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32X

^-^Ut^u--.^^' ^^^^ ^ ^/^gX ■

S P E E C H'^^'^^7^^/'^^ ^

DELIVERED AT PEMBROKE, 27th OCTOBER, 1870,

BY THE

HON. SIR F. HINCKS, C.B., K.C.M.G.,

MINISTER OF FINANCE, CANADA,

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

OTTAWA.

PRINTED BY I. B. TAYLOR, 29, 31 AND 33, RIDEAU 8TRBET.

1870.

his 3
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SPEECH

DELIVERED AT PEMBROKE, 27th'OCtJbER, 1870,

BYkTHE

HON. SIR F. HINCKS, C.B., K.C.M.G.,

MINISTEPv OF FINANCE, CANADA,

FUBI.IC A^FF^IRS.

Sir Francis Hincks commenced by stating that it had been
his intention, since the close of the last session of Parliament, to take
!i suitable opportunity of meeting as many of the constituency of
North Renfrew, as could conveniently assemble in the county town,
80 as to afford thera an opportunity of hearing his views* on the
leading questions of the day, and of demanding any explanauons
as to his public conduct that they might reqviire. He had,
after consulting as many of his constituents as he had had'
an opportunity of meeting, arrived at the conclusion that the
present month vould be the most convenient time for his visit,
and although he had, at one time, hoped to have come a
few weeks sooner, he was glad that the delay had afforded him an
opportunity of seeing a report of a speech recently delivered in East
Elgin by the leader of the Parliamentary opposition, Mr. Mackenzie,
in which the composition and policy of the present Government was
•lenounced in the most unmeasured terms. A similar denounce-
ment had been made by the same gentleman at a meeting, held in
London on Monday last, of which he had not yet seen a report,
though from a telegram which he had received, he had reason to
believe that the charges were substantially the same. He concurred
in opinion witli Mr. Mackenzie, that such meetings were necessary
in a free country like ours. He, for his own part, courtad the fullest

discussion of the policy of the Government, ftnd he did not desire
to hold office one honv longer than public opinion would 8up|x>rt him
in doing so. It was his intention to grapple with the various charges
]>referred by Mr. Mtickenzio against the Government of which he had
the honor to be a member ; but before going into details such as the
Tariff and the Coal Tax, the Banking Policy, Red River and Inter-
colonial Railway Policy, he would join issue with Mr. Mackenzie
as to his attack on uoalition Governments, which he had most errone-
ously described as governments not based on party combination. He
would cite Mr Mackenzie's words : " now we were told at the present
" time that there should be no parties, but how co\ild there be
" {)oliiical existence in a nation without political parties 1 If there
" be a Government, and if they have no party, then it followed that
" they had no policy or principles." Now he (Sir Francis Hincks)
maintained, knd would prove by reference to the history of our
country, not only that Coalition Governments were necessary and
desirable in the interests of the country, but that so far from their
aiming at putting an end to party, it had invariably followed
that party combination was never more active than during the
existence of Coalition Governments, and a better proof of the truth
of this statement could not be given than the active opposition
offered by the Brownites to Sir John Macdonald's Government,
since the resignation of the gentleman who has for several years
been dictator of a faction in the Province of Ontario. Coalition
Governments were the necessary consequence of there being three
distinct parties in the State, and of it being impossible for any one
of those' three antagonistic parties to caiTy on the Government
without assistance. In the public interest, therefore, party leaders
had to make such concessions on minor points, and had especially to
sacrifice all mere personal feelings, so as to enable them to form a
strong Government. It wovild be found that the two parties having
the gi-eatest similarity of views coalesced against the third, whicli
was in antagonism to both, and the natural and invariable result
was that the third party became more violent than it had been i)re-
viously. The consequence of coalitions was tolerance of open
questions ; and when such a result took place, no doubt they were
open to censure, but he (Sir F. Hincks) would shew the benefits
that had resulted from coalitions. The fii-st coalition to which he
would refer was the memorable one of 1660, which was formed of
the Tory Churchmen and Moderate Presbyterians, and which
rescued the countiy from a military despotism, by restoring King
Charles the Second to the throne. It cannot be said that pai-ty was
extinguished during the reign of that sovereign or bis successor.
On the contrary, it raged >vith such bitterness, that in less than

3t (lesiro
port him
8 charges
h he had
ch as tho
tid Inter-
!ackenzie
t errone-
bion. He
8 present
there be
If there
wed that
Hincks)
•y of our
isary and
oni their
followed
iring the
bhe truth
pposition
ernment,
al years
Coalition
ng three
any one
ernment
r leaders
cially to
form a
s having
which
result

)een pre-
of open
ey were
benefits
'^hich he
•rmed of
i which
ig King
ii'ty was
iiccessor.
3S3 than

ti.i*;^y years, after frequent executions for high treason, a new coa-
lition was formetl, an(l one to which the people of England owe their
civil and religious liberties. That great coalition effected tho Kovo-
lution of 1688, which eventually brought about the change of
dynasty, which substituted the House of Hanover for the House of
Stuart. Will it be denied that there were then three parties 1 Tlie
high Tories, who adhered to King James the II. ; the more patriotic
Tories, who joined the third party of Whigs in inviting the Prince of
Orange to deliver England from despotism. But was party extin-
guished ? Far from it. Never was there greater party virulence
than during the next sixty yeara, during which two formidable
rebellions occurred, to say nothing of plots to assassinate King
William, and to effect another restoration of the doomed race
which had been dethroned. Tho next coalition to which ho
would refer, was that memorable one of Lord North and Mr.
Fox, which was very generally condemned at the time, though the
student of the history of tho reign of King George the Third may
easily find excuses for a coalition, intended chiefly to check tho
undue influence of the Crown. But how was th .t coalition brought
about 1 On Lord North's resignation, owing to the disastrous
results of the American revolutionary war, a Whig Government
had been formed by Lord Rockingham, in which Mr. Fox and tho
Earl of Shelburne were Secretaries of State. Lord Rockingham
died suddenly, and shortly after the formation of the Government,
and Mr. Fox became the recognized chief of +he Whig party, and
expected the premiership. The king sent for Lord Shelburne. with
whom Mr. Fox refused to act, and the ministerial party became
divided. Then was formed a coalition between tho Tories,
under Lord North, and the Whigs under Mr.. Fox, to oppose
lord Shelbume's Government, which coalition was generally
denounced as a factious one on the part of the Whi;H. It
was not more factious however, than Mr. Brown's combination with
the Conservative opposition in 1854, to defeat the Government of
that day. The regular opposition is justified in availing itself of
any support it can obtain on such ocassions, but the minority of a
party which acts from factious motives generally comes to grief, aH
did Mr. Fox and Mr. Brown. The two parties, led respectively by
Lord North aixd Mr. Fox, succeeded in defeating Lord Shelbume's
Government, and in forming a coalition, which was soon replaced by
Mr. Pitt's Government, which lasted many yeaiv^, and which, after
a short interval obtained the support of the Tory followers of Lord
North. The next coalition to which he would refer was
one in our own time. The Conservative paiiy was split
asunder by the adoption of Free Trade by Sir Robert Peel and

li's followcra. Jjonl Derby Hocodtul from tho Government with a
Kmall following of tho members of the Oovcrnmont, but with tho
approbation of a majority of the Consorvativo party. Sir Robert
l*o<3l cai'ried hia measures with the aid of tho Liberals, but was soon
compelled to resign, owing to the combined opporiition of the Con-
servatives and Liberals. The result was the existence of thi-ee
jiarties, which led to tho coalition in 1852 under the Earl of Aber-
deen, after a trial of two weak governments under Lord John Russell
and Lord Derby respectively. That coalition was clearly a justifi-
able one, and necessary in order to secure for the nation a strong
and united Government. But parties did not cease to exist because
two of the three parties were combined. On the occasion of the for-
mation of that Government Lord Aberdeen delivered a speech from
which he (Sir F. Hincks,) would cito a passage ; —

" My Lords, I declare to the noble Earl (Derby) that in my
" opinion no government in this country fs now possible ex-
" cept a Conservative Govei'nment, and to that I add
" another declaration which I take to be as indubitably true, that no
*' Government in this countiy is Jiow possible, except a Liberal Gov-
" emment. Tho truth is, that these tenns have no clefinito meaning.
" I never should have thought of approaching my noble friend, the
" member for the City of London (Lord John Russell) iinless I had
" thought he was Conservative, and I am sure he never would have as-
*• sociated himself with uio, unless he had thought that I wau Liberal.
" My Loi'ds, these term? it may be convenient to keep Vip for the
" sake of party elections, but tho country is sick of these distinctions
" which have no real meaning, and which prevent men from acting
"together who t,re able to perform t^ood service to the Crown and
"to the counti*y. I trust, therefore, that in the just acceptation of
" the Avord, whatever the measures proposed by the present Gcvern-
" ment may be, they will be Conservativs measures as well as Liberal,
" for I consider both qualities to be essentially necessary."
(The reading of this passage was follow^ed by great cheering.)
He (Sir F. Hincks) believed that the language of the Earl of
Aberdeen, in 1852, was strictly applicable to the pre.sent Govern-
ment of the Dominion. It was on the occasion of the Aberdeen
coalition that Mr. Disraeli uttered the dictum which the Globe has
lately quoted with triumph — "England does not love coalitions."
He (Sir F. Hincks) could perfectly comprehend that Mr. Disraeli
did not like the Aberdeen coalition any more than Mr. Brown and
Mr. Mackenzie did that of 1854, which, according to the declaration
of the latter, both at Aylmer and London, had led to such
" disastrous results." But he (Sir F. Hincks) would amend the
dictum of Mr. Disraeli by saying — " Those who suffer by coalitions

: with a
y\i\\ the
Rohort
voA soon
he Cou-
jf thi*e«
af Aber-
1 KuBseli
X justifi-
, strong
because
the for-
ich from

in my
bio ex-
I add
, that no
iral Gov-
neaning.
end, the
;ss I had
have as-
Liberal,
for the
/inctions
n acting
)wn and
ation of
Govern-
Liljeral,

eering.)
Earl of
Govern-
terdeeu
lobe has
itions."
Disraeli
wn and
laration
,o such
snd the
al itions

:i.

dc not Ho them." The Aberdeen coalition had lasted to this day,
one of tlie Conservative members of it bein^ now the leader of a
Government of which Mr. Bright is a raeml>er. So had tlie
coalitions both of I85t and 1864 lasted, notwithstanding the
defectiou of the Brownites, To those coalitions ho (Hir F. Hincks)
would now advert. At the general election in 1854, the *old
Reform party wap split asunder by the secession of a faction under
the leadership of Mr. Brown. Nothing could be more unfair than
the tactics then adoj)ted. Ho himself had been returned for two
constituencies, one as Liberal a one fis any in Western Canada, aftor
Gyery^ effort having been made by Mr. Brown, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie,
and Ml . McDougall to cause his defeat. His colleagues in the Govern-
ment had likewise been elected, but in the Reform Constituer.cios
everycffort was used by Mr. Brown to defeat supporters of the Govern-
ment by giving the preference to Conservatives, while in those places
where Mr. Brown's supporters were candidates they in variably got the
supi)ort of bis (Sir F. Hincks') friends, who were u -very large
majority of the Reformers thrr Tighout the country. On the meeting
of Parliameni he (Sir F. Hincks) did all in his power to prevent
division, but without success. It became apparent that there were
three distinct parties, and that without coalition all government
would be impossible. No one ax;quainted with the state of parties at
the time could doubt that the only possible coalition that could be
formed, was one between the Consei-vative party, led by Sir Allan
MacNab, and the Lower Canada majority, led by Mr Morin. His
own support, and tlia ^f the friends with whom he acted, depended
on the policy of the Government, and when he found that that
would be decid nlly Liberal, ho felt it his duty not to lend himself to
the factious combination of the Brownites. Ke was charged with
having betrayed his party. In what way ha' I he (Sir F.
Hincks) betrayed men who had seceded entirely from his party, and
who had spared no effort to destroy him? His own friends had
acted most cordially with him, and had continued to support the
coalition then formed. He would now advert to the last coalition to
which Mr. Brown was a party, and he aRked hether that had really
effected a cessation of party strife. On the contrary, it was only
in Upper Canada that any coalition was effecoed. If reference were
made to the Ministerial explanations, which he held in his hand, it
would bo found that Mr. Brown had at first proposed that two
members were to be brought in from Lower Canada and four from
Upper Canada. Both propositions were peremptorily refused.
Whether Mr. Dorion and Mr. Holton were prepared to have
accepted Confedei-ation on tJie condition of obtaining political
power and place does not appear, but he (Sir F. Hincks) believed

that neither of those gentlemen would have done so. He further
believed that Mr. Brown was held by manjr, both in Upper
and Lower Canada, to have betrayed his friends, and he knows
that many of the Clear Grits, who art to be distinguished
from Brownites, or the mere servile followers of Mr. Brown,
dis8,pproved of Mr. Brown's conduct in 1864. He (Sir Francis
Hincks) was of a dUerent opinion, he thought Mr. Brown
justified in accepting office, but not in his resignation, which wa.s
wholly wiii;hout txcuse. The ground of resignation was not one on
which a new party could be formed. Can the followers of Mr.
Brown give any statesmanlike reason for th^ir support of the
Government one day and their opposition to it the next, but that
tbey were bound to submit to Mr. Brown's caprice? (Hero Mr,
Findlay interrupted Sir F. Hincks, to say that Sii* John A. Mac-
•lonald had approved of M". Brown's resignation.) Sir F. Hincks
did not believe this possible, but if it were the case, then he (Sir
F, Hincks) could not concur in that opinion. He had already
adverted to the evils sometimes caused by Coalition Governments
having open questions. He well recollected the time of Lord
Liverpool's Government, when the whole Kingdom, but especially
Ireland, was agitated by the discussion of the question of Catholic
Emancipation ; and yet, when the pee-ce of the country was almost in
danger, Mr. Canning was making brilliant speeches in support of
emancipation, while his colleague, Mr. Peel, was as vehement in
opposition to the moasure. The ballot bad been an open question for
years with all Liberal Governments in England, and was so up to
the present time ; but in Sii* John Macdonald's Government there had
been no open question, and in his (Sir F. Hincks') opinion it would be
impossible to form a Government that would bo more united. He
had joined that Government believing it to be Liberal, but he
rejoiced to think that, at a time when ail kinds of speculative
theories were discussed, such an annexation aiid indei»endence, the
Government was essentially Corservative. Meantime there was an
opposition of an essentially factious character without one siiigle
principle in common. Mr. Mackenzie and his Brownite followers
p- J doing ail in their power to maintain party lines of distinction
which are incomprehensible to people outside of the Province of
Ontario. If we turn to Nova Scotia, it will be found that at the
opening of the present Parliament, seventeen out of the ninettien
members for Nova Scotia generally voted with Mr. Mackenzie. (Mr.
Findlay stated here, that Mr. Howe had never pretended to be of
the party of Mr. Mackenzie). Sir F. Hincks. — If the gentleman hail
not interrupted me, he would have learned that my object was
to shew that the Brownites had no sympathy from Nova Scotia

i
I

4
I

[e further
in Upper
he knows
binguished
'. Brown,
ir Francis
r. Brown
wUch was
not one on
jrs of Mr.
)rt of the
;, but that
[Hero Mr.
in A. Mac-
F. Hincks
ten he (Sir
id already
ivemmenta
B of Lord
especially
of Catholic
s almost in
support of
hement in
restion for
as so up to
it there had
it would be
nited. He
ul, but he
speculative
idence, the
lere was an
one single
e followers
distinction
i*rovince of
;hat at the
le ninett>en
len.^ie. (Mr.
ed to be of
tleman h&il
object was
ova Scotia

The opposition in that Province had been to the conditions of
the Union Act : and when concessions, which wore deemed
reasonable, were made, the opposition caaied to exist. Mr. Mac-
kenzie's No'/a Scotia tail consisted of one \nember — an avowed
Annexationist — and another, who was so bitter an Anti-Confederate
that he i-efused to attend Parliament. If we turn to New Bruns-
wick, we find Mr. Mackenzie's principal allies to be Mr. Aiigiin
and Mr. Hutchcson, merabeia of tlie Anti-Oonfederate Govern-
ment, and^ moreover, supporters of the Northern Railway route,
together with a few other gentlemen dissatisfied because the
Southern Railway route had not been adopted. In Quebec, Mr.
Mackenzie acts with tho leaders of the opposition, Mr. Dorion and
Mr. Holton, with whom he had no sympathies in common.
The gi'and object of the Brownites is to perijetuate the local and
national animosity which it was a main object of confederation to
get rid of At the Aylmer meeting, Mr. Bod well, one of the most
subservient adherents of Mr. Brown, avowed that the great reason
that confederation was welcomed by the people of Ontario was, that
" it waa expedient to put a stop to French domination, bat they
" found that this result bad not been accomplished, and there existed
" greater dissatisfaction at the pi*esent time, owing to the bad
" Government which controlled its destinies, than had prevailed
" before confederation was accomplished." He (Sir Francis Hincks)
earnestly implored all real friends to confederation ; all those anxious
for the peace, prosperity, and good government of the country, to
ponder well on the foregoing words. The Brownites were j)arties
to the terms of conf^jderation, their avowed object being to lessen
the influence of the French Canadian element which is now repre-
sented by three members in a Cabinet of thirteen. The old cry is
as current as ever ; and in order to give it a colour, the Globe i.H not
ashamed to represent the leader of the Government as incapable of
exercising the influence which belongs to his office. The object is
transparent. *' The Province of Quebec," says the Globe, '* has an
•'* active and ever vigilant eye to certain interests always at head-
** quartere." The other ministers are " miserable creatures eno\igh,"
but " even them a man of firm and active mental constitution might
" flog into decent order." Such language is significi^nt, and most
characteristic of the man who flogs every one of his followers who
dares to utter an independent opinion. Sir John Macdonald would
never have preserved his influence and power as he has done had he not
been more tolerant of the opinions of his colleagues than Mr. Brown,
from his temper, can ever be expected to be. He (Sir Fr:uicis Hincks)
would cast back with scorn the imputation thrown upon himself and
his colleagues, as well from Outtuio as the maritime proviuces, that

they had eV6r surrendered their independent judgment to any rain.
He defied his slanderers to point to an act of his, during a public
life of upwards of thirty years, to justify the imputation that, for
the sake of maintaining office he would acquiesce in a policy of which
he disapproved. There was nothing in his estimation more
detestable than the persist'^nt attempt of a misei-able faction in
Ontario to endeavor to aiTay one section of the population against
anoiJier. Sir George Cartier, who enjoys a large share of influence in
the t*rovince of Quebec, is constantly held up as an enemy to the
Province of Ontario. A more unfounded aspersion could not by
possibility be cast upon any one. 1 here is not in the Dominion
a truer Canadian, nor one more anxious to foster feelings of attach-
ment to Canada, irrespecti\ e of locality, luce, or religion, than Sir
George Cartier. What he (Sir F. Hincks), would ask, do the
Brownites really mean 1 A.re they of opinion that the Prov* ice of
Quebec is to have no voice in the Dominion Gk)vemment, or that it
is to be represented by men who do not enjoy public confidence 1
What is nOw said of Sir George Cai*tier was fonnerly said of Mr.
Lafontaine, Mr. Morin, and Mr. Tach6. He could hardly imagine
that even the Brownites imagined it possible to exclude the French
Canadians from the Cabinet; but the Glohe, when urging the
substitution of some of the Brownites for the present Ontario
Ministei*s, significantly adds, "not to mention equally desirable
" substitutions in the Quebec portion of the Cabinet." It may be that
Messrs. Dorion, Holton, and Huntingdon, are pointed at; but most
assuredly, if Mr. Mackenzie should succeed in fonning a coalition out
of his adherents in the House of Commons, it would be, to use bis
own words, "a mere combination of men allied together, with the sole
" view of retaining office." He (Sir F. Hincks) will not pursue the
subject, but content himself with affirming that it would be im-
possible to find in the Dominion Parliament any set of men who
concur as much in opinion on all leading political questions as the
members of the present Government. The opposition, on the other
hand, is a mere faction, bound together by no common principle, but
grasping at power. He had dwelt, perhaps, too long on the question
of the composition of the Government, but he had shown that
Coalition Govemmentd were invariably the result of differences
among parties which led to the organization of three or more distinct
parties, each incapable of governing the country with efficiency ; that
they were not only not inconsistent vith party, but were invariably
subjected to party opposition ; that the present Government was in
ipeiiect accord on all leading questions, and justly entitled to public
confidence, lulless their measures could be successftiUy assailed. It
^aH hid (Sir Francis Hincks') intention to vindicate tirj nietusni^

einy min.
a public
that, for
of which
on more
action in
n. against
fluence in
ny to tho
id not by
Dominion
of attach-
than Sir
k, do the
'rov' ice of
or that it
jnfidence 1
Slid of Mr.
ly imagine
ihe French
iiging the
t Onttirio

desirable
lay be that

but most
alition bnt

to use bis
th the sole
pursue the
old be iin-

men who
ons as the
I the other
nciple, but
lO question

lOwn that
differences

re distinct
ency ; that

invariably

ent was in

I to public

sailed. It

and policy of the Government from the violent attacks of Mr.
Mackenzie, and he would tii-st advert to those with which, as
Minister of Finance, he was more particularly conccm«jd.

The chief of these has been the alterations made in the tariff, and
especially the duty on coal. He felt how difficult it was, on such an
occasion as this, to enter on a subject of such magnitude as that of
our commercial relations with the United States. Several years have
now elapsed since the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty, and,
during that period, the Oanadians, who have always been anxious
to maintain the most friendly relations with the United States, hav^
entertained hopes that some satisfactory commercial policy would
be adopted by that country. During these years we practically
allowed the Ameiican fishermen the same privileges that they
enjoyed imder the Reciprocity Treaty, while we continued to adnfiit
the principal products of the United States free of duty. This policy
was always held to be dependant on the success of nego^iationSj,
which were carried on up to the time of the last Session of Parlia-
ment, when it became clear to the members of the Government that
there was no hope of arriving at any sf^tisfactory arrangement.
Meantime, the people throughout the Province of Ontario urged
upon the Government to impose duties on those articles which had
been admitted free undei» the Reciprocity Treaty, f»nd which, not-
withstanding the abrogation of that treaty, Canada still continued
to admit duty free. Affong those articles were wheat, flcar, Indian
com, salt, and coal. He did not recollect that any representations
were made to the Government to impose duties on the articles
named from tLa Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, or New
B^oinbwick j but from all pai-ts of the Province of Ontario the
strongest representations were made in favour of the duties in
question. On a full consideration of the whole subject, the Govern-
ment arrived at the conclusion that in the interest of the people of
the Dominion generally it was expedient to adopt a vigorous policy
with regard to the protection of the fisheries, and at the same time
to impose moderate revenue duties on leading products of the Ui4te4
States which were still exempted from duty. That policy was de-
liberately adopted by the Government, and without any outside pres-
sure, except from the Province of Ontario, which really in
the Province which has most to «ain by a liberal com-
mercial treaty with the United States. It is true that during a
few hours the Government yielded to the earnest representations
of a number of their supporters from Ontaiio and Quebec, and
consented to abandon the duties on coal and wheat They arrived
at that decision with great reluctance, in the hope that that '«hey
would be met by their friends in the same spirit of comproi^aise.

i'i '

When, however, they found that there was an ivx-econcileable difference
of opinion among their supporters, they promptly resumed the
position whicii they had rehictantly abandoned, and succeeded in
carrying the measure in the shape in which it had been originally
proposed. Tlie policy has been eminently successful. The enemies
of the Goveniment in Ontai'io have not ceased to denounce the duty
on coal, but they have preserved almost complete silence regarding
wheat and flour. And yet it is a well-known fact that the effect
of the new duties has been to give a veiy lai'ge trade in flour to the
Province of Ontario. On the other hand, there has been a large
increase in the consumption of Nova Scotia coal within the
Dominion, and there can hardly be a doubt that when the Inter-
colonial Bailway shall be completed, the traffic in coal will be
increased to an extent of which we can have little idea at present.
He had no doubt that thei-e is a party ready to give up our fisheries
to the United States, and to place them in the most advantageous
position by admitting all their products duty free, while they charge
enormous duties on our products. TJiis, in his (Sir F. Hincks)
opinion, is not the policy which will attain for us commercial relations
that will be satisfactory to any Province in the Dominion. No one
is more an:.:ious than he is to cidtivate the most friendly relations with
the cicizens of the neighboring States, and he will rejoice when cir-
cumstances shall enable our Govei'nment to take off any of the dxities
imposed during last Session, but he must state his conviction,
that the attacks on the Government in connection with the coal
duty have proceeded from interested parties, and from those who are
at all times ready to seize on any pretext for assailing the Govern-
ment. With regard to the Bank Bill, he would be very brief, and
would only refer to the opposition which was offered to the Bill of
the Session before last, and the acquiescence in that which was intro-
duced and cai'ried during last Session. He never was so sanguine as
to expect unanimity on such a subject, but he was perfectly satisfied
with the vsrdict of the Country with regard to the Bank and
Dominion Note Acts, and to the manner with which the silver
nuisance was dealt with. There had been many other attacks
made by Mr. Mackenzie on the financial policy of his predecessor.
Sir John Bose, and himself, which were based on the grossest
misrepresentations of fact. The stock in trade of the Brownites
was charges of corruption, extravagance, pvirchase of members of
parliament, etc. He (Sir F. Hincks) would maintain that the
finances of the Country were m a most prosperous condition, and
that the policy of Sir John Rose, wifh regard to the Intercolonial
Railway Loan Money, Savings' Banks and Insurance Companies
deposits, had been for the public benefit. Mr. Mackenzie's speeches

the

ere

}>ei

M Br

■ she

1 nu

pul

cor

sul

att

can

floi

I
I

i
J

((

ifference
ned the
jeded in
i'iginally
enemies
the duty
3garding
be efTect
ir to the
a large
hin the
le Inter-
will be
present,
fisheries
mtageous
By charge
Hincks)
relations

No one
ions with
vhen cir-
;he duties
mviction,
the coal
3 who are

Govem-
>rief, and
e Bill of
svas intro-
trguine as

satisfied
ank and
he silver
r attacks
edecessor,

grossest
3rownites
mbers of

that the
ition, and
ercolonial
ompanieit

speeches

were eminently calculated to damage the public credit, but despite
the snarlings and misrepresentations of fact of the Brownites, the
credit of Canada, never .stood higlier than at present. Our five
per cent bonds were at par, notwithstanding the existence of a great
war in Europe. He deeply regretted that Mr. Mackenzie, 'n whose
British principles he haci been inclined to place some confidence,
should have endeavoured to mislead his audience by compaiing the
number of members of a British Cabinet required to conduct
public business in two Houses of Parliament, with a Cabinet
com()osed like that of the United States, which is not subject-
ed to parliamentary resijonsibility. Mr. Mackenzie's i-emarks
on this head may prove how little he has studied tho
subject. Mr. Mackenzie, likewise, made one of his customary
attacks on the Civil Service of the Dominion, charging the Govern-
ment with increasing the Staff*, and retaining incompetent men. It
cannot be expected that with a Service such as has existed in-
Canada, the claims of existing incumbents to retain office unless
supei'seded for misconduct, being recognized, while there was no provi-
sion for superannuation, that there would not be many cases of ineffi-
ciency, but the government was fully alive to tte necessity of improv-
ing th« Civil Service, and their Super-annuation Act of last Session
would have a most beneficial effect. He had so much to say on topics
which had excited much more public interest than those to which he
had adverted, that he would content himself by affirming that he
pledged himself, if he lived to meet Mr. Mackenzie again in Parlia-
ment, to expose his misstatements. The subject which has chiefly
rjcupied public attention since the close of the last Session of
Parliament, has been the Red River policy of the Government
and the Manitoba Bill. He (Sir Francis Hincks) was well aware
that much dissatisfaction had existed on the subject, not only among
the «?upporters of the opposition, but among the adherents of the
Government ; but this dissatisfaction had been caused by the most
scandalous perversion of tinith, and he deeply regretted to find Mr.
Mackenzie so unscrnipulous as to per-sist in statements the falsehood
of which had been so thoroughly exposed. The policy of the
Dominion Government has not only secured the approbation of all
parties in England, but, as it has become kirown to the people of
Ontario, has commended itself to all moderate and right thinking men.
(Here Sir Fr'ancis Hincks read Earl Granville's despatch to the
Governor General, of 18th May, 1870, concluding as follows : " In
" giving an account of what has passed to the House of Lords, I had
" much pleasure in acknowledging i)ublicly the singular judgment,
" decision, and conciliation with which your* Government has acted
" since this unfortunate outbreak." He also read many extracts

fwox^ a pamphlet entitled " Red Rivev Inaurreotion : Hon. Wm,
McDougall's conduct reviewed," proving, by documentary evidence,
that Mr. Mackenzie's charge that Mr. McDougall had been betrayed
by his colleagues, was an infamous calumny.) He also shewed, by the
telegrams from the Secretary of State, that Earl Granville had made
it a condition of Imperial assistance, that ** I'eaRonable terms" should
be granted '* to the Red River settlers." (Mr. Findlay here put many
questions to Sir Francis Hiucks, quoting a letter from Mr. G. T. Den*
nisop, of Toronto, prefering charges against the Premier. Sir Francis
Hincks replied to all Mr. Finlay's questions to the satisfaction of the
meeting, which was manifested by great applause. At last Mr.
Finlay called out, amid years of jlaughter, "Oh, 1 give up McDougall ;
you may whip him as hard you like !") Sir Francis Hinckf)
proceeded to state that the policy of the Government had been
throughout a policy of peace and conciliation, and he did not hesitate
to affirm* that if the policy recommended by Mr. Mackenzie, Mr.
McDougall, and others, had been adopted by the Dominion Govern-
ment, they would have had no countenance from England, and
would have had to engage in a war, the result of which would have
been enormous expense and loss of life, and possibly, the loss of the
whole North West Territory. This subject was daily becoming
better understood, but it was altogether too large to enter on fully
on such an occasion, and he would therefore content himself with
diftributing a number of copies of the pamphlet which he had
quoted, which contained an impartial statement of facts. He now
oame to the consideration of the Intercolonial Railway question, and
he felt assured that he could convict the Brownite faction of the
grossest misrepresentation and inconsistency with regard to this
great wo\'k. As a matter of oourRe, Sir George Cartier is held up
as the bete noir for the Brownites on this as on all other subijects.
Viv. Mackenzie declared at Aylmer, that "all the expense of
" constructing hundreds of miles of railway had been incurred at th^
'♦demand of Sir George Cartier, who was resolved to use this
" national work to further his political intrigues." He was prepared
to join issue with Mr. Mackenzie as to the truth of this assertion.
There was, of course, room for a wide difference of opinion on the
subject of the route of the Intercolonial Railway, but it must be
home in mina that the Imperial Government had a right, undex*
the circumstances, to exercise a voice in the matter, fia it was
to guarantee the debentures to the extent of ^ millions of dollars.
The Imperial Government has invariably given the preference to the
northern route, which was that recommended about 22 years ago by
Major Robinson, an Engineer officer, who cou'd have had no such
motives as have been assigned to ^ir George Cartier. He would

read liere the Diike of Buckihghatti'a despatch of 22nd July, 1868,
on the subject, and would put it to all impartial men whether it
would not have l>een consistent with that faii-ness and honesty by
which Mr. Mackenzie professes to be actuated, that he should have
stated to his audience that one reason among others for giving
th preference to the Bay of Clmleurs route, was that Canada saved
$300,000 a year in i-educed interest by obtaining the Imperial
guarantee. Here Sir Francis Hincks read the Duke of Buckingham's
despatch of 22nd July, 1868, calling special attention to the
following words, which elicited great cheering : " The route crossing
" the St. John River either at Woodstock or Fredericton, is one to
" which the aseent of Her Majesty's Government could not have been
" given." Already, in 1852, the construction of this most important
work was indefinitely postponed, bediuse the Imperial Government
would not agree to adopt the southern line. He (Sir Francis
Hincks), wks at that time leader of the Canadian (Government, and
he could state, unhesitatingly, that Canada would have accepted the
northern or Bay of Chaleurs Hne, and that but for the positive
refusal of New Brunswick to concur in the adoption of that line,
which was always the choice of Nova Scotia, it would have been
adopted. He became convinced dming his visit to New Brunswick
in 1862, that the southern influence was tdo poMrerful to rendei- it
possible to obtain the concurrence of New Brunswick to any line,
but the Southern. Canada and Nova Scotia were at that period
compelled to consent to the dictation of the southern districts of the
Pvovince of New Brunswick, which were masters of the position.
No doubt when the question came to be considered after confederation
there Wei-e the same differences of opinion that had always existed.
It was not likely that 13 members of the Oabihet would hold Hie
same opinion on such a subject, and it would, in his humble judg-
ment, have been most improper for the mi^crity to have attempted
to dictate to the majority, by breaking up the Government, which
Was the course suggested by Mr. Macl^nzie. This astute statesman
gives it plainly to be inferred, that had he been a member of the
Grovemment he would have broken it up on the question whether the
northern or southern route should be selected for the Intei-colonial
Railway. A ministerial crisis on such a subject would certainly be
& novelty ; but he had no hesitation inl «ayihg that it would have
made Canada pre-eminently ridiculous in the eyes of the world.
He would quote Mr. Mackenirfe's own words to prove that he had
not misrepresented that profonnd statesman : *' The then liberal
" members of the Cabinet, although pledged to support the shOr-t
" route, disgracefully yielded, and Voted for the longer one, rather
'* t^n give up office." And t^en it is alleged that the eetttdttct

ffT"

of Mr. Tilley is universally condemned in St. John. It is tolerably
well known tliat Mr. Tilley did all in his power in favour of
the southern route, but he is far too sagacious a statesman not
to know that resignation on so untenable a ground could never
be justified to his country. He would now briefly advert to the incon-
sistency of the Brownites regai'ding the route of the Intercolonial
Railway. It is well known that in 1852 the negotiations with the
Imperial Government for a loan for this work were broken off by
Mr. Chandler of New Brunswick, and himself, because the northern
route was insisted on. For this he was denounced at the time and
ever since by the Brov/nites. He would have been justly denounced
if it had been in his power to accept the northern route ; but, as
he had already shewn, this was rendered impossible by the positive
refusal of New Brunswick to co-operate on that basis. The same
faction which in 1852 denounced him for not yielding to the Im-
perial Government now denounce the Dominion Goveriiment for hav-
ing chosen a route not only insisted on by the Impei'ial Government,
but recommended by the Chief Engineer and by the Commission.
He would now advert to Mr. Mackenzie's statement at Aylmer as
to the progress of the woi-ks. He says : ** "Well, on the 150 miles
" from Moncton to Bathux*st, part of which he had visited, there
" were only 44 men engaged, who had 4 horses, 12 engineere, and
" 2 paymasters with them." Mr. Mackenzie took good care, when
visiting the Maritiine Provinces, to avoid those sections of the line
which ai*e being prosecuted with vigour. He went by water from
Pictou to Shediac, and then took a land loute alongside of the
sections which have only been placed under contract within the last
few days. To show the reliance to be placed on Mr. Mackenzie's
statements, he would give a few facts, which he defied Mr.
Mackenzie to grapple with. The line between Moncton and
Bathurst consists of 6 sections — viz., Nos. 16, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23.
Of these, 4 had not been put under contract at the time of Mr.
Mackenzie's visit, while No. 10 has since been re-let, owing to the
unsatisfactory progi'ess of the work. On No. 16, which is a section
very dijSicult of access, the work is light, and can be completed in
a much shoi-ter time than the sections on each side of it. Mr.
Mackenzie leads his audience to believe that there was a very large
staff for very few men, concealing most disingenuously the fact that
on the sections not under conti'act, an engineering staff was i-equired
for the purpose of preparing the profiles and specifications. Notwith-
standing the declaration of Mr. Mackenzie that the road will take
10 to 15 years to construct, he (Sir F. Hincks) affirmed that the
great work in question is making most satisfactory progress. He
would read an extract from a letter which he had received from one

I i

I tolerably
favour of
jsman not
luld never
the incon-
tercolonial
» with the
len off by
e northern
e tinie and
denounced
te ; but, a»
lie positive
The same
to the Im-
jnt for hav-
oveiiiment,
lommiasion.
Aylmer as
3 150 miles
usited, thei-e
rineere, and
care, when
of the line
water from
jside of the
lin the last
Mackenzie's
defied Mr.
oncton and
21, 22, 23.
,ime of Mr.
viug to the
is a section
omploted in
of it. Mr.
a very large
,he fact that
ivas required
18. Notwith-
bd will take
led that the
'Ogress. He
red from one

of the Commissioners during the iwriod of their last visit — " I find
'* there are now about 7,000 men employed over the entire. Hue,
" which is as la:-j[jo a immbcr as the labor market can supply without
'* causing a serious dislui banco and rise of wages." Ho would state
further that the Commissionei-s expc^ct that on 1 1 sections, ombi-acing
238 miles of the road, tlio track will be reatly for laying Vjy the
close of next year. The remaining 1 2 sections arc all under con-
ti-act. The plan adoi)ted by the Government for constructing
the road by a mixed Cpmrnission has proved eminently suc-
cessful.

He would say a few words on the question of immigration. It
was the avowed policy of all parties to encourage immigration, but
the Brownites endeavored to c nvey he idea that the Government
was not sincere. Now he (Sir Franf^is Hincks) held as strongly as
any individual the opinion that the prosperity of the country
depended on a vigorous prosecution of public improvements and of
immigration. He knew that his friend and colleague, the Minister
of Agriculture, was as devoted and ar? zealous an advocate for immi-
gration as any one that could bo named, and the Government was
sparing no effort to bapply the demand for labor. Still he (Sir F.
Hincks) must point out that the real difficulty was the apathy
of the people themselves. Every effort had been made
))y the Ontario Government to induce the municipal coi'j)ora-
tions who had the means of rendering most important ser-
vice to the cause, by taking a little trouble without any risk, but
the result had been most unsatisfactory. The apathy on the subject
was almost inconceivable. Of one thing, however, they might
be assured. There was no division of opinion among the mem-
l)ers of the Dominion Government on the subjects of immigration
and public improvements. He felt that he had occupied too much time
in discussing all these subjects ; but he must say a few words in
conclusion — he would remind them that he had asked their suffrages
as a loyal supporter of Sir John Macdonald's Government, and he i'elt
that he had redeemed his pledges ; he was liappy to be able to assure
them that his honorable and learned friend, the Firrt Minister, had
been providentially restored to them, with his poweiful intellect in
full vigour (loud cheers). In the distressing cii'cumstances in which,
for a time. Sir John Macdonald's illness had placed them, he was
happy to think that no man under similar circumstances had
ever received a more loyal support from colleagues than had Sir
John.

The Government might be abused by an Ontario faction, which was
subservient to an unscinipulous and domineering politician, but the
3

Houml public opinion of the Dominion would support tho Govern-
ment against the whispers of a fjiction.

Ho (8ir Francis Hincks) thanked thorn for tho attention witii
which they Iiad listened to him ; he had aff'orded his constitu'jut.s
eveiy opportunity of demanding explanations of his conduct, and he
would now conclude the lu-occcdings by ])ioposiu',' a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

ft.

10 Goveni-

ition witii

>nstitu^utH

ict, aiul lie

of thiuik.s