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CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHIVI/ICMH
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1980

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. .A.

I I rM>-T'fP*^' .-'- .* O

I
"i-

HISTORY OF THE YEAR 1893

«^ Oim'ADIM AFFAIRS—

DOMiHION «id PROKIHCIAL

l»OLITICS

DOMIUIOK ILLUSTRATED

MONTHLY

1894

"1"
t

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

tics. Heri

vital intert

and our 1

civil rigiits,

Nothing wit

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relati(Mis of

are so clos

effect ii[)on

the people,

too carefulh

year 1893 w

point of V

'^ ^cessors.

jrm, and

"he circum

ice the d

om the f;

"ovinces tl

jre engag(

neral elecl

e had in tl

:ally new

hompson ;

" former I

•:cessful re

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lat failing

nmediate d

-ermanent v

of their par

i,i^j^iiiM^ii

A History of the Year 1893

CANADIAN AFFAIRS.

NOTES OF DOMINION AND PROVINCIAL POLITICAL HISTORY OF THK VKAR 1893.

jHE Canadian who de-
sires to pass ill pano-
ramii: review the strilv
ing events of the year
1893 naturally turr;s
his attention, first, to
those matters of na-
tional concern which
come under the gen-
eral heading of poli-
tics. Here we touch upon points of
vital interest, suhjec^ts affecting our lives
and our liberties, our property and our
civil rights, our industry and our trade.
Nothing within the realm of politics can be
truthfully said to be unimportant. The
relati(Mis of the governing to the governed
are so close, and produce so striking an
efTect upon the happiness and prosperity of
the people, that they cannot at any lime be
too carefully or too critically examined. The
year 1893 was not placid, from the political
point of view, as was some of its pre-
'^ "cessors. It opened with a threatening
orm, and continued cloudy to the end.
"he circumstances wliich- combined to pro-
ice the disturbance were varied. Apart
om the fact that in nearly all of the
•ovinces the leading men on both sides
jre engaged in preparing for the local
neral elections, which fall due during 1894,
e had in the Dominion Parliament a prac-
:ally new administration, with Sir John
hompson at its head. Sir John Abbott,
^ former Premier, had enjoyed a short and
::cessful reign. It was with expressions of
gret that the Conservatives had learned
lat failing health necessitated not only his
nmediate departure for sunny Italy, but his
-ermanent withdrawal from the leadership
of their party and the activities of official

life. Sir John Thompson, the next in com-
mand, was a man of great ability and of
undoubted probity. To him the sceptre
naturally fell. 15ut his acceptance of the
Premiership was followed swiftly by evidence
that his work, if to be accomplished with
satisfaction to himself and with good results
to his parly, would demand from him the
highest qualities of statesmanship.

Prior to his accession, one of the leading
Conservatives of the Province of Ontario
had shown signs of disaffection. 'I'his im-
portant politician, Mr. D'Alton McCarthy,
now severed his connection with the i)arty,
and announced himself as independent of
all former political associations. The points
ill respect of which Mr. McCarthy differed
from the Covernment were, first, its treat
ment of the Manitoba school question : ami
secondly, its adherence to the tariff policy
in its then existing form. Mr. McCarthy
maintained that the Manitoba School Art,
which abolishes the sefiarate system, should
have been promptly allowed ; or, to put his
position ill another and perhaps fairer form,
a second appeal against it should not have
been entertained. He also declared that the
customs duties should be subject to sweeping
reductions. On January 5, just when Mr.
McCarthy was engaging the attention of the
country, an election took place in the
County of L'Islet. This county had been
r>iberal for many years ; but in the contest
of 1 89 1 it was carried by Mr. Desjardins, a
Conservative. When Mr. Desjardins ac-
cepted an office under the Quebec (jovern-
ment, the seat was, of course, vacated.
Then came the fight which terminated,
on the day mentioned, by the election,
with a majority of 36, of Mr. J. Israel
Tarte. Mr. Tarte, who was now a Liberal,

«MI|u«*i/v»r.

" I. or THE MOULDERING li RANCH A \VA Y. "

was also opposed to tlie pf)licy pursued 'ny
the Administration with regard to tiic
Manitoba law ; hut liis complaint differctl
from that of Mr. McCarthy in that he held
that the statute should have been disallowed.
While this was the position so far as the
difficult school issue was concerned, there
was an unusual flurry with reference to the
tariff. There had been, for some time, sug-
gestions from within the (.'onservative party
that the scale of duties should be reduced.
Mr. O'Hrien, of Muskoka ; Mr. Cockburn,
of Centre I'oronto; Mr. I'oyd, of Marquette:
Mr. Davin, of .Assiniboia ; Mr. Calvin, of
I'Vontenac; mm\ .Mr. Mclnerney, of Kent,
N.H., had all spoken at one time or other
in favor of change. Thus the members
were faced with the pro[)osition to apply the
pruning knife. Mesides the school anil
tariff ([ueslions, .Sir John had before him the
case of thos" persons who had been accused
during the long session of 1891 of electoral
offences or of off'.Jal improprieties. Mr.
McCreevy and Mr. Conn(jlly were awaiting
trial, and Mr. Arnoldi was in the same
position. The atmosphere thus i)eing cloudy,
there was a very earnest desue to hear, at
the earliest possible opportunity, from the
new Premier. 'J'he occasion presented itself
in Toronto soon after the opening of the
new year. Then Sir John 'l'hom[)son an-
nounced, first, with reference to the tariff",
that it was the part of the true ( "onservative
to lop the mouldering l)ranches away, and
that it was his intention so to treat the
subject. He did not regard the tariff, he
said, as perfect, and he added : " Both it
and our severe customs law rec|uire amend-
ment." Turning to the school issue, he
asserted that the dif'ficulty had to be met in
accordance with the constitution, and in the
spirit of toleration, conciliation, and con-
cession. For further information with
regard to the tariff, it was necessary to wait
until Parliament met ; but the school
matter was hung up for the time Ijeing.
The representatives of the minority in
Manitoba had asked the Government to
consider their case under sub-section 2 of
section 22 of the Manitoba Constitutional
Act. In virtue of this clause, as understood
by the Premier, and in view of the special
law passed in the previous year authorizing
the reference of difficult points to the
Supreme Court for an opinion, the case had
been carried to the highest tribunal for advice.
Parliament met on the 26th of January.
It was an early session, and was destined to
be short, for the Premier had been honored
by the Imperial authorities with a seat on
the Board of Arbitration appointed to settle

the Hehring Sea difficulty, and lie was due
in Paris within two months. The Speech
from the Throne pointed to the growth of
trade and to the sufficiency of the revenue.
It also made reference to our relations with
the outside world. 'I'he trouble with New
foundland arising out of the retaliatory
measure onscquent upon Canada's ol)jection
to the ond-iilaine Reciprocity Treaty was

SiK JlllIN TllOMrSdN,

Premier uiui Minister 0/ Justi;:e,

reported to be in process of arrangement,
and the Sault Ste. Marie Canal difficulty was
expected shortly to pass away. On the
subject of legislation, the Sfjcech promised
amendments to the I'Vanchise Act, improve
ments in the Civil Service Law, and the
ballot for the Northwest. The Speech, as is
usually the case, touched upon few of the
subjects which were to agitate the legislators
during its session. In following the labors
of Parliarnent, it may be convenient to deal
with minor questions first, and to leave the
greater for consideration afterwards. The
facts regarding Newfoundland were laid
before the House in ( 'le course. It
appeared from the [)apers th t the Ministers,
having met the representatives of the colony
at Halifax, arranged there for a cessation of
hostilities. Hostilities is unquestionably the
right word to use, for the colony had treated
our fishermen as foreigners, and had taxed
our goods, while in return we had laid a
heavy impost upon Newfoundland fish.
When discussing a modus vivendi, the ques-
tion of union was broached. But nothing '
was done definitely in the way of arranging
terms. It was reported, however, at St.

iWEWFOlWDLAM) U ElJ.ANl) C.LV.I/. Af.l \/rOh\l DISPUTE. 7

he ques-
Inothing '
]ranging
at St.

Jolin's aftcrwar'ls thai Sir William W'liitLway,
the I'remicr, had obtained all the intbriualioii
he needed with respect to confederation.
" Whether it he the intention of the (lovern-
nient to take a plebiscite on the ({uestion,
leave it for an issue at the general election,
or exclude it from their programme allc-
gether,' said one of the colonial papers,
"certain it is that no dit't'icultv now exists in
ascertainini; the terms (Canada is prepared to
offer.'' i'he same journal added: "The
present Ciovernment will do nothing without
consulting the electorate, and this assur.uice
we give on the authority of the I'lemier and
his lieutenants. .Should it be decided to
submit the (luesiion to the prople next
spring, it will go before them in the shajie
of a plebiscite, and they will have the
greatest freedom in rendering their verdict."
No reference, however, was made to tlie
question in the Newfoundland elections,
which took place six months later. Tne difli-
culties between C Canada and the colony were,
however, settled. Of the Sault Ste. Marie
Canal trouble, the same report can be made.
President Harrison had, in the previf)u^
summer, laid an impost upon (Canadian
shipping passing through that canal, in n-
taliation for whit was termed the discrimina-
tory tolls on tl-.e Welland ('anal. When tlie
season opened, all suspicion (jf discriniinatinn
on the \Velland Canal was removed, and the
Sault Ste. Marie Canal was once more
opened to our use free of charge. I'iie
legislation of the session, owing probably to
the haste with which the j^roceedings liad to
be brought to a clo.se, was not heavy. As a
matter of fact, the bills to modify the Fran
chise Law and to amend the Civil Service
Act were dropped. But a very important
alteration was made in the Criminal I,aw,
'I'his change had rel.ition to the law of
evidenct!, which is so amended as to render
accused persons compellable witnesses, anti
to admit to the witness-bo.x the wife or
husband of the prisoner. \\\ important
experiment was made by this i)rovision, and
there were not a few experts who doubted its
wisdom. But it is of interest to note that
the Imperial House of Commons has, on
several occasions, passed a similar bill, anil
that the Lord Chancellor has had such a
measure before the House of Lords. Some
years ago accused persons were admitted in
assault cases to the witness-box to testify on
their own behalf. Many of the legal gentle-
men who opposed that step have since con-
cluded that it was wise. It is quite possible
that those of us who are doubtful of the
value of the more radical change may yet
admit that it has its advantage.

Passing from the smaller to the more excit-
ill:; topics, it may be as well to deal at the
iiiitset with the treatment accorded by Parlia-
ment to the Manitoba school legislation. On
-March 6, .Mr. I'arte, the newly-elected mem-
ber for 1, 'islet, fulfilled the promise made to
his constituents that he would bring this
subject up in the House. He presented an
.iigument fivorable to i-'cderal interfereni'e
with the local statute, charged the .Ministers
with having neglected to fulfil a |)lcdge sol-
eiiinlv given that they would veto the law, and
( oncli;tled with a resolution reading thus:
■• I'hat this House desires to express its
disapproval nt' the action of the (iovernment
in dealing with the .Manitoba school (luestion
in assuming to be possessed of judicial func-
tions conflicting with their duty as constitu-
tional advisers to the Crown, which assump-
tion is wholly unknown to law, and if now
;i(iiuiesced in would be entirely subversive of
'.he principle of .Ministerial responsibility."

Hon. Wi[,i-k]|) I.aurikk,
r/if I.i/'cral Lauh'r.

This motit)n was cleverly [)repared. The
(Iovernment had received an appeal from
Manitc -^'iainst the School Act. It, or at
lea-'t a < nmittee of the Cabinet, had sat in
a judicial capacity to consider the petition,
and had finally referred the point raised in
the appeal as to constitutionality to the
Supreme (Jourt for an opinion. Mr. D'Alton
Mc(Jarthy, whoopi)osed Federal intervention,
necessarily opposed, also, the sitting of the
Cabinet as a court of law, or the assumption
by the Government of judicial functions. Mr.

^ ^

MAMTOIiA SC/fOOL LA IV

Tarlf, wlio, witli (^tlicis, wanted disallowance,
look the sinic vitw as thai cnterlamcd by
Mr. MtC'urlliy witli reference to tlie proced-
ure before the Cabinet. Tlnis, wliile the two
sides were at issue toiiciiinf,' the fate tliat
slu)uld liave been reserved for tlie disputed
bill, they were at one so far as the conduct of
the (lovernnient in hearing the a|)i)eal with
reference to it was i(jncerned. It iiappened
that Mr. M<:Carthy had written a niana/.ine
article in whioh he combated on consiitu
lioiial grounds the claim of the Cabinet to
act as a court. His last sentence stated iiis
position tersely and pointedly. Mr. 'I'arle
borrowed this conchiding sentence and used
it as his resolution. The debate on the
question was short and shar[). After Mr.
'['arte had staled his case, Sir John Thomp
son outlined the Ministerial jjosilion. He
declared tiiat the right to refer the petition as
to the valitiity of the disputed law to the
judges was conferred by the amendment to
tlie Supreme (k)iirl Act passed on the sug-
gestion of Mr. iJlake in the session of iS(j2.
He further asserted that, having been peti-
tioned to submit the case for consideration,
there was nothing for the Government to do
but to coiuply with the recpiest and with the
statute. The judicial attituile assumed by
the Government was defended on the ground
tiiat on other matters, as, for example, a[)peals
under the Railway Act, for or against pro-
jected action on the part of any railway com-
pany, a committee of the Cabinet sits and
adjudicates as a court of law. This latter
position was assailed by Mr. McCarthy, his
view being that in no case except such as is
provided for by statute can the Ministers
exercise judicial functions. An imjiortant
point in Mr. Tarle's speech, however, was
his assertion that the Ministers, having at one
lime i)romised to disallow, had withdrawn
from their undertaking. This allegation was
backed by a letter written by His Grace
Arciibishop Tache to his nepliew in Montreal
on August 20, 1892. The point in the letter
upon which Mr. Tarte relied read thus : " I
may tell you that I have learned that the
passage of an explanatory law is in contem-
plation, which would establish in a clear and
positive manner that the intention of our
legislators in i)assing the Manitoba Act guar-
anteed to us our Separate schools. About
this intention I have not the shadow of a
doubt. The decision of the Privy Council
shamefully violates the constitution, and if a
remedy is not applied the I'ederal |)owerwiil
have one more iniquity registered against it.
Orders have also been given, I understand,
to give us a share of the school lands in
Manitoba, which are administered by the

Federal power.' His Grace concluded: "Sir
John Thoinpson has pledged himself otificially
and publicly to give us redres.s, and others
have done the same." It became a (juestion
at once as to whether a distin>.t promise had
been given to tire Archbishop. Mr. Tarte, for
his i)art, connected Mr. ('hapleau's name with
the understanding; for that gentleman, being
tiien a Minister, had visited the Arciibishop
prior to the writing of the letter,and there had
followed bye-elections in Quebec, at which the
Ministerial candidates pledged themselves to
be guided by the liishops in their votes on
the burning issue, liut Mr. Ouimet main-
tained that there iiad been no pledge, and a
prolonged correspondence fo' lowed between
His Grace and Mr. Tarte on the point, in
which .VIgr.'I'ache, while adhering tothe letter
as a repetition by him of reports that had
reached his ears, and affirming that he had
talked with Mr. Chapleau, declined to
endorse the view that a jiromise had been
made. An important feature of the debate
was the declaration of Mr. Laurier, the leader
of the Oi)position, upon the question at issue.

Hon. Mackknzie B(nvKi.i.,
Minister 0/ Trade ami Coitniune,

Mr. I.aurier said a complaint had been made
that the Public schools of Manitoba were, in
reality, a continuation of the " Protestant
schools." He had heard this denied, but he
had not found in any of the blue l)ooks
or reports on the subject any denial. "If,"'
said he, " this be indeed true, if under the
guise of Public schools the Protestant schools
aie being continued, and Roman Catholic '
children are lieing forced to attend these

M.lX/rO/i.l SCHOOL l.AW—l'ARIFI' CHANGES.

Ii made

lere, in

Itestant

Ibut he

l)ooks

"If,"

the

;hools

itholic '

these

Protestant scliools, I say, and let my words
be heard by friends and foes over the length
and breadth of the land, the stronj,'est case
has been made out for interference, and,
though my life as a |)olitieal man dei)ended
upon it, I would undertake to say on every
platform in Ontario and in Manitoba — yes,
and in every loilge room that tin; Roman
Catholics of Manitoba had been put to the
most infamous treatment." After three days
of debating the division was taken, and the
resolution of Mr. 'I'arte was defeated by a
vote of 120 to 71. The opponents and
advocates of disallowance helped to make up
the minority. After this the discussion was
transferred to the arena beyond the walls of
Parliament. Between Archbishop Tache and
.Mr. '{'arte it grew warm ; but it was much
warmer when Mr. Ouimet and Mr. 'Parte
<:ame into conflict. The latter gentleman
accused Mr. Ouimet of duplicity to Mr.
(Jhapleau on the occasion of the Cabinet
change of the year previous, under which .Mr.
Ouimet became Minister of Public Works.
He said that, while Mr. Chai)Ieau was de-
manding the .Ministry of Railway.s, Mr.
Ouimet svas under i)ledge not to take
office unless that Minister's recjuest was
aatisfied ; but nevertheless Mr. Ouimet
accepted the Public Works portfolio. This
treason, as .Mr. Tarte termed it, resulted in
the resignation of Mr. Cha])leau, and his
acceptance of the governorship of Quebec :
thus im|)erilling the Manitobta minority.
Mr. Ouimet, at a public meeting, denied
the whole story, and re[)lied in kind. Mean-
while the .Manitoba law was on its way to
the Supreme Court. Here at the fall session
its validity was argued by Mr. S. H. Blake
and Mr. I'^vart. The Manitoba (Government,
opposing the proceedings, declined to be
heard. The point at issue is of interest.
When the Act was before the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Privy Council, their lordships
were asked to determine whether it invaded
any of the rights as to education enjoyed by
the minority " prior to the union " of Mani-
toba with Canada. The reply was that there
were no state aided Separate schools before
the union : therefore the abolition of such
schools was not an invasion of the rights
accorded at that time. In the British North
America Act, it is set forth that educational
privileges conceded " after the union " are
protected, and cannot be withdrawn. It
was consequently maintained Ly the repre-
sentatives of the minority that if there was
no protection for the schools in virtue of the
claim that they existed " before the union,"
protection was to be found under the Con-
federation .\ct, which sustained the schools if

e.stablished "after the union." The point
which the Supreme ( 'ourt is to decide is
whether the eilucational clauses of the
Mritish North .America .■\<t, containing, as
they do, the " after-thi-union '' provision,
really apply to Manitoba as well as to
Ontario and Quebec. If they do apply,
then, the Manitoba minority claims, the
Separate schools must be re-established. It
is contended on behalf of Manitoba that the
ilause of the Britisli North America Act
cannot be applicable, because Manitoba has
a special charter and a special set of clauses
concerning the educational policy. With
this issue before the Supreme Court the case
is at rest until judgment is given.

Hon. ti. E. FdSi KK,
Minister of h'inaiicc.

The next disturbing ciuestion was that of
the tariff. It has already been pointed out
that certain members supporting theCovern-
ment had evinced a desire for a reduction of
the duties, and that Mr. McCarthy had
declared for a radical change. Fully sup-
porting Mr. McCarthy was Mr. O'Brien, of
Muskoka, who had long been a prominent
member of the Conservative party. Mr.
McCarthy made his first tariff declaration at
.Stayner, in his constituency, on January 25.
Two points were emphasized by him in lay-
ing his project before the people. First, it
was asserted that there were combinations
which enhance prices ; and, next, it was
declared that as the Americans are about to
lower their tariff it was opportime that we
should adopt a similar policy. This clearly
meant a reduction all round. But accom-
panying the proposed reduction was a

^r^

TAKIFl' KEI'ORM.

suygtstion llial \vc discriminatL- to Uil- fxtcnt
of ten per {^'iit. in favor of Hritish imports.
Mr Mc(Jarlliy (Icsirtd a maxiimim and a
mi .•inim tariff, mk li as obtains in I'rancc
and (Icrniany, the niininunu to apply to
(Ireat lirilain and those countries in wiiich
we iiave tavored treatment, and tiie ma\iininn
to liave force as respects the United States.
Should it he supposed tliat such a scheme
woui(i l)e |)rodiictive i.f irritation across the
line, the discrimination in favor of British
imports was to he edected in ancthcr way.
as, for instance, by the lowering of the duties
upon such goods as we are bound to pur-
<hase in l-aigland. In either case, however.
It was suggested that an intitiiation be given
to the v'ashington authorities that any
concessions made by them would he met l)y
concessions from us. This was a wide
dejiarture from the National P(jlicy. It
created a prolonged, and, in S(jme cases, an
angry discussion. Nor can it be. said that
it ilitl not find favor in unexpected ipiarters.
The people of the United States had
declared for tariff" reduction, and low tariff
was in the air. When i'arlianient met. there
was uiiiver>al curiosity touching the position
the tjovernment, and indeed the ()|)position,
which had, in tlie election of iSyi, advo-
cated unrestricted reciprocity, would assume
towards Mr. McCarthys programme. The
Ministerial attitude was developed when,
on February i,;, Mr. Foster delivereil
the Budget speech. It was on all fours
with the policy outlined by the Premier
in his Toronto deliverance, in that it
declared that the scale of duties was not
immutable, and that change might be looked
for. The Finance .Minister, however, guarded
himself by the statement that tariff alterations
must be in accoidance with the princijiles
underlying the National Policy, it was further
stated by the Minister that there would be
during the recess a thorough examination into
the question by himself, the Minister of Trade
and Commerce, and the Controllers of
Customs and Inland Revenue. I'his enquiry
was to be conducted by personal interviews
with the merchants, manufacturers, and
farmers, and, as a result of the information
thus obtained, a measure of tariff" reform was
to be brought down in the session of 1894.
In the meantime there were to be preliminary
decreases in the tariff. The Finance Minis-
ter announced a reduction of the duty on
binder twine from 25 per cent, to 12'^ per
cent., and the abolition of certain restrictions
on coal oil, estimated at about two cents per
gallon. Coal oil may now be imported in
bulk in tanks, and the total tax on it is a duty
of seven and one fifth cents pe. gallon. Mr.

I'oster also intimated that mining machinery,
the free entry of which expired in the (ollow-
ing month, would be ])laced on the free list
for three years more. The |)olicy was received
by difl"erent shades of opinion in difl"erent
moods. 'i"o the Ministerialists and many of
the advocates of tariff" change wilhm the
Conservative ranks, it was satisfactory. It
was argued that any tariff alterations oughl
to be duly preceded by a very thorough

Hon. |(>mn HAi.i.ARr,
Miristi'r' 0/ I\ai/:vays atiti Canah,

exauiination. The Opposition and Mr.
Mc('arthy, however, were not convinced.
Sir* Richard Cartwright made a vigorous
attack upon the Ciovernmeiit for its delay,
and moved a resolution declaring that the
tariff bears heavily and unjustly on the great
consuming classes of the Dcaiiinion, and,
therefore, should be thoroughly reformed in
the direction of freer trade. The debate
was continued for two weeks. ^Vhile in
progress an animated discussion arose
between Mr. Charlton and the Ministers,
notably the .Minister of Finance, with
respect to the procedure of the Government
when reciprocity was under consideration at
Washington in 1891. It was maintained by
Mr. Charlton that the delegates could have
secured, had they been in earnest, a measure
of reciprocity which did not call for discrim-
ination against Great Britain. But Mr. F'oster
held to the report already made that Mr.
Blaine, with whom the negotiations were
conducted, required free trade, if an ar-
rangement were reached between Canada

■wi.awi?j i »i*» Awa ut. ' ^'fa^.V ' u-v'. Jttiww i ijuawMP.^

TAKII'F KEI'ORM.

)n, and,
Irmed in

debate
k'hile in
arose
linisters,
|e, with
;rnnient
j-ation at
lined by
lid have
Ineasure

iiscrim-

Foster

liat Mr.

IS were

an ar-
ICanada

iirul the L'nited States, and a connnon tariff
against the world, Circal IJritain not ex-
<e|)ted. Thtic had been previously iross-
tirnig between Mr. l-osler, tlie United .States
Secretary of State, and Mr. Foster, our
Finance .Minister, on this very point. The
debate was brou^i\t to a close on February
jSth, when .Mr. I.aurier made a ,i,'eneral
attack on the policy of the ("lovernment,
dwelling particularly \\\\o\\ the results of the
tariff, and upon tiie failure of the .Ministers
to secure a reciprocity treaty with the L'nited
States. He denied euipiialically that the
Liberal policy implied the acUiplion of the
.American tariff by (.'anada. 'Lhe Liburais,
he said, knew that free trade, such as
i-nL;lanil enjoyed, would be impracticable
fnr tiiis country for many years to come, l)Ut
their policy was the imposition of such
duties only as were necessary for the pur[)oses
of revenue. .Mr. Foster made a reply, de-
fendini; his i)art in the reci[)rority negotiatinns
with the L'nited States, and claiming that
those of the l.il.'eral party who had sjioken
on the subject iiad niisre[)resente(l his posi
tion. .\t the close of liis speech he called
upon the Conservatives who might he dissat-
i.~;fied wiih one or two features of the National
Policy tc support the ("lOvernment, as iliu
Liberals had pledged themselves to tlie
ilestruction of the principle of |)roteclion.
The vote, which was taken in the early morn-
ing of February 29, in the presence of brilliant
galleries, stood 1 26 to 7 i, leaving the ( lovern-
ment's majority 55 on the division. .Mr.
McCardiy and >Ir. O'Brien voted with the
.\dministration and against the amendment
proposed by Sir Richard, while Mr. (!alvin
voted on the Opposition side. Immediately
following the division came an amendment
bv -Mr. Mcl'arthy in favor of free binder
twine. Lhis motion secured the V(jtes of the
0|)poMtion, and of the following Ministerial-
ists: Messrs. O'Brien, Davin, Brvson, and
Hodgins. In March Mr. .McCarthy came
forward with a tariff amendment embodying
his views. This amendment is really an
excellent summary of his speech, for whi::h
reason it is given in full : " That since the
introduction of the jjrotective system sulti-
cient time has elapsed for the establishment
and development of such manufacturing
industries as, under exist' ig condition.s, can
be successfully carried on in Canada ; more-
over, many manufacturers, sheltered behind
the rampart thus erected, have formed
combinations and trusts, which prohibit
competition, arid create and maintain
monopolies. 'Ihat the existing tariff,
defensible only as a protective measure, has
proved, in many instances, oppressive and

burdensonie to the great mass of the
consunnng classes, and especially to those
engaged m agricultural pursuits, is unfair
and unecpial in its incidence, and has
l)een productive of discontent, verging
on disloyalty, among those who suffer
from its injustice. That no sufficient reason
has been adduced or exists, recpiiring investi
gation respecting the foregoing fai ts, which
are notorious, nor jusnfying delay in the
|)assage of remedial legislation, which is
imiierative. 'I'hat, in tlir opunon of this
Ilouse,the tariff ought to beat once amended
in respect of the matters herein indicated, and
also by the substantial reduction of customs

Hon. J. \. Oi iMKi,
Minister of Publit Works.

duties in favor of the L'nited Kingdom, in
who^e markets all Canadian products are
admitted duty free, and of those nations
which under treaty obligations with (Ireat
Britain would be entitled to the same advan-
tages, graduated, however, so as not unneces-
sarily to prejudice the business of the
country, nor \.q do wrong to those who have
im[iorted and paid duties in accordance with
its provisions. And this House declares its
readiness to make a light reduction in favor
of such other portions of the Empire, or of
such other foreign countries, especially the
United States of America, as are wdling to
reciprocate in matters of trade with Canada
on fair and equitable terms." 'lhe debate
was not long, the question having been very
thoroughly dealt widi in the former discus-
sion. It terminated with a vole of 61 for the
amendment, against 116 in opposition to it.

JiV EXPEDITION OF ENQUIRY.

The I-iberals voted with Mr. McCarthy, and,
in addition, there were on his side Messrs.
Hodf^iiis and O'lJrien. .After this there were
sporadic attacks uikjii the tariff; hut the
(lovernnient tided the issue on the promise
to encjuire and to propose changes in the fol-
lowing session. During the recess .Mr. Foster
and Mr. Bowel! ccjnimenced their investiga-
tions among tiie manufacturers, while Messrs.
Wallace and Wood iieard the farmers in
various parts of the country. Mr. Bowell was
not able to attend the entire series of meet-
ings, as it was decided that he should under-
take a trade mission to .\ustraha, to which
reference will be made later on. .Mr. .'\ngers,
therefore, joined .Mr. Foster, and journeyed
with him through Manitoba, the Northwest,
and British Columbia, Cdllectingopinions. An
official report of Mr. Foster's encjuiries has
not been published : but the Controllers, who
met so many farmers, have issued a statement
as to the result of their investigations.

Of 62 witnesses who mentioned the coal
oil duty particularly, it seems the majoiity,
36, advised the removal of the present duties
altogether ; 23 asked for a reduction of the
present duty, while leavmg sufficient to pro-
tect the home industry ; three wanted the
duty on coal oil left as it is.

In the matter of barbed wire, five would be
satisfied with a reduction, while 35 wanted
the article free.

Binder twine, 25 out of 26 wanted it free.

Fourteen favored retention of duties on
agricultural implements as affording fair pro-
tection ; twenty-four wanted the duty
reduced ; and twelve wanted agricultural
implements to be made free.

Of seven who sjjoke of "stoves, nails, and
hardware,'" only one ])r()fessed himself satis-
fied with j)resent duties. I'he others wanted
them reduced. Nine asked a reduction in
iron and steel : four were satisfied with the
duties.

'I'he subject of tea and coffee was brought
up by 23, who thought a revenue should be
raised on these articles, which are now free.
The majority, if not all, of these witnesses
were people who don't drink tea or coffee,
and their testimony was ojjposed by 37
others, who wanted tea and coffee left on the
free list.

Forty spoke of the duties on " farm pro-
ducts " as a whole. Two would be willing to
see them wiped out altogether ; 37 stood for
the protection afforded by the present tariff ;
one farmer thought it should be increased.

Taking separate items, 77 favored the
present duty on foreign pork, 12 did not
care if it were taken off, and eight wanted
more protection. Si.\ w?re free traders, so

far as beef is concerned, while eight delegates
urged increased protection, and 41 testified
that at least the present duty was necessary
to give the farmer adequate protection against
American beef.

Fifty-nine urged the benefit of the present
duty on corn from the United States, and
two wanted it increased. Thirty two, mostly
large stock-raisers, thought they should be
allowed to import corn free. 'I'en said they
would agree to free corn from the States,
provided our neij hbors would take off the
duty on Canadian barley. Thus for protec-
tion, as against free trade in corn, the ojiinion
stood 71 to 32.

In tiie matter of grass seeds and hops, all
who mentioned these items favored the
[jresent or increased duties. Of those who
spoke of fruits, five wanted protection in-
creased, 18 were satisfied, and three favored
reduction or abolition. Four asked for a
si)ecific duty of so much a barrel on imported
plums and pears, while two asked that a duty
be put on bananas, as they came into com-
petition with home-grown fruits.

Sixty-three delegates volunteered their
opinions on the cjutstion of free trade.

•■.■>--Miw'» *»•'''■• --

M»^^^M'

iiSv ^'^^■n

^jifA.,

am'* "" ^

»f- '

€:■;

Sir John Cari.inc;.

Seven were for free trade, fifty-six were
opposed to it.

In the opinion of nine delegates, the
country could probably get along under
direct taxation ; thirty-two others, who spoke
on the question, opposed direct taxation,
i'^rty-seven out of the fifty-six who spoke on
the subject of " Free Trade " had the
developiTient of our trade with the United
States in view; the other nine thought we

THE PATROXS OF INDUSTRY LIBERAL COXVENTIOX.

'.^

should have freer trade with free-trade
England.

Eighty-one witnesses referred in their
evidence to the tariff as a whole. Twenty-
one of these favored a general reduction of
all duties ; sixty expressed themselves as
satisfied generally with the present tariff,
having no complr.ints or grievances to state
concerning its operation.

Meanwhile, discussion on tariff lines pro-
ceeded. The Patrons of Industry, a farmers'
organisation, for examjjle, issued a platform
in which they called for a "tariff for revenue
only, and so adjusted as to fall, as far as
possible, upon the luxuries, and not upon the
necessaries of life, ' together with "reciprocal
trade on fair and eciuitahle terms with the
world." One Ministerial declaration as to
the future policy, which fell from Sir Charles
Tupper, at Pictou, N.S., on the occasion of
a v'sit he paid to his constituents, was
regarded as of especial importance. It was
in these words : " We propose a tariff reform
that will be as low as [)ossible to produce the
revenue absolutely necessary to carry on the
public service of the country, and that will
give the preference to Canadian workingmen
over foreigners, whether mechanics, or
manufacturers, or farmers. \\here duties
ate levied, we will levy them on articles
that can and ought to be produced in
Canada, and we will lighten tiie duties on
articles that we cannot manufacture or pro-
duce, and are obliged to import. 'I'here are
many manufacturing concerns in Canada
clamoring for high protection, but under
tariff reform we do not expect they will get
it ; but we will give them all the protection
we can, consistent with a revenue tariff and
a due protection for the laijor employed."
T'^e Liberal leaders also made statements
during the year. The more important were
delivered at a convention held in Ottawa (jn
June 20 and 21. These will be referred to
when the history of the gathering is related.

March 21 was a memorable day in
Parliament. Probably at no time has feeling
run so high within the walls of the Legislature
as on that occasion. The cause of the
commotion was a resolution brought in by
Mr. Dawson, the member for Addington,
censuring Mr. N. (."larke Wallace, the
Controller of Customs, for a speech he had
delivered at Kingston two weeks before at
an Orange hanijuet. Mr. Wallace entered
liie official category as head of the (Customs
Department when Sir John I'hompson's
Administration was formed. Though in
charge of a distinct branch of the (lo"ern-
ment, he was not a member of the Privy
Council. In that regard he was in the same

position as Mr. Wood, the ('ontroller of
Inland Revenue, and Mr. Curran, the
Solicitor-deneral. l)Ut he stood so close to
the Cabinet as to render his utterances on
all political matters important from the
standpoint of party. When in Kingston
Mr. \\'allace, as chief of the Orange Order,
spoke to his assemLled brother Orangemen.

SiK Oliver Mouat,
Prciiiicr o/ Ontnrio.

A report of his speech was |)ublished in one
of the local [lapers. It appears from this
that he referred to the great agitation then
in progress in Ulster in opposition to Mr.
C.Iadstone's Home Rule Hill. Mr. Wallace
said that in the old country brethren were
threatened with a rule that was antagonistic
to freedom there. "What is pro[)osed is not
only to shake off their allegiance to Oreat
Britain, the bonds of love that bitul them
to the iMiipire, but to put them, forsooth,
under an alien and hostile government."
'• We have their (the Home Ru'ers') public
declaration of what they would do if they
obtained power — that they would never cease
agitating until the last link that bound
Ireland to the iJritish I'lmpire is seveied.
I'hat is their object to-day. 'i'hey are trying
to take the loyal men with them ; but our
friends over there say they will never submit.
Britain may cast them out ; but. if she does
so, she has no right to say vvhat may be their
future allegiance. Out friends in that land
are preparing, and have asserted their un-
alterable determination never to submit to
that Home Rule which Mr. ( Gladstone and
his Ciovernment have laid out for them. I

CHARGE AGAIXST MR. WALLACE.

am sure that in their efforts tliey shall have
the syinpatiiy of tlie Orangemen of Canada^
more than sympathy ; they shall have our
active aid, if active aid is necessary."
When the House met on March 21 Mr.
Casey, a Liberal member, rose with the
report of this speech in his hand, and
charged Mr. Wallace with having talked
treason against the Queen. He maintained
that armed rebellion against Her Majesty was
contemplated in Ulster, and that Mr. Wallace,
an officer of the Crown in Canada, had not
only given countenance to such rebellion,
but had offered to lend the rebels active aid
from Canada. Mr. Wallace accepted tlie
report of his speech as correct, and declared
that he did not take back one word of the
statement he had made. But he repudiated
the charge of disloyalty, inasmuch as that
the position he had taken was similar to that
assumed by Lord Salisbury in a speech
delivered on May 6, 1892. Lord Salisbury,
who was then Premier, declared that he
could not accept, in all their width, the doc-
trines of unrestricted, passive obedience.
I'Arliament, he said, had a right to govern
the peo|)le of Ulster, l)ut not sell them into
slavery. "I tio not believe," added Lord
Salisbury, " that the people of Ulster have
lost their sturdy love of freedom, or their
detestation of arbitrary power." Mr. Wnllace
added that he was as free to oppose Home
Rule as others were to support it, and that
he opposed it because he feared it pointed
to disintegration. Immediately that the
Controller took his seat, Mr. Dawson, of
Addington, presented a motion of censure.
This motion, after relating the circumstances,
proceeded to say " that the action of Mr.
Wallace in holding out the hope of active
aid in resistance to Her Majesty, to those who
threaten to levy war in Ireland against Her
Majesty, is deserving the severest censure of
the House, and, if allowed to pass unnoticed,
must place Canada under the scandalous
imputation of being disloyal to Her Majesty :
and that it is the duty of Parliament to
repudiate the utterances of Mr. Wallace,
lest the public might be led to the erroneous
conclusion that his views are shared m by
this body, and endanger the peace, order, and
good government throughout Her >rajesty's
Dominion." An animated and angry de-
bate followed. Mr. P'oster, as loader of the
House, in Sir John Thompson's absence,
opened with a declaration of the Ministerial
position on the question. He asserted, fiist,
tiiat evqry member of Parliament had a right
to express his opinions on matters outside of
the jurisdiction of Parliament without being
called to account by Parliament ; and,

secondly, that the statement of Mr. Wallace,
for which, however, the (lovernnient was not
responsible, was not a threat to levy war in
Ireland against Her Majesty, or to lend aid
to persons levying war against Her Majesty.
For these reasons he called upon supporters
of the Administration to vote the resolution
down, as an assault on free s[)eech and an
untruthful rejjresentation of what the Con-
troller had said. The House, at the outset.

Hon. John Costi(;an,
Secretary ~}f State.

seemed to view the issue on the basis of old
l)arty lines until Mr. Mclnerney, one of the
Ministerial supporters, interpreted the ex-
pression " active aid " in the Controller's
speech to mean actual v;arfare, and an-
nounced that for this reason he would
support the motion. Then Mr. ('ostigan,
the Secretary of State, intimated that he, for
his part, would find it necessary to vote for the
resolution. This declaration coming from a
Minister created consternation, for it divided
the Cabinet, and set the Ministerialists who
were favorable to Home Rule free to con-
demn the Controller of Customs. 'I'here was
a difference of opinion as to whether the
votes against the Controller would really, if
constituting a majority, cast the Ciovernment
out of office. On this point Mr. Bergin
(juestioned the leader of the House. The
reply he received was that, " if the motion
passes, it will not be by the vote of friends of
the Government." Mr. Curran, the Solicitor-
General, nevertheless, followed Mr.Costigan's
example in declaring for the resolution.' So,
al.so, did Mr. Bergin, Mr. Davin, Mr. Kenny,
Mr. Hearn, and Sir Hector Langevin. At
one time it was thought that the French

CHARGE AGAIXST SIN ADOLPHE CARON.

r. Wallace,
lit was not
evy war in
I lend aid
r Majesty,
supporters
resolution
h and an
the Con-
he outset,

;it

s of old

e of the

tlie e\-

nt roller's

and ;ui-

e would

'ostigan,

le, for

e for the

g from a

divided

ists who

to con-

lere was

ther the

really, if

ernment

Bergin

The

_• motion

iends of

iolicitor-

ostigan's

on.' So,

Kenny,

in. At

French

Canadian members sup|)orting the (Govern-
ment would become disaffected and join with
the Irish Canadians ; but this danger was
ultimately averted. During the debate bit-
terness was added to bitterness in conse-
quence of an assertion by Mr. Davin that, at
a Ministerial caucus some years earlier, Mr.
Wallace, wliile announcmg his intention to
vote for the disallowance of the Jesuits
Estates Act, had advised bis brother Orange-
men in tile House to declare themselves ui
the opposite way in order to save the (Govern-
ment. Mr. Wallace jironounced this state-
ment untrue, and called upon others who were
at the caucus to ccjrroborate it if they could.
Mr. Sproule, Mr. McKay, of Hamilton, Mr.
fioyle, Mr. Cochrane, and Mr. (Ju'llel re-
sponded, stating that they had heard nothing
of the kind said at the caucus in cjuestion.
(Ireat e-xcitsment prevailed when the vote
was taken. 'I'lie figures stood 74 for the
resolution and 105 against it, thus giving the
(jovernment a majority of 31. 'I'he Minis-
terialists who voted for it were Mi Costigan
(Secretary of State), Mr. (Jurran (Solicitor-
(Jeneral), Mr. Adams, Mr. Bergin, Mr. Davin,
Mr. Hearn, Mr. Kenny, Sir Hector Langevin,
Mr. Macdonald (of King's), Mr. Lepine, and
Mr. Mclnerney. On the other hand, Mr.
McCarthy and Mr. O'Brien voted with the
Ministerialists. The crisis was thus tided
over.

Another matter which created much dis-
turbance was an accusation brought by Mr.
Edgar against Sir Adolphe Caron, the I'ost-
master-(ieneral. It will be in the memory
of all who follow our political history that
in 1891 great excitement reigned in conse-
quence of the charges brought with reference
to the conduct of political affairs in the Prov-
ince of (Quebec. As a result of the enquiries
then made, Sir Hector Langevin resigned
from the .Vdministration, and Mr. Thomas
McCreevy, with Mr. N. Connolly, were jiur-
sued before the courts and committed for
trial. In the following session, that of 1892,
vir. Edgar made the charge that Sir Adolphe
(Jaron had received fromtiieQuebecand Lake
St. John Railway Comi)any, and from the
'I'emiscouata Railway Company, corporations
subsidized by Parliament, sums of money
aggregating $100,000, which money was used
in corrupting the electorate during the contest
of 1887. Sir Adolphe Caron characterized
the charge as false. The accusation having
been discussed for some days, it was deter-
mined, on motion of Mr. Bowell, that a com-
mission should be appointed to make enquiry.
A commission was chosen during the recess,
and when Parliament reassembled its report
of the evidence it had taken was presented.

It should be said here that, on the Liberal
side, objection was offered to the reference of
the question to a commission, on the ground
that the right of parliamentary enquiry was
being interfered with. On March 22, Mr.
I'^dgar reviewed the testimony, and drew from
it the conclusion that $25,000 had been paid
to Sir Adolphe Caron for corrupt pur[)oses
out of the Lake St. John bonuses, and that
another sum had htcn i)aid out of the sub-
sidies to the Teiuiscouata road. I'Hr this
reason he moved an amendment to the supply
resolution that the facts revealed '• should
iiave prevented the subsequent appointment
of Sir Adolphe Caron t(j be an adviser of the
("rowii, and also render it highly improper
tiuit he should continue to hold such office."
Mr. ("urran made the rei)ly. He deduced
from the evidence this argument : Sir
Adolphe Caron was, in 1887, one of a com-
mittee attending to elections in the (^)uebec
district. Hon. William Ross was a Itading
Conservative there, 'i'his gentleman, who
had always promoted the Conservative cause,
was three times a millionaire. Sir Adolphe
asked him to subscribe to the election fund,
and he gave $25,000. The subscription had

Hon. David Mills.

nothing to do with railway subsidies, and, so
far as Sir Adolphe knew and believed, was a
personal affair. The receipt of the money
was legitimate, and there was nothing to show
that it had been corruptly used. On the
Opposition side, it was maintained that Hon.
Mr. Ross had charged the $25,000 against
Mr. Beemer, the contractor for the construc-
tion of the railway, and that this gentleman
had really paid the money. Mr. McCarthy

A TREATY WITH FRANCE.

took part in the debate, and declared against
Sir Adoiphe on the ground that Mr. Ross
financed the I,al<eSt. Jolin Railway, and that
money should, therefore, not have been
accepted from him. On a division the vote
Htoad 69 to I ly, the (lovernment thus scor-
ing a majority of 50. Mr. O'Brien and Mr.
McCarthy voted with the Opposition.

While Parliament was in session, the news
came that Sir Charles Tupper was negotia-
ting a commercial treaty with France. We
had l)een trying to come to terms with the
French ever since 1874. Prior to that year,
we enjoyed the advantage of the most-
favored nation clause of the British treaty.
But in 1873 the French treated us as a
separate people, and [)laced us under the
provisions of the general tariff with non-
treaty countries, which made their duties
upon our products higher than they were
before. In tiie following year Canada
increased the diilies on I'^rench wines, and
immediately proceeded to bargain witii a
view to effecting a return to freer conditions.
It was not until 1879 that the business of
negotiating really opened. -At that time we
were very anxious to secure better terms in
France for wooden ships, which had pre-
viously found a large market there. Origi-
nally, the duty on such vessels bought by
France was two francs per ton : but the
alteration in our s'alus raised the duty, so
far as we were concerned, to forty francs,
and killeil the trade, ('anada offered t^
remove the ad 7'ii/oiriii duties on French
wines if France would take our ships at the
old figure and reduce the .duties on agricul-
tural implements, tools, cutlery, and fish.
But the French Chambers thought the offer
was not good enough. Thereuijon, the
negotiations ended. In 1882 Sir Alexander
Gait tried again. He named a list of
articles in respect of which a tariff reduction
was required by Canada, and promised that
we, for our part, would remove the ad valorem
wine duty, and refrain from levying a trans-
portation tax upon imports not connng
directly from France. Once more the
negotiations failed. \Vhen Sir Charles
Tupper became High Commissioner, namely,
in 1883, he j)romptly took up the question
where Sir .Alexander (lalt had left it; but
it was not until he had operated for ten
years that he secured the bargain of which
report was now made. The French, how-
ever, before negotiating with Sir Charles,
had raised their tariff to a very high figure.
Formerly, there was one scale of duties.
Under the new arrangement, which came in
force in January, 1892, France had a maxi-
mum and a minimum tariff. We were

governed by the maximum. When the
news came that Sir Charles Tui)per was
negotiating, great interest was evinced in ihe
outlook. Later on, when the treaty itself
arrived, doubts were raised as to its advan-
tages. One objection to it was that it called
for a reduction in the wine duties, and thus
removed the protection the Canadian wine
producer enjoyed not only as against I'Vance,
but also as against the United States. A
second objection was the inclusion in the
treaty of a niost-favorcd-nation clause.
Under this clause, Canada was recjuired to
give France the benefit of all tariff reductions
she might make in favoi of other countries,
while France agreed to give Canada no
other reductions than such as might be made
by her in the duties upon the articles named
in the limited list induded in the treaty.
The very first ol)jection raised to the bargain
came from the Finance Minister on March 13.
.Mr. Foster then i)lainly intimated that the
convention was not what he had looked for,
especially in that it gave little and asked from
us a great deal. The Minister cited par-
ticularly the most-favorednation arrangemtiit
as unexpected, and concluded by mentioning
tlint the treaty, which was subject to ratifica-

HoN. r. M. Daly,
Minister of ihe Inletior.

tion, could be held over for explanation and
consideration. The report of Mr. Foster's
speech went to London and to Paris, in both
of which cities it created much discussion.
On the one hand, it was assumed that the
Ciovernment was bound to sustain the
treaty, as it was negotiated under its instruc-
tions ; on the other, it was maintained that
.Ministers were free to oppose it, but at the

When tliii
'upper was
need in ihe
reaty itself

its advan-
lat it called
s, and thus
adian wine
nst France,

States. A
sion in the
on clause,
required tu
f reductions
r countries,
(Canada ni^
;ht l)e made
ides named

the treaty,
the bargain
n March 13.
."d that the

looked for,
. asked from
r cited par-
irrangenitiit

mentioning
t to ratifica-

2V0l^A SCOTIA COAL— PROROGATION.

Ination and
Ir. Foster's
Iris, in both
Idiscussion.
that the
lustain the
lits instruc-
lained that
but at the

expense of the negotiator — the High Com-
missioner. Sir Charles Tupper himself took
the ground, in interviews he had with
representatives of the press, thai the (lovern-
ment ought to take the responsibility for the
treaty or resign. It was reported at this
time that the relations between Sir Charles
and the Ministers were very much strained,
and that Mr. C. H. Tupper, Sir Charles'
son, was insisting that the treaty be ratified.
F'urther communications were had with
Paris, however, and the upshot was a post-
ponement of the Ministerial decision until
the session of 1894. Meanwhile, an exam-
ination of the correspondence between the
Ministers at Ottawa and Sir Charles in Paris
showed that t!ie Government had objected
to the favored nation clause, but that Sir
C'harles Tupper had signed the treaty just
l)efore the objection reached him.

Another great (|uestion which agitated
Parliament had reference to the sale, early in
tiie year, of certain Nova Scotia coal mining
properties to a wealthy syndicate composed
largely of citizens of the United States. The
(lovernment of Nova Scotia had effected this
transfer under terms that it held to be espe-
cially advantageous to the ])rovince ]}ut some
of the Conservatives opposed the transaction.
In the Legislature the opposition was futile.
The case was, therefore, carried to Ottawa.
Here a delegation of members waited upon
the (lovernor-Oeneral, and invited the dis-
allowance of the local law for Imperial as well
as for local reasons. It was said that the
foreigners might fire or flood the mines in
lime of war, and that thus the coal supply for
the navy would be cut off. Lord Stanley
referred his interviewers to the Ministers.
But important questions had been raised by
the appeal to His Excellency, namely : the
point as to the right of members to go to the
Oovernor-General direct, and to ask him to
set aside a local law, and a second issue as to
the power of the Governor-General to deal
with such legislation. Mr. Mills introduced
the question, and contended that the proper
channel of conniiunication was through the
Ministers, and that action could not be taken
without their advice. Mr. Weldon, who
participated in the interview, however, main-
tained that all subjects had the right to
approach Her Majesty's representative by
petition, and that it really did not matter
whether the petition was verbal or written.
The point as to procedure was not deter-
mined, but the action of the Government
with regard to the legislation was speedily
settled. Sir John Thompson asserted that
the mines belonged to the province, and that
the Federal authorities were not entitled to

interfere with the disposition of them. If the
property had been improperly dealt with, it
was the privilege of the people of Nova Scotia
to say so. The bargain might be bad ; but,
nevertheless, the Dominion Government
could not veto it.

Hon. G. W. Koss,
Minister of Education for Ontario.

Parliament was prorogued on .'Vpril i, aficr
the shortest, and, possibly, the most exciting,
session on record. When it opened the
Government was faced with difficulties and
divisions, and while it was in progress new
troubles presented themselves. Hut the
Ministers were able to avoid the rocks and to
reach the end in safety. Owing to breaks
here and there in the Ministerial ranks, tl.c
strength of the party varied at'differtint times.
It is important to observe how the figures
ran. The following record in the divisions
tells the story : MrvisiKKiAr

.MAJ(IRrI\.

On Mr. Lauiier's motion to reduce taxation,

ye.is, 53 ; nays, 103 50

On the propositidn of Mr. O'Brien to ail-

journ a debate, yeas, 99 ; nays, 58 41

t)n Mr. Muiock's motion for free hinder

twine, yeas, 51 ; nays, 91 40

On Mr. Kdgar's motion n- Sir Adolphe

Caron, yeas, 69 ; nays, 1 19 50

On Mr. Dawson's motion censurinj^ .Mr.

Wallace's speech, yeas, 74 ; nays, 105.. 31

On Mr. Pope's motion for free corn, yeas,

50 ; nays, 90 40

<;)n Mr. Tarte's motion re Manitoba

schools, yeas, 71 ; nays, 121 50

On Sir Richard Cartwrifjht's tariff resolu-
tion, yeas, 64 ; nays, 1 16 52

On Mr. McCarthy's tariff resolution, yeas,

72 ; nays, 126 54

Ten days before Parliament prorogued, Sir
John Thompson left for Paris to take part in

THE BEHRIXC. SEA ARBITRATION.

the Behring Sea Arbilration that was to open
on April 4. The Premier's appointment to a
seat in the great international court, as one of
the judges, was an honor alike to (.'anada and
to himself. With him on the bench was Lord
Hannen, as a representative of (Ireat Britain.
'I'he United States was represented by Judge
John M. Harlan, of the United States
Supreme Court, and Senator John 1'. Morgan.
PVance appointed the Baron de Courcelles :
Italy, the Marquis Visconti Venosta ; and
Norway and Sweden, Mr. Gregers (Irani. The
tribunal was august and learned. Canada
had in charge of the case, as British agent,
Mr. Charles H. Tupper, Minister of Marine.
There were also on the British side, Sir
Richard Webster, Sir Charles Russell, and
Mr. Christopher Robinson, of Toronto. The
legal argument was attended to for the United
States by Mr. E. J. Phelps, Mr. Couderet,
Mr. ex-Secretary of State Foster, and Mr. H.
W. Blodgelt. France made splendid prepara-
tions for the remarkable international tourna-
ment, and treated the gentlemen who look
part in it, either as judges or counsel, with
marked consideration. At the opening in
March, Baron de Courcelles was elected
president. A brief history of the memorable
case, so happily treated and so satisfactorily
concluded, is necessary to the understanding
of the work of the arbitrators. In 1867 the
United States bought Ala.ska from Russia.
One of the chief products of the territory, or
rather of its seas, is the fur seal. The right
to catch the seal was afterwards sold by
the United States to a specially-incorporated
company, whose operations were conducted
on a series of islands in Behring Sea known
as the Pribyloff group. To these islands, it
seems, the seals journey every summer,
remaining there until the fall. While there
they are driven inland, and are killed to the
number allowed by law. For some years
the business of sealing was carried on by
the company alone ; but Canadian vessels
ultimately entered Behring Sea and prose-
cuted the industry, not on land, nor on the
coast, but on the ocean. On August i,
1886, a revenue cutter of the United States
seized two Canadian vessels in the Behring
Sea, one seventy and the other seventy-five
miles from land. These were the Caroline
and the Thornton. On the following day
the Onward was captured, 115 miles from
land. The vessels were taken to Sitka and
were condemned, and their captains fined
for intrusion within United States waters.
In 1887, and in 1889, other vessels were
taken. The captures became the subjects
of diplomatic correspondence. On the jiart
of Great Britain, restitution was claimed for

the seizure of Dritish vessels on the open
ocean. The United States Government
replied that Behring Sea was a closed sea,
the Aleutian Islands closirig it in ; that the
Canadian sealers had no right there ; and
that, when there, they were violating the law
of the United States. Arguments swiftly
followed upon arguments, Lord .Salisbury
leading on one side, and Mr. James ti.
J}laine, the United States Secretary of State,
on the other. At -x particular point in the
controversy, Mr. Blaine dropped the mare
claiiiHiH theory as untenable, and set up the
claim on behalf of the United States to
protect seal life in the North Pacific on the
ground that the seals were United States
property, for the reason that they first saw
the light of day in ihe immediate neighbor-
hood of the Alaskan islands. In brief, thp
seals, having been born within American

Hon. Edwakd Hi.ake.

limits, belonged to the United States, no
matter in what part of the ocean they might
ultimately be found. This point, when pre-
.sented to Lord Salisbury, was accompanied
by a draft treaty practically conceding to
the United States all rights over the seals.
Whether or not Lord Salisbury was ready
to accept the treaty is not certain. But, in
all probability, he simply took it into his
consideration while he consulted Canada
with regard to it. The Dominion objected
to the proposed convention, and so after-
wards did l.ord Salisbury. Thereupon the

.ioTiiEijai«igiaTrrTnr»n

n the open
Government
closed sea,
n ; that the
there ; and
iting the law
ents swiltly
d Salisbury
. James G.
ary of State,
)oint in the
:d the mare
\ set up the
d States to
icific on the
nitcd States
icy first saw
te r.eighbor-
In biijf, thp
n American

THE BE II RING SEA ARIUTRATIOX.

States, no

they might

when pre-

:companied

jnceding to

|r the seals.

was ready

|n. But, in

it into his

sd Canada

fn objected

Id so after-

Ireupon the

WIS contended, on
under arrangement
enjoyed full rights

United States charged that just as the
Imperial Government was about to capitulate
the Canadians, mere colonists that they were,
rudely interfered and prevented a wise and
friendly settlement. The Imperial Govern-
ment, however, denied that Canada ex-
ceeded her rights, or that England h.^d ever
promised to make the concession from which
it was Siiid she had, at the instigation of the
Dominion, withdrawn. Under the new con-
dition of affairs, a discussion of tlie issue
upon its merits became necessary. Then
arose the question as to what really were the
rights of the United States in Behring Sea.
Such rights as the Americans enjoy must
have been derived from Russia with the
purchase of Alaska. But the Russian rights
were governed by international law,
and by tieaties made with England and
other countries. It
tlie British side, that
with Russia England
in the sea. This point was about to be
sent to arbitration when a difficulty arose.
Great Britain had, in 1891, agreed in a
friendly way, and pending negotiations, to ex-
clude Canadian vessels from Behring Sea for
a year, paying them, of course, the damages
they sustained through such exclusion. So
long as this arrangement was in force, the
United States was slow to come to terms
upon the main question. Early in 1892 Mr.
J}laine asked for a renewal of the bargain.
This I-ord Salisbury declined until the actual
terms of the arbitration had been reached.
Then it happened that the dispute nearly
resulted in blows, for the United States
declared that Canadian sealers would be
seized, and Great Britain replied that British
vessels would be sent to protect them. The
quarrel, however, was healed by the consent
of both countries to the renewal of the
temporary agreement on condition that the
arbitration should go on at once ; and, further,
that if the arbitration did not result favor-
ably to the United States, the sealers would
be compensated for the suspension of their
operations. Cireat Britain afterwards voted
$100,000 to the Canadian sealers as damages
for the suspension of their work ; but an-
nounced later on that this sum would not be
asked of the United States, although the trea-
ty set forth that it would have to be paid. This
snag having been avoided, the terms of the
arbitration were decided upon. The ques-
tions submitted to the arl)itrators were these :
I. What exclusive jurisdiction in the
Behring Sea, and what exclusive rights in the
seal fisheries, had Russia, prior and up to
the time of the cession of Alaska to the
United States ?

2. How far were these claims of jurisdic-
tion conceded by Great Britain?

3. Was the body of water now known as
the Behring Sea included in the phrase
" Pacific Ocean," as used in the treaty of
1825 between (ireat Britain and Russia;
and what rights, if any, in the Behring Sea
were held and exclusively exercised by
Russia after said treaty ?

4. Did not all the rights of Russia in the
treaty between the United States and Russia
of March 30, 1867, pass unimpaired to the
United States under that treaty ?

5. Has the United States any right of
protection or property in the fur seals fre-
(juenting the islands of the United States

SiK CiIAR1.es H. Tl'lM'KR.

MiHistt'f 0/ Marini: a>ui }'"isln'rii's.

in Behring Sea when such seals are found
outside the ordinary three-mile limit ?

In addition, it was sti[)ulated that, if the
arbitrators found that the United States had
no exclusive rights outside of the three-mile
limit, they should say what concurrent
regulations, if any, were necessary for the
preservation of the fur seal. The (juestion
of damages was not submitted ; but it was
provided that the arbitrators could say
whether or not there had been illegal
seizures. Before the arbitrators, the United
States proposed to contend that Behring
Sea belonged originally to Russia, that
England acknowledged Russia's exclusive
rights in ;he seal fisheries, that these rights
passed to the United States, and that, there-
fore, the United States owned tlie sea and the
seals, and that the seizure of the Canadian
vessels was justifiable. It turned out after

THE liKHRING SEA ARBITRATIOX.

the treaty was signed, but before the arbitra-
tors had met, that the claim of the United
States, in respect of jurisdiction, rested
chiefly on certain Russian documents found
at Washington, and translated by a Russian
official of the State Department, named Ivan
I'ctroff, for the information of the (lovern-
ment. These documents consisted, for the
most part, of proclamations or ukases issued
from St. Petersburg, in which exclusive juris-
diction in the Behring Sea was asserted.
When the papers were sent forward to
(Ireat Britain for examination and rei)ly,
ihey were compared with duplicates there,
and it was discovered, to the astonish-
ment not only of the British officials, but
also of those of the United States, that
every sentence which helped the case of the
United States had been forged by I'etroff.
As aconse(iuence, the most forcible evidence
on the United States side had to be with-
drawn, and the learned counsel for that
country were com|)elled to base the argu-
ments they addressed to the arbitrators upon
the theory advanced by Mr. Blaine, as the
lesser branch of his case, that the seals were
the property of the United States by birtli,
and could, therefore, be i)rotected wherever
found. The arguments on both sides were
long and able. While in i)rogress, (ireat
ISritain offered to accept regulations protective
ot the fur species. On August 15 judgment
w.is given. All the claims of the United
States as to exclusive rights were denied,
and the seizures were practically declared to
have been illegal. But regulations were
prescribed. These were, in brief, as follow :

1. No seals are to be taken within a zone
of sixty miles of the Bribyloff Islands.

2. No seals are to be taken between May i
and July 31 north of the 35th degree of
latitude.

3. During the period that fur sealing is
allowed, sealing vessels only shall be allowed
to participate.

4. Each vessel shall have a special license
and a distinguishing flag.

5. Each captain shall keep a log of the
date and place of sealing, and particulars of
the catch. ,

6. The use of nets and firearms is for-
bidden. Shotguns, however, may be used
outside of Behring Sea during the season.

The result, in so far as the judgment
against the United States claim was con-
cerned, was a victory for Canada. But the
proposed regulations modified this triumph,
and practically rendered the result a com-
promise. The close season, however, was
shorter than the United States desired, and
longer than (Ireat Britain pioposed. The

United States, in the draft treaty submitted
by Mr. Blaine and rejected through the
non-concurrence of Canada, placed the close
season at from .April 15 to November 10.
England, at the arbitration, offered to accept
a season extending from September 15 to
July 1. The arbitrators determined that
the season should extend from May i to
July 31. Touching the seizures, the
arbitrators reported that they had been
effected outside of the territorial limits of
the United States. But the question of

Hon J. C. Pattkrson,
Minister of Militia.

damages was not dealt with, and this is to
be considered later on. The judgment was
accepted throughout the world favorably.
As marks of distinction for their services in
connection with the arbitration, Sir John
Thompson was appointed a Privy Councillor
of England, in virtue of which he is to be
known henceforth as " The Right Honor-
able " ; Mr. Tupper became a Knight of
the Order of St. Michael and St. George ;
and Mr. Christopher Robinson was elevated
to the same order, which honor, however, he
declined for personal reasons.

There was a brief cessation of political
activity after the close of Parliament ; but
on June 20 business was resumed by the
Liberals, who held a great and enthusiastic
convention at Ottawa for the purpose of
formulating a programme. About 1,500
delegates attended at Mr. Laurier's call,
and Sir Oliver Mowat, the veteran Premier
of Ontario, was elected to the chair. Marked
unanimity prevailed, and inspiring speeches
were delivered by all the leaders. The
resolutions adopted by the convention form
the platform upon which the Liberals will

ity submitted
through the
iced the close
"Jovember lo.
jred to accept
teniber 15 to
ermined that
3111 May I to
seizures, the
>y had lieen
»rial limits of
I question of

)ii,

1(1 this is to
idgment was
favorably,
services in
Sir John
vy Councillor
he is to be
Ught Honor-
Knight of
St. George;
was elevated
however, he

of political

lament ; but

med by the

enthusiastic

purpose of
\bout 1,500
urier's call,
ran Premier
ir. Marked
ng speeches
ders. The
ention form

iberals will

THE GREAT [JBERAI. CONVENTIOX.

fight the next election. Summarized, the
planks are as follow :

1. The Tariff.— W - declare that the exist-
ing tariff has oppressed the masses to the
enrichment jf the few, and that the highest
interests of the people demand its removal ;
that the tariff should be reduced to the
needs of honest, economical, and efficient
governiTient ; that it should be so adjusted
as to make free, or to bear as lightly as
possible upon, the necessaries of life, and
should be so arranged as to promote free
trade with the whole world, more particularly
Great Britain and the United States.

2. Reciprocity. — The Liberal party is pre-
pared to enter into negotiations with a view
to obtaining a fair and liberal treaty, includ-
ing a well-considered list of manufactured
articles.

3. Corruption. — The convention deplores
the gross corruption in the managen.ent and
expenditure of the public moneys which for
years past has existed under the rule of the
Conservative party, and the revelations of
which have brought disgrace upon the fair
name of Canada.

4. T/w Fii/'/ic Debt. — We cannot but view
with alarm the increase of the i)ublic debt,
and of the controllable annual expenditure,
and we demand strict economy in the
administration of the government of the
country.

5. Trial of Ministers. — The convention
regret that by the action of Ministers and
their supporters in Parliament, in one case
in which serious charges were made against
a Minister of the Oown, investigation was
altogether refused ; while in another case
the charges preferred were altered, and then
referred to the commission appointed upon
the advice of the Ministry, contrary to the
well-settled practice of Parliament.

6. Public Lands. — In the opinion of this
convention the sales of public lands of the
Dominion should be to actual .settlers only,
and not to speculators, upon reasonable
terms.

7. The Franchise Act. — In the opinion of
this convention the Act should be repealed,
and we should revert to the provincial
franchise.

8. Redistributions. — In the formation of
electoral divisions, county boundaries should
be preserved, and in no case should parts of
two counties be put in one electoral division.

9. The Senate. — The_ constitution of the
Senate should be so amended as to bring it
into harmony with the principles of popular
government.

10. Prohibition. — It is desirable that the
minds of the people should be clearly ascer-

tained on the (juistion of prohibition by
meaiH of a Dominion plebiscite.

.\fter a two days' session, the convention
rose. Mr. I.aurier subsequently made a toui
of Ontario, during which he expounded the
policy. T'ollowing the session of i'arliament,
and prior to the convention, the Liberals
scored a victory in X'audreuil. The county
was taken by Mr. Macmillan (Conservative)
by a majority of F5 at a former election.
On April 12 Mr. Harwi^od (Liberal) carried
it over Mr. Chevrier bv 155. November 22
brought the Liberals another victory. Mr.
Hugh J. Macdonald, son of Sir John Mac-
donald, had resigned his seat for Winnipeg,
explaining that he could not give attention
to political affairs. 'I'he candidates for the
vacant seat were Mr. Isaac Campbell (Con-
servative) and Mr. Joseph Martin (Liberal;.
A very vigorous campaign was fought. The
votestood: Martin, 2, 2o<S; Campbell, 1,770.
The Liberal majority was thus 438. (irtat
surprise was expressed at the result, owing
to the fact that Mr. Macdonald had carried
the city in 1891 by a majority of 500.

HoNOKK Mekcikk, M.P.

.\ new scandal presented itself in June, and
called for action. The Government this
time did not wait for Parliament to commence
the enquiry, but proceeded with the investi-
gation itself by Royal Commission. Briefly
given, the facts of the case are these : The
Federal authorities decided in the previous
fall to reconstruct the railway and passenger
bridges passing over the Lachine Canal a
Montreal. The estimated cost was $1 75,000.
Some changes, however, were made in the
plans, and these brought the expected price

THE McGRKEyYCONXO/./.y CASE.

up to $250,000. When tlie l)ills came rolling
in, tlu'y were added up in the Railways and
Clanals Department, and it was found that
$450,000 had l)een spent. As a result, the
Mmister called a halt, and appointed the
Commission of Kncpiiry. 'I'he first discovery
made l)y the Commission had reference to
the principle upon which the work had l»een
conducted. It had not been let by contract,
as is usual ; but had been prosecuted by the
day lalior system. A <:ontractor supplied the
labor, and the Clovernment officials utilized it.
It was intimated by some of the witnesses
that too many men had been employed,
and that they had not been all kept diligently
at work. The engineers exi)laincd, however,
that the day labor system had to be resorted
to owing to the haste with which the bridges
were constructed, for it was essential that
traffic and navigation should not be interfered
with. Mr. Haggart, according to the docu-
ments, was not favorable to the day labor
plan. He was guided by his advisers. It
was charged further, in the evidence, that
there had been waste in the purchases both
of stone and lumber. This case awaits the
report of the Royal Commissioners. Mean-
while the engineer who conducted the work
is under suspension.

While this new scandal was a nine days'
wonder, an old scandal was revived in
November by the trial of Mr. Thomas
McGreevy and Mr. N. Connolly, at Ottawa,
on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the
Clovernment in connection with the (Quebec
Harbor contracts. This trial was the
culmination of what are known as the Tarte
charges. It ought to have taken place
earlier; but it was delayed through the
absence of witnesses. One of these men,
Owen E. Murphy, was the principal figure,
and indeed the villain, in the case. He had
esciped to New York to avoid punishment
for a fraud he had perpetrated in Quebec,
and there, when his evidence was sought, he
suddenly died. Murphy having gone to his
reward, the trial was proceeded with without
him. The offence charged against Mr.
McGreevy and Mr. Connolly is thus de-
scribed : Large and valuable contracts were
to be awarded for work to be performed in
(^)uebec Harbor. A dock was to be built,
and a great deal of dredging was required.
As the Dominion Government was advancing
the money for all this enterprise, the
Department of Public Works saw to the
letting of tenders, thus relieving the Harbor
Commissioners of some of their responsi-
bilities. Mr. McGreevy was a Harbor
Commissioner, and, besides, a member of
Parliament and a friend of the Minister of

Public Works. It was charged liy Mr.
Tarte that Mr. McGreevy, although osten-
sibly protecting the public mterest as a
Harbor Commissioner and a member, really
worked with and for the contractors, getting
money from them for elections, and, by way
of his brother Robert, sharing personally in
their profits, i'liis was the chief count in
the indictment laid before Parliament in the
memorable season of 1891, and it is the
basis of the offence of conspiracy for wlach
Mr. McGreevy and Mr. (Connolly, a member
of tlie contracting firm, were tried. The
jury found Messrs. .\Ic(;reevy and Connolly
guilty, and they were sentenced to one year's
imprisonment each in the county jail.

SiK Anoi.i'iiK Cakiiv,
Postiiiastt'y-iii'firra/.

Late in the year several important events,
from the Federal point of view, took place.
The New Brunswick Governorship, long
held by Sir Leonard Tilley, was on Sep-
tember 24 given to Hon. John Boyd. The
appointment was very popular ; but Mr.
Boyd did not live long to enjoy it, for he
died suddenly on December 3. He was
succeeded by Mr. Justice Frazer. On
November 3, Mr. C. H. Mackintosh was
appointed (iovernor of the Northwest in
succession to Governor Royal. He had sat
in the Commons for Ottawa. An election
being necessary to fill the vacant seat. Sir
James Grant was nominated by the Conser-
vatives, and was elected by acclamation.
On October 4 Mr. J. V. Ellis, of St. John,
was sent to jail for thirty days for contempt
of court.* He had severely criticized, in his
paper, the decisions of one of the judges in
the celebrated Queen's County election case.

ACSrh'.l I.I. I.V TA'.I HE Ph'O I VYC 7 A L POLITICS.

laij^ed by Mr.
although osten-
• interest as a

menil)cr, really
tractors, getting
ns, and, by way
ig personally in

chief count in
iriiament in the

and it is the
)ira(y for wi.ich
loliy, a member
re tried. The
.' and Connolly
;d to one year's
inty jail.

ejrtant events,

', took place.

lorship, long

was on Sep-

Uoyd. The

r ; but Mr.

oy it, for he
3. He was
'razer. On
cintosh was
orthwest in
He had sat
An election
mt seat. Sir
the Conser-
ic'clamation.
)f St. John,
ar contempt
cized, in his
e judges in
ection case.

His comments, made five years ago, were
condemned at the time by thr court ; but he
appealed without success, ind, on apinaring
for sentence, was committed to jail for the
term mentioned. Objection was taken to
the treatinent he received, on the ground
that contempt cf court was an aiUi(|uated
offence, and that, anyway, he ought to have
had the benefit of a trial by jury. Sir Alex.
T. (lait died on September 22: and Sir John
Abbott, the ex Premier, died 011 October 31.
Thus two respecteii statesmen passed away
within a few weeks of each other. I, ate in
the fall Mr. IJowell went to Australia on a
trade mission, the hope being that he would
be able to interest the people of the Anti-
podes in commerce with Canada, and pos-
sibly arrange for a reciprocal treaty. Mr.
Howell was well received, and a convention
of colonial delegates was proposed as a
result of his visit. On his return, he
dropped in at Honolulu. Some of the
papers in the United States gave the visit
international significance, and credited Mr.
Howell with an attempt to annex Hawaii to
Canada. Hut the Minister was entirely
innocent of any project of that kind. The
year closed in Dominion politics witl1*a dis-
cussion of the Northwest Territories school
law, which places the Separate schools on a
basis similar to that occupied by the Public
schools. The friends of Separate schools
had appealed for the disallowance of the
ordinance. We have to wait until 1894 is
well advanced before we know what the fate
of the law is to be.

Having reviewed the larger questions which
have arisen in the Federal arena, it is but
natural to turn to the points that have dis-
turbed the provinces. Hut, first, it is to be
remembered that there are (juestions in which
the Dominion and the provinces are jointly
concerned. These, for the most part, have
to do with the finances. One of the issues
came before a Hoard of .Arbitrators composed
of Chancellor Boyd, for Ontario ; Justice
Casault, for Quebec ; and Justice Hurbidge,
for the Dominion, on .\pril 18, at Ottawa.
The question involved was the outstanding
accounts between Ontario and Quebec, and
the ['"ederal authorities. At Confederation,
the two provinces were authorized to divide
certain of the assets of Upper Canada between
them ; but a difference of opinion arose touch-
ing the proportion which belonged to each.
This matter was referred to arbitration, and
was settled in part. The undecided issues,
which include the distribution of money held
by Canada for these provinces, the interest
that should be allowed by the Dominion
upon this sum, together with the claims of

the Dominion upon the provinces arising out
of paymefUs to Indians within these provinces,
remained tobedetermined,and the new Hoard
of .Arbitration was appointed to adjudicate
upon them. .\t the first sitting the point was
argued as to the interest the Dominion ought
to pay upon the fur\(ls it holds in trust. On
the part of the I'ederal authorities, simple
interest alone was [)roposed ; whereas the
provinces contended for compound interest.
I'he arbitrators examined the case iloselv,
and, on November 2, decided that simple
interest was the proper thing. Some other
[)oints were re[)orted upon, as, for example, the
proportion of the Library I'und that was to
go to each [)rovince; but larger issues, involv-
ing vast sums, and the claims of the prov-
inces, with the counterclaims of the Domin-
ion, were reserved for future consideration.
While this matter was before the arbitrators,
a claim for $650,000 from the Province of
Nova Scotia was receiving \\\v attention of
the ( iovernment. It appears that the piovince
subsidized a railway known as the Eastern
ICxtension to the tune of $650,000. .\fter
the road was built Nova Scotia took it over,
and subse([uently sold it to the Federal

Hon. W. H. Ivbs,
Pirsitieiit of the I'rivy (Souncil.

authorities to become a branch of the Inter-
colonial. The price agreed upon was the
cost, less the amount of the subsidy. Nova
Scotia maintains that the road, being a part
of the Intercolonial, which is a Government
railway, ought to be entirely paid for by
Canada, and for this reason it applied for the
payment to it out of the Federal exchequer
of the subsidy it had given. The adminis-
tration at Ottawa decided in October that the

24 PROVISCIAl. POLITICS PKIXCE EnWAKD ISI.AXD FJ.ECTIOX.

bargain would have to I)'? ol)serve(l, as the
railway was in operation, and the province
was netting what it had paid for. Thus the
appeal for $650,000 was set aside.

Being in the Kast, it may he convenient
at this time, seeing that j)rovincial affairs
are next in the order of consiileration, to
deal with local [)olitical matters there. There
was an early session of the Nova Scotia
House to ratify the coal mining contract
made by the (lovernmcnt, to which attention
has already been directeti. The contract
gives to a wealthy syndicate rights in several
mines at a royalty higher than that which
was formerly paid. Opposition was offered
to the project, but it ultimately passed. In
New Hrunswick the Legislature met as a
single House. There had long been agita-
tion against the Legislative (louncil as
useless and expensive. The i,egislature
abolished this botiy in the year before, and
thus the Assembly was able to meet without
it. Abolition was a response to the general
cry against over-government. An educa-
tional dilticully arose during the New
Hrunswick session. All the schools are,
according to law, non denominational ; but
it was charged that in liathurst, (lloucester
County, they were being conducted by the
Roman Catholic majority as religious schools.
A petition signed by 10,000 people was pre-
sented to the Legislature, calhng for enquiry.
Some objection was taken to an investigation,
but during the recess a Royal Commission
was appointed and enquiry proceeded. No
report had been pubhshedat the end of the
year. In Prince Edward Islanil, as well as
in New Hrunswick, the Upper House was
successfully attacked. Formerly there was a
Legislative Council elected on the basis of a
property qualification, and a House of
Assembly elected on the basis of manhood
suffrage. Now there is but one chamber,
consisting of fifteen Councilmen elected on
a reduced property qualification ($348), and
fifteen Assemblymen elected by manhood
suffrage, all sitting together, with equal rights
and powers. A general election took place
on the island on December 14. There was
a novel feature in the fight. The two parties
agreed that no money or other material
consideration should be paid or given to any
voter. Nor was there to be any hiring for
special service on election day, except of
livery horses. During the contest the Con-
servative Opposition took exception to the
double plan under which the representatives
were elected, and charged that the con-
stituencies had been gerrymandered. A
question was also raised as to the conduct of
the land office, and the finances were

attacked. Th«' struggle was desperate, but
.Mr. I'eters, the Libi-ral I'remier, secured
twenty four out of thirty scats, and thus had
a majority of eighteen. In Hritish Columiiia
there was a sjiicy session early in the year.
The Ciovernment proposed to undertake tlu-
construction of new Parliamentary and
Departmental buildings at Victoria. To this
project some of the members from the main-
land took exce[)tion, on the ground that it
was the intention to "anchor" the cajiital at
Victoria, although the |)oi)ulation was growing
on the mainland, and the capital ought to

Mk. \V. K. Mkkedi 1 11,
l.caiicr of the I hifinir) O/'/'i'sithiii.

be there. The petition was interwoven wiiii
a demand from the mainland for larger reprc
sentation, the granting of which, however,
was post[)oned. In view of the post[)onemeiit,
and of the determination to proceed with the
new buildings, there came a cry for separation,
\ancouver Island to form one province, and
the mainland another. Afier the prorogation
of the Legislature political affairs became
dull, and for the moment the agitation
was forgotten. The Manitoba Legislature
did not present any very serious issue ; but
the Assembly of the Northwest, sitting in
January, threw a disputed question into the
arena. The constitution of the Northwest
calls for Separate schools, and such had been
provided for. But the Assembly proceeded
to legi>late with regard to these institutions.
Its ordinance brought them all under one
inspectorate and one Board of Control, and
required that they should have certificated
teachers, and text-books uniform with those
used in the Public schools, and that religious

til

ClI

t i[

^.ECTIOX.

dtspeniti'. hut
cMiiier, secured
i, nnd tlius had
ritisli (Jolumiiia
ly in the year.
) undertake the
ainentary anil
:toria. To this
from the main-
ground that it
" tiu- capital at
on was jfrowin:^
pital ouyht to

A I' FA IKS I\ QUElUiC.

rwovcn wiiii
argcr reprc-
:h, howesxT,
istponement,
eed with the

se[)araiion,
rovince, and
prorogation
irs became
agitation

(legislature

issue ; but
sitting in
n into the

Northwest
1 had been

proceeded
nstitulions.
under one

ntrol, and
certificated
with those

t rehgious

instruction should be given only attei hours.
This was a wide departure froni the original
system. His Lordship Ihshop (irandin peti-
tioned the l-'ederal authorities to deal with
this ordinance, and, at the end of the year,
the point was still, so far as public report was
( oncerned, undecided. I'he case resembles
that known as the .Manitoba Schools case, in
that it raises the (juestion as to whether the
Dominion Ciovernment can tout-h a local
enactment dealing with the educational fjues
tion.

The (,)uel)ec Legislature sat during Novem-
ber and December. .\ very long session was
held. Necessarily, the financial ()uestion
occupied a great deal of attention. In order
to balance the acc(>i ts, the Legislature, at
the previous session, had laid taxes upon all
engaged in business, and in the professions.
These taxes so increased the rev nu as to
make both ends meet. I'.arly in tlx' session
appeals were received, calling for their
al>andonment ; the (lovernment, however,
( ould not see its way clear to their removal.
It therefore changed them somewhat, and
promised that in time they would be first
reduced, and then struck ofl" altogether. A
strong objection entered against them was
based on the circumstance that they fell u])on
the cities and towns, and that the rural dis-
tricts escaped scot free. The (lovernment,
however, was not prepared to levy, as pro-
posed, a rate upon all farming property. ( )ne
of the principal sources of agitation in the
Mouse was a series of (lovernment bills
providing for the transfer of the Heauport
Lunatic Asylum to the Sisters of Charity. In
(^)uel)ec the insane are farmed out. One of the
asylums, that at Heauport, has been a private
institution, the (lovernment paying to the
owners$i32 perannum forevery patient. The
contract expired early in the year, and, at once,
new arrangements were entered into. The
Sisters sought, or were asked, to take the con-
tract and to buy the asylum. They agreed
to maintain patients at $ioo per annum.
Then came the question of the purchase of
the building. The pro])rietors wanted
$600,000, and the Sisters were willing to give
$275,000. A valuation was made, and the
valuers estimated the property as worth all
the way from $311,000 to $700,000. After
prolonged negotiations the sum of $425,000
was agreed upon, with the condition that it
was to be paid at the rate of $18,000 annually
for sixty years, the province to take over the
propertyand meet thcinstalmentsafterthe end
of ten years, if the Sisters were not willing to
proceed with the purchase. Opposition was
ofiered to the transaction on two grounds.
First, it was said that the province should

abandon the farmingout system altogether,
and attend to the insane directly itseU.
Then it was declared that the terms were
exorbitant, and that they wen- really endorsed
by the province, which in the end nughl have
to pay. The contract passed the Mouse, but
one of the bills, that relating to the |)rovinciaL
guarantee for the purchase, was rejected in
the Legislative Council. It was thought that
the (lovernment would be in dil'ticulties owing
to its defeat in the Upper Mouse ; but as the
main feature of the bargain, namely, the let-
ting of the contract for the care of the insane,.

Cdl.. O liKIEN, .M.P.

was endorsed, it was stated that the other
part of the arrangement did not matter much.
While referring to the Legislature of
(^)uebec, it niay be opportune to point to the
fact that religious troubles prevailed in the
province during the greater pait of the year.
'I'hese were the results of criticisms of what
is known as the policy of the church.
There had been in 1892 very free expres-
sions of opinion relating to many points, as,.
for example, the relations of the priesthood
to the people. One paper which took a
leading part in the controversy was a weekly
known as The Canada /ierue. This journal,
with The Echo, of 'i'wo Mountains, was
placed under the ban by His Grace Arch-
bishop Fabre. His Grace forbade the
faithful to read the paper, to print it, buy it,
or write for it. The proprietor<claimed that
he had been injured by this action on the
part of the Archbishop, and entered suit for
damages. Shortly afterwards a jubilee of
Mgr. Fabre's consecration was held, and at

QUE /i EC QUESTIONS—ONTARIO ISSUES.

this celcljration the lawsuit was condemned
by leading men. More recently, on Sep-
tember 25, His ('.race submitted to examina-
tion, in which he maintaini'l that he had the
right to warn ins flock against papers that
it would he to their disadvantage to read.
The suit was in charge of Mr. Rudolphe
Laflamme, (^.C. The situation was strained
once more towards the end of the year,
when it .s.is reported that Mr. Papineaii, the
son of the principal figure in the event of
1837, had determined to withdraw from the
Roman Catholic Church and join the
Presbyterians. Mr. Fapineau livedat :vIonte
Bello, on the Ottawa River, and in the
Diocese of Ottawa, which is presided over
by His C»race .\rchbishop Duhamel. At
his village there was a church which the
ecclesiastical authorities had condemned in
order that a new edifice might be erected in
its place. Mr. Papineau opposed the build-
ing of a new church, his opinion being that
the old one was satisfactory, and that the
people could not afford to pay the tax the
enterprise would involve. But, aside from
that, he declared that his children were
Presbyterian, and that he would join them.
The withdrawal created much excitement,
and led to a heated discussion of fabrique
assessments, and of the duties of the people
in respect of the propositions of the clergy.

Turning to afifairs political in Ontario, it
is found that February brought with it a
local contest in Toronto. Mr. Bigelow
(Liberal), who had carried the city the
summer before, had died, and a new election
was necessary, 'i'he candidates were Dr.
G. S. Ryerson (Conservative) and Dr. Ogden
(Liberal). Voting took place on the 29th
of the month. The result was a victory for
Dr. Ryerson, the figures being: Ryerson,
9,662 ; Ogden, 7,039 ; majority for Ryerson,
623. The session, however, did not open
until April 20. Pomj) and circumstance
attended the proceedir _s, for the legislators
were meeting for the first time in their new
building, and Ontario was commencing her
second century of parliamentary government.
The building had been in course of con-
struction since 1886, and it had cost
$1,250,000. Of the measures introduced
by the (lovernnient, the most novel was the
bill for the prevention of cruelty to children,
and for their better protection. Hereafter
the Children's Aid Societies will be recog-
nized by the State, and their operations will
be directed^ by a paid provincial official.
Parents who neglect or ill-treat their offspring
may be deprived of them, but will be re-
quired to pay for their care by some officially-
recognized society or other suitable guardian.

To keep young [)ersons off the streets at night,
municipalities are empowered to ring a bell at
a suitable hour, at sourrd of which all children
unaccompanied by parents or guardians
must seek their homes. This measure is
known as the Children's Charter. A very
noticeal)le feature of the session was the pro-
nounced opposition exhibited towards every-
thing that had the appearance of a monopoly
or a close corporation This caused several
of the bills introduced by private members
to be defeated or withdrawn. The request
of the milkmen that they be taxed up to
twenty dollars was not entertained, because
it was suspected that it was prompted by a
desire on the part of the larger dealers to
monopolize the business. The ertibalmers
likewise were unsuccessful in their endeavors
to give their calling the legislative status of a
profession. On the suggestion of the
Premier, the architects withdrew their re-
<iuest for more exclusive powers. The
propo:>al of the druggists to confine the
patent medicine business to registered
pharmacists was abandoned in the face of
the rising tide of opposition. A measure
to prescribe professional examinations for
railway engineers, conductors, and brakes-
men, was vetoed by the (lovernment.

Dr. Ryerson, M.T.P.

Altogether, the session was more satisfactory
to the opponents than to the advocates of close
corporations. Considerable public interest
was taken in three of the debates of the

NE IV INI' J. UENCES IN ONTARIO.

lie streets at night,
ed to ring a hell at
which all children
its or guardians

This measure is
Charter. A very
ssion was the pro-
ed towards every-
ce of a monopoly
is caused several
private members
'n. The request

be taxed up to
ertained, because
i prompted by a
larger dealers to

The embalmers
1 their endeavors
ilative status of a
[gestion of the
thdrew their re- |
powers. The

to confine the
i to registered
1 in the face of
)n. A measure
xaminations for
)rs, and brakes-
e (lovernment.

session. The discussion of Mr. Marter's bill
to prohibit the retail sale of intoxicants
caused the galleries to be overtaxed on
several occasions. The defeat of the measure
on a party division was accompanied by a
promise on the part of the (lovernment that

re satisfactory
ocates of close
)ublic interest
ebates of the

D'.Ai.roN McCarmiv, M.P.

the question of [)rohibition would be sub-
mitted to a popular vote. This pledge was
redeemed. A plebiscite on the manufacture,
importation, and sale of liquors was ordered,
and was taken at the succeeding municipal
elections, with the result that prohibition was
carried. The advocates of female suffrage
were exceedingly active. The Government,
however, took a stand against the claims of
the fair sex. Sir Oliver Mowat ol)jected to
them because he believed the country is not
ripe for the reform asked, and his colleagues
opposed them strictly on Scriptural grounds.
The system of minority representation in
Toronto came in for the usual condemnation
from the Conservative side of the House,
which was concurred in by the Ministerialists.
The Government committed itself to the
abolition of the minority princi|)le, and
promised the city another representative.
Throughout, the session was fruitful of legis
lation, and it terminated on May 27, from
which date, until death created two vacancies
in the House, little was heard of local politics.
During November preparations were made
for the refilling of the seats in the Legisla-
ture for East Lambton and North Hruce,
which had 1 _'come vacant under the de-
plorable circumstances already referred to.
While the arrangements were in progress, it
was discovered by the existing parties that

two new organizations had taken the field.
One of these was the farmers' association,
the Patrons of Industry, and the other an
organization the name of which explains its
policy — the Protestant Protective Associa-
tion. The Patrons had a progrannne cover-
ing both Dominion and Local subjects. In
the Dominion arena, they called for lower
tariff; in the provincial arena, they demanded
a change in the mode of appointing sheriffs
and registrars, some of them even calling for
the election of these officials by popular
vote, and the abolition of the system of
official remuneration by fees. The Protestant
Protective .Association, or P.P..\., was a
secret society opposed to legislation unduly
favorable to Roman Catholics. It was
reported of it that its members were sworn
to turn Roman Catholics out of office, and
even to refuse them private employment.
The general ojjinion was that the two
associations were strong, and that if they
grew, as they promised to do, they would
be disturbing factors, thwarting the calcula-
tions of the existing parties. The electiotis
in Lambton and Bruce furnished them
an opportunity to show their strength,
and they took advantage of it. In
North Bruce the Patrons came forward with
a candidate, Mr. McNaughton. This gentle-
man was opposed by a Liberal and a

Hon. I.ibltenant-Guvkrnor Kikkiatrkk.

Conservative. In East Lambton there ran
in opposition to the Ministerial nominee
(no Conservative candidate having been
chosen) Mr. McCallum, who had the P. P. A.
support. The two constituencies had been
formerly held by friends of the Ciovernment.

TIVO DISQUIETING ELECTIONS.

Both, on the eventful December 3, were
carried by the candidates of the new associa-
tions. In East Lambton Mr. McCallum
succeeded by a majority of 406, and in
North Bruce Mr. McNaughton won by over
500. The result was startling, and at once
the organizations, with their respective pro-
grammes, were brought into prominence,
and were eagerly canvassed. They were

talked of the more earnestly for the reason
that 1894 was to see a general election, and
everybody was disposed to speculate touch
ing the influence they would have upon the
fortunes of the Government. While the
interesting discussion was in progress, the
old year was rung out and a new era dawned
upon us, the history of which is yet a secret.
VVith the close of 1893 this chapter ends.

DOORWAY, TORONTO UNIVERSITY.

the reason
ection, and
ilate touch
e upon the

While the
ogress, the
era dawned
ret a secret,
er ends.