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Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 \,. ♦ "\ if^i 'I4»^ ' .../^«^- ■ - ■ / it '■ .'^ ■■' •■■E":^- ■ 1 ..>; ' THE ADDRESS — OF THli — ■"Aj LIBERAL LEADER <», ♦. //^ TO THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF WEST DURHAM : Gbntlbmsn, The Qovernment, which but a brief space since was craving a longer trial before judgment, has prematurely dissolved Parliament, and precipitated a general election. For what reason ? Becaui^e it felt that it would be weaker next year than it is to-day, and that its only ciance of victory lay in a surprise 1 But it has not ventured to appeal to the constituency of 1878 XT BAS FAOSXO) TSB JURT. *- By an iniquitous measure it has concentrated in a few districts large numbers of Liberal voters, in order to weaken the effective Reform strength in many ridings, to impair the prospects of election of leading Liberals, and, if possible, to turn a minority of the people into a majority in Parliament. For these purposes it has disregarded the county bounds, dis- turbed the electoral districts, and violated long*standing associations of friendship, business, and oonvenienoe throughout the greater part of Ontario. But even this was n^t enough. Repealing the law which makes sJifHOa and registrars the return- <-. / ^ i ^ ii rii iii V « ' i MSf . ', '4i^-iX''«- ^ - - ,-t, v i4i . IV ingoflRcers, it has taken power to appoint where it pleases its own iioiiiinees to do its work, and to re-enact the scenes of ten years ago wlion men defeated at the polls in Muskoka and West Peterboro' were nia'lo into members of r.u'liuiucnt by the will of these oflicials. Such acts are subversive of those principles of justice, equality ail' I fair play on which our constitution rests, and which give a moral .s'M.ction to the laws. They show that Government, notwithstanding all its boasts, feels itself beaten in a fair light, and so attempts foul play. We are appealing to all f,'ood men, without distinction of party t - rebuke this gross abuse of power, and to shmv its authors that tliough they may exchange townships! and cut \ip CMunties as they like, tlif votes of the electors on whom tlii:'^'- count canunr liu transferred to the supporters of iniquities like these. A\ e are calling not only ft)r an enthusiastic, vigorous and organ- ized effort on the jiart of Eefornicrs. but also for the 8u])i)ort of many, heretoloie iuditlercnt or hostih', who will yet decline to liecome accom- plices in this transaction. And our call is answercil ! Such a spiiit lias been aroused among the people at large as I have not seen before — such a spirit as warrants the belief that the atteiujit will fail of it < base imipo-e, and will recoil with just seventy on the heads of the ooncocti-is and supporters of the plot I BROKEN FIiESbrS ANB ADDED BURI^XiNS. On what do the (Jovernmeut ask a renewal of your confidence t On a record of broken jih.'dge^ and of added burdens. They promised tliat they would not increase tlie rate of taxation ; they have enoimously increased it. They dei;ounced the former scale of expenditure ; they have largely raised it. They declaimed against the additions wliich were made to the public charge in order to carry (jut a policy and engagements settled under their own former rule, and left by them as legacies to their successors in 1873 ; they liave greatly added to that charge, and have, as far as in them lay, ensured tlie recurrence of a i)eriod of severe financial difficulty and distress. They boast of an increased revenue ; due, so far as they are con- cerned, to increased taxation only. genel audi 'OS its own years ago rboro' were ala. :e, equality ve a moral '••^'^ts, feela of party Hiors that fiiey like, s/i'rretl to 11(1 organ- "f many, 'le accom- h a spiiit 1 I)efi)re — ail of it) is of tho eiice ? ixation ; BJ have to the settlt^J their 1 have, severe re con- They boast of an enlarged prosperity ; due not to thera, but to the general revival of trade throujijhout the world, to large products at home, tkud high prices abroad. THE PACIFIC RAILWAY CONTRACT. They pride themselves on their Pacific Railway contract. I con- demn that bargain as improper, being made in secret, without public tender, contrary to the existing,' policy i»f the people and of Parliamt'nt , and opposed to the provisions of the law. I condemn it as extravagant, since the enterprise will cost us sixty million dollars and twenty-five million acres of the choicest lands, while the road is to belong to tlu' company which will realize the cost of its part of the work out of il > l.tud and money suV'sidies. I condemn it as outrageous, in conferring on *he company a prac- tical monopoly, for twenty years, of tho trade of our Norlh-West Ter„ ritories, and lai'ge priviliL,'es and exempt iwns very valuable to them and s.'ill moro dttrimeiital lu the pulilic. I condemn it as in(lei'fn>il)lo, being (•onsiimmated in tho face of a- tender to perform the same o1)li,'ations lor tliree miliion dollars le^ss money, for three millinu acres Ifss laml, witlicnt the monopoly of tra^ie without the excmp'iinus Irtnu ta.vatinu, and on oLlier conditions mu:h more favorable lliai\ ihnse of tlie conliact. I couili'iiin it as pieni ;= are, since tlu' true policy was to provide for the rapid couipletiun of the line Irnin Thunder Bay and lor the im- mediate construction nf railuays tllr^lUL;!l tiio [nairie, and by securing tlio early devclnpuu-nt and settlement of the Xortli-West to yive value to our lauds and a trailio for the road before cuutractiug for the comple- tion of the eastern and we-tern ends. The progress of the North-West is clue to the work we did and proposed to do. Xlie difli'/ulties and drawbacks whii^h exist — very serious now and far more serious in tho future— are due to the obnoxious terms of the contract. One short year has vindicated our policy ! Who can doubt that, had it been ado[)tcd, we could to-day make a bargain for the undertak- ing hdinitely better than that to which we are now committed ] The Government and Paaliameut declined to give you an opportunity of ■f /30 y/ligations itinue to freat ex ire ; and tem that ate pro- reen the ossible ; ive and unjuBt. lich de- idatufia as to rice he id un- be so an the which aerials inable uce a e en* Tii I believe that by changes of the character I huve imlicated mono- poly and extravagant pricea would be checked, a greater measure of fair play and justice to all classes would be secured, and the burden of taxation would be better adjusted to the capacity of the people who arc to pay. Depend upon it, a day will come when by sharp and bitter experience we shall learn the truth ; and many who even now applaud will then condemn these particular incidents of the tarifll But I believe that our brief experience has already convinced many former supporters of the need of amendment, and that a majority of the intelligent electors are in favor of such modifications in the direc- tion I have pointed out as may be made with a due regard to the legiti- mate interests of all concerned. TBE NORTB-WSST XJLND POUOY. I challenge the North- West land policy of the Government, which has in various forms given facilities for speculation, whereby great areas of the choicest lands are falling into the hands of middlemen, who will hold them till they exact from the immigrant large profits, thus at once retarding the development of the country and lessening the prosperity of the settler. Our motto is, "The land for the settler ; the price for the PUBLIC." OZVZXi 8BHVZ0B asFonM. The Report of the Civil Service Commission shows that the existing, system has resulted in bad appointments, extravagant salaries, the re- tention of unfit officers, the discouragement of many deserving men, and great injury to the public. It shows that the true remedy is the abolition of political patronage, the substitution of appointments by merit, and the reorganization of the system. Agreeing in the main with these views, I believe that the new Act which proceeds on other lines, will not remedy the admitted evils. Provision is needed to prevent improper practices in connection with tenders and contracts for public works ; but the Government haa thwarted such legislation. Those who have not forgotten the events of 1872 will know the reason why. FROVZHOIAL BXOBTS. Our provincial rights are amongst the chief jewels of our constitu- tion ; and on their preservation rest the prosperity and the permanence of the Confederation. H- 1 // 1 VIU Of tlu'.«o tlie most valuable— tluitinilced on which all else depend! - is the right of etl'oclivu locul legi.-latiou ou local affuum. This riylit has heon giievuusly int'rijiyed by the drHallowance of the Streams Act, wliich dealt with a subject purely local, and in uo wise conflicted with Duminiou interests. Its disallowance, on the ground that in the opinion of the Federal Cabinet it wns ikjI a ]ii(i[ur Act, creates a dangerous precedent, and asserts a powir desttuclivo ui' the autonomy of the Provinces. The iimjnrily >>( the late Parliament sanctioned, while we do- nounctil, that (lisallnwnnce. It is iidw fur the iMM)]ilc to ilccide whether they will abandon or regain their threatened libertii's. THE CNTAHrO EOUi:Z?ARlES. The resjiectivo G'ovcrnnu'Uts some years ago submittod the boundary questidn tci the jiidgiuent of a commission of eminent, able, inid iiii) :irtial men. The lact was communicated to and discucsid ill I'.ii lianic'iit, and nlth(iUL,'h >ev('ral st'ssions elapsed no adverse niniidn was ['rojuiscd. On the contiary, Parliament without dissent Vi'tcd ihi' luoiii'ys iicce-sary to carry on the reference, and thus adtiptod tho linlii.'V. " ■ , • . It \v:;a tho received ojiiiUDU that the natural, rea.«onal)lo and ca\<- toniiMV lucde of .-ellliiif,' iiu inttruational quc-tion by arbitration would hut lio thereafter (pieslioned. The award was nnule in 1.S78 ; tho present Government in 18TD declined to state its policy on the <|ucstiim ; in 1880 it jirnuioted tliu appointment of a parti.^au (.'..iiiuiittee of In'piiry ; in 1881 it brought Manitoba into the controversy b}' its mode of enlarging her eastern limits ; then it announced the opinion that Ontario diil not comprise even her old settlements in the neighborhood of Fort William ; and at length, in 1S82, it t(.ok couriige to declare to Parliament that the award should be disregarded in order to a struggle to contract, if pos- sible, within those narrow bounds the Hunts of our Province. The majority in the late Parliament has sanctioned, while we have condemned this action. It is for the people to decide whether the reference and award shall be repudiated or respected. MHMMM se depend* lowance ot (uid in uo he Fedenil ident, and e we (le- Jandon or ttod tho eiuiin'iit, cliscu.«.-ji'l advorso t di.s.sciit I adopted n woiiM in l?>7r) ited tliu broil <;lit eastfiii Jinj)ri,su II ; ui)(] hut the if po8- ile we betUir BETOTLTa OF THE SEN/^TE. The Senate is constituted on the iDiuciplo of ujipointment for life by the Administration of the day, thus cioaliiiL; a le;,'i8hvtive bfxly reHponsihlo to no one, without provision to securu cU'ictive Federal reprc'Hentation, or the nece.-*stiry degree of hiuniony between the two CiiatuItorH. 1 think this plan defective, and out of keeping with the true prin- ciples of popular government as at this time developed. I do not propose that the Provinces should be deprived of the ri.'ht, which many value, of Federal representation in the prejient pro- portions, in a second chamber ; but I would ailvocate the reduction of it- mimbors, and the election by the puoi)l<; of its in',imbui.s. Our own experience in Old Canada gives proof of the wisdom of this plan. THE ITL-UIl NATICI^TAIi POI^IOY. I am in favor of atriu; national jpoliiv ami of evoiy nn-asuro tciid- itig to tlie real progress of our country and the fulfilment of its great destiny. Tlio other day I gave my heart and voice for the assertion of our right, as members of the Empire, to express our views ou the sulyect of Ireland, a truly Imperial question, beyond our legislative competence, indeed, but in which, notwithstanding, we have from many points of view a most substantial interest ; and I congratulate you on the action to which Parliament agieed. ' It is a main ingi odient in our national progress that we should secure a larger trade and a freer access to the markets of the world. Our efforts in this direction have hitherto been abortive. I believe that a fuller fieedom to manage for ourselves this part of our own alfairs would give a better prospect of success ; and, as a portant questions as fully aa is compatible within the limits of an address. «» I cannot expect every one, even of my own supporters, to oonoui entirely in every sentiment I exprese. Men's minds are not so constituted that one can hope to eeoon •uch absolute and complete assent. It is on a large, general, and comprehensive view that we moat act. If in the main you differ from me, it is your duty to reject me ai imsuited for your service ; and I shall accept your decision with un« feigned respect and unubated Iriendship. But if in the main you vnluo the principles and approve the policy I have announced ; if you are prepared to condo-un the fraud which would cheat our people of a fair lepresentation, the wrong which would deprive us of our Provincial rights, the injustice which wo^'M repudi- ate an international award, the crime which has placed our future in the North- West in the hands of a great monopoly ; the additions, in breach of solemn pledge, to taxation, expenditure, and public charge ; the schemes which substitute for the good of the masses and for fair taxation, the aggrandizement of the few and the rich and the oppres- sion of tb#many and the poor ; if you are prepared to give your voices for freedoiii and justice, for retrenclynent and reform, for fair play end equal lighlbs, for real progress and true national development — then I aak for your support, and will do what in me lies to justify your deci- •ion. And in the hope and belief that such will be your verdict, I am, Gentlemen, Your faithful servant, ToBONTO, m.s Sa, 1883. SDWARD BLAKE. x^Uk, 1 WHk I fate V-:.!