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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 55 F THE SITUATION IN QUEBEC. i (t(j A CRITICISM OF THE PRESENT CABINET / AS REGARDS / ITS COMPOSITION AND THE ISSUES THAT LED TO ITS CREATION, AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SPEECH BY HON W. W. LYNCH, M.P.P. QUEBEC, MARCH 22nd, 1887. h) ■■■' I* SYNOPSIS. Page Speakers on the Address 3 The Resolutions 4 The Queen's Jubilee 4 'I'lie P*ropo8ed Loan 5 Kelations with the Dominion (> Composition of the Cabinet 7 The Leader of the Government 7 The Member for Huntingdon S Sir Greorge Cartier's views 9 The Legislative Council 1» Mr. Mercier on Education 10 Appointments to the Council . 11 ' THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS. SPEECH BY HON. W. W. LYNCH, Q.C. Delivered in the House of Assembly, March 22, 1887. ' The following speech was delivered by the Hon. W. W. Lynch, Q.C-> in discussing the address in reply to the speech from the throne on Tuesday, the 22nd of March, 1887 : — Mr. Speaker, — Under ordinary circum- stances I should have l>een disposed to allow the adoption of the resolutions upon which the motion now under consideration is based, without discnssinit their merits ; but when, Mr. Speaker, it is considered that the present Government attained power under question- able conditions, and that even now very grave doubts exist as to whether they really repre- sent the will of the majority of the electorate of the province, 1 say that it becomes the duty of all the members of thie house to give a public expression of their views on the situation, and thus afford the gentlemen who sit on the treasury benches an opportunity, which they do not appear to wish for, of judging and of appreciating the gravity of the situation, and the responsibility which de- volves upon them. The debate thus far has been characterized by the exhibition of talents on the part of honorable members, which bid fair to give to the present Legislature a name and reputation certainly not excelled by any who have occupied our places since we became a local Legislature. I have great faith in the young men ot any country, and especially in those of a young country like ours, where it is given to the few to enjoy the advantages of a cultured education such as wealth and social position alone can give ; and while I would not wish to be considered as advocating the introduction of an excep- tional representation, I must confess to hav- ing a decided weakness for young men who aspire with patriotic ideas to high positions : and although they may at times lack the moderation which age and experience give, yet their utterances and actions are character- ined by an interest and sincerity of purpose which always goes far in moulding sound public opinion, and which will ultimately prove of great material advantage to the ad- vancement and progress of the country. (Hear, bear.) In this connection it must be a matter of satisfaction and pride to all of na to witness the exhibition which has already been made, and which I trust will continue in the course of this discussion. I was particularly grati- fied with the eloquent expressions which fell from the lips of the mover of the resolutiona, the honorable member for L' Islet. He promises to become one of those of whom we dhall all be proud ; and while I cannot share in many of the sentiments to which he gave expression, I cannot but welcome him most warmly to the ioor of this house, and express the earnest and truthful wish that he may continue to give us many opportunities in the future of listening to the music of his voice. But, Mr. Speaker, what shall I eay of my honorable friend who seconded the resolutions, the youthful member for Quebec West. I say youthful, not in any offensive sense, but in a strictly parliamentary one, because to do otherwise would be mistating facts. His name is not unknown to anyone who has taken a part or interest in the public matters of this province. (Hear, hear.) I do not intend to enter upon a prolonged criticism ot the addresses of the different gen- tlemen who have preceded me ; but there are some of them to which I must give a passing allusion, and in the first place to that of the hoa. member for Montreal East (Mr. David). We have ail read with pleasure the produc- tions of that hon. gentleman in various Cana- dian magazines and periodicals, as well as In the newspaper press for a long period of years. Perhaps no one in this house has liad more intimate relations with most of the leading public men of both political parties than has had this hon. gentleman, and I am glad to be afforded this opportunity of saying that in the biographical sket'^hes that he has given of many of our leading men, he has shown himself to be possessed of none of that party bias which, unfortunately, characterizes the writings of too many of those similarly engaged. I only express the hope that he may long be permitted to bring to bear upon the consideration of the different (juestioQV that may be ■abmitted to this Legislature that experience whicti lie bas arquiied by this association. (Hear, hear.) I think I may safely venture the assertioD that it has not been the lot or good fortune of the old«8t member to listen to an effort more eloquent or more patriotic than that of the bon. gentle- man who addressed us la8tnight(Mr.Ca8grain). He brought to bear upon the diHcussion of the several matters involved in the resolutions an amount of practical and varied informa- tion which was really astonishing, and espe- cially when presented in the acceptable form which he adopted. (Cheers.) I am sure that I am not anticipating too much when 1 say that the province can confidently expect for him a brilliant future. This afternoon it was our pleasure to hear from the bon. mem- ber for Bouville (,3ir. Lareau). He, too, is not unknown to those who take an interest in the literary and journalistic progress of the country, and in this way has acquired an amount of information which well qualities him to discharge the important duties devolv- ing upon a representative of the people. I might continue my remarks, Mr. Speaker, in this connection in dealing witn the various addresses that have been delivered on both sides, but time will not permit of my doing so, however agreeable the task. I have now, sir, to direct your attention and that of the house to A OUBSORY REVIEW OF THE RESOLUTIONS which are before us, and upon which it is pro- posed to base the address in reply to the speech from the throne. They offer indeed a meagre bill of fare. Possibly this leading characteristic may be due to the desire of the hon. gentlemen opposite not to interfere with the religious sentiments of the members of the house, and to constant- ly keep before them the remembrance that the Lenten season is particularly devoted to abstemiousness. (Laughter.) So far as re- dundancy of language and expression of in- definite terms and unknown quantitities is concerned, the resolutions are all that can be desired. They promise little, and even this little is promised in such an ambiguous man- ner that we are left either to draw upon our imaginations as to what is meant or to form conjectures as to the surprises which may be in store for us. (Hear, hear. ) I shall have occasion later on to allude to some of the ut- terances which fell from the hon. Premier and his friends in discussing the resolutions, which utterances afford more scope for reflec- tion than do the resolutions themselves. The first paragraph invites us to parr^ on our deliberations with dignity, with calmness, and with moderation. 1 regret to say that the bon. the first minister must have overlooked the paragraph when he ad- dressed the bouse the other evening. His language certainly was not of the most con- ciliatory character, nor was it of a nature to invite that unanimity of feeling which is most desirable at all times, and especially at the opening of a new Parliament. (Cheers.) However, let us hope that be will take an early opportunity of repairing this fault, and of contributing bis quota towards restoring that harmony which all desire, and of which he should ((ive the first example. We all, I am sure, Mr. Speaker, regret extremely that the health of His Honor, the Lieutenant- Governor, is not of a more stable character than it is. If there is one gentleman more than another in this province, ^hose name is cherished foi all that is honorable it is that of Mr. MasBOD, and I feel that I am express- ing the wishes of all the members of this house, that his brief relief from the cares and perplexities of official life may restore him to the enjoyment of bis accustomed health and vigor, so that he may long be permitted to give his valuable services to his native province, which I know he loves so well. (Loud cheers.) What shall I say, Mr. Speaker, of the resolutions which allude to the JatllLBI OF HER HOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY Queen Victoria? In a fdw weeks she will have attained the fiftieth anniversary of her coronation, and already we hear on all sides indications of the preparations being made for the fitting celebration of this most Im- portant event in the history of the British Empire. I presume that the hon. Premier will take an early opportunity of laying be- fore the house proper resolutions upon which to found an address to be presented to Her Majesty expressive of the loyal and patriotic sentiments which animate the people of this province, whose representatives we are. No student of history, wherever his lot may be cast, can be indifferent to the important events which have occurred under her most auspicious reign. (Hear, hear.) No mat- ter in what capacity she is re- garded, whether as Queen, presid- ing over the destinies of a nation which has exerted an unparalleled in- fluence on the world's history, in her quality of Empress of India, or in that none less de- serving — and possibly more extended in its influence — of woman and of mother, is the name of Queen Victoria revered wherever the benign power of civiliisation reigns. (Cheers.) i When the day arrives that the accamulation of Kood wishes ib showered upon her, from no sectiou of her vast domains and from no per- tion of the people who aclcuowledge her sway will go forth a more hearty and spontaneous outburst of loyalty and heartfelt wishes than from the province of Quebec. (Loud cheers.) And in this connection, it I may be permit- ted to add to what tvas so well said by the honorable member for Quebec West, I would join in the prayer that the occasion may commend itself to Uer Majesty as one in which she might urge upon her constitu- tional advisers the importance of remember- ing the green isle of the sea, and of enabling the people of that portion of her Empire to celebrate with special gratification the advent of this auspicious event, which gave them that for which they have labored so long and so zealously — home rule. (Loud cheers.) Hav- ing now discussed the resolutions, which are of a character to invite the mosttfriendly criticism, it becomes my duly to consider somewhat those which, I regret to say, do not admit of the same line of remarks as I have thus far indulged in. We are told that the Govern- ment is unable to lay before us important measures in consequence of the want of time for their proper consideration, and the hon. Premier told us in this connection the other evening that the late Government was blamable for this, as it was owing to their re- tention of oftice in violation of the constitu- tion. The hon. gentleman took occa- sion in thus speaking to coin a new word, which I find difficult to put into English — cramponnage. The hon. gentleman must remember that the members of the late Gov- ernment were bound in the discharge of the duties appertaining to the responsible position which they occupied to be guided by but one feeling, and that was the desires of the people ; and how could they be ascertained elsewhere than on the floor of the bouse. (Hear, hear.) It is well known that the hon. gentleman relied for support upon some members who had been Conservatives all their lives, and who had taken the trouble expressly to declare to the people — the electors of their respective coun- ties that they still tielonged to that party, and still adhered to the principles which its leaders had from time to time enunciated. The late Government would have been want- ing iu their duty, and would have been false to the position which they occupied had they not given these gentlemen an opportunity of pablicly declaring themselves, and of thus establishing their allegiance to one political party or the other. (Cheers.) We are told that amoDg the questions which particularly require our consideration is the financial one, and yet, almost in the very same breath, we are assured that the Government has not had time to devise any plan to meet the emerge ency, but that a new loan is suggested to meet TBI DIMANDS OF TBR HOMINT. When the honorable Premier was preparing ior the late electoral campaign, he prepared, or caused ift be prepared, a most elaborate pamphlet, in which were set forth the errors, real and imaginary, of preceding govern- ments, and which closed with a declaration of his own intentions, and with the enuncia- tion of the programme which he submitted for the consideration of the people. I find in it that the honorable Premier, in alluding to the financial situation, declared that prompt and immediate steps must be taken to meet the situation, and he pledged himself that if he were supported by the people he would carry out this undertaking in every respect. Now, Mr. Speaker, if there was one thing more than another which should have sug- gested itself to the Honorable the First Min- ister when he assumed office, it was that he had given his solemn word to devise means to meet what he had de- clared to be the alarming financial condition of the country. And yet, sir, what do we find ? We find that after six weeks of incu- bation he declares himself unable to do this, and suggests as an alternative that the Legis- lature should authori/.e a new loan, in order to allow more time for the consideration of means which he bad months before declared to be most pressing, and to which he must have given some thought. Are we to accept this as an earnest of the honornble eentleman' s good intentions ? Does he think that he can thus trifle with the people of this prov- ince ? D.>es he reflect that in thus acting he is breaking his engagements ; and does he imagine that with his Government, as it is constituted, the representatives of the people are going to give him carte blanche to do as he pleases, and to borrow as he will ? It occurs to me, sir, that under the circumstances our responsibilities in this connection are great, and that before the Government can expect us to meet tboir wishes they must be prepared with the fullest possible information as to the financial condition of the province, and also as to the necessity for the loan ot a large amount which was practically an- nounced in the remarks of the Premier. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman alluded the other evening to what he termed the ex- cessive amount due for temporary loans, and the large sum for which the province was lia- « ble M flottting debts. Now, the hon. gentle- maa, on the 6th June last, when the resolu- tion, reapectluK the conversion of the land railway subsidies were under consideration, submitted a motion in amendment in which he stated that the amount then due for tern- porary loans as shown by the Public Accounts up to the 30th June, 1885, was over $600,- 000, and he endeavored to alarm the bouse and the country by the statement that the obligations which the then Ouvtrnment wiHb- ed to impose in consequence of this conver- sion of the land subsidy would render neces- sary a new loan to the amount of hIx or seven millions of dollars, and tbit^ is what be now terms our floating debt — with the excep- tion that instead of being six or seven mil- lions of dollars as he then thought, if we may judge from the statement which appears in the Montreal Herald, doubtless with bis approval, it is now three or four millions uf dollars. The matters will require, at the hands of the hon. gentleman ana of his Gov- ernment, the most elaborate explanations before be can expect us to give our assent to the loan which is suggested. RBLATIONS WITH THE FEDKRAL QOVBRNHENT. Then we are told that our relations, financial and otherwise, with the Federal Qovernment require the consideration not alone of this province but of the other prov- inces in the Dominion ; that the British North America act of 1867 is obscure in many of its clauses, and that something more is required. It is to be regretted that the hon. gentleman who leads the Government has not thought it worth bis while to take this houso into his contidence, and to tell us in explicit terms and language which would admit ot no doubt what his intentions are and what are really the measures which he proposes to submit for tbe consideration of what is termed this provincial conference, CCheers.) Does tbe bou. gentleman propose to modify our constitutiunal charter, the pre- paration of which occupied the best minds of this country, and which was only completed after mutual concessions had been made on the one side and on tbe other, when, for instance, the late Hon. George Brown, the distinguished leader of the then Liberal party, imbued with the patriotic desire to serve bis country, consented to discard some of the principles for which he had fought for a lifetime. Is the work of these great men to be destroyed simply be- cause the hon. gentleman opposite imagines that he can perfect it ? Is it that he desires to introduce some novel feature by which we are all to become richer and no one poorer, or is it rather that be proposes to inoculate tbe premiers of the other provinces with that National spirit which animates himself, and which has given rise to the existence of the present Government ? Or does he propose to convert our Nova 8cotia friends, or more cor- rectly his friends — because they happen to be Liberals — and thus dissuade them from their secession ideas ; or, possibly, it may be to give an opportunity to the Attorney -General of Nova iScotia to discuss his pet project of Imperial federation. (Cheers.) No, Mr. Speaker, I do not imagine that the members of ibis house or th« people of this province are prepared to saciifice tbe constitution under which we live. We have prospered under it, and while there may be some improvements to be desired, I imagine that no one is prepared to let tbe prentice band of my honorable friend be ap- plied in tbe task of tinkering it to suit his own peculiar ideas and whims. (Hear, hear.) I was astonished th<) other evening to hear the honorable member for Montreal East say that Confederation bad been a failure, aad that, instead of tbe country progressing, it had really retrograded. I can hardly con- ceive it possible that any gentlemen who is not blind to his surioundings could have given utterance to an opinion such as this, when on all sides of him — whether east, west, north or south — there is every indica- tion of progress and of prosperity. Are we to be told that this country is not progressing when to-day we have as fine a system of rail- ways and canals as exist in any part of the world, and in all enlightened and civilized countries tbe existence of thase public works are accepted as the best evidence of national greatness and prosperity ? (Cheers.) That important work which has only recently been terminated — the construction of the Canadian Pacific railway — is not only the pride of all Canadians, but tbe admiration of everybody the world over. Time was when Canada, its position, and its possibilities were compar- atively unknown, when indeed the metro- politan press of tbe empire could not speak intelligently of Canada, of its resources, or its prosperity : but to-day, thanks to our own energy and enterprise, a Canadian in any part of the habitable globe can avow himself as such, and can point with pride and sa'tisfac- tion to his country and can invite the most enlightened to visit it, promising them that they will have no occasion to regret a trip through the older provinces, and that continu- ing their voyage westward they can examine the almost illimitable plains of our great T T Northwest, which offer cheering and hospit- able homes lor the surplus population of Europe. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman has taken occasion to tell us that the Quvero- ment proposes to exercise the strictest economy. This announcement is certainly most assuring. It would have l)een exceed- iugly unpleasant for us, and for the people of the province generally, to have htturd any- thing to the contrary, so that on tbiH point the Qovernment do not deserve special com- mendation. In this connection, however, we were told that THK riNANCIAL SITUATION was alarming, and that it was duo to the maladministration of the past twenty years. He cbaracteri/iUd the various CouHervative Governments tbat have existed since then as made up of schemers and political blunder, ers. When this statement was made by the honorable gentleman, I loolied about me to see if I could discover anywhere the presence of the honorable commisdioaer of Crown lands, Mr. Qarneau, who was himself a minister in one of these scheming Govern- ments, and who had supported others of them duting a number of years, to see whether this statement was agreeable to him or not. (Cheers) I was also anxious to know whether it would be acceptable to the Honor- able the Solicitor-General, who, until recent- ly, was a brave and valiant defender of these successive Governments of political schemers and plunderers. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to conceive how il is posdible fur the combination which at present surrounds the Honorable Premier to exist for any length of time in the face of statements such as these. One of the closing paragraphs in the lesolutions contains an announcement of a rather alarming character. The announce- ment is made that we shall shortly be called upon to consider some scheme for the t)etter representation of the people. We are not told when this is to be, whether to-morrow, nest week, next year, or ten years hence ; the only words that are used in cbaracteriz- ing the time are 'beiore long." Well, in view ot the great tndefiniteness which exists throughout the resolutions, we Bh.%11 require to be told more explicibly when these mea- suies may be expected. Again its nature and scope are clothed in uncertainty. We are told that the measure is needed for certain localities and for the protection of certain higher interests. What are the certain locali- ties thus alluded to, and what are the higher interests thus involved ? The hon. member for r Islet the other evening gave it to be understood that possibly there might b« something in the direction of university r»> presentation. But with all this meagreneM and uncertainty of information, it is quite im- possible to discover what is meant by this paragraph. (Hear, bear.) I remarked a short lime ago tbat while there was not much to criticize in the address, tbe announce- ment made by the Premier and the declarations of some of his friends merited more than passing allusion. I pro- pose now briefly to allude to some of them. Tbe Premier distinctly declared that he waa not the leader of tbe Liberal party, but that be was proud to announce himself as THB MADKR OF A NATIONAL OOVBBMMIIIT. I lecollect full well, Mr. Speaker, and I am sure you do, witb what foice the hon. gentle- man during the sesHlon of 188.3 announced to tbe house that be had been chosen leader of tbe Liberal party. Now, sir, we live under a system of government which recoatnizes party distinctions and party lines. I am one of those wbo believe tbat it is well and in the interests of the country that parties should exist, providing that party organization is based upon high and leading principles. The old Liberal party ot this province has a rec- cord and a history. I am not, at this mo- ment, going to discuss the principles upon which It took its rise, and upon which it has continued to live ; but, uir, I think that it is well for this house and for the province to ponder well over the present Hit nation, and to enquire whether real- ly it is wise and best to recognize the exlHten^e of the party of which my hon. friend avows himself to l>e the leader, the National party. And we should ask our- selves and him what are its principles, and if they are such as should commend them- selves to the people of this country. This party has not taken its rise in anything that was eeneral or universal in character or ap- plication, but is tbe outcome and outgrowth of a politico-national appeal made by the hon the leader of tbe Government and some others after tbe extcution of tbe unfortunate Louis Riei. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman, on more than one occasion, declared in com- t>ating the Ross Government that the domin- ating or apparent cause which should lead to the overtnrow of that Government, was that they had not seen fit to take action with reference to the execution of Riei. This was the issue that was placed befoie the people of this country. The Government of that day — more national in its character and more na- tional in its aspirations than the present — the RoH Oorernment declined to re- gard it in that liKht, but pre- ferred to adopt the course purHued by the friends of the hon. gentlemen oppo§ite in the Ontario legislature, where Sir. Mowat, tb« leader of the Qovernment — one of the gentle- men whom the hon. Premier is going to meet at the Inter-provincial convention — caused to be adopted in the Legislature a resolution to the following effect : •* Tbitt this boUHe re- fuses to express or commit itself to any opinion bearing upon or having reference to any such matter or proceeding," (Cheers.) the matter thus referred to being an expreR- sion of opinion on the execution. We tbuH find that the Liberal Qovernment of Ontario took precisely the same ground as did tbe Government of Quebec, and yet the hon. gen- tlemen opposite condemned tbe one and ap- proved the other. (Hear, hear.) Tbe Ross Qovernment and their friends were attacked in October last because they did not feel it their duty to express an opinion about Riel's execution ; but in December following their adversaries, the National party, sent their friends to Ontario to help Mr. Muwat in hiu elections when he bad taken precisely the same ground as did the Ross Qovernment. And when tbe result of the Ontario elections became known the hon. Premier of to-day sent a congratu- latory telegram to Mr. Mowat upon bis suc- cess. (Cheers.) Under these circumstances, Mr. Speaker, how are we to look upon tbe party which styles itself as the National party, and which appeals to tbe prejudices, sentiments and feelings of the major portion of our population upon an issue wbich is not a political one, but which is calculated by its very nature to be of an alarming character to other nationalities and to other creeds ? Tbe hon. member for Huntingdon, in bis addre.-^e to his constituents last August, laid down emphatically his views, which I will read to the house, because they impress tbe ideas wbich not alone that hon. gentleman then professed, but which were then, and are now, professed by many others in the province : — " I took an emphatic stand upon a certain question which is agitating tlie province, so ttiat my withdrawal now would be const: ued as Indicating that you would not sustain me In what I did. I need hardly state that I refer to the votes which I gave upon the Klei resolu- tions. The issue upou which the approaching elections are to t>e lougbt is that of the Kegi ua execution, and. therefore, it is due to you, to myself and to the province that you should have an opportunity of saying whether you endorse the position I toolc or not. I deprecate thsraisingof that issue as one not pertaining to the Legislature of Quebec, and as calculated to arouse and embitter prejudices of creed and race, which threaten tbe future peace of tbe province. But, since it has been raised, and the eleotionH are to turn upon it, I consider it advlHable that you should have an opportun- ity of declaring your opinion with regard to it by f Ither n- elfcilngor rt'Jf'cting me, for. an I have already Indicated, for me to withdraw would be ascribed by the members of the f'arti National to a consciousness on ray part thutyou do not approve or ray siand with re- ference to the Itlel agitation. I do not desire to 1)6 ralNunderstood or to receive your suf- frages under n misappreheuslon, and beg dis- tinctly to slate that I du not regret the course I tootc upon the Rlel question, and that if re-elected by you it is my flrra purpose lofollowit up, no matter how disagreeable It may be to oppose old and valued associations In tht* Legislature. " I need not tell you tim the issue before the country is not simply whetlier the Dominion executive was Jiistltlelor not in ordering the exeoutlcn of Rtel, but whether tliere is to be an equitable administration of the law, Irre- spective of religion or nationality. I ccmtend that the future welfare of this province and the dearest interests of the English-speaking pop- ulation arj bound up In such an administra- tion of the law, and I cannot, therefore, do otherwise than oppose, with ail my strength, those who are appealing to tbe basest preju- dices and awaking feelings which may result In endangering the peace of the province. I am thus frank with you, gentlemen, tor I have not the remotest idea to continue to represent the county if my course on the Riel question has not met your approval. " As to those other questions upon which yon have a right to know my views, I regret that the Uiel agitation has so campllcated the pol- itical situation that I cann )t indicate as pre- cisely as I would wish the line of conduct I will follow." " But for the agitation which has sprung into being since the l6th November I would have no liesitatlon in declaring that, if rechosen by you, Mr. Mercier would have my support. As it is I am not prepared to give such a pledge, for if the choice should l>e between a ministry sound upon details of general policy, but un- sound in regard to a question involving tbe rights of the Engllsli minority and toe peace of the oroviace, and a Qovernment sound on that vital question, yet whose general ad- ministration I disapprove of, I would con- sider it my duty to vote for the latter as the lesser of two evils." The hon. member for Montreal East en- quired the other day why it was that the French-Canadians should be reproached by English people for entertaining feelings of sympathy and of brotherly regard for the Metis. No one objects to any such sympathy or affection, but what is objected to is that in this province of Quebec a national appeal should be made, having for its end political aggrandizement. (Cheers.) It is strange, in this connection, however, Mr. Speaker, that in tbe recent Federal elections in the Northwest Territories— which were the first ever held there — that the Metis did^not entertain towards the Conservative party tbe feelings and sentiments which gentlemen opposite tad i) their friendH have tried to provolie on ttieir behalf in this province. Even the usually mild and amiable member for Chateauguay (Mr. Robi. douz), in the courHe of his remarks, in- dulged in a Homewbat similar strain, and de. Glared that thero had been for some time a growing sentiment in the Conservative party of hostility to the French-Canadians and tu their religion ; and be cited the Mail as the organ of the party. Now, Air. Sputiker, as to the first point : No one knows better tban does the honorable gentleman bimsulf that no such feeling exists or has ever existed, but that, on the contrary, our leading public men have never lust an opportunity of de- claring in every conceivable way the greatest esteem and regard for their fellow-citiz»ns of all origins and of all crbedK, and of practising what tbey preached. As to the Mail newspa- per it is surprising that the changes should continue to be rung upon it as the Conserva- tive organ, when it is known that such a con- nection has been on more tban one occasion publicly and emphatically denied by tbe leader of the Conservative party, Sir John A. Macdunald, and, further, that the Mail's atti- tude during both the recent local election in Ontario and in the late Federal election did immense damage to the Conservative cause, and contributed in several instances in se- curing the triumph of the friends of tbe hon. gentlemen opposite. A good deal has been said about THK LATB SIR OKOHOB CARTIKK, the beloved Conservative leader of Lower Canada, and afterwards of the Province of Quebec. It is strange indeed that now that he is gone, he should be spoken of in eulo- gistic terms by the associate gentlemen, who, during his lifetime, were his most inveterate political enemies, and who stopped at nothing of a nature calculated to do him injury and wrong. With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will read a few extracts from one of the lust utterances which that late lamented statesman made prior to his departure for Europe. It was on the occasion of a public dinner given to tbe late Mr. Justice Dunkin on his transfer- ance to the bench, in January, 1872. I had the honor of presiding at that banquet and can, therefore, speak in confirmation of tbe report from which I am about to read. Sir George, among other things, said : — "Tothe menof Brome, as also tbe Eastern Townabips, was due credit for their suppurt of bis administration, which had been a nucoss- fal one. He thanked bis French-Canadian fellow-countrymen for their liberality to the English speaking minority, and then pro- ceeded to enumerate a number of Important works In which he had taken tbe Inltlo- livu. A grrat political Work had been done by bis party in the great acheme of CoDfuderatton. Wilhuut Confeduratlou what would ibu country have dune? By It the Do- niltilon WHN extoodml from the Atluutle to the Pacittc. It hud b«'en tilH hIui to have the Eng- II Hh Hpouking ProtuHlautH and the French- Cunudtun ICurnun Catholics united on large moatture, Hnd within tbe last few years under Ibu rew pollilcul HyHtem they hud put through a* impjriunt uieiiHuroN as any country In tne world. Onu ufthe moMl pleiutluic tblugM In the province of Quebec wuh tbe respect that bis French-'?anuuian friendH bud for their christ- ian brethren of other religlonH. and this was owing to the deep religious feeling which ez- iHted on both sideH." I desire to call tbe special attention of the hon. member for Champlain to the following quotations ; tor he alluded to Sir Qeorge Cartier in a sense, that would lead one to conclude that in bis opinion were the hon. gentleman now alive his sympathies would be with tbe disafi^ected wing of tbe Conserva- tive party. ''It was not stated of what nationality it was to be composed, whether French llouges or English Liberals. It seem- ed to him that the party hod not lost sight of old ;)urpot(es, to substitute their new name fur that of the Rouge and Liberal party. He bop.^d his own party would continue, as in the past, true Liberals both in politics and re- ligion." There was then a national party in 1872. Can we not infer from the similarity of names that its traditions have been trannferred to the one recently formed, and of which the honorable Premier declares himself to be the leader. (Cheers.) And will the honorable gentleman and his friends, who now use Sir George Cartier' s name thus in vain, require to be told that it was the same Parti National that drove that true friend of the French-Can- adians from his native province to seek representation in another province, and whose ungenerous conduct and selfish acts ended in driving him into exile from his own country — the Canada he loved so "-ell. (Cheers.) The honorable Premier gave us another sur- prise in the course of bis somewhat remark- able speech tbe other evening. He declared in emphati-; terms that it was not hia inten- tion to abolish THE LCaiSLATIVB COUNCIL. This is indeed a new doctrine for the honor- able gentleman to preach, but it may be possible that it is one of the condi- tions upon which he occupies his present dis- tinguished position as leader of the National party. The hon. gentleman will, perhaps, allow me to remind him of the attitude whictt he has taken with regard to this question on 10 I Mveral occuIodb Id bia capacity wt a member of the boose, and to some of bia public utter* anoea outside of it. In 1879, when the hoa. gentleman was a member of the Joly Govern- ment, in the speech from the throne the fol> lowing paragraph appears : ' * You will be called upon anew to consider whether it is not opportune at present to modify our con- stitution as regards (he Legislative Council." It ia true that little progress was made with that measure, owing doubtless to the caution then observed in ministerial movements ; but on the day that the hon. gentleman and the Government of which he was a member were defeated, I find that he moved an amendment, seconded by the Hon. D A. Ross, the then Attorney-General, and now a member of the present Government, *' That, under the circumstances, the exist- ence of the Legislative council of ibe province of Quebec has become a threatening danger to responsible government and constitutional institutions." On that occasion Mr. Ross de- clared " the Government " (that is the Joly Government) •* has been accused of ill-treat- ting the Legislative council. For my part I have never ill-treated the members of the other house, because I belisve them to be well disposed (bien veillant) tyrants. The duty of all at this moment of danger is to unite in order to asnure the abolition of the Legisla- tive council." In 1879 these were the views of the gentlemen composing the present Gov- ernment. I find also reported in the Mont- real Herald of the Sl'^t of March, 1884, a speech made by the Hon. Premier at the an- nual dinner of the young Reformers m Mont- real. With my honorable friend' s permission I should like to read several extracts from that speech, for it contains much matter for reflection in connection with his present attitude. In responding to the toast of the local Legislature, he said : " The health of the local Legislature is a very desirable thing. It was wanted very much." [I wonder if the hon- gentleman ever uttered a statement the truth of which he realized more fully than be does this one at the present moment. (Cheers.) I certainly wish the hon. gentleman the greatest possible degree of health in a per- sonal sense, but I am very much afraid that he is far from enjoying it in a political one.] •• The machinery of the province is too cum- berous and costly, though probably made with good intentions. The time had come for a thorough reform. Ttie Legislative Coun- cil was unnecessary and should be abolished.' ' "Two things were needed by the province: education and sound financing. Education moat come first, for without it good govern- ment could not be expected. The people were intelligent and in the main honeat, but wanted education. Conatitutional govern- ment supposed an educated class of people, just as autocracy depended on ignorance. The hon. gentleman had met this question in his public life. He had tried to get com- pulsory education with the result of stirring up great prejudices. He was willing, how- ever, to hie the victim of prejudices if he could see the people educated so as to choose good representatives to conduct the Govern- ment.'' *< There was a deficit in Quebec, but if he could be empowered in Quebec with the same power of taxation as possessed by the Federal Government he would soon do away with the deficit. He believed that direct taxation would come, and then the peo- ple would awake to the necessity of looking after the Government. Referring to the new Government, he said he was opposed to the general rule that a new Government should have fair play." I wonder what the hon. gentleman thinks now about the new Gov- ernment having fair play ? Mr. Mebcier— That was not a new Govern- ment that I was referring to ; it was the old Guvernmeut, a continuation of former Gov- ernments. Mr. Lynch— Well, I do not know what the hon. gentleman meant. I am simply quoting his own words as used in the report from which I am reading, and I find there that he used the words <• Referring to the new Goverument." The new Government was the Ross Government, which had just a few weeks before come into power. The hon. gentleman further said : " Quebec was the road to Ottawa for the Liberal party. The French and English members of the party should be more united. Having the same p)<\tform, the same tactics they must work together if they wished to succeed. There must be sympathy and friendship to secure success." This, Mr. Speaker, is a most in- teresting speech, and contains many declara- tions of principles which the honorable leader of the Government professed as leader of the then Opposition, but which he repudiates to- day when called upon to discharge the re- sponsible duties belonging to the leader of the Government. (Cheers.) I am not going to say that it should not be permitted to public men to change their views on great public questions, when such change results from a thorough and con- scientious conviction that it is in the public interest. But when made purely and simply 11 for the purpose of party triumph, or obtaiDiog power, the cbaoge ceases to be a virtue and becomes a political siD (Hear.hear.) Much good has, in the past, been accomplished by a combination of men holding different views, but uniting together for a commoa objact, which object bad for its end the public wel- fare. Could I see, in tbe present combina* tion, a party made up of men animated by such ideas, I should not bo disposed to regard them with too much disfavor ; but such is not tbe case. There is no common principles upon which they are united. They have no common end in view. In fact I think it would not require a very vivid imagination to picture tbe scenes of family discord which must exist whenever they meet together to discuss questions concerning which they hold the most divergent opinions. Allusion has been made to some to tbe recent NOMINATIONS TO THB LBGI8LATIVK CODNCIL. Taking up first that of the Hon. BIr. Garneau, the present commissioner of Crown lands, I can only say that bis position socially and commercially is such as entitles him to tbe highest regard and consideration ; but, politically speaking, it is difficult to under- stand why that honorable gentleman should find himself in bis present company. He surely is not prepared to endure tbe castigation that was administered to him and bis old party friends a few evdning') since by his present leader, who character- ized the former Conservative Governments as schemers and plunderers. The nomination of the Hon. Mr. Ross is one to which little or no exception can be taken ; although it is to be regretted that the painful scene which oc- curred at the opening of the L'^glslature should have been allowed to take place, since, the arrangement by which ibe Hon. Mr. Savage was induced to withdraw should have been consummated and publi3 attention not drawn to tbe fact that there was some- thing still wanting to complete it. The Han. Mr. Ross is, in every sense, a respectable man, enjoying the confidence of the commun- ity in which he lives. His genial presence will, let us hope, have the effect of changing the character of the Council from what it was in 1879. I presume that he occupies his place in the council ostensi- bly as the representative of the minority of the province. I am not going to say that be is not a worthy representative of that minor- ity ; but for the first time since Confederation we find the representative of that minority Yielding no portfolio in the administration of the public affairs of the province. (Hear, hear.) I regret this, because I do not believe it to be right and in accordance with sound principles The last appointment to the Legislative Council, that of the Hon. Mr. Gilman, has created no small amount of com- ment throughout tbe country. I shall allude to it only briefly by calling the attention of the house to the means that were taken to secure the removal of the Hon. Mr. Webb by the dinmissal of Sheriff Bowen, of the St. B''rancis district. A widespread feeling of indignation exists that an old and well tried public official, against whom no offence is imputer^, or indeed imputated, should have been dismissed for the babest party purposes. The only two newspapers in that district, tbe Eximiner and tbe Progrea de I' Est, fdvorable to the present Government, speaking of Mr. Bowen' s re- moval, characterized tbe action in unmeasured terms as a disgraceful affair, and tbe Waterloo AdoertiseTy tbe Liberal organ of Bedford dis- trict, alludes in no uncomplimentary language to Mr. Gilman' s appointment. (Cheers.) I think, Mr. Speaker, that I have gone over pretty fully tbe different points in tbe address worthy of remark, and the different utter- ances which have fallen from the hon. gen- tlemen opposite in discussing the resolutions, I feel that 1 have done so most imperfectly an i not at all in a manner, such as 1 could wish, and that I have wearied tbe bouse in my somewhat lengthy remarks. I thought it, however, my duty as a repre- sentative of the people to tell tbe hon. gentle- man opposite plainly and firmly the views which I entertained of the situation, and I have reason to believe that these views are shared by a large majority of the electorate of tbe province. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, lot me say that while I have no sympathy with the National party, of which the hon. Premier declares himself to be tbe leader, I have no hesitation iu affirming that the cry which has unfortunately been raised in this province has almost cre- ated the necessity for the formation of a genuine national party. But when that national party, Mr. Speaker, is ushered — if ever — into existence let us hope that it will be on Euch broad and comprehensive grounds as that it can rally within its ranks the in- habitants of this fair province of all races and creeds, struggling onward and upward in the advancement of truly national concerns and interestP, and on whose banner will be in- scribed the words, ■* We are Canadians." (Loud cheers.)