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Hi s his 3 a Bti Nor so a lead as 1 affce: an ( pres and few opp( Elgi in w dene men Lon( thou belie in o] in a ' SPEECH DELIVERED AT PEMBROKE, 27th'OCtJbER, 1870, BYkTHE HON. SIR F. HINCKS, C.B., K.C.M.G., MINISTEPv OF FINANCE, CANADA, ON FUBI.IC A^FF^IRS. Sir Francis Hincks commenced by stating that it had been his intention, since the close of the last session of Parliament, to take !i suitable opportunity of meeting as many of the constituency of North Renfrew, as could conveniently assemble in the county town, 80 as to afford thera an opportunity of hearing his views* on the leading questions of the day, and of demanding any explanauons as to his public conduct that they might reqviire. He had, after consulting as many of his constituents as he had had' an opportunity of meeting, arrived at the conclusion that the present month vould be the most convenient time for his visit, and although he had, at one time, hoped to have come a few weeks sooner, he was glad that the delay had afforded him an opportunity of seeing a report of a speech recently delivered in East Elgin by the leader of the Parliamentary opposition, Mr. Mackenzie, in which the composition and policy of the present Government was •lenounced in the most unmeasured terms. A similar denounce- ment had been made by the same gentleman at a meeting, held in London on Monday last, of which he had not yet seen a report, though from a telegram which he had received, he had reason to believe that the charges were substantially the same. He concurred in opinion witli Mr. Mackenzie, that such meetings were necessary in a free country like ours. He, for his own part, courtad the fullest ' discussion of the policy of the Government, ftnd he did not desire to hold office one honv longer than public opinion would 8up|x>rt him in doing so. It was his intention to grapple with the various charges ]>referred by Mr. Mtickenzio against the Government of which he had the honor to be a member ; but before going into details such as the Tariff and the Coal Tax, the Banking Policy, Red River and Inter- colonial Railway Policy, he would join issue with Mr. Mackenzie as to his attack on uoalition Governments, which he had most errone- ously described as governments not based on party combination. He would cite Mr Mackenzie's words : " now we were told at the present " time that there should be no parties, but how co\ild there be " {)oliiical existence in a nation without political parties 1 If there " be a Government, and if they have no party, then it followed that " they had no policy or principles." Now he (Sir Francis Hincks) maintained, knd would prove by reference to the history of our country, not only that Coalition Governments were necessary and desirable in the interests of the country, but that so far from their aiming at putting an end to party, it had invariably followed that party combination was never more active than during the existence of Coalition Governments, and a better proof of the truth of this statement could not be given than the active opposition offered by the Brownites to Sir John Macdonald's Government, since the resignation of the gentleman who has for several years been dictator of a faction in the Province of Ontario. Coalition Governments were the necessary consequence of there being three distinct parties in the State, and of it being impossible for any one of those' three antagonistic parties to caiTy on the Government without assistance. In the public interest, therefore, party leaders had to make such concessions on minor points, and had especially to sacrifice all mere personal feelings, so as to enable them to form a strong Government. It wovild be found that the two parties having the gi-eatest similarity of views coalesced against the third, whicli was in antagonism to both, and the natural and invariable result was that the third party became more violent than it had been i)re- viously. The consequence of coalitions was tolerance of open questions ; and when such a result took place, no doubt they were open to censure, but he (Sir F. Hincks) would shew the benefits that had resulted from coalitions. The fii-st coalition to which he would refer was the memorable one of 1660, which was formed of the Tory Churchmen and Moderate Presbyterians, and which rescued the countiy from a military despotism, by restoring King Charles the Second to the throne. It cannot be said that pai-ty was extinguished during the reign of that sovereign or bis successor. On the contrary, it raged >vith such bitterness, that in less than f 3t (lesiro port him 8 charges h he had ch as tho tid Inter- !ackenzie t errone- bion. He 8 present there be If there wed that Hincks) •y of our isary and oni their followed iring the bhe truth pposition ernment, al years Coalition ng three any one ernment r leaders cially to form a s having which result I, e )een pre- of open ey were benefits '^hich he •rmed of i which ig King ii'ty was iiccessor. 3S3 than 1 I i ti.i*;^y years, after frequent executions for high treason, a new coa- lition was formetl, an(l one to which the people of England owe their civil and religious liberties. That great coalition effected tho Kovo- lution of 1688, which eventually brought about the change of dynasty, which substituted the House of Hanover for the House of Stuart. Will it be denied that there were then three parties 1 Tlie high Tories, who adhered to King James the II. ; the more patriotic Tories, who joined the third party of Whigs in inviting the Prince of Orange to deliver England from despotism. But was party extin- guished ? Far from it. Never was there greater party virulence than during the next sixty yeara, during which two formidable rebellions occurred, to say nothing of plots to assassinate King William, and to effect another restoration of the doomed race which had been dethroned. Tho next coalition to which ho would refer, was that memorable one of Lord North and Mr. Fox, which was very generally condemned at the time, though the student of the history of tho reign of King George the Third may easily find excuses for a coalition, intended chiefly to check tho undue influence of the Crown. But how was th .t coalition brought about 1 On Lord North's resignation, owing to the disastrous results of the American revolutionary war, a Whig Government had been formed by Lord Rockingham, in which Mr. Fox and tho Earl of Shelburne were Secretaries of State. Lord Rockingham died suddenly, and shortly after the formation of the Government, and Mr. Fox became the recognized chief of +he Whig party, and expected the premiership. The king sent for Lord Shelburne. with whom Mr. Fox refused to act, and the ministerial party became divided. Then was formed a coalition between tho Tories, under Lord North, and the Whigs under Mr.. Fox, to oppose lord Shelbume's Government, which coalition was generally denounced as a factious one on the part of the Whi;H. It was not more factious however, than Mr. Brown's combination with the Conservative opposition in 1854, to defeat the Government of that day. The regular opposition is justified in availing itself of any support it can obtain on such ocassions, but the minority of a party which acts from factious motives generally comes to grief, aH did Mr. Fox and Mr. Brown. The two parties, led respectively by Lord North aixd Mr. Fox, succeeded in defeating Lord Shelbume's Government, and in forming a coalition, which was soon replaced by Mr. Pitt's Government, which lasted many yeaiv^, and which, after a short interval obtained the support of the Tory followers of Lord North. The next coalition to which he would refer was one in our own time. The Conservative paiiy was split asunder by the adoption of Free Trade by Sir Robert Peel and 1 li's followcra. Jjonl Derby Hocodtul from tho Government with a Kmall following of tho members of the Oovcrnmont, but with tho approbation of a majority of the Consorvativo party. Sir Robert l*o<3l cai'ried hia measures with the aid of tho Liberals, but was soon compelled to resign, owing to the combined opporiition of the Con- servatives and Liberals. The result was the existence of thi-ee jiarties, which led to tho coalition in 1852 under the Earl of Aber- deen, after a trial of two weak governments under Lord John Russell and Lord Derby respectively. That coalition was clearly a justifi- able one, and necessary in order to secure for the nation a strong and united Government. But parties did not cease to exist because two of the three parties were combined. On the occasion of the for- mation of that Government Lord Aberdeen delivered a speech from which he (Sir F. Hincks,) would cito a passage ; — " My Lords, I declare to the noble Earl (Derby) that in my " opinion no government in this country fs now possible ex- " cept a Conservative Govei'nment, and to that I add " another declaration which I take to be as indubitably true, that no *' Government in this countiy is Jiow possible, except a Liberal Gov- " emment. Tho truth is, that these tenns have no clefinito meaning. " I never should have thought of approaching my noble friend, the " member for the City of London (Lord John Russell) iinless I had " thought he was Conservative, and I am sure he never would have as- *• sociated himself with uio, unless he had thought that I wau Liberal. " My Loi'ds, these term? it may be convenient to keep Vip for the " sake of party elections, but tho country is sick of these distinctions " which have no real meaning, and which prevent men from acting "together who t,re able to perform t^ood service to the Crown and "to the counti*y. I trust, therefore, that in the just acceptation of " the Avord, whatever the measures proposed by the present Gcvern- " ment may be, they will be Conservativs measures as well as Liberal, " for I consider both qualities to be essentially necessary." (The reading of this passage was follow^ed by great cheering.) He (Sir F. Hincks) believed that the language of the Earl of Aberdeen, in 1852, was strictly applicable to the pre.sent Govern- ment of the Dominion. It was on the occasion of the Aberdeen coalition that Mr. Disraeli uttered the dictum which the Globe has lately quoted with triumph — "England does not love coalitions." He (Sir F. Hincks) could perfectly comprehend that Mr. Disraeli did not like the Aberdeen coalition any more than Mr. Brown and Mr. Mackenzie did that of 1854, which, according to the declaration of the latter, both at Aylmer and London, had led to such " disastrous results." But he (Sir F. Hincks) would amend the dictum of Mr. Disraeli by saying — " Those who suffer by coalitions : with a y\i\\ the Rohort voA soon he Cou- jf thi*e« af Aber- 1 KuBseli X justifi- , strong because the for- ich from in my bio ex- I add , that no iral Gov- neaning. end, the ;ss I had have as- Liberal, for the /inctions n acting )wn and ation of Govern- Liljeral, eering.) Earl of Govern- terdeeu lobe has itions." Disraeli wn and laration ,o such snd the al itions :i. dc not Ho them." The Aberdeen coalition had lasted to this day, one of tlie Conservative members of it bein^ now the leader of a Government of which Mr. Bright is a raeml>er. So had tlie coalitions both of I85t and 1864 lasted, notwithstanding the defectiou of the Brownites, To those coalitions ho (Hir F. Hincks) would now advert. At the general election in 1854, the *old Reform party wap split asunder by the secession of a faction under the leadership of Mr. Brown. Nothing could be more unfair than the tactics then adoj)ted. Ho himself had been returned for two constituencies, one as Liberal a one fis any in Western Canada, aftor Gyery^ effort having been made by Mr. Brown, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, and Ml . McDougall to cause his defeat. His colleagues in the Govern- ment had likewise been elected, but in the Reform Constituer.cios everycffort was used by Mr. Brown to defeat supporters of the Govern- ment by giving the preference to Conservatives, while in those places where Mr. Brown's supporters were candidates they in variably got the supi)ort of bis (Sir F. Hincks') friends, who were u -very large majority of the Reformers thrr Tighout the country. On the meeting of Parliameni he (Sir F. Hincks) did all in his power to prevent division, but without success. It became apparent that there were three distinct parties, and that without coalition all government would be impossible. No one ax;quainted with the state of parties at the time could doubt that the only possible coalition that could be formed, was one between the Consei-vative party, led by Sir Allan MacNab, and the Lower Canada majority, led by Mr Morin. His own support, and tlia ^f the friends with whom he acted, depended on the policy of the Government, and when he found that that would be decid nlly Liberal, ho felt it his duty not to lend himself to the factious combination of the Brownites. Ke was charged with having betrayed his party. In what way ha' I he (Sir F. Hincks) betrayed men who had seceded entirely from his party, and who had spared no effort to destroy him? His own friends had acted most cordially with him, and had continued to support the coalition then formed. He would now advert to the last coalition to which Mr. Brown was a party, and he aRked hether that had really effected a cessation of party strife. On the contrary, it was only in Upper Canada that any coalition was effecoed. If reference were made to the Ministerial explanations, which he held in his hand, it would bo found that Mr. Brown had at first proposed that two members were to be brought in from Lower Canada and four from Upper Canada. Both propositions were peremptorily refused. Whether Mr. Dorion and Mr. Holton were prepared to have accepted Confedei-ation on tJie condition of obtaining political power and place does not appear, but he (Sir F. Hincks) believed ii that neither of those gentlemen would have done so. He further believed that Mr. Brown was held by manjr, both in Upper and Lower Canada, to have betrayed his friends, and he knows that many of the Clear Grits, who art to be distinguished from Brownites, or the mere servile followers of Mr. Brown, dis8,pproved of Mr. Brown's conduct in 1864. He (Sir Francis Hincks) was of a dUerent opinion, he thought Mr. Brown justified in accepting office, but not in his resignation, which wa.s wholly wiii;hout txcuse. The ground of resignation was not one on which a new party could be formed. Can the followers of Mr. Brown give any statesmanlike reason for th^ir support of the Government one day and their opposition to it the next, but that tbey were bound to submit to Mr. Brown's caprice? (Hero Mr, Findlay interrupted Sir F. Hincks, to say that Sii* John A. Mac- •lonald had approved of M". Brown's resignation.) Sir F. Hincks did not believe this possible, but if it were the case, then he (Sir F, Hincks) could not concur in that opinion. He had already adverted to the evils sometimes caused by Coalition Governments having open questions. He well recollected the time of Lord Liverpool's Government, when the whole Kingdom, but especially Ireland, was agitated by the discussion of the question of Catholic Emancipation ; and yet, when the pee-ce of the country was almost in danger, Mr. Canning was making brilliant speeches in support of emancipation, while his colleague, Mr. Peel, was as vehement in opposition to the moasure. The ballot bad been an open question for years with all Liberal Governments in England, and was so up to the present time ; but in Sii* John Macdonald's Government there had been no open question, and in his (Sir F. Hincks') opinion it would be impossible to form a Government that would bo more united. He had joined that Government believing it to be Liberal, but he rejoiced to think that, at a time when ail kinds of speculative theories were discussed, such an annexation aiid indei»endence, the Government was essentially Corservative. Meantime there was an opposition of an essentially factious character without one siiigle principle in common. Mr. Mackenzie and his Brownite followers p- J doing ail in their power to maintain party lines of distinction which are incomprehensible to people outside of the Province of Ontario. If we turn to Nova Scotia, it will be found that at the opening of the present Parliament, seventeen out of the ninettien members for Nova Scotia generally voted with Mr. Mackenzie. (Mr. Findlay stated here, that Mr. Howe had never pretended to be of the party of Mr. Mackenzie). Sir F. Hincks. — If the gentleman hail not interrupted me, he would have learned that my object was to shew that the Brownites had no sympathy from Nova Scotia i I 4 I U t 4 f 9 [e further in Upper he knows binguished '. Brown, ir Francis r. Brown wUch was not one on jrs of Mr. )rt of the ;, but that [Hero Mr. in A. Mac- F. Hincks ten he (Sir id already ivemmenta B of Lord especially of Catholic s almost in support of hement in restion for as so up to it there had it would be nited. He ul, but he speculative idence, the lere was an one single e followers distinction i*rovince of ;hat at the le ninett>en len.^ie. (Mr. ed to be of tleman h&il object was ova Scotia The opposition in that Province had been to the conditions of the Union Act : and when concessions, which wore deemed reasonable, were made, the opposition caaied to exist. Mr. Mac- kenzie's No'/a Scotia tail consisted of one \nember — an avowed Annexationist — and another, who was so bitter an Anti-Confederate that he i-efused to attend Parliament. If we turn to New Bruns- wick, we find Mr. Mackenzie's principal allies to be Mr. Aiigiin and Mr. Hutchcson, merabeia of tlie Anti-Oonfederate Govern- ment, and^ moreover, supporters of the Northern Railway route, together with a few other gentlemen dissatisfied because the Southern Railway route had not been adopted. In Quebec, Mr. Mackenzie acts with tho leaders of the opposition, Mr. Dorion and Mr. Holton, with whom he had no sympathies in common. The gi'and object of the Brownites is to perijetuate the local and national animosity which it was a main object of confederation to get rid of At the Aylmer meeting, Mr. Bod well, one of the most subservient adherents of Mr. Brown, avowed that the great reason that confederation was welcomed by the people of Ontario was, that " it waa expedient to put a stop to French domination, bat they " found that this result bad not been accomplished, and there existed " greater dissatisfaction at the pi*esent time, owing to the bad " Government which controlled its destinies, than had prevailed " before confederation was accomplished." He (Sir Francis Hincks) earnestly implored all real friends to confederation ; all those anxious for the peace, prosperity, and good government of the country, to ponder well on the foregoing words. The Brownites were j)arties to the terms of conf^jderation, their avowed object being to lessen the influence of the French Canadian element which is now repre- sented by three members in a Cabinet of thirteen. The old cry is as current as ever ; and in order to give it a colour, the Globe i.H not ashamed to represent the leader of the Government as incapable of exercising the influence which belongs to his office. The object is transparent. *' The Province of Quebec," says the Globe, '* has an •'* active and ever vigilant eye to certain interests always at head- ** quartere." The other ministers are " miserable creatures eno\igh," but " even them a man of firm and active mental constitution might " flog into decent order." Such language is significi^nt, and most characteristic of the man who flogs every one of his followers who dares to utter an independent opinion. Sir John Macdonald would never have preserved his influence and power as he has done had he not been more tolerant of the opinions of his colleagues than Mr. Brown, from his temper, can ever be expected to be. He (Sir Fr:uicis Hincks) would cast back with scorn the imputation thrown upon himself and his colleagues, as well from Outtuio as the maritime proviuces, that io they had eV6r surrendered their independent judgment to any rain. He defied his slanderers to point to an act of his, during a public life of upwards of thirty years, to justify the imputation that, for the sake of maintaining office he would acquiesce in a policy of which he disapproved. There was nothing in his estimation more detestable than the persist'^nt attempt of a misei-able faction in Ontario to endeavor to aiTay one section of the population against anoiJier. Sir George Cartier, who enjoys a large share of influence in the t*rovince of Quebec, is constantly held up as an enemy to the Province of Ontario. A more unfounded aspersion could not by possibility be cast upon any one. 1 here is not in the Dominion a truer Canadian, nor one more anxious to foster feelings of attach- ment to Canada, irrespecti\ e of locality, luce, or religion, than Sir George Cartier. What he (Sir F. Hincks), would ask, do the Brownites really mean 1 A.re they of opinion that the Prov* ice of Quebec is to have no voice in the Dominion Gk)vemment, or that it is to be represented by men who do not enjoy public confidence 1 What is nOw said of Sir George Cai*tier was fonnerly said of Mr. Lafontaine, Mr. Morin, and Mr. Tach6. He could hardly imagine that even the Brownites imagined it possible to exclude the French Canadians from the Cabinet; but the Glohe, when urging the substitution of some of the Brownites for the present Ontario Ministei*s, significantly adds, "not to mention equally desirable " substitutions in the Quebec portion of the Cabinet." It may be that Messrs. Dorion, Holton, and Huntingdon, are pointed at; but most assuredly, if Mr. Mackenzie should succeed in fonning a coalition out of his adherents in the House of Commons, it would be, to use bis own words, "a mere combination of men allied together, with the sole " view of retaining office." He (Sir F. Hincks) will not pursue the subject, but content himself with affirming that it would be im- possible to find in the Dominion Parliament any set of men who concur as much in opinion on all leading political questions as the members of the present Government. The opposition, on the other hand, is a mere faction, bound together by no common principle, but grasping at power. He had dwelt, perhaps, too long on the question of the composition of the Government, but he had shown that Coalition Govemmentd were invariably the result of differences among parties which led to the organization of three or more distinct parties, each incapable of governing the country with efficiency ; that they were not only not inconsistent vith party, but were invariably subjected to party opposition ; that the present Government was in ipeiiect accord on all leading questions, and justly entitled to public confidence, lulless their measures could be successftiUy assailed. It ^aH hid (Sir Francis Hincks') intention to vindicate tirj nietusni^ u einy min. a public that, for of which on more action in n. against fluence in ny to tho id not by Dominion of attach- than Sir k, do the 'rov' ice of or that it jnfidence 1 Slid of Mr. ly imagine ihe French iiging the t Onttirio desirable lay be that but most alition bnt to use bis th the sole pursue the old be iin- men who ons as the I the other nciple, but lO question lOwn that differences re distinct ency ; that invariably ent was in I to public sailed. It and policy of the Government from the violent attacks of Mr. Mackenzie, and he would tii-st advert to those with which, as Minister of Finance, he was more particularly conccm«jd. The chief of these has been the alterations made in the tariff, and especially the duty on coal. He felt how difficult it was, on such an occasion as this, to enter on a subject of such magnitude as that of our commercial relations with the United States. Several years have now elapsed since the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty, and, during that period, the Oanadians, who have always been anxious to maintain the most friendly relations with the United States, hav^ entertained hopes that some satisfactory commercial policy would be adopted by that country. During these years we practically allowed the Ameiican fishermen the same privileges that they enjoyed imder the Reciprocity Treaty, while we continued to adnfiit the principal products of the United States free of duty. This policy was always held to be dependant on the success of nego^iationSj, which were carried on up to the time of the last Session of Parlia- ment, when it became clear to the members of the Government that there was no hope of arriving at any sf^tisfactory arrangement. Meantime, the people throughout the Province of Ontario urged upon the Government to impose duties on those articles which had been admitted free undei» the Reciprocity Treaty, f»nd which, not- withstanding the abrogation of that treaty, Canada still continued to admit duty free. Affong those articles were wheat, flcar, Indian com, salt, and coal. He did not recollect that any representations were made to the Government to impose duties on the articles named from tLa Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, or New B^oinbwick j but from all pai-ts of the Province of Ontario the strongest representations were made in favour of the duties in question. On a full consideration of the whole subject, the Govern- ment arrived at the conclusion that in the interest of the people of the Dominion generally it was expedient to adopt a vigorous policy with regard to the protection of the fisheries, and at the same time to impose moderate revenue duties on leading products of the Ui4te4 States which were still exempted from duty. That policy was de- liberately adopted by the Government, and without any outside pres- sure, except from the Province of Ontario, which really in the Province which has most to «ain by a liberal com- mercial treaty with the United States. It is true that during a few hours the Government yielded to the earnest representations of a number of their supporters from Ontaiio and Quebec, and consented to abandon the duties on coal and wheat They arrived at that decision with great reluctance, in the hope that that '«hey would be met by their friends in the same spirit of comproi^aise. i'i ' 1^ When, however, they found that there was an ivx-econcileable difference of opinion among their supporters, they promptly resumed the position whicii they had rehictantly abandoned, and succeeded in carrying the measure in the shape in which it had been originally proposed. Tlie policy has been eminently successful. The enemies of the Goveniment in Ontai'io have not ceased to denounce the duty on coal, but they have preserved almost complete silence regarding wheat and flour. And yet it is a well-known fact that the effect of the new duties has been to give a veiy lai'ge trade in flour to the Province of Ontario. On the other hand, there has been a large increase in the consumption of Nova Scotia coal within the Dominion, and there can hardly be a doubt that when the Inter- colonial Bailway shall be completed, the traffic in coal will be increased to an extent of which we can have little idea at present. He had no doubt that thei-e is a party ready to give up our fisheries to the United States, and to place them in the most advantageous position by admitting all their products duty free, while they charge enormous duties on our products. TJiis, in his (Sir F. Hincks) opinion, is not the policy which will attain for us commercial relations that will be satisfactory to any Province in the Dominion. No one is more an:.:ious than he is to cidtivate the most friendly relations with the cicizens of the neighboring States, and he will rejoice when cir- cumstances shall enable our Govei'nment to take off any of the dxities imposed during last Session, but he must state his conviction, that the attacks on the Government in connection with the coal duty have proceeded from interested parties, and from those who are at all times ready to seize on any pretext for assailing the Govern- ment. With regard to the Bank Bill, he would be very brief, and would only refer to the opposition which was offered to the Bill of the Session before last, and the acquiescence in that which was intro- duced and cai'ried during last Session. He never was so sanguine as to expect unanimity on such a subject, but he was perfectly satisfied with the vsrdict of the Country with regard to the Bank and Dominion Note Acts, and to the manner with which the silver nuisance was dealt with. There had been many other attacks made by Mr. Mackenzie on the financial policy of his predecessor. Sir John Bose, and himself, which were based on the grossest misrepresentations of fact. The stock in trade of the Brownites was charges of corruption, extravagance, pvirchase of members of parliament, etc. He (Sir F. Hincks) would maintain that the finances of the Country were m a most prosperous condition, and that the policy of Sir John Rose, wifh regard to the Intercolonial Railway Loan Money, Savings' Banks and Insurance Companies deposits, had been for the public benefit. Mr. Mackenzie's speeches 1 '? we the ere }>ei wa M Br ■ she 1 nu pul cor ed on sul att me can floi I I i J (( n ifference ned the jeded in i'iginally enemies the duty 3garding be efTect ir to the a large hin the le Inter- will be present, fisheries mtageous By charge Hincks) relations No one ions with vhen cir- ;he duties mviction, the coal 3 who are Govem- >rief, and e Bill of svas intro- trguine as satisfied ank and he silver r attacks edecessor, grossest 3rownites mbers of that the ition, and ercolonial ompanieit speeches were eminently calculated to damage the public credit, but despite the snarlings and misrepresentations of fact of the Brownites, the credit of Canada, never .stood higlier than at present. Our five per cent bonds were at par, notwithstanding the existence of a great war in Europe. He deeply regretted that Mr. Mackenzie, 'n whose British principles he haci been inclined to place some confidence, should have endeavoured to mislead his audience by compaiing the number of members of a British Cabinet required to conduct public business in two Houses of Parliament, with a Cabinet com()osed like that of the United States, which is not subject- ed to parliamentary resijonsibility. Mr. Mackenzie's i-emarks on this head may prove how little he has studied tho subject. Mr. Mackenzie, likewise, made one of his customary attacks on the Civil Service of the Dominion, charging the Govern- ment with increasing the Staff*, and retaining incompetent men. It cannot be expected that with a Service such as has existed in- Canada, the claims of existing incumbents to retain office unless supei'seded for misconduct, being recognized, while there was no provi- sion for superannuation, that there would not be many cases of ineffi- ciency, but the government was fully alive to tte necessity of improv- ing th« Civil Service, and their Super-annuation Act of last Session would have a most beneficial effect. He had so much to say on topics which had excited much more public interest than those to which he had adverted, that he would content himself by affirming that he pledged himself, if he lived to meet Mr. Mackenzie again in Parlia- ment, to expose his misstatements. The subject which has chiefly rjcupied public attention since the close of the last Session of Parliament, has been the Red River policy of the Government and the Manitoba Bill. He (Sir Francis Hincks) was well aware that much dissatisfaction had existed on the subject, not only among the «?upporters of the opposition, but among the adherents of the Government ; but this dissatisfaction had been caused by the most scandalous perversion of tinith, and he deeply regretted to find Mr. Mackenzie so unscrnipulous as to per-sist in statements the falsehood of which had been so thoroughly exposed. The policy of the Dominion Government has not only secured the approbation of all parties in England, but, as it has become kirown to the people of Ontario, has commended itself to all moderate and right thinking men. (Here Sir Fr'ancis Hincks read Earl Granville's despatch to the Governor General, of 18th May, 1870, concluding as follows : " In " giving an account of what has passed to the House of Lords, I had " much pleasure in acknowledging i)ublicly the singular judgment, " decision, and conciliation with which your* Government has acted " since this unfortunate outbreak." He also read many extracts M /^ fwox^ a pamphlet entitled " Red Rivev Inaurreotion : Hon. Wm, McDougall's conduct reviewed," proving, by documentary evidence, that Mr. Mackenzie's charge that Mr. McDougall had been betrayed by his colleagues, was an infamous calumny.) He also shewed, by the telegrams from the Secretary of State, that Earl Granville had made it a condition of Imperial assistance, that ** I'eaRonable terms" should be granted '* to the Red River settlers." (Mr. Findlay here put many questions to Sir Francis Hiucks, quoting a letter from Mr. G. T. Den* nisop, of Toronto, prefering charges against the Premier. Sir Francis Hincks replied to all Mr. Finlay's questions to the satisfaction of the meeting, which was manifested by great applause. At last Mr. Finlay called out, amid years of jlaughter, "Oh, 1 give up McDougall ; you may whip him as hard you like !") Sir Francis Hinckf) proceeded to state that the policy of the Government had been throughout a policy of peace and conciliation, and he did not hesitate to affirm* that if the policy recommended by Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. McDougall, and others, had been adopted by the Dominion Govern- ment, they would have had no countenance from England, and would have had to engage in a war, the result of which would have been enormous expense and loss of life, and possibly, the loss of the whole North West Territory. This subject was daily becoming better understood, but it was altogether too large to enter on fully on such an occasion, and he would therefore content himself with diftributing a number of copies of the pamphlet which he had quoted, which contained an impartial statement of facts. He now oame to the consideration of the Intercolonial Railway question, and he felt assured that he could convict the Brownite faction of the grossest misrepresentation and inconsistency with regard to this great wo\'k. As a matter of oourRe, Sir George Cartier is held up as the bete noir for the Brownites on this as on all other subijects. Viv. Mackenzie declared at Aylmer, that "all the expense of " constructing hundreds of miles of railway had been incurred at th^ '♦demand of Sir George Cartier, who was resolved to use this " national work to further his political intrigues." He was prepared to join issue with Mr. Mackenzie as to the truth of this assertion. There was, of course, room for a wide difference of opinion on the subject of the route of the Intercolonial Railway, but it must be home in mina that the Imperial Government had a right, undex* the circumstances, to exercise a voice in the matter, fia it was to guarantee the debentures to the extent of ^ millions of dollars. The Imperial Government has invariably given the preference to the northern route, which was that recommended about 22 years ago by Major Robinson, an Engineer officer, who cou'd have had no such motives as have been assigned to ^ir George Cartier. He would t! 16 read liere the Diike of Buckihghatti'a despatch of 22nd July, 1868, on the subject, and would put it to all impartial men whether it would not have l>een consistent with that faii-ness and honesty by which Mr. Mackenzie professes to be actuated, that he should have stated to his audience that one reason among others for giving th preference to the Bay of Clmleurs route, was that Canada saved $300,000 a year in i-educed interest by obtaining the Imperial guarantee. Here Sir Francis Hincks read the Duke of Buckingham's despatch of 22nd July, 1868, calling special attention to the following words, which elicited great cheering : " The route crossing " the St. John River either at Woodstock or Fredericton, is one to " which the aseent of Her Majesty's Government could not have been " given." Already, in 1852, the construction of this most important work was indefinitely postponed, bediuse the Imperial Government would not agree to adopt the southern line. He (Sir Francis Hincks), wks at that time leader of the Canadian (Government, and he could state, unhesitatingly, that Canada would have accepted the northern or Bay of Chaleurs Hne, and that but for the positive refusal of New Brunswick to concur in the adoption of that line, which was always the choice of Nova Scotia, it would have been adopted. He became convinced dming his visit to New Brunswick in 1862, that the southern influence was tdo poMrerful to rendei- it possible to obtain the concurrence of New Brunswick to any line, but the Southern. Canada and Nova Scotia were at that period compelled to consent to the dictation of the southern districts of the Pvovince of New Brunswick, which were masters of the position. No doubt when the question came to be considered after confederation there Wei-e the same differences of opinion that had always existed. It was not likely that 13 members of the Oabihet would hold Hie same opinion on such a subject, and it would, in his humble judg- ment, have been most improper for the mi^crity to have attempted to dictate to the majority, by breaking up the Government, which Was the course suggested by Mr. Macl^nzie. This astute statesman gives it plainly to be inferred, that had he been a member of the Grovemment he would have broken it up on the question whether the northern or southern route should be selected for the Intei-colonial Railway. A ministerial crisis on such a subject would certainly be & novelty ; but he had no hesitation inl «ayihg that it would have made Canada pre-eminently ridiculous in the eyes of the world. He would quote Mr. Mackenirfe's own words to prove that he had not misrepresented that profonnd statesman : *' The then liberal " members of the Cabinet, although pledged to support the shOr-t " route, disgracefully yielded, and Voted for the longer one, rather '* t^n give up office." And t^en it is alleged that the eetttdttct ffT" 16 of Mr. Tilley is universally condemned in St. John. It is tolerably well known tliat Mr. Tilley did all in his power in favour of the southern route, but he is far too sagacious a statesman not to know that resignation on so untenable a ground could never be justified to his country. He would now briefly advert to the incon- sistency of the Brownites regai'ding the route of the Intercolonial Railway. It is well known that in 1852 the negotiations with the Imperial Government for a loan for this work were broken off by Mr. Chandler of New Brunswick, and himself, because the northern route was insisted on. For this he was denounced at the time and ever since by the Brov/nites. He would have been justly denounced if it had been in his power to accept the northern route ; but, as he had already shewn, this was rendered impossible by the positive refusal of New Brunswick to co-operate on that basis. The same faction which in 1852 denounced him for not yielding to the Im- perial Government now denounce the Dominion Goveriiment for hav- ing chosen a route not only insisted on by the Impei'ial Government, but recommended by the Chief Engineer and by the Commission. He would now advert to Mr. Mackenzie's statement at Aylmer as to the progress of the woi-ks. He says : ** "Well, on the 150 miles " from Moncton to Bathux*st, part of which he had visited, there " were only 44 men engaged, who had 4 horses, 12 engineere, and " 2 paymasters with them." Mr. Mackenzie took good care, when visiting the Maritiine Provinces, to avoid those sections of the line which ai*e being prosecuted with vigour. He went by water from Pictou to Shediac, and then took a land loute alongside of the sections which have only been placed under contract within the last few days. To show the reliance to be placed on Mr. Mackenzie's statements, he would give a few facts, which he defied Mr. Mackenzie to grapple with. The line between Moncton and Bathurst consists of 6 sections — viz., Nos. 16, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23. Of these, 4 had not been put under contract at the time of Mr. Mackenzie's visit, while No. 10 has since been re-let, owing to the unsatisfactory progi'ess of the work. On No. 16, which is a section very dijSicult of access, the work is light, and can be completed in a much shoi-ter time than the sections on each side of it. Mr. Mackenzie leads his audience to believe that there was a very large staff for very few men, concealing most disingenuously the fact that on the sections not under conti'act, an engineering staff was i-equired for the purpose of preparing the profiles and specifications. Notwith- standing the declaration of Mr. Mackenzie that the road will take 10 to 15 years to construct, he (Sir F. Hincks) affirmed that the great work in question is making most satisfactory progress. He would read an extract from a letter which he had received from one I i I tolerably favour of jsman not luld never the incon- tercolonial » with the len off by e northern e tinie and denounced te ; but, a» lie positive The same to the Im- jnt for hav- oveiiiment, lommiasion. Aylmer as 3 150 miles usited, thei-e rineere, and care, when of the line water from jside of the lin the last Mackenzie's defied Mr. oncton and 21, 22, 23. ,ime of Mr. viug to the is a section omploted in of it. Mr. a very large ,he fact that ivas required 18. Notwith- bd will take led that the 'Ogress. He red from one 17 of the Commissioners during the iwriod of their last visit — " I find '* there are now about 7,000 men employed over the entire. Hue, " which is as la:-j[jo a immbcr as the labor market can supply without '* causing a serious dislui banco and rise of wages." Ho would state further that the Commissionei-s expc^ct that on 1 1 sections, ombi-acing 238 miles of the road, tlio track will be reatly for laying Vjy the close of next year. The remaining 1 2 sections arc all under con- ti-act. The plan adoi)ted by the Government for constructing the road by a mixed Cpmrnission has proved eminently suc- cessful. He would say a few words on the question of immigration. It was the avowed policy of all parties to encourage immigration, but the Brownites endeavored to c nvey he idea that the Government was not sincere. Now he (Sir Franf^is Hincks) held as strongly as any individual the opinion that the prosperity of the country depended on a vigorous prosecution of public improvements and of immigration. He knew that his friend and colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, was as devoted and ar? zealous an advocate for immi- gration as any one that could bo named, and the Government was sparing no effort to bapply the demand for labor. Still he (Sir F. Hincks) must point out that the real difficulty was the apathy of the people themselves. Every effort had been made ))y the Ontario Government to induce the municipal coi'j)ora- tions who had the means of rendering most important ser- vice to the cause, by taking a little trouble without any risk, but the result had been most unsatisfactory. The apathy on the subject was almost inconceivable. Of one thing, however, they might be assured. There was no division of opinion among the mem- l)ers of the Dominion Government on the subjects of immigration and public improvements. He felt that he had occupied too much time in discussing all these subjects ; but he must say a few words in conclusion — he would remind them that he had asked their suffrages as a loyal supporter of Sir John Macdonald's Government, and he i'elt that he had redeemed his pledges ; he was liappy to be able to assure them that his honorable and learned friend, the Firrt Minister, had been providentially restored to them, with his poweiful intellect in full vigour (loud cheers). In the distressing cii'cumstances in which, for a time. Sir John Macdonald's illness had placed them, he was happy to think that no man under similar circumstances had ever received a more loyal support from colleagues than had Sir John. The Government might be abused by an Ontario faction, which was subservient to an unscinipulous and domineering politician, but the 3 18 Houml public opinion of the Dominion would support tho Govern- ment against the whispers of a fjiction. Ho (8ir Francis Hincks) thanked thorn for tho attention witii which they Iiad listened to him ; he had aff'orded his constitu'jut.s eveiy opportunity of demanding explanations of his conduct, and he would now conclude the lu-occcdings by ])ioposiu',' a vote of thanks to the chairman. ft. 10 Goveni- ition witii >nstitu^utH ict, aiul lie of thiuik.s ^