IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // ^ 4^ £^, % & & ^ 1.0 I.I 125 2.8 32 us us u Z.*) IM 1.4 2.0 1= 1-6 V] <^ /a ^3 ^?' ^> ^^j> %f^ .V ^p '^ > ^' m- Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN S'SSET WE^fTER.N.Y. 14580 (716) »72-4303 s :1>^ iV ^q V N> ^m|)any, ji Mi'lcnirc Street. iM .cS,S5. g| r^ THE ELECTOR'S fniUKkl GAf EOIIS mu rOMPIIints, on which they may not be well informed. My object is to be useful; I believe that the position I have taken is unassailable from its truth, and hope to be credited with having spoken this truth in love. If it touches any conscience, "let the galled jade wince." If no one feels that my philippic applies to himself, " why then my taxing like a wild goose flies, unclaimed by any man." As to the correctness ot the answers in this Political Catechism, my authorities are to be found in the Appendix to it, and I can only repeat what I wrote in my work on The Canadian Militia, published in 1875: "We cannot claim even the merit of originality in these pages of ours; many of the thoughts have suggested themselves to others, and have been expressed by other pens; we have but acted the part of the cabinet-maker, who, selecting the various woods to produce the best effect in a determined end, works up, dovetails and polishes the blocks he starts with." / R. J. WICKSTEED. Ottawa, 29th January, 1885. • 1 ■ \ ^ -.//'.-; .' >i-i ,M >i k:i; ■;. •;« iri , •.(■;ri i j,, :,', ' tiir; sot i ji- . 1' Tiif ;, (.-,,,= I. .ill; ( V ' ''■■. '•'^' =■' '''''*''\ "'' '•'"- f '' ''•'- ■■■(■"■' .''>(), 5>iti^ !•:.->! I .>;v^^-.-^-ni«.-ii. «^ fi af'iyW •'f ft.;* 7H^ri , ; « ■'1 { Iff / • 'iril al i"i ■>•, ' 11 I '■ i ■ .{"^•if THE ELECTOR'S iM i- POLITICAL CATECHISM. !0' r/^-M'i'l' \ i( ■.,li Question. What is your name and state of life ?. < Answer. I am A. B , an elector of the Dominion of Canada, a colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, ana a subject of Her Britannic Majesty Q. What privileges do you enjoy by being an elector of Canada ? A, B}' being an elector of Canada, I am a greater man in my civil capacity than the greatest subject of an arbitrary prince ; because I am governed by laws to which I give my consent, — and my life, liberty or goods cannot be taken from me but according to these la..^. 1 am a freeman. ,, , ,, ,,.,, , . r,^,, Q. Wno gave you this liberty ? ,• -!•• r, ^.H' A. No man gave it me. Liberty is the natural right O'f every human creature ; he is born to the exercise of it as soon as he has attained to that of his reason. But that my liberty is preserved to mv^, when lost to a great ))art of mankind, is owino, under God, to the wisdom and valour of my ancestors. ' Q. Wherein does this liberty, which you enjoy, consi.jt ? A. In laws made by the conaeiit ot tlie people, and the due exec'ition of those iaws. I am iree not from the law but by the Q. Will you sta.nd fast in this liberty, whereunto 3'ou are born and entitled by the laws of your country ? A. Yes; I will. And I am thankful that I am born a mem- ber of a community governed by laws and not by arbitrary- power. C er act o s o 1 m u 6 00 t3 G « u m 9 o Q. What do yo»i tliink is incumbent upon you to secure tliis Vilossini; to yourself and posterity !f •* A. As J aiTi an elector I think it incumbent upon n»e to '.telieve arif^ht concerninir the fundamental constitution of the governments to- which lam su>»ject; to write, s])eak and act on al] occasions conformably to this belief; to oppose, with all the powers of my body and mind, such as aie enemies of our good constitution, together with all their secret and open abettors ; and to be obedient to the Queen of England, the Supreme Mairistrate of this Dominion. ,,, />.<, Q. As you are living in Ontario, one of the Provtri^es com- posing the Dominion of Canada, to what laws are you subject ? A. While I am a citizen of the Province of Ontario, and subject to the laws enacted by the Provincial Legl^Jatuie, I am at the same time a citizen vf the Dominion of Canada, and bound to obey the laws made by the Central or Federal Parlia- ment;- ^; >'■■'■*'■ -■ •■*'-^- ■■' •■-■■'.--"■■■• --,.v'..— ,w, -■.••-; •«■•-- ..,b.j.U,i J.-.,.,.? ' Q. Do you know how the legislative powers are distributed l)etween the Central Parliament or the Parliament of Canada, and the Local or Provincial Legislature of Ontario ? - -^- A. The exclusive legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada extends to all c[uestions of the public debt or property ; all regulations with legard to trade or commerce, customs or excise ; the raising of revenue b}'^ any mode or system of tax- ation; all provisions as to currency, coinage, banking, postal arrangements, and generally to all matters which attect or relate to the welfare and good government of the Dominion, and the enactment of criminal law. The subjects reserved to the Pj'ovincial Legislatures are all of a subordinate and sectional character, such as the sale and management of the public lands ; the control of hospitals and asylums, charitable and municipal institutions, and the raising of money by direct taxation for provincial use. There is also a concurrent power of legislation exercised by the Federal Parliament aiid the Provincial Legisla- ture. It extends over three separate subjects, namely : immi- gration, agriculture and public works. 3 Q. Can you descritto to lue the constitution of the Prtiliament of Canada, and that of the Legislature of Ontaiio ? ,,ii; ,, , ? /,'' A. All the Federal Legislative powers granted under the Imperial British North America Acts of 1867 and 1871, and *' The Parliament of Canada Act, 187o" are vested in one Parlia- ment for Canada, consisting ot the Queen, an Upp'^r House styled the Senate, and the H 3use of Commons. The Provincial Legisla- tive ])OweT, so far as I am concerned, resides in the Legislature for Ontario, consisting of the Lieutenant-Governor, and of onb House, styled the Legislative Assembly of Oritario. Q. Rehearse tlio articles of your [)olitical creed, as a citizen of Canada ? A. I believe that the supreme or legislative power of this Dominion, in the subject matters over which it has jurisdiction, resides in the Queen, the Senate and the Commons ; that Her Majesty Queen Victoria, is Sovereign or Supreme Executor of the law, to whom, upon that account, all loyalty is due ; that each of thft three branches of the Legislature is endowed with its , parti i-c.ar rights and offices; that tLo QueeU; by her royal .prerogative, has the power of determining the time and place of ! ineeting of Parliaments ; that the consent of the Q..jen — that is, j of the Governor-General, acting on behalf and in the name of ^ Her Majesty, — the Senate and the Commons is necessary to the , /enactment ot a law, and that all the three make but one law- giver : — that as to the freedom of consent in the making of laws, these three powers are independent; and that each and all the three are bound to observe the laws that are made. ,^„^ -unujj^ Q. Rehearse the articles of your political creed as a citizen' ot Ontario ? A. I believe that the Legislature of the Province of Ontario may exclusively make laws in matters coming within the classes of subjects which I have before enumerated, and which are specially assigned to its jurisdiction. The Legislature for Ontario consists of a Lieutenant-Governor and of one House, called the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Lieutenant-Governor is s^^ •Iff.] appointed by, and holds office during^ tl.e pleasure of the Governor-General subject to the provisions of the Constitutional 'Aftt/ -As regards its rights, privileges, and duties the Legislature of Ontario, within its limited sphere of action, resembles the Parliament of Canada. VC^ i jiA MltMin:'! »> > >■■■ .v).^ < 'I - , ' '* Q. Why is the legislative power supreme ? ' " i * A. Because what gives law to all must be supreme. * "" ' Q. What do you mean by loyalty to the Queen ? '^ ' A. I have heard that loy or loi signifies law, and loyalty, obedience according to law. Therefore, he who pays this obedi- ence is a loyal subject; and he who executes the Queen's commands when contrary to la.v, is disloyal and a traitor. . Q. Is it not in the law that the Queen, or the Governor- General, as her representative, can do no wrong ? m.v.tu^m■^m<.J^.& '"'■" A. It is ; but since the Governor does not act immediately by himself, but mediately by his officers and inferior magistrates, the wisdom of the law provides sufficiently against any undue exercise of his powe- by charging all illegal acts, and all kinds- ' of mal-admini strati./- upon his ministers, laying him under an indisputable obligation no^ tj screen his ministers from public justice or public enquiry. The function of advising the Governoi' in the government of the Dominion is now discharged, as to all important matters of state, by a select portion ot the I /ivy Council called the Cabinet Council, who, after being sworn mi a? Privy Councillors, receive their appointment to the principal offices of state as being leading members of the political party having the majority in the House of Commons. This Cabinet Council, or Ministr}^, practically administers the Government, and the Ministers become responsible for its measures, resigning their office if the Governor does not follow their advice, or if their politicial party ceases to be in the majority in the House of Commons. In this way is the responsibility bi ought home to the executi^^e department, and harmony of action established between the executive and legislative branches of the Govern- ment, and in this way the House of Commons is able lo exercise a control over all tho dcpaitments of the e cecutive admiiustration. Q. What do you mean by the Royal prerogative ? t A.. A discretionary power in the Queen, or her representa- tive, to act for the orood of the people where the laws are silent ; never contrary to law and always subject to the limitations of . Q. Is not then the Queen above the law ? '' '"' ' '■ A . By no means ; for the intention of government being the security of the lives, liberties and properties of the members of the community, they never ean be supposed, by the law of nature, to give an arbitrary power over their persons and estates. The Queen can have no power br.t what is given her by lav, ; even tlie supreme or legislative power is bound, by the rules of equity, to govern by laws enacted and published in due form ; — for what is not so authorized is arbitrar3^ ... _ ... Q. How comes it that those who endeavour to destroy the authority and independence ot any of the branches of the legis- lature, attempt 'o subvert the constitution I „.,, ' ; ., I- A. By the fundamental laws of our constitution, the free ond impartial consent of acli of the three branches is necessary to tlie being of a law ; therefore, 'f the consent of any of the three is wilfully omitted, or obtained by terror or corruption, the constitution is violated ; as instead of three tliere ■ would then be leally and effectually but one branch of the legislature. ''<--■>'•-;- fc.' ;>im. ■'■■'■ "•. -jj;' ^' ":- ■ -;-- : • • -.-- Q. Can you give me an instance where the form of govern- ment was kept and yet the constitution destroyed ? A. Yes. The forms of the free government of Rome were preserved under the arbitrary government of the Emperors. There was a Setiate, Consuls and Tribunos of the people, — as •one might say Queen, Lords and Commons ; and yet the govern- ment under the Emperors was always despotic, ami often tyran- nical; and the worst of all governments is tyranny sanctified by the appearance of law. Q. By what means fell that great people into this state of slavery ? i ^ A. By faction, corruption and standing armies. " '^'^ ;^^' Q. What do you learn from history ? , , _ ^.., A. That a Sovereign of this realm, in the fall possession of the atiection of his people, is greater than any arbitrary Prince ; and that the British nation or the Colonies can never be effectu- ally undone but by a wicked parliament ; and lastly to be thankful to God, that, under our Most Gracious Queen, our constitution is preserved entire, though, at the same time, thsre are many circumstances which call loudlv for vigilance. • \ SI Q- What are those? . f . . . . A. Such as have been the forerunners and causes of the loss, of liberty in other countries : namely, decay of virtue and public spirit, luxury and extravagance in expenditure, venality and corruption in private and public affairs. • .,^ ^^ wl >en ^:» ""' Q. How may there be a decay of public spirit there is a more than usual desire to serve the public ? '*^' V ■'^'* A. If a desire to live upon the public be public spirit there is enough of it at a time/ when private extravagance makes people crave more, and the administration of an increased and increasing public revenue enables the Government to give 'more. Q. What do you fear from this ? A. That such as serve the Ministry for mward may in time sacrifice the interest of their country to their wants; that greedi- ness of public money may produce a slavish complaisance as long as the Grown can pay, and mutiny when it cannot; and, in general, that motives of self-interest will prove an improper and weak foundation for our duty to our Queen and country. Q, What would you do for your country ? A. I would die to procure its prosperity, and I would rather that my children were cut of! than that they should be slaves ; but as Providence at present requires none of these sacrifices, I content myself to discharge the ordiaarr duties of my station, and to exhort my neighbours to do the same. *f Q. What are the duties ot your stfttion ? > :- ; i ?. A. To endeavour, so far as I am able, to preserve the public tranquility, and, as I am an elector, to give my vote for the candidate whom I judge most worthy to serve his country, for, if from any partial motive I should give my vote for one unworthy, I should think myselt justly chargeable with hi^ guilt. . o V, Q. You have perhaps but one vote in two thousand, and the member perhaps one of two hundred more — then your share of the guilt is but small ? ■' A. As he who assists at a murder is guilty of murder, so he '-ho acts the lowest part in the enslaving of his country is gudty of a much greater crime than murder. - ' '• * fW)WV I ' V-TH f "'"'* '■ ".'ft (if; -'i 'I itf Q. Is enslaving one's' country a greater crime than murder ? f^* A. Yes; inasmuch as the murder of human nature is a greater crime than the murder of a human creature, or as he who debases and renders miserable the mass of mankind is more wicked than he who cutj^off an individual. ''' '?^' ' '^' '^-'ri Q. Does not the tranquility occasioned by absolute mon- archy make a couiitry thrive ?,j,, „ j.;,y,,r n^ir «4 : /ftfnn:,ii' %* A, Peace and plenty are not the genuine fruits of absolute monarchy, for absolute monarchies are more subject to convul- sions than free governments, and slavery turns fiMitful plains into a desert; whereas lihert3% like the dew from heaven, fructi- fies the barren mountains. Therefore 1 should reckon myself guilty of the greatest crime human nature is capable of if I were in any way accessory to the enslaviig of my country. Though I have but one vote, many units make a number; and if every elector should reason after the same manner — that he has but one vote— what must becoD^e of the whole ? A law of great conse- quence, and the election of the member who votes for that law. may be both carried by one vote. Great and important services for the liberties of their country have been done by individual men. 1 Q. Is it not lawful, then, to take a brib'^ from a person i '. otherwise worthy to serve his country ? ^ /}feOT#rt|i'rff W (i'V .afk •■uui A. No more thaa for a judge to take a bribe for a righteous rsentence ; nor is it any more lawful to coi-rupt, than to commit evil that good may come of it. (]Iorruption converts a good action into wickedness. Bribery of all sorts is contrary to the law of God ; it is a heinous sin, often punished with the severest judgments ; and is, besides, the greatest folly and madness. , iU Q. How is it contrary to th*^ law of God ? . \ A . The law of God says expressly " Thou shalt not wrest judgment ; thou shalt not take a gift." If it is a sin in a judge, it is much more in a law-giver, or an elector; because the mischiefs occasioned by the first reach only to individuals ; those occasioned bj the latter may affect whole nations, and even generations to come. The Psalmist, describing the wicked, says, " His right hand is full of bribes." The Prophet, describing the righteous, tells us, " He shakelh his hands from holding a bribe." Samuel, justifying his innocence, appeals to the people, " Of whose hands have t taken a bribe ? " Then, as to Divine vengeance, holy Job tells us, " That God shall destroy the tabernacle of bribery." Therefore, he that taketh a bribe, may justly expect what is threatened in holy writ, " He shall not prosper in his way, neither shall his substance continue ; his silver and gold shall not be able to> deliver him in the day of the wrath of the Lord." Q. What do you think of those who are bribed by gluttony and drunkenness ? A. That they are viler than Esau, who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Q. Why is my taking a bribe at an election folly or madness ? A. Because I must refund ten- fold in taxes what I take as a bribe, and the member who bought me has a fair pretext to sell me ; nor can I in such a case have any just cause for complaint. 9 Q. What will 3'^ou say, then, to the can(li«liitc who otters you a bribe ? A. I will say, "Thy money perish with thee. As thou art now purchasing thy seat in parliament, I have just reason to suspect thou rcsolvest to sell thy vote. What thou offerest and what thou promisest may be the price of the liberties of my country. I will not only reject thy bribe with d judges. We should take particular notice of those who are promoters of industry and improvement ; for such as labor to increase the growth and advantage of the country, will be very tender of yielding to anything that may weaken or impoverish it. , Q. In short what are the marks of a person, worthy to serve his country in Parliament '. A. The marks of a good luler given in scripture will serve for a Member of Parliament — "such as rule over you shall be men of truth, hating covetousness ; tiiey shall not take a gift ; they shall not be afraid of the face of a man." Therefore I con- clude, that the marks of a good Member of Parliament are, independent means, integrity, courage, the being well affected to the constitution, having a knowledge of the state of the country, the being frugal of the money, careful of the prosperity, and zealous for the liberties of the people ; constant to the interest of the country in perilous times, and assiduous in attendance. Q. Who is most likely to take a bribe ? • A. He who offers one. Q, Who is likely to be frugal of the people's money ? A. He who puts none of it in his own pocket. Q. You seem to bo averse from choosing such as accept places and gratuities from the crown. What is your reason for this ? . If A. 1 am far IVoiu tliinkin^' that a man may nut .serve liis Queoii and his cou'itry at the same time. Nay, their true interests are insei)arablH. But my huidlord's a<,'ent may be a very honest man; yet if I had any aftaii-s to settle with my land- lord, I ivould choose my nei" "CANADIAN MONTHLY REVIEW," vol. 2, page 36(> " Political Corruption." " CATHOLIC WORLD, THE," 1883, August, page 709, " Moral- ity in the Public Schools." CHIPMAN, on Government, book 5, chap. G, " Right of Suffrage, and Eligibility." m ■'' CONTEMPORARY REVIEW," vol. 23, page 92, "The Clergy in Politics." COOKE, The History of Party, vol. 2, chap. 8, " The interference of the Crown and the Landed Gentry with Elections." COX, Institutions of English Government, l)ook 1, chap. 8, " Parliamentary Corrui-uion." ^ COX, The British Commonwealth, chap. 13, /'The Duties of Representatives." , ,, , ,, CREASY, The English Constitutio i, chap, 17, " Intelligence. jia4 Property must have Weight." D2 LOLME, The English Constitution, chaps. 11 and 12. "The Powci of the People." ■• ■ if4t. DOUTRE The Constitution of Canada, " Passim." k? . 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MILL, on Personal Representatio i, " The Personal Representa- tion of every Voter, and the Full Representatation of every Minority." " MONTH, THE," Februaiy, 1883, page 285, " Church and State , in England." "NA-^IONAL REVIEW," 1883, vol.1, page 864, "National Education." "NATIONAL REVIEW," 1883, vol. 2, page loS, "Are Parlia- mentary Institutions in Danger." 'NATIONAL REVIEW," 1883, vol. 2, page 516, "Will party • Government continue to Work," "NINETEENTH CENTURY, THE." 1882. March, page 378, " Tlie Spirit of Pai ty." 23 ^' NORTH BRITISH REVIEW," vol 28, pa-a 437, "Parlia- mentary Government ;" vol. 35, page 534, " Representative Government ;" vol. C, page 250, " Religion in Relation to Politics." ■sii ayii} O'BRIEN, Principles of Govrnment, chap. 5, '' Representation of the People, Minorities, Balloo, Qualification, Represen- .,jir' i tation by Taxation or Population, Allowances to Mem- ".Mi'xrbers." ■ . .4dQmm-!/('>^ htm Atmhrfihnlla ^'-juriil ;- OVERLAND MONTHLY MAGAZINE," vol. 7, page 497, -•: " Bribery at Elections." ^'.y'li, w^^ini^uL 'hIV'^ ~l RAMSAY, on the English Constitution, chap. 8, page 150, " Tlie Elective Power of tho People." _ ^,„, ;, ^ :. . . . .RAMSAY, The Moralist ana the Politician, section 98, "On Elections." ">-^lfh>y>uV RA.NSOME, on Constitutional Government, page 203, "The Interference of the Crown and Placemen." RUSSELL, on the Constitution, chap. 14, " Political Liberty ;" chap, 31, " The House of Commons." *' SATURDAY REVIEW," 1883, January, page 101, "Election Expenses." "SATURDAY REVIEW," 1882, April, page 518, " Parliamen- tary Elections Bill." SEAMxlN, The American System of Government, chap. 2, sec. 1^ " The Evils of Popular Elections in the United States." SEWELL, Christian Politics, chap. 24, " Popular Representation." STEPHENS, on the English Constitution, book 2, chap. 11, " '.""he Election of Members of Parliament." SYME, Representative Government, chap. G, " Members of Parliament not Representatives, but Trustees." 24 TAYIiOR, The Statesman, chap. 16, " The Ethics of Politics." THORNTON, The Politician's Creed, vol. 1, sec. 22, " Retorm in Parliament." TODD, Parliamentar}^ Government, introduction, " The Rep- resentative System." TRE'^TilNHEERE, The Principles of Government, page 72, " The Virtues of Individuals and Governments are the same." WHEWELL, The Elements of Morality, vol. 2, chaps. 15, 16, and 17, " The Relation of Church and State." \> ROTTESLEV, on Government and I^islation, chap. 5, " The Studies of Legislators." YEOMAN, A Study of Government, chap. 11, "The Rights of Minorities." m\ m^ m. n