ifromTmK Xm^, Mvrdreai Xlik Jw,mari J^^.ff'.)
THE SITUATION
7"
n
Read ! Miu^k I Learn / arid In v/ardty Digoai ! ' '
— OK THE —
HON, ED¥/ARD BLAKE
BEFORF THE
Young Men's Liber cd Cluh of Toronto,
. . '■ _.. , . — ON — ' '• ' /
Tuesday EvENiNTT.JANTJARy 13th, 1884,
Mr. Blake, on coming forward wa,s ; maiiheol suffrage- 1 thiEk the resulw
greeWi Mvith rour.d after round of cheer- j of that legislation have demonstrated
ing. He isaid : — Mr._ Chairman, ladies, I ita wisdom. (Cheers). It was based
and gentlemen, — It is always a great | u|X)n the proposition that the franchise
privilege to a pablic man co be permit- \ "was, when properly viewed, an elevating
ted to express, to any portion of his ; priyilege, and that it was, .therefore, of
countrymen, his seitimentfi npon tlie ; the last coriseqxience tliat at the earliest
public affairs of their ';ommon country, ; period at wliich the process of reflection
but I confess that it is with pecuL^r land argument were available, the citizen
pleasure that I avail myself of the op- should hs trained to the exercise of the
portuiiity given me to address a meeting j fraiichise. Nc-w, I ha\e said that 1 re-
under tlie auspices of the Younjr Men's , gard politics as
Liberal Club.pf Toronto. (Applause.) 1 1
have alw^ays regarded the politics of a j the .voblest occupation of the utizkn-,
free country, as the noblest occupation \ a^d vet I hav.- becm esneciallv anxiou.^
oftho citizens of that country, and I 'that the voung shovddearlv take a -^art
have always believed that it , i^ x\^q^.^ : because, although they be the
was cspential io the fullest de- 1 noblest occupation of the citi:ien I know
velopment of the nobler part of ; it jg often dofi].;d, .and it is very import-
polities that there should _ be an early ! ant to all of us that the generous aspira-
apprenticeship on the part of the citizen | tioas of vouth should mingle with our
to tiiat, his noblest duty. It has always j erforts, and it is ail important that the
been my earnest wish, tncrefore, that j youth of the countrj' Wn to partici-
tl*e young Canadian should, av a very ; J,ate actively in the politfcs of the coud-
early time m his hfe, beg-ii tiiat active j try and do so upon sound and ete^ ate/i
interest in poht)CE which It IS the nartjpi-incJples. Thev should .nlm hich.
of every good citizen to take, and, a.s long I -^'iipy j^^^^\. rem^^mbcr. as we ail ouelu,
ago as i&n years or more, I took an op- ; to rememl}er, that there inav be dear-
iKDrtuuity of making a proposition in j bought victories. i:nd that itls b,:;ttor to
that sense, and based upon that j lose in the right than to triamph in the
view, for the enlargement of the i ^-j-on)?. ffy^ad applause.^ Thev rju.'t.
franchise of Ontario, whi.h rei^ultcd ir. i ^h vouth "will, I think, be only too wil-
tno adding of a very great number of : n^^g to do, agree that the end doe.< ivA
youT'g men all through the rural parts ' -^^gtlfy the means, they must be willinc
ot The ProYxtice to the rolls, who other- -to nssTJme as their rule of action in i>Gli«
Wise would have been for a long series ; tics that no double cnn.«cie,nce should d>
of years excladcd from the franchise, I vide the man and the politician. (iK)ud
and which resulted, iurthor, m uicroas- i apnlause.) ^^.jw, we are ilv'.ng under a
ing the number of the electorate of On- j free svstem of Government, which is
tanpto a point higher than m any other j worked upon the principle of partv.
Pro^ance, except one, which possesses ' There are manr men who lay to that
principle ihe sreftt and ad:uilt«'d eviiS|View of things than that (JiAr".s:>u>a
whifh i^rmeute out political xysteHi. 1 1 which goes on wh^n raeasriTGH arft ut-at-
am not blind to those faults, nor anil led from opposite points of riew by a
blind to the fa<'-t that the excess of party | Government and an <>ppoeition. iiut I
zeal tends largely to prodnce them. Ijsay that the ihing has its evils and
see— we have all aeon — incapacity and [grave evilfljtliat it is liable to abus*» and
men crime condonsKl; I have seen fraud , great abuse, and that the yoiin^ who
justified ; 111 a,ve seen a loose code of I are entering npon tiie liiscnssion of poli-
morality embrace*.! ; I })ave seem legiala- 1 tical affairs, and are tiikiug their imrt,
tive iniquities- -sii'h, forexi'wple, as the i should recogiiize that, and, in the spiri*
Gerrymander Act <^i' last session— (loud '■ which you, Hir, intimated a few moments
applause) approved and applauded ; : ago, engage in the discussion of politi< al
and I have sen all the.se things done ■ questions, from an independent stand-
largely in tl;e name and for the interest j point, and with an earnest desire to
of party. (Applause) But I say thai read i the true, the sounds the just
thc.'?e are not inseparabl'! from the prin- conclusion. For my own pai-t, I have
ciple of ))arty government (Applau.se. 1 1 been some seventeen or eighteen years
T say f liat «uch things as theise are, .some \ in public life. I havo sat for some threo or
oi v,-htch mif'bt have 1)ecii parallelled in four and twenty s^ssioi-s in one House
the bi.'stor.' of English representative or the other, and I have never ]jivpn a
institutions, would be imjMj8.?ible in the . vote or pronounced an opinion whicliT
England of to-day. iNotv,itl!3tandii!
the severity of f>arty strife, notwith
stand ir.i!; the acriinonv and bitterness
Avould ask my constituents or my fellov-
countrymen to approve of or condone
becatise it was a i>aTty vote or opinion.
which, uiiliappily prevail, and have for : jT^oud cheei-s.] It is upon the raerits of
the last fevy years, prevailed in England, ! those votes and opinions that 1 have at-
tiie things to wliich I have referred are temptc:d, and ever will attempt, to vindi-
ini{x>6sible there. If you want proof of ■< ate their soundness. I rejoice, T need
it take ti.e iiedistrioution Act now or ! hardly say, in the establishment of
shortly to be placed l>efore the English | this club. I hope that its membership,
Parliament and the Redistribution Act i large thotigli it be, as you have ju.stmen-
— so-culled — pa?nsed in the Canadian, tioned, will be more thai) doubled with- ■
Parii anient of 1882. Ii<iok at the prin- ' in a fib.ort space. [Lctud applause.] It
ciplft of action prevailing*inone case and ; ought to ho, in a city of this magnitude,
in the other. Look at the fact that in more th.an doubled. I hop^ you will
one case tiie ]X)wer of j proceed to justify by your activity your
A I'ABTisAX MA.)oniTY , ,. jexistence. Youhaveto - ''
>va3 deliberately used in order, if tkjs- j ^^^ -^-"^ bxamplb.
fcible, to crush the minority out of "ex- j There are many other places in which
istence, while m the other the principles ; Young Men's Liberal Qubs may well be
of redistribution were aj^reeil upon by i established. There are places in Ih^-
the mutual assc-nt of the tv.'o groat par- ' country in which it is better t<:) adhere
tics (loud applause), and you will see to the old system of old and young
that in a country iu which party govern- \ going together, in which it is difficult to
meiit prevails, justice and equity, and , get sufficient members conveniently
iionor, and liWral notions may yet also close to one another to establish
prevail. So wit>' reference to the gen- : different organizations. No such dilB-
eral code of poiiiicahuoral't}-. Contrast ' culty exists here. There are raanv other
the Englieii code with tluit observed in 'places in which no such difficulty
Canada. Contrast even t}>e code of the i exist8> and Avhere numbers, and
TTnited States with that observed here! convenience, proximity are_ such
— far inferior as tiiat is to the English. ' as to enabh.; diflei^ent organikjations
Irt>ol: at the case of Colfax ; look at even j to be formed, and in these places I
later and larger cases wliich I might j favor the formation of nmner-
name, and see ior yourselves once again , ous organ izatic-ns. Yon have work
that party .spirit does not neces.sarily i before you, studying the public
aniiihilaie the sense of honor or justice. ; questions of the day, prepjiring yoijf-
And, after all .said, party government 1 ! selves by practice lor the di.scussiou of
believe t.:> be inevirable, for 'the reason ; thaso onesDons upoii the platforni ; you
that you will have an organ fzatior. ■ have the practical work of carrying yonr
at aiiy rate • on , the si<ie of the I opini<,'iis and conviciioi>s to. a si'.ccebSfKl
Government. The Government of the j issue by taking that part which kn.ow-
day, to Vvhutever views it may adiiero. i ledge and trained activity can take in
is the nu'dens of au oi^anization. It ; tiie oiganization of your party — iu see-
holds place, i>ower, patronage, and ha>- : iag to the registration of the votes, see-
tlit' uiiicidnery for cons -;li dating its ad- ; iug to gettii»g out the votes, seeing to the
heicnls, and it <'i'.*.s not seeuj to me pes- j formation (f .a .^ouiijl public opinion
sible that there should be :uiy efiective j aniong.st the mas-ses of your jellow-
check upon thp course of guvernment; citizens and olector.s. There is in this
indes* tiiere l;e an organized party in < city. Conservative though it l)e, a
opposition. ISor am 1 able to advhie -great Lil»eval ibree. (Ijoud applause),
any belter 3Jieans for tiie ascertainment .There is a Liberal 'force sui-
of a tiT.O; and r-ound, and rea.sonable ' ficientiy strong to do "great things
3
There
IS
even ijr. !< > f.io.
Liberal foiro ;^ti..u^ enongr to l-e of
great and vaJnr.hl-.- liSsifetRBce m spwad-
ifig LitK^T ili^rfr <"'j j«s and carrying tbem
to a succeaaruii^'sac in the sarrounding
constitucm'^ies. VV.; il^former«i of the
Province nf Oui •.!■:<■ must never fr.>rget
vincial politioA, felt ixnder great obliera-
tinns to him tor the conree he uxik. I:i
ibe yenr 1SS2. ten vears after vpard^,
when the Liberal pertr, crippled by the
Act to which I have referred, and by &r.
election p»-ecipitatp<l upon it unexpect-
edly, yr:<s forced v^ithoiU nn^paration to
what 1 rni freqi!' iitiy reminding you of . enter into tbn contest, \S -liiam Johnston
from the plttfoni.that our foroo amongst ! volunteered for the fray. He ofifered to
Kti'T'ly greater than tiie (lake charjre of the ortranization <>f tte-
: -t ;d(ed ncdistribution jtario for tlie election, and ho 'ibored, aa
I :. ipro to .»!?nd to Parlia- jfow mon liave labored, as few niert could
/ibi-ral side. Youmust labor, through that contest and the one
Tit iinder all the un- { which followed a year later. We owed to
fav<^rab]c (ironui t hires of the late eiec- j them gratitude for their services la the
tion, cir< nmstaji'os which I shall not j past, we owe t<j onrselves not to forget in
now particular'/^,- — our political force any short time those gervdcts, but to
the i^ople is ro
forcfe •.vhifh thr
Act pornit'-i the
ment on the i
not furuot- t!
poll
ijopular for«".8, pi'cut as it was then, is! mine. Tliey both Bapjy ned to be dtti-
greater now. that not many months | dents In my ol'ice, una to have received
"lapsed after thf ..'Oiieral election befo^-e i their proAssional training there, and
hat series of evv'.is began which have ! therefore J feel as one who has lost two
tbaen sounding even in unwilling eai-s | of his best r)ersi>na] friends, and as a
the truth of tt:e vieus which wo have ; public man sb.aro with you the feeling
been pressing ni^ui the people, and tiuit, > of sorrow for tbeir loss. I tnist that
at thi. time the .ribje^-te w^hiA ft^n^d i . , , ^^,^^^
the pim^'iDal tojoi' of debate ac the late ■ .,, . , . , . , ,
election are disras.-ed in altogether a '^'^^^ I'cniam enshrined m your hearts
difterent .-oirit, :;nd that altogether a j and that the lesson they taught us will
different temper , rovailti ia the ranks of |»t;t be forgotten. They took an active,
the adversary, H is > ;;, , ';; r-
IMPOSSiBLB I'>R THEM TO AT'Fn.\t
honorable, noble, manly part in the po-
litical life of their country. They worked
while it was to-day and, may we not say
arty longer to cvicun apparent facts as j of them as it was said bv a t-reat man
proving beyond controversy the sound- of ooUtic^l friends gone:—
neas of their pol'.in'. From a jxjnod
within a few months after that election
had taken place, and up to the present
day, circiuristances have been accu-i
mulating, facts have jjeen coming for-!
ward, events have been .precipitated
upon the niiudfiff tbe impartial an<l the j
intelligent In favcirtr of the conclusion j
thai a miptuke was made in 1S7S and i
repeated in 1882. sLoad cheers). I
maintain tnat tlie almost even balance
which existed bet\V'.;en the political par-
tie.-^ in Ontario in 18S2 has now been re-
versed, and that the preponderance of
sentimerit 's with tlic Liberal party. 1
"From the eternal shadi>v roandiag,
All our sua and starlight hero,
VoiccH of oiu' lost onfrs Houndin."',
Bid us lh> of heart and cheer,
Throueh the cilenoO: down the spacesi
FuU)i5g on the Inward ear.
Ijet us draw their maiitlesi o'er as, ,
Which have fallen in our way, ~ »
IiCt u:i do the work before Ui?,
<'heeri!y, brarely, whilo wo may.
Ere >hu Ions ni^bt-siii-nce coniOth,
And -with ii> it it? not day,"
(Loud and prolonged applause.) Now,
Mr. Chairman, there are many topics,
each of which deserve a speech by itself,
which I might address yon upon. There
cannot forget, nor cart I lose the present i are uiany c^ueations of a most pressing
opi>ortunity of retV-rring to losses which I character. The constitution under
vre have .soshiined. AVitliin the last few j which we live was settled, unfortunaio-
dayp We liuve sustained grievous losse.s. ; ly, witbont nn apjx^al to the people,
We have lost froro the ranks of cur j without that threshmg and sifting, and
party, from onr fellowship as citizens, ' crucial discussion in rarliamcnt, in the
two men who were well known tp most | newspaj)e)-s an<l at tb.o j'olls. which
of you, ao.il wbose rep; station had spread j""* wofud have undergone had tluit ap-
far beyon'l tbe bounds, of tlie city ■ peal he- ri taken. It was settled ve^'
which' tb.cy called the't b.om.e. j largely by a public uian, who Wite
We have lost James Bethune and Wil-j avowed iy of the opinion that it was a
tiam.Toni)stoi>. T.icy were young Lit> ■ niistakc, that the union should have
erals, not so Iobt>; ago, and early in their : s:>een a lp'-:isialive, not a federal union,
lives they assumed a prominent place ; and it bears unmistakable mark.s of tb.at
in the connrils unM tanss of the Liberal \ handiwork. There are defects and in-
partj-. In 1871-72, tliose critical years j consistencies which v^oukl not have ap-
in ourPi'ov'w-.ciaj b:story,.Tan;esBethuiielpeared iiad it been e;ut»mitted to the test
valiantly contested and won the County ! of public discussion. You have allnd-
of Stormont, when it was of the last con- 1 ed, Mr. Chairman, to one defectr-
sequenco to tlie Liberal party that not a jthe Senate. As Senate, we Ijave — we,
coriity should be lost. I, at that tims, j hvinglin a deuiocratic country, in an
engaged actively a? 1 was. in these Pii>i age of democratir principles— a
^R lecli
l^lsiajivc lody not ele<:*ed di- ' the SKmo IVnvince tbrt power t« aj.lim-
rectiy or iBuifectls? by the people, i nister these laws fey E^aas ^ Provia^
but apfxojiit«d by the First Mmistor aud j cial officerf respomblc to the p<h.>plc
appcintcd for life. The Sonat-e Wiia sai<l ' whow* lawn an- to m admini«rered^
lobe, when fii St established, tho renre-i(Loud applause), ihon we have th«^
Bentative of thft sovereignty of the l^o- great quefition of Provincial liighta,
nncefl, and the B^KfOial protector of Pro- ; vrhich may be summed up, perhaps, in.
vinciai ri|dit«. And yet the njemh>er3 theqnestiunof tbepri:icirk*g Hj^-^xiMmch
are appuint<ed by the ))erson against | the disputed jx'wer of disaliowance
whom (on thi-. theory ol protection for ; should be exercised. To -what end
the ProTincee,) that protection would l)e ; ia it that yon have a Local Ijcgislalure,.
neede^l. (Loud applause.) Tho First | aud that go rhrough the turmoii of L«-
Minifter of Canada, wlu^ever he may be, i cal elections, to send represent ative.'^ to
wntruls the luajority of tho House of } that legislature to xuake laws if, in
Commons and the legislation of the i those matters whirh are confessuly
country. He infringes, we v.ill say, | within the jurisdiction and the exciusive
upon Provincial rights, and tiie Senate ! jurisdiction of thot Ix>git)lature, and in
is to guard afrainst that — aiid yet he | those laws which do not etfect
appoints the watch dogs. (Lond luugh- ^ the general interest of the
ter and applause). Now I say we ought to I Dominion, your lecrislation is not
have a Senate responsible to and elected j supreme ? (Chcera). " I say it would be
by the jxjople — (great applause) — small ; better for you — because the Truth U al-
ia numbers, and •vith proper checks and | ways better than a sliam — to
safeguards which have been devised and | uavb a i.BGisL.n-iv£ ir>io:^ at on( e
which could easily Ik; made to avoid ! +1,^.,^ ^- „„k™4* +^ , ,„.„, ^c ~^,.; •
those difficulties which the great objec- ' f,^^ . wS™!^ VT / .fLTffl'l
that which concerns tbrhnlc betWn | *^,7^f*SL >n.ftf'^ 1
them and the F^leral body-tlie Lieut- ! ^fr^'^^S^^f^wv ?^^
r-^, ^»..^, T>„f 41, « iv^ ;».;«« ^*- '■•.,„,- 1« of ^3iiadiar\. legislation we should be
h?a nn rL.r tn *iafl^^e, and «hoSld iiu=lst that We on.ght
nas no po^ex to - . j ^^^ govern cur own affairs, .md the same
aEviBE iiHR coKHTmTK^N , ruig applies as between one c^f the Pro-
at al. Neither the r>eople nor the Par- ' vinces and the Dominion as applies he-
liament of Canada can amend tho Con- ; tween the Dominion and the Empire,
slitution, either with rtiference to the j with reference to domestic legislation.
Senate or auything else. 1 maintjiin \ Even though we have a written Consti-
that tliat is a great disadvantage. > lution, a large part of the Constitution
(Cheers.) We ought to have inherent 'is unwritten, and dei^ends upon the
in us the power to revise and amend our j spirit in which it is interpreted and ad-
■ Constitution as from time to time may \ mmistered. That is the case, as you
seem necessary, with proper safeguards, | know, entirely, as to the British
no df ubt, for the rights of the Provinces, iXjonstitntion, which is unwritten.
as tuey exist in the United .'-^tates. At : In tliis question of disallowance
the present time, no luatter how much ; it is all important to under-
you might Kke to change the Constitu- j stand the spirit in which you should ex-
tion, you do not know that it would be j pound our Constitution:!. ExpC'Und 't on
done, for it is dependtnt upon the action: the federal principle on which it i ; re-
of the Imperial Government and Par- i cited, that it is made, and you will
liament; and no matter how mu:h you i reach one conclusion ; expound it in the
might desire not to change it, the change i spirit of legislative union, and you will
might bo made bera^be it depends upon j reach another. That is not a question for
tliig action of that Gfjvornm»,nt and Par- the lawyers, therefore it is not a ques-
liauienu Then there is anu. icr thing, tion for the Courts, but it is a high and
which grew, I bclie\e, largely out of the I important and yet \ ery plain "fjuestion
circumstauf'cs to which I have refcrred for th.e people at large to settle at the
resi)eeting the adoption of the Con-ititu- i pcUs. (Loud ch.eering). Look for ex-
tion and that is tiie division of the judicial' a iX; pie at the que;slion of granting
p<nvers. We have the large body of our ; licences for the sale of intoxicating
Jaws made r.y the I rovincefi.' These ,' liquors.— (loud and prolonged applauHe]
ought U' be administrated by the Pro-; — and you will find in that a proof of the
vinccs which make, them. The Courts | propositions I have just been advancing.
are created by the Provinces, but the ; Vou ivill find an eflbrt made at Ottawa
judges are nominated aud paid by the [to construe your Constitution in a cen-
Fetferal authority. It is an utterly [tralizing spirit which minimizes the at-
i llogi cal and absurd mode of roanaghig tributes of the Local Legislature and
the "matter. (Cheers). 1 maintain that t magnifies the attributes cf the F'ederal
v/hen ;'on have a legisiati's e body which 1 Legislature. But, when we find that ever
ffiakei til© la'»re,ycu ought to have isx eiac© th# Coiisviifttioii \tgs a Cbastitu;
lien for the seventpen or eighteen years! I want to aay to you, toniijfht. on tb«
in which we bave been liv'ng under it.i very night of thattriaroph, that tlxe mnet
ths Liocai IjBgislsttires actoa ^pon the; Ttnjportant •"jueetion ss i»»*t *>%«©? os^
right to maVo laws uron a '^>nrticu3?ir which I pot to you— th© question of
t^iic. and tho Central LojrisUtar» did } policy. In wiiat i^pirit Rhali wii act nt
not inU-ifere witl; the exorriso of that | Ottawa ? Phall we, after it has bf-en
right, can we ask mort; rogcnt or plainer ; estahUshed, after eightetm years e.<peri-
proot of tho understanding' of the neople I ence of all ti:e Local I^gislat'.uos, tliat a
as t what the mr'aniug ot their (Jonsti- < particular attribute is tlieir8.and when it
lntl( J way ? I asic whether, except in
case of urgent and al«o'.ute necesaity, a
meaning which was expounded hy 18
vears' practice shonld he attempted to
ho vioIaU;*! ? Well, it was att<;<ript->d to
be violated, pnd ujwn the very doctrine
to whiv.h T have referred-— thai of neces-
sity. It was nnnounced to xtn that
Tnn LAWYHKS HAD FOCXD OV i
ttiat we were all wrong, an<I that our
('•onstitution made it something whoUy
difterent from what we all, except a few
of u.", one being the late Minister of Jtis-
tice of Canada .had frdp|K)«ed,and tba t now
it was "ound that the jurisdiction was at
Ottawa, and not witli the Provinces, an<l
that of necessity we must act. We dia- 1
puted tbnt proi>odiiian. Wo said thati
nothincc of the kind had been discov-
has beendeci<te«lby the Courts that they
liavc that attribute, stnagj^ip to de-
prive them of it? ('" No. no," and ap-
plause.') Sliali "we go ou litigating fur-
ther it'Mecjm, hy some hook or crook, to
i find something that.shall taV e away that
power ironi them and give it to the cen-
tral aathoritr ? 1 say, No. (Cheers.)
THB TIJUE UNIONISTS
in this Canada of ours, witli its sparse
population, with its diverse nationalities
and interests, are th' y who reotiencdze
the principle of local law;^ and "local
powers in the widest and most ^^enerous
Bpirit (Loud appianse.) i say that it
is by recognizinu' the fact that tlui jieople
in a vast a^^ea of territory can most
effectually legislate for themsf:;lves in the
^.r^ _ „ , great masses of questions, that we shall
■ X. A ,^ • .~:?"?P^-."^ y.^" I promote &real union in those things in
ere right, and the junbmction is ^ith | ^^.j^j^^j^ ^^ j^^^.^ ^^.^jj ^ eommon intar-
the Domimon, what Wd ought to do sto ! ^^ j^^^^ .^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ instance above
take stepfl to make the <^oustitut on : ^^^^^^-j^^^ .^ ^.j^5^.;^ ^^.^^ ^^^.^„^^^^ j^^^j
agree with the common sen.-^e o. the ; -^ ■ i,„j^,rtant in .Iccidiug the ex-
people as to what '^ ^^'O inilr>n.^ nf Tn-rv- ■ i -. , > ,„
ee^dine to vlo"
ered, and we said more
lat it was, inoioad of pro- ; idj^^ev andifficacy of law, it is upon
iate tna. coinmon sense. | f^, ^^^ ^^^.^tion in v. hich the atten^pt Bad
[Ijoud applause.] We were told nothing
of the kind shall be done, our arqend-
ments were exp<.dled, <ind ^ a law was |
massed, based upon the idea that such; a j
Taw was necessary, tiikii^ the control of
; the liquor traffic, so far as couVl t>e '
V dure, into the hands of the Dominion.
ijeen ina<3e and will be persisted in, I"
fear,to take away the power of tlie IxK.-al
fxigislatures and legislate for the whole
Dominion at Ottawa. (Loud and pro-
longed applause.] I cong^atulale the
Liberals up<^n tne series of triumphs
wiiich have attci:de<l their efforts to es-
Then the next year the event. A-hich we ^^^^^^, the f^eral principle and to en
,.■ anticipated^ came^ to i>ass,^and^Jhe ^^^^^ ^^^^^j ^.-^^^ j>yt^ j 3^^ t^ ,^^^
Judicial
Council
laws on
vitality-
Committee of
decided that
this subject had
-were not the waste
the Privy
the local
efficacy and
pai^er
their work is not done, so long as these
j>ersi.stent efforts to minimize that prin-
: ciple go on, and that we must set our
^ ,,. ,. ., ^m ^-<.v I faces as flints .-I'minst these aggressions
we were told m tiie city of loronto they i ^^.^^^ j^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ -^^ ^^.^^ ^^ ^^^^
were. (Loud au-i prolonge<l cheering. K^ l_,e jat^d in in the future, and
Then we pressed uix>n taem to re{*al , ^^^j. / ^^. ^^ -^ essential to the pros-
theiflaw,smce the argument of ne(^^!j^j.:^y^^^^^^jg'(-,^j^^^l^ ^^ 1^^^ <:.,,,.^
*orce, j-N , i ^^ Chairman, there are other questi(ns
! upon which I would say a few words,
because I have to deal with some pre^-
sity was shov\ n to have no
the second act of tho drama was gone |
on with. W^e were told that, as a matter
of policy, this law should be kept uj»n
the stataie book, if oy womehook or by
some cro; )k, some cimning device of the
lawyers, the jurisdiction could he h.eld
bv tl;e J^orniuion, tbouvh the Province
sing questions v.hich have been before
us for some years — are l>efore us this
night for df cisiou. There is the ques-
tion of
CX^MMEiiClAL rmEATlBS.
had adeq»at« jurisdiction. An anujige- ,
' ment was mad'' for a statement of a case j We have believed for a long time that it
10 the Fupn^me C<;urt tc; ask its decision ; was extremely important that we should
; upon the qaestiou, and it is only this ; enlarge our foreign markets. Botii par-
P niorniiig yyn have heard that the unani- ; ties have agreed upon this. The party
. mous iudgmct.it of that tribunal in all ' in p<.>wer proclaimed that it was one of
the dlspuuj-d points, the^int with rt'fer- 1 their most earnest objects to enlarge onr
once to
wlvole.sale
(ue liquoi
sviid vessel
-^enses,
lieen.'=*'«.
except "f foreign markets by making arrange-
wiiich i mente with divers countries. ^Tbe hav^
may be pi« to one a'de^ the law of >.ho ; been in power for a good many year&
Dominion is void. (Tremendous ap- ; and h« , v. not -succeeded in taking tlie
plauae.) Now. there, you ^e, we have j first step ab y^t m the enlargement of
twumphed under the O^iiQtitntion. But the market. (Laughter and appiatiae.)
On the contran*, the markets nemn to be
carrowiiiif rather than enlarging. I
j:aTfT ai^ti6<i that an imjportant step
towards buccc'Ss would bo the
; fKBcri }(»iCTi.\nov of wwmhj^cjil
TEBATIKS.
(Loud and prclon^ed applause). My
opinion is that there jre l)UKine?«J atiUirs
wlsi( h arc best ujana2:od by ilioHe wlio
know n>oHt and best about tlio bubiuess.
They involve discnssionH with reference
to advantfiu^es and disailvanlajjes. The
c<:>mrperoial and fiscal injlicy of EngJanii
liiflers widely from ot'ra ; their lives are
tlifferent, their views are (bifcn-i!;.
It is necessary only to luok to
their public despatches ujkxu analogous
questions to observe. ^V"e iiave found it
c3tat«d in Parliament that we just iniased
iV mt;si ;.<lv;mtii.wou.s con^'eution with
Frano; iy twenty -four hours, be-
cause our Iheti Agent-General at
J\ui8 hnd \i) ri^fer it to
the Foiyitai ui\M->- in London. Before
the answer caiae tiie happv monient
was lest, find the treaty w;is lost too.
That has been stated by tl^e First Mi-
nister at Ottawa, yet be says it would be
a great harm for Canada to have {Kjwer
to negotiate treaties dire<t In that
case it would not have been harm, it
has bt-f^n said Uj_ me, How do you es-
})t)ct joa vill be able to enforce your
tieaties by war unless yon negotiate it
through the medium of the Britisii Am-
ba.«jsad<^r ? Well. 1 never should projxjee
to enmrce a commercial treat>" tluit
way. (Applause). I am rather a man
of pjae^' myself, at any rate, but the idea
of insistin^i: that, if a commercial con ven-
tion m broken, you will go to" war about
it, seems t.') me perfectly absurd. (Ap-
plause). It Ifi said that we are bx)small
to engage in commercial treaties ad-
vantageously. It dejxiiids uix>n tlie ad-
vantages of a treaty wliether we will
negotiate it or not. 'it does not depend
upon our siz<^, wluch is^espectuble, our
nuTAbers whicli are c-^nsiderable, or our
trade which is not to be despised, but
upon the question whether the other
party tliinks it is a good bargain to enter
into or not It seems to me the argu-
ments against our position ura entirely
fallacious, and thai common sense ani
exix>rience alike indicate that a step in
advance would be taken if Can-
ada had the power to make her
own commercial treaties, (Loud ap-
plause.) All these things, however,
thej?e constitutional questions, andthoee
afiecting the future {>f our country, we
shall settle wisely and well if we reco-
gnize the great leading principles upon
which we should govern. I ha% e said
that for Canada one of these is the full
and ample recognition of the Federal
principle. Arid I saygenerally that for Ca-
nada, as for the Provinces of Canada,
TnE nmifXEATiG piui^oiplb'
is the secend great principle. We aro
not to ferget that we live in a democratic
ag«», antl tliat we are <
mocritic jprodnctn ot » ;
All o'^er tm dviliKerf w
twentf-five year?*, it r
tbe observer that tl..-. ;..w :H;en ap-
proaching what iscailc I lim reign of tne
fthe DioJit de-
.••iAppiause.)'
i. for tbe laai
en p.'asn *o
(ruimonftcople. Ev
ftf revolutionary mov
ated the coiitineiii
years ago, it h'j.s b-
in those old-world un
ed round us thoy v
feudal buttress e« ;u
N
.e
•iup the series
' IS which aglt-
1 urop^j a fow
■ marked, evcti
I'v hien, btitttess-
' ' i>y the great
.ampart.s, and
overborne ii- Uie p<ici» ■.• v.ore hy ticavy
taxation andenoran -: . f. rce.'i of armed
men, as the great n.(,\ aent that has
been going on. And ! ■■■'. in this b.appy
land, these difficult ic- , ,.; , ■ n-js er suy>er-
vf^ned, you have had a.. tiMjdal ramparts
to hatter down; n-' -lar; Ihi-v army to
over-awe 3'ou; im <:]■:■ ■■. i-.'atifin of
wealth or power h' hau'!^; no
hereditary aristor. ., reason why
t here the clemocratii- pi i u; :ple should not
be applied. (Loud a; ■ i,r:,se). It may
go Ufi^ju two lines, ani! ;ji...ii this contin-
ent both are being trivu — the presiden-
tial system on the oftur .side 'and the
system of British frw^dcnj, which, for
my part, I have approved and advocated
a8 being in this country. It is being
tried here under cir;;t;'n .Uances more
favorable than at th<' i-u
England, yet in that v 1 1
how strong the deni'. ;■
Within a few dayy ;':.:
Minister of England v.iii
mated that grand iueu.--'r,
the eltictorate of the i -^
will be mcreased from li;!
five millions. (Great ;;}'j(]ause). Yon
will see a i«pre.?ental i vo Government
always, when there wa-: :■ '.creat questfon
to Lf decided which m-., ■ •, the lieart ©f
the people democratic Iviu still under
ordinary circum.stau'-' \ aristocratic
under the great power oi ilie peers and
the unhappy arrangement vj the olector-
&U^ districts and the re.v'.rj ud franchise,
which subsequently be< >r.,t.. fjlutocratic,
•!nent exist in
v^orld you see
/i.iu fjpirit ig,
L'reat I'l-ime-
bave cunsnm-
imder which
ie<l Kingdom
e millions to
and
to be now deo
:it!c by the
combined tJtTect of ojl-V'-d franchise
and satisfactory rediatribixtion of elec-
toral districts. (,Ix>udoL'?cis.) Now the
democratic principk;^ ias die great*?st
possibilities for gwd, iuid whether w©
oelieve in it or shrink fr<>n; it, we ha^'e
to face it. If the experinH-'nt has gbt t^
be tried, then, that it may huve a diaiice
to succeed to the utteruiast— and aH
good men wish it to~it is sur duty, and
especially \b it the duty of the "young
and acti\e, to see what are Hie dangers
to be guarded againat an<l vvliat are the
real principles 1*3 bo erJb-.-,>d. (Ap-
plause.) The division of ,..ultL. notljy
communistic law, but by biiose happy
conditions which prevail b-ie, the repu-
diation from tlie statute hwk, and from
those statutes which iie alurined in t^
hearts of the people of the law of pn-
mog'initure ; the distTibiui<>]i, as a rule,
of a man's wealth equally ajoongst bis
children; the aboUtiob. — wMeh I:
E
siii "auH'Si s^tiOiigh ta scivtT* prnrtiriTT, Its I hnve 5Bfd, C«f tl" ■ '. '• *^td
ca*o - 14' thf! ;^.w of entfl^l; of libr.r on the or.f. Ii.tnd, ;"..! , lal
<^n tl!u otLw. I hav.^ no LcHttotmn iu
A u H'i.!.v iwirfKD M>icArr<>x ; sayinf toy,,'. U.n* f !,..,-.. i.s one iCHt wiucli
an mt<>rmin^!Jngof the ixjople ; th.> of.! Hiavi' always • Ui apply when I
fiverneiit, as far as vo <'an efface tlitJuJ "^V** J<*fiireci to <-i,ns!.ier what the ma-
ofcuu5s digtiaotions in our mittst—all I ^""'^^ fonditiou ot a 'Wintry wts. .iml
the*- things are poiuta to which we ! ^^^'^^ . ^'^^'^ »vnf>- AVh,:it is th? rnaterial
B'lO'ildlook cart'lViII V • • which ftnie ''*'*'"^''.'''"' <>ftho lowugt claao «>» '....nfst
I/iberals, anxious fo' . ,>:;.x^3 of the/' ^'''•"'■' ' ■ *^'''' wuntry ':• If 1 ihni tlio
UeracxTutio principle, biifukl seek to^*^^^'*-'-'"'' ^l*^*^ so f.iirly paiil tu.it there is
achieve. I attribute tho gn>atfst irn-' ^'^ougn for the .•5!])pnrr of a um". an 1 of
lH>rtance t<^ the mterminghng ,.f the • ^^"^*^ ^'^^'^'^ent upon him and s-ome to
rx'ople. T fofl that wo oxJxht to l>e Jis T ' '^y ''-T % ^ rahiy (hty, I kjiow that T
itive said, an wiucated i>eopIe, tiud ; ^'-'*''^ '"'Pi^'*' "■> fuither— [applannej—
being educated, readers of Ixxjks and I ^'ecauso I know that :dlabo\<»tliat„'nuio
newspajx-TH. rupable of forming and ex- i J"*^st be well oif, iinlps>* vo>i e-'ahligh a
pfossinic aa «»pinion, no ottght to feel our j ^^''^ *'<^^'e of civili5^;!*ino, v'airii 1 am dis-
common (utiz*»nahi|) the strongest tie ' i'^**'* ^' ^*^'^^ luxury You nu^y in the
thatbiuiis us, frorr.tlie man who hapjxjns ' *-*tfwD to ' keen up ai>}T<'aran<«3.', as it is
to he wealthy U> the man v/ho happtjns ; <_'a]I.'>d,ha\ e atrrca- deal of tjenteel raiserv.
to 1p pcrf->r. r liopt? thai in tliis Yotmg! t^^'*'^'*^"-^ ^PP''-'-^' •! ' 5''?-vc not mnch
Hen's Liberal Chib this example is set | sympathy \vitt\ that. It \n from the ixiint
andtb'itthe llub wUi he a conmon'^^ ^'^w of the 'itand.ird I have just
meeting ground where the voung i ^*'o^i- you ti^at thai I liase always
nieclianic, the young atudcnt, the younpr • ^-''^iHidered tlie fiscal Ht)d tarill "poiiey of
clerk, and all other classes in our" com- ; ^^'^ AdL'}inistration. t wnni to ' '.ay
niunity, possesfiin^ that happy dl't of : ^'^'''^^** J'o^^ «'*^<'^'' of tiu' l^'^''^-5 on whitJi
youth which baa lied from ii.e, may ^ t^.""^ ^bat [>nlicy -^tlto'ly nidcfensiWe.
mert together as youns: citiz<in.s of Caaa-^t' '■■' ''■^'^^^ ^^^'^^ t'3 '-^*' ''" and! will
da, and on an equal fix)ting as young i ^'^'c y-Hi reasons from the adversary m
Li'oeryla and eitizen.s, lourning to res- '''^'^'^^. *^« f>"0'" tbe friend. They 'sire
pect, esteem, and admire 'jno i 'I'liJ^ious tlitu we siiould not dlscuas this
another, no matter what the lex- ; "^'i'^*''. I'^ovr, They want u.s- to discuss
lure of the cloth in the eoat, u>- Inii)enal iu^deration, Tndep^iudence, An-
«:ogni>dng the identity jf country and ' *^t'/xation,Comuier('ial Treaties, anything
the identity of interost. (T^oud ap-i »*'--'' except th,e condition of tho country
plausel What should tlie democracy ! (^■''^•"pbter and applar.se}. A little while
believe with reference to the great i "So they wante<l l^^ to talk of no- lung
principles of freedom ':* I have no new- ■ ^^^'^'^' '-'^t the condition of the
fiangled doctrine to present to you, but I; rP"'^^^>"' (Kenev.-e'l laughter) Tiiey
want you to remember there are three i '^'^'^y "^^''"^te*^ ^''' J^d, tis down by point-
Sreat frcedt>rns which have bf^-en wrested ' ^^p to '^^'bat they said *v'i.=» pros|«i)rity.
from anwillins hand.? in olden time, I They said, There'3 no n>-,.. ar^ruia^ why
and^ which ai-e preserved t., us— -freedom i ^^ '^\'^^^'» ^'"-* JOVi not neu olt? Would you
of opinion, the moAi valuable of all, free- ' "^^' '^^ f<^'\s ^^ make a change ? To-tia/
dom ot f>erson, and freedom o*" proj-iertj they woul<i be only to slad to draw any
—a well-ordered Ubertv, the right to do \ f*"^ bernng across the trail. <; Applause).
T^diat I will with miny owo, but not the ' ^hey ask u.s then. Show us your |x.licy.
right so to ude it as to hurt my neigh- ! ^^^? J'^ve had always an affirmative as
bor. What does freedom of property '^^^^ ^^' a negative policy— not (xdy as
embr;i<?e ? It embraces, as one o'f its | ^^ ^'^'^ ^'"-^bT l>ut also as
most essential elements, the right to ex- : to that other great question, the railway
change that prop(;rty which I have I ^^^ Xortb-West adndniatration. And
(whether it be mine by the labor of mv i ^'>day we are quite ready to contirme
bands or the fruits of my accumulated ! ^^^'^^ discuesion and t.) let it l>e judge by
It^ororofthat of thoee'who preceded i t% ^'e'bt of events, whether tlie pro-
nVe) for what I want (Applause). The i inises they made, the profe.-sion.s to
right to deal with whom, for what, and ; ■^vbicli they gave utterance, the view.s
where I please. (Applause). And hare I tl"^>' expressed nnd to which they in-
we get ' i duced ihe people to a>;senc, are sound,
j and whether tlsey have l>ecn ve'Ined or
A PLAIN mvxnivG LiNE | faisifie<l by event.s.
between the parties of this country. Vv'e
Libemls are chaiTKed. in reference to our
liscal policy, with neglect of the inter-
ests of la,bor and neglect of the interests
of capital. If you v/ere to believe that
pereonage to whom you, Sir, have al-
luded,— [laughter] — yoii would suppose |have pointed out from many -j r.';:'tforri
thul we were insane onough to geek to j what*! he erfett of a spocfiic, " -v^ con-
persaade the j^eople to a poKay of des- ■ trasted with an ad X'Olwem {i\v\ m
I UAVK OilJECTDR TO THE -'Oi.lCV,
first of all, in a leading point, tliat of
specific duties. I oljjected* to that from
the very point cf view I mentior ^.i a
while ago, the incidence of tliC tariff
ojxsn. the jc-or and the nch, and I
tlmt !t <;om]f«©ta Iho jhv>i man ont f>f his- fxaht^rrnan an<i th« (fxttat aiaMe8 of mo*
poverty to pay more than the rirh man plo of N'ira B-^tia and Now Mnmswiac,
oiSt othU weftlth. Bm it ii not nerrssaiT ja ^dl ft« Qiiebsc, ^ U. I» « well-know a
for me to f»o ho thin fvening, liecauae fact that larga qnautitle« of bread*
80iiJfctiiT>»w3. fortnnatoly f )T BH, our Min-; «tufl* are venrly taken into tJe latter
lgUiT» vifcil Kn^'land, and '^hathnr the ' i'rorinct froin the Umtetl Htates. 'ITiea,
ocean has seme eflfoct ui maKing them as part of thi» great "National rolicy," a
ioT^et what they have said on this side ' <hity vtah impi^eed on fureii^n coal m a
of iht, waiei, I know not, but ttnij give i means of propitiating thHix»ople of Nova
utterance t^i tnitlis on which they are j Scc^tia. >ova Boot la, Nt-w hninsw lek,
silent on thifl ?«ide. I am t( -night pro- , and Qnebcc, wore tH^od to satifify
pared to establish iJiy projxmitlon witii! Ontario, Quel)c<^ (niti\rio and New
reference to the injiisti'e of Hj^'cific du-j Brunswick were to Ix; hortlM-neil
ties, from the ..i<»ntp <»t tl-.e Finance; to plea.so a u.inority in Nova
Mfnister, (Hear, loai). He v\aa talk-lSootia. Nothing <;i)uld bo more calculat-
ing in Knglasd ;o some merchaate who I e<i to create diwonsion and to disturb
were aiaious, from their point of view, | the harmonious working of CVjnfedera-
tbat he should establish Hpociuc duties ; tion tJjan such legislation." - Would you
on car own pvKxls. T)us is what he ' not have tliought I was reading from
gaid :—"' They had adopted siM^cifto du-! the speech of some Liberal. But it wa.s
tieJi wherever it was poasible : bat vrhore ' really a speech of Bir David Macpher-
thtre wa.i adifffirenoe iathevalne <>f thelaon. (Loud applause and laughter i.
, article, tnch aa in the c^w> of cotton, Biit it was mada a good while ago. (Re-
where l.here vero the cheap-'r and the j nowed jaughter). It \va» ma<le whenhti
coarser kiudij. anything wl^ere tliere was | M'a» an independent member
great differr .ice of valno, if thej charged ! ^
so much upon the r>^mnd, they were i "" boaktbi. klcii
liab'p to the ai^usation tliat they v.ere j of his indei)endence t^an, and later on
impoein.' the same chargeji upon the j he said be sat in tbe Senate not as a
\ ^Cjc mi.n upine i? chcip article as upon j party man but to speak the views ho
thv- ritVi man who could adbrd a dearer I conacientiou.sly held. He spoke \h-i truth,
'. icle." The munier is out, i as l" believe, and ^ he srx)^^
(Great laughter and applause). That i biS indeponrlent (.'onvictions a.s I
would be tieresy on thie , side of tlie water, j presume, and tliey remairi on reiord.
but it IS lopie, gocKl sense and truth in { fortunately for us and unfortunately for
England. The Liberal party objected ; him. (Laughter and applause.) He has
also 10 the incidence of the tariff' uix)n j cliangcl his place .since then — and he
prime necessariet? c/f life. We obje(;ted, ! has changed his opinions. (Ap[)lause.)
amor.trst other thiuge, k) the coal and I It is for you to judjre whethw you will
/ breac'^tnila duties, because lijey were * pay movs't respect to th*^ changed opinions
both iicccssarievS of Mfe, and that one of ' of tho odice-holder or to the independ-
thc'i.was in one sense directly, and ; ont opinions of ihe Senator. 1 agi'eod
flora- ;ilso, ^or that matter, wad a raw '. with him when he made the siMjech. I
materjnl of manufacture, that these i agree with him to- lay, but I differ altc»-
taxes bore heavily and unjustly ujon Igethor from the Minister o^ the Interior.
the ix'orer classes. T am not soing to • We have objected, Mr. Chairman, to the
ar^jue that, out, for apain I shall i-ead you i rate of taxation. Tliey told ns that
a short passage whicli proves my case. It \ tb.oy were going to give us a r>iadjusi-
isthe language of a Minister: — " If it i ment and not an increase of the tantl"
had' been the object to devise a tariff; Tliey were simply going to ad*
that would j-et or.e Province against an- just the burdens to the. strength
f.ther — that would create and i^'r}^>etuate i of the back. What has hapi^ened ?
sectional jealousies and antipathies, the | In 1877 you used, according io
Governmer.t had certainly succeeded the returns, $90,300,000 worth of goods
Breadsriiti^ were to be taxed to please | goods imported. But I have to take otf
the people of Ontario, but lie believed it I a considerable number of millions, be-
was a great injustice to t; <.> agriculturists j causa the aoecTints were kept in adificr-
of< 'ntario tosuT'iKsethat tli.ey were pre- ent way from what they are tcMay, and
pared *n accer)t such a tariu, or i certain imports are not to l>e counted. It
that it svould l.>e protection to them, j tells against me, but we must >>e fair.
The iinirket uiiere th*^ir surplus! The net amouiit of gocK.ls im]»<^)rted lor
pvofluit was dipjxise.i of fixed the j)rice i cise was about $01,G(X),00(». On that you
of the v.h.ile, ai-'X cluiv I'ould not be of; paid duty iu round nandiers of I'2i mil-.
any p isitive a-^. vantage so. fj r as the | lions. That is between L'i and i4 per
price ('f f.heir hreiulsiuffs was concern-- cer.t. for everything, free mvd dutiable,
ed. Th;nr dnty would be a great ob-i you used within the year." In Tt8>)l ytm
&tri:viio:\ to trad.?i ail throngliout the ' also u>;ed $01. (>(X),000 of goods — the same
eoimtry ^*.hiib sh<.uk"l, in accord an c, i Viduo. How rauch duty did you pay
wit'i lie true principles of commerce ; uiider this taritf, which was to +k> a re-
lie -eft a:> unrestricted as possible. Not i adjustmcnf, and not an ijicrease.
only would the tariff be worthless to! Eighteen and a half milhofis ; about 2t)
the people of Ontario, hut it would be ! !-?• per cent., or about fifty per cent, oi
joost burdensome to other sections — to \ an increase. (Applause.) For every
4oliaryo«i p^iH in 1877, en t!ie n»iin« ifrfMnyonrpockctBanu mixia?iApplauac.]
value of fii)o66 you paid f1.50 i« 186^}. ! It i« a simp)« pror«fai to call upr>u ^oa to
Mr. Ja-nod Frencti — Tbt»9 goods woro I pay nionfy into the troaanry. tnA he
epeciallv for tho Heft. -".=^^ = =^.=_i i ^^^^ the f*#>tintff -. ,Wfe stow toy ru h-
Mr. Blake — And so rif^ither roii nor 1 in tb«t purtiniliir way. lAj^HauuK". ] I
l)ou|?ht any of them, i^augiiter and ap- say U.tt mor^ you j.nt into the trrasary
plause). Wo objected to the gT(W) aiaount in ihat wav the pwrer you mak*> the
of the tR'i« %lso, because it was said the! oour try. fOre.-.t A|>v>lau«<3.] Th^- na-
tjr<#? amount was not to be inorea><e<l, tioaal wtinhh is that in.
We had bf^Mi told that it re.juiied alxjat i po< vitts t* tub tmnvi v
thirtfcoa millions from awtomsj. and firei "*" ^^^^ ^ T"» r»iri tr.
xniUioiJS from excise, tociirr>' on the i {Applause "i. The rolleciinj; of a gurx'lus
Afitfre of the Dominion. Take the tl.ree; is ajroatevil It I ■ails toextrav i-raui'e.
years 1876-7-8 under the Mackenzie aJ- (Appla^tBe), It takes away means wh.< k
ministration. The aggreitate collections' in a conn try Uke ours w** require to
by customs wore $"hS,150,(K>0. In 1881-:'- j tarry on the husiuoBB of tlie country.
r>, under t)i€v present liovemment, the (Cheers). One of onr great difficulties is
customa colieclions were fCu.OOil.CMX), anj the high rate of int^re.st, and wl\«n ihc
excess of almowt twenty -five miliiona, or } Government takes awav money at four
nearly two-thir Is m<»rein the latter than I per cent whi :!b is required lo carry ou
in the loriner three yearH. (Cheers) We \ the lusiness of the country, ami which
objected to the surplus. It was one of! has to be replace*! by money b'jrrr.vtO'/'
the grounds of glorification witli the { from tne banks at aeven or eight per
Minifilera 'or two or three yeai-8. They j cent, an additional injurv renult JL?>'
are not talking so much about it now, ' the timo the consumer had paid for this
because Aiem is not so much of it | surplus itxx)st about thirty millions.
(Laug hier). It was not so in old dayf . \ For, mark you. the amnnnt in the trea-
I iiave often pointe<l to a statement of | snry do^^s not gati^e tiie loss to the j>e')ple.
Sir Charles Tupper, made M'heu Sir ! The money is paid to the Custom'? by
Richard Cartwrignt estimated a modest i the iraportHr. lie must charge a profit
Burplus of half a million dollars. Sir ■ on the whole co&t of the goods, includinfr
Charlers rose, and r\ mdisjnant terms de- i the Ci::iti>ms dutie«. The retailer pays
nounced him for projxosing to take more i that and ho also charges his jn'oiit on
from *li"e peop^.e than he expected to ' the wholn amount of the g«)odK, includ-
sjxjud. It Avua of no use for Sir Richard | ing the amount the wholesaler paid, and
to sav that he was not sure that he ! the profit upon it, so that by the time
would j;et as much as he had estimated, Uhe goods reached the consumer th.e
or that he would bo able to keep the i Hioney given would be not less than fifty
expenditure down as low as he had i per cent, more, or thi'ty millionB. Had
estimated, and that lialf a raillion
vras not an Uiireas<3iu. Me margin to
ask oii the lai^e tr;insaction.'=* of tlie Do-
minion. Sir T^haries refjlled that he
should do ae' they had done, and as the
Government in Krgland had done — louv-
er the taxation so that there should be
that amount of money been lett r^ith.
the people, in.stead of being taken fi» -m
them, the present stringency A'ovi'd
have been in a large • measut^:
averted. (Applause). Well, the;'
mal<e a number of excuse.*? when
thev talk aboxit ♦bis matter. 8ir Leonard
no .surplus. Such wn:^ the patriotic Sir i Tiiley, as you know, is great on calcula-
Cl;arlf-^!, ^vhcu in opposition talking i iion." [Laughter.] I'll iellynnhowhe
about a surplus, nitiL-h I ain sorry to | does it. He 3ays it is unfair to compare
say, was not reali/od, of half a million. ; the gross umount of taxation now -.vith
The Government of which he v*is a 'that under Mr. jMackenzie, I amwi!"-
membe? actually <xMccie.d. surp^nscs in ; ing to com} are them, and find how much
LSSl-i!-:) of $17.400,'jl)(). I asreed with i it is v>er hea<h Mr. Mackenzie 'didn't
Sir Charles in principle in T87o, though
iie wa.^ pushing the principle tfiu far to
refuse A> allow the Finance Minister a
margin of h."]f a million. When y(iU
find us agree it may be a reason
doubting us both. (Lauglrier and
plause.) jwvit T am of the same opinion
tax you enough. I will add what I
think he ought to have taxed you. Add
a certain n _nljer of millions, divided by
the number ol the jK>pulatioii, and it is
for ! sO'niuch per head. I come to iwy time,
aj)- j and I calculate the population on the
while
.Sir Charles
What did
nas
the
rate of inci-ease that I think ought to
Uave taken place. Do not ask me to
i irat ^Minister ! divide that into what I taxed you.
cnangefi
[Ai>
pianse.., . „.., ,
say during the election of 1882? He, Why?. Because — the suiplus. I nmst
said: — •! novor know a man grow too; deduct that. I did not sjxind that in
rich to ploasG himself, uud it is the same j carrx'ing on the ordinary business of the
w;ith a countrv ; in fact, my belief about I country. "Whero did you fp^3ik1 it?
surplu.>{*s is the same as the old SQuaw a I Well, in tl;** Padfic Railway, I v.on:i
about whiskey. Sbe sai'j a little too'j count th:it So he averages the figures
mucii was just enough." [Jjiughter.] and divides and .='hows you xhat your
How do«5 a mari grow rich ? By sav- ' taxation is really less than you paid
ing his money, i>otby sjjcnding it. Does ' under Mr. Mackenzie. [Loud laughter.]
the country grow rich by having a 'arge 1 1 fancy thai gotae of ns would be glad to
qitantity nf money in the trea^nry taken ' settle the a-''X>^inic of onr debts in the
10
Bame way, Th« acnrjunts wscM bslative j -was ailegen to hare corufMUwl 3o liiany
jDost «atiijfactorily. I yuspcct 'that yon . crimen. T}^ expenfiinire in 1873 H'as
paid the snri^lcs a« much ai" tbe restof $',!';j,fX)0. Thatisahnv'- imount, I ad-
th»' taxation audi susftect you are not » :it. Thuy reduce<i itU) :>j!j,<XK) in ]SJs3.
^oin^^ to get that mont'j back. Thern aiey ! •; Load|}nn{rht<»v and applu.;>'.) Take- >no
18 paid, ['one, S{>ent, sunk, and I am go- j instance. When Mr. Alarktnzie \va«
ing til charge Sir Leonard Tilley with it i First Minister, he was J'itiister of Public
to tlie Day of Judgment. (Apyi^nuse.) i Workt«, which inclndod tlu' Railway De-
Wt« objected t<^; ! partmenL When th*? }.:\^rnt Govern-
rnE\sciiT-\yis> WALK OF KXPEKuiTi-Eii '"f"^' f^ame into oiliro Xhov divided the
i >f>partmeut mto Rail\\.r> and Pubhc
Who needed ofece3,lmt who were no^j included in Mr. Ma^-U.^'v-s time. The
netided in the pubhc ser™ and hat ! .^^^ ^.,^,t howev«r, v^aa t-.! ■■ .it a hundred
he£i)entoaicrhin)dredsnftliousund8in|^^ ^^^^'j ^^j,^^,^! ^j. ^^,^^ ^ y^,
erecunganew buudinp nhjcji also be,^^^^^ ^.^^^^^ 3^, Ma('k,-.:.Ic. Un.ler
filed .vithubeleHS clerks, \ou vrere.^^^,^ circnmBtam^s, who -an wonder
told that no., so mucha^ wa.« spent by , ^j^ ^ ^j.^ ^^^i^ ^^iit,^,. ,^.,^i^ ^j,
tne Reform L-rovernnient wati needed to j ^^;^j ;^ j^^^,^ would aveniffv IVt the next
carry on the business ot tho country. , ^ -^ ^^ ^^^.^^^^ . .^^^ ^^.^^^^.
Therewas no Bug^estion *f inr-reaaea; ^^.^ •^^^^j,^.;^,^ ^^,gj ^,,,,,^ iweiuv-three
expc-nditiire. Sir Leonard Fihoy said a^, a a half millions in 1-7 to twontv-
thathew|i8 opp<fe0aco the ^^^f^ ot^^^^^^^^,f^„^,^^^,^uu^^^ in ]S88.
tne antflrom lo to I4 |x.r cent, ^i j believe, altnou«h, of courne, we have
8haH give^ you a lew ^'«t^^« of , j. ^^^, p^v^Ue Accounts y^-. , tb.at it was
ho exr^nditn- of ..-^78 and If^^]- 1 about thiav millions in I lie vear ju«t
the .r>riner .bey thou^J.t bad, tne latter ^ j^ j^- f^^. ^.^^. ,^^^^^3^. -^j^^, ^^^^^j
they Thoughcgood- The amount sDenti^f^l-^^T Govornmenus Iv this item.
^'%'?"\'^i^',^;J??. ^"".0 ^ T^ ""% '-^ ' ' Fr^^^^ 1874 tlu. .expenditure in-
and ;n 188.3, $437,000. Then there were ; - — ' -
ing us we pay them annuities vnd they : .^^ j^^,j. g^,. ^^^^^ ^j^ that cyi^endituj-e
live a long time. V, e pay inem a good , ^^^.^^^ out o" vour pocket.^, beiuse i^t
deal of money in that way _ Ar. Mac- ^^ -^ ^^ balanced brroceinfs. i do not
kenzie r)aid MOG,OC«. m this way m that all the increase.'^ are wrun?. I
fax, when Mr. Jones v.-a:^ running :n an ^,,-^^ j.^-^ growin.- country like omB
election there, said :- -" 1 am nnt gomg 1 ^^ ^^^,^^^ ^^ increano^. But. admitting
iwoL^w"^- ^^'' '1--^'' ^f,*^'^"^' i all that, how does it jnstifv these men,
SIOO.OW. for superannuations. It bears , ^.j coAdemned the liOO.OOO increase of
corruption and wilful extravagance on | ^r. Mackenzie, and said that if ther
tlie tace^of it.^ If that is so, wnat j ^.^^^ .^-^^^^ ^^ p^,,^,. ^^.^^.^ ^^^^i^, ^-^
amor "
r T i"viX^XXi\ ^" i' ■ r 1 !ia that we've got the nionev. lott
aoout $^mm for tne year rust passecl ; ^^^.^.^ ,}^^^ ^ j|^ ^l^j, .- ^^j ^^
and for the curn^at year, I siu.pose, it ; ^^^^ j^^^. ^hey give as a rea.'^on for not
wiu increase stul further. (r.oud ap- 1 (anting out tlieir promi^s that they
piause.; ^^_^ jggj^ i have taken this mor.ey from you. This
Fisheries $ sa.ftk) $ lesxm i question of expenditure and taxati'on ig
M}.soe!ianeou8 si.'ooo SxSiooo j a serious one. I want to bring it home
IndiauH 421,000 1,1(H>,000 1 t„ , „,, TTnlpt?^ +hf^ npni-iln wil! innrp-
TMour.iediv>iic€....... as4.o<jO 477.tAX) W)>ou. umess .-Le iteopie wui appre-
Otlawa Police 10.600 1S.500
I have the pamphl t of Sir David Mac-
pherson, in -which he devotes a good
ciate the direct interest it is to each of
them it will not assume the importance
which it should assume. Take the
statistics which are furnished to tlie
inany pages tothe extravagance of the (;jj^t^j.j^B,,^^.^,, of Statisti.sby tlae labor
•^w^^^^i ^.^Y^p^^f^^^^ /¥ "^^^^etltion organizations of this cit)' for U^^i year.
with the administratiovi of justice. That
ex{:»enditnre was v^64,fKX). It was $015,-
fX.M)inI883. Excise in 1S7S. $215,000;
in 1883, $279,000. And now we come to
the
Returns have Ijeen obt?ineU irom 291
mechanics with families, numbering in
all 1,089 souls.
»IE.SE WERE PICKED MBN.
nBPAETMEKTAL s.uaKuB A«D coKTiK- V^^' ^^Z '7 ,^elong to the trade 0T^*pi-
i zationg, v.iiich comprise, as a ruit;, 1 oe-
uEXCiirt, I |;gYe, the best of the workingmen.' (Ap-
m connection witb which Mr. Mackenzie \ ph\use). In the second place, they k«pt
IX
a<Teo«nts, a»<^ ^le workingman wbo | reealta under exceptionuUy favorable
keeps ac'connt and knows what the i circunstances for thoijo. m lu» Rllege tl^at
vrages are from year to year aiid how ; it produces t)ro8perity. Titn'S ore harder
hif money w spent, shows his snperio- 1 this year. Look at this c; I y, at Elamil-
rity over the averaert! citizen. (Applause), ton, L<mJon, Pandas, O'tuwa. Take
If the workingmen would keep a little ; la.-^t year, again, remembriuK w'nat I
pass hoc* in which should be carefully I have t/-ld you. The v, auori of a piciied
no'ted what he ppends an<l what he re- ' mechanic are $465. '^^^ha^ is deducted
oeives, it Would solve for ihem many i from those wages aalomiii m taxation?
'■*""' from ( iytoms and
twenty-r.uie and . a
If yov. allow five
yon will find the
$:>5 |ier he.iJ. But, as I
The revenue
I excise was
; half millions.
; to a fariiiiy,
taxation was
important problems concerning which.
i}»<3 politicians now persuade them to
wrong views. The results as shown by
the reports of tiicse 291 picked men were
83 follows; — * .
Average CHrr.ings $!•>'> 01 j have ^Kiinted out, that is wliat went iuto
Extra ei.rniug.s xo 06 1 the Treasury, and wh at wt- actually paid
,. J .$47o 67 ' ''^^ tihout 50 per cent, u'ore, or about
AvcragoHving oxp^^iises'.r. !!".!'. !'.'.'.. '.'4iH 75 I ?oO per head. Whiit proiV'^io'^' will tliifJ
.1^50 bear to the whole in jino of $465.
Avoragc? saving S ^0 32 | j^ jg ^3^^ times the savins of the picked
So that the saving were about equul i man. It is mor^> tlian a tithe of tlie
to the extra earnings of the wufe or one ; ^v hole income of f4rv>. it is half as
of the children. The roi^ular wages of | much ag.ain as the rate in the
the head of tiie house were absorbed as old days of which they havo been teUing
Jiving exjtenses for the year. We usu- . you This is the taxation. whi«b the*e
ally calculato live to a family in, Canada j gentlemen have been toHia^' voa, aJtd
hut in these ca-ses tho dependents \vere I which somo of von believe '. you did not
not up to the average. These, families . feel at all. (Applause.) nJw, 1 say a
averaged only about ;>| members. So, , tax bears more heavily on tlic po<:)rthaa
havingrftgardedtothatfact, andhavmglon the rich. (Loud apiicUise.) The
reganl to the peculiar character of tlte i neh may burn fifty tons of
men, there could be no doubt that in j cosl and pay a tax of .$25,
and not feel ' it. The poor xiian
' burns five or six tons and pays a lax of
other cases where the families were
larger and the men not of the same de-
gree of carefulncjss all that was earned
even in that year was sixmt
It was clear 1 regret to say
evemu 1883, as a rule, it was all the
meclianics could do to live. The ques-
tion with the mechanic always is,
•' What wages can I get for my labor ;
what can I exchange my labor for ?
it is not a more question of 'how much
uiaiey can I get. but what food, cloth-
ing, shelter, eduaition for my children,
aud other necessaries can I get
for tiie labor of my hands ?" It
is clear that in iSSo, which the Conser-
vatives say was a prosi)erous year, it
was not prosperous for the mechanic.
Steady employraent was what v,ras
wanted. Tlie average number of days
in vrliich those picked men worked was
244. If you allow for Sundays and
holidays there were 60 lost days. The
$2 50 or $o, and what in it? it means a
third of the arerage savings of those
picketl men. I ask those wh.o found
they could not make both ends meet.
I ask those picked men wlio coiild bnly
;.save a trifle, if they would not have
j oeen better olT if the loa«l had been
i lightened, as it might have been Ught-
jened, and wliich was not lightened, in
order that a surplus might l>e accumula-
ted. (Loud applause.) Tucy tell us
that they gave prosperity t* all '""hL^es,
farmer, manufacturer, mechanic, and
the Finance Minister declared that
that prosperity would last for
ten years. He ad\ii3ed the i^eo-
pie of this country to clap on ail sail
ifor ten years of prosperity, to
I speculate, buy, sell, to beiicN e hi:a that
i his fiscal policy and the gi -.'at arrange-
ments he had made assured a clear
average allowance made by Enghsh ; commercial sky for ten years
aathoritJes for sickness is 9 days in the
year, and assuming that even in <xir
healtliier climate, and under our more
favourable conditions, the average is
the same, there arc still over fifty lost
days. So there was an enormoua loss for
want of employ men L How is it tliis
his advice. [Ijaughter.] We
I lated, imported, manufactured.
WE BOtranT ouRSHLvsti Rxcn
We took
f5peca-
year ? Our city, as you know, is excep>-
tionaiiy prosjxjrous. 'Various circum-
stances have cfimbine'^ to lead t<3 that
gratifying result I believe that
TCMONTO HAS IT.OSPERBD
m^e than almost any other city oi;
in the North- West [Loud laughter.}
i They brought oi\ the election at th«
I height of the season of apparent pros-
it perity which, by these and other means,
j tlioy had created. Only last year, wbeu
' I twitted the Finance ISiinLster with tjife
*i statement of hii about ten years of p^-
i perity, he said, " I said so, it'& quite
the 1 true, and I say still, that if our mer-
contincnt for the last three years, cer-j chants won't import too much, and won't
tainly far more than any other city in j l-e too anxious to 8©I1, we wil! hay<»
Ihe lk>minion ; and we aro considenng j seven years nxorv of prf^spcrity " "VVe
the operation of the tariff in ii5 practical ' wer« ki adversity <>Ten Iheiu Vf«3 gaid
12
we were nrospovoos, hovover, and that
we wonln bav« sevon years more of it
Pe; haps he meant that wi v/ould haTe
se ,«n years ujore of the game kind. of
prosperit}' ^o are having aow. Bat
that is n^t the kind that waj
5>r<.mi8^ [Applause and laiiirhtet.]
'hey did creat^i a fictitious proi^perity
in some Huch of bui-^iness. Tiiey gaye
the nianu factor era in some Vmca exorbi-
tant f»rofits, as, fnr inatana", in' cotton'
and sugar. '\^''e t<-.ld them they ■»vould :
induce an excess of capiml tuseek thi?8e
branches, that there would he a tinae of
inflation, ojierativeft would l>e collected
in centres, and that after a brief period <
the market would be glutteJ, the mills i
would be idle, and lo&s would result to ,
the capitalists, and lack of work to the |
operatives. That is exactly what has ;
"happene<i. Lck/k: at the condition of the j
cottpn induatry for the last tw. > years, j
And 't was only yesterday wc learned i
that arrange nieuta had been uiade to i
limit ihe production of f ho niilli? and rk) |
advance pricen, in fact to form a cotton j
monopjiyin order to make up their!
losses ajid to extricate themselves from i
tiie trouble in which they have been |
plunged. 'i''ie Govfiniment declared in |
1882, when they came before you for re- j
election that tiie boom wiiich then pre- i
vailed wsis only tlie l>eginning of what \
was to be.They said thatwhat waiwant- ;
ed \Vii3, aTid they came before the people ;
earlier than was actually iiec«6saiy ' to \
ihake sure of it, that the ;,''X>d tVues f
siiould continue. They wanted the ■.
pe^le's eudorsation of the poMcy whii;h I
had been adopted to secure prosperity !
for all time. They said that nullions of!
dollars were }
nAXOr>5G CFOX THB VBRDICT. j
and Wiat if that verdict was i
favorable to the pelic;'- unexampled in- |
creases would talip. place in the i^^^one^y '
in%'ested in the mines and other iii- 1
dustries of tho coumry. In this city i
the First Minister said': — ' |
. " I t«]l you thi»,'and Thisis not a matter of '
Bupposition bni of cortaiiity and fenowiedge '
on my paii, that ihere an- millions of dol- \
lars waitiisto be luvosted jn Canada mil- i
lions in Kiigland and large sum.s in tho!
United Htiiies waiting to 'wi invested 1
lu every kind o- judiistry, in mines and ma- 1
nu-^acture"; of every klud . . . Al" that
U wanted by capKaUsts in Canada, England i
and the United States, and in Franci^ and;
Gerniaoy, 'h to learn whether thin country
isof tho fl;."d constant opinion tha!, the N.
P. !<iiall b. lontinaed as settled in 'TS."
Wl'.ere art- the millions ? (Laughter.f
Now, it sorms x-retty pLdn that the mil-
lions nevor ''amo. They said they would
give .stea^ly employment t.i the labor at
fairwancs- Our market is small and
poon stoci •'•\. A.s I|x«inted out to you a
while a;s::o, instead of 0})ening new mar-
kets rmd instead of the policy being such
as to enal !e you to oi:>en new markets
those markets are being closed ratjier
than oi)eni'<i. Tlio export of manufec-
tured goods for the last thr»« years ia
-1 :
only about threc-fiftbs of what it wa« for
th© throe previous years I have i'^feea
citing :'.s examples. T/if-y l)oaate<l that
they gave such tempoiary suiwhine aa
there wap, that it was due to tliem and
aadj^their httle Act of rarliataont that
roa "Wvre rich and ha})^.>y ap you were.
The>« V'.&n no use to j)f»int to tlie j^ondi-
ticn of free trade England or to that of |^
the United State?, where there had been),
no change in the tariff. There was aaf
u»o in diacnsinng the causes of actioai
anu reaction. I will give, aj;i I have |
given in the rural parte, a figure or two i j
which will show you upon what the | !
- prosperity of the towns dei>end« — not off
the towns alont-.not of tho country alone,
bnt of both town and country-. The"
farming capital of the Province of Ckt-
tario, including about one huiiflred mil-
lions for current capital ia one thou-sand
and fifty millions or more. The manu-
facturing capital is alx)Ut eightj'-one or
eighty-two millions. Of this a large pro- j;
|x»rtion is in the sawmills, bakerie '
flcnr mills, and other industries which ^
the N. P. do<^s not help, how- *
erer much it may hurt them. ;
There remain about fifty millions!,
about wh'ch there may be a dispute as {
to whether it hurta or heli»8. Isow, do^-
you beheve that it is the prosperity of '^:^
the fiftv millions that is going to help ■-
the 1,050,000,000, or will it l)e the re- '
verse ? Tho larger fiiruro rules, and ■
what we depend upon who live in the :
towns — I am a city manmysoli^ and in- '
terested iji everything th.at advances the .
welfare of the'city — in the pros|>erity of ■
the conntr>- parts which buy our gCHxis. *j
When the farmer has a good crop and
good prices for it, \re profit by it aa well
as he. (Applause.) He buys the goo- Is
that we iraport or m.anufaettire ; he
makes the wheels of trade revolve, and
you will notice that the Con.servative.s .
themselves in their trade articles, and
in their leading articles, too,
B.^EW THEIR nOPliS OF OOOD Tl>! jiS
upon the crops. They were quite right :
the crop was the impcrtant thing. I
wish to show by another set of figures ^
where tlie prosjjerity ca.me from. Of f
the products of the land, in which I in- j.
elude forest land, we exported in 187{>-7-.;i *;
products to the value of |] 58,500>000. In 1
1881-2-3 we exp<.»Tted $211,000,000, au ex-
ccfcs of about S53,000,tKM3, that .s, in .
the latter period we got "ibur years' ^
profits in three years of time That is,
enough to niako. a country prosj^errms.
In the period of depression which the
Conservatives are so fond of saying was
tlie worst in *the country's hi.slory the
people 'wer» econoiriisiug ami investing
their sftvintrs onhf in the safest j>ossibte
way, With "thijse savings and
with the great addition to our
wealth, of which I have told you,
we ouifht to have prosperity. They
said we should have it But t^.ey haye
hindered it instead of bringhig it about. -
It is the taid«s inflation, the fiscal bur-
i:i
(iens, the 'moro.oas ©xpeRdJurefl which nnfMoriai ■»?;»« prest-nted to ooin jviei>v-
^Z^^ rvv„« .«. ».««,wr,^Wo Cr«. — I ;^K ™lr^'f^" •"dttt Ontario Covfriiraerrtu, ask-
thege men are n-«ipon5ible K>t which jng.h^t the jraetioc might t-e .lii«*ontinue<l,
ha~s cartitiled the *<!<aflon of prosperity, jastunymto beiwe«ii thamonihscu August
and lit' ve brought ai^ont anrther period i *»<*, ^pfiiin »ach yoar. whether aaj
©f strmKeucy. These m-^n neny it. Sir : ^^ tftken by those uutLontH-s r-mKins f o t«»
John Macdoiiaia, lb? other day , m Eujj- : p«»fjn."
man couid oDtain a good da^B wages for : * ^ ^^^ . adhere ar- :r -re mer. out
a ?ood day's work. (>ontraat that utate- 1 ^f employiiier. t iu Toronto now than .iur-
ment with ^vhat comes k. luj m unques- -^ ^^^ ^,^^5^^ ,^j^r^f „^,. ,esiden<-e.Su
tioned re;)orta Ixok at the report of ' , j^ -^.g*-^^ ,g. ^ ^.isted to relieve 1.400
the laoor orgamzatiou of Hamilton of , j^^^^,^ ^^,^1,^^^ .^ ,,p toi,ti)^eem-
last wint«i::— > v,^,.^ j^^j v^. .:- ^ake anoUn tt>8t— that
"Noveratcr— Opened with a tEe<Teiirtlrg | ^, _.,y^_ , f ,,.,,_.^„*„ arr.^Rti^.l mjinv nf
dem»nd for labor In aiiflx>st every branch of ' nuniDer oi \ agrama arr..8ie.i, mam oi
prodHcUv.! indui^try. Dnring the month rt'- whom Ciune tc the p*juc3 magi'-^rate. and
ductions of the working force wero ver\- gen- j want to CO gaol because ihey can't get
aral, gre&tly iucreasing the fcurplns cf lubor. ■ „„,, ^.thpr" <*hpit^r In 1 Rl^'> thprn w^ra
Oenenil sewsftitm frf.'m wf rk on ail outdfHjr ! ^i ^ . *^fc<Lo .C^ in l.^- mere were
brancliefi uf lub<.'r took pUioe toward the ! 275 ; ixx ISb.i the nunil^r increased to
r:l(»je of this mouth. e,oiuo slight reduc- 1 3;-;9, and in 18S4 to 439. Tfike the "Aaifs
ti.>a« In timo aod rate of wage«t wera also. r>f>r<^nnq who srr* fr, the- nuni-C' Ktitinn
madt- and acwpted. The monfti closed with ! — r>trsons Wiio go to ine pi.ice fetation
u very poor ontT(X)k for th.? wluter. Signs of , tor a nigllt'si lodging, and are glad tO
sjiU greater depression were especially evi- ; gleep on the floor of a cell li(,'Caase thev
Sfn,'^LrS/ .S!?,^inS>S''to"?S: i oan5 get better accomniojlation. In
tail expenditore, thus hasU^nlnj; depression 1882 there were 879 ; m ISSo there were
by an almost enure falling off in the de- , 2,016, and in 1884 the number had
rnand for those mauuftw^turew riot esoeitml • ,,-,^^.n f,, 400= t j,Tn irl-nl 1 1 sav thit
to support life, and Uie conm-quent discharge | i^^^J^ ^^ r 2l * ^ t i , ^1 '
of p<?rson8 engugod in the manufacture of j for the last ihree months 01 last year,
BDch goods. This month may be • it fieems to nave been only about the
ps a little V-etter, than for
months of the year before.
numWr out of employment wtis largely in- j We know that this does not ciiselose the
''*'- Decenxber-Opened with a «tili gloomier I worst case.s. We knoW that the Worst and
outlook lor labtirers. There were constant most heart-breaking cases arethobo that
rumors of intendud reductions of force, pay, 1 do not meet the public eve. iS'ow, I Sa^'
and time, many of which proved correct, j ^r^ ^1^ JL^ pnmr.lnin Wan>i»
Among others the iron monlders. one of the ^^^^^ ^^^ "^^^ wno compiasn Docause
strongest and best organized ixKiies of waffp- j these facte are discxosed, are noipatnots.
workers, were cut 2<) per c^iii., and owing to j (I^md applause.) They sav we are un-
the depretssed condition 01 labor, tney did ; ,>atTintif^ho."nw w*^ w^ri'^* f/i asp.-^-t-iin
notrv-tjihi Thiswas followed by a vvhcliwale 1^'^^^"^'^--**^*^ ^^' ^'^"^ toasce^tam
reduction in the force engaged in the Iron the
StS^[Li?^SllSinltS^rS'tS ' «^ACr C.>NIMWON OF T,1E COlTNTnV
^SSlefiSrS^S^^Sffi^^^ i ^« see v-liether their policy is successful
average wage of cott^,n operations were re- j f^ not, and to see whethf r their prom-
duce<i from $10 to $7 per week, which was i ises have or have not been faMlled.
again followed by an almobt universal .^hat- ] What did they do in 1878 ? On everv
down or suspension of operations for an In- i ^ .^ • ^.u i ^\ \ i i '<•
defluite p»'riod-on the Saturday ixamediate- i Pliitform m the oountrv they toid of
]y before Christmas— with the exception of I men who Inid been brought ur>0li the
the bo<it and shoe, cotton, and glara Indus- i .'ountrv No I iberal c<j'ni)l'iined of anv-
tries. The*e continued fhirly active, buf i ryr'"^;; f'^^-^'^^'if '-'J-^i'^t^nea 01 any-
other%<rlsc the month closed with no deniaiKl, : ^^lil'S that they said which wa« true,
ivhatever, for ialjor < f any kind. On the ; Th^l is all ritrht. Tlu- j)eople are eii-
whole the month must bo sunsraed ur> us a ; tiilpcl in knmv thp. ^m^i^ f c-ic-m vmi tfio
very p.-^r and discouraging one lor labor. ! J. "f ^^ to kliOW TUe -.acUs _ j pve you tUe
Many honest, hard-working ucople \vcre > ^^cts raid my authority iov them, and I
compelled to apply for relief, and many lot- ' gav that these facts, painfiil uS they arf,
^«'^,|^PPf.?[«^.^"„\^/„»^;]fP;';Pt'^^ demonsti-ute that the men who misted
to the City Council to undertake relief, ■ 1 j.i i t - n ^i « x p t,
works, and the month may bo set down as | Y<^'^ -Jlto the beliei that by Acts of Par-
one of the worst months for lubor, ii not the | liament and by taxation, they couid se-
worst, tor many year^:.'' , ^^^^ y^^^ prosperity, liuve failed, and
lUB TORONTO Ej^i'oai>. th.at a condition of affairs t^xists which
Take our own citv What savs th.8 re^ 1 1? ^leserv^ng of the attentive consldera-
portoithe Ckimbincd Charilfe? for last ' ^^'"^^.^V?*' ^*''^^f- "^ l^"" aux.1 which
winter? That report is siciited b^ ^hivor i t^;^ht to be remedie<l at the earnest tv.s-
Jiosweil, the chairman. tAppiausc and j sible moment ^Und applause.} I
laughter, j lie says:- I -plthey tola you they would give you
-^^fhTiai^e number of newly arriv.Ml and j f ^^^>' eniplovnient at good wagm Last
dcstUuteei igrants seeking relief, naturally I '^t'SaW" when wo iUseii.3Sed the lact'i of
drcwthe attv,r.t;(,n of the Conference to ttic I the Case, thev had to some extent to
system prevailingofgivingindiK-Timinateiy I Ts-Wlulraw from thoir stiitprrfnfs. \n
;i*Klsiod passages at all seasons of the veaf, ! ." ~ "[^'•w ircm iiieir hTaven.onta. ,\n
and thus flooding Toronto -.vith paupeTism i ^"^I^^'^^^t .lumv^stcn was inade by the
thrvusUcut the long "wiuter seftsoa, A \ Finance Miiiisier. He gaid : —
u
"A ycf.r or two ago, M I know atjrJ other, tor to the London Tw .«, In wbith he
boo»nul>l<; in-suh!.is know por^xtly wel! a* i , ; i .
tbc prifH^K paiu f"r 'aboria tie lTuJt>xl : "•^''-^ *~~
fe.'ates iiii;st r';.'uiate the price of lal*>r i n ' ' Hlr,— Will you ucdbH me to make,
Oi'-u*ii='-- beeii : ' - ii xixQ wftgcAajo sat Jtlioutl tHaeoiumn* oi the "!riiac«j" ua inumatioii
eqi-ij. ale op^i-: > vef* will eoon pa** acrossi whlv-h miy sorvis (opnTent a great dtal of
tl^e i>n-. :mu- !i >«i!Ufacturers foaui it ne- j dtHasriynntni^ut und trouble. Tho arlvices,
c^R^ •> o 1 !. r- .i-f the vinjfe* h^Tft -whwn an ; wL'fcti 1 havef-Dm (anfvlft, both privately
£^,,;.>! I < >!i i ';..•• 1n tbfUnlt/Hl Rt.u-i, In ! and in th*- press, as well as trom gcntknien
orf'vr t > . . • HI ' ; men ; hut w^^v ihut thore I w>if> have lately arri vfxl^roxn there showthav
is a rediu : it.'i ii ijp.- Uulted Stnt'.s, owing | In th«' pre^^n? Ktaw of pommeroo aud trade
to ro'iu' i 1 i,virvs. our maRu.a^^lurcrs, In ' :u ti^e tX>minioiij mul esp^osally at no late a
order .-<i!<f-o;.«4ni fly in compei«, Lavy alwj, peri<xl oftbe eiH-gratioii jitaion, it Is noi
to redurc Lho prices of their profl'irt^^, and ii» advitiablf! fo enconragw t hp t^ migration from
4H>mf ca-' ^;, iVlM*, the \v«g(SOt' their 0(X;r-jthls couist.ry oi' artizim", incrhanich.
tttJv>^." j olorlvis uud genera! laoorern to Canada.
„, . ., X . • 1 i These iif'rfcons, arriving in * lie nuiddle of
There -S an a .xmsmon tliat uotwitl-j jul^. orin iht t>eginr.ingof Auen.«t will find
standiiijr Useir Acts of Prirliamexit and . adtpresse-' stat* of trade and a lack oi gm-
"♦lioM- *^,'i(Y 'ir,-ii>{fpyi\f-U IliA lalmv ip Prax «-mploy:nfcnt:, and iinl^SK taey have ex-
tiie>l JillU an.iugeiuc.ts Uie laDOl in , t^aordir iryener^'y and «€lf-reliacct, or suf-
ihehi'i niarkt'is otttiu Umteabuites re-, jicieni-meansto sui-taln themselves for ,i
and laborers oi Caiiada to go across the -stances v,-on!a be alruofct -nininal, and
Vino ail, M%*itt<.r th*iTnar.k'fM <)f ..ntirsp tHiUallydlHaflrou^ tolhe emifiranth tbim
ime an<i l^etti'r ifteiaSfcUerf, UI lOlirse , ^\yf.^ ^nd to th.- inicrchl.s of Canada."
ajroo<i • f>ry iiKc bir jj<-!CBara couul KOt!
dosuehathinff—at ai;yrato, it is not j And so on. ^ow, tlvere ho gave the
wicktvl wlieu he does it. (Loud laughter , 3tate of toe c:i»e as tt was. (lx>itd ap-
and applfjiibe). Now. as a matter of fiict i p^ause). lie intimated a hope that, lie
BO matt^-T iiow v e cloak or disguise it, \ would be able to advise irrmigratiMi at
I a later time. He got abased for it.
THB SSSTEJd OF ASSISTED PASSA<;E8
Minister of lunni^Ti]
avated the evii. The
ation may tell you
Here is Sir David Macpherson's paxn-
/nlet. and in it he pitc})es into Mr. >Iac-
enzie hecunse lie allowed that letter to
I
that he has itei^ued his rule lor this or j be written, "('onld anything be more
for that, i do not know what those niles i iH-advised ? " he asks, " or exhibit
?re, but it is clear that the i'er.artmentigJ'feater Ignorance oi the iield which
uses the steamship auents as itsl<-'anaJa otit-rs for immigrants"^ This
agents and thefie men are paid a com- '-ountry is specially adapted for work-
xaiamn en the " number they send ont. I nigmen viti. arge ftraihes." He wua
Tl>elieve that almost anvlxKlv who is i ti^'noimcing Mr. Mafkenr.ie for sn^gest-
3iot a.'tuallv blind or crippled' who isi^^S that the classes of men named
apparently" able-bodied, can get out tr.j should not come to Caaaria. That was
Canada on assisted p^ssawe, Tlie im- 1 the
migration you want is of a'^ijocial kind, i hoxest, tkt-b state of the case
You want the t*>uant farmer or the free- ' then. Tt is the lumest, true state of the
hold farmer. You want, to a certain es- ease with reference to the mechanic and
tent, the immigration of agricultural i genond laborer to-tiay, and it is time
lahorers. You may want an immigra- ; that tlie truth should t>e told. (Aj>
tioii of doraestif servant,^!, if yon can | plauseV It is better to tell the people
keep ir.'-im. Tliere is a groat want of i there is no rcH")m for them, when there
household >':ervants in the country, but ; really is uone, than to have them brought
immi;,ration wdl not supply that. The j over hero only to be disup|X)inted, to
won:en ecar.e iroiii this country to the : lea\e the conintry as Sfxai as they can,
towns, and from ^ the towns of Canada j atid to write letters conon-iiing- us, wtiicli
they go 10 tr.e larj^er iowiiS iii the Unit- i will do us more luirm by far tiian the
ed iStates. 'i'he imniiyrration umsit be so ; plain, slraigl;tlbrward truth told by our-
regulated that It shgll not tend i(* ag- 1 selve.^ can do. (Great applause). Even
gravate the uisrress which now C2dsts jthe case of the agricultural labourer is
through tl:e action of the Go\ ernment. j changed by the introduction of improved
I suipose I should not be so .ipt to bo ; machinery, notibly of tlie sell-binder,
oalled unpiatriotic if I said with Sir j A large portion of the labour fonnerly
John ^slacdontild that every indusirious | required is required jio longer, and .this
man can get in Canada a giou day's { should eniphasize more than ever the
■Wagesii'ra good day's work. I can't virr.v that it is not advisable to i)ay
say that and tell the truth, be(^anL<e I :utV<^r8 to coum; into the country to share
know tbe 'ontrary. Ev^ny man knows ; with our own v.-orkingmen the labour
that. Tiio ca^>\s of ti*e v,"<>rkiiigmen to whidi is scanty enough aheady. And
which I Have referred prove it. TLjwi will not the menilx^rsoitiipYouug Men's
diflereni ^vus the_ course of Mr. jUu • liberal Club do good work in impressing
kenzio flewas ViSver afraid to .state ■ tb.es*:- facts ujxsn the masses of tiie i^o-
the truth. (Li.ad ci'.eers.l He was not . file. These are f;ict,s whicli require to oe
atraid to let people know when It was brouirht home to men's minda If these
not exjx-dient that they shovdd come to facts were made famiUar to the people
Canada. (,)ii 12lh July* 1875, Mr. Mac- ; it could not be but that a general prti-
kenzie beiitg then in England, our | te.=it would he made. We have a riglit
Agent-General, Mr. Jenkins, wrote a let- i to be proud of our k^gislative record with
II
reference to t'< workingman. Welive demooratic prin.iple«? l%e voung
pkiced him in i iair pofiition in relation ■ must be protected. [Queers.] Tliey
to his employ. • ind \i\'i law. We did i mvtat liave time to grow f trong and to he
soin ativanii' he K.igUeh legislation- 1 educated. England tifw passed
Wn rftCfKiuJgeil Llui Jkct that it was eaaeii- : tkroagh thia stage, and, iii 'Li
tiiil in t'lie in! «■ -'IS of labour in i i ccn- 1 interest of the people, yviil ii-h
troversie^ vrit ' i ui,'ital that it should Ik- ' allow thoso thinks to be doiio oi wliich
permitted tb «•; uii^, and we renioved , this gentleman boasted. Tliere are Im-
the disabilitiw-S" ! ichttieii oxistetiuijtbe iwrtant qnestions lejoiMl tlie pic of
way of oiganJfca'i ins and conibiuations. ] law. One i? the inculatior. of pnnciples
and the intelligent
•111368 tiiem a.-s such.
iia-r "ere neces^.-'" ■
^'.5 i-igbt to act as u
l/solutelv essential t<.
tfb!
v.at, with iniiX)rtauro. ;
.1 i.;reat extent co-oiK'ra- :
ti has progrcsaeil in
gi.'ue beyond the re-
. now they have an
;ale institution wiiicii
i- ao^;ieties. The trans-;
Ehuil do a
m
be
'^ncIaxiU.
'.veli
U
behind^ t!,.
ashamed of .siirL
liiade in PariU"
wa.s liiade; cav.^'
tbut .such a tha.-. ?:houid b
of economy atid frugality and tin s> pre ad
I -f tbo system of keeping accountf* an.otig
.'^rking men. i have lioford made a
practical suprge^^'ion, whi jh I was to re-
peat. I niaintai'a that in cur coronion
iiitroversies with capital, i schools we oii^rht to teach the children
fi.4ve the yoimg men of' the great masses of vvbcir^ are the qojxb
1; 'irattemi on toother and daughieite of farmers, rueehanics,
aU" tio^jial and half and labourers a .vauple raerluKl of keep-
. nature. The question } ing the daily ac«xjunt*s of the honsebold
:, .listribution and pro- ' or farm. It would be^better than going on
int(» advanced tules ^f arithmetic, wl.irb
are ne\er visetl alV-r tlie fXThon leaves
scliool. (Applausf:). Economy and
temperance are inspcrtant questions,
wLi'"ii are iu yc'.ir own hands. What I
v,'ai)t Lo see i» tiitt io*:chanics and work
ingm^n .^lionld Jbave .-;omething — should
; the miUioas, and if! feel it their duty to save. Onee the
neat succeeds the re- i thing is begun, it \s wonderful how you
■rerer to the rest of the ! get on, To feel that he han soineVaxn'^
almost revoluttoui'/ced. ; earned will make tiie nmchiuiifi an in-
tbe to[ ic of co-op«ru- . deix;ndent man. wliieh ho is not. For
a like character is of I all this t do not except those thinu'sj
rtance to the youn:j; I which are of a legislative cb.araeter.
We, ai* legislators, There is much in a social and moral
sanitary laws, ednea- ] question rt)noh is beyond the legislative
v ith lavvH for regulating ' pale, i)Ut it is unquestionable that if you
, for women and v'hild- ' can mou '/I yoor legislation in a more
i want to say one ! iiseful andbenefieia'direction,tbe'bigher
nj» Canadian laberai« the social and moral tone. It is not
rkingmeii. I bo})e the fr-'e trade nor is it protection, it is not
anada is not going to ; competition nor is it the absence of it, it
not laws in our p'/esent state tliat will
t matters than \ do, bat ttie appli»."auoTi to our daily lives
England. For , of tin- principles of the Gospel is that
which Ave ought io s-ek in making a
country. [L*^ nd applaiwe.] It is tlae
work of slow degrees. I may be called
Utopian, bat 1 Lelieve that work is pro-
trreasing, and v/ill | rt xrress. It is our
liiity to set our facc-s tow.-ird it. We shall
nr>t reach liigh unles.s we aijn Idgh.
iietter aim higher tlian you e\'i>ect to
reach. With these consideratiftaa gov-
erning us as a people, legislation im-
jxjs.'^ible and uselss.? beretofore will b>;-
corae jwssibie, arid yon will find ao<;ial
and moral considerations luRxtricably
intertwine themselves with thos" of
lecislation.
Strikes are ' *
workinsman v
But sometii!;.
c^ls. To ha ..
uhited body -.
labor inthes. *■■'
1 should like •
thisatibde-.
problems als -
legislative ini/'
of co-operatji
dud ion is pr:;u
usee to wluii
n in distril- •;
Eiigland.- It iir.^
tail societien,
enormous w].-< h
suppiies tiic r(\ ;i
t ctions rui: nj
their great ex:
lations of the ]. ■; >
world v.'ill bo
Familiarity \\ s'l
tion and ether.-; .
the utrno'^t hn\!^
Canadian Libtj; a'
have to do w'!
tion el laws, ai... ■■
the hours of lub -
rem And in r, ''
thing to the y-!
amd one to the ■ . •
>vorkingman iu >
be satisfied wii '. ■
gress in these 'i
that made iu
eighty years
proving the •
mgnian in tbi se re!-;ards has ]>een \
going on. For eighty years law after!
law has beo a pasised as e>:r>erience de- ;
nmn'iirateu its i;^- •essity. On the cunti-
neru of Europe .i;.s:),<rreat progress has
beer, made ui a .\-'.\ years. I cope we,
(. ven as they are doing |
t> .-should be ashamed to ;
We ought to be]
uan^s as a statement:
i Hut, whicb, whei5 it ^
! me to ' ;• :;. named '
less measmre of pro-
; tort an
"old
die work of i ra-
id i tion of the work-
u\ t
nada. A gentlemaa on the Eeforiii
was p>ointiug out a diminuiiqu in
in JNova teeotid,
a gentleman on
the
and ;
the-
c.4.x.imA>' I u;;;-
AH,- AV,
school atleniia;.
was answered l-;,
other .'^ide. '■ iVin't vou kuow the reason
oftjud? The
CMUajRKK ABM UV6Y IJ{ TIIE FAtrTORiK >
and con't go to .sctmol," [.■ippiause.] Is
that the sort of work we want done in
this Canada of ours ? Is that tbe wjir
It is too late to diseiLs^ the other t')>; •
tbe Canadian Pacific riailway. uivl
.sl?aHnot -trespass ny^n your pat-'^U'
(Go on, go on.'i I >;i>oUid r^n i<'« if
t'onld lay my bau^' < o aiv ii-:tol aivl s^
1 was mistake li. and the puHcy of the
Government wcadd not bring about (lie
results 1 thought it would. I believe the
expenditure,,the enormous rai)id:ty with
I
:e.
I
ifeexpect to elevate the ptfopie to true 1 which the viork has been put thiougb.
16 -
the efib<!t upon the North-west, Uie eflfict, bare Bhmn theMSclvus, when thP^y had
by reileic action npon the rest of Oaeadft, it, fafthfol t^ their trust, »n^l
wtild rot he considered too serious or \ iltcllnm^. un<kr dimciilt cjfcutu-
grave, aari that an attempt is now being T stm*^, io retmit -iKTwer wV s^l'S^fe
made to create a Kort ot boom, in the ©x- j the iwtple. (I/oad appJaase.) vvtio
pertttti«K that yottvlllfetyoar railway i never said they v,-onla aetuidve lor tne
JinLshedin thec^urseof a few rrx-nthe, ' couutry prosperity by the fiscal poln-r,
and that a neweraof pr-speritv is about | and declined to endeavor to instruct the
tr. set in. 1 wish I «mld tell you that I i r*oplt' in the doctnno that they couid
think t bete will be that era of prosper- i vtrow lich by ta-Kaison, whose taougnt
itv. 1 am content that what I said rather 'A as how to confine the hmits oi
But we have cause for serious alarm I advocacy, that their carwe isg'Kxi, loar
Wp onght to endeavor to awake our ! the issues are momentous ; Uic prop-csi-
Tjouniry from its lethargy, to show | tions that they are to advocate are eiicn
iiow
fron
w far t^rfoi-mjince has come las they can waintam on 'inypia«orm
m promise, how wcjcfuliy it has j that they are propositions m the imcx-
noilcv of reduced taxation, cf readinsted i point to the true sources ci the evii asia
taxation, of econou./ in administration, I give the true remedy, which iieswii*
of recognition of the Federal principle, ! the people. And so may I not exnoit.
and of I'lovincial rights ; saving what \ them : — ■ '
remains to bo saved, is the policy \ ^, . . x, i.„ii i^ -cAn
vvbirh nntfht t:^ h*^ -idnoted SL^ i " Fresson i the tnumpbskall be ,^on,
wmcn ongnt w oe aaopiea. ^u^ • or commoD ri:<ht8 ami equal laws,
^nW gee thai the men who now govern ' xhe glorious arv am of Harrington,
her hahc proved unsafe guides, have' Ar;<i Bidne\ 'a grand oid cause. ^
nrovod nnjcs^ stewards, and that she j , , _. /«^,^wn '
w:Il be prc>^iea to remove ir^m tnem j ^^yeei^-^mg worn laboi-'s bitt«jr cnp.
tlie power which ihey haye abused and ; j^j^^ piaekJng uc. tne highest au-ffi-ij,
tofolace it in the hands of men who ' LmiugthfeioweHtup."
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11