IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 1.1 ^ l&i 12.2 lU lii "« 1*0 1^ 1^ III ill 1.25 III 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WBT MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 """d^J^ ■4$S 'V- CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreprcductlons / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic iMotes/Notas techniques et bibliographiquas The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibilographically unique, which may alter any of the Images In the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checlted below. D n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couieur [ I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur6e et/ou pellicul6e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couieur Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or blacic)/ Encre de couieur (I.e. autre que bieue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadaws or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serr^e peut causer de i'ombre ou de la distortion le long da la marge int6rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II S9 F>ut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lore d'une restau ration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, iorsque cela 6tait possible, cus pages n'ont pt>s dt6 filmtes. Additional comments:/ Commantalres suppl6mentalres: L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a At* possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibiiographlque, qui peuvent modifier une image reprodulte. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normaie de flimage sont indiquAs cl-dessous. T U T P o fl P~] Coloured pages/ D Pages de couieur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurtos et/ou peliicuiies r~y\ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ - ' Pages d^colortes, tachet^es ou piqu6es r~p\ Pages detached/ Pages dit&chies Showthroughy Transparence Quality of prir Quality inigaie de I'lmpresslon Includes supplementary materit Comprend du matMel suppiimentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible r~?| Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ rn Only edition available/ T si T v< IV d 9' b ri r( n Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcles par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont M filmtes d nouveau de fa^on d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-u^essous. 10X 14X 18X 22X v/ 12X 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 2BX n 32X i The copy fllniMl h«r« hat bMn reproduced thanks to tha ganarosity of: Douqias Library Quean's University The imagea appearing here are thj best quality possible considering the condition and leglblllty of the original copy and In keeping with the filming contract specif ications. Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover end ending on the last page with a printed or lllustreted impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other oriclnel copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated Impres- sion, end 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 y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit gricd h la g^nArositA de: Douglas Library Qu«')n's University Les Imsges suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le plus grand soln, compta tenu de la condition et de le nettet* de I'exempiaire filmA, at en conformitA avec les conditions du contrat de fllmege. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en pepier est imprimis sent fllmto en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminent soit par la dernl4re page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'lllustratlon, soit par :e second plet, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires orlglnsux sent fllmte en commenpant par la prernlAre pege qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'iliustration et en terminent par la darnlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le ces: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". IVIeps, pistes, charts, etc., mey be filmed et different reduction retlos. Those too lerge 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 fremes ss required. The following diegrems illustrate the method: Les certes, pisnches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllmte A des tsux de rAduction dIffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui cllchA, 11 est fllmA A partir de Tangle supArleur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en bee, en prenant le nombre d'imeges nAcesseire. Les diagrammes suivant i iiluatrant la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I|» »»','! "^""■^^■■■■■PIMIilllii^ POLITICAL POINTERS. PLEDGES R P'Xj-A.TFOIR li/L OF THE LIBERAL ISSUED BY THE NOVA SCOTIA LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. I : m-rmiTW^^ mKwm ^v X ■ >**ww«*«^s«Mfla(*«»i«fetateta''wiK-' ■»•- ■»■■•■ -■-%« mfmtm iW PROMISES AND PERFO \ PLANK No. I-TARIFF. We, the Liberal party of Canada, ia c:)nvention a38einble 3, Ottawa, ane, 1893, declare: That the cuatoma tariff of the Dominion should bo based, not as It I3 now, upon the protective principle but upon the rt^qulreraentJ of the public service; that the exiatlnfir tariff, founded upon an unsound principle, and used, aa It has been bytheGovorumcnt. as a corruptini? agency where- with to keep themselves In office, has developed raonopoilt'S. trusts and com- blnitlou^. It hR8 dpcreased the value of farm and oth'»r landed property; It has oppressed the masses to the enrichment of a few; it has checked Immlf^rratiou ; It has caused grreat loss of population; it has Impeded cor nerce; it has discriminated against Great Britain. In these and In many o'hor ways It has occasioned ffreat publla aod private injury, all of which evils must continue to arrow In Intauslty as lon«r as the present tariff syatem remains in force. That the highest Interests ol' Canada demand a removal of thia obstacle to our country's progr -sa, by the adoption of a sound flacal policy, which, while not doin;r inj'isMca to any class, will promote domestic and foreign trade, and ht.ien the return oi! prosperity to our people; that to that end, tne :*riff s'.iould be reduced to the needs of honest, eoonomioal and efficluat government; that it should be soad« Justed as to make free, or to bear as I'.«rht!y as poselble uoon the necfes* earles of life, and should be so arraai^ed as to promote freer trade with the whole world, more particularly with Great Britain and the United States. We believe that the results of the protective sj'stem have arnevously disappointed thousands of persons who honestly supported It, and that the country, In the light of experience. Is now prepared to daclare for a sound fiscal policy. The issue between the two political parties on this question Is now clearly defined. The Government themselves admit the failure of their llsoal policy, and now profess their wllllngnesa to make some ohangeis; but they say that such changes must be based only on the principle of protection. We denounce the principle of protection as vadloally unsound and unjust to thPi masses of the people, and wa declare our conviction that any tariff changes based on that principle must fail to afford any eubstantal relief from the burdens under whlcH the country labors. This Issue we unhesitatingly accept, and upon it wa ftwalt with the fullest oonfidence the verdict of the ei<'£>tors of Canadat (3) 1. (! .^.» -.^^r«- ■-i''r'i'?jMHii HP^njji!'i4M.j, ,^, mmnm. w . ^ lii The tftrlff has besn maferitlly reduced. The rodacblon is equivalent to about tuu per cent, of the duty M com- pared with the uveraeo rate under the (JonBervaiive Tarifl' of 1896, and it will be greater when the farther reduction under the Preferential Tariff comes into operation on the first day of Julji 1900. The redaction in Oustoms taxation since the Liberal TarilTcame into operation has been not less than six millions of dollars; to put it in other words, if the Oonservative TariOT had been in operation, not less than six millions of dollars more Oustoms taxation would have been imposed upon the people. In addition to these reductions there have been large savings to the people through the operation of the Britioh Preferential Tariff, which com- pels a roducuion in the price of goods imnorjod into Canada from foreign countries in compeUtion with British goo« as well as controlling and regulating the prices of Oanadian manufactures on various classes of goods "tade by them. The changes made in the Tariff by the Liberal Government weife especially beneficial to the farming community. ImporDant articles of necessity to the farmer, such us Indian corn, binder twine, barbed and obiier fencing wire, Cream separators, etc., were transferred to the free list, and the rates of du!>y on other articles of neceasity were fiubstantielly reduced. If the Oonservative Tariff had been in operation last fiscal year, one million dollars in duty would have boea paid on the impoLtations of articles chiefly for the farmer, which were admitted free op duty under thb Liberal Tariff. Manufacturing induslrlcs were «limulated by a reduction of the rat«s of duty on coal, iron aad tteel and other staple raw materials. Many items of iron and steel wvre Iranatarred to the free list. The Liberal Tariff is baae<1 upoo revsi'oe as a principle. i It does no injusUce to any class. U has promoled domestic and foreign trade. The au{7«iabe foreign trade of Canada for the fiscal year 1808-9 was S21 millions, wh;le for the fiscal year i£?5-6, which was the last year under the regime cf tti* Oonservative* tt was only 239 millions. Daring the e'lt^hteen years the Oooservatives were in oIHse the foreigu trado inoreaeed by 66 milliaus. During the three years to the end of June, 1899, since the Liberals came inlo power, it increased 82 milions For the last thr« years of the Oonservative regime the total foreign trade amounted to 70i millions, while for the three years from 1896 to the end cf June, 1899, ande Liberal rules, the total foreign trade amounted to 883 milUun :. wsBKssm^rmm as com- I, and it al Tariff ime into ) in other than six sed apon ;a to the Ich com- i foreign Lling and of goods I )nt were tides of bed and the free itantielly rear, one f articles FDEB THQ of the Many 98-9 was >ar under ring the noreaeed ilnce the i3t thrt d to 7i^ 99, nndfll The latest flgnres Indioate that the trade of the fiioal year 1899 1900 I will be ovor 50 iuUIIoum in exoeas of the lanh fiscal yonr. These figures prove couoloftively that the Liberal TmIS \x\$ ruatyrcd and promoted foreign trade. Figares canaot be fiven to ahow the laoraaM In domestlo trade, bat that the iocreaiio ban been enormous la a eelf-evideat laci. Bvery legitimate industry, from the Atiantio to the PAoiflo, Is proaparlnf, and there is general prospcrily throughout tht ltja4. Manofkcburerfi never were in a better position. The reduction in daiied has iMxred l« Rilmalate thorn to greater business efi'orts, has mado th«m more incUipoadaat, aad they are to-day In a hotter position to meet the oompetiiion of tli* world thao they ever were before. The outstanding featuro of the Liberal Qovornmout trade policy is the British Preforeutial Tariff. Tho adoption of that pref«rcu30 wai the best stroke of busiuess Canada evor did. No step that had tlinretofure been taken did moro to promote tbo unitlcation of tbe Empire. No step was more boueticial to Canada. The practical features of the pre- ference are briefly as follows : First, it involve? a very largo direct roduotion in the duties paid by the Canadian coneumor, as conapared with the duties paid by him under the Oonservative Tariff. {Second, it also operates indirectly to the benefit of tho Canadian con- omer. The foreign competitors of Britain in our markets muit reduce their prices to meet the preference in duty granled to Britain, ae well as its controlling influence to reduce the prices on certain classes of Canadian manufactarod (voods. Tlie couanmer, therefore, la benefited by the re- daction iu prices. Third, it has resulted in largely increased pales of British gooda to Canada. For years prior to its adoption Qrca . Brii ian'a exports to Canada had eteadily fallen off. The Prefoieaco at once arrested tho decline, and the tradtt has increased eve I* siace. Fourth, it has also resulted in a wonderful increase in the exports of the prodnc's of our farms to Great Britain. It is worthy of special note that the reduction under the Preferftntial Tariff is to be increased from 25 per cent, to 33 1-3 per cent, on and after tLe first day of July, 1900. This iu effect means that for every three dollars to be paid on Amorican or other foreign goods, only two dollars will be paid on British goods. It ia generally considered by all who have taken the trouble to study the qneation, that the new tariff enacted by the Liberal Government was a weU'Conaidered, judicious, business-like and Vv'sry material measure of reform, in view of all the existing ciroumstanoes. Besides granting the Preference the Liberal Government reduced the duty on 145 of (he 988 articles in the dutiable list of the etatislical claasifica- tioa, and 46 of the 431 items in the free list of the present tariff-were onitbe dacUble list of tbe statistical classification umder the old tariff. II Record of Piosperity, Progress and Develop- nient undor Liberal Rule. AffRrPKaio F<.tJc*,j) Trado «i 2.iO,0.\'i,r5flO Total Irriporla 118,01 l/iOS •• ICxports 1121 .0i;j.SG2 " ExportH, prjdu/jy of Canadian Firm'i. . 50r)!)l,0")0 ExportH of Caraaian MinoH 8,019,(550 Expor^H of Canadian F. rosf.a 27 17r),()S0 Exports of Canadian Manufacturer 9,3iS),:m Circulation ol IJank and Doraintoa notes 57,.'j()2,70;i BankCleariuRi in tix principal citionfor 1S!)7*. 1,174,710,345 ♦FlKuresfor 18% not: nvallablo. DlecouDts in Oliar orcd Bauka 224,507,301 DepoBltain Chartered untl Savini^'a Banks 230 5(39,310 Railways Qroes Earnings 50,515,509 Railways - railed in operation IG 270 Freight carried by Kailways— tons 21, 2015, 825 Shipping - oxclueivo of Coast ing Trade— torn. . 21,870, 173 Shlirping Coa*^tiug Trade- tons 27,431,753 Business Failures 16,208,460 Immigrant a -No 16,835 Irapoitation of Settlers Etlect 2,198,075 Mineral Product? 22,584.513 No. Letters posted in Canada 116,028,000 ' No. PostOllicej 9,103 No. PoBC Cards posted 24,7:)4.800 No. Registered Letters pos ed 3,505,500 Homestead Entries of Dominion Lands— No.. 1,867 , Letters Patent lor Dominion Lands iasued— No. 2,665 Lands sold by Railway and other Companies having Government Land grants .acres 108,016 value 361,338 Fire Insurance Risk- In Canadian Companies 141,251,862 In British Companies 691,656,008 In American Companies 112,666,482 Life Insurance in force- In Canadian Companies 195,303,042 In British Ccmpaniei 34,837,448 In American Companies 97,660,009 Note.— The l«t«8t tia-uros Indicate that the total trade for the 1900 wia be over $372,000,000. LlbfTRl. 1809. $ 321,6(11,212 102 764,30! 15S,896,90f 69,690,04/=] 13,368,15ci 28,021,5:6J ll,700,70:j 07,664,54l| 1,549,966,604 283,713.93 b08,644,05 62,243,78 17,'25 31,211,7f 25,420,13 30,212.41 10,668,67 44,54 2,805,95 . 46,245,87 150,375,00 9,42 27,450,00 • . 3,676,40 ' 6,681 3,90 553,07 1,871,22 169,792,85 654,890,01 122,186,80 262,219,76^ 38,026,275 113,889,56 fiscal year iss Develop- FL^NK Ho. 2 "REGiPROSin. L!br>rnl. 1809. $ ;W1, (1(11,212 102 7GJ,30f 15S,89(),90C^ (i9,690,04fJ i;5,;m8,i5tl 28,021,6:6J 11,700,70:/ 07,«)04,54t 1,649,96(3,601 283,713.03 b08,644,0fi 62.243,78 17,'25 31,211.7f 25,420,1? 30,212:4i 10,658,67 44,54 2,805,95 46,245.87 150,375,00 9.42 27,450,00 3,675,40 6,681 8,90 553,071 1,871,221 169,792,851 654,890,0C 122, 186,80 J That, having roarnri to thn pro^pu'Ity of Ca-imli ..li t'lO TTiilt«»1 B^ato^ft' a'lJolriliiMT cnmt.rli''^, with mid:/ [iri'.ual lut •r.^n'' *, It Is il)3lr« anie that thi»ri< hIiouM I»m inn ru(» t frlfii 'ly rnKMourt ami tiroul ati 1 liberal trailn lutorcjiirrtu htitwotMi thum; tdat, ttvi iiunrH^'.H atlUtM)( tUd Dotulolou an'l ttm Fiinplro wouliJ ho oiatorlally advaiuied by the (Htat)ll8l:- tatf of fliioh I'.Matlorj'*; Thit ttn period of tho old redlprooiLy !r»nty waa oaw of mirli'd proaperltv t> llio B:'llli?h N )ruh AiUHi-lcan « )ionlMrii; That tht) prct'-xt unil-r which tho G (Vfrnra'Mit app«>al>» 1 1'> tho ooin- try In IHDi, rcspectlntf nt^t^otlatloriH for a treaty ■vRri t,di) Ifnito I Status, was iiitslHadltijf and dlnhonoat and Int nidn i t, > d'«').ilvi iiio yio(?-«)i'»'."; That no einooro flT)rt has bnon luadoby.hHai tiohttl'i a tr )tt>, but that, on thH coutriry, It, In raanifoHt thnt; Hid pr'ionr, G )Vt*r.'iruHut., o lu- trolled as they an) by muuopolius aud oombldjd, aro nut doslroa^ of souur- Ing su(;h a treaty; That the llrst-stdP towards obtalnio'^ th;^ end In vlo.v, Is to pKoa a party in power who areshioorelydoBlrouswf proiaottu;? atriaty ou torras honorable to both countries; Th '.t a fair and liberal roo'proolty troaty would dovtjiop 3 *.h« i{cn\t natural roBoaroes of Canada, would ciiorniou-jiy Inor lasn th») tra lt» and comuierce belwoen tho two countriHS wo.il I ti.Mi 1 to onoouratyo friendly relations betW2en the two p.'oples, would rornovoimnv caiHcvi wtilob htv» lu the past provoked Irritation and trouble to th< G iV'irututnita of both countries, aid would promote those kindly r^laMou"? t)o<.w.H!n the Empire ai'id the liepubllc which allord the best ifuarantoe for peace and proi- parlty; That the Liberal party Is prepxrod to eater Into nei^otlatlons with a view to obtaining such a treaty, Inoludluff a well c )n9ldored list of maati- faotured articles, aud we are satllled that any treaty so arranyred will receive the assent of Hor Majesty's Government, without whose approval DO treaty can be made. The Liberal party has acted up to tbla resolution, both In its letber and spirit. Soon after the Gavernmenb was formed a delegation was sent} to Washington to discuss the subject in an informal way. The moment was not favorable for immediate action. lb was a Mnie when the Democratlo Government was about rotirins, and the Republican Government was about taking office. No action could be expected at such a time. Bat it was deemed well at the earliest possible moment to cause an intimation to be given to the leading men of the United States that if they wero disposed to talk reciprocity, Canada waa ready to give the subject fair couslderabioni Some months after this the United States authorities reipouded to the sug- gestion. They intimated their willingness to have a Joint High Oommlsaioa fcr the purpose of discussing reciprocity and all other questions pending between the two countries. The Commission was appainted, and met first at Quebec and aftertvards at Washington, Some progress was made. But perions diflOiculties arose on the question of the Alaska boundary. The American representatives made demands upon Canada which the Liberal Qovernment thought were exacting and unreasonable, and that should not be agreed to. The whole question was thus postponed for further consider- ation. The Joint High Commission has not been dissolved. If the United States authorities are disposed to take what Canada believes to be a moro I (it If lie' k r«aionable view orihe pending qnettlooi, the Oommlislon may meet aiirata What has alreaiy happened given to all Ounadlans the fullest a«aurano« that while diiposed to cultivate better trado rotation f with (ho nei)q Ooverament^ Lor.d Herdchell was elected Chairman and the liiKh . ll m. Blr Wilfrid Laurier, Hon. Sir Richard Cartwright, Ilo'ii. B(r Lotils If. Davlee, and j3ho Chariton, M. P., were appointed by the Imperial novernmont as the Cana- dian OommifTsioncrs, This alone indicates the immense progress that Canada has made in national developoient daring; the pa<)t three yo&r^. In previous times Canada has occaHlonally been permitted to nominate one Commissioner in the case of International necrotlatlons, but. never before wan she permitted to appoint four out tlve commi'i'^lonori to repro3?nt the Imperial 'Qovern- ment in great negotiationn of tbtia kind, PLANK No. 3.- PURITY OF ADMINISIRATION. That Iho Convention deplores the flrroea c<»rriipUan \n tbo mAua4r>~ mrnt Mia exooudlturo of public moneys wlilolj for yoarg past has fxlptud unUor tiiO rule of the OonsHrvatlve party, and the rMVoIatlons of wh'cU by the (lllTnrent parltameotary ooimuir.cpeB of Iriqiiiry have hroukjht dfSKriOd upon the fair name of OanaUa. The Gov irnpient which proJi'ed pollil- oally bytlwsfl expenditures (;f public moti(«y;inflr. W.> arralflra the QovernmeDt for retaining In oiNce a BAInlsberof taeOrown proved io have 8Ccopt?d very large oontrlbutluns of money for elpotloua purposes from tno funds of a railway company, wblub, while paylnNr the political coctri* bu'lons io hltri: a member of tlie Governm ^nt, witli ou'^ ha'id, was reodlv- ln«r U"vernmeiit^^ subsidies wltta the other. The comluc^ot the MtnlHter and the approval ot his coUea^ue'^ after the oroof beiame known to them are oalcuiated to degrade Canada In the es'lmatlou of the would and deserve the severe condemnatiou of the people. The history of the Conservative Oovernmeut amply justifled fba pasting of this resolution. No such transactions as were disclosed in the investigations relating to the public works nnder Conservative rule have occurred under the Liberal Administration. The party now led by Sir Charles Tupper has produced a terrible record of scandals. Borne incidents of this record are: —The McGreevy- Lan^evin scandal, Sonecai's Oommisalons, Ourran Bridge scandal, Wet Basin aceadai Levis Graving Doclc scandal, Cross Wail Contract scandal, Esqal- malt Dock aeaadal. Section "B" scandal, Harris Land Job, Oocduraae scandal, the Tay canal scandal, the Littlfe Rapids Lock scandal, Oalops Ohannei scandal, uhe Rykert Timber Limit scandal, the C. P. R. scandals the Bribery Conspiracy of 1884, Maoifioba ElectipnvFrands, ^Whstesale Bribery in South Ontario by Wm. Smith^a Tory ex-VLW^NMk'mt^^MUm* .,^m»m,tr"t.^^^ ■■"mmnwmf'' ^m mmm r meet %fg%\fi «t a«8uranoe neighbor n|f 1(1 Oan«iliau ' aadjuso to loverament. Sir WUfrld a, and Jaho >8 the Oftna • has made In vioun times missloner in e permitted ial Oovera- ON. lAuaifp- h'cb by let(r«Od p.ollt,U le.havo * sralliy l^a tbu to bavQ is from contrl* reojlv- ■fnlHter i> tbem id and istiQed tbe osed in the ) rule have ] a terrible McQreevy- . Wet Baa In Ial, Esqai- Ooohrana Al, Galops • soflodals Whsteeale Fontap^ae's Letter to the ludlans, the Anonymous Tieller Writer, and many ^ther terrible pracliceit. PLANK No. 4-STRI(;TEST ECOMOMY. * Wft cnnnrt tv't vlow with alftrr.i tli" lRr*rt» liirronooof tho pubTfQ dpl)t nrii! oi thn oonixoiinMo ni.riiml i^nfMiiiniiri- '»t th(.« iJoinlnlKn nij«ndltare for that year chargeable to Oonsolldatec Paid i41,nMW), eqaal to 18 per per cent, of the total trade. This shows i«d«oUkkH of 4 per cent, from 17 per cent,, equivalent to a reduction at thl ol about 25 per cent, in the cost of carrying on the business of thJ Under the bead of.Oivil Government, which is the expenditure of th^ Gtrfl Service at Ottawa, the expenditure increased under Gonsarvatlve ml( ttl tbe rate of about $25,000 per annum. If this increase had been main< tained by the Liberals there would have been an increase in 1898-9 oye] 1894-5 of $75,000, but instuaO of that there was a decrease of $10,414, Tbere were also decreases in the following services ; t '■ . legislation $ 49,216 Penitentiaries 32,660 Dominion Lands 36,813 Mounted Police 117,056 Ptsherles 31,455 In fiaot the primiog knif^ was applied wherever it could be with safety andj H«tw!llifltanding the inereaeed expendimre, the Liberal Government tmtk abla to ehow some handsome surpluses, instead oi large deficits, wMch were rtiown during the closing years of the Oonaervative adminiscra' tiBK The fioDowing table substantiates this statement : UNDER CONSERVATIVES. Deficit. 1«S^ $1,210,332 -15 M9i.6 4,153,875 58 MW-6 330,55131 Total deficit for three years $5,694,759 34 Average annual deficit 1,898,253 11 m ■'■fji-y ^w., 18 ilicrea««dby n nsot was only in Th« ooit of thes »aiaBdsofdoIlar| elga trade of tli >endlture ohar$:e 52,005, equal to 1' was 1321,601,213, '0 Oonsolldatei le. This shows reduction at th business of thi penditure of thj onsarvatlve rule had been main- e in 1898-9 oye^ 110,414, f 49,216 32,660 36,813 117,066 31,465 i^ith safety audi 1 GoverBmentl large deficits, J e admiBiscra- icit. 332^5 875 58 55131 759 34 i53 11 18 ONDEB UBEEALS. . ' Deficit. Surplus. x896-7 .' $519,981 44 1897-8 : $ 1,722,712 33 1898-9 4,837,749 00 ■ i„ iw — i^a ■ III! I ■■ m $ 6,560,461 33 519,98144 Total surplus for three years | 6,040,479 89 Average annnal surplus 2,013,493 29 Deflcic, three years, 1893 to 1896 5,694 759 34 Bnrplua, three years, 1896 to 1899 6,040,479 89 Betterment, last three years $11,736,239 23 It is predicted t*iat for the present fiscal year, 1899«00, there will be a [rplus on Ooneolidated Account of over seveu million dollars, the largest the history of tiio counli y. To turn to a consideration of the public debt. The increase of (dM iblic debt for the throe years since 1896 amounted to $7,776,013, being an erag^ annual increase of $2,592,00^. Two and a half miliioKS in Boond ;ure8 of this amount of $7,7<6,0i3, added to the debt, were expended in laying obligations entorvd into by the lat<« government or obligation'^ ^hich existed prior to the Liberal Government coming into power, and hich should have been met by tho previous Qovernment. In fainiera, lerefore, this amount should be dodactod to make a proper comparison, id if thia be done it will be found that the aver&ga annual increase to the iblic debt under the Liberal administration was only $1,700,000. Daring le eighteen years the Conservatives wero in power the debt inoreaeed by le large sum of $118,135,352, or an average annual increase of^98,MS,aH». Although the debb under the Liberal adminiatration ineriMMPni lA a 'ery much smaller ratio than under the previoas ad.nlntetrAtiaa, ft flwttld >e particularly noted that under the Liberal •dmiuidtrautoa oonaMn— bly tore money was expended on cakpiiial aocoanti» vJaloii k««* to kncwae the lublic debt. This is fully illuatratfcd by tbo follDwlnu BtRMUBont-: Sbptement of expenditure ctuirrre*b:e to Capital, ete., for Gix yoara. UND5B CONSTRV ATI VES. 1S94 S 4,7a8«Si7 67 1S95 4,1S2,SS0«1 1896 fy,S60,34& 53 Total |lt,653,ffgs e$ UJS'DCE IJEEIiALS. 1897 . . $ 3,»»5,399 78 1898 5,"T",^rr m 1889 8,50S 263 50 Total ?lG,667,n40 H >. f n ^oe^Hiportanf faot In connection with the finances re tiuiree to tm etatetf and emphasized, and that Is that the In Dreaeod expencRture consequent upon the great developmen of the country has been met writhout increasing: the rate O' taxation and wftHout unduly Incrcasinc: the public ucbt. O the contrary, the rate of Customs taxation, which is th grreatest source of revenue, Is lower ; postag^c rates arc lower, and the public debt has been increased very little, and at htuch smaller ratio than under the Conservative adntinistra tloiw These •faota cut) enridcnce of wise and prudent busines MtminlartrEiJttoiw XI !b nnqa«BUon^Ia iiluit tlig population of the country has greatly incresiBed ia rsoeitt yean. There are a hundred evidences in support of Ihat faotv Irat onbfl a ceasos 1« taken it) cannot be ollloially esbablished. In sretscd populaolon means a decrea.^o in the per capita expenditure and Debt. It is not going oatside the mark byanymean!^ testate that, based, dpon onr actual population, our per capita debt and expenditure i3 to>day ibucb lower than it was under the Conservative regime. PLANK No. 5..-iN0EPENDENCE OF PARLIAMEHT. Tii&t tiio Cronrontlon rcRretg that by th(^ action of Ministers and litatr supporters ia Parliament, in oiio caaa In which serious oharjjes wera mado ag&lust a Minister of the Crowa, Investleratlon was altogrether refused, while In another case the oharares preferred ware altered and then referred to a commlflslou aopolnted upou the advice of the Ministry CKintrary to the well settled practice of Parliameiit; and tho Convention afHrins. That It Is the ancient and undoubted r'^ht of tho Hocse of Commons lo ICQulro Into all matters of public esoeadltuie, and into all charares of laleconduct in office ajfatuc-it Ministers of the Crown, and the reference of Buoh matters to royal oommiasionf? creat;«d upon ttie advice of the accused is at variance with the due roaponslblil'y of Mlnlsfcera to the House of Commons, and tendd to weaken tho nutliorlty of the House over the Executive Government, and the Coaventlon affirms that the powers of the people's representatives in this rc^^ard should en all iltUng occasions be vphold. Tbo circumstances referred to In this resolution were such as t< demand tho notice which the Oonvontion took of tho matter. The doctrine thus laid down by tlie Liberal party as to tho right of Parliament to enquire into all matters connectod with tho public ozponditure, and into all chargef of misconduct against Ministers of the Grown, ha3 been fully maintained PLANK No. 6.-THE LAND FOB THE SETTLER. That in the opinion of this? Convention the sales o? public lands of the DoifiJiulon should he to acituai cottiers only, and not to speculators, upOQ reasonable tor!(itJ cl settloment. and in such areas as can be reasonably occupied and ctilLlvated by tho settler. The policy of the presont Government is, and has been, to dispose erryr Seui ami finances that the in levelopmen the rate c lie uobt. O hich is th 33 arc lower, :lo, and at adnrtlnistra- int business I 111 ry has greatly in support of jablished, In- peaditare and ite that, based barei3 to-day' nion lands to actual settlers only, and not to speculators. The grant) largo tracts of arable land for railway purposes has been abandoned, Imilar grants to colonization societies have also been discontinued. ublic lauds are now held for entry as homesteads; for sale subject to stead conditions. In the case of lands -the sales of which have been lied, they are offered and held for ordinary sale to setttlers who wish Iquiro a larger area than the homestead quarter section— but not ex< ng one section to each individual. PLANK No. 7.--PR0VINCIAL FRANGHISL That the Franchise Act since Ks Introduotlon has cost the Dominion TroRsury over a million of dolJars. beaidee eatftlllu«r a heavy expenditure to both polltioai parties; That eaoh revision Involv^B an additional er« ptndlture of a further quarter of amiilion; That this expenditure has pre\.into(l an aiiuual revision, as oritflDaliy inteaded. In the absence of •w?hloh young voters entitled to the franchise have, in numerous instances, been prevented from exerclsinff their natural rights; That It has failed to eecuro uniformity, which was the principal reason assigned for Its intro- duction ; That It has produced gross abuses by partixin revising barris- ters appc inted by the Government of the day; That its provisions are less "iberal than those alrtady ♦?xlstln^ In many Provinces of the Dominion, nd that in the opinion of this Convention the Act should be repealed, and e should revert to the Provincial ITranchlse* The Franchiee Act has been repealed, and the Provincial franchises )W in use and operat^.on for Dominion election purposes. fLUNK No. 8.-C0UHTY BODNDilRIEJ FOR RIDIHG. That by the Gerrymander Acts, the electoral divisions for the return \t members of the House of Commons have been so made as to prevent a fair expression of the opinion of the country at the geaoral elect:[on, and secure to the party now In power a strength out of aU proportion rreater than the number of electors supporting them would warrant. To mt an end to this %buae, to matte the House of Gammons a fair exponen'. fot public opinion, atd to pr.^8erve the historic continuity of couutles, it is J desirable that in the formation of electoral divisions, county bonndarlea should be preserved, and that In no case parts of different counties should be put In one electoral division, '0 such as t