.V IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // // ,.* ;.o I.I 1^ |28 |25 1^ 1^ 1^ lU Ui us |40 1^ u •- u III 1-8 11.25 11111.4 IIIIII.6 V] V2 o ^1 ss^. /^ 7 ^*^^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian institute for Historical Microreproductions institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. D J D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqudes Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serr6 (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure) L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6xh possible de se procurer. 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The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grfice d la g6n6rosit6 de I'dtablissement prdteur suivant : La bibliotheque des Archives pubiiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont filmdes & partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gaurhe d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagrarnrr.e suivant illustre la m^thode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 f-^ i I I A-;j nfi H DOimiON ELECTION. CAMPAIGN OF 1886. HoL Edward Blake's Speeches. No. 9 (First Series). (Wingham)— Blake's Tribute to Mackenzie. (Staynfr)— Blake's Tribute to Sir Richard Cartwrlght. (Brantford)— Blake's Tribute to Paterson— Duty of Young Men. ^ NOTE.— See Inside Cover for List of Mr. BTakeV peoches in flrat Series. Apply to W. T. R. Preston, Reform Club, Toronto, for Copies of these Speeclies. I'.v • " .'■,1 ;\m:-:.:"J'' a »,.. HUNTER, ROSE & CO., PRINTERS. '_ pi ) J;i l! iK V. i ,- s "'i: I " * ' - lM^|i ^^ * l l ^l | |; w^) [ • ."m 'r i f i i' • l y f ' y » ■■■*■ — -— r< r. t • 1;-^ . ;"'■" * n I .'^ V. hi • - v"'. '■ v... LIST OF SPEECHES IN THIS SERIES. No. I.— No. 2.- No. 3.- No. 4.- No. 5. —I No. 6.—. No. 7,—. No. 8.— No. 9.— No. 10. No. II No. 13. Na 13. No. 14. (lx>NDON) : General Review of Situation. Riel Question. (Owen Sound) : North- West Maladministration. Riel. (Beayerton) : Independence of Parliament The Boodle Brigade. (Chesley) : Public Finances — Taxation and Deficits — Farmers- (SiMcoE) : Federal a4id Provincial Rights— Ontario — Nova Scotia. (Guelph)— Elections near.— Tory Dodges-Nova Scotia. (OwKN Sound) : Principles of Liberalism— Duty of the Leader. (Welland) — Policy of the Party — Functions of an Opposition. (Oakwood) — Sir J. Macdonald on Functions of an Opposition. Extracts— (G\iv,hVH) : Home Rule for Ireland. (Berlin): Firebrand Tory attempts to excite Germans. (Galt & Okangeville) ; Indian Starvation Policy. (Pembroke) : Maladministration felt at Cut Knife Hill. Extracts— {Ks-HDMA.) : Business Methods required in Public Affair.«^ — Degradation of Parliament— A few Boodlt;rs. (Hampton) : Civil Service Reform. (Galt) : Burden of Public Debt (Orangeville) : Burden of Public Debt. (Belleville): Burden of PubUc Debt — The Interest on Debt (Oakwood) : Burden of Public Debt— Our Public £xpen< diture. (Newcastle) : Canadian Pacific Railroad Matters. (LisTowEL): Canadian Pacific Railroad Matters— The last Sacri* fice of $10,000,000— Collapse of Tory " Boom " Policy. (St. Thomas) : North- West Lands. (HuNTSviLLE) : R.R. F'olicy— Sir John's Subsidies to " Guinea- Pig " Directors — Assisted Immigration and Railway Frauds. (Parry Sound) : Railway Policy of Liberals. (Obangevillb) : Railway Policy of Liberala (Brantford) : The Kansas Slander. (LisTowEL) : The Sea of Mountains. (WiKOHAM) : Blake's Tribute to Mackenzie. (Stayner): Blake's Tribute to Sir Richard Cartwright (Bbantfoud) : Blake's Tribute to Paterson— Duty of Young Men. — (Welland) : Liberal Party, Creeds and Classes. (Orillia) : Leaders and Newspapers— The " Mail " Crusade. — (Aylmer) : Prohibition and Politics. —(Toronto) : Interests of Labour— The Tariff. (Welland) : To Knights of Labour. (Belleville): Legislation for Labour. (Deseromto) : Workingmen and Parties. (Hamilton): Workingmen and Parties. —(Hamilton) : Provincial Issues— The Religious Cry— Liberals And Catholics. — (Li.ndsay) : North- West Affairs — Neglect, Delay and Misman- agement— Race and Creed Cries. , ;:-^-U-' 3. le. I '_ / > . -- • ' •■> • ■ .•'/.,. ■ I ■ \ '■■ It The Calumniators of Mr. Mackenzie. HOW THEY VILIFIED HIM. •* « - < i iltl ms. ill. iffairft I Debt ixpen- Sacti- i-Pig" Men. le. Uls *n6. [isman- They accused him of Dishonesty. Now they laud him for Purity. But Gerrymandered his Constituency. •THANK GOD, MR. MACKENZIE'S REPUTATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE COMMENDATIONS OF SIR JOHN MACDONALD. ' Hon. Edward Blake in his speech at Wingham, after some pre- liminary remarks, said : — We public men, who from time to time have occupied the leading positions in the Liberal party, while we are indebted to our friends and supporters for generous expression of sympathy and conddence such as have been accorded mo to-day, have not, I think, as a rule, while still entrusted with the discharge of the foremost duty, received from our political opponents that measure of fair play and just consideration which we had the right to expect. I dare say there are here in this meeting, seeing that the riding is very equally divided — I hope there are here, a good many Conservatives ; I always like to see them at mj'^ meet- ings. My anxiety, in truth, is rather greater to get within reach of those on the other side than to reach my .vn friends. If a man believes he is speaking the truth, if he thinks he has a message to give, he ought to wish to reach the ears of those opposed to him, and through their ears to reach their minds and hearts. (Loud cheers.) To them 1 speak, and say that the public life of our country has been injured by the system of FALME AND CALUMNIOUS ATTACK which has been adopted towards the Liberal leaders. A friend of mine at the opening of the London Young Liberal Club laat night, said there was a time at which the Liberal leaders always received a tribute of respect from the Tory leaders, and that was when they were no longer in the forefront of the fight ; but just so long as they were conducting the piarty thiey had been and ■ i .v.< " t. ■■■ V ' ' 1 -, ■ , 1-.' ■ ' \ >•'/ ' '^ V. ' ^ > •t ' < .. ' -»■ ; '-i , \ \ ■'* ••/■.■' '^.•. ■ \ f-' ■■■ ■ ^' • I 'V ;,-^ ' - •»" : (■ . ■ I& .'■» ■: / 262 ■would be oxposed to unjust and unfounded attack, (Cheers.) Will you allow me to take the PROMINENT AND STRIKING EXAMPLE of our respected friend, Mr. Mackenzie. You have not forgotten the storm of abuse and calumny which was hurled against Mr. Mackenzie for the many years during which he was our leader. Net merely was he charged with incapacity ; he was charged with dishonesty, corruption, disgraceful conduct utterly unworthy of a r>ublic man. Let me give you some examples. Not examples from newspapers, not examples from the rank and file, examples from the lips of a man of no less prominence than the leader of the Conservative party himself, the present Prime Minister of Canada. You recollect the election of 1872, when Mr. Mackenzie occupied the double position of Treasurer of Ontario in the Reform Government, of which I was First Minister, and of leader of the Liberal party in the Canadian Parliament. At Lindsay Sir John said, during that election : — *' He did not doubt that large sums had been raised as a corruption fund among persons interested in timber licenses* under the Ontario Government, or by other such means. Already a case had been made out against them which would demand legislation of the most stringent kind * * * These matters would undoubtedly come before Parliament at its next session. There is a distinct, positive, direct charge against Mr. Macken- zie and his colleagues in the Government of Ontario of a corrupt use for election purposes of the public domain, and a pledge that the matter would be brought before Parliament at the next ses- sion. Next session came ; many other sessions have followed it SIR JOHN HAS BEEN CHALLENGED to bring forward his proof ; but I need not tell ycu he has never redeemed his pledge. In Toronto in the same year he said : " Mr. Mackenzie had gone down to Nova Scotia and piiade a corrupt bargain with Mr. Annand by wmch he was to aid in getting $8 1,000 for the Provincial Building at Halifax, on condition that the Government of Nova Scotia was to act against the Government of the Dominion." There is another charge of corruption. At Kingston, for which city Sir John Macdonald was then standing, the report of the nomination proceedings is thus : — ,i „ " Mr. Britton followed, and during his speech Sir John, who appeared to be much excited, walked over to Mr. Oarruthers and accused him of som* discreditable oil speculation, which Mr. Oarruthers denied. Sir John then repeated the accusation and intimated that he could prove that Mr. Car- ruthers was implicated in an oil swindle in company with the Hon. A. Mac- kenzie. •* i . , . ■ . , (9) • / .y^^' ■ : >, a never I bargain jvincial jtia wai which of the »ared to jf som« Ihn then [r. Oar- Ia. Mao- 263 "Mr. Carruthera denied the charge in forcible language. ** Sir John gave him a back-handed slap in the face, and attempted to take him by the throat before Mr. Carruthers could retaliate. " Shortly afterwards at Sarnia, in Mr. Mackenzie's own riding, these gentlemen met, and Mr. Mackenzie speaking before Sir John is thus reported : — *' He was going to call Sir John Macdonald his friend ai formerly, but until the hon. gentleman retracted a cdrtain exproBsion he had used on the hustings at Kingston he would not do so. i " Sir J. M. — I certainly will not retract it. " Mr. M. said he de6ed the hon. gentleman to prove it, and until he did so or withdrew it he would treat him as a slanderer. "Sir J. M. — Everybody knows it in this part of the country." So you see Sir John declined to retract and equally declined THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF PROOF. Shortly afterwards Sir John Macdonald spoke thus : — *' He (Mr. Mackenzie) had been tried in that capacity (i.e. as a Minister) and he (Sir John) had no hesitation in saying that the Government to which Mr. Mackenzie belonged was more false, more faithless and more corrupt than any Government that ever existed in Canada. (Great cheering.) " Some years since a Bill had been introduced in Parliament by Mr. Mac- kenzie, who had been the exponent and touter of a ring to rob the Indians, by which a number of old claims by tavern-keepers and others against the poor Indians had been revived and made valid. That Bill had nearly passed mto law, but the truth had been declared by Mr. Morris, now the Chief Justice of Manitoba. He (Sir John) had the authority of Mr. Morris, who was a man of honour, for stating that Mr. Mackenzie walked across the floor of the House, and shaking his fist in Mr. Morris' face, had said he would never forgive him for it, '* Mr. Mackenzie (from the back of the platform) — That is a lie. " Sir John Macdonald said he had not got through yet. That man, who was the leader of the Opposition, and who ought to have some respect for himself, had been the chairman of the Printing Committee and the touter and paid servant of Messrs. Hunter, Rose &• Co, It was Mr, T, R, Fergu- son who had caught him and exposed him. Then, coming down a little fur- ther, Mr, Mackenzie had come out as the touter of a petroleum ring in order to raise the price of oil. The secret of the bargain between him and the oil kings he (Sir John) did not know, but this be did know, that he had urged upon Sir John Rose, at that time Finance Minister, the imposition of an ex- cise duty upon petroleum, and he had sold himself deliberately for that price. (Cheers and counter cheers. ) He (Sir John) went on to charge the Govern- ment of the Province with using its powers corruptly by granting silver lands in Western Canada in return for assistance at these elections. This would be proved before a committee of the House during the next session of Parlia- ment. (Cheers.) If it were the case, then he would ask whether Mr, Mac- kenzie was a proper man to represent the constituency of Lambton ? ( Loud cries of no and yes,) Well, I felt bound, when charges of this nature were being hurled against my friend and colleague from one end of the country to the other, to express my opinions, and in South Bruce I did so. I prefer to quote rather than to summarize my words. This is what I said : — 1 ■- • ^ i ■ • • ' I 'I '& - i -^> , * , » I '' I" \ \/;■* , mem- >n, and lout its ^B, and [minent House rhether it be in that of je, not Tal diU- public Ih he in ly lend- ]5kenzie, ^lic men ly own pbject rfare of jir John are ever meni ' 265 s The more shame to him 1 It is the boast of the Liberal party that thev do not make charses which they cannot substantiate. It is to the shame of Sir John Macdonald that foundationless charges, which, if true, would have been enough to damn the fair fame of any public man, should have been made against my colleagues and myself, not one of which has hurt us in the slight- est degree. A general policy of slander, such as has been adopted by Sir John Macdonald and his organs, must be repudiated by the respectable people of this country, if they expect respectable men to remain in publiclife." Not long after, we attained power, and Mr. Mackenzie became Prime Minister, and THE STORM OF CALUMNY was raging still. The old tales were repeated and new ones in- vented. There was the Goderich Harbour affair, with respect to which Sir John Macdonald, having during the recess made violent charges, in Parliament used uhese words : — ... " The Prime Minister was informed by Mr. Stirton that Mr. Tolton was a good, competent, and wealthy man, and that his sureties were men of wealth. The hon. gentleman possessed that information, but he did not con- vey it to Mr. Page, who was wandering in ignorance all the time." ..." The difficulty experienced by Mr. Page with regard to Mr. Tolton would have been at onoe removed if the hon. the Premier had handed over a telegram he had received from Mr. Stirton. Why were those circumstances withheld from Mr. Page 1 It was difficult to understand why Mr. Moore should be favoured. The letter written by the hon. the Minister of Justice was highly creditable to him — it was a letter which Mr. Moore had a right to ask from him. Mr. Moore supported the hon. the Minister of Justice, as a candidate for North Bruce, in 1 867. He was, therefore, a friend of the hon. gentleman, and had a right to reoeive a letter stating all the hon. gen- tleman could honestly state. The hon. the Minister of Justice was not in any way personally responsible for the loss of those $29,000 to the country. ^ . . "The hon. the Minister of Public Works was justly chargeable with having given a contractor $29,000 more than the sum for which another com- petent man would have executed the work. He submitted the case to the House as it appeared from the papers submitted, and he held that no hon. member could honestly say that under the circumstances Mr. Tolton should not have received the contract. . . . With regard to the statement he (Sir John Macdonald) had made that the Department had acted with undue favour towards some of his own friends, there was one instance ; it had been shown that Mr. Moore was a political friend, and that no doubt $29,000 had been lost to the country, and before the session closed he would feel it his duty to submit to the House other cases of a similar character. The House and the country could come to no other conclusion than that $29,000 of the pub- lic money had been thrown away. You recollect the charge with reference to the steel rails — the charge that Mr. Mackenzie had made a bargain, not merely bad, but with corrupt motives, to favour a relative ; you recollect the charges of favouritism and wrong with regard to the Fort William town site and the Neebing Hotel, and others which it would be tedious to -detail. This — this was the course pursued Wiiile Mr. Mackenzie (9) ' :■ I 'I i li! f I- -"I I: ^ !t ^>^, , B*'i- ^™>l ■2 4.. '\i. K K I • ' / . ». 266 1 , I' 111 ^ ! A. ;■ ! . i ;.■'■■* I. 1, :,./■■: ^' ^V/'. was our leader ; but now that, unhappily for his party and unhap- pily for the country, our friend is ratner laid asioe by illness ; now that the conditi(ni of his general health and the feebleness of his voice prevents him from taking as prominent and effective a part in the conduct of public affaii-s as in former days, now, forsooth, they acknowledge that these charges were false and calumnious. Sir John Macdonald, for example, at London the other day, de- clared that Mr. Mackenzie was, and is an honest man, and that he acted to the best of his judgment. So say they all now ! THANK GOD, MR. MACKENZIE'S REPUTATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE COMMENDATIONS OF SIR JOHN MACDONALD. He is gratified, no doubt, at those avowals, and doubtless he also understands, as you do, and despises, as you do, the motive which prompts his former slanderers to-day. The motive is palpable, and it is as mean as it is palpable. I have had to answer once or twice the charges or insinuations against me which gener- ally accompany these encomiums and retractions. I will read you the answer I gave Sir John Macdonald in Parliament in 1881, and which I repeat to-day : — " I have borne in silence, from an anxiety not to trouble the House with personal observations, from a feeling that a man who takes a leading part must endure in silence a great many aspersions, the insinuations which from time to time have been made by the hon. gentleman's followers on that topic. But a sensible man — to compare great things with very small ones — who, passing through the village streets, tinds himself assailed by a pack of village dogs, will not, of course, turn round and heed their barking at his heels. While he takes that attitude towards the pack, if the master of the pack assails him he may be well entitled to answer his challenge. " Sir, I have to say with regard to the hon. gentleman's statement that I supplanted the hon. member for Lambton in the office of leader of the Liberal party which I now occupy, that that statement could not within his knowledge be true, and that it posseses in itself not one particle of founda- tion. I am not about to enter into lengthy details, but my views with respect to positions of leadership or of place and power are tolerably well known to all who are good enough to interest themselves in my public career, and are best known to those who know me best ; and they know well that I have never invited any position of that kind ; that on the contrary, I have always shunned it ; that I assumed this position with the utmost reluctance, and, if I had the wishing-cap of Fortunatus for one moment, the wish I would use it to accomplish would be that the path of honour and duty might lead me to retire from this position. But, sir, while that is so, and while the only thing that abates my desire to see hon. gentlemen opposite defeated, is the reflection that their defeat would involve my accession to office, I will use it, so long as I am entrusted with a position of influence such as I now occupy, with a desire to effect some share of good for the country in which I live. It is but the hope that I may to some extent increase the happiness and advance the prosperity of my countrymen that nerves me to my task. " I wish, however, that these fair words of our opponents were accompanied by a little measure of fair deeds. Whatever they , (9) i. ■■■ ■■ . * • • > . ',, . , • >■ • - • . I, » ? V « \ 7 ' , V 2ft7 that I of the lin his )uncla- with ly well |careoTy that I [l have itance, mh I might iile the lited. is I wiU I now which jpineBS aak." werig they say, they do not act in t'he .samo way. They fiivst ^gerrymandered \' 'V . the riding of East York, the chosen constituency of Mr. Mackenzie. 'i\' ^ They failed to win. Then they Morganized that gerrymandered ,» riding under the infamous Franchise Act. And now they are try- ,. ing to Boultbeefy the riding ! They are seeking not merely to / •' defeat Mr. Mackenzie, but to defeat him by Alfred Boultbee! But for this they must have the consent of the electors, and in that ' "i • gerrymandered and Morganized constituency T have every reason ^ , to believe there is left an AMPLE RESEKVE OF PUBLIC SIMUIT to assure us a victory. I rejoice to see that our friend has accepted the nomination, and I read the other day, as I am sure you did, with emotion the brief but patriotic speech he made to the Convention. The circumstances were moving. They ' reminded me of the lines the poet puts in the mouth of an old hero and statesman, speaking to his comrades in his declining . years : Thouvh much is taken much abides ; and though We are not now that strength which in old da/s Moved earth and heaven, that which we are we are ; \ One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will, . ' ^ \ tj To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield ! ' ' ^ .. H (Loud cheers.) I am sure we all wish for him a grand success in his contest against the irbitrary, unconstitutional and im- proper course of the Conseivative party, directed to his defeat. I am glad to observe by a western paper that the new departure of the Mail is to include a declaration in favour of Mr. Mac- kenzie. (Laughter.) It would be a disgrace to East York and to Canada if Alfred Boultbee should he elected over the head of such a man. (Cheers.) I have heard from various quarters in the riding, and I believe it to be true, that man}- Conservatives have declared their intention of voting for our friend. He will be elected ; his country will have the benefit of the important 4;^ i services he can yet ^ive without impairing further the strength ^ which he has already overtaxed in his country's cause. (Cheers.) I have thought it well to give you this little history of the con- duct of the Conservative party towards a leader of the Liberal party, and I would ask you Conservatives who may be hero whether you legard this as worthy conduct? 1 ask you Re- formers who may be here to remember, in other cases and under other circumstances, when you heai- charges hurled at those whom at tlie moment you have placed in the forefront of the battle, to remember these instances I have brought before you. Remember that for these many long yeai-s the leaders of the Liberal party .s." V.;,' K m >■ 1- , • ■ ■ . ■ r. .;,. ., .r ZOO . -y - , • f ' -. 'I • .1' -'■- '. ^5 •.■'• , for 'the time being have been met with cahimnies, which, in this case as in others, have after a long interval been acknowledged to be foundationless. Remember this, and call for proof and un- questionable proof before you allow your al' glance to be in the least shaken by the false accusers who have acted in such an unworthy way, and who have so lately confessed their shame. (Oheers.) ;!>. n lie-. B'*-i-:^ . '^,f^^' E i. * ■ ■- • I fe^ •f it <■■ . 11'- iv T.I. • .,/ .: {■• /-■/•• Thv; k^.^iiieiit Services of 8ir Richard €ai*twright. At Staynei- Mr. Blake said : — I did not know thfit you had a prophet in Stayner. (Laughter.). Sir John Macclonald said before the election of 1882 that there was nothing so uncertain as an election except a horse race. (Re- newed laughter.) But your chairman seems to know quite well what the result of the election is going to be. He is wiser than I am, though I believe he is right. But this much is clear — the result of the election will depend largely upon the degree of exer- tion put forward by those not merely in the lead, but in the rank and tile of the Li^ iral party. You have the fate of the election largely in your own hands, and you and I must keep that in mind from this time until the elections are over. We have A PLAIN DUTY TO DISCHARGE — to do our best to win, in the hope and belief, strengthened and encouraged by the signs of the times, that our course being just and righteous it will be crowned with victory ; and thus believ- ing, if we do our best we shall, even at the worst, have nothing for which to blame ourselves ; but, I repeat, we stand to win. (Cheers.) The chairman has alluded in terms of deserved praise to my able colleagues. We have in the ranks of our party many' strong men, who are doing their very best, co-operating strenu- ously with their unworthy leader in the effort to set matters in their true light before the electorate, and to guide Canada to a brighter career than that which has been her fortune lately. We have upon the platform some of these able men. We have else- '■ where numbers who, at a considerable sacrifice of time, ease, and money, are devoting themselves to the public cause. (Applause.) I shall no* name these men, their names are familiar in your . r {9) ■>fh r^':r' and just [eliev- jthing win. )raise Iraany' Irenu- Jers in la to a We else- le, and ^ause.) your ^- *■'•./ ''-T'' 269 ! : /.'.' ' t ' *■* !-- = ^: moutbs as household words. I will refer to only one of them particularly, an especial aversion of the Conservative party, SIR RICHARD CARTWRIGHT — . y (loud cheers) — with regard to whom they seem to have some par- ticular grievance, because, years ago, when the Reform party were in a minority in Parliament, with little prospect of its early con- version into a majority, he, from motives of conviction most hon- ourable to himself, left the Tory ranks, came over to us, and assisted in the accomplishment of the triumph, which, a few years later, we realized. The Tories feel that his example is a dangerous one, and ever since he has been the subject of violent attack, upon all possible occasions. The favourite story just now is that he is be- ing deserted by his friends, the Reformers, who will not offer him a constituency. (Laughter.) Sir R. Cartwright is not a man to whom a seat in Parliament, however honourable, is essential. He has in the course of his public duty made many sacrifices of pri- vate, personal and family interests. He has work to do in the world, whether he be in Parliament or not. He has more than once suggested to me a temporary retirement as convenient to him personally, but I have strongly opposed any such plan. I hope and trust that the Reformers of Ontario will consider it their duty and privilege to provide him with a seat, and a safe seat, too ; in one of the hives, as they are called ; not because he is not one of our strongest combatants, but just because he is one whose services I want throughout the constituencies during the stress of the general election, so that instead of fighting the battle in some one riding, he may fight at large all along the line, as I do myself on these occasions. (Cheers.) I have this only to say — DO NOT BELIEVE THE STORIES you read of there being any lack of accord between the Reform- ers and Sir Richard Cartwright. He has done great service to the Liberal cause, and he is capable of doing more. He has great claims upon us. (Loud applause.) We are not ungrateful. We recognize those services and those claims — (cheers) — and we know that what he has done in the past will be more than equalled by his performance in the future. , An election is going on to-day for the county of Haldimand. The date of this election, as compared with that of Chambly, em- phasizes what I must call the INDECENT OF THE CONDUCT OF THE GOVERNMENT in this regard. Many months ago, early last session, all our hearts (9) :.i-, ■'■.:. * ■'..-^.v ^•■:,i r*\ r n ^ ^x tyi <..« !'1 I f ■■■4 1 ■.,<;'- .' I rl ; '■m Wm :*.^ ^r' !^ 1 1 ^1 ^'1 '^:^ • 4 '* M ,'.' .>lt»: .' 1.. .'(• -V'' ' li J / . S:,; if\- I f ■t C^ 11 f^v&^;: T-- ' ■ ■" * , ■ ■ " .' ■ . [ ■■■-■■ ^ ' ' ' ■^: v^. .• .', \r- -.■,:- ./ .•.'■270 ' .^ ."' / -;■- ■■■. were filled with sadness by the death of Mr. Thompson, who had represented Haldimand for many years. The writ was moved and the Speaker's warrant ordered. It duly issued. But the law devolves the duty upon the Government of naming the re turning officer and the date of election. That duty they did not discharge, and the writ therefore could not be issued. Dr. Lan- derkin asked the Government why the instructions had not been given. They asked for time, once and again. After a week's pressure Sir John Macdonald gave the answer. He said that a large number of persons had been lately accorded the right of franchise, that the rolls were being made up and would shortly be completed, that there was no pressing necessity for an election, as the member could not be returned before the end of the session, and that it would be an injustice, an insult to the new electorate who were not yet in a position to vote, the rolls not having been made up, to press on the election. He therefore proposed to de- lay the writ, and said that if his opinion were challenged, he would ask the House to agree to SUSPEND THE ISSUE OF THE WRIT. r I felt that there was reason for that view, though it was incon- venient, and perhaps a strain on the constitution. True, the new electors were mainly Indians, wards of Sir John Macdonald, but yet I did not like the idea of the new electors, whatever their views might be, being deprived of the right to vote, I therefore did not resist the view that the election should stand, and the House thus adopted the principle of the Government without dis- sent. But some months later the Government appointed the ^ MEMBER FOR CHAMBLT to an office which had practically been vacant for many months, if not for years, and they immediately issued the writ for Cham,- hly. The new lists were just about completed ; the new elector- ate was just about to acquire its title ; the circumstances were the same as in Haldimand, only more glaring, because tne issue of the writ in Chambly was hurried on, while in Haldimand, where a vacancy had existed for months, it was delayed. I ask Conserva- tives — because I appeal*to Conservatives as well as to Reformers, believing that among them are men willing to consider these things on the principles of fair play and even-handed justice — what consistency is there in this ? I ask whether this is even- handed justice and fair play ; whether it is consistent with the declamtion made in the case of Haldimand ; the pledge made in the case of Haldimand ; the principle laid down in the case of (9) 1 ^■.■■' .i''> . >■' ■ y :i'.\ 1^TW> v.iV dis- mths, Uam- 3ctor- re the )f the lere a erva- •mers, these ice — even- h the de in ase of ■ ' -. Haldimand ; the line of action agreed to in the case of Haldi- mand ; that the Government should use their power — for they are supremo when Parliament is not in session — to sppng an election in another county on the old lists, postponing the election in Haldimand for the new lists, just because they knew that the added vote would be unfavourable to them in one case, and would be in their favour in the other ? (pheers.) IS THAT FAIR PLAY ? Is it not clear that the Government which is appointed in this respect to act for all the people, not for one party, but for both, is prostituting its power, and degrading its trust to base party pur- poses ? (Cheers.) The election in Haldimand is going on to-day, and a great factor in the election is the vote of the Indians. You are aware that the Reformers objected to the Franchise Bill very strongly, and amongst other things, because it conferred the vote upon the unemancipated Indians. Our position on that question has been grossly mis-stated. We, as Reformers and liberals couid not but be anxious that all worthy, capable, and really free citizens should have the franchise. That is a fundamental principle of ours. Nor could we be otherwise than sympathetic with the Indian, the original possessor of the soil, and anxious for his elevation and advancement. Our main objection is this — that the Indian is not yet emancipated, that the laws are such as leave him in a state of of tutelage, that he is not, as you voters are, a free man, but that he is largely under the control of the Government of the day, through the medium of the Chief Superintendent, who in this case is the First Minister himself ; and we contend that so long as tlie GovemTuent keep him in such an inferior position^ so long it is not fitting for him or for the community that he should have nom- inally, what in many cases lie will not have really, the rights that belong to the ordinary citizen; so long it is not proper to give him what you call the Franchise, but what is not really in his case a fra/nchise. WHAT DOES FRANCHISE MEAN ? It means freedom, the right to give a free and independent vote. 'JV) enjoy that right you must be a free and independent man, you must bo truly a citizen, and so long as you are under tutelage, and a ward of the Government, the franchise is no boon to you. It is something you may be able to sell, something you may be able to barter away, something you may exchange for the hope of the favour of your guardian and protector and controller, but it is not a real boon to you ; it neither elevates you nor profits the communi- ty at large. The Chief Superintendent is to the Indians their h • ■ t i '•- . ..-'•.1 ■ ' 1 '■■■' ■■^- •;! . '■>-": ' • ■ ,'- \ -PN • II .^« .>•■ ■^1 Vl ■\fiV I'l ■ !!• 'H^'^ -; ..jiJi^ '••* 272 ", ^.. ; »■ .1! ■' ^V i\ ■ I. ■ 1 : ' ' ' il k ••'' k---i in. ,:•.:■ -1 'V I' ■■'■ >l guide and guardian, the dispenser of bounty from the general funds in case there be sickness or distress. He may give them money or goods ii»he finds they need them. He controls their lands and the titles under which they hold them, and changes in title require his consent. How free would you consider yourself if there were an officer of the Government whom you were obliged to consult before you could mortgage youi; property or sell it ? (Cheers.) THE superintendent-general's CONSENT is required to validate an Indian's will, which would be valid were he a white. He has control of the guardianship of their children His consent in necessary to their enfranchisement. For it is recog- nized by the law that the Indian is not now enfranchised, and there is |>rovision in the Indian Advancement Act by which he may be enfranchised and placed in sometliing like the position of a white citizen. After long and careful probation, after the Sup- erintendent-General consents, and after a time of three years' trial, if alter all that he is found worthy, he may acquire some, but some only, of those rights which you and I have now. The Superinten- dent-General's assent to the by-laws of their Council is necessary to their validity ; he DISQUALIFIES AND REMOVES their councillors. If he thinks a councillor, though elected, is not fit to occupy that position, he turns him out. What would you think of your degree of freedom if, after you had elected a township councillor, a member of the Government should have the power to say, " I don't think this man a good councillor, he is not fit to occupy the position, I turn him out " ? (Cheers and laughter.) The Superintendent-General is the man who does all this and much more for the Indians ; they call him in many parts their " father." (Loud laughter.) And they consider him the re- presentative of their " great Mother," the Queen. Of course we know that in truth that representative is the Governor-rieneral, who is above and beyond parties, but these people are told by some of their guides, that they are to regard Sir John as their " father," their groat chief, and the representative of the " great Mother." Many of them cannot read, and for these tlie ballot is no protecti(m at all, because they must be assisteil in marking their ballot, and it must be known how tlu^y vote. And just re- member the Indian agent, who is the legal repiesentative of the Superintendent-General, through whose mouth he speaks, by whom he communicates his will, who is the embodiment of hisauthority, who is at the elbow of the Indian all the year round ; and con- sider the influences under which the dependent and illiterate In- . ,r. . - - (9) > ^. f ff ■„.^:V.». ■'^J *^ le re- |e we leral, |dby their rreat lot is Iking k re- the l^hom Irity, 1 con- In- « .. * ■' ^ 273 • ■'.M dian will vote. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) In the report of Sir John Macdonald, made two or three years ago, he declared that he had issued circulars to all his otHcei's to ascertain whether the Indians were fit for sotrie rudimentary form of municipal government as a training for the full status of free men. He did not lay the replies before us, but he gave us a summary in a few lines of his report. He declared emphatically that THEY WERE NOT FIT for even the most rudimentary form of self-government. And these men whom he so declared unfit for the first step toward freedom, he now makes, not independent voters, but largely his voters by the law. (Great cheering.) And this further declara- tion he made in his report — that there is but one way of elevat- ing the young Indians — and that is to undertake their entire training, and to separate them from their parents and their homes. The home and parental influence, he thinks, are fatal to advance- ment ; but if they can be taken away from their parents and homes, and kept in the schools they will probably progress. This is not my doctrine, mind you. No doubt the Tory papers will say it is I who said these things. This is a ' ,. STATEMENT MADE BY SIR JOHN MACDONALD in his report, and I call upon you to judge how far those can be qualified to exercise the franchise, the best hope of whose children is, according to the First Minister, that they should be taken from the home and influence of the parent ? (Loud and prolonged cheering.) I do not say that all the Indians are unfit by their conduct to be voters. / believe there are Indians tvho are fairly advanced in education, intelligent, industrious, provident, pro- gressive, and discharging the duties of parentage creditably. But almost all ore unemancipated, and of the condition of the bulk 1 have only tLe Superintendent-General's report to judge from, and I have told you what he says. It was only last night that, speak- ing at a missionary meeting in Toronto, Sir John Macdonald, re- ferring to the British Columbia Indians, inflicted upon those of the East a great slur. He declared, that the British Columbia In- diana ivere of a superior strain, because they had in than an ad- mixture of Mongolian biood. Thus they were superior to the In- dians of the Territories and of the Eastern Provinces. But we have declared by an Act of Parliament that the Mongolian is not fit to vote, that, in fact, he is not tit to live in Canada at all. (Loud laughter.) The Mongolian is good enough forsooth to im- prove the strain of the British Columbia Indian blood, but the (9) ■■• « . ^„ ■' \ ' ,* ■v.;/. '■-■ '^■C< ^^^n V.4 '', .< 'xj '. 1. A i 1 'i" il:r. .;:->' ■'is •f I c ■■;^5 :i --M'tr k•^.. ^J'U { • >. 11 fU-:./ • ^ ' ir: M t- -I , 'i:^- I 'i 1 . .. /-^. I *^.v. . '' "^*:% V * in ^"' /\'.r ■ ■' js'*.'- .•■■^', ■274-.;.: ''\' "; ' -^■^■.■- ;' ■ Eastern Indians, whose blood is not so improved, are made voters, while neither the Mongolians nor the British Columbia Indians, whose blood they have improved, are deemed tit to vote. (Loud and prolonged laughter and applause.) Under these circumstances, then, so far as the Indian is concerned, the polling in Haldimand is proceeding. But many of the Indians are NOT UNOBSERVANT FOLLOWERS of those affairs which affect their own race, and their own blood, and, besides, the Indians have seen the general demeanour and atti- tude of local Liberals, and of the Liberal party in regard to their concerns. The Indian doubts the boon offered to him by the Government, and he does not relish the management of the North- West, and it has been found that the Indian vote fs vot as safe, even in Haldimand, as the Government expected it luoukl he. We all ex- pect the Government will poll a large majority of the Indian vote. Under existing circumstances the Indians would be more than human if they did not largely so vote. I cannot greatly blame the Indians, under those circumstances, for giving the Government a large majority of their votes. But they will not poll them all. (Loud cheers.) The Government supporters must have come to the conclusion that they were not going to poll them all — they must have found that all was not going as they expected — for the great father, chief, and councillor, the guide and guardian, the great authority of the Indiano, THE SUPERINTENDENT-GENERAL HIMSELF, just two days before the election goes — not into Haldimand, indeed, that would be, perhaps, a little too indecent — but goes to the borders of the county into the Indian reserve in the county of Brant, adjoining the Haldimand reserve, to hold a great pow-wow. (Derisive cheers and laughter.) That it had something to do with the Haldimand election I will show you upon good authori- ty. I have here the newspaper report in the Mail of September 4th, headed " Sir John among the Indians," and stating that " the Indians in Haldimand are greatly pleased at Sir John's forth- coming visit to the Six Nations." On September 6th the visit was paid. Sir John Macdonald went out in company with Mr. Robert Henry, ex-Mayor of Brantford, a leading Conservative light in that city, Mr. J. J. Hawkins, who is called " ex-M.P.P.," a well-known Conservative just now, and Mr. Thomas Elliott, who is described as President of the North Brant Conservative Association. So you see the political character of the gathering ; that it was as a politician the [Superintendent-General went, if (»>, ^ . - ,.- ■•' ■ (-■■■ /: i'y 3-» Tv^'r '^'aP ' ^*^': > /;r-r/ T*^ 'i^^^Rv^ t nand, oes to nty of wow. to do ithori- ember " the forth- 3 visit ,h Mr. vative P.P.," Elliott, vative lering ; lent, if 276 we are to " judee a man by the co^apany he keeps." (Laughter.) The report of the World says : — "Sir John, the chiefs, and the leading warriors, and bucks of the tribe afterwards entered the Cooncil House, where a three hours' conference was held with closed doors. No whites wore admitted." NO WHITES WERE ADMITTED —except Sir John. (Great laughter.) You see that the affair was carried out in just such a way as to most impress the minds of these people with his power, and to combine that power which the law gives him as the head of the Indian Department, to be used in the general interest, with his power and position as the leader of a great party. And all this was accentuated by the time at which he came and by the holding of a secret conference with these people, during which he tried to influence their feelinga (Cheers.) If I had wanted further proof of the im- propriety of giving the vote to the Indian, while he is a dependent of the Chief Superintendent, I care not whether the officer who guides him be Reform or Conservative, I could not have asked for more than this proceeding just before polling day. This election is a desperate struggle, and the result will be to the last moment uncertain. I am willing to believe that it was not without some qualms of conscience, some feelings of reluctance, that the Chief Superintendent so timed his visit as to make it plain he was seeking the votes of his wards — of those wards whom he declared three years ago not fit to enter even the most rudimentary form of self-government — that the Chief Superin- tendent 'did what his own officers are by law forbidden to do as improper practices vitiating the election. It shows you, as other things do, the desperate character of the struggle in which, holding the Indian vote of 125 as against a majoritj' of 12(> gained by the Liberal candidate at the last election, together with other influences, to somg of which I shall allude, the Government hopes to snatch a victory, I hope differently. I believe against all odds we shall win. (Loud and prolonged applause.) But I call on you Reformers to remember that a defeat of the Opposition in a bye-election held under present circumstances is no index of the result of a general election. The Government has enormous advantages over the Opposition. They can pour in unlimited forces, as they have done ; they can ply every method of gaining votes, as thoy have done ; they can point to the complexion of the Parliament; they can promise favours. But . ■■ --^ -..,:■ (9) . /' 1: * I nil '1^ III i -rHi ,'t HI! I. ! I ,!;.■ ^ >n i /. - sf .t.'i i. , \ A- V -;i raTTvv^ ':■-■ /-, 276 J . « ^ ; >'>i.''i • i AT THE GENERAL ELECTIONS all will be different. Sir John Macdonald cannot be on every reserve; the Great Chief cannot be everywhere to direct the votes of his " children " in a general election. (Great cheering.) We shall meet in other ways then on more even ground. It is only under special circumstances that the efforts they have put forth in Haldiraand can be repeated, and therefore I say that, believing as I do, that the main tide and current of popular opinion is setting all our way, we are not to be discouraged if there should happen some eddy or backflow in an elbow of the river. No ! we are to go straight onward, knowing that if we fight an even battle to-day under such circumstances as attend this contest, our ultimate victory in the struggle is assured. (Loud and prolonged applause.) I agree with your chairman as to the time of the elections. WHEN THE FRANCHISE ACT WAS PROPOSED I STATED THAT AN ELECTION SHOULD FOLLOW THE COMPLETION OF THE LISTS. ■ '-1 i,- 277 A , '^W' FOR THE PUBLIC ADVANTAGE, but that with the Tories is synonymous with Tory advantage. (Laughter.) We fight the battle under great disadvantages in many ways, but we shall fight with good heart, confident in the good cause, and in the good sense and patriotism of the people. (Great applause.) 11 Ml early ained pite, it > the have for or rueut, con- is the and y so. ve to best y the t for "We the )e Sku icton they hold Lances [great here REPLY TO INDIAN ADDRESS. Honour In Politics— The Represontutivo of South Brant In the Commons— Fitting Tribute to Mr, Paterson. The following is the introductory portion of the speech of Hon. Edward Blake at Brantford : — Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, allow me in the first place to return my thanks to the members of the Six Nations and Mis- sissaugas for the address with which they have honoured me. I can assure them I have received it with great interest and gratifi- cation, and I rejoice at the tone, the broad and generous, the calm and just tone, in which they speak of the attitude of the Liberal party with reference to the very important step, as affecting the various Indian nations, which was lately taken. I rejoice also to know that there are amongst them so many who are able to ap- preciate the general principles of action of the Liberal party, and to recognize that its policy in the past has been, as its policy in the future, so long as it is worthy of its name, must be that which shall, in the judgment of the party, subserve the best and truest interests of the Indians. For myself, I may say I have ever felt a GREAT INTEREST IN AND SYMPATHY FOR those who are the representatives to-day of the original posses- sors of the vast domain of this continent of North America. I have ever most anxiously desired that our legislation and our course with reference to them, and our relation towards them, should be such as might best conduce to their welfare, security, and prosperity, and I am glad to be assured that, being entrusted by the Parliament of Canada with the exercise of the franchise, there are, amongst those who may choose to avail themselves of I •;.'■ It i\ ; ,1 1 1i H ;. Ji i^tfiiL^jICkV' j^::^r ■:. :>• ' :■■:■.', '■ '";.'>■ ■• .\": • 278 , . the right, men who, as they are capable of doing, consider the policy of both ])artie8, and the true interests of the country in which they live, to which they belong, with which their fortunes are bound up ; and who, after such consideration, are })repared to adopt the principles of the Liberal party. I dare say that the expectations of the Conservati v^es, hinted at in this address, may be in large measure disappointed ; and that the Liberal party may find, as it ought to find, among the descendants of the original possessors of the soil MANY WARM AND EARNEST ADHERENTS, because the Liberal party has for its objects, jicstice to, and the advancement and elevation of, all classes of o%ir '"population, no matter what their creed, no matter what their colour, no matter what the race to which they belong. I hope it may be my for- tune some day to visit my friends on their reserve. (Loud and prolonged applause ) In the midst of the series of very large meetings, which it has been my privilege to address, I had very great pleasure in agreeing to Mr. Paterson's request that 1 should speak in Brantford. I congratulate the Reformers of South Brant upon this magnificent assemblage. Our meetings have been the largest, most enthusiastic, and most satisfactory in every way, which in nearly twenty years of political life, it has been my for- tune to attend. (Cheers.) Not merely have our friends gathered in great numbers, and in great enthusiasm, but we have also been favoured with the presence of very considerable numbers of those who do not ordinarily take as active an interest as I should de- sire in politics, and with the presence of a large number of those who have not heretofore seen eye to eye with us. And not merely have these two classes been present, but I am happy to say we have received abundant evidence that their , EYES ARE OPENING TO THE TRUTH, as we understand it, with reference to the interests of Canada, that a very great change is rapidly taking place in public opinion, that the public mind is in a highly formative condition, and that we may hope from these demonstrations the best results for the future of Canada, which I believe to be inextricably bound up with the future of the Liberal party. (Loud applause.) I am glad to note also the presence on almost every occasion of large numbers of ladies deeply interested in those affairs which so much concern them. (Applause.) And lastly, I rejoice to see so many young men. This has been a special feature of the other meet- ings also, and a most encouraging and cheering feature it is. 1 have said elsewhere that one of the things which gives me now 9) 270 the greatest satisfaction is, that I was to a considerable extent responsible — being the first to suggest it — for the policy which has resulted in the young men of the country being, at a verj'^ much earlier age, and under very much easier circumstances than formerly, admitted to the franchise. I proposed this, not that they might enjoy it as a pleasure, but that they might embrace it as a high duty. (Cheers.) I proposed it because 1 was convinced our best chance of making of them good and worthy citizens was to interest them early in public affairs, and I accompanied the suggestion with an expression of the hope, which I am so glad to see so largely realized, that they would recognize the responsibil- ity which was attendant upon the privilege ; that they would feel it to be their duty to interest themselves actively in the con- duct of public affairs, to undertake the acquisition of that know- ledge and the performance of that labour which is essential to an intelligent choice of their political paity, and to the exercise of their proper influence over the fortunes of that party. (Renewed cheering.) If I may say a word or two to them, I would invite them, in the opening of life, to lay down for themselves and rig- idly to abide by the principles which shall guide them in the ' IBM nada, nion, that )r the id up 11 am 1 large luch lany leet- >. I now CONDUCT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. We have seen the politics of our country degraded and abased. (Applause.) It is for these to purify and exalt them, not merely by laying down principles of action, but by taking care that they enforce and exemplify those principles in their own conduct. (Loud applause.) They believe, I trust, and hope—it is natural to their years that they should believe — in the progress, if not the infinite, at any rate the indefinite, progress of the race. (Loud cheers.) Let them believe also that it is of the last importance that we should progress, not merely in the material, but also in the moral sphere, not merely in riches, not merely in strength, not merely in temporal prosperity, but that we should progress along the intellectual and moral plane as well. (Loud, applause.) Let them remember those words written so long ago, and just as true to-day, " Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a re- proach to any people." (Loud applause.) For my part, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO OUR DUTY IN POLITICS, and yet observe the rules that we shall do nothing and counsel nothing in private which we should be ashamed to have divulged in public ; that we shall not adopt any standard of morality or party action in politics which we would decline to adopt in social or in private life ; and that we shall refuse to act upon the base maxim that all is fair in politics as in war. (Cheers.) ' ' (9) . ■ / 1: ' 'V I ■y 'I > '■-..■'■ ;v»V'' ' ■• r,(» » . 280 ,L>:tjJ^i 'j; I'.' 'i ( hM I ■ '■'■', ALL IS NOT FAIR IN POLITICJS ; !r v '). ui r