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y
^>JUB1LEE ESSAY<-
-ON-
Imperial Qonfederation
AS AlKECTINO
ODjANirpOBA AND riiHE I?,OI^aiHWBBTi.
BY COL. P. H. ATTWOOD.
^'-A.iaT I.
OUR PROVINCIAL AtrrONOMY.
THE QUESTION OF RACE,
:^.a.:rt III.
THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE
C. P. AND H. B, RAILWAYS.
WINNIPEG :
IVIniiitoltn Frcp Press Print.
JUNE, 1887.
PART 1ST.
Ill (lc9iLMiii»Lr a permanent V)uil(Hn<r, tlui "killed aroliitent
stiivt^s todisiilay, not only tlic fcM'tility of his iina<^in;uion Ity
|»n)dii(;ino; liannony of outline, Itnt he also blonds tin.' ]»ractieal
wiili tlio beautiful in liis (iudeavorn to produce on tlie mind
of the casual ol 'server tlic most pleasint;^ eli'ect. Ho also sees
to it, tbaf the structural adaptation from foundation to finish
is such as to be bo^^ond tlie criticism of his prv>lossional com-
peers : he leaves notinng to chance, he tal;es uotbinj}^ for
i^rantcd ; but all his details are worked out so perfectly
that, should the final construction fail to tlie lot of another, no
member, however minute, will have to be supplied by his suc-
cessor.
In like manner, and witli the oamosoli.'itude, should those
who arc charged with the responsibility of crcatinjf and
securing our national being seidc to lay its foundation in right-
ousness, i)erpetuity and peace; no that when the keystone of
our destiny, now so near completion, shall have crowned our
hopes and thoroui;h I}- fused us with national life; when all
props and extei'ioi inliuences shall have been withdrawn, our
Empire will be a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
The indcv iinsjer of public sentiment throuu'hout Great
Britain and her dependencies ovid' ntly indicates a change in
the relations which they liave hitlierto borne towards each
other, tlie tendency fieing to link themselves together by an
insoluble bond of mutual <lependency. They are moved to .say
with one of old, "For whither thou goest I will go, and where,
thou lodgest I will lodufc; thy peoj)le shall be my peo[>le, and
thy (Jod my (Jod " a iidelity which being chastened by time,
and ripened by experience, will (jualify them to stand through-
out all time, side by side and shoulder to shoul lor, not as
[lareut and otfspring, as foi'mi}rly, but as equals in power,
])rowess and eouncil.
The coming change, though still ia the inceptive sta,to, is
engaging the attention of y.'nno of the best minds in both lic-
misphere.s. Men of liigh attainments, both political and social,
arc api)roaching its consideration with honesty of purpose and
hiL,'h resolve, and it bjconics the <ltity of all patriotic men to
contribute thoii" luoiety of thoiij^'ht, and to .sui)niit for conside-
ration suoli subjeotH as will constitute the basis of such settlo-
mcnt.
The religious and social future of our people liavin^i,' Ixien
vv'orked out on tacitly ackno\vledi,'ed lines suitabUi to their
times and circunistanees, and beiiiLT fairly well established, will
riHjuirc hut little attention but to accftrd l)y Imperial dt^cree, to
all :iect'ons and communities their political rights without
causinij undue friction or ostracism, will indeed be a hercidean
task, worthy th«i most })rofound efforts of our national archi-
tects.
It wouM be presumptuous for any man or set of men from
any given locality to foraiulatf a system ]»y which such a granfl
conception can \k'- materili/cd, or to attempt to solve so difticult
a ]iroblen) as that of Imperial Federation. Such a solution
can only be the result of wise counsel by many men, from
different standpoints; l)ut in view of what may be, it will be
well to lake time by the forelock, and discuss to some extent,
liow, with our present autonomy, such a change would be like-
ly to effect the future of the Northwest generally, but more
especially the Province of Manitoba,
It having bec(jme an axiom in politics that large corpora-
tions move slowly, and that constitutional changes are only
amongst the ]>ossibilitics, it will be well to consider, whether
or no, hi case of such consolidati')n, our Manitoban autonomy
possesses such sovereign i)0wers, such buoyancy and freedom of
action, as will enable us to accomnujdate ourselves to our altered
circumstances in 'elation to either federal or Imperial jtowcr,
and if complications of any kind are within the range of the
possibilities, to look them scjuarcly in the face and piovidc for
their prevention. In doing so, it will be well to remember
that Manitoba has never been constitutionally admitted to
confederation, inasmuch as the fourteen thousand loyal resident
British subjects who at the time of its admission to tlie unit)n
were practically a sovereign power exercising constitutional
rights both political and judicial, un.ler the name of the
goverumenD of Assinib.tia, were never considted or recognized
in respect to it, as provided by the Jlritisli North America
Act; but instead, the now twice notoiious Louis Riel, wlio had
uidawf'ully overthrown the local government, and taken po-
session of its seat, was by virtue of his usurpation and
men to
coTisidc-
•h settlo-
nng be on
t() their
shod, will ■
(li'.creo, to
; without
hovculoan
lal archi-
■ men fvoui
uh a i^'i'and
sodiftit'iilt
a s()h\lion
\w\\, ivoni
.^ it v'ill be
)nie e stent,
mill be like-
Init move
M-c corpora-
are only
o
er, whether
,n autonomy
d freedom of
;0 our altered
)erial \K)VVcr,
-ange of the
provide for
to remember
admitted to
loyal resident
, to the union
conBtitutional
name of the
ov reco!j;nized
orth Aineriea
tliel, who had
,i,.d taken po-
aurpatiou and
through the influence of Ins abettors— of whom ii\ore here-
after — pcrmitti^.d to ])res(!ribe tin; tei'ins of a<hni.s.sioii;' and, to
use the words of the Hon. John Noi(|uay, in liis nianterly
and patriotic budget speech of April HJth, 18SV, "if tlie truth
imist 1)0 told, Manitoba was forced into confederation, figura-
tively speaking, at the point, of the bayonet." The baneful
effect of such a method has ever since been f(jlt asahiudrnnoe
to the full and healthy development of the country, and not-
withstanding the marvelous growth which has charaoterized
the a<xc, there is a canker at the heart which sooner or later
will have to be removed, and which it becomes our duty ncjw
to lay bare and to iK)int out.
As ajxuido to our conclusions, and in duo coursi' of seek-
ing the prompt recognition of our claims to free agency, we
have only to review the history of the ])oininion since Con-
federation to realize the necessitv of so socuriur aivl a-linstiii"
our thoovotical,as well as our practical rights, that the volition
of any other will than our own cannot disturb the peace and
haruKmy of the Province. Instances are not wanting, both
east and west, where certain foreign and anti-Jhitish clementH
have become restive under l''ed<;ral rule; and because of their
holding a sot of exclusive ])reconcei\ed opinions, have clam-
oured for privileges and considerations of various kinds, to the
prejudice of their fellow subjects — privileges which have
neither been sought nov accorded to other portions of tiie ])eo-
plo. These demands have had to be ap])eased by th<» luhiicat-
ing process of grants and subsidies, and these, not ixi proj)oition
to the numerical or elective strength of the disatfeeted ones,
but in pro[)ortion to their ability to clog the governmental
machinery at the point of their political intluence.
Taking it for granted that in their porha})s pardonable
haste to condone a troa.sonable offense, the Dominion Govcnn-
mont, directly under the inspiration of the same power that pre-
cipitated the rebellion of 180!*, overlooked or forgot the re-
cognized government of Assiniboia, and by so doing sowed
the seeds of discontent, whicli have never since been eradica-
ted, and that they intlicted a serious wrong against the exer-
cise of British constitutional rights, as established by the
primitive government of tfiat day, it is not too late yet for the
people of Manitoba, through their Legislature, to fall back on
first: }>rinciplos and declare that it will be undigniliod in them,
and unjust to future generations, to bo negatively carried along
by the current of events, and by a guilty indilierence, tacitly
cousont to fix for all time the cotuMiin;at powers of Manitoba
as at prusont c >nstitutt;'l, in coiiip.uison with those of the
other Province.^ of the Dominion.
To sccuro to this Pr^»vince all the riu-'hts exercised by the
ori'^inal <'i)vornin(mt, niul which ha^ e nevei- been forfeitfj.l or
barten'.ilaway, but only lU'erHhadoweil for the time bein;^ i»y
a. superior power, it will be necessary to lefer to them, aii<l the
Jisoovcuy \!i male that voars before the rebellion i>f 18()!> it es-
tabiislieii and eoiititdled the law relative <.o lands in the Pro-
vince; that it prescrib.Ml tile aiuDunt of duties ti> be paid by
forei^^n ountrie.s, and matie provisidn ^i)V tiie colbnition of the
same ; that it exercised sovereign jurisdiction over all oourta,
civil anil criminal; that it created all ollices, and appoiiitijd all
ofUecrs ; that it provided the means and niiinnei' by which all
revenue sliould be levied, collected and disbursed ; that it rc-
coLjni/ied the flag of the IjUipire, and that in all ways the peo-
ple lived in respect to the laws of Great Uritain, and that by
no a.;t of theirs, nor of tlie D>)minion or Frnpiiriai (.tovci'iiment,
has that of Assitiiboia been eKtinguished »<r ab(ilislied,«»n!y over-
sliadowod. Tluse are strong grounds to tak(;, bnt they are
<'onstitutional, and if projjerly represented to tlie Privy Conn-
cii of" Great Britain, wonhJ, witliont doubt, be sustained. As-
suming then that such is the fact, and that the u,mn of i'ro-
vineial sovereignty lies hidden somewhere beneath the accu-
nmlated histt)r} of a few short 3'eavs, will it b(; wi.se to allows
such a precious presence to lay dishonoured at a time wiien its
assertion would give fresh ini])etus and direction to our nation-
al life ? Manitoba has a. grand iuture in stoic, but it is >.tair-
goring under it.s load of disabilities, ami, notwithstanding all the
■whij)[»ing and s|)urring, Haunting of llags,jingo speeches, and
sputtt'r, yet like an iiibtinctive race hoi'se, who feels himself
]iandica]>]>ed, it refuses to take tlie bit, but :«ta.ndH chninping
and pawing, watching the time when it can rush to its destiny
on equal terms with its sister provinces.
If the foregoing premi.ses are coirect, the rcnK.'dy is a|»-
pareiit, and we must lead up to it without hesitation. We
must have :
1st — The right t(» enjoy the constitutional pri\ileges and
attributes of a sovereign power so ftir as having absolute juris-
diction over our own revenue ; the ap])oin»nK>nt of all public
servants of whatever kind, and the control of a,ll our internal
affa^r^. the same as was enji)yed by the original government of
Asbiniboia.
2rKl — That liaviuL,' boon (lcj)riviMl cil" oiir lake front l)y tlu;
lU'cision of U(M- Mnjcsty award'mt,' tin* (lis|«!ite(l territory to
Oiitaiio, wi! should .seek an equivalent hy an extension of
boinnlary northward to the shoivs of Hudson's liay.
3rd— The al»s-»lnte control of all the undisposed of land
within the boundaries ho extended.
4th — A fair and ('(juitable conijtensatum, in money or
otherwise, A)r all the lands disposed of within the said bound-
aries by the J)(»uiinion (Jovernniont, save that given for home-
steads iind pre-emptions to actnal settlers.
5th — Representation in the Senate ami Conimons of the
Dominion in proportion to the material interests of the Pro-
vince as compared with the other I'rovinoes, till such time as
it can enter on terms of eipiality njum the basts of representa-
tion by population.
(jth — The unconditional rijfht to charter railways in any
direction within the boundaries f>f the Province.
7th — And lastly, the settlement of all accounts current on
bu.sines.s principles, dating from the unlawful overthrow of the
Government of Assiniboia to the present time.
These rights re-established, an<l the suspended life of the
Oovfrnment of Assiniboia reeogni/ed, it will then bein(»rder
to deetare that the link of legisjativ*.' succession is restored, and
that whilst heartily favoiable to a union with both Federal
and Imj'orial powers for all purposes of offence, defence and
cf)nnnere(;, yet it nmst be on a le-adjusted basis, having the
full consent of the loyal inhabitants of th(> Province to eenuint
the terms. We shall then have an in<lividmi.lity of our own ;
our allegience will not rie a subsidary one, obtained undeigau-
zey pretenses, but it will bo the free-will obligation of ]mtrif>tic
])eopI(r. We shall then pifsent rlie grand s]HH;taclc of one of a
connnunity of dependencies, each on its <twn Iteliaif, ebi.steri»ig
our hopes and aspirations around the magnetic pole of t])e
Krnpire, not fis fragmentary, un}»olislied parts of tlie national
structure, but "fitly joined together as evory part supplieth."
As the natural result of this change of relations, the
Federal |)o\vers will be restrained to a largo extent, each l-*ro-
vince will contiibute a fixed sum per capita for Federal pur-
poses, instead of as at present emptying it.s eotfei's, and ])our-
ing its w^ealth into the general treasury, and then, instead of
our having to humiliate ourselves and our public men in en-
i
ofnijin!,' in |toi'io(lieal l)fittl('s with the Rutiioiitits, luot to foot,
and knco to knw, i'ov .Ik; pniposc of wni.stiriLj a fragnn'nt of
our own contriltiiLion from tlio coniirion purse, w(> sliall l.»o in
tlu; liaf>|)y |)()>sition of (li},pL'nsorH inatead of reeciverH. This
is the only position wliich comports with the dignity of a frco
poo])l(\ All otlior (ujnditions tend to Huliscrvit-nc}', and later
on to servility, and Hnally to difseontont anti anarchy.
To make the ease cleni', and to realize tlie future* position
of the Province, it will l>e necessary to look at the (inancial as
well as thf political nisult of such a change. Frnin n
state of inert dr]i(Miden(,'e, without resounjcs, a conditi'iu iti-
concoivnliiy intolei'uhle to an enterjirl;ing pcoj)ie who are sur-
round"d hy the material woulfh of this i^reat heritag*', an<i
from heino^ the recii)ients of a subsidy of $i5O,(K)0 per annum
from all sources, with the po.ssihility of an inereaHc in the far
off future to Sf'.OO.OOO, the Province would then expajid into
a sovereif^nty, assuming to hear all its own burdens, besides
bearing its share in the expense of the Feileral Government.
Out of the 0<i,()0(>,0()0 acres of land within the present
boundaries of Manitoba, it has recently been shown that after
conceding all the deuuinds and deducti(»ns of the I^Y'deral (Jov-
venmirnt, there would still be (i,000,(>00 acres of first-class ara-
ble laud left to the Provinee, which, sold at SI. 50 per acre and
the pro('eeds caj)italized at five per cent., would yield a per-
petual income of >51<.')(),00(). The proceeds of tunber sales at a
low estimate would be $120,000.
Fotimating the ])opidation as at present, 05,000, and mak-
ing an approximate com])utation upon the amount of duty jmid
on goods that enter the Province, t^]ie custom.^- d<'i)artment
would yield a revenue of not less than ?!S0O,OOO. The excise
dej artmonts, estimated on the above basis, would net Ji?'22r),000.
Those sources of income would foot up the very creditable
sum of i?l,r.0ri,OO(). Add to that the various rev(:nues deriva-
ble from the taxation of permissible enterprises of various
kinds, and we realize in prospect a very handsome balance
every year to be exjjcnded in local improvements, such sum
amounting in all, to not less than $2,000,000.
To give etleet to the foregoing outline, and in order to capi-
talize the value! of our [uiblic lands, active measures would
have to be instituted with the view to emigi-ation, and whereas
at present tht^re is no incentive to our Government to increase
our population, in fact it has been shown to be rather the other
way. tlien the object w<>ul«l be two-fold — the realization ut'
casli, ari'l iiiten!st-ln'ann^ snniritieR— and thn introduction of
pcrluiiKS .several million tax [>roiiucers, whoso iiulii.stry would
still further suell the provincial exclietjuor, fiy a furtlier re-
ference to the justly I'anious and patriotic budget s))coeh ot our
prcniior, the Hon John Norquay, of 1884, the contrast is
vividly shown. When Kpoaking t»f the Federal iiunn..';ratioii
policy, and its etieets on this eountry, ho «<ay,s : 'Their ininii-
<;rjitioa poli(!y. while tr-ndingto build tip tlu; Dominion, do»s
so in. an eMpeciul uianuor at. the expiMiwe of this l'r<ivinec, Kach
new Hottlor within our limits becomes at rnce a revenue pro-
dueor for Oaruida, and a tax on the re-nurces ot Manitoba,
which has not been enabled to carry out th(! objects of govern-
ment, as the I'tlx'r provinces are enabled, b}' th(( assistanee of
the Federal authorities to earry oiit. (Hoar, hear.) Who gets
the foes for the sale of our land ? The Fedeial UovernuKmt.
Who pockets the excise and customs duties raise<l by the Pro-
vince, ihities largely incre<i.sed, as I hav(> said, by (>very addi-
tional settler ' The Federal Government. We bear the bur-
don, they draw the r* v'onuo, an anangement altogether too
one-sidoil for us. (Hear, hear.; There should surely be some
sort of proporti(jn between oin* lovenue and oui iv'sponsibjlities,
as oui' population inrivaso."' so should be oui' power of provid-
ing for the wants of that ])oi»ulation. (Cheer.s. ) "
The abo\e noble and patriotic utterances, coming as they
do from the highest ropiesentativc of this people, and lieing
doubtless, the result of much earetul and well-digestetl tho--ght,
may fairly })e said to comprehend, in an exceclingly condensed
form, the whole contention of this I'n -'ince. They imj)ly
what every one of the Anglo-Saxon race should claim, tliat
revenue from land, timber, and minerals legitimately belongs
to the community in which they are placed, and that any di-
version from such purpose produces stmined reiaticns, creative
of di.scontent and paralysis.
That this view ol the ease as presented by the Hon-
John Noiquay, met with universal approval, and was accepted
as an earnest of future legislation on that fiuestion, is atti sted
by its electric effect upon tin; people, and by the entire subsi-
dence of an unseendy agitat)on which at that time swept
aero.ss the surface of this otherwi.se trancpiil and peace-lovin<^
Province,
PART 2ND.
i
i' •
However reluctantly the task of tliscvissiiui; tiie ([lu^stioti
oC'llaee" may bo ajM^roached, yet candor and jtistico, to tliis
suliject, seem r.o dcniand that it be discuHsod in thisconiiocti'^n.
It iy therotoie out of no factious .spirit that it i^( broiiglit
before the pul^lio, but o)ily as one of the many undi-'rlying
eau.s«\s of stagnation ett'rcting this country which party poli-
ticiau.s cannot en^^age, with safely to tlieniselvesor the interests
thev advocate, but wliich nevertlieless enters largely into and
gives complexion to our system of rt^presentation.
It must be borne in mind, that the true ]K»litician, like the
faithful historian, is constrained to deal honestly with things
as he linds tlu!m, and as he is not sup[)oscd to have conti'ibu-
tedmal' rially to their existence, so he cannot be responsible to
an}' great extent for their conse(|uen('es ; this being admitted,
it becomes his dut}^ ni due course to exi)ose any lurking evil
wliich impedes or disturbs the natural functions of the body
politic.
Tills is tin? only a]iology ibr referring to and bringing to
notice that invidious and vexed (question of "Race," which will
form the subject of the next few paragraj^hs.
Theoretically, according to British constitutional law,
wherever the Hag of our country is unfurled, it dlfrries with it
liberty and more especially equality of rights to the citizen,
and whether its folds encircle the overflow of other nationali-
ties or that of the mother countiy only, we extend to all the
light luuiil of fellowship and in the fullness of our heart,
those who are aliens by birth are quickly transformo<i into
subjects of Her Britannic Majesty, and invited without coer-
cion to blend tludr ettbrts with ours according to their re-
spective lights for the public weal. But])ractically, and whilst
it is true that a very large proportion of those of foi-eign ex-
traction loyallj' ^'ie with us and with each other in ujtholding
our coHunon langiuige, modes and habits, to the extir.guish-
ment of their own, and all}'' themselves honestly with one or
other of the political parties for the good of the whole, yet the
French people, k)th here and in Quebec, still maintain their
national exclusiveness, and foi purposes of ilicir own are as
e.NMcntially the same poo])lc now as w lien they left tluiir fatlier-
luml, eentinie.s aij^o, and thoiit]i;li tliev have been so Ion*; with
* US, yet they arc not of us. Tlie thoiiu:ht of "Iniperial France"
with its historic nieniovios is, with thcni still cherished and
carefully cultivati-d, and whilst outwardly they confonu in
s( iiu- measure to our customs, and for I'easons join with us in
sini;ini: our National Anthem, yet tlio burden of their song is
"Vive La France." Their veannngs remind us to some extent
of the Jewish sentiment so pathetically expi-essed during tlieir
Baltylonish captivity, when the}' exclaimed : "If Ifoi-get thee,
O dcrusalem, let my right hand forg(^t her cunning. If 1 do
Jiot remember thee let my tongue cleave- to the roof ol my
mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief j(»y,"
Cold indeed nnjst be the heart that refuses to pay homage
to the land of its foiefathers, and un worth}' his race the man
\vho dishonors his kindred by ingratitude or desertion. All
trn(^ men spurn such an one as he deserves. »St» far we may
w.jH hi nor the devotion of the French people ; but they shftuld
bear in mind that theirs is a voluntary, unsolicited surrend(>r,
and has its counterpart in every individual new settler who
joins this grand confederacy, and like as the blushing maiih^n
who plights her troth at the matriuKmial altar is permitted to
love none tlie less those of kin because of her vow, yet must
she love her husband more than all the wo"ld beside, so they
like her can l<\vally cheiish childhood's dearest memories, and
as the changeful realities of daily life meet them at every turn
they can have sweet solace to sanctify the heart like the in-
lluence of exjuring chimes from some distant Sal)bath bell.
Thus far Imt no farthm- can they go ; the home of theii-
adoption must liave ]>i'iority over all f)thers if they claim pro-
tection from the British Hag. This the French people have
not done. Theirs has been a continuous struggle for supre-
macy ; a cool, cahndating, insidious metliod of cairying out
their selfish pur[)oses ; a mixture of complaint, defiance, exul-
tation and intrigue far beyond the jiractice of Knglish speak-
ing people. They endeavor to compass ends b}' strategy and
united effort which others accomplish by labor and persistant
industry. Not satisfied M'ith enjoying rights secured by trea-
ty to tli(^ Province of Quebec, they an; n^jii'ating (heir histoiy
in this Province b}'^ ngidly drawing the dividing line of "Kace,"
meanwhile, and without any cause, com}>laiuing that they arc
!!
coiii|)eUc<l to force the ri<jlit of ordinary citizenship, when it
is clear that their very .system from centre to circunifereiice,
Itofch civil ami eeelcHiastical, isolates tiieni froiu the oidinary
advance of our couiuion civilization. Tliey have secured, for
the time being, at a very lar^^^e cost to tiie people of this Pro-
vince, the use of their language in the covirts and in the legis-
lature. The have secured a control of the electorati' entirely
out of [)ro|»ortion to their uunu.'rical strength, and they are
seizing the most availuhle points throughout this Province
and the Northwest as bases of operation, sucb as will in their
view hold the balance of power, both legi^ilative and municipal,
with any govennjient which, by pitjarrangenient, Nvill grant
their demands. In {'act, they live and move iu an atu\os[)here
biistlins with fancies of a distinct nationalitv, which, though
supiiressed, yet ever and anon come to the su!-face thiough the
utterances of the more incautious amongst them, as, for in-
stance, the following, presumably from the pun of 1 ion. A.A. La-
Hiviere, a member of the Provincial Govei-nment. Writin'' in his
l)Si\)CY,Le ManUolM, the French organ, he says: "Manitob(0 was •
orvjinally inUmdcd for a French Province, and H must and
shall he one.'' Could national di.sloyalty go farther, except to
appear in open revolt, wbich it did a ^(.)Vf weeks later at Fish
Creek and Batoehe, and j'et this organ, instead of being ques-
tioned for complicity, was, because of the exigence of ''Race,"
and behest of party, quietly condoned.
In dealing with this question of "Race" from a purely
Provincial .standpoint, it do(3S seem like ungentnously begging
the <(Uestion to link in all tliB French i>f the Dominion, when
it is known that they of Quebec were long ago ceded certain
rights, the importauce of which were at the time not realized,
nor were their far-reaching eHorts even obscurely anticipated,
but which must nevertheless be respected and endured. It is,
however, from this very direction that danger is to be appre-
hended, for being a distinct people, without civil guidance of
their own, they have become in the truest sen.se, a vast hie-
rarchy, whose methods it is not for us to criticise, only in so
far as they effect them in their jelation to us,
This hierarclial foi'm of government as exercised by the
French is, practically speaking, an alternative one which, by
its concentration on the one hand, and by its subtlety and
thoroughly diffusive character on. the other hand, is more in
accord with their natural instincts as a peo^jle, and hence,,
though nominally subordinate to the Federal power, it is by
13
far the stronger of the two; and without reference to their
intclligonco, it moves n[)on thinr social and political, as well as
upon their religious sympathies, and hence the great danger to
the State, for there can be no patriotism in the suffrage of" a
people who are swayed in their elective choice by the selfish
will of an exclusive ecclesiasticisni.
ft will now be in order to show that the attitude assigned
to the French 's tht; correct one. and not fanciful or given in a
spirit of petulent fault-finding, as may be alleged.
To do this it will only be necessary to refer the well-
informed reader to the various means by wh'ch they have
endeavored to enforce their pretentions ; how they have beert
as a thorn in the flesh of the Dominion (iovernment, and how
they have endeavored to accomplish tlicir ])ur))oses in this
country by chat peculiar system, the mere m(;fition of which
is considered a crime and an insult, but which honesty de-
)nands should be brouijht to notice. It is that of iustlfvino;
and condoning the deflections of their people through the in-
fluence and pleading of their prelacy. It will be remembei-ed
how, in I8G9, al'. the diplomatic and (jther correspondence in
relation to the rebel Kiel was conducted through that chan-
nel ; it will be remembered, too, that the constituted govern-
ment of Assiniboia was completely ignored, and that Kiel was
championed by the Fiench prelacy, even to tlie extent of be-
ing sent, througli their influence, to represent this people in
Parliament, instead of beino: made to atone on the gallow.M at
the time for his crimes against the State.
It is still fresh in the min^ls of all how, in the autumn of
1SS5, His Grace the Archbishoj) of St. IJoniface wrote one of
the most dee[)ly emotional, eloquent and effective a])i)eals on be-
half of this man and his j)eo[)le evei- written,aud which proved to
be the cidminating effort of his life in that direction. It did
honor to his great learning and ability as a s])ecial [>leadei-,
and wouhl, if written in defence of con.-titutional authoiity,
have immortalized his nauie. In reference to it, it is safe to
jay, that whilst we may be . disposed to pay a high tribute,
both to his head and h«mrt in the production of so splendid and
brilliatit an effort, yet docs it not striK'e the reader that this
supreme piece of idealism was pointed in the direction which
is here sought to be indicated ?
This and sinular writings and speeches througliout the Do-
minion created at the close of the rebellion a feeling of intense
14
a^-itation amongst tlio Freiicli, and wliilsf- in this country noth-
ing hut the uio.st dogged silence and ajiatlietic intiiirercncK
seemed to prevail, yet their true nivvardncss manifested itself
at tiKiir indignation meetings on the " Ohanip Do Mars " at
Montreal and throughout the French Press of Quebec. It was
then that "Race and llevenge" and many other sanguinary
cries wore uttered, which sent a thrill of enthusiasm ainong^t
them. It was about then that a French armedivessel cast an-
chor in Quebec harbor, and they emphasized the hope that the
day was not far distant wIkmi not only would the "Tri Coloi'"
of France wave from the masthead below, but that it Avould
also iloat from the tlagstati' above the citadel.
The following from the pen of the Hon. Mr. Justice Lor-
an;.jer in his letters on the Federal Constitution is iriven with-
out comment as mdicatnig the extent to which they feel in-
debted to ns for British fair play, and certainly justifi-'s the
position taken in these j>ages. His opening sentences ai'o : —
*' During the past century cf British rnle, the French race
in Canada has Itecn through man}' political crises and has
fought many constitutional battles. It has, however, come out
iriamplumt and averted the dangers that threatened it. The
antagonism resulting from different institutions, traditions,
languages and religious l)eliefs — irresistible where people of va-
rious origins dwell in the same territory — which influences
them sometimes without their knowledge, and often against
their will, has niale the position of this race an exceptional
one in the nddst o'i the Anglo-Saxon population of the C(jii-
federation. The rivalry of races is the same as that which
existed under former regimes but on a lorger scale. Though
tempered by the good feeling existing between the Provinces
and dii^guwc.d by the apjxiroit cordlalii;/ of their relations,
none the less exists, and wdienever special circumstances give
rise to a conriict between interest and friendly feeling, vvill
certainly bi-eak out. That which occurred in the past may
occur in the future, the multiplicity of political incidents and
the complication of interests thereby occasioned render it
morally certain. Frejich-Canadians shoidd, under the now
ri^gime as they did under the old, see \\'ith j^'cdoivs care to the
maintenaiice of their national rights, the preservation of their
political autonomy, combat and prevent any aggression that
may disturb thes ) guarantees. The anomaly of our situation
with respect to us even changed the signification of the terms
of public law. Political union which for other nations means
-?v^
16 >
increased force, natural dovolopnient and concentration of au-
thorit}, means for iis feel>lene.ss, isolation and menace, and
icgi.slative union, political absorption."
EnouLi'li has now been said on this point to show how im-
possible it Is to dovetail two distinct nationahties together,
each havini; an individuality to maintain; at best such an
union must produce a liydra-headed monster of government
such as can never command the respect and devotion of the
several i-aces to whom this country is open as a lefuge from
the evils and, in some cases, the oppressions of the older States.
It is inconceivable that we should make any exceptiim on
beiialf of those who are ever ready, according to their own
showing, to ])lace, as* it were, a magazine under our national
jtructure and explode it on the slightest pretext.
There is but one remedy, and that is apparent. We must
be one peo|)le, with one sentiment and one language. .\ny
other than our own n\ust be abolished from our legislature,
from our courts, from our statutes, and fr(.»m our ])ublic schools.
We must have re])resentation by population, pure and
simple, and if we wouhl be a hapi>y, prosjKjrous, contented,
and a cheaply govei-ned people, all national lines must be foi'-
evor extinfruished.
PART 3RD.
f!
■Jl
II
One 'tf the lmrniMg<[iK'.st.ions at present agitating tin; peo-
ple ol' this Province is di.sallowanco. so called. . •
It eousists in the ritrht of the Dominion CovenunrTit to an-
I'll •
nul lailway eharters grantcl hy the legislature, 'runninL,' in a
.southerly liirectirtn tw (umneet with American reads at tin;
boundary, and thus bring them into direct competition with
the C'anadian Pacific Railway, which, by its charter, has se-
cured within certain bounds a monopoly of the carrying trailo
of this Country for twenty years from the date of its issue.
It is not relevant here to stop and C()n.sider the various
contentions which are advancci either for or against disallow
ance. It is enough for us to know that a condition of things
exist winch arc undesirable and s cry generally regretted, and
if the truth must be tuid, veiy badly \niderstood by our ])eo-
ple, wIkj, in their frantic etibrts to secure an opening to the
south, seem to have forgotten t,he infinitely greater necessity
of railway communication to the north via Hudson's Bay. The
early construction of this road would render the present con-
tention a ni^'th ; it wouLi result in a " change of fi-ont, " and
iin[)art a vigor to this country that caiuiot now be estimated.
Different men may and do ascribe different causes as con-
tributing to oui- present inertia, and disalh'wance is doubtless
one of then), because if it means nothhig else it implies inabili-
ty to exercise the will power, which is the life stream of a fi'ee
people. But on en(iuiry it will be seen that the great draw-
back does not arise from that, because even an inci'cased num-
ber of railways does not always mean competition for freights;
for they, like all large corporations, have their methods even in
their dilferences, and com})ine against the public by pooling
their earnings. More especially will this probably be the case
if but one other line is ailmitted to the country.
It does not seem to be because the Province has not a
sufficiency of railway service, as we have already nine hundred
miles of iirst-elass road, capaltle of doing twenty times the
carrying trade we are able to offer ; and until tlie land on
I. !
17 —
oitlior side is settled and partially cultivnlcd for a distance of
at liiast twenty miles, it cannot he (jonsidi'icd ,,s beinj^ inac-
cessible to the {leople, or to iiavc failed in rciidcrinf^ eltlcicnt
service to the extent c<»nt(!nded for — that of requiring the in-
troduction of either foreign lines or an increased number of
«nn own.
It does not seem to he on account of the rigorous climate,
or the length of our winti^rs. Ab-n fr<)in all ])arts of the world
are conijreijated here, and he is \et to bo f<Mind who does not
pi'efer the dear l)i"aeing atmosphere of our m mter, and the
uniform temperature of our summer, to that either to the east,
west or south of us.
Jt do»'s ui t seem to be because of the scarcity of timber
and find, not fi'igctting our inexhaustilile peat beds, or miner-
als of all kinds, including petroleum. These are ail around us
u) immense .'supply.
It does not seem to be because of the lack of fertility in
the soil, for nature seems to have excelled hei-self in this last
great effort at production, as has now been clearly demonstra-
ted to the world.
It is fjot because, food, clothing, implements, machinery
and the like are inaccessible, and beyond the purchasing [)0wer
of ordinary men.
Then what is it ?
It is manifestly because we have mistaken and refused
our destiny, and have attempted to revei-se the order of things
b}'' becoming a commercial people instead of })rodueing wealth
from the resources around us. We have attempted the status
of mature life, and have depended on a continuous influx of
capital for all purposes, when we ought to have created it by
cultivating the soil, by producing the reriuirements and even
luxuries of life from t!ie invitini: elements around us. We
should long since iiave ceased to Jeai on the older Pi'ovinces
for many things w'hich W(; can produce at less cost, and in far
greater abundance, than they. In other words, we should have
developed our own powers fofall purposes, instead of depend-
ing on that with capital obtained. We have prcwi led all tlie
appliances of a great people without the necessary reserve force
to keep up the strain.
The reactionary absorption arising out of the cost of trans-
portation has naturally produced the intermediate services of
18
a host of merchants and traders, whost; numljors are tar in
excess of (jiir powc.T to .siistnin. This drain iipoiiotir re.soiirces
is consequent upon our gn^it distance tV(»in thb markets of the
world, but it ncvertheh^.ss obstructAS tlio free action of the pio-
(Uicer by largely reducing the value of his slender output, and
adding materially to the value of those vast supplies so neces-
sary to e({uip ev(>n in a moderatti way the artizan or agricul-
tinist wh(j, up to the present, have been the only producers of
wealth.
This absorption of tlie earnings of the people has given un-
due ])rominenc,e to our commercial interests at the expense of
the indtisti-ial, and has odered, apparently, a more rapid
and attractive avenue to the acquisition of wealth. We have
by our own haml refused our liestiuy, and thereby delayed
indefinitely the more permanent develo{)ment of our vast re-
sources, and produced the present paralysis.
Adopting the above tijeory, and with(jut adverting to the
various opinions in respect to this country, many of which are
advanced at a venture by those who know nothing at .all about
it, the reader is asked whether it has ever occurred to him that
the Canadian Paeitic and the fludson's [5ay Railwa3's — one
having been and the other about to be built principally either
by the direct contribution or upon the credit of the people —
should not be like our rivers and inland waters, owned and
operated as a public liighway at the cheapest rate for the con-
venience and enrichment of the people.
If this idea is fully grasped, it will be seen how little
there is to be either lost or gained by the retention or extin-
guishment of the uiono))oly clauses of the C.P.R, charter, more
especially after th'> attitude of non-intercourse assumed by the
the Americans on the iishery dispute,
The adopt ion of these roads by the people would change the
whole future aspect of this Province and the Northwest, inas-
much as, if the freight rates were divested of their glamour and
uncertainty, and j)roperl} adjusted by experts on ascertaine<l
principles, the existence or non-existence of tlu; monopoly
clauses, and protection or non-protection in the way of tai-itf,
would be very uniaqiortant factors in estimating recij)rocity
with the States, oi* railway connection with their lines We
would be in a position to defy eonij^etion. We should tJien
be a people b}' ourselves, and could say in the truest sense of
the woi-d, 'Canada for Canadians.
tn order to Icail up to tlui loopusal at issuo, it may bo
oliservcnl that Great lU'itairi in times gotto liy, antici|iatin'^ a
UuHsian ailvancc u|>.>ri her Kast Indian jMis.se.s.sioii.s, and fuar-
iii!^ that lier route in their deienee, by way of the Sue/, canal,
mi^lit, through some unlort'een comphcatioitby the (K)\vors, })o
di>[)uted at such an inconvenient time, expoided large sums
of money in searching for a Noithvvtjst Passage, as a means of
reaclung the east by the v/est more diicctly and fsuruly than
round by the (Jai»o. Her efforts in that tlirection failed, and
it was not till Canadian enterprise eame to her rescue by con-
btruetlng tlie C IMl. fi'oin ocean to ocean that she has secured
the long sought for Northwest . assugr, or a direct route to
India and the east through her own possessions.
The mother e<juntrv has not failed to reco:x?iiw the im-
portanco of the service.- thus rendered, and acting on her ti'a-
ditional doctrine that ' the gods lielj) those who help them-
selvt;s, " she is about to const rut^t frontier deletices <jn the
iJrltish Columbian coast for the jiurpose of securing for all time
the militaiy highway {\\\\> loyally opened \\\) to her by a de-
voted and patriotic; ])eo])le.
Taking it foj* granted that the C. P. R. is the long souglit
for Northwest passage, and that its acquisition is of })aramount
inii)ortanco to (Jieat Britain, not only as a means of gaining
easy access to, and of defending her e;istern [lossessions, but
also of bindin<v us in the truest sense of the word to the jjreat
codl'ederacy, is it visionaiy to pnjpose that she, in the abund-
ance of hei wealth, should contribute ot hei means to attain
full possession of tins road, and place it undei* efficient govern-
ment control — the H. B, H. following in Jue course — for the
benefit of the peojile.
It is nothing new in eiviliz(Hl jurisjirudence to reverse the
vested rights of the individual for the benefit of society as a
whole — or, to accept the dogma, "the greatest got)d tor the
greatest number" — when such is shown to be a necessity. Tliis
idea is ra))idly gaining ground, and when judiciously exercis-
ed, is pu>ductive of the very best vesidts. It applies ((jually
to large as well as to small corporations. The following are
cases in point :
Great Britain, recognizing the great importance of tele-
graphy, and realising tin.' friction and extortion arising from
excessive charges inflicted by private companies, determined
/
at ono swoop to i»l>litorat<' tlunj, uml to assume the wliolo .sys-
tem ill tlio naiiio of tlic jn'oplo. To do this it hocairM' lucossa-
rv to |»av pii\ ate i.>ntDi"|irisr one, htinilre<] and (sifjhty-tivti ndl-
lion dolhirs as tho imrciiase [)ii(*«.' ; l>tit inst \id i>iLuniiiig mon-
opolist and di'ivin^ tlie people to the wall, she reduced tho
price ot'tratismissioa from 25 ets for ten words to 12! cts for
twont}' wor<l;, or (jxactly oxw. (juaitor the; fonnor eost, and al'-
ter ti.akint^ tlie late uniform throni^dioiit tiie eountry, they aio
enahled to pay 5 per cent, per ainium on capital and to cioato
a ninkinj^ fund which, in thirty years, will pay off th(! princi-
pal and leave tiftee.n n)illion dollars in reserve. But the direct
iinaneial results to the nation are Inita small part of the bene-
tit deiived, when convenience, cheapness and tmiforniity arc
considered, in ad<liti(m to the enoinioiisly increased volume of
business and the many happy manifestations of contidencc in
that inimitable government.
Another instance, equally striking, is found in the city of
Birniini^ham, Kii£(land. One diificulty after another arose 1h;-
tween tlie corporation and the gas and waterworks company,
till it was deteiuiincd under what is knov/n as the borough
improvement scheme, to buy cnit the i)rivate corporation and
assume control. To efi'ect this responsibility, the city paid
thirty millions of dollars in order to test the now exploded
idea that none but private corporations can succeed Hnaneially
with public work^. The tirst act of thi; city council was to
reduce the price of that great essential, water, to a mei'e nt)mi-
nal figure, and to reduce the ))rice of gas fn^m S7 cts. ))cr thou-
sand to bo cts. The best results have ^'(dlowed. The income
})ay.s a good interest on capital. The city owns and controls
thisgn^at enterprise, the people are satislied because they are
well served, and it is conceded that Birmingham is the clean-
est, best lightetl and l)est governed manufacturing town in
England. Time would fail if it were undertaken to .show that
co-oi'cration is the only just and finally .safe method of con-
ducting the above and such like enterprises, for be it remem-
bered that all the.5e and such like arc but co-oj)eration on a
large scale.
It has been ascertained from official sources that the avoi'-
age cost of freight from all points on Canadian railways does
not e.Kceod Sl.3o per ton, and taking this astou nding .state-
ment, if true, as the next starting point, what is it that sug-
gests itself to the thoughtful mind ? Simply this : that upon
tliis piiiuM|»lf of avcraiT.' c«».st, if the C. P, R and tho pvoposod
II. !Ml. woiT owirmI l.y tlu.' poojtU' ail. I some uniform paviTig
rato based upon tlir uverai:*! eariiliijjfs, hotli for passen-
gers and frci^^ht, from all points on a sonu'wliat similar
|)riiiciplo as our post offirt', or the Englisli telegraph system, it
would make but little ditferenci* what j)art of tht» Dominion
people ehosf, fcr a home, as i^oographieal space would hv. prae-
(ically annildlated, and all would le ecpii-distant from the
markets of the wond, both for sales and ptitchascjH. There
would then ho no such thinj;- as congestion of society at cen-
tral points, for people woidd he no longer afraid to distribute
themselves anywhere in the Dominion, aecordin;^ to their
convenience or choice, knowing; that the central advantages
now enjoyed in our larg*^ cities would all be dissolved untle»"
the vi\ ifying etl'ects of a uniform rate of transportation. The
])Pople of this Province would then be as near the coal tields
of Lethbridge, Saskatchewan and elsewhere, as those at Medi-
cine Pat ; the manufacturers of Montreal, Toronto or London
would be as near the farmers and merchants at (.'algary tus
they are those of Winnipeg or lirandon ; aiid vice oerm, the
farmers and producers of this ciiuntry would be as near the
markets of the wo)ld as their brethien of the Eastern Pro-
vinces. Under the imjietus thus given to agricultural and
other industries, the efieet would be almost electrical.
This would no longer be the (Jrcat Lone Land of the
idealist and poet, but one teeming with life and business ac-
tivity, . ,
There is no doubt but the above proposition — viewed
from that finely pointed connnercial idea which prevails, and
which has built up immense eorjioratiojib and has caused a
centralization of capital and placed it at the control of a coui-
parative few to the exclusion of the producers and toilers, who
by reason of theii- arduous occupation have iii ither time nor
ability to resist the overwhelming inlluence of accunndative
wealth — may siem Utopian and, to some, very absurd ; but
unless we admit the dangerous doctrine an<l say that there is
no advancement to be made on the present established meth-
ods of life, unless we believe that the people, through their
skilled representatives, are incompetent to administer their
affairs intelligently and }.>rofitably, unless we believe that the
])eople have no right to deal with their own public works, for
their own protit and convenience, and that in view of this ef-
'I
22
fcminaoy, for it can bo oallod uotliui'jf olso, it U hotter to en-
dow juivato cor[»()ration.s vvitli our niatorial oiitcrpriscs uinl
give them the «)j)))ortiimty of not only beconiin^ the niont-y
centres of the country, but of turnini^ this very ]>ower a^'aiusl
the people, their beni-'factois, anrl of menacing rijufhts and lil.>er-
ties which (.'onuuon gratitude sliouid prouxpt them tc» uphold,
then it will be well to (sxamino ajul hoc whether our na-
tional wellbeing and the better distribution of wealth docs
not requiie the expropriation «)f the C.P.U. and the II. B. li. to
the people as their lawful heritage.
Having taken a sali«.'nt glance at the several (piestions
effecting the future of this country, in a manner suited to the
comj)aJ^s of this essay, the iuipression becomes irrcsist'blo that,
unlikf; ordinar\ iierspective, it seen)-* in its lengthened vie."
to widen and deejiou as we i)roeeed ; but it is hoped tliat
enough has been said to awaken some attention to the Tolly of
drifting listlessly along with th(; current of events, no one
knows where or whither,— leaving the unknown fufuie to
take care of itself. We should remember that Great Britain
has bolted the earth with her ))OSHessions, that the Uomiiiion
of Canada is the last Lcreat nation which will be founded west-
ward with British antecedents. To the people of this country
is eonnnitted the distinguished and important task of estaldish-
ing the most advanced form of government, and one whieh can
only expire with time itself. We have all past history to
guide us in our choice ; we have the glorious traditional and
written history of our forefathers to urge us on our way and
inspire us with btrength and vigorof purj cxse. Ilowessential then
that we rise al)ove our narrow prejudices and conce})tions and
allign ourselves loyally with all true men and be pre|)ared
with them to seize on circumstances as tJiey ]jass and assist in
overcoming the exceptional conditions wliich are incident to
this as to all new cimntries. It is useless to waste time in
morbid rcpinings over the ])ast,and to mingle our bitter dir<ap-
pointments with our hopes and aspirations. This is to throw
away present opportunities and to strangle our eneigiesin
vain regrets over jiast issues.
The intangible intiuences which for a tiine appeared to
sway our destiny, and which to some extent still vibrates in
every texture of the body ]>olitie, will sooner or later, accord-
ing as we are faithful citizens, disappear on the distant wave-
lets of time. Our national equilibrium will be permanently
psfnlillshoil (»ii tlio Imsis of an actual |)io|iri(.,s,s, aiitl not upon
I'nni'icd lines of iin iiinuitural or illusivf jL^rftutli. I'o •'Xpcef
tliat till' cxpoi'ioni'os fjainod l»y the accumulative fort'en whlclj
l.'iid til'' t'oundafioii »»l Toruirr (lyuu.stics and nations would iiavo
••iiablcd tliis vii'f.^in fountiy, witli its c'oiimiinu;l«'(l racfs and
instincts, to lit* nurtiiicd into liff, to I »•.• },m a It. ■< I upon iJu' con-
iVdcrnt'! sto(!K and to [n- ovcrsluKlowcd by Imjioiiid authoilty
witlKuitan appeal or stru<;gl«j, would imply u pt.rltM'tness of
.idinirdstfation almost mon' than Ininian.
Happily loi-tho future of this rounti} puhlic attention ha?»
ai^aiji hi'on turned to it, not as foiniiily in the spirit of ^^rccd
and >|nrulation, l>ut with the desire to learn its trin; capalnli-
ties as an inteii;er of the Dominion ; num seejn disposiid to lay
aside their political contor-tions and to rake rea-onable coun-
cil to(r('ther. In the hope that such may bo the case, this con-
tribution is made, not in the spirit of |)resuTnption or dictation,
but in the ho]>e that at least some thoiipjht will be found
worthy ot" kindly connneiit by those who know how earnestly
the writer has hibored au'-nt ii;ross misrepresentation for a bet-
ter .stnte of public sentiment in t!»is country Till such is
arrived jit, we never can, as Ihitish subjects, i-eali/e the full
value of IMPKUIAL b'r.DKKATION.