IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ly be looking for less work and less worry rather than voluntarily taking upon himself more. While I am now abundantb' e(|ual to my ]u'esent duties, and my medical adviser tells me that if I do not take too much upon my- self 1 may look forward toyears yet of active life, it seemed to me that! could not count as nothing the addition of a contested election in a new constituency, and aftervvards acntial sessimis of I'ariiameiit twice as long as in Ontiirio, and with much later hours. To remove to some extent this objection it has l)een sug- gested that I might take a seat in the Senate instead of the House of Commons. 1 perceive the advantages of this, both as regards myself personally and as re- gards the consideraticn of future constitutional changes which would add to the u.sofulness of that body, assuming that a Second Clnunber for the Dominion is to be retained. How a Second Ciiamlier consisting so largely of the nomineoH of one party as the Senate now n- versitions with other represent.it ivo Libi-rals ; and it has been ni.ide plain to UjO that it is the general opinion of the party to whose favor and (!ontidenco are owing my U.'J years of the Premiership of Ontario, that the crisis is so grave that every personal sacrifice has to ho nmde. and every incidental risk run. if the country is to be rescued from the inisgovernnuMit which the Dominion has so long been suffering from. From the reasons laid before me I perceive that my long experience, and my success in ofticial life in this province, are thought to bo a guarantee that I could render useful service in tlie new (Jovernment iind I'arlia!:if!!t (sf the Domini"!!. ! fHe! that I have to c(»nsider liie matter in the light of these opinions. 1 ain Iiiippy i.. ^^ll(.\^^tITi.l y..u ,iii.l I ,iiv. .-111.1 1 MIMW MVf- ■AWm \M'\\, ill Huhstiiiiliul ucconl us i'ul;:ii't a revolutionist, and you recognize tlie necessity of legislation on the tariff being gradual and cautious. Adopting that policy, I am glad that you see your way meant iinu to cliaiiges which will bo a relief t > our farmers, and at the same time will not injuriously a£fect but rather benefit manufacturers and their workmen. A (jovernment owes a duty to all classes of the people I (juite see that one ditticulty in legislation on the subject is the fact that considerable ca|tital his been invested in maiiufactoiies on the faith that a system wiiich our people, unfortuiiatelj', have sanctioned for 18 years would not be abrogated hastily or without due r»!g;ird to the interests which have arisen under that system, 1 4111(0 see also that the ditticulty of legislation is gieatly enhanced by the enormous debt which the present Government has created during the last 18 years ami the largo ri'venue which is needed for the i).iy- nient of the annual charges incidental to the debt. Almost every year millions have been added to our liabilities, while hundreds of thousands of dollars of the people's money have been going into the election funds of the party, and still more been wasted by extias, and by indifference. iiici)m|ietency or worse. The INIanitoba school (juesiion will occuj)y a good deal of attention during the elections. In the light of jiast events, I should not despair of the <(uestioii being settled in a manner ficci'ptable to the reasonable people of iManitob.i, and the reasonable IJoman Cat holies of the Dominion. My ojtinion in regard to it, and that of the Liberals of the Ontario Legislature, was expressed in the resolu- tion passed on the sul»jeet, during our last session. W»! have had in Ontario (juestions of various kinds which seemed as ditticult of solution as this (piestioii is, and thoy have been dealt with by the Jntario Legislature satisfactorily. On these (juestious, and on most, others, intelligent Conservatives now agree with Reformers, whether thoy will vote for Reform candidates or not. If the Jieform platform were less accoi)table than it is to intelligent and inde- pendent minded non-Reformers the scandals which have come to light attbrd more than surticient ground for all men to condemn, and to j(jin in displacing all men who were parties to the scandals, whatever they arose from. In view of all such facts, it is ulain to inany Conservatives that the usefulnes.s of a Conser- vative Government under its nreseiit leaders is gone, and that a few years of opjtosition would do the party and the country much good. I venture to con- cur in that opinion. For myself, in the interest of Canada, I desire greatly to see a Govern- ment ill power under your leadership, being ooiitident that it would be a good Government, honest and economical, thoughtful with respect to every province and to all classes of the people, giving to all their just rights, and promoting harmony and goodwill everywher.;, It would be an honor to assist you in this patriotic work; and, therefore, in deference to your opinion and that of so many other representative Liberals I have made up my mind to forego all con- siderations of a persfuial kind to the contrary, and join you in wliat will be the second Reform Government since Confederation, if such should continue to be your wish. Kvorycjiie recognizes the merits of the first Reform Government, of which the pure-minded Alexander Mackenzie was leader, and which unfortun- ately for the country the hard times overthrew in 1878. Permit me to say that, in common with my fellow Liberals throughout Canada, and in conniK^n also with many candid Conservatives, 1 have the same confidence in you as wo all had in Mr. Mackenzie; and in the interest of the country I trust that you will have a much longer term of political power, for th ;ood of the people of Canada, than fell to the lot of our lamented friend. • Very faithfully yours, O. MO WAT. The Honorable Wilfrid Laurier, M.P., Etc., Etc.