IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 V 
 
 /, 
 
 A% 
 
 
 i< 
 
 K 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 IM 12.5 
 
 US 
 
 £ US III 2.0 
 
 | |L8 
 M. 116 
 
 Hiotographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY 14580 
 
 (716) 873-4503 
 
 V 
 
 ^ 
 
 v> 
 
 *% 
 
 v 
 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 # 
 

 6 
 
 % 
 
 CIHM 
 
 ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Collection de 
 
 Series 
 
 microfiches 
 
 (l\/lonographs) 
 
 (monographies) 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original 
 copy available for filming. Features of this copy which 
 may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any 
 of the images in the reproduction, or which may 
 significantly change the usual method of filming, are 
 checked below. 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 D 
 
 Couverture endommagee 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restauree et/ou pellicula 
 
 □ Cover title missing/ 
 Le 
 
 n 
 
 titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Caites geographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 Coloured plates and/or illustration:,' 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 Relie avec d'autres documents 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion le long de la marge interieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may appear 
 within the text. Whenever possible, these have 
 been omitted from filming/ 
 11 se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas ete filmees. 
 
 Additional comments./ 
 Commentaires supplementaires: 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il 
 lui a eti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet 
 exemplaire qui sont peut-£tre uniques du point de vue 
 bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image 
 reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification 
 dans la methode normale de f ilmage sont indiques 
 ci-dessous. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 □ Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagees 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurees et/ou pellicultes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages decolorees, tachetees ( 
 
 ou piquees 
 
 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages detaches 
 
 HShowthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of print varies/ 
 Qualite inegale de I'impression 
 
 □ Continuous pagination/ 
 Pagination continue 
 
 □ Includes index(es)/ 
 Comprend un (des) index 
 
 Title on header taken from:/ 
 Le titre de Ten-tfite provient: 
 
 □ Title page of issue/ 
 Page de titre de la livraison 
 
 □ Caption of issue/ 
 Titre de depart de la 
 
 □ Masth 
 Gener 
 
 livraison 
 
 Masthead/ 
 
 ique (periodiques) de la livraison 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filme au taux de reduction indique ci-dessous 
 
 ^^^ 14X 18X 
 
 I 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 XX 
 
 22X 
 
 26 X 
 
 7f 
 
 30X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 J 
 
 22 1 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Izaak Walton Killatn Memorial Library 
 Dalhousie University 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol —^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 L'axemptaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la 
 gdn6rosit6 de: 
 
 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library 
 Dalhousie University 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet6 de I'exemplaire film6, et en 
 conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimde sont film6s en commen?ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 origiriaux sont filmds en commenqant par ia 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole — »- signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre 
 film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Stre 
 reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir 
 de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 22X 
 
 1 
 
M^.-'^ 
 
 THE USES AND ABUSES 
 
 OF 
 
 "THE ELECTORAL FRANCHISE." 
 
 b' 
 
 
 ':> ,■ •_ 
 
 
6^3/ 
 
 - tmuju 9^-^/a,i 
 
-I' '. 
 
 THE USES AND ABUSES 
 
 — '(((OKj»>— 
 
 "THE ELECTORAL FRANCHISE; 
 
 
 To THE >EOPLE OF InvEKXESS : 
 
 When I undertake to place before you the. foilowin^ few 
 Innk that I an. arrogating to myself any .special ri^ht or abilitv 
 
 t3 Th,n "•!;""; •^; ''"'" ^'"' -3' possible .self-advan- 
 11: 1 ! T ""'*'' "'^"'^ ^ "" '^^^'^"t *° ''^^^1 involves wide 
 general ,ntere,st,sco,nn,on to u.s all. and i.s. besides, closely akin 
 to the official position I happen to hold in the public service o 
 
 he country. I only wish that the task I propose for mysel 
 had fallen into the hands of one of yourselves There are" an 
 
 inon, you who coin.nand more leisure and influence th ' 
 have and are endowed with gifts of head and ...-aces of pen 
 which I cannot pretend to possess ^ 
 
 ants"?"ui'!:!hr"t'"" '"^'^' "'"'' P--PP-- the utter- 
 u beba P''''^"^:^*^''^' P-'itical matters tainted with 
 
 t ancy- If - -an is truthful and wishes well to his country, as a 
 plain, private citizen, there is no danger of hini losin. hiis head 
 or heart at er he becomes invested with a public trust.^unle 
 s either a knave or a fool, and such characters are ha .pily a v 
 among the Government officials of this country. Some pe p 
 go so far as to say that a Government officer has no ri't t 
 even formal y express his opinion on things political. A ."-at 
 nustake could not easily be imagined. It is not only his^.i.ht 
 It IS his dutj. to express, honestly and fearlessly, whate'ver' 
 views he may hold in relation to political affairs. This duty 
 not conhned to Government officers; it extends to all men and 
 
2 
 
 is really inseparable from a proper realization of the responsi- 
 bilities of citizenship. Moreover, if we shut out Government 
 officers from a cantlid discussion of pulilic affairs, we close 
 !i(?ainst ourselves one of the most valuable avenues of infor- 
 mation. 
 
 THE STUDY OP POLITICS. 
 
 The Science of Politics is ditierent from all otlier sciences 
 inasmuch as it permeafi-s all our social forces and surroundings. 
 Many of the other sciences are a speculative field for a specially 
 i|ualified few, but political economy calls out the tlioughtful 
 endeavors of all. It exacts the homa«,'e of all classes and 
 conditions of society. It has come, indeed, to be regarded as a 
 controlling engine of our civilization. When a foreigner comes 
 among us now-a-days, with intention to settle in the country, 
 one of the first ({uestions he fuels called upon to ask, is : " What 
 politics do we have f He will not have any curious concern in 
 our religion, our language, our nationality, or our climate ; but 
 he will be concerned in our politics, because no man can escape 
 the demands of a science that is practically universal in all the 
 walks of life. If we would have a peaceable, prosperous, well- 
 governed country, our people, old and young, rich and poor- 
 each according to his means and mental vision — must make a 
 careful study of politics. 
 
 HOW TO LEARN POLITICS. 
 
 A man who wishes to acquire any political merit, must, at 
 the outset, strive to be an active, useful member of society. 
 Some writer has said that one of the first requisites to success 
 in life, is, " to be a good animal." The pritnary requisite to the 
 success of a politician is, to be a good, indmtrlo^Ls citizen. It 
 goes without saying, that the man who knows his own business 
 and attends to it, is much better prepared to learn and appreciate 
 sound principles of political economy, than is he who neglects his 
 own, and is constantly carping at the business of somebody else, 
 or what is, perhaps, nobody's business. You will generally find 
 that the men who cannot be induced to mind their own affairs. 
 
anrl who are profoundly lacking: in knowlorlye of the onliiiary 
 economics, are those wlio will propound the most monsti-on« and 
 impossible problems for political o;;cranizations to solve. The}' 
 want Governments to do things that should not and cannot he 
 tlone. These constitute the vast bulk of the chronic ffrumhlers. 
 On the otlier hand, the quiet practical men, who reco<,mize tlu 
 wisdom of "earninir their bread by the sweat of their brow," will 
 seldom, if ever, expect unreasonable thinu;s of or from the State 
 powers. Such men are, consequently, not often diwippointed. 
 They are rational in their requirements, and their minds are 
 always in a j^ood condition to learn. 
 
 In our search for political truth, what should be our i)rincipal 
 sources of information ? This is an interestin<j interro<fatory, to 
 which I should much rather receive than cdve an answer. The 
 press is usually a very excellent means of conveying general 
 information. I regret to note, however, that excessive warmth 
 of patty zeal frequently destroys the value of any information 
 we derive from some of the party newspapers of this country. 
 Especially is this true dui'ing the fuss and fermentation of an 
 election combat. Papers and persons who, at other times, are 
 scrupulously honest and accurate in what they say, appear, in 
 the heat of contest, to be purposely oblivious to all moral 
 responsibility. Take up a strong party newspaper on the; eve 
 of an election, read it with an earnest desire for information ; 
 then peruse the sparki' ■., columns of one of the opposite 
 journals, and tell ine how n uch solid, reliable knowledge you 
 have acfiuired by the operation ? You will leain nothing good 
 by such a process ; you may try, and try again, but all your 
 efforts will be labor lost — 
 
 " The toil of dropping buckets into emptj- wells, 
 And growing old in drawing nothing up." 
 
 I do not mean to say that all our newspapers are thus reckless 
 and misleading. My reference only applies to violent party 
 organs. But, strange though it be, these are the very papers 
 that people delight to read at election times. There can lie no 
 hope of ever establishing a sound, healthy public sentiment, so 
 
hmg as ..,.!• p.opl,. continue fc,, draw tlu-ir inspirai.ion fVom such 
 sources. If I l„ul a,. ^.K-iee to -ive you, I sI.ouM tell vou to 
 .'lose your eyes, an.l the doors of your liouses, a-ainst those wihl 
 party jounmls, for some months preeedinjr every eh>otion If 
 you did this, you would soon coinpel such papers to pav com't to 
 that proverbial love of truth which everywhere pervades our 
 Mriassuminjr yeomanry. There are wild party men as well as 
 wd.l party papers ;— we .lon't have such men in this county 
 but we read of them. They are equally unsafe, as a source of 
 intormat.on. Then' is soa.ethin- both an.usin^r and annovinc 
 in the cool assurance with which candidates, ar.d canvasser." 
 an.l penny-orators will, sometimes, undertake to instruct an 
 audience on a certain subject which the audience understands 
 much better than they do themselves. For the purpose of 
 idustration, let us itna.,dne one of the stumpin-r Ciceros of the 
 country, before a stran-e assemblage of farmers, elucidating, in 
 hi.s own beautiful fashion, the glorious eftects of the National 
 I'oiicy upon the very farmers he is addressing. He will tell 
 them how their in.lustry is prospering, and will prosper, under 
 thef«g,s and influence of that beneficent policy ; how excellent 
 and accessible are theirnew-made markets, how easy it is for 
 them to live ; how rapidly and unconsciously they are makin-r 
 money ; and, by way of a soul-captivating climax, he will 
 exclaim that Fortune alone can estimate the huge accunudations 
 ot Nvealth that are growing an.l -athering aroun.l them every 
 day. At the same time there nuiy n(,t be, among that whole 
 crowd of honest, toil-worn farmers, one single man who has 
 money enough to buy for hin.self a pair of new suspen.lers. 
 Ihe endeavor to make people appreciate the good things they 
 have. IS, indeed, praiseworthy ; but it is bootless absurdity to try 
 and make us believe we are eating beefsteak and bacon when 
 we have nothing but herring— probably red-herring. 
 
 But there is another class of campaign tooters, who. like the 
 dentists, are always " looking down in the mouth." They wear 
 long, m^de-to-order faces, with eye.s sunk deep into their heads 
 and a voice that portends at once a liarrowing tale of distress' 
 despair, and death. They will tell the same audience that the 
 
5 
 
 National Policy is the most prodij^ious alioinination tliiit ever 
 eorscd the rartli ; that no fanner can look at it niid live ; tlint 
 it carrifs in its train all spt'cios (.f diiv nilainitics, from tlif 
 weevil to tlio Asiatic Clioieni ; and tliat our dear Dominion is 
 reduced to the woeful condition of those attlicted countries 
 where "there is nobody living, and there is a iimeral everyday." 
 Besieged liy such conHictinj,^ and extravagant ojinions. wluit 
 are the poor farmers to do ' In such a case, there is one 
 authority to which we nnist appeal. It is within the reach (.f 
 us all, and it is infaliible as far as it goes. What is it ! Simplv 
 oxir otcn expt'rience. This is a teacher that seldom deceives. 
 If a farmer wislies to know what are the eti'ects of any policy, 
 or political line of action, upon his calling, his circiniistances- 
 his very living, in fact— his (jwn silent experience will explain 
 it to him more clearly and correctly than any power of lungs or 
 langiiage. If he wants to find out how it affects the fisliing 
 industry, let him consult the Hsherman, whose experienct can 
 tell. To ascertain the hearings of the same policy on our minim,' 
 interests, we must talk to the practical miner, who will give 
 the answer of experience. 
 
 lam quite aware that, now and anon, new movements will 
 be ,set on foot, and great popular Reforms agitated, which nuiy 
 be foreign to our experience. In that event, we should ca-<t 
 about and see if any other country, under somewhat similar 
 condition?, has had experience from which we can boirow a 
 les.son. If we find no experience to fall back upon, we can only 
 endeavor to learn all we can from other sources, such as Official 
 Records ; the Independent and mod(;rate Press • politiciatis of 
 character and mature views ; men of education and standing, 
 not in politics ; and, generally, all the acknowledged lea.lers of 
 thought. We must be careful not to postpone our efforts to 
 gain information until an election is coming off. AVhen the 
 country is calm and quiet, when there is no excitement, conten- 
 tion or party strife to cloud and confu.se our judgment, that is 
 the time for us to inciuire into, analyse, and study tJie nature, 
 color and condition of our political concerns. 
 
II 
 
 If wo tliiis fortify ouisclvos vvitli a rcasonablu knovvlp(l<ro of 
 tlif ai-tuul coiiilitiuii and pmctical ririuiicinctits of tlu; country, 
 in stinsos political, we shall lu- al.N- to use and exercise tli.i 
 franchise an lieconieth a free and wise people. We will tlien 
 he morally .sure to conunit our political destinies to the proper 
 hands; and the whole country will look with awe and confidence 
 to the day we are called out to the polls to issue our consti- 
 tutional fiat, when 
 
 " Bt'itram'g iiji(,(lit and Hertranrs right, 
 ^Vill incL't on Klhuigowrtu's lieiglit." 
 
 VOTING. 
 
 You must suffer me to say that people, as a rule, do not think 
 enough of their votes and of their votincr. This is because 
 sufficient consideration is not iriven to the objects for wliich we 
 are expected to vote. No greater State privilege could be 
 conferred upon us than i.s extended to us, in the liberty to 
 govern ourselves. A grave trust is here confided to our care, 
 which can only he trifled witli on pain of damaging conse- 
 quences. By prudently executing this trust, we prove, in 
 positive nuinner, our fortunate fitness to take care of ourselves ; 
 by imprudently using it, we show precisely the reverse. Suppose 
 that, instead of signifying our views and wishes by ballot, < ach 
 of us was required to fyle with the Presiding Ofiicer a written 
 opinion, containing an explicit statement of what we know and 
 desire concerning our political rights (?) and relations— the needs 
 of the country, the improv^^-nents called for, the changes advi- 
 sable in the policy of the governing powers, etc., etc.— giving, in 
 every case, the reason for our opinion ; would we not, for°our 
 own credit, take particular pains to prepare that document? 
 Well, all that we could express in that paper is .symbolically 
 embodied in the lead-pencil mark we put upon our ticket in the 
 booth. The decision which we record by our ballots must be 
 reached in the same way, by the same mode of investigation, 
 the same summing up of facts, the same analysis of evidence 
 the same proces^s of reasoning, the .same conclu.sions of ratio- 
 cination, that would lead to a solemn judgment delivered in 
 
writini,'. An important qimlity nttncliirii,' to the vcr.lift of the 
 Fallot is, that it in irrovof.al.1... Once ^mwii, w cannot recall or 
 inodity it, and it is sure to havo i-Hl-ct for j,'oo(l or liarni. TIn-n- 
 is, p.-rhaps, no tini.- in our lit'.- w(> lioM so niufli of this wic-kod 
 little world " in tlio hollow of our hand," as when sw have folded 
 up our hallots on cloction day. Acrordini,' as our hand, at that 
 moment, is well or ill directed, will the weal or woe of the 
 realm, in n measure, ensue. 
 
 It is clear, therefore, that we sliould take not only a deep 
 interest, but also an intellijrent pride, in votin-r correctly. As 
 you well know, th(>re is nnthin,<,r more discoura;,qn<,f than to see 
 a mass of human hein-s, who have opportunitles'of hecoiniiii,' 
 intelligent, marchin^r, mithinkinyly to the polls, and castinrr 
 their votes with the sanw* hhmd indifference with which a 
 toddling child will deposit a five-pound notr- in the tire, and 
 then stand oft' to admire the blaze. 
 
 THE CANDIDATE. 
 
 The .selection of a candidate is a thing that should be (h)ne 
 with care and <leliberation. It is wonderful the facility people 
 somotimos have for turning out candidates at short notice. 
 When a tari./er wants to hire a man to make his hay, he will go 
 a long distance to get a person of the right material. When'a 
 business man wants a chnk or a book-keeper, he will take every 
 precaution to sati.sfy himself as to the character, aptitude, habit 
 and general "get-np" of his man before he employ- him. If 
 we want a teacher in one of our commonest Common Schools, 
 we require the production of satisfactory references and creden- 
 tials as a condition precedent to his engagement And,— coming 
 from the .sublime to the ridiculous,— some men will travd 
 thousand,s of miles to secure a .sleek and suitable horse. Yet we 
 occasionally witness the spectacle of trumped-up gentlemen, of 
 whom but little is known— by them.selves or others— posino', 
 Jind accepted without any preliminary inquiry, as candidates 
 for the highest positions in the gift of the people. This is not 
 i^xactly comme il faut The man chosen to represent us in 
 Parliament, or even aspiring to represent us, should reflect in 
 
8 
 
 liiiiiself the honor, the interests, the education and public spirit 
 of tlie constituency. I thinlv you will nil a,!?ree that some of our 
 selections of to-day do not profit by comparison with selections 
 made in olden times, whence comes, among others, the venerated 
 name of 8rn Willia.m Young, Hoating down the breezes of 
 haiipy memory. 
 
 How are we to choose our representatives ? Tliat is par- 
 ticularly your business, and 1 shall only venture to suggest a 
 few of the prominent (jualities essential to the lit representative 
 of enlightened people like ourselves. 
 
 Firstly, then— He must be an honest man—" the noblest 
 work of God." 
 
 Secondly— He mu.st be an educated man of good abilities. 
 Thirdly—He should be, when possible, a man well acquainted 
 witli the people and various interests of the County. 
 
 Fourthly— He should be a man of .strong intellectual force, 
 and of a high order of talent and industry. 
 
 Fifthly —He must have .some .settled, definite views of politics 
 
 of a progressive tendency, that can be understood and defended. 
 
 Sixthly.— He need not, perhaps, in all cases, necessarily be a 
 
 Lawyer. There are some clouded, melancholy instances, in 
 
 which that qualification is dispensed with. Cili bono? 
 
 People will sometimes run away with the lop-sided notion, 
 that, having nominated their candidate, all the efforts they make- 
 to elect him are a purely per.sonal favor to him. To a certain 
 extent this is true ; but it is true in a qualified .sen^e. If the 
 man we support h "the light man in the right place," he does 
 as much favor to us by accepting the position as we do to him 
 by permitting and helping him to take it. We must have a 
 higher and a dearer aim in dispensing the suflfrage, than the 
 mere personal gratification of ihe candidate, no matter who lu^ 
 be. Our own g(jod, and the good of the country, should have 
 first place in our minds. 
 
 You will hear some people saying that they cannot support 
 such and such a man because his party is out, or going out 
 That is nonsense. A good man is always worth his face, whether 
 his lot happens to be cast with the dominant or defeated party. 
 
9 
 
 We am told somotinies tliat our motto sliould be— " measures, 
 not men." I do not believe in that. If both can be combined, 
 all rioht ; if not, give me the man. The best possible guarantee 
 we can have for good measures, is, a good man. A good, capable 
 man will not, knowingly, espouse bad measures ; but an unfit 
 man may bungle all the good measures in the world ; and if he 
 is possessed of a good deal of vanity, as inferior men generally 
 are, he may take it into his head, some day, to give tlie world 
 itself a wrong twist. 
 
 It is important to bear in mind, that, although the act of 
 voting is, ill one respect, a public duty, yet it entails an individ- 
 ual obligation on every single person who is qualified to enjoy 
 ^' franchise. An elector is bound, in duty, to lend his influence 
 a..a support to the candidate most deserving, (^uite regardless of 
 what others may do. There are those who will decline'' to sustain 
 a certain candidate for the reason that their ancestors, their 
 friends, and their neighbors, were and are opposed to him. This 
 is wrong. Our ancestors might have pursued what they believed 
 the best course. They acted according to tlieir light. We may 
 be wiser in our day and generation. As to our friends and 
 neighbors, they are entitled to their opini. a ; but if they are in 
 error, it shoukl be our ambition to convert them into right, and 
 not to follow them into wrong. To oppose a worthy candidate 
 because his return, or that of his party, is doubtful, or because 
 others are prejudiced against him, is a plain reproacli on common 
 sense. Eveiy man should do his duty, come what may. No 
 matter how much we may inwardly wi.-h to promote the political 
 purity and welfare of the country, we can never expect to see 
 the fruition of our hopes until every one of us make it a point 
 to vote intelligently, conscientiously, and indepentUntly. 
 
 MIXING ISSUES. 
 
 One cannot deprecate too strongly the folly of asaociatin-^ 
 
 with exclusively provincial questions, the issues that beloncr to 
 
 Dominion politics, and vice versa. The British North Ame°rica 
 
 Act, as we all know, assigns to the Local Legislatures exclusive 
 
 jurisdiction over a certain class of subjects, and to the Dominion 
 
10 
 
 o'i"*r',Zl:fV°"'"'' "'.'■'"""•"■■"J- -or a la,.g„ n,„„l«. 
 1.V tlol. F IT ''f "'■ ""'""■'■ "■"» *" --"'"oti"" made 
 
 Au hay so would be obvious y ncon-opf ^nn.n .+• *i 
 
 nothing of conscjuenco to att.'n.I to. There is nlonH. f. T 
 
 powers should bo avoided. Of course alUh ' I 
 
 fi, •, , . •^' "-our.se, all the .several .sections nf 
 
 tlu. co„„t,.y have i„aivi,l„al Hghb „„,l infrost. wl.ic , „ "st fc' 
 . .erted and ,,uardo,i. but tl,o »„p,.omo de.,idcrat„,„ i, to p „ 
 U.e 0,-do,.. progre.,, and co„tont,„„„t „f "one ha„„„„io„/w o " 
 An „„due assertion of the individuality often results in udltf. 
 
 PARTY ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 I have often thought that we woul.l be spared a c^rent deal of 
 annoyance ,f t is party sy.stea. of conductin' our a^airs did n 
 
 abu,se of It that bothers u.s. Certain it is that we must have 
 some mode or pnnciple of government, and this one .nn a TIo 
 
 ami suffer the ills we have, ,so far as the .system is concerned. 
 
11 
 
 Alloo-iance to party is nccossary, then ; but vvc sl.ouM not 
 Hllmv .t to carry us too far. Whei. wo ally ourselves to any 
 political orjranixation, there ou^^^ht to be o.o„,l, ...bstantial reasons 
 for o„r .lointr so. So long as such reasons continue to exist we 
 are roquire<l to stand by the Shibboleth of that party ; but not 
 lono-er. We have a legal principle wliieh ,^ays that " when the 
 reason for the law ceases, the law itself ceases." Political 
 societies, being human in their institution, are all liable to err 
 When a party falls into error, arid persists in its heresy we 
 shouM not hesitate to leave its ranks. I am too well awar^ that 
 the traditions, associations, and name of a party, hold a mi.dity 
 sway over the minds of many people. This is just what nmkes 
 the trouble I con,plain of, in the party system. Wh,-n a party 
 adopts a mistaken policy, or commits the less excusable mistake 
 ot adopting no policy, its adherents will at once feel that there 
 IS something wrong ; some inau.lible sound, like the cosmic 
 harmony of the ancients, will gently admonish them not to 
 swaliovv that wrong ; but yet there is the party, the dear old 
 party, how can they desert it ? A strange feeling of unrest 
 comes over them-like a pie-produced nightmare-bufc they 
 cannot, or rather will not, tell what is the matter with them 
 
 The name of a party is no passport to public confidence We 
 know our parties by their fruits, not by their names For my 
 own part, I could never see the application or actual significance 
 of the various nomenclatures by which our contendincr politimi 
 forces in this country are contradistinguished the one from the 
 other. The tm-ms Whig and Tory, if they meant anythin-. in 
 their ongin, were designed to indicate certain qualities \nd 
 characteristics, fortunately, hard to find in the parties of this 
 country. Those terms were invented in another country, and in 
 turbulent times ; and if they were appropriate to the then and 
 there state of things, they are evidently inapplicable in this 
 colony to-day. There is neither rhyme nor reason in my identi- 
 fying myself with cne or other of the present Canadian parties 
 just because my great-great-grandfather was a Whicr or loyal 
 lory, when it was a popular pastime to chop a Kin- or a 
 (Queens head off, ^■•'^ 
 
12 
 
 Seriously speaking, I bdiovo, if the names of our political 
 parties were chan-ed, p.^ople would he more apt to support them 
 on their respective merits. 
 
 If we profess to belong to one party for good reasons the 
 evidence of error must be clear f.n.l strong/ to justify us in 
 severing our connection with that party. Efforts are sometimes 
 made to prejudice the minds of the people against one party 
 merely to secure blind followers for another. We must be 
 always on the alert for this sort of thing. Those reckless party 
 mcn-clacquers, I should call them-who will claim all the 
 virtues for themselves, and charge their opponents with all the 
 vices, should not be encouraged among us. Their work is 
 intended for the genius of warmer climates. Let ours be the 
 task of convincing such ranters tliat we expect politicians and 
 party advocates to bring into the arena of public life, and into 
 the circles of political discussion, the same code of honor and fair 
 play which good people observe and admire in private life. We 
 must not be too prone to suspect our neighbors (even if they are 
 our political opponents) of corrupt doings and designs. If we 
 were half as diligent in our endeavors to see that w« ourselves 
 are right, as we are to show that others are wrong, the condition 
 of things would be vastly improved. Prudence requires us as a 
 matter of course, to examine carefully the cause and conduct of 
 our public men ; but we must do it with moderation with 
 reason, and without prejudice. We must not preju.hre their 
 case, or decide against them without calling any witnes"ses. It 
 is a good principle " to presume every man innocent until his 
 guilt IS proved." The day we lose faith entirely in the honor 
 and hearts of each other, even when we are obliged to diffcn- in 
 opinion, that day Society will dissolve into a stat'e of irreclaim- 
 able barbarism : Qmd averted Dens ! We are not to treat others 
 with disrespect, or consider them wicked, because their way.s 
 and views do not coincide with ours. It is perfectly proper to 
 argue with them, to instruct them if we can, and point out 
 wherein we think their ideas should be almndoned or mo.lified • 
 but if we cannot convince them by fair force of reason and an 
 honorable species of persuasion, we should leave them a'one-in 
 
13 
 
 We 
 
 the hands of Ti.ne ami Provi.lence. Away, lor .v.-r, with that 
 n.ost Iiorrible of all expedients, to which the innno, tnl( lia.lstone 
 speakinj.- the other .lay of Irish o-ri,vances. points, as •• the figure 
 ot cancio7i, bare, bal.l and gaunt :— alas, too familiar !" 
 
 , REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. 
 
 You are all aware that the law, both Donnnion and loeal 
 relating to the Electoral Franchise, requires the nan,es of all the' 
 electors to be entered in an official regisrer prepared and kept 
 for that purpose, every year. To prepare the ^•..arly Re-istl-r 
 of Klectors m Invern.^ss, qualihe.l to vote for the ele'ction of a 
 MendH.'!- to serve in the House of Conunons in Canada, is now 
 my official duty. 
 
 In making those lists I an, to conshler th.> latest Assessment 
 Koll m the County my general guide. The Assessment Roll i. 
 however, only pri.ac facw evidence of .p.alilieation. ami it is 
 quite within my power, on other proof, to insert in the list of 
 voters the names of persons who may not appear by the Assess- 
 ment Roll to reach the requirements of the law. On the other 
 hanu, the fact of a man being sufficiently rate.! on the Assess- 
 inent Roll is not conclusive evidence that he is entitled to vote 
 or to be registered as a voter. Our assessors. I,ow.«ver rarely 
 display a weakness to assess people too high. They sin much 
 more frequently on the other side. It will bo seen therefore 
 that the Assessment Roll is merely taken as an aid, with sucli 
 other information as the Revising Officer can obtain. My desire 
 is, and the main object of this paper is, to in.p.vss you with the 
 desirability of giving me all the correct information possible 
 outside of the Assessment Roll, touching the ,,uaiilication of 
 voter.s, or persons claiming to be placed on the voters' roll 
 Every person who has a vote, or is claiming a right thereto' 
 ought to feel a deep interest in the making of a goo.I, reliable 
 list; and I am sure I will always receive with gladness any 
 suggestions or assistance from any of you to eflect that object. 
 Last year, when preparing and revising the list, J oonsuited, 
 personally and by correspondence, many of the leading men of 
 the County in respect of persons whose qualilication seemed to 
 
14 
 
 be (louT)tful, anil others who could possibly qualify nndor the 
 exteiulod franchise of the Dojiiinion. I addressed special 
 enquiries to nearly all our eler<,ryinen, who, T apprehend, have 
 . peculiar opportunities of becoinino- acquainted with the property 
 and circumstances of people within their parochial supervi.sion. 
 To many of those clerical gentlemen, Catholic and Protestaht, 
 I am greatly indebted for much useful information, very kindly 
 and carefully given. I am encouraged to look with "hope to 
 their valued assistance again this year. 
 
 My work of revision for the current year couunences on the 
 first of June. The lists will be printed and published in the 
 same manner as they were last year, on or before the first day of 
 September, and finally revised anfl certified on or before the 
 first of November. Ample notice will be given of the times and 
 places at which I will hold sittings for the revision of such lists. 
 According to statutory requirements, the assessment lists for the 
 several polling districts are, I presume, posted up in each section. 
 By comparing these with the voters' list useil at the last election, 
 you can all see who they are that should be added to the electoral 
 lists of this year. You will be rendering me very welcome 
 as.sistance by communicating to me, at an early date, any disco- 
 veries you may make in that way. ])o not be afraiii to ask 
 (juestions, or to demand of me any explanations you may require, 
 in order to the proper understanding of what is necessary to 
 secure the registration of any person not already on the list of 
 voters. I shall be ever ready to give, unto all who may ask for 
 it, whatever information I possess touching the provisions of the 
 Electoral Franchise Act. IMay I ask you to exchange courtesies 
 as regards what you may know of the qualifications of persons 
 desiring or deserving to be added to the roll of Inverness 
 electors ? 
 
 Were it not that my paper has already grown beyond tolerable 
 size, I M'ould cite certain clauses of the statute which might be 
 new and interesting to a few of you. Recognizing the fact, also, 
 that law is di-y reading, and not very digestible in the Sprino- 
 of the year, I shall content me with the following synopsis, 
 which will give you an inkling of what is necessary to enable 
 
16 
 
 and ontitle a man to have "a voice in the constitution of his 
 country " : — 
 
 " Every person shall be entitled to be registered in every year 
 upon the list of voters for the proper pollinj^ district of any 
 electoral district or portion of an electoral district, and, when so 
 registered, to vote, if such person" — 
 
 (1) Is 21 years of age, and not disqualified by any law of 
 Canada ; 
 
 (2) Is a British subject by birth or naturalization (or other- 
 wise) ; and 
 
 (3) Is the owner of Real property to the value of 8150 ; or 
 
 (4) Is a tenant under a lease paying a monthly rental of S2, 
 or a (juarterly rental of SG, or a yearly rental of 820, and has 
 been such tenant for a year before his name is placed on the list : 
 
 A change of tenancies within the County will not deprive a 
 tenant of the right to be registered, if there was no intermission 
 of time between the tenancies, and they are such that any one 
 of them would (jualify him if he was a year in possession 
 under it ; 
 
 (5) Is a resident within the County for one year, having a 
 yearly income of 8300 derived from his earnings, calling, profes- 
 sion, trade or some investment in Canada ; 
 
 (G) Is a farmer's son, or the son of an owner of Real property, 
 and residing with his father or with his mother (if father is 
 dead), if the value of the property, if equally divided, is sufficient 
 to give father ami son a vote. For instance : if the property is 
 worth 8150, the father alone has a vote; if worth 8300, the 
 father and one son are qualified to be registered ; if worth 8450, 
 the father and two of his sons can qualify, etc. etc. 
 
 In the case of a farmer's son (he is called a farmer's son if his 
 father owns 20 acres of land or more) — otherwise call him 
 owner's son — each such son, to entitle him to vote as such, must 
 have been, from the time his name was put on the list to the 
 time of election at which he tenders his vote, and must then be, 
 a resident with his father (or with his mother after his father's 
 death) ; but 
 
If) 
 
 Occasional absence of such son from his father's residence for 
 any period not excee.linor six months in the year vext hvforo his 
 name w placed on list of voters, or any period not excee.lin- six 
 months subsequent to the hist revision of the list, shalf not 
 discjualify such son from being placed on the list of voters, or 
 from voting. 
 
 The time spent by such son as mariner or fisherman, in the 
 pursuit of either occupation, or as a student at any institution 
 of learning hi Cauada, shall be considered as having been spent 
 at the residence of his father or mother, as the case may be 
 
 The expression "father" in this Act includes grandfather 
 stepfather, an.l father-in-law ; and the expression " mother ' 
 includes grandmother, stepmother, and motlier-in-law. The 
 expression " son " inclu.Ies grandson, stepson, and son-in-law. 
 
 (7) Is a fisherman residing in the electoral district (in our 
 case meaning the County), and owns Real property and boats, 
 nets, fishing gear and tackle, within the County, or share or 
 shares in a registered ship, arnouvflng together to the value of 
 SI. 50. 
 
 It makes no difference how small is the value of a fisherman's 
 Real property, provided his boats and other gear will make up 
 the ^loO. He nmst, however, own some real estate. No amount 
 of personal property will qualify any person except by way of 
 income. I cannot add to the list the name of any applicant of 
 whose property qualifications I have no personal knowledge, 
 unless he makes a declaration by himself, or by somebody For 
 him, before me, or before a magistrate, stating that he is 
 qualified, and how. A man may make application to have his 
 own name, or the name or names of others, added. In order to 
 simplify those application.s, I may inform you that I will accept 
 any application made in the following form— and in fact any 
 application made bona fide, and properly declared to. I merely 
 suggest this form for your convenience :— 
 
 / 
 
17 
 
 ' of in the Electoral District of Inveriii'ss, lu-rdiy apply to Imvc 
 
 the names of the following,' ])crsoijH added to the List of Voters fur i'olliiij,' District 
 
 ^0 , ill the Klectoral District of Iiivciiicss, for tile year iss , undcr'thc Kltit- 
 
 oral Franchise Act 
 
 No. Name in full. 
 
 Occupa- 
 tion. 
 
 Pest Ofllce ! Nature of [I^i'^^'U'tioi' of property, 
 
 Address, (jualificntioii. 1 ''^'^'Z' '^"" '""' 
 name ol liitlier or ownei . 
 
 Adams, William Tailor 
 
 Black, Simon . . Farmer . . , 
 Cuish, Me, Allan Fishcniian 
 
 Doyle, Frank . . Printer . . . . 
 Eacheii, Me, Jno, Farmer. . . , 
 
 Mahou Income .Mahou Bridge. 
 
 Millshoro. .. Owner iFarm at Ilillshoro. 
 
 Maboii Hr. Fisherman ;i'ioiierty at Mahou lli. 
 and owner.. 
 
 Gleiidyer .. Tenant ; House .V Pt. at (ilciidyei 
 
 N.K, Mahou Farmer's son..|Pro]ierty \ farm at X. K 
 I Mahou, .his. Mt^Faehen 
 
 1, of , do hereby .solemnly declare that the persons whose mimes arc 
 
 ','iven above and numln red from 1 to . ., are to my kiiowledfje British suiijects above 
 the age of 21 years, and iiualilied to he registered as voters fur the Flection of a 
 Member to the Hou.se of I'ommons, in the manner indicated in the idhinins ojipr/site 
 tiieir resjieetive names, and I make this soh'mii ileclaiation believing the same to bi' 
 true, and by virtue of the Act for the Suppression of Voluntaiv and K-vtia-judicial 
 (laths. 
 
 Declared to before me at . 
 this dav of . . 
 
 . . . iu the Coiuity of Inverness, 
 ..A. D. 18Sr. 
 
 A. B. 
 
 I have writtt'ii at much greater length than I hud intended 
 when I sat down. It i.s ever thn.s when one writes upon n lurfc 
 .suliject without any preconsidered method. The irmarks I am 
 ju.st closing were madi' iu the disordered munner in which the 
 drift-wood of the mind always rolls along— not, indeed, with 
 the same smoothness, hut with the same never-stopi)ing propen- 
 .sity of Tennyson's Brook. I pray you be imliilgent, and " hear 
 me for my cau.se." 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Mabou, C. B., April 4th, US87. 
 
 J. L. McDOLKJALL.