IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I J50 .^ m M M 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 M 6" — ► V] <^ /2 'cr-l -c^ 'c*l 1^^/ '? ^^/ o>- ^. ^> ^ -^ .^ w Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (714) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur uound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pins 6t6 filmdes. L'Institut a microfilm^ le r.ieilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I — I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes I — I Pages damaged/ □ Pagee restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes C~| Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ J Pages d6color6es, tachet6es ou piqu6es □ Pages detached/ Pares d6tach6es Q^ f.howthrough/ '. ransparence □ Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale de I'impression □ Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire n Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film6es it nouveau de fa9on & obtenir la meilleure image possible. D Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires: This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au teux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X SOX y ^' 19Y ^^■^ 1fiX 20X 24X 28X 32X jils du difier jne lage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printeo or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grAce it la g6n6rosit6 de: La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les tmages suivantes ont 6X6 reproduites avec le clus irirand soin, compte tenu de la condition et db la nettetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimie sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds 6 des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 6 partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche 6 droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. rrata :o pelure, n & □ 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 t ilf :' OSTRACISM OF ROMAN OATHOLIOS. The Legislation and Administration of Public Affairs, 1872 to 1894. ^ THE :Kiisr.A.JsrcHis. SPEECH OF SIR OLIVER MOWAT — AT— ; k: 1 3Nr G- s T o nsT^ 19TH JANUARY, 1895. Respecting candidature of Hon. IVilliam Ilarty. 1 thank you for the kind niunner in which you hiive received me. I speci- ally appreciato it as coming from a large and rei)resentative gathering of the men and women of Kingston, my native i)lace, the home of my childhtod and youth and early manhof.d, the home still of near and dear relatives and of esteemed friends, the home formerly and the resting place now of my hon- ored father and mother and of a dear brother, who have all gone to the other world be!"o-e me. There is much to attach me to old Kingston I like to visit whatever in and around it is least changed, and therefore serves to remind me most of the days of my boyhood and yr.uth ; but I ak.. rejoice greatly at the progress which Kingston has made dnce those days. I like to contrast its condition in my early days, when its p(.i)ula'ioii was some 5 OOO and ts condition now, when its populatirni is nearly 20,(00, with improved streets and roads, railways conn.cting the city with the whole cr.nti- nent m various directions, and an electric street railway for the convenience of its own people when moving about at home. And it has many other advan- ^ tages now which it had not in my early davs~gas lamps and electric lights, steam femes great school buildings, grand churchon, noble public buildinge, j» and many other marks of wealth, prosperity and progress. I am glad that J amongst the schools of Kingston there has recently been established a school of Mining and Dairying, and I am glad that I had something (o do with making practicable the establishing of such a school here for eastern Ontario. The Legislature had provided at a still earlier date for a school of Mining at Port Arthur for the west, but that school, 1 am sorry to say, has m t yft gone any further. It was but a year or so before I l«ft Kingston that 1 M Queen's College went itibo operation, (Uid Kinj^stcHi became a University town. It has now held chat position for half a century and more ; and the University has during that time made more progress than Kingston has done iu perha|>s any other respect. The University has accomplished a grand work so far, and I have no doubt is destined for still greater things. It.s sous are in every part of the province ; and by the positions they occupy they testify to the value of their alma mater ; for they are tilling most cred- itably places in Parliament, in the Local Legislature, iu the Church, in the Army, and in every other jtrofession and worldly calling for which mental cidturo is necessary or inipcu'tant. Kingston is unsurpassed in attractions for residence), and has natural advantages which secure f(jr it permanent pn.igross. It.s piogress may sometimes have been slower than some of its people and friends would desire, but its progress h.as always been sure, and its future is proniising. Apart from any particular views on political subjects, it i.s interesting for a native of Kingston to remember that it was from Knigstou that the Con- servatives of Canada took their leader in Canadian politics. Sir Jeen l)rought up a Ronmu Catholic, and being a Rt)man Catholic, stand in his way with any Protestant V Homan Catholics have always beon voting and working for Protestant candidates in King.ston both Liberal and Conservative. Is it much that u Roman Cath- olic resident of the city, who is personally esteemed and respected amongst you, should in turn 1)8 elected by Protestants n^'twithstanding his being a Roman Catholic ? Protestant as Kingston has always been, it was once represented by a Roman Catholic before Mr. Harty. 1 mean the hite Anthony Manahan, who represented King-^ton in the first Parliament after the Uni^n of Upper and Lower Canada ; and Protestants got no harm from his Romanism. After the lapse of half a century may not Protestants unite m thinking it is time to give a Roman Catholic a turn 1 Is any Conservn- tive Protestant in Kingston objecting to this, and giving the fact of Mr. Harty being a Roman Catholic as a reason for voting against him ? A Kingstim Conservative ought to be the last to use such an argument. Many Roman Catholics in Kingston always worked and voted for the great Con- servative chief. Sir John Macdonald was always in alliance too with the Roman Catholics of (Quebec, and had at one time, and perha[)s had always, the support of the great majority of the Roman Catholics of Ontario ; and but for the sui)port of Roman Catholics he would not have been able to hold office for a day of his long official life. He was not only supported by Roman Catholics, but h'3 was always associated with Roman Catholics in the Govermuent, and even held oftice under Roman Catholic })remier3. He served for years under Mr. Cartier (afterwards Sir (leorge Cartier) ; then under another Roman Catholic, Sir Etienne Tache ; and then under still another, Sir Narcisse Belleau. So, the first premier that he himself chose for Ontario was a Roman Catholic, Mr. .J. Sandfield Macdonald : and what- ever that gentleman's faidts may have been, any undue leaning to his co- religionists was not one of them. Again, all Canada is at this day mourning the death of another premier who was a Roiinn Catholic, Sir John Thomp- son. This Roman Catholic gentleman was practically chosen for premier by the Conservatives of the Parliament of Cunada, and he was one of the best Conservative premiers that ever held office. In view of such facta as these, no Conservative in Kingston can honestly u e the religious objection against one of the best Roman Catholics in Kingston, now chosen to share in the Government of the province, subject to the ratification of the electors of Kingston. As regards Mr. Harty, it is satisfactory to know that the most sensitive or excitable Protestant has no fault to find with him pers(mally. Me is esteemed and respected by you all. He has mingled all his life with Protestants, in busi- ness, in society, in politics, and in every public movement. An earnest Roman Catholic, attached, and faithful to his church, he has never made himself offensive on that account to those of a different religious faith fi'om his own. He has shown himself, in his intercourse with othera and in all the relations of life, to be a broad-minded, independent man, and has always had. the esteem, respect and confidence of the Protestants as well as Homan Catholics of Kingston. Ho is in a word the last man against whom the "No Popery " cry should be raised here, except as it may be raised against every or any one of that faith. A cry a/ainst all Roman (Jathi>'io3 as swioli is». beyond all doubt, against tho be»t interests of our country. I know that an organization exists in tho province which avows as its imrpoae to exclude Roman Catholics from all offices in tho gift of the people, and to shut them out as far as possible from all private employment as well. This organization had a branch and emissaries here at the time of tho general election, and had much to do with depriving Mr. Harty of the majority he had in 1892. and of defeating him for the time by a majority of one at the general election. The membership of this organization and its influence have in most western parts of the province greatly diminislied since. I hope that the polling on the '28th will show that religious rancor has had it3 day here too, and has now passed away ; that Roman Catholics are not t(» be ostracized in the loyal city of Kingstcm ; and that a Roman Catholic candi- date will be treated by every elector according to his merits and his quali- fications, as a Protestant is. Tho ostracism of Roman Catholics is not a way by which Protest- ants can hope to make them Protestants. As to this, a Protestant relig- ious journal in a recent number had this to say : " There is only one efifectual way by which tha Roman Catholics of Quebec and of every other country can be shown that Protestantism is a much better system of religion than theirs. Let the lives of Protestants be purer, more useful, and more consecrated than the lives of Roman Catholics, and then the Catholics can s, 'e the superiority for themselves. If a man defends Pro- testantism with his ton'jue, and libels it with his life, he need never expect to commend it to anybody." All thoughtful Protestants must concur in these observations of the reverend editor. Most Roman Catholics are Roman Catholics by reason of their education and surrounilings ; and most Protestants are Protestants for like reasons. I believe with my fellow Protoitants that in regard to the differences between us a,nd Ron'an Catholics, the truth is with us. But 1 do not forget that Roman Catholics are not necessarily bad men, or bad citizens, or ignorant persuPfl. ns some well-meaning Protestant zealots alloM' themselves to be- lieve. While as a I'rotestant, I, in common with other Protestants, regard as indefensible many dogmas of the Roman Catholic church, and many of its doings too as recorded in the histories which we accept, 1 cannot and do not shut my eyes to the histoi'ical fact, strange and unaccoi n'^ableas itmay seem to us, that the Roman Catholic faith has been held and defended by men •distinguished for virtue and learning and geniu4 ; by such men in the pastas More, Fenelon, Bossuet. Newman. Manning and many others, whoaa memories all good Protest^ints who know anything about them respect, or more than respect. I should not forget either, that Protestants and Romin Catholics hold Bome important religious opinions in common. We do not differ about everything. The best theologians of both creeds admit and assert this. I say of both creeds. For example : Hear first what the Roman Catholic Aichbishop R>an late'y said to his people as to articles of faith which are common to Roman Catholics and Prot'^stants : " How much have we n )t in common? Belief in God and His providence, belief in future rewards and punishments, and, above all— belief and hope and love in the great uniti\e power of the world — Jesus Christ. Around His standard let us gather who love Him. Let us remember th© incident related in the ninth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, when the Apostle, sjt. John said to our Lord, ' Tnat ther.) was a man who was casfjing our devils in Thy na'ue, and we forbade liiia, because hu followoth not with us.' And Jesus «aid : 'Forbid him not, for htj that is not against you is with you.' In a,nother pUice Fie said: 'He that ia not with Me is ai^ainat Mo.' But the man that casts out devils in Clirist's name was evidently not against Christ,, thoni^h ho did not associate with His followers." Then from a,Pr(^te3tant standpoint, the learned and respected principal of Knox College, a Protestant of Protestants, speaking to an assembly of approving Equal Righters, pointed out in like manner that " there is a great ileal of trutli held in common by Protestants and Roman Catholics;" that "both I'rotestants and Roman Catholics believe in the moral law ; and in tiaying that the Saviour became incarnate and died for us, and in the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, Sanctitior and Comforter, and in a future state of rewards. " He added : ''The whole range of life and the dogmas which rule life are conuuo!! to the whole Christian world." So, your own Queen's Tniveraity, wliose managers and professors are intemely Protestant, recognized the value of the truths held by Protestants aiid Roman Catholics in common by select- ing some two years ago a Scottish Catluilic Priest, the late venerable and venerated Dr. Dawson, to preach the biccalaureate bormon before the Uni- versity. In the like spirit, the Maiitoba and North West Conferencj cjf the Methodist church, at a recent meeting in Winnipeg, passed a resolution of ''fraternal sympathy " (as it is called in the official minutes) with the Roman. Catholics of that territory on the occasion (;f the death of their Archbishop. This is the resolution : ' Uesolved, that as a Conference we express our pro- found sympathy with that portion of our citizenhood now made to mourn because of the deith of Arclibishop Taclie, which took place yesterday. A jiist tnau, and v/hose name and life-work are closely connected with the history anJ development of Manitoba and the North West, has been taken away from our midst. And under the influence of our common Christiuiuty we mourn with those who mourn." Muh more to the eanje efi'ect might be cited ; and I hope tha'- the learned Archbishop whom 1 named a moment ago was right when he recently said : " With rog.ird to differences among Christians, I do not believe that any enlightened members of any Protestant denimiination maintain that the members of other d>-nomination3 ■or the members of the Catholic church shall be excluded fr. m salvation simply bacau-ie they belong to such organizations. 1 an) quite certain that the Catholic church does not exclude Jews, (ientiles or Protestants from salvation. She leaves such judgment to Ahnighty God, who alone knows each individuil soul and can alone judge of its merits and demerits." In our province of Ontario, Roman Catholics c institute about one -sixth of the population, and they contribute their share to the prcKluctions, the wealth and the prosperity of the pr(»vince. They numbered by the laat <;ensus 358,300. Let those who would ostracize them consider their import- ance to the province by reason even of their number alon ■. It may bring this fact home to some if they would try to realize in their own minds what the effect would be if 338,3U() of the jtopulation of the province eht in 1885. Thty have been our brothers in arms. Let every Protestant treat them as brothers in peace. (Cheers.) Some good people seem to be in a very fright at the idea of a Roman Catholic being elected to the Provincial Legislature. 1 should be sorry to think Protestantism so weak a thing as their notion supposes. Their notion is a mistake. Protestantism is not so weak a thing. It is not weak at all. Protestantism is strong. Asa Prote.stHnt I believe, and all vigorous Protestants should believe, that in an equal fight Protestantism can and will hold its own as against every hostile influence, be it what it may. But the fight whioh these people fear would not he an equal fight, for what is the posi- tion of a Roman Catholic in the (tovernment of Ontario ( He is one of eight members. The Government consists of seven I'rfttestants who have been elected, and of one Roman Catholic who is now seeking election at your hands. Has any Protestant elector in Kingston so poor an opinion of Protestantism and Protentants that he thinks seven Protectants cannot hold their own against one Roman Catholic? Then take the position of Mr. Harty as a member of the House of Assembly. What could one man do in a House of ninety-four members ? I believe five Reman Catholics only were returned at the last general election. When Mr. Harty and Mr. Conmee are elected, there will be but seven Roman Catholics in the House — seven Roman Catholics to eighty -seven Protestants. Is it possible that any Pro- testant supposes that the Protestants of Ontario cannot afford to have seven Roman Catholics in a House of ninety-four members ( That one Roman Catholic is e(jual, or more than equal to thirteen Protestants ? And that for the safety of Protestantism the number of Roman Catholic members must be kept down to five 1 The P. P. A's. think that their en' ire e.xclnsion from place and power and employment is the only safety for Protestantism, but it is hardly possible to imagine that any intelligent Protestant outside of that organization has any such absurd notion. 1 think we can stand Mr. Harty in the House and in the Government. 1 shall not be afraid of him. (Laughter,) Do any in Kingston say, that while the fact of Mr. Harty's being a Roman Catholic is not against him, yet that he should be opposed by Protestants because the Government of which he is now a member has been too favor- able to Roman Catholics in the matter of Patronage, or of grants to Hospitals and Charities, or in the matter of Separate School legislation ? This charge has been made against us, but there is not the slightest ground for it ; and it is really easy to show this to the satisfaction of every intelligent man who wants to know the truth. I can only now speak briefly on the subject. As for Patronage, we had some months ago an official enquiry made of the facts; and the leport thereon ii.i«> been published. Anyone might have shown errors in this report if errors wore to be found ; but not one error has been shown. What did this repo.rt prove ? It proved that the number of Roman Catholics in public employment is less than their proportion of the population, and that the aggregate of their salariei* also is less than the pro- portion of Roman Catholics in the population. In other words, the report shows it to be perfectly certain that Boraari Catholics have not had an •xcessivu share of t!»u patronage in tfco gift of the Onuirio Gt.vornnicnt. Thoiu who have thought ollierwiHo have beyond all t|ueHtion been iirultji-a niJH- take. If anyone .still says otherwiso ho must eithoi- be a docuivcr or be him- self deceived. 'J hen aa to Hospitals and Charities. The princii)loon wliich grants to these are regulated was adopted twenty years ago with general appmval, and embodied in a statute passed in 187-j, und at;ted on over since. The principle is, that the amount of the grant to each should be accordinj^ to the work done and the amount contributed from other .suurees, in the case of every institution aided, irrespective of the religious creod of the managers. Sworn returns are made to enable the ]irovincial inspector (who is a F'ro- testant) to report what under the law each is enli'U'd to receive; and the returns made are further verified by the personal inspection of the inspectdr. All the institutions reieive both Protestant and (Catholic i atients, Hnd the rate of aid given to each institution has nothing whatever to )ol9, since they are here, to mak' host; Hchill goes through several stages before its final jjassing ; and copies co to every news- paper, and are distributed otherwise throughout the coiuitiy inmiediately after the first stage is taken ; yet no objection was made by any of tho relig- ious journals of the province and none frcjm any othei' ery " cry was afterwards adopted in hopes of thereby carrying against us the elections of 1880. Besides all this, let it be remembered that the Conseivative leader, Mr. Matter, has publicly announced his abandonment of op])o8ition to Separate Schools, and that the Conserva- tive press generally has approved of this change of policy. Nothing will be gained, therefore, as regards Separate Schoo's by voting against the Govern- ment candidate, and the only object of any talk against them to Protestant electors in the present contest is to get votes. Every sensitive Protestant may rest assured that we have done nothing for Roman Catholics that fair-minded and earnest Protestants should not have done ; that Protestantism is in no danger from the Liberal party or its leaders ; and that Protestants will not be harmed one iota by electing Mr. Harty. Mr. Harty was elected in 1892 as a supporter (^f the Government. He comes to you now as a member of that Government, and it is by the general mammim record and policy of the Government tliat he should stand or fall. That is the position he has taken. That is all he asks. Now, what is the record of Ihe Government, apart from the subject? which I have already discussed i Under the system which we hapjily posisiss, the Government has two- functionstfj perform. (1) Its meuiliersare to see to the legislation from time to time needed or ])ro})er ; and (2) they have in chari^a the exe utive adminis- tration of pat^ lie affairs. What i as been the Reform record in these two departments of governmental duty '( Fir.'^t. as regards provincial legislat wu. Has legislative capacity been shown or not by Ontario ininisteis / Have the laws for which they are responsible been good laws f- And have they or n()t embraced ])ractically the whole Held of needed legislation ? Our legislation has embraced every subject on which the B. N. A. :\ct gave to the provinces jurisdiction. There have been twenty-two sessions of a Keform Legislature —one under the premiership of Mr. Blake, and the others under mine — and the laws pas.sed are to be found in twenty-two annual volumes, and in two other vohinies in which were consolidated and revised all the public Acts up to 1887. Every annual .olume of the twenty-two contains important and well-considered laws in the interest of the people. All were either pre- pared or revised by experienced legislators or other experts in ttututory work The rule of the Reform (Jovernmeiit of the province has been to l)e always on thealeit for new laws or new enactments to promote the well- being of the people. We have rtot been afraid of novelties, and on the other hand we have not been, or been even charged with being, revolutionists in our legislation ; our most radical legislation has at the present day the apx>i'oval of the whole country ; any laws which were attacked while pass- ing through the House have as a rule been recognized sul)S(.quently as good and proper laws. J et me specify a few of the subjects which we have dealt with successfully. The vast imjirovements made in our Election law are absolutely indisputable. It is the Reform (iovernment ami paity in Ontario which lirst provided distinct voters' lists; and the immense supeiiority of the provisions of Ontario on the subject over tiiose (f (for example) the Do- minion is admitted by all parties. Again, it was the Reform Government and j)arty which, amongst other improvements, introduced the ballot, adopt- ing in Ontario as ( ur model the Imperial Ballot Ac", which had been passed shortly berore, and which is still the apj proved law of the United Kingdom, accepted by all parties there with satisfaction. We enlarged the electorate from time to tin)e as public opinion was prepared for the enlargement, and at length the Act we now have was passed, providing for Manhood Suffrage for the elections to the Legislative As^sembiy, and limiting every elector to (.no vote. Other important Acts have also been passed at the instance of the Gov- ernment for improving in various ways the laws of property, and for simpli- fying and cheapening and rendering more efficient the administration of justice. Other important Government measures have been pasted for the special benefit in var Ous waj's of farmers ; others for the special benefit in various vays of mechanics an»l other wage earners and employees. In a word. I claim that the Legislature of the last twenty-two years has intro- duced important improvements in every branch of law which belongs to pro- vincial jurisdiction ; has given valuable legislation to every class of the community ; and has dealt beneficially with every public interest. I am not claiming the credit persona' ly for this legislation. Much c»f it was devised by my colleagues, an VVe have never yet been oharj^ed with either want of capacity or want of attention to these. Among the uii>st impoi tant matters whicli we have had to deal with has ])een the maintenance of the territorial and constitutional riyhts of the province. One lialf of the province was in jeopardy in the early years after Confederation, and the right of the province was at length secured and placed beyond future controversy through our efforts. The constitutional rights of the province in various matters have from time to time been attackeSome of these may be more or less doubtful ; it is necessary to have them decided < nc way or the other ; and some may be decided in favfir of the Dominion, and some in favor of tliu Province. But no one has expressed a doubt that Ontario's interests will not suffer at our hands in any such controversy. No one imaijines that its interests would in the past have been safer in the hands of the opposition : or would be safer in the iu'ure either with the Opjx'sition, or with the new party which has sprung up recently, the Patrons ( f industry. 1 he matters in respect of which we are attacked are chiefly matters of finance. In regard to such matters and all others we say with confidence that there is no ground for such attack, that no government anywhere has a better record, that the record of (for example) the Conservative Government at Ottawa is immensely infciior. It is said that we have been wasteful of tlie public means ; and the ])retended proof of this which is perhai)s most dwelt upon is, that in Mr. Sandtield Macdonnld's four years i>f otHce after Confedera- tion he saved, or left unexj)ended, between three and four millions of dollars ; while under the administration.s which followed his there was grtater expen- diture, and in fact (it is said) the whole aggregate revenue from all sources, and more, had lieen used. That is an exaggeration ; but how has the j)ublic revenue been used, so far as it has been used i That is the question. J will tell you why more has been exjjended than was expenoed twenty-two years ago. Many grants have sinre been made for various beiiehciiil ])ublic objects not in existence [ireviously, and enlarged appropriations have been made where needed for other objects {ireviously in a measure j)rovided for. These grants have as a rule had the approval of both sides of the House at the time of their being made. All this is kei)t l)ack when our oj)[)onent3 contrast the expenditure in Mr. Sandtield Macdonald's time and the expendi- ture since. ( >f the expenditine since 1871 nearly six millions of dollars have been in aid of railways ($3,059,084), and not a dollar was {)aid in railway aid until after 1871 . More than another million ■ t our aggregate expenditure ($1,180, l7o) was by way of loan to municipalities for drainage purpo^'es, and not a dollar for this jjurpose is in the expenditure up to 1871. Then again, in our aggri'gate exi)enditure there are more than three millions (»f **^