituents, or to engage in the discussion of topics which, I am free to say, would be much more to my taste than the work which was before us. As to the legislative business of Parliament during the last two sessions, I propose to confine my remarks to some of those measures with which I was more immediatidy connected, without touching at all on the many important Acts passed during those sessions nnder tlie ausjuces of other Ministers. I must in the lirst place remind you that ia previous sessions the Government had dealt with three cajiital pieces of legislation— namely, the Election Law, the Insolvent Law, and the Supreme Court Law. Tory Claims to Election Act. All the merits of the Election Law are now claimed by our predecessors. They say they gave most of them, and were quite prepared to give the rest. Now, we had proposed these imjirove- ments several times before the election of 1S72. We proposed the trial of election jjctitions by judges; they voted it down. (Hear, hear.) We proposed simultaneous polling; they voted it down. We proposed the ballot ; they voted it down. We proposed the appointment of certain classes of permanent ofllcials as returning ollicers, instead of tlie system of the late Government, by which they chose whom they pleased to act as returniiig-officer, as arbiter and judge between themselves and their adversaries ; they voted it down. (Hear, hear.) All these relbrms which are now embodied in your law were proposed in P.arliiiinent befT" 1S72, and were, on one pretext or anotlicr, vuied down by the late (iovernment. They were forced after that election to give the trial of election cases by judges. As I happen to know, several of ^heir own candidates were obliged to pledge themselves to that reform during the election, ai i 'I.' Government was thus forced to yield. They now tell us they would have given the rest >. ,, d time. Well, I don't doubt that they would liave given you the rest as soon as they found themselves compidlcd to do 80. (Hear, hear. ) Having held olf as long as they c luld, I have no doubt that we should have ex- torted as the price of their continuance in office the surrender of some of those means by which they were used to maintain themselves in power. But to claim your gratitude and conlidi'uce for good intentions so very tardy, and produced by such influences, is too audacious. You owe these reforms to the Liberal party, and to them alone. (Cheers.) Tbe Ballot-Its Satisfactory Operation. With reference to the ballot, I told yon in 1874 that I believed it was not required except fir a .small minority of our ]ieople, but that it was important to all of us that the vote of each of us should lie free ; and while, for my own part, I have never concealed my desire for. the open vote when the st ite of society and of public feeling .shall be so improved that tlie open vote shall be free, 1 am still of opinion that, in our present condition, the ballot tends more than the open vote to that result, and therefore is abenefieial reform. (Hear, hoar.) It has been whispered, indeed, that for a considerable class of our fellow-citizens tlie ballot does not insure secrecy. Th it, however, has not been established, and the discussion of the serious conseqiiencea which might How from such a state of things would be at present premature. As things stand, I believe the working of the ballot so far has shown that it is, upon the whole, suited to the present condition of the country, and that it is likely to .stand fc^some time as a political iiistitutiim. (Himr, hear.) iff 141) HtS^~ ' Tbo Elootornl Franchise. It was and is the polioy of our oppotifltits to frame n unifDrm franchise all ovor this widn country, uml to uti^.n,'*' a himlu of (Jovernment employees, at a j^reat ex|ii'iis(!, to make the lists aiul '.Ui'. toiuniuniiy than tlit! viow of tiio minority. This it tho xi*'""'^' Work. Kow, tliat j,'ioiin(l-\vc)ik wiiolly fails ii tho vote \w not Hlii- cxini'ssion nf tin; vntoi-B own opinion, but thu i'X|irt'ssiiin of .siiiiiiliody cIms opinion ilitlrnnt liuni liis. (Hear, hear.) ll, iiislciwl of its biinj,' liis npinioi:, it be the ojiiiiicin of bis cmpliiyir, Ills landlord, liu (irditor, or liln ministfr, wliy, it is not liis vote at all, it is xinicbody rise's, ainl wi' liavi' iiut subniitti'd onisi.'lvf.s to the lite Voice ot our tellow-eoiiniryiiien, but possibly to the voice ol' a very snuill niiiioiity, who liavu (lelcrniiind what the voiei! of the lar^'er nunilier is to be. 'I'lills tlie whole basis of our iv- prcscntativo institutions would bi' destroyed if we perniitted the o|iiiiiiiiis of our cmployirn, creiliti>!«_ bmdlor.U^ nr iiiiiiisleiN to be foriiblv siibstit ilti'd for our riwii, ( Ii'""', f.ear. ) I'or thin reason, besides the ]ieiialtics wnidi are piiactod ayainst the ( \oiiisu of undue inlluomM', we linve ileolai'ed that the vole of any man so unduly inlluenceil iliiill lie null and void, and Hint cleelionH earried by such undue inllueiires shall be annulJed. I cannot, if a 'a" '.lord, say to my tenant, ">i'ow, teiinnt, I shall turn you out at the end ot your term if you do not vote for my eandidato. " ThoM.;li I may have a Icj^al rij;lit to turn him out at tlic end of the term, yi 1 1 cannot ^ive the intim- ati<;ii that 1 will, on this fjrotmd, exercise this ri<,dit. If 1 do, the vote is annulled as not fri«e. I cannot, if a creditor, say to my debtor, "I will exact that debt at once if you do not vote u., 1 wisli," thoui,'h I may li 'Ve a lei,'al rif,'ht to exact my debt. I cannot, if an employer, ay to "\y finploycc, " Vloyment at the end of the current term unless you vote wi'ti lue," thou;;h the law may not oblij^e me to retain him in my service. It has lieeu found necessary in all the.>e cases to prevent the relations to whicli I have reh'rred (roni bein^ made the means of unduly inllueiicinj,' tlie vote. In ord( r tliat tliis },'reat cardir.al jiiiiniple ol oui Constitution — the Irecdoiii id each man to vote according' to his own opinion — may be preserved intact. (Hear, hear.) True, the liindlord. and the creditor, and the emi'loyer have each the rij,dit to speak and iiersuade by ni|;uments ; and the ooufidence placed in them may be such that the voter's opinion may be chan;;ed ; but between the arj;unient, the persuasion, the eoididence which may eouiiuce to u chanjte in the mind and opinion of the voter, and that coercion which compels him to vote con- trary to his mind on the threat of some loss or pen;- y, there is a broad and jialpabh! distinction, mid that is Ihe distinction which the law lays down. Now, if there be a foini of relij^'ion under which the minister is supposed to have the jiower, by f^ranting or refusiiif? certain rites, or by mak- ing certain deciarations to atlect the state of the voter after death, is it not jicrfectly obvious tluit the threat of such results to the voter unless he votes in accordaiice with the opinion of the, minister, niij^ht be inlinitely more potent than any of the other threats which I have named — the exaction of a debt, the ejection of a tenant, or the discharge of an employee ? (Hear, hear. ) And would not such a threat be obnoxious to just the same objection ? Christian and Political Principles— Their True Relations. I am far indeed from implying that politics should not bo handled on Christian principles. Whatever difficulties and ditferences there may be as to Christian dogma, there is, fortunately, very little difference concerning Christian morals. We are, fortunately, all united in this country in tlie theoretical recognition — hcivever far we may fail in the practical observance — of the great doctrines of Christian morality which are handed down to \ib in the Gospels ; and 1 believe it is on the basis of those doctrines that the politics of the country should be carried on. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Dim indeed would be our hopes, and dark our expectations for the future, if they did not embrace the coming of that glorious day when those principles .shall be truly, fully and jirnctii illy recognized — if we did not look forward to the fulfilment of the promises that "the, kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord ;" and that " nation shall not make war again.st nation, neither shall they learn war any more ;" if \\c did not watch for the time when the human law of selt-interest and hate shall be super.seded by the Divine law of solf-sacrifice and lo'/e. But while we hope and stiive for the accomplishment of these things, we must not forget the lessons of the (ireat Teacher and f^xemplar. When interrogated upon secular things — when asked as to rendering tribute to Cassar, He said, " Render unto Cicsar the things which are Ca'bar's, and to God the things which are God's." He laid down the princi[)le, and Hi; left the peopk —the querists —to make the application. So again when He was called upon to settle a dis- pute between two brothers about an inheritance. He said : " Man, who made Me a judge or divider over you ?" Such was the view He took as to the duty of a minister, as to the work of the pulpit ; and while I do not hesitate to say that to all ministers I would fi-.'ely accord the right as citizens of voting, of expressing their opinions, of arguing and persuading, and inllnnicing if they please, my own opinion is that the pastor of a flock divided on politics will bi' much more likely to retain the fallest confidence ot all the members of that flock, and so to discharge eircctually his great task, if he abstains from active interference in those political alfairs on whicli there is and will be great division of opinion among them. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) But, sir, it 1ms been argued in some quarters that the free exercise of one form of religion amongst us is im])aired by this law. That would indc-d, if true, be a serious thing. But if it wore true, we would still be bound, in my opinion, to preserve tlu fundamental priiicijde of the freedom of the elector. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) No man, any article oi whose creed, should make him a slave would be fit to control either his own destiny or that of ,ree men. A slave himself, he would be but a proper instrument to make slaves of others. Such an article of religion would, in a word, be inconsistent with free institutions, because it would not permit that liberty of ojiiiiion in the individual, which is their very base and corner stone. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But we are not confronted with thai m l2\ m '»'".« tS-t" Ir I 142 diflfiralty. Tlie public and deliberate utterances of liit;h dignitaries in more than one Province nf Canada have shown that the n.ideition is unfoundcti, and have recognised the riglit of every cluitui- to vote according to his conscience ; and the recent statement — conimuiiicated to the public throufjli Lord Denbigh — of the head of that Church, shows that the United Kingdom, ■where the Jaw as lo undue inllueuce is precisely the same as ours, is perhaps the only country in Europe whe'-'!the pro- fessors of that religioL. are free to practise it. If this be the case in the United Kingdom, it is .so here, and it is not true that there is any form of religion, the free and full exercise of which is im- paired by the preservation of the great principle to which I have referred. I trust, then, that tlic ill-advised pretensions which have been set up will be abandoned ; but should they be pressed, I take this oi)portniiity of declining that for myself, whatever be the consequences, I shiiU stand by the principle which I have laid dowr — (loud cheers) — and shall struggle to preserve — so far as my feeble poweis jjermit — to eacli one of my fellow-countrymen, whatever lus creed, llic .•saihe full iind am])le measure of civil frcedotii whieh lie now enjoj's under those laws which enable him and me, tlioujili we may bo of diverse faiths, to meet here on the same platform, and here to dill'er or ngri'c according to our own political convictions, and not according to our religious faith or the dictation of any other man, lay or clerical. (Loud and rejicated cheers.) The Independence of Parliament -Tlie Anglin Case. My references to the Electoral Law would be incomjilete without some allusion to the question of the iiulepenilence of Parliament. I liiivc l)een charged with being personally responsible for ad- vice siiid to have been given, under which the late Speaker of the House, and, as it is a.sserted, several other members, entered into ]ie(Uiiiary u'lalions with the Government. I meet that cha-go with the distinct declaration that it is utterly false. (Cheers.) I never gave such advice; I never was asked for advice, or consulted upon the subject. I tbink the men of brnce are aware from what I have said to them and done amongst tlu'm what my answer would have been to any such ques- tion. You know that on two occasions I have resigned my seat for this itiiling and submitted myself for re-election, not be(>ause the Icttrr of the law required it, but because, under the ciicuni- stances, I thought it more consistent with tlie spirit of the law that I sliould give you an opportu- nity (if (k'tcrmining whether I should continue your representative. That is the jirinciple on which 1 have acted, and on which I sliall continue to act. Had I been asked to advi.so in this case, I would have said it is needless to consider whether the proposal is within the letter of tho law ; it is within its spirit, and I decline to be a party to it. Hut I was not asked. The truth i.s, that a late meiid)er of th'? Government ordered this printing to be given to Mr. Anglin without tho knowledge of any of his colleagues ; that the circumstance did not come to the knowledge of the Gov- ernment until January, 1876, and that as soon as possible, within eight or ten days thereafter, the Government orde;ed the arranycuh nt to be entirely discontinued. The.se facts are not nnw stated for the first time. They were stated over and ov 'gain in Parlianu'ut, and have been estab- lished by the most indisputable evidence. It has ceon alleged that I defended this transaction in my place in the House. I did what I believe yon will approve. The Speaker of the House of Oommons hapjiens to be the only man there who, if spoken to or about, cannot speak back — who, if attacked, cannot reply. He is debarred by his sitiwtion from saying a word, no matter how cruelly wounded, no matter how ui.faii ly aspersed, no matter how complete may be his defence to the charge against him. A Right and a Wrong Way of Disposing of tho Matter. There was a mode of bringing up this matter by which British justice would have been satis- fied and British fair play ol)served, and there was another mode by which the accn^ed nught bo judged without the opportunity of defence. Sir, the mode our opponents chose was not the foriccr ; it was the latter. (Hear, hear.) They wei-e called on to withdraw the motion ; they were told that a Corniiiittcc (if I'^nipiiry would be a^/-ced to, before which the Speaker might appear to answer the injurious insinuation that he had been purclui'^ed, might estaldish the lacts, and furnish the arguments and iirei'ed(Uits whi('h he thought oiaicrial ou the legal aspects ot tiie ease — by which, in a word, enquiry and det'ence might precede decision. They were called on not to ask the Hou.--e to condenju a man unheard ; but they declined, and I was anu)ngst those who by voico and vote rejecte(i such an unjust, such an arhitr.iiy, such an unfair and un-:'iitisli motion as the one they prdposed, preferring tho eniiuuy whi( h was promised during the I'^iate, and which was ordered within live mn:utcs of the defeat of the motion. (Hear, hear, and chmrs.) On that en([uiiy Mr. Speaker had an opportunity of difcuding himself. The charges winch bad been made ayiinst liiTn of h iving sold his position, of having made a bargain unworthy of him, were repulN il by him : the circunisiatices were stated, the prcccilcnts on the strength ol' wliich he acted were quoted 1 y him, and his casi- was fully ami fairly brought before the public and the House. The Committee dctcrinincd that the ]preced(iits did cover the case, but that they were erroneous, and that on the true iuleipK tation of the law the seat was vacated, and tliey repotted accordingly. It has been charged against the Government lliat they defeired the presentation ol the report of that liely that he had been told tlie same thiuj; liy a little liiid. (Lauf^hter. ) lie sidd tliat this Act had struck a blow at the connection. I do not ('isg.iise my seiiUuients on this subject. I am of opinion tliat our disagreements as to the construction of our own laws can bo better decided by our own Courts, filled with men familiar with our Constitution, customs, and jurisprudence, than by any foreign body of jurists, however eminent. Olear, h"ar, and cliecrs. ) I am certain they can be so decided much mou; economically and exjiediliously ; and my opinion is that the ajipeal to the Privy Conncil should be aboli>Iied, oi', at any rate, tint the minnnuni amount for whieli an appeal can be made should be raised very high. Tliese men are crying out tliat we art interfering with the "connection,'' Dothey know- what an expensive alLiir this ,so-c .lied link of the " connection " is ? 1 bad occasion to eni[uire a short time ago, ami 1 found (hat tho average total costs on both sides of an a[ti>eal from Lower Canada are aliout ^^."),00() ; wliilc, tho average time which is taken up between tiie initiation of the appeal and its decision is lictween two and three years; so that whether you gain or lo.se, you are kept in suspense during this pciiod, and perhaps have to pay the enormous sum I have named for the privilege of i)iesei ving tlii^ .so- called liiik. It is indeed a golden baiul ! Why, the average cost of an appeal to the liigliest Court in your own Province is perhaps 5^400, and that of an appeal to your own .Suprenn- Court should be oiiiy a trille more, perhaps about §500, while the time oeeupied in reaehing a ile ■i.sjou .sitoidd not exceed a very few months. I believe that those of you who may be untortuiiate enough to be involved in litigation will hardly thank the O[)position for their elforts to pre.serv(! tliL-j expensive privilege, which is really a privilege to the riidi as against the poor suitor, and whicli has been greatly abused in some of the Provinces. (Hear, hear.) I believe you will l>e ipiilo prepared to .say that if we are fit to detcrniiiie v.hat our laws shall be, we are lit to interjiret tlioso laws after they are made. And this is the whole (piestioii involved in the appeal to England. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But, sir, this was not a question really r.aised by the Act, liecausc tlio prerogative right of Her Majesty was expressly saved; but the sulijeet was so confused by the attacks cf the Opposition that some ditiiculty was felt regarding it, and 1 was recpii'sted by tho Colonial Secreta y to proceed to England to confer with him on the sulijeet. 1 did so, and tho result was that the Act was not disallowed ; it was left to its operation, and so the little bird on this, as on some other occasions, did not sing true. (Hear, hear, I'lid laughter.) Criminal Statistics— Legislation Thereon. Another subject of recent legislation was that of criminal statistics. We are constantly passing laws on the subject of crime and its puiii.sliinent. The tide of crinn? has hei-ii rising fast ; and the problems involved are fraught wilh p.iinful interest to the whole c>iiimuiiity. It is not cretlitable to ns that we should have been so long without an efficient system of st.itistics, which shouhl show how the laws work ; how far punishment follows crime ; the elfeets nl' dilfei'eiit miides of punishment; the incrt-ase or diminution in the ilitferent kinds of crinn-s ; and the i;r..wih of the class of habitual criminals ; thus pointing out the cases which re(|uire reni»ilial leirislation, uiid to a great extent indicating the ajipropriate remedy. Wc have provided at a small exiiense for tlie collection and registration of tlu-.-^e stalustics ; and I hope that tlu beneticial result of that nieisupo will soon become apjiarent. While touching on this siilject 1 may add, that we have provided tor the collection also of insolvency statistics, which are of greit impoitance t' tlu! i-inmeivial imd to the whole community. I may say generally, that it is unforfunati^ tint Caiiail.i sin. nil le so imperfectly supplied with machinery for the collection of statistics on many oi her snhje.'ts of interest. My colleagues, in coininon with myself, are fully alive to tliat fact, and it is only th,; question of expen.se whiidi, in the present condition of the (ouiitry, deters us liom oroposiii.' tlin creation of tliat statistical machiiieiy which evevy free coiiimunity must feel to lie inaierial to intelligent, sound and progressive legislation. Rights of the Subject to Sue tho Crown Itooo^^aizcd. Another piece of legislation iniport.int to a considerable class is the lawgiving the siibj(>et tho ri'dit to .sue in respect of el.aims against the Crown. Until lately there was no siicii li.litin Canaila; no matter how plain aiul just might be the dennnil, the suliji i;t could not tike il into Court and ]iray for judgment against the Crown. By an Aet introduced by a pi'ivate inemlier in 187.5 such claims were submitted to the decision of Provin'ial .Imlgcs ; hut to that pl.m there were obvious objections, which beeaiiio remediable after the org nizaiion of the .Siipienn' Convt ; an 1 it beoiime our duty to introduce another law jilacing cliis maiter on its inesent footing, a;id providing for the disiiosition of such cases by that C(mrt. The Labour Laws -Sir John's Bungling Loglslnt'.on Roctiflcd. Another subject which attraci.'d our (inxioiis attention v.as tiie condition nl the b-ibonr lawg. The old law with reference to oonibinations of working men and of eni|doyees was not s.itisl.ietoi v, and in the session of \^7'i the tlien leader of the Government passed an Act which wa.s elaiineii m V 144 bv him, nnd was supposed by the working people of that day to be an immnnse boon to them. No lonj; time passeil, liowever, before they I'uuiul it was a fatal yift ; and they Inicarao as anxious for its repeal as they had been grateful for its enactment. A teini)orary law wa.s promoted by my predecessor in 1873 ; nnd in 187G a tiermanent law was introduced, by which the subject was removed from the list of class-legislation. Tho law is no longer directed speciahy against employers and workmen, but is general, and applies to all persons using violence or tlu'cats to coni])el othei'3 to do wliat they have a legal right to abstain from, or to abstain from what they have a legal riv'ht to do. Under this law such acts of violence or threats are iiunishable, nnd so tlie freedom at' action of each individual is guarded ; but it is not criminal for any person, whether an employer or a workman, to combine witli otheis for the neconuilishment by lawful meau.s of jadi objects as the raising or depressing of the rate of wages. Workingmcn Frotcctod iu tbeir Rights. Those workmen, therefore, who wisli, can unite and co-operate for this purpose ; but they are not ]>crmitted to injure or tlireaten a feilow-workmau who may chouse not to enter their combina- tion. No doubt there remains to them considerable power of coercion, by means of which the law cannot take cognizance. The acta which are restrained are those palpable wrongs which are the proper subject of criminal legislation, and their dehnition has been carefully framed, so as to avoid as far as possible injustice either to the union or the individual. Provincial laws remained in force until last session wliich maile breaches of contract of service criminal, t'' ' '' no other breach of contract was a crime. If 1 contract to pay a man a sunt of money, a 1 .a of that contract is 8im;)ly a civil wrong ; it is not treated as a crime ; and there is no reasoi,, according to our more modem and juster notions, why an employee who, having contracted with me for a month's labour, breaks that contract, should be regarded as a criminal. (Hear, hear.) This remnant of class legislation has been removed, and ordinary breaches of contracts of service are no longer ci i.iiiial. Tliere are some eases, however, of breaches of contract, whether of service or othe;'wise, whiili do obviously i)artake of the character of crimes, as where a man wilfully breaks a contract knowing that the consequence will be great public loss or inconvenience, or the destruction of valuable pro- perty. These breaches we have ke])t in the list of crimes, specifying the cases of contractors witli gas and water conqianies who wilfully break a contract knowing that the consequence will be to deprive the town of gas or water, and those of contractors with railway companies carrying mails who wilfully break their contracts, knowing that the consequence will be to delay or prevent the progress of trains, and so cause loss and inconvenience to large numbers of passengers, besides stop- ping the arteries of commerce and the despatch of the mails. It has been our desire to secure the abrogation of all class privileges, and so to legislate as to place all classes of Her Ma- jesty's subjects within Canada on precisely the same footing before the law. (Cheers.) It has been a great satisfaction to us to learn from our communications with both employers and workmen that the general scope of these measures is acceptable to both, and to observe Miat while our legis- lation is in the same direction as that which has taken place in England, it is more liberal, and exhibits a bolder application of the principle to which I have referred than they have yet been able to attain. (Cheers. ) The Grand Trunk Strike— The Government's Course. Great interest has been aroused on this subject by the strike on the Gran'^ Trunk Railway, when Mr. Mackenzie was blamed for not ordering the troops to various points , which the men on strike were collected in considerable numbers with riotous intent. I am resiionsible for this action of the Government, for as its law officer I was called upon to advise, and I advised that we had no power to send the troops a.s proposed. It is now conceded thct wc had no such power ; the contrary has not been even pretended latterly. I shall not detain you by discussing the con- stitutional principle underlying the statute on which my advice was based ; but I may lay that the old law as well as the new was founded on the view that the local authorities were and ought to be responsible for the preservation of the public peace, so long as the breach of the peace did not assume the character and proportions of a rebellious or insurrectionary movement ; and that to the local authorities was, or should be, committed ample power — by swearing in special con- stables, or, if necessary, by calling out the militia — to discharge this duty. But there was this difficulty in the. case of a railway riot — that the cause of disturbance might be a general one, ex- tending all along the line, not originating in any particular municipality, while the expense of quelling it would fall upon the municipality, perhaps a weak one, within which the rioters might choose to gather, and naturally those in authority tliere would be reluctant to call out 200 or 300 militia, wiien their own small municipality would be called on to pay tlie cost of what was not in reality a local diihculty. We remedied this to some extent by providing that in certain cases of riots, causing obstruction to mail trains, the Government of Canada might paj the whole or part of the reasonable expenses of calling out the troops ; but we left the responsibility and power where they were before, with the local authorities, both on the constitutional princii)le which for- bids our trusting the Executive Government with the calling out of the troops, and also on tlie view thai in a country such as ours it would be impossible for the Executive Government, with the neci'ssarv promptitude and exactness, to ascertain whether the case were one requiring the calling out of the militia, or to act upon their information. In the case supposed, the mails are stopped ; the telfgrapli may be stopjied ; the riots are at one or more distant points. 'J'he Executive can neither judge nor act Ujion its judgment, Wc therefore left the power and responsibility with the local iiuthorities. (Cheers. ) This subjsct has attracted renewed attention from the recent exten- sive disturbances in tho United States. Some of the large centres of population in that great country have been in the hands of a lawless mob for weeks ; some of its great hives of industry have been broken up ; millions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed ; and complete ■ 145 stopped ; ! social disorgnnization nas taken i)lace. These are most deplorable events. Let lis take waroinptly and sternly against them in its own defence, which, in such an emergency, in this country, can, as I have said, be done only through each man's readiness to go out as a speciid constable or as a militia- man, in order to subdue those who are ninkiiig themselves ouLlaws, and subverting our whole system of law and order. (Hear, hoar, and cheers.) I had pui^iosed to say something on the sub- ject of the relations of labour nnd capital, including the macliinery of strikes and the schemes for co- operation in production and distribution, and for arbitration as a mode of settling disputes between tm]iloyer.s and emploj-ees ; but for this and some other topics of interest time and strciigtli fail me, and I must pass on. Our nZaritime Laws on tho Lakes. Another important subject of legislation was that of maiitiiiie jurisdic".on on the great lakes. Your county is bounded by one of these magnificent inland sc.ts, bearing on its bosom an enor- mous commerce, For nges the relations of the commercial marine of every maritime country nave been regulated by special laws ajiplicnble to tho peculiar exigencies of such affairs, comprising a * prompt procedure and a lien on the ship in respect of certain classes of wrongs and contracts. This eode has prevailed for many years on the United States' shores of these lakes. They have there the power of arresting one of our ships to secure the redress of a wrong ; but we had not the like power here. A proposal was made to apply for legislation in the Imperial Parliament creating Lriperirtl VIce-Aainiralty Courts with jurisdiction on our lakes. I did not favour that plan, think- ing such legislation would bo retrogressive ; and believing, conformably to the opinions I liavo already expressed, that we arc ourselves quite competent to determine what laws should regnlatu our maritime concerns, and to interpn't and adininsfer the !iws we make, without resortin;' to tho liritish Parliament for legislation. (Hear, iiear, and chciers. ) Having been charged with the duty of re[)resenting these views, and Ihaving come to a satisfactory understanding with Her Majesty's Government on the subject, I was enabled to pvouiote last session the passage of an Act establish- ing maritime rights and remedies, and a Court for tliiir execution — a law which we can ourselves, without the dilliculties and delays incident to action in the Uritisli Pailiaincnt, mould and alter fiom time to time as our experience may indicate ; and thus we lia\'e, at last, inaugurated a system which should have been in operation long ago. A general feeling was eviijced l)y the House iii favour of the extension of Canadian legislation to tln^ maritinio concerns of the sea-board ; and I was gratitieil to liear re-echoed the ojiinion which I had ex[ire;isi.il, tliat before long thciio matters also should be regulated by Ciuiadian law. Extradition— Iinportani Ilosotiations, Anotlur suliject with which v.e had to deal was that of extra lition. The old Ashburton Treaty, reguhitiug the mutual suri'ender of criminals between this country and tho Uiiitcil States, is altogel her too limited, many serinus crimes against the person lieing omitted from its provisions, aiid a still greater number of that unfortunately ini'voasiti'.; class widch may be called coi.umerci.il orinies. hi all there omitted oases the oU'endiT finds a safe refuge in the neighbouring country. I'etween two States whose border of 3,000 niihis is in many places unnuuked by any natural lino of demarcation, and where every facility exists for escajie iVoni one country to the other, the ab- f-ence of fuller provision for the surrt'nder of fugitive criminals is simply .•^liameful. "Wo h;ive no right to negotiate directly with a foreign pnv. or ; had it bona otheiuise, i believe we should lor.g ago h.ivo ciuicluded a satist'aotory extradition treaty with the United States ; but, as things were, we took the only course in our ])ower, namely, to make a strong rc[)resentati(m to the Biitish Gov- eininent. We found that after negotiations had been going on in a somewhat dilatory fashion for a numl;)er of years, they had been broken oil' on a pnin*;, as I judged, of no great dilliculty. Soon after came the inisunderstanding bet\>^}en the two Governinents, into tho details of which I have not time to enter, but which resultecl in a dead-lock, the o]ieratiiin even of the old convention being 8US))ended. I had been charged to discuss the subjcet with the liritish Government, and it bec«ni« my duty to point out the intolerable position in which Canada was placed ; that wo could not recover our own criminals from the United States, while at the same time our country was made a refuge for the rascals of over forty iinllinni of people; .iiul that crimes, osiiecidly on and near tho border, iinist greatly i/iciease tioni t»-e ]iraetii'al imn.unity afforiled to tne perpetrators, 1 urged, thorefoi-e, tho prcs^-ing necessity for joneUulin^; a new treaty forthwith, or of reverting H ' ^'1 M-a 1-lG to tlie oM one. Negotiations were rc-opeiiod for a new trratv, ami tlift oppration of tlie oltl con- vnitioii was rovivcd. While the iieOTtiations are i)enilin,i,' u Coniniission has Ijccu iss'.icd hy Hor Majcsly's Governnipnt to make enquiry into ih? "liole s-u'iject, and I hope tlkat biiforo, long our wishes may he gratilicil. Meaiitiine we liave fiunceedcd in v-issiii;; in- our own purposes a law which provides new und imjiroved machinery for ]ii;tti!i;j Jn fuicc tho [iresent and all future con- ventions; a step width liad been attempted for some years Avithout ]iraetieal result. We have tlius done all that is in our power, unles.s wo .should bo driven to deal with the subject by legisl.i- tiou iiidepeudeiit of treaty, which I ho[ie will not be the ca.-e. The Governor-General's Commission and Instructions. I vas also charged to discuss with the liritish Government the subject of tlie coniriiission nn(l instructions to our Governor-General. These documents are no longer suited to our circum- i^tauces. Under them the Governor is ordered int. to act on the judgment of his responsible ad- Aiscr--', but according to his own discretion, in all eases of eommutatinu of capital sentences, from v.liieh it should follow that there might be no responsibility on the ]iart of his Ministers. .So, also, he is instructed to act, if he sees fit, in opposition to the advice of his Council in other matters, with the same consequences; and further, he is instructed to reseivc for Her Majesty's consideration liills on various inijiortant elas.ses of subjects on wliieh wc have been granted b}' tlu^ Constitution power not merely to pass ISills, but to eumidete the legislation by the assent of tin; iJovernor. ]u rejily to tlic rejiresentations made of the anomalies contained in the;ic insti uments, the Colonial .Secretary announced a general concurrence in those representations, and his intention fsliortly to forward a commission and instruction;; in general accorclaiice with the views laiil bifoie liim. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) These views, as you will have oliserved, were all in the direction of securing to us that fuller measure of self-government which becomes our station amongst the peoples of the world. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Canada's Future, and its Kclation witli tho Empire. And here I must seize the opportunity of saying a word or two with reference to our relations to tlie ICiiipire, which were necessarily to some extent, however slightly and incMentally, involved in that discussion. You know that I liave expressed the opinion, which, 1 believe, is shared b\ most tliiiiki'ig men, that these relations' a-e anomalous, and tliat the present form of connection is not destined to be perpetual. My ojiinion is that the day nuist come when we sliall cease to be rison piseipUne ; and 1 ]io)ie that the. next few veal's will see sonietliiiiif more ilone in that direction. There are several other measures to which, without departing: IVoni tlie limited ran;^'i! in whi('h I have been en;,Mged, I might direct yonr attention, but i must'not trespass mucli longer on your time, and I have perha])s said eiionjih to show you that the (iovcrnment cannot be fairly (diarged with aiialhy or iiulolence in the, ]H'rforniaucc of their duty as the initiators of practical legislation. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Fcrsonal Attacks by tho Opposition. I must now say a few words upon the personal attacks made on me a few weeks ago, because I did not go out of (he (Joverninent altogether when 1 became unable, tVoiii ill health, longer to dis- charge tiie duties of Minister of Justice. I was charged by more than one speaker on that occas,ion with being guilty of dishonourable conduct because 1 did not follow the course suggested. I was lold that 1 had committed political suicide by the acceptance of my ])rcsent oihce. Sir, if I were disposed at this time to enter on a not unjustifiable course of retaliation and retort, the materials are plenty and convenient, and perliaps 1 am not altogeiher destitute of the power to ajijdy them. (Hear, hear.) I might point out to you wliat manner of things the men who stigmatise my action as dishonourable have thought iiot di.shonourable in themselves. I might show you what things the man who announces niy political suicide has chought to be in his own case consistent with ])olilical vitality, aye, with jiolitical triumph. (Hoar, hear, and cheers. ) lUit at this time I forbear ; I prefer to confine myself to my own vindication. Conscious of my absolute innocence, I .shall not — however anuizeu at such language from i-ucli lijis — 1 shall not enquire into tho character of my accusers, or lower myself by the argument that they are gniltii>r than 1, or close their mouths by tho recital of their story. (Heai', hear.) Indeed, 1 understand that they consider all such allusions as ungenteel, irrelevant, and ollensive, arguing that thej' make no jireti'iii'e to the possession of ]iul)lic virtue, and that it is no part of the duty of a critic to live up to the canons he lays down for others. (Ijaughtcr.) "^'ou are well aware that I accepted otlice with very great riduetanco, the grounds of which I am not here to yiarticularize. That reluctance was but intensified by time; and when, after a consideiable interval, ithaiiiicued that my health gave way, and I found myself unable longer to discharge with etliciency tlu; dutii's of my position, it did appear to me that I might fairly claim that greater measure of freedom ami repose which 1 should have enjoyed if 1 had been pcriniitcd to return to the position I formerly held — the only position I desired to occupy — that of your independent re])reseutative. In that view, sir, I earnestly pressed on my i'rieiul Mr. Mackenzie the acceptance of my resignation, !^lr. Mackenzie and my colleagues, however, thought that I ou^It ■" to leave the .sliip at that time if it cotil 1 be at all avoided. I wa.s referred to the example of a former holder of my ]i!ai'e — an exam))le which T do not cite in order to condemn his course — when he retained it for many months while wholly dis- abled by illness from discharging its duties. 1 felt, however, that the ollice rei|nireil the ][)resenco of an elKcient head, and that otherwise much of wliat had been accomplished would be lost, and I <:culd not reconcile myself to the adoj'tion of that course. Yiehling to the earnest wish of my colleagues, 1 reiuct;ani.ly ado[iieiiose from these gentlemen's own statements — who regarded their whole duly as limited to drawing their salaries and signing the orders, there may be othara who in- tend to devote their time and strength and ability, such as it is, to the public service, no matter what their oliice or its special work. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, depend upon it there is quite enough for a willing Minister to do. It is my sorrow that I am just now disabled forany considerable ex- ertion. 1 am labouring according to the measure of my strength — should that be increased, I shall devote its increase to your service. (Cheers.) And if matters are otherwise ordered, I shall feel it my dut> to resume the more private station which I never wished to quit. But I am referred to a spefch iu which I expressed reluctance to accept a light oflict, and the opinion that the salaries should bear some relation to the duties. I did express that rehu'lunco ; 1 did hold that opinion ; 1 entertain that reluctance and hold that ojiiniou still ; and I have already stated the circum- stances which overcame r.iy disinclination. But, sir, when, at the proper time, on ihe occasion of the readjustment of salaries iu 18713, while those gentlemen were in power, an eifort was made in this direction, they objected. (Hear, hear.) They pointed out the difficulties — and I confess they ore serious — and Jlr, Mackenzie, who made the suggestion, thereupon withdrew it, and the pro- posals of the late Government were adopted without division. There is not, under these circum- stances, any reasonable ground for the belief that a change is feasible. It is cxtienioly painful to me, even in answer to personal charges, to make any reference to my personal all'airs; but as I am in elfect accused of sordid and inipro[ier conduct in drawing the salary of )ny ofhce, I think I ought to add that ever since 1 entered the Government I have continued to maintain my family out ot' my private means, and have devoted every shilling of my official salary to those extra expenses and disbursements incidental to my public and ollioial position ; and thut course I intend to pursue while I remain in office. (Cheers.) No Craven Appeals for Office. If it be indeed true, as has been said, tliat iu the late change I have dug my political grave, I can only s:iy, gontleinen, th.at I am ipiite ready for my end ; I am not over-anxious for a longer life, ami I am prejiared to meet your verdict, whatever it may be, with decent composure, and even with modest cheerfulness. I make no IVantic appeals, 1 urge no personal grounds, for a continu* anee, such as I o!>scrve are now being made by our opponents for a restoration of public confidence. You knov: that I have never asked any man's vote as a favour ; that 1 have sought to impress on you that your vote is a high trust which yon are bound to exercise in support of the m^u whom you believe in your conscience to be best fitted to discharge the important duty of a repre- sentative of the peojilc. You know that, without ])rcsunnng myself to institute comparisons between tlie competing candidates, it was on this ground that I first approached you ; it was on this grouml that you re(picsted me to become your member for tlie Commons ; and it is on this ground, and this ground alone, th.at I shall ever meet you. (Loud cheers.) It is not to-duy, after ten years of service as your representative, that I shall base a claim to your conlidence on any 1)001' ])rofessions of what I may do in the future — still less on any arrogant assertions that I have acconiplislied much in the past. 1 know but too well how weak, how faltering, how defective has been my discharge of the duties you have imposed on me. Yet, if on the whole you have found me diligent ; if you h.avc found me honest ; if you have found the general tenor of my jmblic conduct such as you thought best calculated to promote the public good, — on these grounds, if on any, I shall challenge a contiriuanco of that confidence with which you have so far honoured me ; nor do I believe that I shall challenge it iu vain. (Prolonged cheers.) And what I say to you as tlie representative of this Biding I say to the people of Canada as a member of this CJovern- mcut : that no more shall we as a (Government than 1 as your representative imitate tliose iVantic nj^lieals to which I have referred. Our record is before you. AVhcn attackeii, it is our duty to ex|'!ai:i; wheii complaints are made, it isourduty to answerthem. You are to judge for yourselves; it is not our atl'.iir, it is yours. (IjOikI cheers.) Choose whom you will to serve you, and w^e shall acquiesce— whatever may be our opinion as to the relative claims of ourselves and our oppo n(:nt.l — we shall chei'it'iilly acquiesce in your decision, even though it sliould relieve us from the very great rcsponsiljilitics which beset the gov(Miinient of Canada. We arc not here to jiress for a continuance of otfiee, but to render an account of our stewardship— to state what we have done, to refute the accusations made against us, to discuss tlie policy of our opponents, and to leave to you, without a single word of entn-aty or of ])ressure, the free decision ns to whether the cou- fidonce which has been extended to us shall still bo coutiiiucd. (Loud cheers.) The Godcrlcli Harbour " Job." Sir, T believe it would be preposterous forme in this Hiding to refer at; any great length To •what is called the Goderich Harbour aflair. (Hear, he.i.r.) I observe that one of my opponents at a public meeting has misquoted a letter of mine by leaving out an important word. Another has garbled that letter liy underlining a word, in order to give it some sinister meaning. I leave it to you to aiiply the fit epithet to such conduct. It is true that on the 2nd of January, 1S74, I wrote a private note to Air. Mackenzie in these words : — "Toronto, January Siid, 1S74. " Mt Drar MArKRXjir,— David Mnoro, of Wallforton, bTorIi fairlv wlttioul respect of uei'soii^." 14*} (T.oud clieers.) Well, I f;v\r.y tliat a gooil many of you *ho hear me todny have hoard ir.e say .just the same thing at nirtetincts in this Riding, (Hear, hear.) Tliat is just, thf (hi'-triiic I have been preaching to you for the last ten y^ars witli relojcMiLe to tiie letting of contracts for public wnilcs. (Hear, hear, and ciiecrs.) Before I made my statement in the House, the leader of the Op]>o.sition, though, most illogieally as it seemed to im; co-operating in the iminitation of cor- ruption on Mr. Mackenzie, used as to myself these words : — " The letter written by the'hon. the Minister of Justice was liiphly creditable to bim— It was a letter wbich Mr. Moons luui a right to ask from him. Mr. Mooro supported tlie hon. .Miiiistor of Justice .is a candidate for North Jiruco in lS(i7. Ho was, tlicrefore, a friend of the hon. frcnileinan. and liad a riftlit to receive a letter stating all the lion. Rentlcman could honestly state. The hon. the Minister of Justice was not in any way personally rcsimusiblo for the loss of those i?29,000 to the country." Well, sir, I could, if I had chosen, have said something in favour of Mr. Moore, hut yon will observe that, in fact, I said nothing in his favour, and merely stated to him and to Mr. Mac- kenzie my understanding of the rule in operation, which precluded favouritism ; but I prefer on this occasion simply to read yon the correct report of what I said in the House of Commons, so that my own constituents shall have precisely the same account of the matter which I gave my fellow-meiiibers and the country. Here it is : — " Mr. Tilake said he would confine himself entirely to the personal matter. lie desired to state to the Ilouse hii political relations with the persons who were interested in the contract — the only tost reniaiiiintf to he applied to tha case. The persflns who were interested in ths contract were .Messrs. .Moore, Clendcnninj;, and Wilson, ol Walkerton. It was true that in the general election of 1807, when he stood for the Local Le^jislatiire in that constituency, he re- ceived the support of a very considerable number of gentlemen who had formerly belonged and profi ased to still belouir to the Conservative party. Upon that occasion he was elected by a very narrow majority, and the Liberal candidate for the Commons was defeatcfl by 150 votes, a Conservative being elected to that House. The v ote was, (borefors, in his casa not wholly a party one. Among the gentlemen who gave him their supjsirt on that occasion were Messrs. Moore, Clendenning and Wilson, all gentlemen belonging to, and not altogether without not e in, the ranks of the Conservative party. On the next occasion on which he stood for the Hiding, viz., at the gen cral elec- tion of 1871, Mr. Moore voted for, and Jicssrs. Clendenning and Wilson against him. The nc.\t election in lliat Hid- ing in which ho wa» concerned was in the fall of 1871, upon his accepting oflico, when he was elected by ace laraation. The next election was the general election in 1872, U))on which occasion Mr. Moore voted for him, while Mr. Clen- denning and Mr. Wilson did not vole. The next election was In the fall of 1673, upon his resignation on again accepting office, at which time he w.is elt'cted by acclamation. The next election was in January, 1874, shortly after the letter, to which reference haJ been made, v^'as written, when Mr. Moore voted for, Mr. Clendenning voted against him, and Mr. Wilson did not vote. Mr. Moore told him that he and Clendenning and Wilson were about to tender for the work, and he (Mr. Uiako) told him wliat was said iu the letter. He was rot influenced by tlie circumstance that Mr. Moore was a political friend. He know that the whole of those persons were respectable citizens of his cnunty, and he did not conceive that the question of a man's political relation to his menilK'r or to the Government ought in the slightest degree to aflfect his liaving every fair consideration with reference to tlie letting of contracts. Upon that principle he acted. Mr. Moore having been the person who came to him, he wrote the letter for him. Hail Mr. Clendenning, Mr, Wilson, or Mr. Tolton come to him, he would have done just the same thing. He was content that any letter he had written, or any expression that he had used, with reference to the letting of any contract from the time he might bo supposed to have any influence in such matters, should be made public, and it would t»e found that they had all been after the p:ime fashion. He was convinced that his hon. friend (Mr. Mackenzie) would let this and all other contracts fairly, w ithout respect to persons. He told Mr. Sioore that he might dcjiend on that, and nothing more ; and he told his honourable friend precisely what he told Mr. Moore, so that he might understand, as distinctly as Mr. Mooro and his partners, that his (.Mr. lilake's) opinion was that contracts should be let fairly, without respect to persons. That was the last communication he had with any person in regard to this subject. He knew nothing more about it. He observed that the Order in Council awanling the work to Mr. Ellis was made upon the 13th February, ten days after the tiiuo ho left the Government. Neither by letter nor by word of mouth had he any other communication with any pcrs ijunie stain or Ulcniish in a name of n«t«, Not gricvinj,' that tiitir greatest are so sniaW, Inflate themselves, with dome insane delight, N And judge all nature from her feet of chiy, Without tho will to lift their eyes and see llei' Gudlilie hcul, crowned with spirituul Dre, And tuuchinif other worlds." (Cheers.) By one of these, speaking near this place, my father was lately charged with having^ acted dishonourably in accepting the Chancellorship of Upper Canada. I shall not attempt to give in my own words the history of what ensued after Mr. Baldwin's Cliancery Act was passed by the Government in v.'hieh my father was Solicitor-General, though not of tho Cabinet. I prefer to read you this account, published some years ago by a person conversant with the facts : — "When the measure became law, the question came who should be appointed to the seats on the Bench which had been created. There was but one answer in the profession. Air. lilake was univei-sally i)ointed out as the i>ersou best fitted for the post of Chancellor. It re: THE PORT ELGIN DEMONSTRATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th. The season's Demonstrations to the refonn Leaders closefl nt PortElfjin, the hearty reception nccordctl and complcto arrangements mn.de being alike creditable to the Reformers of North Ihiice, as tlicy must have been gratifying to the hon. gentlemen thus honoured. Upon the arrival of the train bcarin" the Ministerial party at the station, an Address of welcome was read to the Hon. Mcssis. MachcMizie and Mowat by the Keeve of the village, Mr. Henry Hilker, and sub- sequcnlly the rresidcntof the Reform As^sociation, Mr. James Kowan, presented Addresses to tlio mcnil)ei a of both Governments Irom the Itef.ormers of the Riding. The speakers of the day were Hon. Mr. Cartwright, Hon. Mr. Huntington, Hon. Mr. Mowat, and Hon. Mr. Hardy, bo. sides whom J. Gillies, M.P., Isaac I'>owman, M.P., and D. Sinclair, M.P.P., wero on the plat, foiui. HON. MR. CARTWRIGIirS SPEECH. Hon. Mr. Cartwrigtit was received with loud cheers. After some preliminary remarl;s ho said : — Now, ^Ir. Chairman, thera arc three gentlemen to whom I am specially de&iroua of pay- ing my respects. An Unholy Trinity. Those gentlemen differ somewhat in rank ; they also differ rather widely in point of ability, and (til ough to a much smaller extent) in moral excellence. (Hear, and laughter.) But they have one tiling in common ; they are all bound together by one holy bond of union — they hato tiie present Administration most cordially. One of them is in the habit of declaring that he is perpetually in danger of being mistaken for a prince of the blood, and modestly insinuates that it is no great wonder if he is, while his partisans assert that he ia cheered upon all occasions liko tlie Queen herself. (Hear, and laughter. ) Tho Prince. Him therefore we may ftirly distinguish as " The Prince." The Peer. The second is a member of the Senate of the Dominion, and as he is known to hold the opinion that that august body is fully entitled to all tho rights and privileges which appertain to the Ihitish House of Lords, we will describe him as " The Peer." The Commoner. The third is a much more humble individual, being only a simple member of the House of Commons liko myself, so we will dub him " The Commoner," which will give us Prince, Peer, and Commoner to deal with in due rotation. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) As a matter of course, by all laws of heraldry we must give due precedence to the Prince. You know that Shakespeare advises us to have " Respect for Ijia ^reat place, and let tho deWl Be Bumctimes huuoured ou bis burning throne." Kins John and Prince John. Now, .as perhaps you are aware, our Prince is called John, a title not unsuggestive to students of English history — " Once in name England enjoyed a king almost tho same." And the resemblance is by no means a superficial one. (Hear, hear.) Not to speak of divers similar peculiarities of character, you will remember that tho good King John, under circum- stances of a rather peculiar nature, was graciously pleased to become the author of Magna Charta, the great bulwark and foundation of English liberty. Our Prince John for very similar reasons Wiis also graciously pleased to become the author of our Canadian Confederation ; and just as King Joliu and his friends were in after days wont to take great credit for the princely gene- rosity and love of his subjects' welfare which moved the royal heart on that occasion, so I see that Prince John claims the never-dying cratitude of the people of Canada for his share in Con- federation, willi equally good reason. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Some people do say that King Joliii only signed Magna Chartii to keep his place, and that Prince John was actuated by much 'Jii; s.iino motives, but they are probably pestilent Grits of earlier or later date ; and any- how the ^rcat fict remains that King John signed M.igna Charta and Prince John signed the ino together to jilunder their ward for tho bcnclit of that ward's lawyer, and ono trustee publicly declares that it is ail right ! Probable Fate Elsowhoro. Well, I will only say that there are many coimti Ics in w hich Mr. rnmhcrland and Mr. Mae- phorson, if they had been proved guilty of such acts as tiiey have publicly admitted thcmselvi's to have committed, \x ould have had an oj)portunity of reconsidering tlieir views as to the rela- tions of 1111 inn iniiX luuin throughout a period of enforced b' elusion of considerable duration. (Hear, hear.) Attitude Hero. llcro tl'.cpo gontlcmjn blossom into political moralists of an cppocially rigid typo. Thoy mourn over the degradation of our ]iolitics. Thciv regret that tliey have been disappointed in tile pri'scnt Mijiistry. They, sjicaking from a lofty moral standpoint, exhort their eonntrynicii to select more honourable lueii as their leaders. They tacitly oiler themselves as apt examples, and indeed .Mr. Macpherson may perhaps be able to inculcate one uselul moral lesson if he wiil only teach his hearers not to do as he has done. (Laughter.) Why deal Severely. You may ask why 1 treat this matter so severely. I do so because Tknow best liow great is the mischief these men have done. If there is one thing more than another which will damage the credit of Canadii abroad, it is such proceedings as these. My otiicial duties compel me more than most men to understand how gravely these revelations atlect our standing on tho Stock r.xchange ;iiul in Downing-street, and I can assure you that the mischief is incalculal>l<\ As a more matter of business, 1 had rather the half million of dollars we so narrowly os,:ipi ' losing in this transaction had been Hung into the sea than that prominent capitalists \ Lon- ..ud men in high ollice in tiie Imperial Cabinet should have become familiarly 'i" -ted with these shameful details. ^Uear, hear.) Demoralization of tho Opposition. I say nothing of the demoralization of the Opposition tliemselvc i far I h.avo not n one Ojiposition newspaper, 1 have not heard ono Ojipot-ition speaker, vt. iro to cei ure conduct which they kntiw to be iiiexcusalile. (Hear, hear.) They may indeed iiji.rmur among them- selves, .iiid ex]iress a not unreasonable o|)inion that as Mr. Maci'iierson got the > into this c.v tremeiy awkward serapo he oiii;lit at least to have refunded the money when ho was lound out, but that is about the highest llight of virtue of which they are capable. ^ •'■ Why Notice Pamphlet? To return, however, to tho pamphlet itself. Under ordinary circumstances, T should not liave deemed iiiis worth formal notice. The errors it contains are so gross, the malicious inten- tion is so plain, that I would have left it to work its own cure, which it would soon have done in the minds of all intelligent men. But I find that this precious document is being usc,'iitur. ) I say, tiioso consideratinnM, and not its hx- triiwio merit, aloue warrant luu iu taking up your time to-day Uy diacusiiiio' it. Its Wholo Obtoot. 1 may aay liricfly that its whole pith and siilistanco consists in a dclilicvatc attcmijt to saddlo us with till! result of our i)re ordinary reader us to mako him believe that wo have done what wo accused Sir John A. JFaodoiiiild of doinj? — that ho mii;ht be liad, but that wo were worse than ho was. Now, all this has been answered, and all tlic'>-it fallacies have been cxiiosod again and .a;,'ain. Mr. Macpherson's speech Mas replied to most ably and conclusively on the spot by Mr. Scott in the Senate. 'J'ho wholo general bcojio of his argu- ment was disproved in (letail by myself at Newmarket and ehewhere, but still, for surety sake, 1 propose to-day to point out to you a few of the grossest and worst blunders contained in this. liainpuK't, and thereafter to give you in brief outline sucii facts aiwl proofs as will. I think, fully satisfy you of the utter and absurd falsity of tho acoubatious luvelleil at us, on the score of ex- travaj^auce, at least. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Fundamental Error. The fnndamcnt.al error of alleging that the present Government are, or ran by my jviss'- bility bo, justly held responsible for two-thirds of the expenditure incurred in the fiscal year 1S73-4, simply because they took otlice on the 7th November in tliat year, I h,i\« already ex- posed ; and were it not that 1 see that this foolish and dishonest assertion is cotitinnally repeated by l>r. Tuppcr, by Senator Macpherson, by Mr. McCarthy, and. in fact, by every OppositioiF speaker and paper, I would not waste another word upon the subject. As it is, I may remind you that the va.st bulk of the total outlay in this, or indeed in any ordinary year, is always lixccf in adv.anco, long before the expenditure itself is actually iii'ju'i'cil ".'lie itciis over wiiich any (ioverninon*', ti'kirj: olaee in the luidille of any given year, can exercise control, are very few in- deed. Jn our own case wo took ollieo, as I have said, on the 7th of Novoinbcr, 1S7.'V Inuiio- diately thereafter we were oecujiied with our own individual elections, which were scarcely over before the dissolution and goneial election of 1S7-1. Following ajiiiost inst.iiitaiieously u]M>n thi.v camo the session of Parlianunt, conuneucin^' in Jlarcli and tcniiiiiatiiig in June, within a few days of the close of tho fiscal year. Question for Critics. Now, I put this plain question to j-ou and to our critics :— "What would you have had ns do ?" Obviously, under the circumstances I have detailed, it would !ia\c been utterly iin])ossiblc tir make a thorough or careful examination of the several items of expenditure actually in ]irogress. It is equally obvious that to have ordered the stoppage of any )iulilie works or contracts then in progress, or to have interfered materially with existing arraii'.'enieiits without a tliorou;^li ami careful examination, would havi; been ;- most iiii|)roper and arbitrary act upon our ])ait. J'^very man possessing the least experience in public atl'airs must know that the year's outlay neees.sarilv' went on as previously arranged by our predecessors, and th.at it is as absurd as it is dislionest to attempt to hold us rcsjionsiblo for expenditure contra. ti:d under estimates we hail not pre- pared, or by virtue of contracts formally coui[)leted before we took ollieo. (Hear, hear.) Blunder No. 1. rSut letting this pass, I proceed to deiil with a series of very grave misstatements which I find contained in Mr. Macpherson's panijililet ; and first, I observe that Mr. Macpherson, on the Glat page theruof, and elsewhere, makes the following statement : — " Tliis slinws tlir\t Mr. Tilley had brousjht down su|)plemcntar.v cstimaten, the items in whioti, and in Auts of l':u'- lianiont, u\-vilo tlio iuDreasod cxpemlituro of the ses.siuii of ISTIl aimmnt to $l,fil'_',00(), ui'fordinj;' to .Mr. Tiiley. And. 1(> sliDW tliat tliat aiiiouiit was subslaiitially corroet, I sliall (luotetlio followini; words from Mr. Carlwri'.'lit's budget S|>eoch of 187-1;—' Tliu lugiilatiou of lait sussiou added over ?f 1, 500,000 to the fixed charges of the country.' " On page 31 he says : — "Then tlie le^'islatinn to which I have just referred was passed, and the expenditure for the year under the Arts- of rarliaiiieiit and by supplementary estimates was autliorizoil to be incroiusod (accordin;? to Mi. Tilley) by *l,.'i4.!.iiiiO, niakiiiij the f«(<(i CN/ii)mtt'.s/or //ia« ,i/carS-J2,4»3,lS:i ! Tiiu Senate will thus see tluit the riovernrnont of tint iliiy Tiroviiled for the additionid expenditure ordered by Parliament in the Bcssion of li7y. Mr. Tilley evidently bupputtil he v.aa making ample provision for all requirements." ^is also on p.ige 38, in two places, where he says expressly : " Mr. Cartwri^'ht stated the additional amount at $1,509,000." Now, the assertion that I stated that a sum of .$1,500,000 -would cover tho whole additions mado by Mr. Tilley is utterly and entirely incorrect. What I did say was a wholly difTerent thing, and Mr. M tcpherson has fallen into this very absurd error by confounding the statement that Mr. Tilley h: id added 31,500,000 to the "fixed" annual expenditure, which is quite correct, ■with the equally orrect but quite different statement that the true estimate should have beea 81,500,000 over the ascertained estimate prepared for Mr. Tilley by the officers of his owa Department, aid which, properly enough, only included those items which could be dcterminei •with leasonablo accuracy .at the moment. Had Mr. Mac])herson taken the tronbl« to read my budget speech of 1874, from which he professes to quote, lie NtS(..7!7 !)0S,3S2 3s:-,0O9 expend, or 'cfercncc to ;liese itrms, y's oi'igiiial ey's several , till he lias fact that it id that no- lle iiiul one :cept in the Iniission of ight sheer ction made on a cjucs- d ever read formal and been veiy take itself, ■y bjvd ; but crsiitcd in capacity rmnucial further to er ordered and Kt'w 8 incxuTcd ich are set , from my n exagpor- ish to give \\ in mind I S22,4S,1," ion of tlie be able to hear, nv.d liown him ic smallest 000 (over mission of Prince Edward Island into the Union ; nor for the sum of §200,009, being part, and part only, of the actual disbursements incurred for the service of the llounted Police in the North-west, which force was organized under a special Act, above cited, of that eame session, passed by Mr. Tilley's colleagues, and providing in detail for the nlimber of men, the rates of pay and allow- ance, and all other matters appertaining to the Mounted Police. (Hear, ^hear. ) Now, what say you to this gross and palpable blunder, solemnly set forth by a gentleman who pro- fes jes to be an authority on the '|ue.stion of Dominion finances ? Here we have him three-ciuarters 01 a million wrong on the vital starting point for purposes of comparison, and that, too, omitting every possible disputed item — giving him all he claims — and omitting to debit the late Govern- meut with many very considerable sums justly chargeable to them. {Hear, hear.) Blunder No. 3. A thii'd and most grave misstiitei^. ;at is that contained in page 6-1 of Mr. Macpherson's pamphlet : — •' Sir F. Hincks, in 1870, showed tbo debt w.iq tlien S22 50 per head. In 18!3, Mr. Tilloy said the debt per hcnrt hiid not iiicrcasod. liut iu ISTii the debt had uRreased to s;i7 'Jj per licad. The ta.xatio;i (per licad) had iucruaioil irom SI5 60 in 187U to if5 70 in 1»70. » • * Six dollars per head is now required." Which directly implies that the present Government have increased the debt of the rominion from $22 5'J to §37 \)'3 per cajiila, being an increase of very nearly i>lo 50 per head. Plain Meaning. This, as you will see, ia the plain and obvious meaning of the paragraph I have quoted ; but if Mr. Macphersou should dispute this, if he should allege that he does not mean to imply that this Government are responsible for such increase, then I say that this paragraph is most dishonestly put. (Hear, liear. ) Take, however, his ajjparent meaning — the meaning which has been placed upon this paragraph by all his readers, and by all the press who have discussed the subject. Our population to-day is probably quit^ up to 4,000,000. Mr. Macphersou alleges tliat we have increased the total amount of the debt by §15 50 per head ; in otlier words, that (diseardiii;,' for the moment all question of increased population) we have added Su2,001.>,000 to the debt of the Domiuiou 1 Actnal Fact. now stands the fact? Since we came into office we h?.vc borrowed in all some $10,000,000 (nominally $44,000,OUO), out of which wo have, however, p.iid otF old debts, or have invested at higher rates of interest fully $20,000,000, leaving a total nominal addition of §24,000,000 to the public debt, without deducting one single farthing for the natural increase of population from 1S73 to 1873. "What additional burden we have thereby inllictod on the people of Canada i will show you ]iresently, and also who are the parties projieily res])onsil)le for this additional indebtedness, such ns it is; Meantime I iii.iy bricdy hay, that whereas iMr. Macplierson has either as.serted or dishonestly implied that we hail increased the average indebtedne^js at the rate of §lo 50 per head, being O'»2,000,000 on the eslimated poi)ulati(iu of 4,000,000, the actual fact is tliat at the very outside the debt pi'r capUa has iiicrca.si d between two and three dollars, or, in all, from ten to twelve millions (making due deduction for the increase of our po|?ulaticiu, and coiiiputiiig/'ec capita) during our administration, and th.it here very litcially you have eleven men in buckram grown out of two. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Fisiiros from FubUo Accounta. The actnal figures from the Tublic Accounts show that we owed in gross 8141,103,551 (including Dominion notes and cross accounts) on the 30th June, 1874 (without including any sums borrowed by the present Govemmont), and possessed cash assets amounting to ??32,8S;{,5.S(); that on the 30th Jane, lS7ti, we owed in gross $1(51,204,1)87, and possessed cash assets .'j! j(),tj,'');i,- 173. The gross addition to our debt, therefore, up to the oOtli Juno, 1870, is nominally S-*),043, 151!, and the net nominal §1(!. 273, •")')',), deducting the actual cash bearing investineiits added since lS7o-4. This brings us down to the date named by Mr. Maeplierson, and though we have since inade another loan, the actual result is precisely what 1 have given you above, namely, an addition of §20,000,000 (nominally $2 t,000,OOU) to our actual debt, aud an increaso of from §2 to 63/'ir aipilu.. Blunder No. 4. A f.mrtli, and if possible still more absurd error, ia the statement tlutt wo h.ave increased tlio taxation from §3 50 to §(5 per head. Now, if this were true, it would be a most serious rcilectioa on Mr. Macpherson's own friends, inasmuch as the iiicvcased taxation impo: tid by us was put on solely to provide for additional expenditure incurred by them — the necessity for which they had themselves publicly admitted before they left otiice. Kasbnoss of Opposition. But as 1 shall ]>resently sliow you, it is not even apjiroximately true ; and tlio mere fact that Mr. Macphersou should have been ill-advised enou'ih to make, and other jiarties indiscreet tnou"h to repeat, so very foolish an assertion, is perhaps one of the very best ])toofs I can givo you of the utter recklessness with which the most unfoundetl charges have been scattered broad- cast against this Government. 1 presume that Mr. Macpherson's arithnietical powers will enable"' him to understand that if we are now paying .S2 50 per head— on a pojiulatioii of 4,000,000— more than we did in 1870, M'e are paving just vSlO.OOO.OOO additional tax.ilii.ii (over an.l above the amount fairly due for our increased ijopulat'i.ii) iui;re tU.ui «e ili.'. in 1^7*'. '"^■i 1>. ; .JO Troop of Errors. This single Statement contains a wluile nest of blunders. The fact itself 13 quite inisstated. M'lic iiiciease of ouv j)(i]iulation from natural causes and the ailmisbiou of new Provinces is "wholly ignored. A consideia))le amount of interest on investments accumulated since 1S70 ii overlooked, as also a large amount of additional receipts not properly to be treated as taxes. Actual Fact. And liiTC, again, how stands the fact ? .Says Mr. ^Nracphcrson, in the p.issago I have alrcailv ♦lUfited, "Tlio taxation had increased from $0 SO in 1870 to iws : — In ]S(i'.)-70 the esti- mated population was almost exactly 3,400,000, the gross revenue §i5,51'J,'J'J5, and the avcniu"; per head .^-4 u(i. The receipts from actual taxes, Customs, Stamps, and Excise Avere 813.0s7.sm. and the average per head ^3 S.'i. In 1870-71 the population by census Mas nearly 3, oOO.OCI) .souls, 'i'he gross revenue Mas S19,.'3;}o,;)UO, and the average per head §5 [>2}j. The receijjts from taxes Sl(),;{i;u,;j87, and the average per head ^4 G(i. In 1877-78, the estinuitcd population m;i ; .supj)osed to be over 4,000,000. The gross estinuited receipts are !i?'J;}, 400,000 (from M'hich are to be deducted some .S-r)0,O0O interest on investments not existing in 1870), giving an average ]u .• liead on $-J;5,ir)0,000of $'>'i'J nearly. The estimated tax receipts are §1!), 150,000, giving ;in average per head of .S-l 79. It results, therefore, that the increase per head as between 1877-7^ and 18()!)-70 is upon gross rccei])ts !?1 2',i per head ; upon tax receij)ts pro])er, 94 cents jier lieail. And as bctM'cen 1877-78 and 1870-71, upon gross reeeijjts '20.) cents per head ; u])ou tax vc- •ceipts l.'{ cents per head. And that Mr. Wacpherson is in error as between 1809-70 and ]>^77-7s to the extent of Ji^l '27 per head on a comjKirisou of the gioss receijjts, or say !?,'), 080,000 pi r iinnum ; and as to the actual tax rcceiiits to the extent of §1 60 per head, or say S!(),"24O,0i.(i \u r ^mnum out of !? 10,000,000. {Hear, hear, and loud eheeis.) Further, that a.s betMceu l877-7> jiiid 1870-71 Mr. Macphcrson is in error, on a comparison of the gross receipts, to the extent ot ^•-2 L'.'Ji per head, or say §58,040,0(10 per annum ; and on eonipari.son of the actual tax ri'- ceipts, to the extent of 5-2 .H7 jur head, or say ■S!),4>0, 000 per annum. (Hear, hear.) I reserve comparison M'ith the years 1871-72 and l872-7o till a later period. Give Mr. Macphcrson his Choice. Meantime I\Tr. Macplicrson may take his own choice of his sta'ting point. When the smallest possible blunder involves an error of §.'),000,()00 per annum, it seems hard to deny him the benelit of the doubt. (Hear, hear.) As to the further question, Who is responsible for thi.-< increase of taxation or ex])enditure ? Mhctherit be 94 cents or$l 23, or 13 cents per head, 1 s:li;ul have again ix Mord to say before concluding my remaiks. Blunder No. 5. The fifth error to which I Mill call your attention is one contained in this reniaikable para- graph. Jiage til : — "The stum of two iiiiUioiis of dolJurs in SoIicO.iilo A of the Pupjily Hill of 1,'574, cliar^oil n^aiiist re\ciinc, I l)eliev('. was altoirctliiT lor iiicruasoU I'.xpcinliUuo wliioh the rcvume did not cuvcT, and tor wliieli llic iiroaciit Oovernmei.t i.s rcsiiuiibible." Is'ow, here you will see that the learned Senator eominits himself jiretty tmreservedly to the statement that Schedule A, 1874, means the addition of .^'2,000,000 made by us, ami for M'hich we are diiectly responsible. Our Senator should remember that a, little knowledgij is a very dangerous thing. I presume that Mr. Mac|)herson has occasionally looked at the rui)lii: Accounts, but he must have read tiiem to very little purpose mIicu he comiuittcd himself to such a statement as this. Take the very first and largest item, one of $480,232 42, under tho head of " liaiances carried fin'ward." Does Mr. Macphcrson presume to say that tho ]iresent Gov- cinmriit are res]ionsil)le for one jienny of the exiienditurc here described? Had he turned to jiage ;iOO of the Tulilic Accounts for the year lS7.'i, he M"ould have found that each .-'nd every oiio of these unexpended balances had been carried forw.ird by (.)rders in Council passed by the late Covernnient long before we entered ollicn, and that they M'erc, in point of fact, portions of votes obtajiied by them for the service of the years 1S72-7."1, though spent in and cliargeil to the cervice of 187.'i~74. Similarly in the ease of " Uiiprovicled items," amounting to §177, ■■>32 1)7, he luvd simply to refer lo page 29;i of the same Public Accounts to see with his own eyes that every jienny of this money had bccji actually exiiended by the late Government prior to tho 1st duly, 1873 ; an expenditure for Mliieii, 1 presume, even Mr. Macpherson Mill hardlj' contend that the ]ircsent (iovcrnmcnt are respoiisiliie, (Hear, hear, and cheers.) As to the expcndituic of .'?280,000 for the Bervices of the Mounted Police, in conformity Mith the terms of the statute jiassed by our predecessors; for the rent of bariaclcs in Maiiitolia from 1870 to Ist Novemhei, 1873 ; and for additional cost for maiiitenain'o of Dominion forces in Manitoba, to Mhich, 1 belicvo, Mc did not add one man, 1 tiiink that not even faction itself will jiretend that Me arc ncconntablo, any more than mc are for the necessity of jiroviding funds to liiii.sh contracts on d'vers public M'orks entered into by those gentlemen; or for the cost of tho funeral of Sir (leorge ('artier, or of the Pacific Pailway (Commission, or of sums paid for the Indiaii.T in reference lo their treaties of 1871-7'2; or f(U- such iiicrea.scs of salaries made by the late Covcrmnent, by liieir Order in Council of October 3ht, l.'^7.'>, as Mere I'arried out by us; or indeeil for anylhiiii but the most insignilicant portion of the 62,000,000 eom]iri.'red in Schedule A, Mhich hu has set e I't to assert " were filtogether for iuereascd expenditure which the revenue did not cover, r.nl 151) itc Tnisstatcd. Provinces is I since 1870 ii 1 us taxes. have al'caily ?G pel- lieail i s car is in (.'ant ; lit are wliolly ce, 1 will ;_'ivi^ ;!)-70 the esti- d the avci':i'_"; 3Sl3.0S7,ssi, irly ;j,r)00,(H'it receiiit.s from )pulation m a - I which arc to II averayo ju ,■ 00, giving an ;weeii J877-7-' ints per hcail. njioii tax ic- and 1.^77-7-' !5,0S0,0«0 1 . ■: >(),'J4O,0l'li i„ I- ;weeu 1X77-7^ the extent m ctual tax ri . 1-. ) I rcser\c n the smallest deny liim the ail)lo for tl.- ^ : head, 1 i.li.i;l arliaule para- 011110, I Ik'HlVi' 111 UovcriiiiH:!,! rvodly to till' ml for which ;3 is a \('i'V tiic I'ul.lii' niflclf to such ler tho head present Gov- he turned to ml every on' I l.y the hit" tioiis of votc-i !iru<'d to the Si77,33'2 ;U. wn eyes thai ir to tho 1st rdlj' contend expendiluii' f the statute , Nc.vcinbci, , to which, I 1 that wc ai contracts on if ISir (JcoiLi' reference lo criinient. l>y for anylhiii-' li lui has sc( I' it cuvc:', 1 1. 1 S for which tlie present Government is rcsponsildc." (Hear, hear.) Now, c;onth'mrn, I admit that 8enator8 are constitulionally siqiposcd to know no bi tier, though 1 would he most loth to liave you imagine that 1 do not know that the Senate contains many able men finite as well . qualified as myself to discuss these questions, if only their attention was specially called to them. Suggestion to Mr. Macphcrson. But I would moat respeelfuUy submit that it would bo as well that ^^l•. ^Faepherson should in future read tho Public Accounts of the Dominion before he jirocteds to instruct the ])ublic at large as to the extent and nature of our transgressions in reference to the nianagcmeiit of your linanccs. (Hear, hear, aud cheers.) Blunder No. 6. Sixthly, I find that Mr. Macphcrson has committed himself to the assertion that tho new taxes impo.sed by mo in 1S7'4 only yielded tho sum of .91,700,000. 1 do not pretend to under- stand the mysterious workinijifs of the Senatorial mind ; but 1 would like, as a matter of mere curiosity, to know how Jlr. M'lepherson arrives at this c(.ncliision. Mr. 'J'illey's estimate of tho total revenue likely to be olitained for lS7:)-74 amounted to §-21,740,000. 'Adiliug .?-2(;0,000, wiiich was about the sum wo received from Prince Hdward Island, wo will have a total of $•22,000,000, the ])robable receipts of 1874 under Mr. Tilley's tarill". Kow, there is no ground Avhateve- for believing th.at, except for the alter.ation.s introtluceil by nic, and tho large amount of duty paid in ariticiii.ation of the change of taritf, the revenue for lS7;'-4 would have o.-t3, ami lS7(J-7. These amount reR]icctivclv to SI, 707,075, §1,048,941, and -SI, 3 14, 000, making a total of .?.'),020.01(). Of this expenditure about §100,000 a year ooiisists of items wiiich may be described as absolutely fixed, and practically out of the control of any Government, being the sums expended in keeping existing buildinendc call your attention. (Heiir, hear, laughter and cheers.) Practical Facts. Coming, however, to matters of more practical moment, I propose to lay before you a few simple facts, from wliich you will be able to draw your own conclusions. When we took nlluc in 1873-4, the total population of this Dominion was estimated not to exceed three and tlu'd cheers.) Calculation. Now, as rtgards my frst statement, that the buvdcn of interest annually accruing on our debt and subsitlies, mcasiaed per capita, has hardly increased at all from 1S73-4 to 1877-S, 1 beg to submit the following calculations ; — When we took otliee we found that the total amoaiit due for interest on that debt and subsidies (including, of course, the second half-year's interest on Mr. TiU.ey's loan) a!noiuitepalled" at the average increased burden for interest on the 2>ublic debt of one cent per head. (Cheers and laughter.) What ought to Appal us. I must confess that I am not appalled at all at the amount of additional expenditure in tliis direction. What I am appalled at is the depth of ignorance displayed, not merely by himself, but by those who have been re-echoing his statements in parrot fashion from one end of this country to the other, and also at the thouglit that under our Constitution important measures may be decided by the votes of persons as ignorant and as prejudiced as Mr. Macpherson has shown himself to be in every page of his pamphlet, and persons too who are by law divested of all responsil)ility to the people of Canada. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) How Interest Kept Down. Should you desire to know how we have managed to keep the rate of increase so low, the explanation is simple eiioni,di. It arises partly from our success in lowering the average rate of interest by borrowing money at lower rates, and partly from the fact of the natural increase of our population to which I have referred, and also in some small degree from the firmness of the Goveruinent in insisting ou such reduction in the subsidies to the Provinces as could fairly be made, (tlear, hear.) Second Statement. Coming to the second statement — that the absolute amount per head of our debt hns been very slightly increased— it will suflice to remind you that although we have borrowed anoniin.il amount of Torty-four millions since we came into oliice, yet, as wo have paid olf some twenty millions in the shape of the reduction of debt or of subsidies, which amounts to precisely the same thing, and have also invested a moderate amount in iiiterest-jiaying securities, the actual clfective addition to our public debt is barely twenty millimis (nominally twenty-four millions), from which if you (buluct tl'.e proportionate amount for the estimated increase of one-quarter of a million t'Ctween 1873 and 1878, jou wiU Hud that our ellcetive increase does not exceed 5!10,- 000,000, which, 2)cr ca/iiCa, would amount to about §'2 50 per head, a eonsidend)le but not by any means overiioweriiig inereiise in our indebtedness, more esiieeially as it has not been, as 1 have sliown, accompanied by any appreciable addition to the average amount jiaid by way of in- terest and subsidy, and an amount which, even taking it at the highest possible lignre, is riili- culously disproportionate to the amount of s;i,1 43 per head, which Mr. i^laepherson re[>eatcdly implies that this Goverumeuthave added to the national iudebtedness. (Hear, hear, and cheers.^ Third Statement. In the third place, I told you that the total taxatiuu per head for which we were in anyway responsible had not increased, but decreased, since we took olliee. Now, I entirely repudiate the idea that we can be justly held responsible for taxes which we were compelled to impose in order to meet obligations incurred in dcliancc of our most, emphatic protests. (Hear, hear.) Grave Financial Crime. So far from this, I hold that it was one of the gravest crimes, financially speaking, which the lale Government committed, that they delilierately and wilfully incurred vast new charges, which they well knew wouM result in a heavy delicit, without im|iosing at the same time a Builicicnt amount of new taxes to meet the new expenditure. (Chef is. ) No rule of liscal policy is clearer or better established than this : that if a (iovcrnment allows it'-elf to be forced into new expe'idihires without at the same time jtutting on new taxes, it depiives itself of the only safeguard which any Administiatiou possesses against the continual pic^ssure of its own sup- porters for special favours ; and in our case it is very unlikely that anything like the amount of new charges which were imposed in the fatal session of lS7o could have been carried hail this elementaiy rule of true statesmanship been adhered to. (Hear, hear.) Actual Facts. As it was, you will remember that in lfi73- 4 we found that the ascertained expcnditurn in- curred unl<'i'>l*i, which, divided by three and three-quarter millions, gives an average of .•;') '2'J jiei' head. ( )ur estimated expenditure for the present year, 1877-8, deducting, as it is but just to do, that portion which y V..V ^f ™ %. 162 h derived from actunl cash investments not existing in 1S72-3, amounts to $23,128,000, which, divided by four millions, gives an average of $5 73 per head, being a reduction of 44 cents per head in our favour on that estimate, or nearly two millions per annum. (Cheers.) It may bo observed that this statement is very unduly favourable to the late Administration, in.asmnch ns the expenditure actually incurred in 1873-4 was nearly §()00,000 in excess of the amount recorded lu the public accounts, the fa00 Mimntfd Police 330,OfK) Indian treaties, say 330,000 Total SS .5,100,000 Which deducted from *23,12S,000 WUlRlveasumot $18,028,000 Result. Which amount, divided by four millions, is as nearly as possible $4 50J per head. In other words, were you to deduct those increases which are directly due to the action of the late Gov- ernraent, you would find that we were administering the affairs of this country some 82 cents p;r head cheaper than they were able to do in 1872-3, or, in round numbers, for §3,280,000 less a year, taking their own standard of measurement. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Items of List. Now T call your special attention to the items composing this list. Of them all I can imagine but two — that is, a part of the cost of new Indian treaties, and a small part of the item for in- terest on capital expended on public works— as to which it is even possible to raise a question as to the liability of the late Government. Can anybody pretend that this Government are re- sponsible for the assumption of the Provincial debtor the additional subsidy to New Hrunswick ; ti. ;he admission of Prince Edward Island ; for the loan contracted by Mr. Tilley ; for the al- teration in the mode of keeping the Post-office accounts, resulting in a nominal addition of 1300,000 ; for the working expenses of those portion-s of the Intercolonial Railway opened since 1872-3 ; for the interest upon capital sunk in carrying out pubhc works commenced by these hon. gentlemen ; for the expenditure caused by the Mounted Police, which they organized, and whose numbers and pay we have not increased ; or for the sy.stem of Indian treaties which they had inaugurated, and which we were of necessity obliged to carry to completion ? 1 have pur- posely taken no account of several other items, such as weights and measures, such as statutory increases made in accordance with Acts of Parliament, passed by them, nor of the heavy expen- diture on public works chargeable to income, nor of sundry minor matters which might be fairly ■setl to swell the total against them. 1 have dealt with items of jiermanent increase alone ; and though 1 do not pretend to say that all of these were unnecessary or uncalled for. I do say that it is the height of injustiee to deliit us with the increased oxpenditure fairly and direi tly due to the acts of our preclecessors ; and that in any comparison made Ix'tweeii the present and the liite Government, the least you can do is to compare our expenditure, after deduccing these items, with theirs under similar circumstiinees. (Hear, hear.) One More Caloulatiin. 1 shall only trouble vou with one calculation more. You will observe that Mr. Tilley. in his budget speech of 1873, declared that he was about tc alter the mode of keeping the publio 163 accounts, by canainj; tbo Post-office Department to pay a consirlcrnWe mim of money into tho LanrLs of the ISuociver-General which hitherto they had ivooived and disbursed without that loruia- litj', and which amounted, as he states, to nearly $;J00,(X)0. Now, it you will add tliat amount to the actual gross reciMpts for the year 187'^-3, which amounted to S-0,813,4f)0, you will lind thit that sum, divided by 3,fi00,000, the then popula i.)n, gives an aver:ij;e amount, collected ia one way or anotiier from the people of Cana3 rcveime on a population of four millions is ifO 70 I'cr liead nearly, being absolutely 7^ cents less than theirs in 1872-.'}, with- o\it making one single deduction on any account. Or, better still, taking the actual receipts for 8tami>s, customs, and excise, which anjounted in 1S72-3 to .?17,()1;'),000 and which are (^s'imated for tho present year at §19, 15J,U00, yon will lind that our real tuxation for 1877-8 is as nearly as possible §4 7'.) per head, as against St 90 in 187--3, being a difference on the actual tixation of nearly half a million in our favour, measured /xr capita. Work the sum which way you E lease, and tho results are always more or less in favour of the existing Administration. (Hear, ear. ) Summary* Putting it broadly, although in 1877-8 we are providing for the wants of a quarter of a million people more than they did in 187.3-4 ; although we are paying half a million more into the Sinking Fund in direct reduction of our debt ; although we iiave to provide for a great many more services ; and although we pay a very large sum annually as interest upon works to which these gentlemen committed us irretrievably before we took olfice, yet our gross estimated expen- diture is barely §02,000 over their gross nominal expenditure for 1873-4, while if we deduct our receipts for interest, and chargethem with the genuine expenditure ]iroperly belonging to 187;i-4, there would be a balance of fully three-quarters of a million in our favour on the real cost of the two yjars couii^jred together, (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Easily Refuted, If Wrong. This, in fine, is our case. You will observe that these statements depend for proof on very plain and simple facts. If I am wrong, nothing can be easier than to detect and expose my errors, and proba'ily there is not one man among you who cannot easily verify my calculations for himself if ho likes to take the trouble. Consequenoos. If Right. But if what I say is true, then, not only are Mr. Mmpherson's allcg!»tionB utterly disproved, not only is he individually convicted of having played the part of a bitter and dishonest partizan, but what is nmch more important, the whole general policy, financial nnro})erly used, just so many vei'y useful irritants of the public mind, which needed to be set enquiring on this special subject. It may be that we have hitherto been a little too dilatory in replying, but, knowing how very ready these gentlemen are to disown their most explicit statements wlien it suits their purpose, it is with no small satisfaction th.at I have seen them committing tlioniselves so unreservedly to Mr. Macpherson's pamphlet, which can't be explained away, and which has been so widely circulated and so thoroughly endorsed by their press and their leaders that they cannot ijossihly escape ihe discredit of his blunders. (Hear, hear.) Mr. McCarthy a Copy of Mr. Macpherson. As for Mr. McCarthy, it is needless to do more than read you a fc-w paragraphs from his harangue at Cobourg to show you that his main points are a pure repetition of Mr. JNIacphersou's principal and worst mistakes, of which I have disposed already ; — MR. MACniEnSOM. Then the lejftslation to which I have Jtist referred wag passed, and the exi)emlitiire for the year under Acts of Parli:inient and by Suiiplenientary Estimates was antlio- rized to be increased (according' to Mr. Tilley) by $1,512,000, making the total estimates for that year $23,483,183. Sir F. nincTiS In 1870 sliowofl the deht was then $22 CO per liead. In 1873 Mr. Tilley said the debt per head had not increased. But iu iHlli tiie debt had iu- ueaeed to $37 U3 per bead. The taxation had increased from S3 .^0 in 1870 to $5 76 In lb76, aud $0 ner bead ia now required. MR. Jl'CARTtlT. If that were enrrcct, hou- did it happen that the cx- remliturc for tliat vciir (lS7H-i) was .^2;i,31fi,.'ilG, while Mr. Tilley's estimates were only for .~'22,4.S3,1,S2? Wlien tlie late (? piescnl) (lovernnient snOeecded to power, tlie debt of the po|Mil:ition of this eountrv was S22 50 per liead. Last \e:ir that b^22 50 per lie;iil had very nearly doubled, and the per head t( - l.\y, alt!ioni;h the population had iiu reasi'd, was $o7 'J.'i. Tliat was the praetieal result of tlie whole ni;ittcr. There was no useof hattliii;,' with Mr. C'aituriulit as to this or that set of fi^nres ; if tlie people found out under w lileli Governnievil tliey paid the least ta\cs, and owed the least money, lliey would have no dillieulty in pulling tlie saddle on the ri;.,dit horse. In 1S70, .•J3 50 was the tax every man, woman, and child in the Uominion liad, on an avcra;,'e, to jiav. How did it stand now ! ?5 70 was rciiniied last year, and after all there was a deficit, and this year it will no doubt take SO a head, instead of J;i .50, to carry ou tbe affairs of the country under this geiilleuiati. Tllcre is but one point as to which I may as well say a few words. Possible Attempt. I may be doing the parties an injustice, but on looking critically at some of the expressions nsed, I see they might possibly be construed so as to have a double meaning, and that when very hard pressed they may endeavour to extricate themselves from the extieinely awkward position they have got into by turning round upon us and declaring that it w.as all a mistake ; that they didn't mean to impute any blame to us at all, but only took up their parable against 1G5 tlic ;,'cncral tendency to increase— aay, since ronfodur.ition. Yy an overwhelming; m.ajority at the jiolls. (Hear, hear.) The Opposition say that our policy is unwise, and that the men to whom you have entrusted the authority of carrying it forward, .nnd giving it ctTect, are incapable and disliouest ; ami they arc now calling upon you to reconsider and reverse your verdict I hope to convince those who doubt, and to eoiilirin in their conviction those who believe, that the verdict pronounced in 1874 was a righteous one, and in the public interest "That's so"); and that the charges against us, in so far a.-, they reflect upon the honesty and integi'ity of the Government, are unfounded. (Cheers.) I propose to contrast our management of public afTaira with their management by those who pieccdcd us; to contrast our j)rofesdions and practices with the professions and practices of Sir John A. Macdonald and his friends ; and I think I can show you that the qualities which they have ascribed to us belong to themselvca. (Hear, hear.) A Fair Line of Argument. Wo have been frequently told by these gentlemen, and by the newspapers which represent them, that this is not a fair line of argument to pursue— that the misdeeds of Sir John A. Mac- donald and those who were associated with him are not and will not be regarded by the people as any defence for any wrong done by us— that we ought not to expect to be sustained on account of the faults of others, instead of by our own merits and the wisdom of our me^isures. which underlies it to be true, but it is not the whole truth. (Hear.) I a^ree with those who maintain that it is the duty of the electors of Canada to stamp with their disapprobation every departure from the sound principles of government, every act of political folly or politic:! turpitude, of which any party, tiovcrument, or public man has been guilty. (Cheers.) A Further Duty— To Look Before They Leap. But their duty does not cease at this point. They are bound not to excuse or to justify a greater wrong in condemning a lesser one. They arc bound by every consideration of public duty not to palliate, much less to reward, a great political oii'cnder in order to punish a mere i 'Ml ICS error of jinlt'mi'nt. (Chcors.) Tlioy arc Ijonnil imt to suiport ft poliry cdsrtilially unsnnml, iKilitii'ally ami (.•tliir.illy, in onler to piinisli tlm.so wlio liavc ii.liiiiiiisn.'ii:il ii f;ouiiil jioliLV, it iiii|y 1)0 Witii little .iliiil. W'lii'ii ttio Coiiscrvativt; (nuty dt'iMmi! tlicir pioMi'iit liMdiis, and >.lioosc in tlioir sti iid men whoso liaiidt iiri! indnd el iin, tlieii tlu^ i(ul)lic, in Imldini,' (In' l>alan( t's in whiyii tJK' nii'iits of i)aitirM arc wci^lnd, will in't In; callrd npon lo coniloni! tilt! " lii'.di iiinii's ami nii-s- (UiiicaiiimrH" of oiir ini'dt'iuHsori, in ordff to cxivicsh tlicii' dif i|i[iroliation of tiio niistaUcs of tlio present Administration— if mistakes can be shown to have heeii made. (Il"iii hear ) I allirm, tli( refore, without any hesitation or misi^'ivin,.;, that a more unteiiahle iiosii im eoiiM not ho tal;en than the one chosen hy those who say tliat the puhlic an- not c.dled uimn to eonsidi-r tho fonsfipu'iiees of tiieir at'tion ; that tliey are'not reiniiicd hy the oMi^iations of laihlii' duty to ask them.selvis hefore thi'y leap wlieic they are likely to alij;1it ; that they oiii,'ht not to he called i)|Miii t insider hefore tluiy turn one iovnriiiiient out whom they are likely to bring '"• ^'*i tme in liis private eoneernH iv ts upon any uneh principle, (Hear, iiear.) Thn FranchlBo u Trust as woU as n Right. The clcetivc franchise, he:-.iile3 heini; the ri;unes of tho people — (laughter) — who ask for (oir condomnation, in order that their own mimes and follies may be condoned. (Cheers.) But I wish to impress this fact upon you : that tho policy of the present (Jovernmeut is not the only thing that the jieoplc of Canada are eallccl upon to consider. The Conservative party owed something to tho country. Tho Duty of tho Consorvatlvo Party to tho Country. It was the duty of that party to have deposed their leaders when the scandals connected with the I'acitic h'ailway wore cstanlished. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Tlicy have seen proper to pursue a different course. They have seen proper to retain .Sir John A. Macdonald and those who were associated with him in that transaction as party leaders, and yon are asked to declare that you were wrong in condemning the Washington Treaty, by which tho inlerests of Canada were sacrilicod for anticipated personal honours— (hear, hear) — that you were wrong in ccmdemn- ing the sale ot the I'acilic Railway charter, by which money was obtained to enable 8ir John Macdonald to remain in oHice. (Cheers. ) Our opponents tell yon that this was not a mercenary act, and it ought not, therefore, to be too severely censured. They t'll you that it was the mis- take of an ambitious man, ami not tho vice of an avaricious one, greedy of gain. Tho Roal Nature of tho Pacific Charter Sale. It was, gentlemen, a purchase of ollieo for five years, with its attendant honours and emolu- ments. (Hear, hear.^ 1 don't i)retend to know which was the governing consideration. I know tho act was a great crime. I know that by the sale a great, public trust was betrayed. (Hear, hear.) I know that .Sir Hugh Allan .said — and in this 1 believe him--that he paid upwards of S->">(),0uO solely in consideration of li;iving obtaineil tho charter, (bond cheers.) 'i ho ehar.icter of tho act would not have l)een at all changed had the same amount of money been taken directly from the pid)lio treasury. Tho money was paid by Sir Hugh Allan, not for any valuable consideration given by Sir John A. .Macdonald and his li n'lids from their private pi< petty, but because .^O, out), dtlO acres _' a jiolitical club for that purpose. He thinlcs a |niblic man ou^lit to be above suspicion, and it was possibU; for his enemies to do lui.i tile mjubtioe of supposing him capable ol retaining a part of thc;}lj,000 wlaoh lie received; 1G9 and, furtlinr, tho comluet of Mr. lianc'ovin shows tJmt it is safor to liavo a party chih. To fjpfc rill, tlu'rofiiro, of unfoiiinloil siispiciom, mul to ivvoiil K'ldin'^' tlio inoit j;tMirron< nt' (•cllci^^iua into !l tL'iii])t;itiiiii wliic'h till i", uuililu to lir.ir, u pirly oliil) im nn oKvidiiH iioix's-iity, iiiul willi it tiio prooi^odn of fuliiro nalcs of |nil>lic woiUm will Im ilt'iMnit 'il. (IKmi, lioiir, iiiid iuiid ilifcri!,) TliiH, },'i!iitloiii(jn, is no ux.i^'^rratioii of Sir.loliii M:u;iIiiii1.1'm iittitiiih,'. It i.s a siiiiiilo Mt;ittiiu!iit of Ills lino (.1 (lufclli'O, stri|i|pi;(l of lliu ilr.i;iiry liy wlii.li iti uihimI iluf.iriiiily in Mou^^lit tn ho coiicii.i'ioil. (Ilc.'ir, liu;ir.) \Vli:it wniii:; iImi..4 Iuj say w;in ilono Ity tliu salo of tlui I'iii'ilii; lluiluiiy cliurter? C>iily tliis : tliat Uy ri'ci'iviii;,' tliu iiioiuiy hinnolf tlio oriii!l iiijiisticn mi'^'lit lio ilmio him of sii|)iiii.sm;j tliivt Ik; Uctpt iiuy |ioi'Lioii of uli it Im nvcivud. lie? .sav;i lio paid it on*, tliiit and "aiiDtliur tiMi tliuii^iiiid' iiuludod -for oUH'tinii puipnscM. Xuw, I don't ;it all ipii'stion tliu accuracy of tliin Ntatoiiioiit ; but iiic you prcp.in'd to ;il;ivij with his view of tin; tianaactiua T •^'. Bribory with Private Funds Wrong, but with Public Funds Right t Are you ])rep.aiod to say that it ia wtodl; for a man to hrilic the oh'ctiira witli hin own money, or with tho money uontril>ut(-Sir Hugh Allan pal 1 his money, and uot the ehartir, and >Sir John Macdonald anut in substance hedecland that he had followed the example, and by his untiring ell'orts hail succeeded in keeping up in this country the high standard which had prevailed among the statesmen of Kngland ; that on nu)re thau one occasion rumours had gone abroad rellecting upon the char.icter of some of his colleagues ; that he had always enquired carefully into these matters ; that he had sometimes discovered them to be well-founded; and they had no donbt obsiTved th.at some of his colleagues had retired from his Uovernment. Tho lion, gentleman did not .state siiecilieally to whom, of the many men who had been his colleagues, he specially referred. lUit you will remember, gentle- men, that this speech w.as made a little more th.in two years after Mr. .Miudougall had been unceremoniously dismissed from the Administration, and Air. Langevin ]nit in his place. (Hear, hear.) You will, no doubt, remember also what Mr. A]acdougall subscipicutly said of ilr, Langevin. (Hear, hear.) An Illustration The Arab Chief and the Vermin. You know, gentlemen, when an Arab Chief has his g.irn ents so tilled with vermin as to become no longer supportable, ho spreads them upon an ant-hill, s<> that the one class of insects may make war on an(i chase aWay the other. (Laughter and cheers.) .Sir John A. Maedonald adopted a similar course when ho sought to get rid of useless or incompetent colleagues ; but when 1 look at the list of speakers at the Tory-jiic-nics'thiough the country, I observe that, in his distress, the vermin are again upon him. (Loud cheers and laughter.) Chages Made by tho Opposition. Our opponents say we arc incom^ietent and corrupt ; ami, as as an instance of that incom- petency ami corruption, they refer, amongst other things, to the purchase of •20,000 tons of steel rails by the Kiist Minister, upon the advice of tho Chief Lugiiieer of the Pacilie Railway. They say that the brotlier of the First Minister was a partner in one of tho firms that contracted for the supply of a portion of those rails. They allege that contracts for the construction of public works have been let to others than the lowest tenderers. They charge Mr. Cartwiight with having disposed of Canadian securities by private sale, upon the advice of the agents of the Canadian (Joverument, instead of inviting tenders and seliing to tho highest bidder. They allege that the straitened times are due to the fiscal policy the t iuvernment have oursued. Thev i I 170 in Bay that in the conduct of public caffairs the Ailmiiiistration have exliihitcd a total want of legishitive and administrative capacity. It is my purpose on tlie present occasion to hrielly consider these cliar^'cs. It is my purpose also, as pertinent to the occasion, to invite your attention to the conduct of those who arc bringing these charges— to tlif ir splendid opportunities and disgraceful failures — to the obvious path of duty and wisdom that lay plainly before tliem, from which, whenever they attempted to move, they always deviated. (tJheers. ) I hope to make the fact so plain with reference to their admii\istration, that if all the things they Jiave alleged against us were true — which they are not — while it might justify the country in insisting upon tiiC correction of what was wrong, it would not justify the deposition of the present (Jov- crnmeut in order to replace them by their predecessors. (Hear, hear.) Adniitting every allegation and every slander, still the public interest would den and no change, unless it were a '•haugctonewmen, with a political career still before them — not v change to men whose political course was run, and had been as mischievous as it had been dishoi.;'';. (Cheers.) I purpose, in addressing you, to defend the (iovcrnmcnt from the charges which have been made against them— to defend the fiscal policy they have hitherto pursued, and to show you, as dearly as it is possible to establish any proposition in politics, that in so far as error has been committed at all by us, it has been, not in refusing to be guided by the advice, or to follow in the course, indicated by the ill-digested, unsettled, contradictory, and irreconcilable opinions of our political opponents, but in not departing from them more widely in what we have so far done. (Cheers.) The Purchase of Steel Rails. 1 need not, gentlemen, detain you very long by answering the charges that have been made against the Government, so far as those charges are pointed rather against the integrity of some of its members than against their capacity. With reference to the purchase of steel rails, the First Minister iias himself answered his assailants fully, and as you have no doisbt seen that answer. I need not go over the ground already covered by him, further than to say that, in the session which followed the purchase, no one complained. Dr. Tupper, who upon all these nuestioiis 'luts himself forward as the oracle of the Opj)osition, expressed his approbation of what had been done. 'J'he complaints that were made with regard to the wisdom of the pur- chase were tiist heard at a much later period, and were an exhibition, not of foresight, but of ftfteisight. (Hear, hear.) It is said that the purchase was a corrupt transaction, and that a contract for a large portion was given to a firm in which Mr. Charles Mackenzie was a partner. This ba« been denied by every member of the firm. Suppose it were true — what then ? Does it follow that the transaction was a corrupt one ? Tenders were advertised for. It was open to any o'"e who chose to tender, and, other things being equal, it was the obvious duty of the Cov- ernnient to accept the lowest. ( Hear, hear. ) Supposing Mr. Charles Mackenzie had been a member of the firm of Cooper, Fairman, & Co., would that have been a valid reason for selling •.side their tender ? No man in hiu senses will say so. 4 The Lato Government Frovidlng for their Relatives. * riie charge of nepotism comes with a very bad grace from the members of the late Govern- ment (Hear, hear.) .Sir.Iohn A. Macdonald made his brother-in.law Deputy Minister of Justice ; Mr. Langevin made his brother, first. Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, and then Under-Secre- tary of State. Dr. Tup])er provided for his brother in the Customs, and Mr. Mitchell's relations were provided for generally in a manner of which I shall j)resently speak. (Cheers.) To some of the.'^e appointments 1 make no objection, but others were, on principle, certainly very objectionable. I have no reason whatever to say that the Under-Secretary of State and the late Deputy-Minister of Justice are not very w ithy men, but I do say that it is in the highest degree objectionable for a Minister of the Crown to put a ne.ir relative and a political friend in an official position that brings him into close confidential relations with his political opponents when they succeed to power. (Hear, hear.) You never can be sure that in the intimacy of private friendship, where there is no intention to betray ollicial confidence, some- thing may not he said which ought not to hive been spoken ; and I say that unless a Minister is i)reparcd, upon his retirement from oflice, to withdraw also from public life, he is guilty of a great breach of public duty in making a near relative a Deputy-Minister. (Hear, hear.) The men who did this are not in a position to bring accusations of nepotism against their opponents. They tell you that these steel rails, although purchased by public tender at $54 a ton, were still purchased at too high a rate. The Present and Late Government's Way of Purchasing Railway Supplies Contrasted. What have they to s.ay with regard to their own purchases of rails for the Intercolonial Railway ? They authorized these purchases to be made by Mr. Hawes, a brother-in-law of Mr. Mitchell. He was at liberty to purchase trom whom he pleased, at what jirice he pleased, and in what manner he pleased. (Hear, hear.) No public tenders were asked lor. He bought by private arrangement. He was allowed a commissiou of 2.V per cent. , so t'' at the more he paid for the rails the more he received from the Government for what he ,OHO sterling on 7, ((00 tons, and u])on this excess he was also paid a commission. (Cheers.) I might also speak of the enterprising firm of Fraser, Reynolds & Co., of Halifax, from whom Mr. Carvell, another brother-in-law of Mr. Mitehell, obtained supplies for the Intercoloni.al Ilailway. This firm had no existence until after the elections of 1>S72. It h.ad Mr. A\\nn Grant, an old political friend and 8Ui)porter of Dr. Tupper, as its nioviiig spirit, and Mr. Fraser, a cousin of the Hon. .lames Macdonald, who was for a short time member lor Fictou, inc: 1 171 ar(l wlio, it will be remembered, was so thor(Hir;lily convinced of the honesty of the I»t© AdministJ.itiou that ho would not believe there was any side ot'tlie I'acilie iiailway Charter, al- though the facts establishing the sale were sworn to by Sir John Macdonald and others interested in the transaction. Well, these gentlemen, although without any previous exitericiice in the business, establislied n hardware store, and they had the (iovernnicnt as their most profitable customer. They did a thriving business. Tliey were paid for what had not been received. Tliey sold car springs that were unlit for use. They received for si)ring8, for lard oil, and for other railway supplies, prices far above those of ordinary dealers. (Hear, hear.) When the conduct of tlie.se gentlemen, of Mr. Carvell and of Mr. Hawes, was brought to light, Dr. Tupper and Mr. Mitchell professed to have ha'^ no knowledge nor any connection with the transaction in (juestion. One would have supposed, then, as public men, they would have denounced them and the parties guilty of such frauds, but, on the contrary, they have never failed to seize every opportunity to attack Mr. Brydges for having brought these fraudulent transactions to light. It is singularly unfortunate for these gentlemen that they should do so. The cou'luct of an hone.st man, who endeavours to strangle the bellman that gives the alarm when his neighbour's hcase is on lire, instead of trying to discover the incendiary, would not be a greater mistake, nor more liable to be misunderstood. (Cheers. ) The Kaminlstlquia Land Purchase. Then it is said that $.'50,000 has been paid for n i-'.rip of land containing 100 acres, and extend- ing two or three miles along the Kaministiquia River, for workshops, for docking, and for other purposes connected with the eastern terminus of the Pacific IJailwuy. It can hardly be supposed that lands at the terminus of the Pacific Hallway, wherever that may be, would not be of very considerable. ^ aluc. I have no personal knowledge of the location spoken of. I have but the information . \i 1 have obtained from others. I know Mr. Ueid, one of the valuators, is a man of probity and good judgment, and I don't believe he would be willing to fix a higlier price than the actual value of the lands. I am told, and I have no reason to d.iubt tlie a ''nracy of the statement, that others have purchased in the vicinity lands less favourably situaii.>' than those obtained by the Government, at higher prices than the Government have been ea.ied upon to pay. (Hear, hear.) Another Contrast Drawn— Purr^llase of Lands by late Government. Piu'i let me again compare the conduct condv.ct of our predecessors. Mr. Mitclu'' value tlian at Kaministiiiuia, a sum of -" not been used by the (iovcrnnient, bij!:;^ . Pacific Itailway terminus at Lake Smicrior : •nr Government in this matter with the - .Newcastle, where lands have no greater res, whi'.-h were not required, and have as much per acre as was paid for the •vernmcnt of ."sir John Mat lonald paid -...tcci. :.- an<' the for the site of a i)ost-ol!ice in Montreal, containing aUiut a quarter of an acre, ■die bum of $150,- 000— three times as much as was paid for the immense stretch of riverfrontng* at Tiiunder IJay. (Hear, hear.) 1 need, gentlemen, say nftninr: more with regard to tuis •ti:ans:u;iiiiiii. • tnr opponents have not shown that the liwA -■ e unnecessary, that the price pai*! wa» •.•^i-.»s!H'w». or that the terminus chosen is nrvt tlic -^st one, and I have given yoa tw< »iut oi nrii-.m instances of the prices at which thev purchased lands— the one jmvciiase m Muatreai, Jir » pul)lic jmriiosc ; the other, to satisfy a colleague wlu) tlireatcned desertion. Tlie latter was made at the time of the ' "t us meeting of Farliaiuent iu August, 1S73. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Mr. Cartwright's Loan. With reference t'- the loan ellected by Mr. Cartwright, the course adojited was believed to bo in the ])'udic ii.torcst, and was therefore taken. It was taken on the advice of gentlemen of high stamliii^. i. the nmnetary world — gentlen.en of unimpeachable integrity, who were the paid agents of the Government of Canada, and if it were necessary to say more, it could be conclu- sively shown from what has since transpired that the advice they gave was not only honestly fiven, but in the r-niblic interest, and was wisely followed. Dr. Tapper openly, and Sir .John lacdonald impliedly, charged the financial agents of Canada with having given their advice from interested motives and corrupt considerations. When the public interest will permit all the facts to be disclosed, it will be plain to the comprehension of every elector that these accu- sations are totallj' unfounded. It would be better if Canada were in a position to dispense with financial agents. Our position would be a prouder one if we could go upon the Stotd; Exchange ujion our own unaided responsibility and sell our st curities at a high valuation, without being called u|)on to pay any wealthy and jiowerful patron for his good otiices. I hit that has not been . our posiiion. No Finance Minister that Canada has yet had has ventured to take such a step. It has always been felt that we would be at the mercy of wealthy speculators in securities, and stock-jobbers, were we to do so. There is no middle cour.se. 'I'he financial agents of Cannda >vere paid large sums for .he assistance which they gave us. We seek their support ; we take their advice ; and they have never sought to make jirotit out of the Canadian (iovernment in the double capacity of purchasers and agents. Whenever they have come to our assistance as capitalists, it has been ;is friends aiB to the liighcst liiildur? Is'ow, 1 ti.'ll ymi in advance, to tliat (|iieHti(in tiiey will not give you — ihcy c;mnor liivc yon — a satisfactory answer. (OlieeiH. ) If then- oeiisnrc upon ^Mr. (.'artwright is well founded, tlien t'ien' retention and i)ayinent of linaneial agents are gross outrages — a \v-dnton waste of tlie money of the people of this country. (Cheers.) .Sir l''ianeis Hin^'ks, who certainly cannot he ai'cu.sed of any strong bias in ftivoiir of tlie present (loverninent, has not hesitatcil to say tinit Mr. Cartwrighc is wliolly ri^ht, and that Dr. I'upiier and those who side with him do not uudcrsLaad the subject they h.tve essayed to discuss. (Kear, hear.) The Commercial Deprcssioa An UndcrtaUer's Ideas, Our opponents tell you tliat we are in the main responsihh^ Un- tlie straitened circumstances of the country. I am told there i.s in the eastern part of this Province an un\hich they have been engaged, in which they have become skilled, to seek new homes and new emjiliiyniinit upon the various lands of the West and Soutli, while large numbers are seeking relief from the charitable, and aid from the city aut) nities. (Hear, hear.) Those cities to which jirople liavc lem so largely and so unwisely drawn by a rc.'-trietive fiscal policy, and which were r.ipidly built up by the feverish e.xciteiucnt conscijueufc .upon the misdirection of capital, are now being deserte I. Farmers, learning of the large protits that Were being made by certain favoured industries, sold their farms at rediucd prices, and invested their money in manufactures about which they knew nothing, and lu.st what they possessed. (Hear, hear.) I venture upon this jirediction, and I do not regard it as at all exaggerated, tliat the urban population of the United States east of the Allegliany ^!ountaill3 will not be greater in 1S80 than it was in 1870. (Hear, hear.) During the past year, for tho lirst time in the history of the Uivfed States, the number of persons that left it e.\e(;eded tho number that emigrated to it, ami therefore 1 say that as a lumijcr market it will not be so good as it was a few years ago for many years to come. In fact, it i.s only by a complete cha'!go ia the liseal jiolicy of that country th.it the mischiefs which have been ilone by an unwise and meddlesome ovcrpight can be eiu'ieeted. (Cheers.) All Men Should bo Equal in tho Race oi Life. .Vnd, 1 confess, gentlemen, it has ,ilso been to me a nuitter of very great astonislimcnt .,o\7 the people of tho United States could be led into the adoption of a system of tavatinu so totally at variance with their fundamental urinciules of government. If "there is any doctrine which f 4 1 ( o stands out prominently boyond every other; if tlicro is any {niiiciplo, the spirit of wliicb porvailus their political system aiul constitutes its vital force, it is that in the race of life the law should not prefer one man to another — that neithir hirth nor raiiU sliall be tlie basis of any B|)e('ial p'.ivileiie. (Hear, hear. ) Most men here will not question tlie wisdom of tliat polify. If it means anything, it means that all men shall be set on tlirir f^'et. and in the race lui impedi- ment shall 1)0 put m the way of any one, to the end that each may succeed to the extent of his imlustry aiul of his ability. Hut when we look at tlie fiscal policy of that country since 18(i0, wo eco all this is chanued. The (ioveruiiieat interfere. They protect some to tli« extent of 20, and others to the extent of (iO per cent. A jjortion of the population is among the uu)re, and a portion amony the less favoured. (Hear, hear.) The products of one man's industry are yivcn to another, and the ]iri>iits of one are diminished in order tliat the ])rolits of another may be increased. The industrious siilfer for the idle — the wise for the stu[iid — the cautious for the reckleaa — the fair-iuiuded for tlie grasping and the greedy. ^Cheers.) Protbotion Based upon a False Assumption. Those who advocate protcti on in t'auada assunu^ that taxation is a productive force. All the arguments of Sir John Macdonald anrepared to enter upon a lisc.al jiolicy which will (;ndanger the Union. and which will retard, if not altogether prevent, the settlement of the North-west, which wotiin deprive us of all hope of ever being able to meet the obligations to which our opponents, with sn- much recklessness and with so little judgment and foresight, pledged the faith of the country. (Cheers.) A ]irotective policy would enormously adil to the burdens of t!-.e great majority of the population, and at the same time dinunish the public revenues. Sir John Macdonald says that the markets of Canada ought to be kejit for ("anadians. This, if it moans anything, means, nol that wo shouM tax, but tli.at we should prohibit importations. If we hail al>solute freedom ci trade we would have no Customs revenue. If we have duties that .amount to prohibition wo have no revenue. Sir Joliu Macdonald's proposition, therefiuo, imjilies that we must look out for other sources of taxation. In what M'ay does he suggest that (,'aiiada ought to bo kept for Canadians t He says that the farmers often have bad crojis ; that they often receive low jirices ; and that when a year of scarcity comes, when there is less breadstulV in the C(mntry than is re- quired for consumption, heavy taxes ought to be imposed upon foreign breadstufi's in order that you might '"HJome rich by the high prices that you are to receive from your famisl-'u;; coun- tiymeu. An Olc, Doctrine in a Now Dross. I ask myself, can it be possible that sneh a doctrine is proinulsrated by one who is anxious to be considered a statesman? (HciTr, li<;ar. ) 'I'his is an old doctrine in anew dress. It i^ an advice to those who constitute ,i majority of the population to act upon the maxim that " they Bhould take who have the jiower, and they may kee]» who can." (Cheers.) 1 rejoice to lielieve that innoiig my countrymen few will be found to avow sentiments that are as unwise as they aro heartless and dishonest— sentiments that, if consistent with the general well-being of society, would reflect on Providence. (Cheers.) Suppose for one moment— for it is possible only in 8Ui)positiyu— that we did produce leaa of the necessaries of life than we cousume ; that in this i' 1* it 171 unfortunate condition we taxed very highly the food of those who had none, in order th.at wa miglit init more money in the pockets of those who had abundance and to spare, do you tl-ink that such legislation would be eithci' wise or just, or in the public interest ? The QuoBtlon Further Considered— {Iffcct of a Tax upon Wheat. Let me examine this declaration of principle by Sir John Macdonald a little further. Sup- pose the farmers of Ontario produce all the wheat necessary for their own consumption, and a million of bushels to spare, and the Maritime Provinces and Quebec are short two millions of bushels. You can supply them with one million, and they must obtain another million from abroad or starve. Now, says Sir .Fohn Macdonald, has come the opportunity to make the country prosperous. Put a heavy tax on wheat that is l)rought in from abroad ; make those tliat are starving pay well for bread, in order that those wlio have a million to sell may gut a better price. Now, gentlemen, what tax will your conscience ))ermit you to put on? (I.oud cheers.) Twenty cents a bushel? This would give you §200,C00J more than you would have obtained without that tax, and the foreign farmer, whose wheat comes in to the extent of one million bushels, receives just what he would have done if no tax had been imposed. Under the circumstances supposed by Sir John Macdonald, you get twenty cents a bushel more— the price of the foreigner's wheat to the consumer is increased twenty cents a bushel also in consequence of the tax. You see that those who had been so unfortunate as to be without a suflicient supply of bread will have paid $400,000 in taxes in consequemjc of their misfortunes — §200,000 to you and §200,000 to the Government. (Hear, hear.) What right have you to ask that they shall be taxed for your ads'antage ? To compel them to pay a tax from which ycu, fiom your moio fortunate condition, are exempt, would in itself be bail enougli ; but to coiupel them to pay n<)t only taxes into the public treasury, but also tri'oute to you, is a proposition so monstrous that no honest man could make it, and no one but a robber would be willing to profit by it. (Loud cheers ) It is well, gentlemen, that Providence has ordained that a course of conduct grossly unjust is never consonant with the well-being of the public. How can a nation be made more wealthy or mors prosperous by forcibly taking from one man in order to give to another of the same community ? 'I'he man whose industry you partly rob of its reward is discouraged, fi:.d the man upon whom it is bestowed has taken from him the strongest motive to close applicatii n and an economical management of his affairs. The policy suj/gested by Sir John A. Macdonald is founded upon the essentially erroneous doctrine that scarcity is the foundation of prosperity. If this were so, it is only necessary, in order to make a nation jirosperous, to diminish the power of production, and refuse to make the most of the natural advantages to be found in a country. (Hear, hear.) Some Apt Illustrations. You should build your houses without windows, in order to increase the demand for candles and kerosene. (Laughter.) You should choose the least healthy places for your buildings, and erect houses without proper ventilation, to give employment to doctors. (Hear, hear, and laughter. ) Y'ou should never pay your debts without a lawsuit, so as to give employment tc the lawyers. You should cultivate less land, and cultivate that little badly, but witn tools of such a description that it would be necessjiry to employ a great many men to do a very little. You should use the sickle instead of the reaping machine, and the tlail instead of the threshing machine ; let the pit-saw find the place of the saw-mill ; and you can make everything scarce, and, according to Sir John Macdonald's political economy, evei'ybody prosperous — for scarcity is to be the foundation of prosperity. (Loud cheers.) It is to our interest as a Government that the people of Canada should clearly perceive the bearing of the financial policy which he propounds ; and when they do so, I have no fears th.vt they will commit themselves to the barbarous follies of a barbarous and by-gone age. (Applause. ) Our BXercantUo Marino and Protection. And permit me to make this further observation, which I ought to have made somewhat eailier, in answer to the charge that we are in any way responsible for the stringency of the times. We have a very large mercantile marine — nine times as great, in proportion tt* our numbers, as the mercantile marine of the United States. During the post two or three years it has failed to find |..i-otitable employment in any ipiarter of the globe. The member in the House of Commons for Yarmouth, Mr. Killam, who is a very large ship-owner, when being examined before a committee appointed to encjuire into the causes of the commercial and manufiicturing depression, remarked that he did not know of a single port in the world whore a cargo could be ol)taincd at a paying ■■ate. The ships engaged for many years in the South American and Mediterranean trapeal to any prejudice or suggest any poliey, no matter how misehievous it might prove, if tlie result (udy were favourable to their wishes. (Cheers.) GoTdrnmcnt Policy tho Real Nntional Policy. Our opponents advojate what they call a "national" policy. We also advocate a national l»olicy ; and I shall endeavour to .jh-.w yon before I i:on(lndo my observations that tlie fiscal and political [lolicy of the present Governni ii:, and of tlie Ueform party, is alone entitled to that appellation, (t^lieers. ) Does .any man ''n his senses believe that a few cents taxes upon breatl- stuffj, and a tax upon other auriiullnra' |iroduels coming from the United States into this coun- try, similar to that iinjjoscil by Congress njwn tho pioiUn ts of Canada, would be of ai-.y advan- tage! to us ? Wo have, as I have alreat y stated, an immense mercantile marine, for which wo are an\ion3 to lind employment. It is ;, rowing up without protective tarilTs and without (iovern- ment interference. It cai-rics the |ire luctj of Canada to every cpiartor of the globe where a suit.d)lo market can bo found. It ad'ords to capital a protitabie investment, and to m.niy lU'-ijiianics and artisans reinuuerati» e employment. It engages the services of many thousamlt of o\ir pooido fond of adventuie, ai.d who am oblige 1 to encounter those storms ami perils of the hca liy which tho mind not leas iluu tho body ia invigorated, and by which habits of Bclf-reh*a»ia h iii fV IS 17G "». are acijuirod. Is this immense suuitc of wealth iiiul iirosperity of no f()nsii|uencc ? Are tlroce who invest their capital in ship-lmildin;,' ami shijin — are the liardy mariners who man them- to bo eliniinatcil as of no account in the elements of national growth and national jirosperity 1 (Jlear, hear.) Agricultural Protection. I need not discuss the efToct of a retaliatory policy upon the prosperity of the agriculturi.'-ta of this country. As an aLjriculturist, living in a ueisthbouring county, the climate and ])roducts of wiiich are similar to your own, I aliall oppose to the utmost of my ability a policy that would prove in the last d(!gree injurious to the farmers of Canada. You may depend upon this, gen- tlemen, that the (Jovcrnment who impose a tax upon imports, to that extent 20, or we imported into Canada $'20,82-', Tot worth more tlian we exported to that country. Now, were we damaged by this excess? AVo\ild it have been a wise thing on the part of the Government M have imposed a tax that would have kept this excess out ? I say no. (Cheers.) I say our people engaged in this trade because they lnund it prolitalilc. Let me ask you for a moment to consider what we did with this surplus which we imjiorted. "We imported whi ;;t and Hour from t'-.e United States in these four years in excess of what we sent there to the value of twenty-nine millions of dollars. We sent to England forty-two millions of dollars worth of brcadstufls during the same period, twenty-nine millions worth of which were the product of the United States, and thirteen millions worth tlie product of Canada. The American wheat which we imported and sent to England would have gone there through American channels had we imjiosed an import duty upon it, and those Canadians engaged in the milling and carrying trades have made more than three times the gain they would have done had we adopted a policy of exclusion. ^Hear, hear.) Tho Importation of American Corn Considered. There is one product in which I am told you have a special interest — I refer to the production of corn. I will take the j-ear 1874 as an example, because the prices then were more nearly a mean average, taking sevcnd years together, than were the prices of 1876. Well, in 1874 we ir.iported into Canada 5,331,000 bushels of corn, atabout 43 cents per bushel ; 2,057,000 bushels of this were re-shipped to Europe at about O'l cents a bushel — that is, at a profit of 18 cents a bubliol, or §477,180 on the whole transaction. Now, the country is richer by nearly half a mil- lion dollars in conseijueiico of the importation and exportation of these 2, 1)57, 000 bushels of corn. (Hear, hear.) Lot me consider for a moment whether we have gained or lost by the two and three quarter millions of this corn consumed at homo. If we take but three quarters of a million of bushels as the quantity that has been consumed by lumbermen and farmers, you have an equal quantity of peas and barley displaced — peas, however, more largely than barley. The mean average dillorence for the past lour years hotwecTi corn on the one hand, and peas and barley on the other, is about 30 cents per busliel, or U])(>ii three quarters of a million of bushels S300,0()0 — a total gain to the country each year upon the corn imported of f;777, 180. (Hear, hear.) Let me ask you, gentlemen, how much corn do yo\i exi)ort from your county in a single year? If yoTir farmers were to produce on an average 100 bushels each more than they consumed — and this is far beyond what they do in the most favoured corn-growing district on the continent — and we wcreto give you a proieetion of ten cents a bushel, it would only amount in all to §50,000. But I am told that you find it much more advantageous to use your corn in the production of poik than to sentl it abroad, ami that less than 50,000 bushels arc shipped from your county ; 80 that the taxation suggested would give you less than §5,000 additional profit. If this corn was consumed in the country it would not add a farthing to tho national wealth ; and if it went abroad how could any duty help you ? for the price which tho dealers could alTord to pay would depend on the foreign market, wliicli could not be atfeetcd by any taxes imposed by us. I would ask you in all seriousness, do you think that tlio Canadian Parliament woald be justified in putting a tax on corn which would give to each farmer in Essex one dollar a year more than at present, when by so doing they would entail upon the country an absolute loss of three-quarters of a million of doll.ars, not including the loss sustained by a necessary reduction of the excise? Rut no .such advantage as the one 1 have mentioned could possilily accrue to you from such a tax. (Hear, hear.) The ini"ocity Treaty in ISO'S. These gentlemen w.re in power from that period down to Confederation, and from tho consummation of the Union to the eh sing months of 1S73. Yet they permitted a system of taxation for these eight years to continue, not dill'ering in any important res))ect f rom that v. Inch iirevails at tho ))resent time, vllear, hear.) It is true that i)r. Tupper made an ( iio. o to adopt a feeble outiinoof the ])oliey now advocated by Sir John A. Macihmald. He was su cssful. What he projiosed was assented to. Then his darling child was born. It lived nearly a year, and was ignoniiniouoly strangled by the votes of tho very men who hail assisted to give it being. (Cheers. ) ? Are tl:M'.-o an them - to : prosperity ■ igricuUuri.'-ta and ])ro(lu(t3 y that woiilil )on tin's, gcn- Dast tax tlicir Jnitr ' States hat country, le part of tho o. (Cheers. ) ask you for a ported whoi.t , tlicrc to tlie iloUars woith lie product of crican wheat channels had and carrying pted a policy lie production norc nearly a II, in 1S74 we 7,000 husihela of 18 cents a •ly half a mil- shcls of corn. f the two and s of a million have an equal Tho mean md liailov on Is ssoo.obo— , hear.) I.ct ^le year? If isniiii'd — and iitineiit — and 11 to 650,000. production of ^our county ; If this corn ud if it T.ent ;o pay would us. I would ic justified in more than at iree-qnartcrs f the excise ? from such a a prosperous ;lp you. Pro- jcndent upon no nioie can )oven.>hinent itlemcn, that nts i.s not cu- ppoiionts did ;niti'd States 1 that period ig noiitlis of not did'ering -. ) It is true 1 by Sir John darling child tho very mcu 177 The ConBlct of a Past Age Renewed. This question, gentlemen, of free trade and protection is not a new question. It i.^ a renewal npon cur soil of the conflict between the exclusive spirit of a past ago and the more generous swirit of the present. (Hear, hear.) It is tho renewal of a conllict between knowledge and ignorance — between science and a short-sighted and eelli^h empiricism. It was fought iu Eng- land during the first half of this century, and the prosperity which has attended the adoption of an enlightened and commercial policy there has more than justified all tho predictions of its most zealous advocates. (Cheers.) In no country in the world has an exclusive fiscal policy had so full and fair a trial, itiil into Canada, and tliat prices will bo as low with protection, in consoqueni^c of home competition, as they were before without it. Do you tliiul; bo ifi j^'overned by any Ruch motive ? Do you think ho would ur;,'e upon the (Jovcvnincnt the adoption of a rcttrictivc j)')lit;y if ho believed tho iinnu'diato coiiscijucnecs would bo such as thna described ? Kot ln'. It is bccai su iio does not bnlieve tlicKe representations ; it is because, if he has studied tho siubject, ho knows that neither labour nor cajiital is likely to (low from abroad to rival him. (lle;ir, liear. ) lie knows that his e(tion of the policy which ho advocates. (Hear, hear.) ]t is just as necessary in tho interest of the communiiy to exclude the foreign mechanic and aitisan as to exclude the product of foreign capital and labour. Tho one affects tho price of labour as much as the other affects tho price of merchandise. Every skilled labourer fro:n abroad wlio settles in Canada becomes a eomjjetitor with every other engaged in the samo inirsnits wiio is abeady here. The labourer in the cotton factory, in the woollen factury, or in tho car-shop- aiul I may also say in the licld — has precisely the same interest in tho exclusion from tiie country of his brother-labourers that the ( iiijdoycr has in the exclusion of foreign 2)roduct3. (Hear, hear.) It must, then, be elo.ar to you that bitter wages and better times for the winkiny po[)ulation is not the im])elling motive of those Mho are calling for protection ; and until Sir .lo!m M'.odonald and his partisans earnestly set themselves to work, as friends of the working mm, to put down innnigration ta this country, they can hardly bo regarded as aineeru iii tho professions they make. (Cheers.) Where tho Proceeds of an Incrcaeod Tariff would go. One of the most important things for you, gentlemen, to bear in mind — important bec.nsft it is fr«|uently lost sight of — is that the system of taxation proposed by our opponents v ill take from the pockets of the people an enormous sum of money which will never find its way into the public trearsttrv. (Hear, hear.) The whole theory of tinancial reform in England, from Ih.o close of IS.'S down to tlic retirement of Mr. Gladstone from olliec, has been that a Government fchould aim to taK the people only to the extent tl>atthe money finds its way into the public treasury. Under this policy, what is jjaid differs Init little from what is received, and the waste of taxe.tion is reduced to a minimum. The policy in England, therefore, is to tax only a certain class of im- l)orts which are not li!:cly to alleot the prices of others that are not taxed ; or, if they do, then an excise duty is put upon the home-produced article of a similar kind, so as to give the Stalo the bonelit of the increased value given t"> it by tho increased import duty. To make more clear the idea which I wish to convey to you, let mc take the case of alcoholic liquors. We ])Ut it, tax upon those that are imported, the effect of which is that those manufactured at home, such as beer and whiskey, can bo sold at an advanced price. If we put no excise duty upon them, this .advanced price goes to the brewer .and distiller. So that, without an excise duty, those who consume wliiskey and boor would be i)aying a tax which would not find its way into the ])ublic treasury, and the browers and distillers would in that case enjoy incidental protection — that ie, tiiey M'ould pocket a large sum of money which would not be legitimate protit upon their busi- ness, but a necessary incident of a ta\ imposed by the Government upon .an imported article. Now, if the Government put 17V per ciiit. upon broadcloth, the importer must add 17^ per cent, to tho original price, and the sum is tho primary cost of the article to him. This gives to the manufacturer in tills country an opijortunity of adding l/J per cent, to the price of the article he produces. Tlu; tax on the foreign article goes into the public treasury. The tax on tlie home article goes into the pockets of the home producer, and even under ()ur present tariff this sum amounts to several millions a year. The system is essentially vicious and unjust. If we are n>it at p esent able to put an end to it, I trust v/e are able to take care that it shall not be further extended, (lle.ar, hear.) 'J'herc is one thing ! do know, that when the consuming population of this country fully understand this subject, they will make short work of the system ; they will sec that men who arc anxious to acquire fortunes shall learn to rely u])on their own judgment as to the wisdom of their investment, and on their own iuduatiy, economy, and urudeucc for success. (Cheers.) . Our Duty as Canadians. ^' I shall not detain you further by a discussion of the subject of the tariff. It was my purpose to have s])oken upon the acquisition of British Columbia, upon the acquisition of the North- west Territories, and u]ion the policy of ourpredeccssois in dealing with the law relating to con- troverted and simultaneous elections. I shall do this elsewhere in the county. I have said, however, enough to show you that we understand our mission — that we know our duty, and intend to discharge it in tho public interest — that we have so far acted in accordance with our honest convictions of i ight. and have done nothing to give us cause for thinking that the publie conlidenco has been witiidrawn. (Ivoud cheers.) \\'e recognize tho fact that this T'ni«n has been ost.iblisiied to proinott; tho prosjierity of its people, and to secure the colonization of the immense territories of the Northwest which we control. AVe know that without tho develop- ment here of a national spirit arid a national feeling, we can have no future as.sured. Mr. Wed- derburn, in speaking once aj^ainst the colonization of tho country north of the Ohio River, said he hopjd every man settling on the continent, not less than the merchant who for a time may reside at IStockholm or St. Peteisburg, would look to tho British Islca as his home. I say tho very ojiposite of this. 1 hold tlmt it is the duty of every man who intends making Canada his home to prcjfor her to every other land, aiMi to do all he can to make her great and prosperous. (Cheers.) The man who comes here from the Uritish Isles must lea> e his eouulry behijid him, na •well as '.he man who comes from ttio coiitincnfc of Europo and fro.'n tlio ncif^lilioiiring Eo- public. ]]ach country of the United Kingdom has its distinct nationality. Canada, if slio is ever to have a ])laco or name in the ann.ilH of tlio nations, must luive liora also ; and it in a duty that every immigrant owes to this country that he .shall bi-fomo Canadian in Bontiinont anil feeling. (Cheers.) I do not ask that he sh.all forget the great deeds and tho great men of his native land. It is impossible that tho memory of great wrongs successfully resisted, and great triumphs manfully achieved, can bo forgotten. (Ulicers. ) There are groat men and great .'lotions upon wliich tho dust of ages never falls. But our period of childliood has gone by, und manhood or imbecility must succeed. (Cheers.) It is our duty as a (iovernnient to (leveloi» the growth of this nation.al sentiment — to throw our people more largely upon their own re- Bourci'8 — to give freer play to their h.abits of Bclf-reliance — to trust to tlieir intelligence, tlieir industry, tlieir virtue, and their courage, tho future of Cauad.i. Tho lion, gentleniuu rcjunu-d Lis seat amid loud and loiig-contiuucd applause. i ^^^ DII Tir ERRATA. In the introduction to the Newmarket Demonstration, the name of Mr. J. PoarBon Wells, formerly member for North York, should have been given as chairman ; and the name of Dr. McMahon, M.P.P., was omitted from the list of speakers. TH] COl COJ EEI EEI I ISI 13 K 1-Z . I! raon Wells, line of Dr. DIFFICTILTirS IN THE WAY OF THE I.'F.FOnM GOVEF.NMEKT. ia... (Mit. MACKKNzir.) 2,«,.'' A Groat ('(Uintry toCloveni IIH The Kiel Question Snttlcd « Our fiovcniiiu'iitiil Syistom to bo Virxlitriitcd 11!) (Mr. IIivtincton) I'liiniin.i,' (^)iuHti()iiy Settled liy tlic PrcKont GovcnniR'iit (H {Ma. IJr.AKi.) Ciiiiiul.'i'ft l"\itiire rikI its Kflatidiis with tlio Empire 146 (M«. Mills) Our Duty as Caimdiiius '. 178, 171) THE REFOUM AND CdNSERVATIVE rAllTIK.S. (Mil. HiiNTiNdTON) l\efi>vrricrs nlw.ays the ('idin-ers of Liberty atnl I'rogrcfs ( i 'J'lio Conservatives Fi!:;htiiig witlioiit a I'oiit'y iind only for (Miice CO, (>7 Ontario and Quehcc Lil)eralK — 'I'ory Attackb upon the Lutter t'8, t'9 (3Ib. Mills) iJi-lits of the People 12 rrintijilHS of tlie Kcforni (iovornnient iKi Ol^pontwn Pritcti'i'ina Disposed of 9,1 A 'Jelling IndioiUi>nt P4 T.aldn.'^ Issue witli t]i(^ O[)positioij 1G7 The Elcetors of Canada should Eook before they Leap 1C7, I'iti The Franeliise a Trust as Avell as a llight KiS The Duty of the Conscrvativo Party to the Country 16b THE REACTION. (Mn. MACKENZir) SL35 Indications of Confidence in the Government 7--7;t (Mr. Huntington) Co CONSERVATIVE rOLICY. (Mil. Mackenzik) The No Party Cry and How it Ended 71 OJIice the only object of Tory Politics and the Ktaplo of Tory S])eechcs 71, 72 No Piincij)le allowed to stand between Tories and Office 102 Attempts to divide Liberals 118 Divisions Fatal 118 Measures and Policy the Gauge of Party Life lit) CONSERVATIVE APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE. (Ml!. Mackenzie) 40 Colleagues of Sir John appointed before and since Confederation TG-77 Appointments made in ls73..... 77 Summary of Apjiointments by Expiring (Government I'.'l Saving; EfTected in Contingencies and Salaries by Present GovernrnvMit l;.'l (Mb. Mills) The Late Government Providing for their Itelativcs 170 REFORM APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE. (Mr. Mackenzie) Colleagues Appointed to Ofilco 77 REFORM LEGISLATION. (Mb. Mackenzie) 10 The Volume of Reform Legislation 78 The Controverted Election Law 78 The Military College — The Libel Law — The Building Society's Act— The Regis- tvation of Shipping Bill — The Supreme Court Bill — Insolvency Act-Extradition Act 78, 79 A t)oini)arison of Legislation aecomplishcd i-^j (Mr. Ei,A: "c^l ^^ *'> ? .^. '•^ '^^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 .1 ^^ •'■-^^^,'^- •0 ^ l^- 4 ;/. 182 FAnit. Christian mid Political Prinriplcr — Tlieir True IJcliitiuns 141, 142 The liibolvciit Act— Its AnienJment.s US ^ Tlie SiiiMime Court Act— That *' Little Uiul" a Mocking Diul 14.1 Ciimin.ll Statistics— lii^iht of the Subject to Sue the ("rown llcfoj^nized M3 The Labour Laws— Sir John's Huiifjling Legislation IStctitieil 143, 144 AVoikiiig Men Pi otcctcd in their liights 144 ■Ihc(;iaiia Tmnk Strike ...144, 145 Vi'.T Maritime Laws on the Lakes — Extf^dition — In){Kii'taiit >(jj( tiiitic.ns — Tlio (iovfinor (iineial's Comniit'Sion tinil Instruutions — Cannda's Kuturc and its li'elation wiih the Kmpirc — Carrying Fircanns — Uand)liiigni>d other CnniC8l4V), 146 Prison Labour and Discipline 14U, 147 CO N S X :t V ATI VE LEGISLATION. (ilK. Mackenzie) No Remedial Measure owns a Tory origin jl \Yeight8 and Measures Act 17 CONSERVATIVE WAPtFARE. (Mu. MArKiNZiE) Sir John Challenged to make Good outside Statements ?n Prrlia- nirnt 4 lie n< dines a Comn)ittee 8 Mr. George Brown 13 Ch.irge.s hisiuuated 3ti I'uU and Fair Criticism Invited S7 !Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Firming — Mr. Fleming's Letter C'2 Tory Esjiionagc t'S Diflercuie between Style of Attack of the t>^'o Parties C.'l Jhuitington's Method 71 Opjmsition t'riticisnit 102, lO.'l Toiy Malignity 11(> (Mr. Hi'NTiNf.Tdx) K; ]>ejio)alizing Public Sentiment C7 Ojliosititui anxious to Create Divisions and Prejudice 122 (Mr. t AKTwnicHT) Litteincss of last Scs.sion — Origin of tliis state of Feeling 110 (M.:. P.i.AKi;) Pel sonal Attacks by the Op))osition — A Council of War which proba- bly took j.dacc — No (^'raven Apneals for OHice by the Reform Party 147, 143 The late Chancellor Blake— Tho Attack of au "Abandoned Man" — The Reply thereto liO, 151 OPPOSITION CHARGES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. (Mu. Mackenzie) No Meddling with Local Governments 66 Coalition. 5G, 57 (Mr. (^Ai'.Twr.iniiT) Alleged Extravagance 4f> Two S])ecial Charges M (Mj:. Mills) Ifi!) Tii3 purchase of Steel Rails 170 'i'iio Present and Late Government's way of purchasing Railway Supplies con- ti-.islcd 170, 171 . (Mil Bi.ake) The Number of Cabinet Ministers 1.34 Largely Increased Work— Opposition Testimony thereon 1.34, l.l.'i Inci-eased Business at Reduced Cost IS.** Work dreadfully in Arrears under Late Government 135 Economies Effected 1.36 A Comparison of Contingencies Acconnts 136 Results of the several Savings Accomplished — Telcgrai)hing--Cab-hire — Travelling and Post.-ige Accounts 136 Eeonomy and Efliciency Combined < 137 The Penitentiary Board Removed- Its Results— The Dominion Police — General Results of these Changes 1.37 ' The Mulkins' Superannuation 137, 138 Administration of .lusti'je — Natural Increase of Expcaditure — Increase in the Judiciary — The Dispensatiou of Patronage 1-3S Coinamtation of Sentences 1S9 PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. (Mr. Mackenzie) Tories Increase Exi)endituie Ten Millions from 1SC7 to 1873 9 Incrca.se of Taxation by the two Go\eiiiments 101 Travelling E:?penscs un ler Late and Present Governments compared 120 Other Expenditures ci/j ipared 121 (Mk. Cai;t>. j;i(;in) Leading Facts 45 Additional Liabilities incurred by Late Government 45 PAOR. ...141, 142 14S 14.1 143 H3, 144 144 . ...144, 145 1— Tlio ind its nicsHo, 146 140,147 ll 17 Pr.rlia- 4 8 13 St! K7 W a\ M 71 . ...U»2, 10.-) 11« Ki C7 122 110 prolia- .147, 143 Kcplv ...150, 151 56 5G, 57 45 SI Ifi!) 170 con- ..170, 171 134 .. 134, l.'J.'i 135 135 136 13(5 lling 136 137 acral 137 .137, 138 the l.'JS 1S9 9 101 VM 121 45 45 183 ?.\cx. Indian Treaties — Mounted Police — Weights and Measures — Civil Servii-e— Inlor- colonial Kailway — Prince Edward Island IJailway — VVellaiid. 1 aulnne and Ottawa Canals 46 Record of the Pi esent Government 40 Real Parties Responsible for the Expenditure of 1873-4 — What these Expenditures were 47 Comparison of 1873-4 and 1876-6 Real Test of Economy 47,48 Interest Account— Who are Responsible for it? 48 Ordinary Expenditure compared 4S Extraordinary Calls upon Present Goverumtnt— Post Office Outlay 49 Analysis of Expenditure, 1875-0 6J Summary of Results 60 Precautions Taken CO, 61 Time to Pause fll Dr. Tupper's Financial Prophecy 61 Best Teat of Economy 81 Increase of 1 873-4 over 1 872-3 — Details given — Who are Responsible ? 81 Comparison of Expenses— Increase from 1867 to 1S73-4 109, 110 Alleged Abuse of the Superannuation Act under Prcai-nt (jiovcrument 105 KXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS. (Mb. Mackeszir) Comparison of years 1868 to '7G S3 Cause of New Expenditures 33, 34 PACIFIC RAILWAY. (M& Mackzmzie) The Government building the Road without Resorting to Additional Taxation, and in accordance with the Country's Means 7 Progress in getting Kails on the Line 8 Reform and Tory Rail Buying contrasted 8 Cost of the Road under Contract 12 Pacific Railway Act of 1874 approved by Conservatives &8 Attacking it now 39 Tories should avoid Pacific Railway as a Plague 59 Progress of Work thus far 116 Responsibility of the Minister and the Chief Engineer 116 Two Hundred and Twenty-eight Mdcc built at Half thcCofat of the Intercolonial Road 122 THE CONTRACT AND TENDER SYSTEM. (Mr. Mackenzie) Reform and Tory System contra.sted 9 Sir John on Lettir^ Contraots 18 He fails to prove his Charge 19 SpeciniPis of Toiy Contract on Lachine Canal 19, 20, 21 On Welland Canal 20,21 Carillon Canal , 22 Culbute Canal... 22 Hi.leau Canal 22 Intercolonial Railway 2.3. 24, 2.5, 26, 27.28, 29 Analysis of Tenders Acci-pft I from 1870 to 1876— Tory Years 1870 to 1873— Re- form Ye.irs 1874 to 1}<7(J 80 • Reform and Tory Methmls (if liccciving Tenders 30 How Tenders are and were Optacd 30 Deposit and Security Required from Teuderei-s .30,31 Result as shown in Cheap Contracts 31 Petition of Right Law and Contractors 31 Citineau Boom Contract 31 Montreal Examining Warehouse Contr.ict 31 Contrast as to Tenders 42 Amount of Contracts under each Government 59 Mode of Opening Tenders 89 PUBLIC DEBT AND INTEREST UNDER REFORM GOVEKAAiLAT (Mb. Mackenzie) 84 TBI LATE LOAN. (Mb. Caktwr.oht) 114 TwoFacU... 114, 116 (Mb. Mills) * 171 Question lor Opposition FinaLital Critics 171, 172 181 nr.FICIT.S. rACK. (Ml*.. CAnTwnToiiT> Is a D.'Oi'it Proof of lucDtupotcn^o 7 HI ?»irJolm'8 ao;inl of Dufijts 52, .VJ C<>mparison of Dotioits 8 J •STEEI. R-'VIFA (Mi:. MACKF.sztK) Sf) I'.'iils l)ouglit uu Mr. Floiniiiir's Ucoonimei''l.'*tioii h^' I'liblic Tciuwm" 60 I'urchaso all riaht at Hrst- Xo person ooniieclod witli Mr. .M.ickonzio lirtd any Interest in Hnil C.)ntr.iot-« fA Comp.i.' ison of Trioty and Mode of Baying Hails by Iicfiirm iind Tory (iovern- inr.ntinion— Ijcnding Rails to the Canada Central Udil^ay, and Lend- ing,' JIO.OCO Ci'.-h to the Ottawa Ga-s Company 12, 17 Goorj{ian Buy Braiiih necessary to do Justice to the Ka^fc CO Mr Foster's (.'ontract nnd the Canada Central Mnlmidy — Mode of Or.inting — None of the liails Bon^dit — lycuding Hails — lioleaso of Lien — all llight fur 'I'niii;; to lend §10,000 in Cash 61 PiHicully in Transporting Rails 62 Len>linj; Bnils t(t a Railway Company and Giving igSO.OCO to the People of the City of St, John 100 KAMINISTIQUIA LANDS. (Mil. Mackenzie) 31 Valnatoi'H on liachine and WcUand Canals and ou Lauds at Fort Williiim ur.d Newcastle 32 Dr. Tu)i|iei- "Stietching" — on ice! 63 Fort William Terminus selected by Mr. Fleming f^4 How Lands were Valued formerly— A. P. .McDonald t't (Mr. Milus) Another Contrast Drawn — Purchase of Lands by Lata Goverunicnt 171 FORT FRANCIS LOCKS. (Mr. M.vckenzik) 88 THE GODERICII HARBOUR. (Mr. MAfKENZFK) 10 Mr. Pajje's (!)pinion — The Recogni.^ed Practice of the Department followed 10 (Mr. Bi.akk) Mr. Moore's Letter l-»8 Mr. Blake's Statement in the House of Commons 110 INDEPKNOKNCK OF PARLT.\MENT ACT. (Mr. MAfKKsziF.l The Anglin Case 40, 41 Biiwi'li, (Jurrier and Stevenson in the same boat 41 The Itidcinnity Bill — Sir John acquiesced in it 41 ScTet of Antipatliy to Anglin — Mr. Domvilln 42 (Ma. Blake) The Anglin Case— A Right and Wrong Way of disposing of it 14:2 THE TEMPKH.VNCE QUESTION. (Mn. Mackkszie) 117, UQ BRITISH COLUMBI.A (Mr. Mackp.nzik) Vancouver Railw.ay 19 Tories Stimulating Disoontent 1^ TIIE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY. (Mu. Mai'KI'.xzik) Rijform and Tory Manngoineiit com (Ksrcd 78 Mistitke of Late Government in Locating the Route 1~8 i'acilic RaiUvay Built ut Half the Cost 122 ro CO (1 nny cn )vern- fil «.» «)<) «;o, 70 )4 p-r tj'J.'O 70 70 11 11 Leii'l- 12, 17 CO ing— tt tur 61 6-2 i.f th.' 100 ... 31 .. n-2 ... 63 ... r4 ... eilinila 124 Tot.-xl Imniigratiou Expcndituica compared 125 THE COMMERCIAL DEPRESSION. (Mr. MAncF.xziF.) Its Causes 73 (Mk. Caktwuicht^ M Universal Depresaion t>8 fine Cau.se of it 89 Diversion to Non-j)roductive Turuits — What this Division <'(.stf« 8il Main Sources of \Vealtli to Canada 89 (Mr. Mills) An Undertaker's Ideas on Depression VJi FISCAL POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT— rUOTErTIOX. (Mn. Mackkszie) 35 The "National Policy." 39 Milling and Agricultural Interests and Protection 42, 4!) Coal and (Jraiu 4?< Working Men and Protection 43 A Fanner's Testimony ^ 41 The Fat Cattle Trade 43 Class Legislation 44 Eflectof Protection on Labour and Prices — Protoction to Knniipr.s a nflusion aiiii to Manufacturers only a Mon'.'!ntary lieneiit — Kxeniplilifd in Tiiitv"! Siatm Shipping and Britsh Shipping 74 Th« Cattle Trade 74 IJo Royal Road to Wealth 75 ElFect of the Repeal of the Corn Duties on Rritish Karnier.s— A \U\ t no Taiifl or Direct Taxation — Taxing the Americans impoesihle 75 Tax on Flour Wrong and Useless — A Tax on Coal — Protection Protection fatal to Industrial Interests 101 English Farming Interests and the AntiCorii Law Leagu3 Ml, 102 Farmers and Protection " 11(>, 117 (Mb. Cartwuioht) The Two Policies 82 Two Explanations of Distress 83 Problem for Dr. Tupper 83, 84 Two Reraedies— The Canadian Jack Cado 84 Opposition Leaders careful not to Commit Thenibclvi'.s. 84 Results of Piotection — Its Cost— Numbers lntereit.-d — li .ei-s'on of Lal.Kur 85 A Gross Fallacy 86 •Social and Political Result — Rings and Lobbies— Can.sc of Corruption in thu United States— An Element of Discord 87 Dr. Tupper's Confession— True Interest o'' Caniwla 87,88 Premium on Smuggling — Policy of the IJritish Empire 88 Duties on Coal and Flour 90 Cost to Country, and Why -Case of the United Stites -Siwerli of Mr. Wunl — Condition of Labour in Cities of Unitoil Stat>-: — Is this the System for Canada? ." 91 • More Taxes on the Farmers 115 Quack Remedies — Canada's Real Wealth — A Growing Evil— Political Perils of Protection 108 Taxes Imposed by Present Government— Taxes Remitted— Folly i.f Pr. tcctiiui.. 115 (Mr. MILI..S) The Conservative Party seeking a Cliaiigi> in the Fihc.i1 Policy 92 Agricultural Protection— Retaliation— v^pposition Incoii8i.sttncy 05 AVhat OHicial Returns show 95,98 The Wool Question — Protection to Manufactures 96 ■ Who Pays the Duty on Exports? 06,1)7 Canadian, Hritish and United States Tr.ide Relations 97 Wheat and Flour Trade 98 • The Question of Corn 98 • Coercing the Anieriinns — Depicssion cannot be Ri-nutved by Iiicrcnsing TaiilF. ...98, 99 American Opinion changing 99 Sir Robert Peel and Retaliation 99 The Balance of Trade illustratc.l P9, 100 Canadian Lumber Trade— h'cal Clause of its Dcprcaslon 172 '•isiiStrous Etleot of Protection in the United Stall).* 172 180 * FAOK. All Men should be Equal in the Rflce of Life 172, 173 Protection Based on a False Assumption — Political (^nsidcrations against Pro* tection— Its Effect ujion the Settlement of the Nortk-\\est J7S EfFect of tlio Tax upon Whent — Some Apt Illustrations 174 Our Mercantile Marine nnd Protection 174 The " National Policy " — Quacks somctinips Successful — Why ? 17ft The Government Policy the Keal National Pol'cy 17<; Agricultural Protection — Importation of American Com considered 17(» The Conflict of a Past Age renewed ... 177 Protection and Immignition 177 Results in the United Stotes 177 The Seltishueui of Protectionists 178 Whore the Proceeds of an Incrcaned Tariff would go '. 178 The Duty of Canadians 178 Sm JOHN MACDONALD. (Mb. Mackenzie) Sir John us the Champion of Civil and Religions Liberty.. ..• S Asa Legislator...... 10 His Claims to the Supreme Court Bill 10 His Claims to being the Originator of Confederation 13 Attack on Laflamme 40 His Denial of Appointing Colleagues toORice ... 4() His Misstatements about Contracts 58, C!) Advising Secession of British Columbia fiO Colleagues since 18fi7 who would. not "Seek a Refuge" 76 Colleagues before 1867 appointed to OtBce 77 A Specimen Statement 127 A Comparison of Legislation 127 (Mr. Cartwright) Only a Titular Privy Councillor 88 Sir John Conbistent W) Why he wants the New Tariff — DilFerence between him sn (Mb. Rymal) a Black Political Intrigue 125 DR. TUPPER. (Mb. Mackenzie) Dr. Tapper's Facts 4 Repudiating his own Railway Bargain with Briti Tupperian Representation of 'Wmes anterior to 1867 38 Sir John and Tupper Inconsistent with each other regarding the Railway 39 Tupper'e Ontario Mission 58 How he Ruined Howe 68 (Mb. Cartwright) Dr. Tupper as a Financial Prophet 61 Tupper as a Critic of Bl.ike — Pope on Tupper — Political History of Tupper — His Management of Nova Scotia 64, 65 The Doctor's Confession 87 A Habit of his 164 (Mr. Milus) The Betrayer of Nova Scotia 94 Imagination, not Facts— Tupper as a Prophet — Hia Object 96 MR. WM. McDOUGALL. (Mr, Mackeneik) • Origin of North- West Troubles- Mr. McDougall's Opinion of his Colleagues .... 6 His No Party Professions in 1867 71 Would not " Seek a Refuge" , 7« His Attack on Blake at Gorrie ^^ Certifying to Sir John 102 (Mb. Huntington) McDongall ready to follow Tapper 15 On Purchase of Politico Support 15 Mr. McDongall and Lord EldoD 121 His Annexatiot. Charge against Mr. Hnotington 121 (Mik Blake) An "Abandoned Man" 160 rARK. . . 172, 173 t Tro- 17S 174 174 175 17B 17(J 177 177 177 178 178 178 8 10 10 1» 40 4l» 58,69 69 78 77 127 127 88 »0 90 Cit of 126 162 163 93 16U 125 4 7 7 7 ; 38 ly 3l» " 58 68 51 ter— His 64, 65 87 164 94 96 8 Knes .... 5 71 7« 79 102 15 15 121 121 160 187 SENATOR MACPHERSON. * taqk rJu. MAt-KF.NZiE) Ta F l.airson 101 ( K. (:aiitw>ug,t;osti<)i\ to Mr. Marpl.etson K>9 Dluiidcr No. (i— Hlumier No. 7— Atnoont due action of Ijite Govcrnnjcnt^ Cause why tlK> ('•overnmeut coaUl not reduce Kxitendituros 169 t!(iiiimoniilaeo Mistakes 159 A Hint to Senate — Practical Facts — (First) Total Durdcn of liitoreKt Yiarly Accruing on Debts and Subsiilies hardly increased at all since llcform Gov- ernment took Oliice — Calculation in proof thereof • 1(!0 How Jutercst was kept down — Mr. lilacphorsan Ajipalled— (Second) Absolute Amount of Debt measured /)^ M/M/a increased very little 1(51 (Third) Total Taxation /xr capita has not Increased but Diniinislied unner lie- form Oovernmcnt — Proofs thereof Ifil, 1(!2 (Fourth) DednctiiiK Increases which are unmi.stakably iliie to Late (iiAiriiniciit, the Present «;ov.'inmt'nt is Administrating the Albiirs of the t'i)Uiitry ('heapir alisolutcly and prr capita than ihrir i'redecessors Pii Details and Kesult. Ui2 Ont^ more Cali'idation.— Summary — Easily Rcfut<^l if Wrong — ConBopiences if liight— Another tiUj^j^estion for Dtani-majur Maephersun Itf3 MR. DALTON McCARTllV. (Mn. CAUTWKiriTr) "Tho Commoner " ISS His Sol rows — Positi'^n and Mi,-»ion ItU ^Ir. McCarthy a Cuiiy ot .Mr. Macphcison 1(54 Object of boiii— The Blind Leading ti.e Blind 1(>5 Good Wiiihcs for McCarthy lt>({ THE PACIFIC SCANDAL. (Mu. MAruKNZiK) Sir John's retirement * Sir Hugh Allan's " 11 indsonie Suliscription.'' 4 "Why tho " Scandal " is referred to .> Its Revival 3S Reversal of Verdict thereon now s<'»aght .17 (Mb. lIuNTiNtJTos) Sir John and Sir llui.h — A Knightl CoUocpiy that migiit have taken place (>8 (Mr. MiLUs) Real Nature of the Paci.nc Chaiter >ale liiH Why Sir John Thinks it a Mistake KiS, l(;i> Bribery with Private Fuiuls wrou^j but «itb Public Funds right ! lu'J THE SECRET SERVICE SCANDAL. (Mr. Mackenzie) Sir John's Management of the Fund while not a Minister 101, 10'. His St. Thomas Speech and what it .^Migcests 10.") Tory Defence of Secret Service and Northern Railway Scandals 10(1 Mr. Smith's Vote on the Secret Scrvic« 10.") (Mr. CAKTWitiotn) Sir John's Refusal toitate how ho Disposed of the Fund — Use- IcsFucss of all Safeguards Ill THE NORTHERN RAILWAY SCANDAL. (Mr. Mackenzie) History of Government Liens on the Road 10,1 M Mcpherson's, Cumberland's, Robin5->u's and Hincks' connection therewith ](l4 Tlie Company compelled to Refund the Money 104 (Mil. CAUTWUiiiHT) Illustration from Nature HI fiir John Maodonald. Senator Macpherson, Mr. Cumberland, Mr. Robinson and the J/<((7 .sharing the Embezzlement 112 Sir John's Caution— Duty of Honest Conservatives — A Paltry Criminal vs. his Wealthy Neighbour 112 Douils of Einbezzlcmcnts — New System of Double Entry — .V Triple Entry Sya- ;, , tem — the Unjust Steward— Cost' to Country — Cumberland's llurviot 113 What "f other Railway Contributions? 114 ,1 What Sir Hugh Allan expcctwl 114 'ihe (,)uestioii of Testimonials- Piinciple Right in the Ab,>tract, but Unpleasant when Apjilicd 123 188 PAQB fc'ciintDr Mnpphrnimi ntxl tho Tegtiinoniii! - Sir John's Dtity to know wlicro tliu Money cdnie fiiun — lie tuiglit to I'liy it Hack— Uctruyul of a I'ublio Tiiist by its Tiustoi's 129 Taking, IJeceiving an