IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ■%^. r / ^//J?. 1.0 I.I 1.25 I IIM i™i--5 1112 III 2.2 .0 JA 1116 % ^4? Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRSrT WEBSTcR.N.V. )4S80 (7i6) 872-4503 Ls documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliute serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la fnarge ir t^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pjges blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque celd 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Com.nentaires suppl^mentaires: L'Institut a microfilmii le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. 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I can reasonably attach no bhime to them, nor yet to the Dominion Commissioner, for not securing better terms in the Treaty for Canada, for the fault was not in the Commissioners, but in the organization of the Joint High Commission itself, in not giving to these united provinces an independent voice in the matters of the treaty concerning their own interests. The mistake of the Dominion Government was in consenting to become a party to the treaty subservient to purely British interests, and the mixing up of English liabilities with Canadian claims. There is no use in our endeavoring to cling to the skirts of the Mother Country and look to her for support and guidance, in the face g? the self evident fact that Canada is thrown entirely upon her own resources, and must independently look after her own interests, if she would get her just dues and advance her prosperity. The treaty is manifestly a disappointment to the people of Canada, and, being thus disappointed they naturally feel like venting their spleen, and casting blame somewhere. The course pursued by the United States has laid them open to the charge of injustice, and unfriendliness toward the Dominion; Avith whose people it should Beemingly be her nolicy to cultivate the most amicable relations. She approached Canada and asked for privileges — the privilege of sharing with us the best fishing ground in the world, and the in- estimable privilege to their Western States of an outlet to the ocean through our canals, and our St. Lawrence, upon equal terms with us, while at the same time refusing to grant us any adequate equiv- alent for their use. She utterly refused to consider the Canadian claims for indemnity for the great lo3s and damage sustained from the several attacks by armed bands of her citizens, calling them- selves Fenians; and this, too, in the face of her demands for com- pensation for the depredations of the rebel cruisers fitted out in British ports. But where, we would ask, is the difference between these two claims ? we can see no possible difference in principle, between British-built cruisers raiding upon the sea and destroying American commerce, and armed United States citizens, raiding upon Canadian soil, and destroying life and property, in the vain attempt to overturn our Government. Both Governments were equally culpable, in permitting the outrages, which they well knew n 12 were in progress of consummation, and in neglecting to properly punish the guilty parties when caught ; and both are equally liable for indemnity. Does this look like justice P Or does justice wear a different aspect when it is her bull that gores the Canadian ox ? Does the United States sincerely desire to establish peaceful and friendly relations with the British Empire, when the arrogance of her demands excites the indignation of both England and Canada. Seemingly she would have us purchase peace at an exorbitant price. But if the United States desires to make England settle a heavy score for her shortcominirs durin"; her war with the Confederate States?, Avhy should Canada share her hate and be made to suffer, when she preserved her neutrality intact through the war. It has been charged that, notwithstanding our neutrality, we sympa- thized with the rebels. 'Tis true, we admit, that a certain class of Canadian citizens did warmly favor the rebel cause, but then, they were by no means a majority, and the same thing may be said of ever^ free State in the Union. But as an offset to our offence in this respect, we refer to the practical sympathy of the forty thousand Canadians which the returns of the war department show to have served in the Union armies during the war. It may be said that it was the jxtra pay that induced them to go, yet person- ally I know that many of them enlisted during the first year of the war when little or no bounty was paid, while it must be remembered that they received no more pay than was considered necessary to induce their own citizens to volunteer, and it wo,s a boon to the Union cause to get them to jeopardize their lives for the safety of the nation at any price. Verily, there is no reason for any but the most cordial relations between the United States and Canada, and war would be foolishness when it is for their mutual interest to Uve in concord and amity. And, whether we get justice or not, let us have peace. And now, fellow-citizens, what shall we do ? My counsel is, let us do nothing rash. Let us act circumspectly and wisely. We want peace, and all of our energies to build us up, to develop our resources, and improve our land. We want to maintain the most intimate relations with the United States for our commercial benefit. And, as discretion is the better part of valor, we may honorably gain by acquiesence for more than they have denied us. A little 13 7 lo . tact, energy and enterprise, with a far-reaching practical use of our natural advantages, will serve us far better than any display of wounded dignity that we may make, and will place us, just where we want to be, on the high road to prosperity. Therefore, let us accept the apparently disadvantageous terms Avhich our neighbor has offered to us, and, by a judicious manage- ment of our affairs, turn them to our own advantage. By rejecting the treaty we shall gain nothing, but lose much. It will not bring us reciprocity, for our neighbors are determined that we shall not have the use of their markets without paying to their Government an enormous tax. For one-fifth part of our pro- duce, or twenty per cent, of the value that goes to tlieir markets, they require to come out of Canadian pockets. Their motto is protection ; and their plea is, the necessity of using every available resource for the liquidation of their national debt. We can have therefore no reasonable hope, nor any expec- tation, of any material modification of the treaty in our favor : and our only remedy is in following their example. The policy for us is a good one ; and so let us adopt it ; and protect ourselves too. Let us protect every industry which may be profitably carried on within the Dominion. Let us open up the water communication between the East and the West to the fullest extent, and by legisla- tion and ship-building enterprise secure to ourselves all of the pro- fits of the immense carrying trade which must thus pass through our land. Let us facilitate to the utmost extent the passage of emi- grants to our new territories, that our grain producing lands may be filled up, and our extensive mining region developed, — afford- ing thereby a market for Canadian manufactures. The ship-building interest is an important one, and should reccivi the fostering care and protection of the Government. We have an abundance of ship-building material, and by a proper husbanding 0^ this resource, by prohibiting it3 exportation, and the judicious encouragement of this branch of industry, there is no reason why we should not become ship builders for the world, and more par- ticularly for our neighbours at the South and West of us, who, being deficient in timber, will naturally if not necessarily be com- pelled to look to us for the building of their ships, or give to us the carrying trade, of which the latter will, for various reasons, gen- 1 14 I IH b erally be the case, thus giving to our people the profits of freightage as well as of the building of the carrying vessels. Our forests should also be protected from wanton destruction, and the country from its ruin — our denudation. In order to supply the constantly increas- ing demands for lumber from the United States, alight export duty should be levied upon wood, timber, lumber and bark, not as a hindrance to commerce, but simply to create a fund for the replace- ment of our forests. And our Government should provide for the re-planting of our forest trees upon bare and worthless lands, and along the highways, byways and railways, that, when the old trees shall be thinned out to a scarcity, the country may not be wholly denuded and destitute of wood and timber. Protection is our true policy, and wp must not only protect the present but the future. Free trade may be a good policy for an old, wealthy and populous country, but not for a poor and sparsely settled country. Therefore, if Canada desires a, permanent prosperity, she must plant herself squarely upon the principle of protection. But the great hope and right arm of our prosperity is in our natural advantage, for becoming the great high- way of trade and travel between the great West of the United States and Western Europe, and between Europe and Eastern Asia, the Indies, and islands of the Pacific. Of the extent of this busi- ness, and the full scope of its influence upon the Dominion, it is not easy for the mind at the first view to conceive, but some idea may be formed, if we candidly consider the fact that, when vessels of medium tonnage can take freight and passengers from all of the lake ports, and by way of the St. Lawrence land them in any foreign port of the world, or may tranship at Montreal or Quebec to large ocean steamers, and thus find conveyance to European ports, and vice versa back to the lakes, then all the people of the United States bordering the lakes, and all westward of the Ohio and from as low down as the City of St. Louis westward to the Pacific, are going to follow the rromptings of self-interest and wiU take passage and transportatioa by the cheapest, safest and most available route to the East, through the lakes and the Canadas, and will prefer this, their natural channel, to the great markets of the world, rather than the circuitous and dangerous route by way of the Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico, or the more expensive and 15 now over crowded routes through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. And when we contemplate the rapidly increasing business which must follow th " filling up of this vast tract of country, with their imports and exports all passing through our land and the thousands of emigrants seeking homes in this favored section of the Union, who will favor this route for its cheapness, expedition and facilities of transportation ; and then, the vast business transac- tions between the Indies, the Islands of the Pacific, and Europe which, seeking the most expeditious route, will strike the head of our great water course at Chicago, Duluth and a port on the northern shore of Lake Superior where the Canadian Pacific Rail- way shall intersect, and thence take ship, or continue by rail to the ports of Montreal, Quebec or Halifax, thus swelling the tide of traffic through our midst, — then I say, when we consider these ad- vantages, probabilities and possibilities, then may we approximate to an idea of the future business prosperity w^hich Canada has within her reach. The effect of all this immense transportation upon the general business of the country will be to give an impetus to trade, which shall enliven every industry, and create a prosperity which shall be felt in every nook and corner of the Dominion. Numberless ships would have to be built, giving employment to many men. Railroads would be built in every part of the country, and canals constructed to meet the business wants, employing thousands of men. And then there will be the vast army engaged continuously in the work of transportation, all consumers, evjry one requiring for their support the industries of other people. The hosts of emi- grants seeking homes in the West, and the countless travellers passing to and fro upon pleasure or business, will necessarily and incidentally scatter more or less money along the route, which in the .'Aggregate will vastly swell the wealth of the country. Manufacturing towns and cities will spring up to meet the demands of business, and to supply the wants of travellers passing through our land, and those taking up their abode f.mongst us. Montreal, Quebec and Halifax will become great and important cities, teeming with busy populations. And then too, the eastern portion of the Dominion- withits unsurpassed privileges of water power, will become manu- facturers for the grain producing and mining provinces of the west^ 16 thus greatly increasing the consuming population amongyt us, aiii thereby creating a market at home for those products of the farci ■which we are best able to produce, and which is of far greater value to us than any advantage that we might derive from reciprocity. The privilege of taking our productions to the United States markets free of duty would be an immediate advantage to us, 'tis true, but it never could be what a permanent market in our own country would be, saving to us a vast amount in freight and commission every year, besides creating business opportunities which would serve to keep our young men and young women at home, and make all classep patriotic and contented to remain in their own land, instead of emigrating to another country, in search of a better* Therefore, fellow citizens, let U3 not be lured away from our true interests, by a longing, lingering look after that sweet morsel at which we once had a nibble, and which, could we again possess, I fear would lull us into indifterence as to our real national advance- ment and true source of prosperity. But rather let us by our own independent energy more than supply its place, and build up our country by laying hold of the natural advantages Avhich we possess to make it the great thoroughfare of nations, drawing emigrfition and capital and business into it, by an adequate protection oi those industries and interests required to luild it up and to make it pro3_ perous and happy. Aye, my country men, let u.s strike for the commerce of the world, and do the carrying between the East and the West, between Europe and the Indies, the Atlantic and Pacific, and let us become the greatest of maritime nations. We have the shortest and most feasible route, and it requires but an efibrt upon our part to make our country the great pathway of commerce. And if we are Avise, we shall not haggle about the expense of divert- ing all of this traffic and travel through our own land, nor shrink from the outlay. A hundred million of dollars judiciously expend- ed in building canals upon this route, and a hundred millions well laid out in the construction of a railway from the St. Lawrence to the Pacific, would within the next decade increase the wealth of our country three hundred fold, and would correspondingly increase the revenues of the Dominion. And even the expenditure of the third hundred million upon the means of transit would not more than meet the demands of business twenty years hence. /' I; 5 ' 17 But all of this great business will not come to us if we idly wait for it ; for none arc coming to make our canals and railroads for us, and if we would gain it we must make an outlay ; and, in making an outlay, we should consult, not the present, but the future, and make it adequate to meet the utmos:*; demands which the commerce of the world may require. It never pays to do things by halves, and, in enlarging the St. Lawrence canals, we should do so with regard to the wants of the hundred million of population which is eventually to hihabit the West whose road to the East is naturally by way of the lakes and the St. Lawrence. And, that the connection of lake and river navigation may be com- plete, we should construct a capacious ship canal aroun^l Nio ^1ra Falls ; and no difficulty should stand in the way of the accom- plishment of this object, for it is of the utmost importance to Canada, both financially and nationally, that vessels may pass uninterruptedly from Montreal to the head of Lake Superior. Another highly important water connection, which should receive the earnest attention of our Government, is the construction of a ship canal to connect the waters of the St. Lawrence with Lake ChamDlain, that the facilities of water communication between New England, New York City, and the West, may be as complete as possible by this route. But, while looking to the making of a great highway of commerce through our country, we should not overlook other interests of essential importance; and, as one of the present great needs of Canada is to fill up her broad land with industrious and energetic citizens, our Government and people should use every legitimate means to draw immigrants to our shores, and to induce them, when here, to remain amongst us, or to settle the wheat-fields of our great North-west. And to this end, the immigrants arriving in our several ports should receive a welcome reception, be protected from imposition, assisted to find employment or land for settlement, and furnished with every information ccnceming the various parts of our country, its laws, peo'de, and Government. I am aware that foreigners generally are impressed with the idea that republi- canism is the essence of liberty, and that, therefore, the United States can confer a greater degree of liberty upon her citizens than can possibly be given to subjects of a British Dominion ; and '>\»*v..«:5. i'iSa^:--i.ii;.:f 18 this is the conceit of a majority of the people of the neighboring Union, who vainly imagine that the greater part of the people of Canada are tired of British rule, and would willingly exchange their Government for a llopnblic, and that, in ca^^e of a war with England, Canada would fall an easy prey to the United States. And then we have also a few amongst us — and they are but a few — who really believe that it would be for the advantage of Canada to be annexed to the United States. But I venture to say, and the proofs will bear me out in it, that Canada is to-day a better governed country than the United States ; that its laws are better and more faithfully executed, and that, in consequence, wo have proportionately a less amount of crime, fraud, and corruption? and that, under our system of responsible Government, while we are individually guaranteed all of the personal liberties and essen- tial privileges of self-government attainable under a republican constitution, we are possessed of a Government more stable and less liable to corruption, venality, and oppression. Like the United States, the Government of Canada is composed of two parliamen- tary bodies, termed the House of Commons and the Senate, and an executive head, who is called the Governor-General. The Parliament is the law-making power of the Dominion, and acts independent of all dictation or influence on the part of the British Crown and Government ; while the Governor-General is the administrative head appointed by the Crown, who forms the connecting link between Canada and the mother country, and is directly responsible f^ • the good and wise government of the country over which he is placed in charge ; and he can govern well only through the aid of the people, to whom he invariably appeals in all cases of serious difficulty with the legislators of the country. By this appointment of our executive head we are saved the periodical excitement, turmoil, and party feuds and strife consequent upon an election to fill this important office ; and, being thus independent of all party organizations and partizan influence, he has no incentive to corrupt the country by the dispensation of Government patronage to secure himself in his position or promote the interests of party. And still another advantage of our system of Government is that our official appointees, as a rule, hold their office during good behavior, thus securing greater efficiency and I 19 faithfulness than where the incumbent's terra of office expires with the Administration which appointed him. It is both the policy and interest of England to select only men of known ability, sound statesmanship, and probity of character, to fill so important a position as Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada ; for her prosperity is England's strength and safeguard in her hour of danger. She has no motive or desire to dictate or control our internal affairs, in any form whatever, but rather to cause us to stand up in our own strength, that our latent energies may be brought forth and the depth of our resources developed. And to this end she has confederated her North American Provinces into one grand Dominion, and withdrawn her naval and military sup. port, retaining over them only the semblance of empire by the appointment of their executive head, the Governor-General, that she may have one friendly ally to fall back upon in the hour of need. Thus the British Government has made the Dominion mistress of her own fortunes ; and, with a Governor who has every motive and inducement to govern to the satisfaction of the people, there is no reason why Canadians should not be the best governed people in the world ; and if they are not it is their own fault in not choosing suitable mon to legislate for them. We have our liberties, and social welfare in our own hands ; we have a climate and country fitted for the development of a vigorous, and prolific race of animals ; and no people are more hcaltful and hardy ; no more serviceable, and vrJaable horses ; no finer cattle, sheep, and swine thf^T) are produced within our Dominion. In short, we have noth- ing wanting to make this tho most desirable country to emigrate to, but the development of its resources, and the display of that energy and enterprise on the part of its people which shall create and call business into it and through it, and make it the most thriving country upon the earth. The Dutch for many year?: monopolised the trade with the Eas^ Indies, supplying Europe with its luxuries, and thereby laid the foundations of their great Tcalth ; but, some 200 years ago, the English wrested the traffic from them, and have since carried it on, heaping up immense wealth from its avails ; and, as a consequence) building up a commercial and naval marine which has made them 20 masters of the sea. The first Napoleon Bonaparte sought to make Franco the mcilium of this trade hy attempting to cstabliah her power in Egypt, Arabia and Palestine ; aiming eventually to get possession of British India, and carry on the trade by that route. And, latterly, Napoleon the Third thought to divert this trade by constructing a ship canal across the Isthmus of rfuez. But, although the canal was successfully completed, yet the route appears not to be a favorite one, most probably owing to the political uncer- tainties of that region, and the treacherous character of the inhabitants around about ; and the canal will eventually be rendered an entire nullity by the shifting sands of the Red Sea, Avhich are reported as already filling up the channel. The hopes of the commercial world that a short cut to the Pacific Ocean might be obtained by a canal across the Isthmus of Darien, has also met with disappointment, as the route has been examined by pratical engineers, and pronounced impracticable ; the land ridge being too high to be cut, and too extensive in breadth to bo tunneled, with no water of sufficient height to overcome the difficulty by means of locks and cats ; and, for similar reasons, the route by way of Nicaragua will bo found to bo no better. Thus the commerce between Europe and Asia, and between the Northern Atlantic and the Pacific, tired of the long, tedious, and dangerous routes around the Capes, would seek out a cheaper, safer and more expeditious route ; but none available and satis- factory presents itself, and there is no other resource but to follow the old routes, unless there is a cheaper transit obtained across the American Continent than any now in operation. Now, if we take a globular map of the earth, and measure the different routes, wo shall find that th'^ nearest available route from England to Japan, China, Australia India lies directly through the Dominion of Canada to r -j and thence across the Pacific Ocean^ exactly in the c ^f vessels from more southern ports. This route is some huL. , Us of miles shorter than byway of New- York and San Francisco ; and with a through line of railway from the port of Halifax to the port of Victoria, under the control and direction of the Canadian Oovernment, the transit of freight across the continent can be profitably made at ii much lower rate than by any other line of road, and with the open navigation, for six or u o 21 seven montlis of the year, of the water communication from the Atlantic to the head of Lake Superior, and evcntiially hy cana' to the foot hills of the Rock^' Mountains, by way of the lakes o^ Manitoba, and the Saskatchewan river, we can frei^^ht from China to England cheaper than by any other route. The superiority of this route above all others is apparent, and no one can doubt but what this is the great natural channel of trade, commerce and communication through a hubital)le and civilized country, in the temperate climate between the eastern and the western parts of the old world, between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and between the civilized nations of Western Europe and the semi-civilized nations of Eastern Asia, whose vast numbers and boundless wealth presents a field for commercial trade and traffic, which has been only partially opened up as yet, and will be doubly increased when China and Japan shall have opened wide their doors to the civilized world. Now what are Canadians going to do? Will they put forth an immediate and giant effort, and dig the canals, and build the roads •whicli shall divert this vast trade through their own land to their infinite advantage ? Or will they stand aghast at the magnitude of the work, and quietly wait for foreign capital to come and make these essential improvements to our prosperity for us ? Wait, until this commei'ce findw avenues of transit through the country of our more enterprising neighbors ? Wait, and let our country drag its slow length along at the snail's pace, and let the greater portion of our young men leave us year after year to cast their lot in a land of enterprise, and let the foreign emigrant pass through our land as through a dry pasture to more verdant fields beyond ? No ! A thousand times no I And the very hills echo, JVo! There is reason to believe that the people of this Dominion are not quite so dead to their own interests as to let slip this golden opportunity to rise into prosperity and power, and to build up a great and mighty nation, i. branch of the British Empire based upon the most liberal priixciples of self government. For already I see them awaking to their own interests, and constructing and naugurating lines of canal and railway which are to become impor- tant links and accessories to the great through lines of transporta- ^^ 22 tion between the East and the West. Yet there are, I fear, but few of the people of t'^is Dominion who fully comprehend the great interests at stake, and the importance of moving promptly and \igo- rously in this matter, to the early completion of the great through lines of travel not only for the sake of the outside trade and travel into our land, but also to facilitate con'munication, travel, and trade with our western Provinces, their settlement, and develop- ment of the wealtn of their resources. And it is my object at this time, to moi'e fully rouse up the public mind, and bring the people to more clearly see the great interest which they have in this matter, and accordipgly to take action, for the work is of national importance^ and the sooner the people as a nation take hold of the maiter and carry it forward to swift completion, the sooner wiU they reap the benefit of it. The Dominion stands pledged to the Province of Pruish Columbia to complete a line of railway from its capital city, Ottawa, to the Pacific coast within ten years. But if we can build such a road as we want in half that time* it will be a gain of five years, and in these days that space of time works great changes, both politically and commercially ; and five years of the world's traffic, five years advance in the opering up of our great ^/estern territory, with its rich minerd regions, will be invaluable to us in our present business needs, and vrould add more to our ultimate prosperity thr n ten succeeding years. Then let us hasten the work ; and yet, while we hasten, let us build permanently and securely ; let our railway bridges be of stone and of iron, and so constructed as to endure for ages, and let every precaution be taken in the building and management of the road as to insure the utmost safety to life and property. It is too commonly the case that railways are built iu the cheapest possible manner, and are run with a view to the utmost immediate gains^ and too often with a reckless dif-regard of life and property. The consequence is, the frequency of accidents, collisions, exposed and unprotected portions of roud-beds washed iway, roads damaged and broken because of the insufficiency of culverts in case of high flood, bridges burned because not of stone or iron, and in the long run causing a far greater loss than iu the outset would have secured permanence and safety. In our school days Ave were f . 23 taught a maxim, that " whatovei is wortli doing, is worth doing well." And in proof of this, it will be found that the difference in the running and incidental expenses between a cheaply con- structed and a thorough built railway, will be greatly in favor of the latter, and in a score of years would more than repay the Increased C( st in building. _ I am in favor of progress, improvement, and an advancing civ- ilizatici; yet would have a conservative progress, a progress which would be sure, safe, and enduring. I would have Canada a model of liberality, based upon a foundation which shall stand the shock of ages and outwear the wheels of time. And in order to accomplish so desirable an object, we must inaugurate and sustain a school system which shall guarantee to every child of competent mind within the domain a common edu- cation, which shall fit them to understand the ordinary business transactions of life and the evident principles of popular govern- ment. And, secondly, we should provide that every child, before arriving at legal age, shall be instructed and trained to some trade, business, or employment, which shall bo adequate to afford an honest living when pursued with ordinary dilligence and care. For our country cannot afford to permit her future citizens to be brought up to an idle, thriftless, vagabond life, as she needs the hands of every one industriously put forth and directed by an intelligent mind. Here lies the secret, the groundwork of true national greatness, prosperity and prowess. An intelligent indus- try, secured by a thorough system of practical training, is the one great assuran'3e of the strength, safety and permanence of a people. It is the conservative part of liberalism, without which the national body becomes distracted and falls to pieces. As the youth are educated and trained up, so will be the politi- cal and moral standing of a people ; for, if left in ignorance, they will inevitably become the dupes of demagogues, or of artful, designing men, who vill lead them to anarchy and ruin, or keep them in poverty by 'oaking their labor subservient to their own individual wealth anr luxury. If brought ur in indoh-nco, or educated to despise labor, effem- inacy and decay are the conse(|uent result. But give a people knowledge and rear them to liabits of industry, and you have the ,t> 24 elements of strength and prosperity. Like a hive of bees, each one will daily add something to the general wealth. Yet, like the bees, we must take pome measures to get rid of the drones — who produce nothing, but live upon the labors of others — before we can think of laying up a store of honey. Look at Prussia. She is to-day the strongest military power in existence, simply because she gives to her ptuple a systematic, practical and mental training, which develops both mind and body, and imparts a moral force of character, which, when properly directed, is invincible. And poor France, upon the other hand, is to-day humbled before her conqueror only becaui > of the ignorance, pride, and effeminacy of her people, caused by a lack of that practical, intellectual and moral training which gives weight and strength to citizenship, and consequently insures national power. Therefore let us take a lessca from these two examples, and secure to ourselves national strength, permanency and prosperity, by establishing a judicious and impartial system of mental, moral and physical culture, which shall be of practical use to each indi- vidual citizen and subject, while it elevates us in the scale of nations. In the matter of railroads, we would have every line in the Dominion run under the supervision of a government oflEiccr, who shall direct the movements of every train by telegraphic orders over a Avire provided for that purpose, who shall be respon- sible to the Government for the safe conduct of trains, and whose orders shall be strictly obeyed by the employes of the road under him. This officer to run the several trains in accordpnce with the time-table furnished him by the direcjors of the roa '., and no extra trains are to be run without his leave, and none taken off without due notice given to him ; his pay to be fix )d by act of Parliament, and paid from the funds of the road or roads of which he may be placed in charge. This provision for the safety of passengers and freight by rail we consider to be essentially due to the travelling public, whose lives and property should be protected, as far as possible by the Government. I am not in favor of the Dominion Government furnishing means, money, or patronivge for the con- struction of local railways, built to conserve local interests ; but n the trunk lines, which form tlie grand thoroughfares of travel ''f \ a '*' 25 * 1 < f and transportation through the country from East to West, we would have the Dominion directly interested, and the roads under its control, that stockholders and the traveling and commercial public may be secured from the frauds, impositions;, extortions, and grand swindling schemes of ambitious men, who aspire to gain the control of such roads that they may use them not only for their own emolument and vicious purposes, but as a source of power for the weilding of oppression and political influence. Now we are to have a Pacific railway, for the interests of com- merce call for it, our vide-spread domain requires it, Columbia demands it, the Dominion has pledged itself for it, and the ques- tion is, how shall we build it ? In accordance with my views already expressed, I will now ofifer a few remarks and suggest a plan for the construction and management of this road, which will j)lace it in the hands of the people, and forever beyond the reach of monopolists or ambitious, designing men, and make it a perma-_ iient, safe, and profitable investment. A Government never should leave to private enterprise and interest what concerns the interests of the general public. If our Government can better subserve the public by posting letters and papers over the country than private carriers and Companies, why not connect therewith the telegraph, to the infinite advantage of both the people and Gcvcrnment, as this method of transmitting intelligence has become a necessity to the business interests of the country at large, besides being a great public con- venience which should certainly be extended and the rates cheap- ened. Likewise, a great railway extending through a country which is demanded by its commercial and pohtical interests, and which is to become a great national thoroughfare, can best conserve the public in the hands of the Government. Such a work should not be given into the hands of speculators upon any contingency, for such persons can only be induced to undertake such enterprises upon the assurance of vast gains ; and with these vast gains, and fhe road in the hands of the Government, far cheaper freight and passage could be attained than in the hands of a private company, which is one great desideratum required by the people, and should receive the consideration of the Government. Then, look you, if the Dominion has lands which would be greatly enhanced in i 26 value, and brought into market by the building of a railway through them, is it wise financial policy or good national policy to create a vast land monopoly to get this road built, when the Government can fully as cheaply build the road and own it, and save her lands, enhanced in value, for the benefit of the actual settler, who might thus be induced to locate where he otherwise would not ? Again, is it a wise policy for Canada to give to a private company the control and management of a road which is a great political necessity, rpquired not only for the binding of the several Pro- vinces together, but which must be greatly used for Governmen tiansportation between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts ? We think not, and can see no good reason why this shouldnot be made a national road, when every interest of the Dominion demands it. Therefore- firmly believing it to be the true policy and duty of our Govern, ment to construct the railway from Ottawa to the Pacific under its own direction and supervision, and, having constructed, to retain its Control and management, I present the following scheme for its construction, which is respectfully submitted for the consideration of the Dominion Parliament and the citizens of Canada, hoping to see its principles embodied in a Bill before the Commons. I do not propose to have the Dominion furnish only a third part of the estimated cost of this road, provision being made to induce the investment of foreign capital to the amount of the other two-thirds, by guaranteeing a profitable rate of interest thereon annually, Avith a proportionate share in the net profits of the road when there shall be any over and above the amount of the interest paid. All of the power to control the a^Iiiirs of this road, its construction, manage- ment, &c., is intended to be vested in the House of Commons, the representatives of the people ; though they are allowed the appoint- ment of only a third of the board of directors in whose hands the management is placed. I do not intend to present a formal bill, as law-making is not exactly my business, but in my scheme, as I call it. Article 1st jirovides for the survey and location of the Dominion Pacific railway with the right of way of the same for Government purposes and it is herein advised that the road be located from Ottawa westward, so as to touch the northern shore of Lake Superior at a point the mcst favorable for a pore, and of feasible connection ir 27 ' with the Northern Pacific road of the United States — from thence; to take the most direct and favorable route through the Province of Manitoba to the valley of the Saskatchewan. This may no^ be the most direct route, yet it is the route above all others to pursue ; being the most practicable, profitable and best suited to our present wants. First, it is essential that we furnish a direct outlet by rail eastward to all the region bordering the lakes north of Chicago and all of the vast territory beyond, whose business will naturally fall into the line of the Northern Pacific Railway, whose line it is important for U3 to tap in order to secure its eastern transportation, and prevent it from taking a more southern route. Secondly, it is of the first importance that our grain-growing provinces shall have a railway communication with lake navigation as speedily as possible. Thirdly, in order to successfully compef^ with the Northern Pacific in the transport