IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 2.0 M. ill 1.6 // rA Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716)872-4503 \ iV ■O' \\ 7\? ^ CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Histcorical l\^lcroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 4 AftO 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 ef/ou pelliculce □ Cover title Le titre de missing/ couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ n n Caites geographiques en cuuleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relie avec d'auues documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interio' 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/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutees lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ete filmees. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires: This Item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce docup jnt est filme au taux de reduction mdique ci-dessous. ^QX 14X 18X 12X 16X 20X 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 uniquss 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 pelliculees Q Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages decolorees, tachetees ou piquees □ Pages detached/ Pages detachees to th The post of th filmi OriQJ bagii thali sion. othci first I «ion. or illi Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Qualite inegale de I'imp pression □ Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue Thai shall TINU whici Mapi diffsr •ntiri bogin right roquii mothi □ Includes index Comprend un index(es)/ Comprend un (des) index Title on header taken from:/ Le titre de l'en-t£te provient: □ Title page of issue/ Page de titre de la livraison □ Caption of issue/ Titre dc depart de la livraison I I Masthead/ Generique (periodiques) de la livraison 22X 26X TOX J 24X 28 X 22X Th« copy filmed hare has baan raproducad thank* to tha ganaroaity of: Library of the National Archives of Canada Tha images appearing hare are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract apacificationa. Original copiaa in printed paper covers are filmed bagirming with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustisted impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copiaa are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated Imprea- sion. and ending on the iaat page with a printed or illuatratad 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 expoaura mn 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'exemplaire fiimd fut reproduit grdce A la ginArositA de: La bibliothique des Archives nationales du Canada Les images suivantes ont ixi reproduites avec la plus grand soin, compte tenu da la condition et de la nattet* de l'exemplaire film«, et an conformity avec lea conditions du contrat de filmage. Lea axemplaires originaux dont la couvartura en papier est imprimis sont filmis en commenpant par la premiar plat et en terminant soit par la darniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axemplaires originaux sont filmte an commandant par la premiere pag« qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at an terminant par la darniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, salon le cas: la symboia — ^ signifia "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartaa. planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fiimis A des taux de rMuction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul ciichi, il est filmi A partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas. an prenant la nombra d'images nicessaire. Las diagrammas suivants illuatrant la mithoda. 32 X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 //' ST>EECIIE8 OF THE HON. JOHN COSTIGAN, M.P, HON. SIR CHARLES TUPPER, M.P. AND JOHN ROSS ROBERTSON, ESQ., M.P. ON THE OCCASION OP HON. JOHN COSTIGAN'8 PERSONAL EXPLANATION ON HIS CROSS [NG THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE HOUSE OF COMMONS, OTTAWA, 26th MAY, 1899 Mr. JOtiN COSTIGAN iVlctorla, N.B.) Mr. Speaker, before proceeding to the Or- ders of the Day, I feel compelled, in justice to myself, and I might also claim in justice to those whom I may call my friends in the country, though they may be very few, that a certain statement should be made by m.>- 61? eh a statement has been rendered necetj- sary, not only on account of certain newH- paper articles attributing to me very Im- proper motives because of my change of seat and change of attitude towards the present leaders of the Opposition in this House. The statement is further necessary on account of the very questiorable and Im- proper motives attributed to me. In an inter- view published In the newspapers from the hon. the leader of the Opposition. 1 there- fore propose, Mr. Speaker, to deal as briefly as i)osslble with this subject, to make some references to a few of the newspaper ar- ticles, and to pay more particular attention to the Interview I have just mentioned. In order that I may be in accordance with the rules of the House, I will conclude with a motion before resuming my seat. It Is true, Mr. Speaker, that I find mysell occupying a different seat from the one that I occupied since the last general elections. ,w ..^ To my mind It requires no very lengthy ex- planation for my change of attitude towards —not the old Conservative party, that I worked with and worked with so faithfully for so many years ; but towards the Coil- servative party as I find It constructed and led to-day in this House, and In the coun- try consequently. I may take up first, not the most important, but one of the early critics who assigned questionable motives to me for my conduct, and I may say, that it appears to me that one of the principal objects in these attacks made upon me, Is to prove, not that I have not reason, not that I have not common intelligence, not that I have not honow, but to prove that I am actuated by unworthy ms hp might oLiim, bat to iiio detriment and ruin of that old partv. The day he sailed from England, and especiallv the day he landed in Canada, the doom of an honest Government and the leadership of an honest man was sealed. The fate of Sir Mackenzie Bowell's Government was sealed. Sir, he came, and a great deal has been said about the manner of his coining. That, par- haps, I will not touch upon now, because there is a history to the whole of this trans- action, a history that will be written, and a history that will form one of the darkest pages that can be written or will be read, so far as all these who were Intimately connect- ed with it at that time are concerned. X change of position on my part ! I was In the Government with hon. gentlemen that I see around me 'here now, under Sir Mackenzie Bdwell. I had the support, as an humble member of that Government, of the hon. gen- tlemen that I see sitting around me here— their honest support, I am glad to sav. From my acquaintance with the old Conservative party, no matter where I may sit, no matter what my feelings may be, no matter what defence I may be obliged to make, I will pay tribute to the gentlemen that deserve It ; that grand old party comprises men of hon- our. Integrity and patriotism. But they are not the rulers of the party. It Is not the large number that govern and shape the policy of the party, but I was going to sav, if .vou want to know when I changed my politics, I changed them the dav that half of Sir Mackenzie Bowell's Government went out and left him in the lurch, after they had been a party to his calling Parilament to- gether tc transact business. My change of front and my Justification for It are based on that act, an act that was Indefensible. Is there a Conservative on this side who w-Jl say I was wrong in standing by my chieftain, and that these gentlemen were light -n leaving him In the lurch and betray- ing hi in, to use a stronger term ? Not one h.as said so to the present ; not one will say it here or in the country. If I was right, it la not a great stretch of argument to say that they were wrong. That Is sufficient on that point. I wish to be clearly understood, that though deeply wounded, insulted, vilifled, feeling strongly, and having the feeling with, in me that I fear no man or party In self- defence, my only duty Is to restrain mvself within proper limits, to say nothing unneces- sarily offensive to either the Individual or the party I have been with, but to confine myself as closely as possible to what may be necessary to rebut the slanders that have been launched against me. Now, to make my position more plain. I must say this, that I enjoyed the confidence of Sir .Tohn Macdonald. of which I shall al- ways be proud, that I enjoyed the confidence of his successors, the Hon. Sir .Tohn Abbott, the Hon. Sir John Thompson, and the Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell. I do not claim or profess to have enjoyed fully the confidence of the gentleman who succeeded him. Some of the newspapers uud some friends attach a great deal of Importance to this fact, In order to strengthen the charge that I am so selfish and looking out for personal gain, and that tliat Is luy principal object-tliey say: Ob, yes, you differed with the present wlug of the Conservative party when they were false to Sir Mackenzie Bowell, but you went Into Sir Charles Tupper's Government and stayed with him as long as he was in power and had favours to bestow. I admit that, to the out- side world, to those who do uot understand the question, and even to those who had a good opinion of me— and I am happy to say they are numerous in this country, the people who have a fairly good opinion of me and my honesty— that appears dltfleult to understand. I am not so .promineut as many men In pub- lic life ; I have tried to discharge my duty as a humble representative of a very humble constituency during many years ; I have done my duty, to the best of my ability, faith- fully. I feel confident that every man who knows me— every Impartial man— will give me the credit of a desire to do what is right The fact then that I Joined the Government that was formed under the present leader of the Opposition and that ended so quickly perhaps requires a little explanation. I did of course, go into the Government formed by that lion, geatlemaa. I went luto it mo.st reluctantly, however, and my presence in that Cabinet was not proof that I was seek- ing my own personal advantage or wliat favours he might have been in a position to bestow. The hon. gentleman knows that about the time— and I knew the time the change would take place as well as he did I knew the time Sir Mackenzie Bowell would Ilkey tender his resignation and the pro- bable time his successor would be called on to form a Government— at that time soai'i of my per.sonal friends— humble, ol conp.se. like myself— were engaged in a libel suit in another county outside of their own where they were strangers. I felt an interest iu them, and they appealed to me TO come, and I started at once to stand by my f.-lendq. Some persons friendly to me said : u.it there will be a Gov- eriunent construor'Hl before you come back. I said : I do not care if half a dozen Governments are con.structed before I get back. I am not very much interested in the Governments that are being construct- ed now upon the new basis. I started out but accidentally it happened that on my way up to the buildings I met the leader of the Opposition. He asked me if it was tvue that 1 was going to New Brunswick, and 1 said it was. He asked me when I would be back, and I told him I expected to be back on Thursday. He said that very likely he might be called upon to form a Government and that he wished to have me in his CaWnet, but in case I would not get back In time, he wished to have my conseot before I started. I thanked him for the com- pliment that he paid me, as it was my duty to do. But I told him that I would give him my answer fln.-illy that evening, that I would call upon him. or. failing that I would put it in writing. I did put it in wrlDlng and sent it to the hon. gentieman. Ihat document contained the conditions clearly defined under which I agreed to go into his Cabinet, and outside of these, I J^„°K. .°^' .'IV^ accepted a position in his Cabinet which he very well knows. Then^ t"?'^®^ ^ "' ^^^ knowledge that I went Into Ids Cabinet at his request, and that that re- quest, complimentary though it was, was uot sutBclont to take me into his Cabin.>t except on the conditions that I laid down in writing I think, Sir, it comes with bad grace from that hon. gentleman to refer tc my conduct, to my motives and to mv character in the way he did in that in- tervisw that I bave Just read In the press, Now. I might call upon the hon. gea- emau to deny, or to explain away, or read the etter that I wrote him at that time ; I will do neither. The hon. gentleman has -1 won t say paid me the compliment, that would be a bad construction-he has singled me out to show that I am not worthy of that courtesy which is extended to any memb-r of this Chamber, and has refused to it-cog- nize me Weil. I have slept regularly every night since, thank God. I have taken ray regular meals. It pained me, I do confess, if that is any consolation to the hon gen- tleman : it wounded my feelings to think that a man in his position, knowing me as he had known me, could think that it was any advantage to him, or that he could suppose that because he ignored me he was thereby destroying my character in the coun- try. I hope I have not committed any crime that would Justify any hon. member iu this House withholding from me the courtesy tliat every gentleman is entitled to from his follow member. Weil, Sir, I have no questions to ask, no favours to expect. I have little more to ■say, especially of an aggressive character I will add this, however : I have long feit that the hon. gentleman's reasons for dis- approving of my conduct were unworthv < f a gentleman holding his position. I have felt all along that there were gentlemen behind him who could not conscientlou.sly endorse those reasons and would not stultify themselves by endorsing them. I appreciate their position. They are silent, I do not quarrel with them. Many of tliem are tnends, ha\e been personal friends, and I do not wish to interrupt the friendly rela- tions that exist between many of them and myself— there are some gentlemen, of course, to whom this does not applv. But I want this to be clearly understwod, that while I refrain from making retaliatory attacks, striking back to-day, from thi.s time for- ward I .shall defend myself. I am a man ot peace, I never was a quarrelsome man, but I am not a peace-at-any-price-inan ; and the m.an that follows this up and strikes ine. )f he does not get blow for blow, it is because old Costigan Is getting too old, I do not feel to-day. though, perhaps, i hon. gentleman. 1 the conditions h I agreed to go tslde of these, I a position In his !ll knows. Then?- that I went into and that ,that re- igh it was. was Into his Cabintn It I laid down In comes with bad itleman to refer tlves and to my did in that in- ad in the press, a the hon. geu- In away, or read m at that time ; 1- gentleman has compliment, that 1— he has singled 3t worthy of that to any member refused to ifcog- : regularly every have taken ray ae, I do confess, to the hon. gea- eellngs to think knowing me as link that It was ' that he could lored me he was cter In the couu- nltted any crime member in this lie the courtesy tied to from his tlons to ask, no little more to ssive charactei', t have long feit reasons for dls- !re unworthy «.f )sltion. I have vere gentlemen conscientiously Mild not stultify n. I appreciate lent. I do not of them are friends, and I e friendly rela- ly of them and ?men, of course, 7. But 1 want 1, that while I iatory attacks, this time for- . I am a man firrelsome man, price-man ; and up and strikes for blow, it is ng too old. nigh, perhaps, spurred up a little by the unjust attacks made upon me, that I am so far Incapacitated as not to be able to give a good account of my- self, wherever, whenever, and under what- ever circumstances any of these gentlemen —and I allude to the unfriendly ones, cf course— choose to attack me. The conditions imder which I went Into that Government. Mr. Speaker, are contained In a letter dated about the time I refer to, the day I was leaving for New Brunswick. I will read the letter : Ottawa, 26th April, 1896. Dear Sir Charles Tupper,— Referring to our con- versation yesterday, in which you mentioned that during my absence until Thursday In New Brunswick, you might be called upon to form a Government, and wished to know If I would accept a position In your Cabinet. I have thought the matter over moat carefully, and I think it well that I should address you this letter so as to define my position exactly. I entered Sir John Macdonald's Government In 1S82 to render hla Government all the support that I could bring as an Irish Catholic represen- tative, believing that In that position I would he able to secure for Irish Catholics a reasonable and legitimate recognition of their rights, but after 14 years under different chiefs of the Con- servative party, I am forced to the humiliating admission that I have been unable to secure anything like fair treatment for the Irish Catho- lic people where their interests were Involved, though I am quite sure that few Irish Catholics In Canada believe that I failed for want nf pressing, with all possible earnestness, their claims on all occasions. You can therefore easily vnderstand that after 35 years service In politics, I have no great desire to continue the struggle. There Is no evidence there of a greedy de- sire to get In for the loaves and fishes. I mig'ht retort that I know of men who are inordinately greedy. In view, however, of the principle Involved in remedial legislation, to which Sir Mackenzie Bowell's Government was pledged, and as to the sincerity of which pledges Sir Mackenzie gave such unquestionable proof, and In view of the fact that your Government Is to be formed to carry out the same, policy, especially as regards the Manitoba school policy, I feel It my duty to say to you at once that you may count upon my assistance and services. If you require them, as a member of your Government, always pre- .sumlng that the policy to reintroduce and press through a Remedial Bill at the first session of the new Parliament, will be clearly announced by you on behalf of your Government. I attach all the more Importance to this clear announcement of the Government policy on the question of re- medial legislation, on account of the difilcultlea that occurred between Sir Mackenzie Howell and part of his Cabinet at the beginning of last session, which Involved serious delay, but for which our chances In passing remedial legisla- tion would have been much better. I must also mention that it will be absolutely necessary and In fact consistent with remedial legislation, that the Dominion Lands Act be so amended next session as to enable the Governor General In Council to ensure a fair proportion of the proceeds of the school lands being paid to the separate schools in Manitoba. In view of re- cent events I would rather not return to the T»epartment of Marine and Fisheries, and, as It is one of the most Important at your disposal, I am sure you would not find It difficult to offer me the Post Office Department Instead. Yojrs faithfully, JOHN C03TIQAN. I might explain that last paragraph by saying that I did not object to taking the Marine and Fisheries Department because it vas not a very Important one, for I admit that It la, and I think any gentleman would be complimented who would be put in charge of It. But the hon. gentleman had troatetl me, not only discourteously, but In tli(> most arbitr.ary and mo.st unprecedented way the moment that he grasped what he had sought for, a seat in tlie Cabinet, and I did not care about returning to that department If It could be avoided. These are the conditions under which I went Into that Government. I discharged my duties to that Government as faithfully as I could. I was as loyal to that Government as any man In It— more loyal than some, more loyal than some who. Immediately after the results of the elections were known, when our Government was defeated, not satisfied with the slaughter that hid gone on, with the knifing and betraying one another that had brought about the defeat, started a new crusade to unhorse the gallant gentleman himself. I was the first- at least, I took an early occasion. In my modest way, to counteract that movement, on the ground that they had had enough of that kind of knifing, and that they had better unite their forces, that the hon. gentleman was their legitimate leader, having fought the battles. But I knew that. If they succeeded at the time, that would not have ended the trouble, because the old friends would have been divided on new Issues, and It meant the com- plete disintegration of the Conservative party. I have only one mo.re "fference to make, and that Is with referen N- mv pre- tensions of Independence. We.., )Ir,' after thirty-eight years representing a constitu- ency continuously, as I have, I do feel bound to resent any Insinuation, any charge that would imply a want of honour, or hon- esty, or frankness, in my character. I have been known In my constituency since child- hood. I have not been as well known In the country as some of the prominent gen- tlemen around me ; but, wherever I have been known, I think I can safely say, that I have been known to be a true and faithful friend and a fair and honourable opponent. These characteristics I have tried to main- tain all through life. I have made no for- tune In politics-; I have had my difficulties: I have had as hard scratching as anv man who works for his day's wages In the field or elsewhere. I started earning my wages as a hired man, and I am not ashamed of It— and I am no better off now than when I started. All I can say fs, that, for every day's wages I got, I gave a good, honest day's work In return. My sense of self- respect was questioned, because I continued, "or were nuTarVTl'?'^^ «.«:"«»> man. n.M^ ^« ^'"ch I felt I was as fuly entitled ' Z" n!i:»'^..*^^„.«.««V,^« «?«".P'«- I felt "or were a 11 sorFs of ZJ!" ^ ^^'"^^^ '"a'»' Ju'LTannS ti /rn?he"?, k^/„ f"?/'°" ^•^>' ^^ Sir. I Incurred thp hitl 5 territory, then. mmimmmm madrirtbl. Home I ?,r ^'"'' ''''»» '™'«l«llna°lry ItMri,,,.',, ■"'J''''" '" » n a verv nniof ,.A S? i "®'*' °* murmur ng i,-i,„ • , ""'^^- . ^e did not clianop }ji« _,:_,, ...... .,.„., „,, , „„„. .ear.|;/SSYaiSe\rS'r tt'£H- ?nounced, or cate- or a se.'lsh man. 'tlves Imputed to Is different treat- ue. I had voted J Important ques- ! Government on a. the proposition )unt of tlK' ri>ve- • Manitoba. But t a motion for a n territory, then, a eternal hostlll- tho Conservative great necessity t that denuncla- 'od, If I had no stupid piece of IS known In the e party had in- onal friend of man who did > was In It, and should return— ^ed this Kentle- s the candidate ity was nearly majority, such ' constituencies Opposition upon motion for a lie tone of the larges, the ig- he sacrifice of 'e to recognize part of these I this was In ! chances of e. And did. roved on the e my opinion e hon. leadsr interviews r so far as the Ing access to Ike a charge they should nsidered It a 'nly question ts of the con- of making a ?edy manner > one, on our against. The having been sted In -hiln- from Bng- ed that very view, in th': interests lie re say, was Gfovernment rht the best iiade acces- y other. H(> upon thplr !'e his mini] hat became 'n. member for llast York (Mr. Maclean), got up and read Iflm a lesson that was chetrerl aul cheered, as he knew It would be, by a num- ber of the important and strong supporters of an hon. gentleman to-day In whom he has no more cjnfldonc; than I have. His Independence weakened a little from that time. Expediency, I dare say. prompted him to change )'is view considerably on that oc- casion and to adopt the view and the les.son read to him so successfully by the hon. n ember who has, at any rate, the reputation of having some weight with the leader of the Opposition and with the party, too, In this House. One word more, and I am done. As to mv change of front, as to my political sympa'- thies, as to my political principles, they are well known to this countrv. I never "went behind the bush, I never "gave a doubtful note as to whore I stood or what I thought. I would sooner fall, telling candidly the truth than save myself by squirming or miscon- struing facts. I followed the Right Hon. Sir .John Macdonald. and felt and will feel It as long as I live, an honour to have served him faithfully. I followed every successo" of his down to the time that the hon. gentle- man (Sir Charles Tupper) assumed power. Had the Right Hon. Sir John Macdonald or any of these successors I have referred to' remainetl In power or remained In active polities, on the side of this House that they sat on. wh.'ther to your left or to your right ;?,!; '^^^r- ^ ^''''^^ '^"^e been found slt- llln K ^^T'»\^ ™^° ^ <^o"J« ^'il^e of the old party-i do not speak for him. but T speak of him. and I say that he has as little con- fidence m the gentlemen with whom I have tlfJ"- ^^ ^^"7^ '"y^^'f- 1 thanlc you, Mr. Speaker, and the House for havin^ so na^ tientl.v listened to the few observations I have felt it my duty to offer on this occa- sion. I have seldom trespassed on the patience of the House, and I feel all the more grateful for the kind attention that the House has given me whllo mak^n" '■hi- brief statement. This. I dare say." Is the initiation of a debatable question ; I have not fired my last shot nor struck my last blow. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn. Sir CHARLES TUPPER (Cape Breton). -Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you, Sir and fvery member of this House, will believe u.e when I say that I have witnessed the (■ours., pursued by the hon. gentleman who lias Just taken his seat with the very deep- est possible regret. I do not regret his action Sir. so far as I am personally con- cerned : I do not regret his action so far as the great party which 1 have the honour to lead. Is concerned, but 1 do. from the bot- tom of my heart, deplore the fact of that ion. gentleman occupying tlie position that ho has occupied in this countrv for so long a timo, reaching the position "that he has now reached. He says the time has come wlien he feels It Is due to himself and due to tlie country that he should make a stated niont. I think he would have consulted his own character and standing and ho would have consulted his own honour if he had made that statement long ago. It is the hrst time in the hi-story of this Parliament ilie first time In the history of the great Par- liament which It is our pride to folfow the Parliament of England, the first instance in which a Privy Councillor, in which a gen- tleman occupying the position which he oc- cupies, has voted against his party on a question of the deepest public importance and the gravest party character without one word of explanation, as to why that hon. gentleman himself stood up on the front Opposition bench of this House as an ex- Cabinet Minister and voted against his old colleagues and party. I say. Sir. that the want of courtesy was on the pa'-t of the hon. gentleman. He forgot what was due to himself ; he forgot what was due to this House, he forgot what was due to the par- liamentary system of government when he adopted such a course as that. 1 witnessed his conduct, I confess, with astonishment. '.t I held my peace; I said not a word vither \u this House or out of It. and when p.irties spoke to m.,- on the subject I rather endeavoured to extenuate the hon. gentle- man's conduct. It was when he went to the press of the country, when he went to the Opposition press and declared that his ac- tion was based on his desire to break witli the leaders of the Conservative paity be- cause their policy had ceased to be' Con- servative and that he could no longer as- sociate himself with them, that I felt bound to give to the intelligent people of this country that, which you know, and which every hon. f«ntleman in this House knows was the cause that operated upon the hon. gentleman and led to his defection from the party he had so long been associated with, to ills abandonment of that party and to his alliance with their opponent.s. What was the character of the vote "> I need not tell you. I was not in the House when the hon. gentleman (Mr. Costigan) delhcied Ills speech, but on tbe llntl day of April 1807, that hon. gentleiunn made n speech that created a great deal of surprise and u great deal of astonlshmeut. It was a speecli In which he made the uncalled-for announcement to the House and the coun- try, that he owed nothing to the Conserva- tive party. A man who sat In the councils of that party, a man who had been a mem- ber for many long years of every Conserva- tive uovernment, found it necessary to niak.- a declaration to this House, that he no longer recognized any obligation to the Con- servative party, and practically was open to suggestions from hon. gentlemen oppo- ?, r: .. ''^'** °1''" ™"''' ''ead that speech at that time and arrive at any other conclusion. VVeil. sir, a very remarkable thing occurred ^uJ.T ''"'"' "■'^.'^ I'efw'euce to a matiei- which is now receiving the attention of the Public Accounts Committee, and when the dates are examined. It will be found that a grave and important reason will be dis- co ver.,-d why the hon, gentleman fMr. Costl- gan) adopted the course he Iki. So man sympatlilzes more deeply than I sympathize LS . . °^"^^'' ^'^ "t^^*^ ^JP '»ere and to say to the Governmeat : Do not regird me as an enemy. That ^^•as slgnlflcaut. But, hir. What was the occasion on Avhich thp hlT nnZ"''"''", ^-V- CO'^tigan) broke with against It. It was an occasion which of all others tliat ever was presented in this House bound him as a Conservative, hound ctn^i '\.r'"''^\ Conservative tradition, to stand with and by his party. What was the occasion V It was ^-hen three conti' nents were rlnsiuu: with charges of the o^r;irrcol^[,^^.*"- "'^"^""^ ""-- Government clal duTiP« '^°h'^'"K"'' ^"ellctlon of their offl- c al duties ; the hon. gentleman (Mn Costl- Kun), on that occasion, for the Urst tlmp allied himself openly In' this House wUhfhe men who said : We will not penult an inve^ X''^^ '"'" '^^ '■""•^"'^' o' officials charged w n^^'/'V*"'- "*"-'i' n>l«eonduct; we will not do that unless you will allow us to select the wife's uncle of the man hehl responsible by this House. Some hon. MEMBERS. Oh. Some hou. MEMBEPS. Oh. Sir CHAllLES TTIPPER. Yes. Some hon. MEMBERS. Oh. Sir CHARLES TUPPER. Yes; three continents ringing with charges of the grav- e^t chn meter that affe,-ted the Goverumeni of the country-charges more grave than these hon, gentlemen opposite appreciate but which at no distant date thev will an- ?vnP'"<^'' H -'^* ^^'''' '^°"'' "le hon. gentleman (Mr. Costlgan) voted against a motion to appoint a royal Judicial commission to In- quire into these charges. And, Sir, when the Government opposite were convicted of nepotism ; when they were challenged with having abused their position to prSmotrto office men utterly unfitted for the positions they appo nted them to fllll ; when they were L^f, n??^-*° '"^^'^ '^^ ''^^"Its of that malt a ministration, which had caused a scanclal wldeLv extended all over Europe, Gr^t Bri tain the United States and AustrX, as rn T^?.*'"^. '" "^°""^«y to him. Even « thi'^i" °°' ^''"'"t 't- But when he went to the press of the country and declared e was compelled to abandon the Conserva- wn« ?^ ■'' ^^''''"''* t^« '^^•ler of his party 'nas no longer a Conservative, and wjfs no longer a man that he could support- fl"s tened with intense interest to-da? to hear him give one word of explanation to the hfs'^condLr^^K."' '^l^ ^'''""^'•y to JtistlfJ Inl ?hP « nhi^nf^K ^"^ '^T" ^'thout touch- ing the subject, because he could not touch Why, Sir, In the letter which he wrote he admitted that when I invited hb^ to Join the Admlnistriition i was called unnn a° member 'np^'^^'^ '^'^ adhesloh and became rei^ f nLl ""T .Government, and he has i^he first statement he makes in that letter vvhere their interests wire Involved!"""" '''°'"* illctlon of their o»- itleman (Mo Coatl- for the tlrst time, his House with the ot peniilt an inves- of olflclnJs charged I misconduct ; wo you will nilow us ! of the man held Oh. 3R. yes, I sny n held respoufeible t miscouduct. Oh. Shame. J. Yes, It was a a gieater scandal B Crown, charged Df duty to select itifled with him could not, unless in, discharge his ad it Is a scandal Irts of this Gov- I them until they dealing with this was the occasion man (Mr. Costi- sat here patient- I Intense interest claration that he as he who waa as the man who larty with whom approached the ting In courtesy ever approached ' of our assocla- •■ (Mr. Costlgan) t attitude never to hini. Even It when he wcat y and declared n the Conserva- er of his party ve, and was no support ; I 11s- to-day to hear lanation to the intry to Justify without touch- ;ould not touch hich he wrote, nvited hira to as called upon )h and became It, and he has imunieated to iind principles that subject. I in that letter atlng .-jdmiKKi.-,^ •e anything like t^tholic people •ed. Yet, Sir, he stands up In this Houh«> to-diiv and says, that to this hour lie would 't'lnd by .Sir .To'nn Macdon.ild. Ai-d, Sir, If any man was I'cspon.slblo fi>i- Irlsli t.atlio'lcs not having got that which they were entitled to ; if that charge? stood against anylody. It stood against the Uight Hon. Sir .lohii Macdonald. .vho was so long In power. If that charge lay against anybodv, it was against the Hon. Sir .loliu Abbott, it was against the Hon. .sir .IdIui 'riioiiii'son. It was agalust tlie Hon. Sir .Mackenzie UoAvell; It was not ngniiist nic, nccnusc I IimO no opporliuilty as Prumler of showing v.hal 1 could i\'j for Irish Catliollcs, nor for any person else, as the hon. gentleman (Mr. Cos- tlgan) knows. He (Mr. Costlgan) knows, for b" sat side by side in the Canadian Cabinet long enough with me to know, that the tlrst Irish Ctitiiolic Judge liin; ever »(loni(>(l the iR'iich of Xovti ScoHii was nomi- nated by me. He (Mr. Costlgau) knows nuire. He knows that the ttrst Irish Catlio- lic (iovernor of that province was nomi- nated by me. He knows tiiat on every oc- casion, from the first liour or my jmblic life down to the present, no mau lias sliown more readiness than I have to deal with the claims and interests of persons of ail classes aud of all creeds, without prejudice against any creed, aud he knows that when- ever tliey were entitled to promotion, to prominence and distinction, they received it at my hands as far as I was able to give It. What more ? He (Uv. Costlgan) said he made stiptilatlons before he entered the Cabinet of which I was Prime Minister. He knew right well timt tliere was no cause for stipulations. He knew right well that at a most important crisis, when the in- terests of the Koman Catholics were at stake and wlien tliat had become a cardinal (jues- tion ; the hon. gentleman (Mr. Costlgan) knows, that at the request of S,r Mackenzie Bowell himself— after 1 refused to listen to any proposal from any source whatever in reference to party matters In this country —he knows that the Hon. Sir Mackenzie Bowell sent for me and invited me to be- come a member of his Cabinet, and he knows that having done .so and having been appointed to the leadership of tlie Conser- vative party in this House, I fought, how- ever feebly, that battle ; and he (-Mr. Cos- tlgan) knows that I fought It with all tlio ability and all the courage I possessed. What Is the position of the hon. gentle- man (Mr. Costlgan) now ? Is he carrying out the sentiments embodied in his letter ? Is he carrying out the conditions which he addressed to me, wheu he deserts the Con servatlve party, that party which fought and fell with their faces to the foe ; that party which fought the battle of the Roman Catholics of this country— Is he carrying out his condltioniH 'vlicu hs- desiprt;- tlsat p.irty to ally himself with the men. to allv hlniself with the party, to ally himself with the leader 2 ■who, In order to attain power, struck down ' the Just clfilins of the Homan Catholic ml- I iioriiy wlieii iliey woii' pressed in tills House by the Conservative parly of Canada. He knows tliat we went to tlie country, pro- claiming with no uncertniu sound tliai if we Were returned to power we would bring Into tills House a measure that would do Justice to tlie Ilomiin Catholic minority ^,t 'he pro- vince of Maiiltoba. He knows that the rlglit lion, leader of this House himself, wl.en seeking power, declared solemnly to ilie people of tlie great province of Quebec that If hi' obtaiiieri power he would go further than I had gone, and give a stronger measure and more complete reli(>l' if he did not obtain It by other mf>fins. Tliat was tlie position ; and what (Vies the hon. giMitleinan do ? He deserts those who have always stoojpct. It is not noeessary ; but I luay say thls,> that from the hour I landed in Canada down to this hour I chal- 10 (h I nr f^*^/ ^°^- Sentloman to name one single h vc" rX^ f^«"-iPtlon whatever )u wS I vl,.. He nhmf'^J'"'"' "' *'^^' I <^°"W, with (inn^ ,lf- M "^ "^'^ ^ possess, the best tradl- tons ot tlie Conservative parrv. Our r n c Pies to-day are the principles they hav°e nZ^^n.}r''n ^"/ P"'''^^^ '^^^y is tlie policy that made Canada what it Is •inH n.o i.i;/ gemioman knows it. I say heSre th^? / ey I for the course which the hou. gentleman has pursued. M'itli all the want of c^nf dence which lie intimates he ha 1 in me Ti; lion, gentleman, as I said before dosed his n nn^'coul/'V'.,""^ T""''' °^ an'honom.ab e iiian COUlil Ue closed .'I'tt naf ,iit„„i„ Mtanon. and remamed there as lono- n-, i,\ not attack the hon. member for Xm-nv^'' f d!;'^;,r s?s?eS>\rU^eSJn't7t fs^^"'^' onum on ,,^.ey|°\|ro^r^^^^^ differ fiY,^ n,i •■' . """^ conscientiously flint IntLTPoinmunicatlou between oM^m sISi i^e'issi^^??;^ -- ^ot bccau.se I regret tue loss of the hou sin I uZ °T 'If.'^'^f'^c'ion from the par?? which J.'vrv^,S/;;^t7'!..^'Sj;^.ivtrv £^^rsf^T--SnJ!;^a Mr. JOHN ROSS ROBERTSON (E'-st Tn S\n?r'^ 'T'''^ With not\T/tUe^n" teiest, and, I confess, some curiosity to the stiUement of the hon. member for VictorSi ^tn^;., inV C°«t'^«")- The making of such a statement M^as not unexpected for hi « last political move, his desertion nf +1,^ party with which he has S al'fed as l^e Imnself states, for thirty-eight Ss nast demanded some explanatiom Ills fllE from one political side of this House to Sf si?f Vef-r ^r ^'^ *° ^°'^- Sentleme'n oppo- site, J et I have reason to believe that tho L.berVgahf'''^L"°* '^'-'^ on^L^Slrea? toria NR /,L "^ ^°°- member for Vic- rona a.b has gone up nnd down the tramut iL"^ Po""cal life, and his explanation Em- braces not only a criticism regard ng h?s late political friends, but he hal also seen at to draw into the lines of die'usslon Ihe opinions expressed upon his actions by thi newspaper press, and more especially by the loronto- Evening Telegram." He reSed lm, .n^*"^"T'"^ ^Pl'^'o^s expres.sed by thS ?bn fh; "°f """^ also, good enough to say that there is no artist with skill enousrhtA por ray my face on paper. But thei°e fs no doubt in my mind that the artist mnifl a dead shot every time he lets .fil ^ '^^.f at the face of the ,£ gen^t1e„,Ji' P^^^'* ' ma"n ^'hal^Z" T^* ^^ -va^^as" a publ*^' 11 was bound to leave of whlcli prevented 1 between old col- tely necessary ; and <1 the slightest hint able to place n oon- ion us iu future, ■r bad In jiiy public y to discbarge than to dlscbarRo to-day. loss of tbe bou. geii- •oni tbe party wbich stand tbat, and a ira afraJd, after tlie d out to me, tliat I 1 you, Mr, Speaker, ergeant-at-Arms to or fear of that con- li tbe bon. gen- to inflict uponuin ion. friend tbe jun- Mv. Ru.ssell) savs— on. gentleman says to take care of my- t. .' will not say ew words. I have most painful dnty ne r trust I sbafl large again durinji ains to me. IRTSON (East To- ■Itb not a little in- le curiosity, to tbe mber for Victoria, making of such a xpected, for bis desertion of the been allied, as he •eight years past, ou. His flitting this House to the . gentlemen oppo- believe that tbe ted on as a great member for Vic- 1 down the gamut 3 explanation em- m regarding his be has also seen 3f di£2ussion the s actions by the especially by the n." He referred ^pressed by that I enough to say, 1 skill enough to But there is no he artist makes ' gets Ills pencil entleman. The 'are, as a public 5r as a private Minister of the newspaper com- • gentleman has a excuse for his think tbat the dealt unfairly lowever, to Jus- tify any comments which may have appear- ed in the columns of the Journal wbich I have tbe honour to own. Tbe fact is, tbat the actions of the bon. gentleman are suttl- clent Justlticatlon, not only for .v^hat tbe Toronto " Evening Telegram " has said, but for what It might say. The bon. gentleman need not blame tbe Conservative party for any M-rong he may have suffered at my bands. I accept tbe fullest responsibility for anything that may have been said, either Inside or outside of this House. Tbe bon. gentleman, in one of the letters be read, has referred to the rights of tbe Irish race. I have no doubt tbat tbe bon momber for Victoria, N.B., (Mr. Costlgan") regards himself as a patriot and an orna- ment to tbe Irish race. I admire the Irish people ; and, because I admire them I am striving to forget that any section of the Irlsli people in Canada ever accepted the leader- ship of tiio bon. gentleman. I admit that be has many of the good qualities of the Irish nice ; but he seems to lack that noble virtue of faithfulness iu adversity : and when in the fulness of time— and I hope the time is long, long dlstant-be is gathered to bis fathers, bis monument should bear this epi- taph : " Here lies an Irishman who was faitliful to the Conservative party so long as tlio Conservative party was on a dividend- paying bnsis."