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 Xi E O T XJ i:^ E 
 
 <)\ 
 
 PGEITICAL LIBERALISM 
 
 DEI.IVEllKD BY 
 
 WILFRED LAURIER, Esq, M.P, 
 
 ON THE 26th JUNE, IN THE 
 
 - CAKAD Ijy (LIB/' 
 
 Mr. Chalrmmu Lallca nmJ dcnikuien : 
 
 J o.innot conceal tliat it is with a cor- 
 tain feeling ol' j)leasure 1 liave ac- 
 cepted tlie invitation to come here to 
 explain the doctrines ol' the lil)eral party. 
 nn(i what is the exact meaning ol' the 
 word " Liheralism," j'or the Liln-rals of 
 t^iiehec. 
 
 1 may say that it is not without a cer- 
 tain sentiment of pleasnre that 1 accept 
 ed tlie invitation. But if 1 Jiad tH'.en 
 into consideration the dilliculties of the 
 task, 1 would certainly have rtd'used. 
 Nevertheless, if those dilliculties were 
 numerous and delicate, on the other hand 
 1 am so impressed with the importauce 
 ot the Lil)eral party, of clearly defining 
 its position before tlie public opinion of 
 this I'rovince, that 1 louml the latter 
 consitJeration was lor me superior to all 
 the others. 1 knew all this in advance, 
 and for that very same reason, 1 accepted 
 the task. 1 do not deceive myself in 
 regard to the question of the standing of 
 the Liberal i)aity in the I'rovincn of 
 (Quebec: and 1 inimedintely and boldly 
 ;ay in regard thereto, that it (ills a re- 
 latively false position. I know that lor 
 a great many of my fellow citizens, the 
 l.llieral )iaity is a parly composed ol 
 men holding jiervcrse doctrines, with a 
 dangerous tendency, and knowingly and 
 delilieiately progre-"ing toward-, reyolu 
 
 tion. I know that in the opinion of a jioi- 
 tion ol our fellow iMiuntryinen the ..ihei al 
 party is maile uj) of men of good in 
 tentions, perhaps, but not the less dupc-^ 
 aii'l victims ol their principlos ami con 
 duct, which luinciples innocently, 
 but fatally, lead to revolution. Inline, 
 1 know that lor yet another ]iortioii. 
 j not the least considerable, )ieihaps, Lili 
 I eralism is anew form of evil, in other 
 I words, a lieresy, carrying with it, its own 
 ' condemnation. J know all this, and it i- 
 i because 1 do so that 1 accept the siliia 
 : tion. 1 am not sutlioiently egotistical to 
 I believe that anything I may say Ihmp to 
 night will have the otl'ect of disalnsing 
 any prejudices which exist in our niid>t : 
 I my only object is to make an opening. 
 ; holding that, when once the same i- 
 inade, it will be taken advantage ol' by 
 others, and that the good work now 
 commenced will be completely tilli^lled. 
 , I'eyond that, my ambition does not go. 
 j This demonstration is neither useless nor 
 untimely. It is neither the one nor the 
 other, to combat prejudices ari- ing on all 
 sides of public opinion: but the great 
 ; object is to clearly ^'leline our inl 
 
 jiosition. 
 
 It is (|iiite true mat we l.ave been now 
 ,a long time before the bar of public 
 ■■ opinion, so that we ought to be known and 
 ] appreciated. Jhit it is also true that a« 
 [any other politieal pnity we have had 
 
 ■ifaMjPSIrr 
 
 f^ 
 
 ■aimmm 
 
r 
 
 our onomi'^'^, ninl linvp. })oilin]i'^. Iippii 
 •i'K:iil('<| mni'o than any oihor. ( )no ni 
 nnollioi' liMS i-y.'.t<Miintic vily roiirc; oiiti'il 
 11'^ ii-i ]irn('('i-:-iiiij doctrines, the lorfvoon 
 nnd oiiK'nlitti'il clli'cl ol' wliicli woiil'J he 
 a cnii |il(>lo nvcithrow ol'socipty, iunl rn* 
 \<)hiti()ii in ;ill its liori'ors. ( lur onomios 
 liiivo systomatically m!ili.;;no<l n«, and 
 others liavc, in good lailii, <'.diininialcd 
 ud. Botli, liavo ropi'csontcd ns as pr<j 
 I'essing doctrines dan;,'oiou.s to tiie pi'onor 
 social eijiiiiibriniu ol' tho world, it is lor 
 tho puijioso of replying to snch accu.sa- 
 tions and ol' <Iclinin,!.' our trnc posiiion, 
 iiiat the de.Jionstration ol' this evoning 
 has l)oon organized by tlio Canadian 
 (JInh. 
 
 In my fijiinion, tho most oliicacions 
 nioans—in lad the solo means of annihi- 
 lating such charges, and of del'ending 
 our ideas and prineiples, lie in jiuhlish- 
 ing them to the world, ol this trutli i 
 .am convinced tiiat the .simple exposition 
 ojour principles is thcii* Ijest dcl'enco. 
 
 And then when wo have fully made 
 ourselves knov.n in connection witii oui' 
 principles as they stanil to-day. we shall 
 iiave attained a double result: the lirst 
 ofwliich will he to rally to oui standard 
 all those who, after 1S.'!7, worked for Re- 
 sponsible (ioveinment, oi' the (lurevnvienl 
 fur till' people, 1)1/ the people, and who when 
 once this form of government was estab- 
 lished, separated themselves from us 
 thi'ough api>reheiision of .a wish on our 
 part to cast aside the system that we 
 were .supposed to represent. The secontl 
 result will be to force our real ene- 
 mies, all more or less disguised in the 
 nrnno of liberty, not only to utili/o such 
 prejudice ami intimidation against ns in 
 the country, but to openly ad\,ancebe 
 fore the jk'oj le their ideas and actions 
 as being far stip"i'ior. And then wln^i 
 the fpii^stion will be solely fought upon 
 that of jtiinciphs when deeds will be 
 considiM'ed accoixiing to the tliouglits 
 thai in'^jiireil them, and thoughts will be 
 consiilered according to their proper 
 \'alue fur the time being ; when there \\\\\ 
 be no more fear if accepting good for 
 bad. and b.ad for good — when it is of 
 III tie diU'erence U|ion which side victory 
 turii'-'. it may be aeceptoil that the 
 people will not be indillerent In the 
 le^ult of the si niggle. I mean (o 
 - ly this: that if tho struggle luin 
 against ourselve-, the ojiinion ex]iressed 
 shall be that of ^(iie jioople, lait I am 
 convinceil thai a day must come when 
 our ideas, now thrown a-ide, will ger- 
 
 minate and ber r frnil. In thi^ i-.'iic I 
 have jioifect conlidencf. I may be 
 wiong, but I entoiluin the moral certain 
 Iv that if our ideas are ji^t, or as just 
 as 1 believe them to ije, they cannot 
 jierisl), cannot be rejecti'd, ba.nished, 
 persecuted or disgraced. J'ut the <lay 
 will come when they will bud and in- 
 crease, when the sun of tolerance anil 
 piosjicrity has done its wol-k and suili- 
 ciently reclaimed the ground that has 
 been lo.st. 
 
 1 have already noticed a few of the 
 (^barges which have been circulated 
 .against us. All such charges ami ob- 
 jections can be resumed in tiie following 
 propositions: Liberal'sm is a new form 
 of error condemned by the Head of the 
 ''hnrcli: "Jo. and that a (':ithoIic cannot 
 be ii Liberal. 'I'his is what is proclaimed 
 t(y our adversaries. 
 
 All those who honor me by listen- 
 ing to mo at this moment, will ren 
 dor me this justice that in stating the 
 (|Ucstion 1 exaggerate nothing. They 
 will render to me the justice that I only 
 faithfully leproduce the reproaches whicrii 
 are given to us every d.ay : and they will 
 admit th.at the language 1 use is 
 simply the language of the (Jon 
 servativo press. 1 know that Liberal 
 Catholicism is condemned by the head 
 of the (,'hurch : antl I may be asked 
 '• What is Liberal Catholicism?'' I am 
 at the threshold of the (picstion and re- 
 frain ; nevertheless I may say that the 
 (juestion is not one that comes within 
 my i)o«*er to elucidate. ])Ut 1 may also say 
 that Liberal ''utliolicism is not political 
 Liberalism. Jf it were true that ecclesi 
 astical censures against Liberal Catholic 
 ism should aj))>ly to jiolitical Liberalism, 
 this factwouUi cotistitiite for us, French 
 in origin, and Catholic in religion, astat<> 
 of things, the consef|uences of which 
 would be as strange ,as sad. 'i'he fact is. 
 we French-C.inadians are a concpiered 
 race. Tliis is a sad truth to tell, but it 
 is nevertheless the truth. P.iit if we are 
 a con(|uered race, wo have also made ;i 
 comptest — the coni|uest of liberty. We 
 are a free people. We are in the min 
 ority : but we have ))reserved all our 
 rights and jirivileges. Again, why is it 
 that this liberty is so valuable to usV It 
 is Ueeause it is (he constitution which 
 was won for us by our fathers : and which 
 we to (lay enjoy. We have .a constitution 
 th;it plac(»s the (iovernment in the liands 
 of the ppo))le. We have a con<^titution 
 that has been f'ranted tons for our own 
 
 k 
 
 
^r 
 
 t>^ 
 
 ue 1 
 hf 
 tn in 
 
 JLI«t 
 
 Lililint 
 -lio.l. 
 .Iny 
 ul ill- 
 ami 
 snlli- 
 t lias 
 
 the 
 atPfl 
 
 I Ol). 
 
 nwiiiL' 
 
 loiiii 
 
 f tlic 
 
 aniioi 
 
 ainu'il 
 
 ( 
 
 ilel't'iire. Wi' liavu iiuL .'^rcalfi' iii-ivik','^i>s, 
 hut \vv li:iv<; as many ti^ilits anil jM-iviliv 
 uns as the othor ••;icc>s \vli!(;li comjiosc tlie 
 ' ' ma'liau iainily. A,L'ain it must not 'x; 
 iijr,i;ottL'n tliat tlio other mombors of tho 
 t'anailian iamily aro ilivi<le<l into two 
 )iartics— th'.! Mlioi'al au'l tho (.'nnsorva 
 live. 
 
 Now \\\\, wli'' arc Catholics, have nu 
 liLiht oI" choice if we have not tlio right 
 ol' belonging to tho liberal party, aiii! of 
 choosing one or otluu- i)arty. i Mic of tw« 
 tilings must IiapiHM). EitluM' we shall be 
 (jbli:jeil to c:oiiipletcly abstain from taiv 
 in;.-; jiaitiii the ilircction of jiuiilic afl'iiis, 
 au'l then our action not being free, the 
 constitution in our hainb wouM bo only 
 a itcad letter; or we shall have the 
 ignominy of being unc<|nal to the otiier 
 members of tho (,,'ana'lian family, who 
 b.'.long to the ('(juservative party. These 
 absurd conse'inences, but of which no 
 one can deny the correctness of their 
 a|i|ilicatioii, show, in the most undoubted 
 manner to what point this (also assertion 
 would lead — that a Jathohc cannot be- 
 long to the Liberal party. 
 
 .\gain, rrovidenee has united in ibis 
 part ol' tho worUl, populations of (lili'.-r<uit 
 origins ami creeils. Is it not ni inifest 
 tiiat these diil'ereiit jjcoplo should have 
 iutere.-.ts identical and in comnvjn ? .\nd 
 in regard of anything relating to its in- 
 terest, each io free to belong to the Lib 
 cral party or to the (Conservative, accoid- 
 ing as conscience directs them to follow 
 one cr the othe". 
 
 As for myself. I belong lo the J.ilieral 
 party. II' to be a l.djcr.dis a term of 
 re[iroacli, that reproach 1 acMjepi. If it 
 is a crime to l)e -.i l.iljerid. tiien I am 
 guilty. For myself 1 <leniantl ordy one 
 thing, tTiat is. that wc i)e Judged aecoi'it- 
 ing to our principles. 1 would be asham- 
 ed of our princi[)les il we tlid not dare to 
 avow them. Our cause woukl not be 
 \.'orth the ellorts to secure vict»ry. it the 
 best ii'ieani of doing so wiu'e to conceal 
 its nature. The Lib.ral [laity have been 
 i'or twenty-live years in oppoi^itiou. It 
 may l)e tvventytive years more if the 
 people be not ready to .Mccopt its idoas ; 
 ii'it march not with a bold front, with its 
 banners unfurled, in tho face of the coun- 
 try. It behoves. howpv?r, be'ore all 
 things, to understand the meaning, tho 
 value and the bi aring ol' the v.ord >■ Lib- 
 oral." and of the term ''Con'^ervativc."' 
 
 I atlirm that there is nw'.bi'ig no litllw 
 understood in ihio coualry^ by Iht'-jo vlio 
 
 attack it, as Liberali in. 'I'here arc seve 
 ral I'casons for (his. 
 
 We were tuit yc'^lerday initiated into 
 representative institutions— the i'kiglisb 
 population undeistaiids the working ol 
 these institutions intuitively, or by a 
 practical experience. Our [lopulaliou, 
 a-i yet, scarcely ir.vlerstand them. Ivlu- 
 cation has but begun to be s[irea(l 
 amongst us; and for tlios(> who ar(! e(|u 
 cated. our French ti'ainingnaturally iead^ 
 us to the study of modern liberty, not in 
 tho classic ground ol liberty, not in thi! 
 history of old Knglaiid, l>ut amongst the 
 nations of continental Kiirope, ,aiiiong-t 
 the nations which are alheil to us in 
 bloo<l, or in rcdigion. ,\nd, unfortunately^ 
 the history of lilierty is written in char- 
 acters of blood, in jiages the most i-xcMt 
 ing, wherein are written the annals of the 
 human race. Terrilied \>y those mournful 
 recortls, you will lind amongst all cla-:-e, 
 of educated [leoplo k)yal souls, who hink 
 with horror upon the siiii-it of liberty, 
 easily imagining that that sjiirii of liberty 
 must lead to the same disister :iere, the 
 same crimes it has produced in those 
 counti'ies whose hi.-toiies they have sin I 
 ied. l'"or them, the wonl •' Libcralisiu" 
 is fraught with national calamity. 
 
 Without blaming entirely these lear-, 
 but without allowing ourselves to be ter- 
 rilied, let us ascend to the very -ource, 
 and examine calmly what is at bm torn 
 the meaning of these t'vo woids. Ijhnul 
 and Ciinspi-i'dlifi. What does the w. nil 
 " Liboi'al'" mean wliich has received so 
 many iinatlunnas? What docs the word 
 '•Conservative" mean, which play- -ui h 
 
 ' a grand [lart in the cla-:>ilieat ion of all 
 that is goo'l. The one. is it. as it is pre- 
 tended, as in fact it is atliirui'd eveiy d;iy 
 
 I to ))0,anew form of error '.' I'he. otle'r, is ii. 
 
 'as it isconstantly iu.'-inuateil, the es-riice 
 of immuiablu good. Is the one. revolu 
 tion, anaii^hy, disorder'.' is the other tla 
 sole safe principle of society '.' Such aie 
 tho questions which aro aski-d every day 
 in tliis country. These >ubLle disliucti'iiis. 
 wiiicli aro continually brouglit i'orw ,i- 1 in 
 our jiress, are nevertheless old. I bey 
 are but the repetition of the drr .m^ u\ 
 certain French jiiiblicists who, slii,tni>in 
 their studic^s, looked only ii[)on the past. 
 and', who bitterly critic ;-a>(i every tli in l' new 
 that!, now e\i-ts, bf'cau-o that ^vllich now 
 
 .i.s res-oinbles nothing which had Ic/reto- 
 fore been. Sui^h peo;)le say that the 
 Liberal idea is a new one ; ;ind in ibis 
 they arc mistaken. The, Lib.j.d id(*a, 
 not mure 'hin it.. up[io iU , i., not new. 
 
(I 
 
 JL is iis iiiuii'iit a.s tlio ^^loho, and one 
 limb it on o.vvvy iia^'e ol' llio worlds lii.s- 
 lory. But it is only to-day that we iin- 
 dei^liuul lo: tain forces and thoir law.«, and 
 how to utilize tiioni. Steam existed he- 
 lori! {•'ulton ; but it is only .since Fui'in 
 that we know its ioice and its laws an<l 
 JKiw to luotit by its marvellous elliM'ts. 
 It is the combination oi' the tubeard 
 piston that serves lo utilize steam, ll is 
 the Ibrm ol' lejireseiitative governinent 
 th.it has revealed to the world the true 
 (•hiUMi ler of the iiriiiciplos — Lil)orali.-^m 
 and Conspivatisni : and it is the Ibini oi' 
 ;;nvernmont that lias ;.'iven lo each their 
 powers. 
 
 ( 'n 1)0 sul>j<M't in ihe iloniain oi' human 
 alVairs, does tiutli manilesi itself in an 
 e(|Ual degree to each intelligence, it 
 .-cmetiines happens tliat the contempla- 
 tion of truth plunges one moie deejily 
 into the unknown, but grasps less at the 
 time. NN'ith others the contemplation, 
 although It be less penetrating, yet a.s that 
 vision extends, they see more clearly. 
 This primoiilialdi.Ktinittion exists to a cer- 
 tain extent between the Liberal utea and 
 that of Conscivatism. For this reason 
 the same object will not be viewed in the 
 same manner by ditl'erent persons. For 
 tliis sole reason some will take a route 
 wliieli others will avoid, when, however, 
 both intend to reach the same end. J5ut 
 there is one conclusive reason that ex- 
 jilains the natiue, the leason, tiie why 
 and the wheiefore of the two ilifl'erent 
 idea-:. Maciiulay in the lJi.-^tory ot Eng- 
 laiiil delines this in a lemarkably deal' 
 ni.iMnrr. .'-^peaking of the assembling of 
 the Briti.^h llou^es of Parliament, in the 
 second session of the Long Parliament, 
 in the reign of (Charles tlie First, Ihe 
 celebrateil historian thus cxpre.-^ses him- 
 self : 
 
 Kroni tlii.-^ (liilo \vi'iT (ir^'iii:!/i'(l tlu' l\vi> jirr:tt imr- 
 tii'd wliicli rviT H'luT have :ilti'!iiiilrly .iiovcituil Uir 
 1.(111 iifiy. In triitli llic ili>ti]K'ii(iiL wliicli ll,i ii Ihchiih' 
 iviiliMit li;i(l I'xisU'd. 'riiiMlisliiic'.iciii liiiil ir^diij^'iii iu 
 till ilivi'iM' Ifiiiprriiiiu'iil^. Ill ill lis and iiilrri sis pir vil- 
 li ii! Ill 111! clafsis i.tMiiU'ly, ..;ul wliicli wiU hr inuinl 
 till 11' J, s liiiij,' ;is IniMiiiii iiili'iii I't.sliiill lie ilr.iwii in 
 iliftViriit iliri'ctidiis,- liy litlii-r i\.f iittraciii ns ^lt' 
 riiKloiii III' novelty, 'I'lic, diistiiic'tlKii iii loiiiiil nut 
 ijiily in 1 ulllirs, luit in liin.ituiv, in aits, in tciiiici s, 
 in <-li:'iiiislry, in im iliai.irti, in i^jjriiiillni-, umI 
 ivcii ill niatliiinatii s. Kvi rywlirif tlicii- fx^s-.s 
 u clais 111' inrii wlio \>aniily iillaili tlu'iiisrlvi s 
 la cvcrytliin;,' that is o'.d. i'oi- this mw 
 ciisliiicliDii w lull llicy 1110 oniivinccd ly indispiitallr 
 iii\.anu'iit that a ihaiiHi' Wdiild lie ail v.intuficijs, 
 iiinr>"iil I'lil ciily with i'i'^;r. t irnl rriiii;i|iaiifi'. 'I'lioiv 
 is aiMithi '• class, howivi r, nun who arr full Dflinpi'. 
 loiihrnud in flicir ideas, always iironrrsHiiiv, rvi r 
 fi .lily Iu liiid (lilt the iiiiiicrlVcliiins of iho cxistinj; 
 61<li' of nial'K 1.-., (ontciiiniii},' llif li-ks and iiKonvc- 
 n"'D; '"J alw.ijs .issociatrd with iniiirnvcinciitr. and al- 
 n;i;>'.UfPc«il I'J LOi-oiili.;- acliiuigf .i:i uuv.mtagtoiie. 
 
 'Ihe liist are the (,'onst'rv.itives ; the 
 second are the hiberals. Such is the real, 
 true explanation of bolli iirinciples— the 
 hiberal and Conserv.itive. These are 
 the two attributes of our nature. As 
 Macaulay admirably says they are to bo 
 found everywhere, in tlie arts, sciences, 
 in all branches of speculative knowh'dge; 
 but it is in jiolitics they are most appar- 
 'Mit. 'J'hus those who condemn Liberalism 
 as a new iflea, hove not rellected uiion 
 what passes every day befoK^ their eyes. 
 Those who c'ondcmn i.ibeiuli.'^m as lui 
 erior, have not eonsiderctl that they 
 thereby condemn an attribute of human 
 nature. Now it mu.'it not be forgotten 
 that the form of our government is a 
 Constitutional Monarchy. It is this i^i- 
 strument which brings out in relief, and 
 places in action the two principle;, of 
 Lilieralism and Conservatism. 
 
 AVe, Liberals, are fretiiicutly accused 
 of l)eing K'epublicam^. 1 do not point 
 out this reproach to relegate it. it i.s 
 not nece.ssary to reply lo sut;h a reproach. 
 I simply say that the form of governmenl 
 means little. Let it be Jlonarchical, or 
 lieimblican, I'lom the moment that the 
 people have the right to vote, tliey pos- 
 sess a resjionsible government, and have 
 the full measure of their liberty. How- 
 ever, liberty would soon be but an emjity 
 word il she do not restrain tiiose in power. 
 .\ man whose astonishing wisdom lia^ 
 formulated the a.xioms of the science of 
 gOTernment, with a ju. 'ice that has never 
 erred, Junius says: " Eternal vigilance 
 is the [irice of liberty." 
 
 Yes. if a people wish t<j remain free, 
 they must, like Argus, have a hundred 
 eyes, and ever be on the wat(di. It they 
 slecf), they become weak ; each moment 
 of indolence involves the loss of some 
 portion of their rights. An eteriiill, un- 
 ceasing; vigilance is the price which inut;t 
 be paid for the inappreciable licnelit of 
 liberty. Again, under a constitutional 
 monarchy, more peih;ips than under a 
 rejiublican form, is the exercise of this 
 vigilance necessary. 
 
 (In one side you have those who gov- 
 ern ; on the other, those who watcii. (in 
 one side are those who are in pow(u' and 
 are interested in retaining it; on the 
 oilier, are those who are interested in 
 attaining it themselves. 
 
 AVhat slinll be the means of cohesion 
 whicli will unite these ditlerent parties'.-' 
 What shall be the princi|ile, the sciili 
 ment which will yettl<>. the ilillerent ele- 
 ment,j ol the poi>ulation, whether it lie 
 
 I 
 
 51 
 
 ?;^ 
 
 1 
 
 y 
 
% 
 
 nmnrg ilio^e wlio jfovein, or tlioiP who j 
 \v:it(li. It will Ijp eitli"!' tiifr" LiWeial or ^ 
 tlio Conserviitive piiiicijilf. You will see , 
 toj'etlKM' tliose who iuc altnioti'd liy the : 
 chitrra oC novelty, ami you will see to- 
 gt'tln'r those who are altiadeii by the 
 cliiii'm of liabiti >l<'. Vou will see together 1 
 those who attach themselves to every- , 
 thing that is ohl, an<l those who wish to , 
 relorm 
 
 I now ask whether between these two 
 liartly oiguni/ed ideas tiiere seem to be 
 ■. moral dillerence ; is one radically good, 
 and the other radically bad? Is is not 
 miiniresl that both are, what are called 
 III morals liidijlerenl :' that is to say, that 
 Ijoth are suseeptiljle ol' apiireeiation. of 
 I'louLdit and choice. Would it not be as 
 unjust as absurd to condenui or approve 
 either one or the otiier, a< al)soliiteIy 
 r'ooil or liatl ? 
 
 I'.oth are susceptible of great good and 
 j'leat evil. The ( lonservative who is de- 
 voled to the old institutions of his coun- 
 try can do much good, while he may 
 ))eri>etrate a great evil if he persist in 
 continuing intolerable abuses. The Lib- 
 eral who tights against those abuse?, and 
 alter unceasing effoi'ts exterminates 
 Ihem, may be a public benefactor, as 
 may ■'^'•■'o the Liberal who, interfering but 
 slightly with sacred institutions, prove 
 a s(;ourge, not only of his country, but 
 of humanity. 
 
 Therefore 1 am fai' from reproaching 
 our adversaries in regard to their con- 
 victions, but' as for myself, I am, as I 
 have already said, a Liberal. I am one 
 of those who believe that in all human 
 a Hairs there aie abuses to reform, new 
 horizons to discovc i' and new forces to 
 develop. 
 
 In fact Lil)<«ralism appears to me on 
 all points to be superior to the other 
 jrinciph'. The Liberal principle even in 
 our nature, is the desire of well being, 
 which we all feel in this life, which iol- 
 lows us everywhere, to be, however, never 
 completely satistied on this side of the 
 tomb, t >ur evils are inmiortal, but our 
 means are iinite. We follow an idea 
 without ceasing, without ever reaching 
 it. We dream of the highest good, but 
 secure only the bittei'. llardly have we 
 reached the limits we have yearned alter 
 when we discover new horizons which we 
 had never dreamed of. We rush upon 
 them, and these being fully known, we 
 find others which lead us on further ami 
 further. 
 
 IhiH 'hall it be as lorn.' n-~ man !••■ what 
 
 he i ', as long a^ the immortal soul dwelh 
 in the mortal bo ly, so long shall its ile 
 sires be beyond its means, its actions can 
 never eipial its conceptions. This is the 
 ! true Sysiphusof the fable, its completed 
 work h IS ever to be recommenced. 
 I This condition of our nature ise.victly 
 , what constitutes tlio greatness of man : 
 for it urges him ceaselessly to push for- 
 ward to progress; our means are finite 
 ; but our nature can be improved, ami we 
 have the iniinite as our tield oflalior. 
 I There is then always room to improve our 
 , condition, to perfect our nature, ami to 
 1 render life more easy to a greater num 
 I ber. This it is which, to my view, con 
 ; stitutcs the superiority of Liberalism. 
 
 iiesides, experiense establishes that 
 I abuses glide into the community, which 
 will end in seriously arresting its upward 
 j progress, and perhaps placing its exi-l 
 enco in danger. 
 
 Kxperience further establishes that 
 institutions which in the begimiing were 
 useful, becau.-e they were litted for the 
 date of events for which they had been 
 introduced. Such among us was 
 the .Seigniorial tenure, it cannot be 
 denied that in the youth of the colony 
 this system greatly facilitated the cui- 
 tivation of the .soil. But in ISfiO, every- 
 thing had so changed amongst us that 
 the system would have ended in protlu 
 cing deplorable difficulties, if our Legis- 
 lature, at the suggestion of the Liberals, 
 h.ad not in its wisdom abolished it. 
 
 By the fact of this law which 1 have 
 pointed out as the determinate cause ol 
 Liberal and Conservative ideas, there will 
 always be found men who will i'ondly 
 attach themselves to these abuse?, which 
 they eagerly tlefeud, and who will look 
 witli fear on any attempt to abolish them. 
 Infortimate will be such, if possessing 
 power they be not ready to sacrilice their 
 prejudices. I'nfortunate will be such if 
 they know not how to accede and adoj»t 
 proposed reforms. They shall bring on 
 their country disasters as much nioie 
 terrible as the longer justice .shall be 
 refused. History but proves too truly 
 that few of those who govern have known 
 the aspiration of humanity and liave 
 done it justice. There have been more 
 revolutions caused by the obslinincy 
 of Conservatism than the exaggerations 
 of Liberalism. 
 
 The highest art in governing is to guide 
 and to direct in controlling these aspira- 
 tions of humanity. The English possess 
 this art to an infinite degree. Look at 
 
 r 
 
 . — ^-..jfc*- 
 
 .«MW 
 
 '^ mm 
 
 mim 
 
 isik*m-mmamma 
 
f 
 
 r i 
 
 the work of tlie great EngliHli Libeml 
 paity. Tlie rel'orms tlioy liave canied 
 out, the abuses tliey liave Hiipprpssod, 
 witliont violencp, witliont noise, without 
 ili^itiii'liance. 'lliey umlerstood the ioii{|- 
 iiigs ol" llie oppressed, they eoinpiehtMKl- 
 t'd the new wants created by new eondi 
 tions, and under the authority of the law, 
 and without any thing else than the hiw, 
 they have carried out a se'-ie.s of relbrnis 
 which have mido the Knglish the freest 
 of peoples, the most prosperous, and the 
 happieat in iOurope. 
 
 For the contrary, look at the continent 
 of p]urope. Most of them have never 
 understood the wants of their people. 
 When the unfortunate oppressed endea- 
 vored to gain a few mouthi'uU of air of 
 liberty, Ihey were brutally thrust baek 
 to a condition more hampered. 
 
 But a day arrived when obstacles were 
 ruthlessly set aside, when the people 
 violently destroyed the machinations 
 which paraly/.ed them, and then under 
 the sacred name of liberty, when they 
 jterpetrated the most frightful crimes. 
 Can we be astonished ? 
 
 Should it astonish us If the mists gath- 
 ered above our heads descend in a storm 
 and break ever u& ? Should it astonish 
 us if the steam burst out the walls which 
 confined it when the engnieer had not 
 the prudence to raise the valve whicii 
 kept it at its proper force? \o, tliere 
 is a fatal law which shall have always the 
 same effect, in morality as in physics. 
 Where there is compression there must 
 be a violent and ruinous explosion. I do 
 not say this to palliate revolution. 1 h.ate 
 revolutions ; I detest every attempt to 
 force opinion by violence. Furthermore 1 
 am less disposed to place the responsi- 
 bility upon those who carry them out 
 tlian on those who by (hen- blind obsti- 
 nancy provoke them. 1 say this to explain 
 the superiority of Liberalism, which com- 
 prehends the as]>irations of human na- 
 ture and instead ot abusing them, tiies to 
 direct them. 
 
 Do you suppose, as an example, that if 
 England had persisted in refusing emani- 
 pation to the Catholics ; if she had 
 persisted in refusing to the Catholics, 
 to the Jews, and Protestant denomi 
 nations who did not belong to the 
 established church, full civil and political 
 rights; if she Imd persisted in preserving 
 electoral oligarchy ; if she had persisted 
 in refusing free trade in corn ; if she 
 had refused franchise riglds to the work- 
 ing classes, do you think that one day 
 
 would have passed before tlio people 
 would have risen in arms to gain 
 that justice they iiail obstinately 
 l((»en refused. Do you not think lliiil 
 the hideousiiess of revolutioti wnuld 
 not have swelled lieneatji the windows nt 
 Westminister: ami tliat civil war would 
 have made the streets of London niii 
 with blood as it ollen has the streets of 
 I'aris. Human natuio is everywhere the 
 sanir*, and as elsewhere conipres-^ion i)ro- 
 duces explosion, violence and crime. 
 These terrible calamities have been 
 avoided — thanks to the Liberals, wiio 
 comprehended the evil cause fuirgt'steil 
 and applied the remedy. 
 
 What is more beautiful than the history 
 
 of the great liberal Enj,'lisli party of tliis 
 
 age. At Hrst there is Fox, the sage, the 
 
 the generous !"ox, defending the case 
 
 of the oppressed, wherever they were. 
 
 A little later was (I'Coiiiiell, the great 
 
 (J'Connell, vindicating and obtaining foi' 
 
 his coreligionists the rights and 
 
 privileges of English subjects. He was 
 
 assisted in this work by all the liberals 
 
 in the three kingdoms, Cray, I'roughain, 
 
 Russell, Jeffrey, and a host of others. 
 
 Then came successfully the abolition ot 
 
 the electoral oligarchy, the repeal of the 
 
 prohibition law .against the corn trade. 
 
 the extension of the franchise to the 
 
 working classes and lin.ally to crown all, 
 
 ; the abolition of the English Church as ,i 
 
 state religion in Ireland. And remember 
 
 that the liberals who worked out these 
 
 successive reforms were not recruits from 
 
 merely the middle classes, but some ol 
 
 England's greatest peers were among 
 
 them. 1 know not of any spectacle more 
 
 honoring to humanity than that of these 
 
 English peers, these nobles, those rich 
 
 men,those powerful men stubbornly light 
 
 ing to uproot a host of popular abuses, 
 
 sacrificing their privileges with a calm 
 
 enthusiam to render life more easy and 
 
 more happy to the greater number. ( in 
 
 this subject let me read you a letter of 
 
 Macaulay to r>ne of his friends, written 
 
 on the day after the vote on the famous 
 
 reform bill which abolished the rotten 
 
 buroughs. This letter, in my o])inion, 
 
 admirably shows what an l^nglish liberal 
 
 is. Here it is, 1 ask pardon for its length 
 
 I shall tioviT ."i^ain Hcf, i ilo not oxiicct aKaiii to set- 
 a similar si'(>iii> at tin- divliiinn nil TiKsUa.v last. 
 Wt^rc 1 to livp fifty yars, tlio iiiiiircHsioii would n- 
 main as fi-oxli ami as lively as at tlic time ul' it^ 
 oix'uiriMue. It was as having lit'cii a witinss ol 
 Ca'sar stahhed ill the Sfiiato, or ('romwell niili-i im; 
 away the the iiiaee lioiii the tahle in the Purliuiiieiit. 
 a seene vshieli i-aii he vsitiiesseil Imt once, aiiil mvi i 
 tori;otli.'ii. The imwil tilhd the limue thiiiiiL'hoiit 
 
 .I'lcl Mr 
 
 .1. t ,,f !■, 
 
 ihr h;ini 
 
 lllllih!?!. 
 il'l IT! 
 
 the con 
 >v, re li 
 tie nun- 
 riik- 
 
 wll'j c HI 
 
 ■■> 11- A I 
 liist th 
 
 p:(sserl 
 
 Mjeaula 
 th- hill. 
 :l KiTlh 
 the re 
 
 Ul 
 
1^ 
 
 III ppojilc 
 to f^ain 
 
 l)stin!itcly 
 :liink tlril 
 i)n >vi)iil<l 
 
 'iiiilows III 
 
 war wniilil 
 
 >ii'loii iiin 
 
 strtu'tK of 
 
 •wJkM'o till' 
 
 'S-ioil JIlO- 
 
 iid crime, 
 avo l)('(Mi 
 'r:il.s, who 
 
 f Ui-'gl'StCll 
 
 the histoiy 
 
 (irty ol' til is 
 le sagf, the 
 j; tlie »'.ase 
 
 tliey woro. 
 
 tlio great 
 
 )taininj!; for 
 
 iglits a\u\ 
 s. lie wa-; 
 
 the liberals 
 
 I'roiigliMin, 
 . of otheis. 
 aholition of 
 fpeal ol' tlie 
 
 coin traile, 
 hise to the 
 
 crown all, 
 Churcli as ,i 
 
 id remeinher 
 d out these 
 ecruits I'rom 
 hut some of 
 ,vere among 
 ectacle more 
 that of these 
 <, those rich 
 )bornly light 
 )ular abuses, 
 A'ith a calm 
 ore easy and 
 lumber. < hi 
 u a letter of 
 nds, written 
 
 1 the famous 
 i the rotten 
 my opinion, 
 iiglish liliei'ui 
 'or its lengthy 
 
 |M'(t :iK:iili to tii'i- 
 I Tui'sd;!) liiHt. 
 'ssidli wniilil ir 
 
 till' linn' ol' it> 
 M a «itiiiss ol 
 imwi'll nnlcriii^l 
 
 the Harliuiiuiil, 
 oure, aiiil niyii 
 
 iifi' tbioiii/lioiit 
 
 U'li.ii I 111' ilrnmiTS wri-i' .■irjipiilti'il, till- "fitiT In willi- 
 (li.iw wiTf 1^1 v( II. hikI iIii- (loor^ wcrr rlo;'<'t* ; tlii'rr 
 w I" Ki < liiiiidri'il iiH'iiil'iir.) pnisi'iit, liltyHvo mtm' 
 III < Ii.kI I'Vi II Im'i'ii ii'i'ii on itiiy iirriiiliiij.' ilivisiuii. 
 I 111- yi'iri :iml iiin H wrp' ,i-i two d i iiliiir«iB of iirliilfry 
 riiiiii ilii' o|i|iiih/tp piirlM of II liiilili' llnlil. W'liiii Hip 
 o|'|i'iiilioii ritiri.'il to till' loliliy, wlilc'li IiimI'iI twi'Iitv 
 
 lllllMlll'l. WM o •CUIMi'll till' Hi'ilt- 111' liolll Jilli'H uf till' 
 
 Immiii', I'lir tlii'ir wrrr "I'vcr.il iiiiiniijrMt iih who liiiil not 
 liri'ii iilili' to HCfiiri' II Ki'iit iliiriiiu tli" wlioli' ivi'iiiiiK. 
 A^ «ooii iirt tin) ilooi'H wrri' doiird, wi* cuiiiiiirni'i'd to 
 .■"111! iMir niiiiilM rs. Kvi'i yoii" vv.ii disioiiiaixiil. 
 '• \Vi ;ii'i' lii'iitiM, wi' iiri' iiiit moil tliiiii two liitiKln'J 
 .'lid 1 i;;lity. 1 do iiottliiiik that vvi' arr inoic tlii'i 
 two liiiii li'i'il mill lilty, Alduriiiaii 'riiiniiisoM riuiiiti'd 
 ilii'iii Mr Kiid that tlicy wi'ic two liiiiidrcd anil 
 iiiiii'ly iiiii"." Tlii^i i» what wiiH ^aid aiii'iii^'Rt iiH. 'I'lir 
 li.Hi^r, wlit'ii llic .Miiiistrna'isU were aloiii', was al- 
 I'l'.iily I'll!, iiioi'i' ^11 th.iii L(i'iii'rallv, wlirii tin ri' was a 
 ill li.ili' 111' ronmiliTaldi' mil Ti'st. Ilowiivcr, I had no 
 liii|i" 111 our lii'iii'4 llircii liiiiidird W'Ih'Ii llir trllrfs 
 |ii^si'd rioiii till' i-\lii'iHi' Ii'fl, till' r\i-itritiriil lii'i-aiiii* 
 iiili'iii' two liiiiidi'i'd and .lini'ty oni' — two hiiiidi'rd 
 .iinl iinii'l.v two— wr wi'ir all Kt.iiidiii).' up with oiit- 
 ^ll'' li'lii d iiui'ks, ronntiii!.' Ilu' tc'lliTB. At tliTiT liiiii- 
 dri'd tliiTi' was a nli^'ht I'ly of joy ; at Uiii'c hiimlii'd 
 iiid Iwo anolhiT, Init liiinii'dialcly Hiipiiri-Ksi'd, lor wv 
 di'l Mill know llii' iliiiiiLitli ol'oiHcnc'iiili'H. Wi'kni'W, 
 l.uwi'vi'i, thai il'wr win' ln'alrn. Ilic ili'li'at would 
 iiiii hi- Mi'i'al. At la:.Mhr doors will' iipi'iii'd, and how 
 did IIii'V I'litiT .- Kacli, aH 111' .lUlcri'd, hroiiKhl iidiC- 
 li'ii'iil acroiint ol' I In- nninhii'. In l.icl, rrowdrd as 
 liny wiri' ill llii' rorriilors. it wiiK iiiipos.iildc to uivo 
 .111 I'xarl iiccoiiiit of tliiir nniiiii 'rs. At firnl It waH 
 said iliat It wail tlirci' liiindri'd am' thnr, thi'ii this 
 nniiilii r iiirri'.isi'd to Ihri'i' liuiidn d iiid till, unit thru 
 ,iiiin|i'-il lo tliri'i' hiindvi'd and s 'Vi'ntorn. We wrrf 
 .ill niiiln with iiiixii'ty, wlirii C'liirlrs Wood, who 
 was iirar till' door, jiinipcd on a lirin h cryiiif,' out that 
 llirri' was iivi'ii only thri'i' hiiiidri'd iind one. Then 
 wi' U'lVK out a shout which ini^lit hnvi' hcpii hfiird at 
 111 iriiiK ('rose wo thri'w our hats in tho air, we htaiiip- 
 
 I I with our t'oet, and dajipi'd our li.iiids 'I'hi' tellers 
 loiilil li:iidly C''t Ihrcir^li tha rro'.d ; thf housp waa 
 
 (ili'il 111 till' tahli', and a sm of '.ii'ails apprari'd as in 
 a llii iili't'. Itiit till' fill of a pin '.oiihl liavo hcen heard 
 w hill Ilnin .(iinon rrad tlip n-inili'rs. 'I'heii therr worn 
 I ' ni'wi'd shiintin;/, aiu' t.iiic shod ti'ars. As for ni.y- 
 I.' If, I ooiild not ri tain mint ; ahd I'ooPs hanilkorcliiof 
 WI , :.iiii to fall . and Twiss .^ii mod to ho riiinod, 
 .I'ld III rrios had iho appo. raini' of .liidas in his ln^t 
 .T.'t of ri inovinu' hiri ora^■at. "Wo ^lll)ok oai'h olhor b.v 
 thi' hand, wo nlippod lai'li othor on tho hark, wo loft 
 liiiahini,'. woi pill.;. !,hnuriuf( and hardly wore thr 
 ill uai'lnnd Ih.iii oIliorshoiitB |•o^pondod to onr;-. All 
 tho inrndnrr, ,^ll Iho .stairwiiyi^, all tho anternonia 
 V' 10 fiillof llioso who roinaiiiod till four oVlock in 
 th' niorniii;}, to know tho rosiilt. Wo could hardly 
 
 II ik" our way Ihroiiu'h t wo diiiso inassCR of poopir, 
 will, c niliiiiially hhoutod and throw Ihoir hats in Iho 
 air At list wo vrot ontsido. I oaili'd a rali, and the 
 I'll it thin K which Ihooahnian asked nio : "Has tholiill 
 p rissod sir.-" Yos, by oiio vote, thank tloavoii. And 
 Macaulay tiiiishod by :i phraso which olonrly indicates 
 till' Ijiliiril. In sMcli a innnni'r, conliniiod lip, ondod 
 a siin.' which shiill probably iiovor bo oijuallod till 
 tho rol'orni"il parliiuiioiit iteclf lias nood of bciiiij 
 r''f'iriii:'il. 
 
 jraciaulay. lie wiio w>ote tlius exult- 
 ingly voted for the abolition of the sys- 
 tem by wliich lie was elected. JIacaulay 
 lield his seat by the generosity of an 
 ICnglish peer. Lord Lansdowne, who had 
 him returned for the rotten borough of 
 C'dno. 1 know of few pages of history 
 which do more honor to humanity than 
 this simple letter which dcmonstrate.s 
 F.ii;;li'-hnattire, Crilm and ob;tinalc in the 
 5-truggle, whii U in the end became enio- 
 ♦.lonid we^'pi^1g and Uu,^hin^ at irderval?, 
 
 bctaiiso an act of justice had been tlone, 
 bccinise an abuse had been eradicated 
 from the soil of old I'',iigland. Memberi 
 of tho flub ('anadien ! liberals of the 
 rrovinco of (Quebec, suc.h are ourmodel.-. 
 
 It is true tlmt there exists in Europe, 
 in France, in Italy and in <Jern>any, a 
 class of men who call themselves liberals, 
 but who are liberal but in name, and who 
 are the most dangerous of men. They 
 are not liberals, they are revolutionists, 
 their principles are such that they aspire 
 to nothing less th.m tho destruction ol' 
 modern society. With these men we 
 have nothing m common : but it i.s the 
 tactics of our adversaries to ever assim 
 date us with them. These accusation., 
 are beneath us, and the only reply 
 Worthy of us is to states our true princi- 
 ples and to act in Kuch a manner that 
 our acts be alw.'iys conl'ormablc to our 
 princijiles. 
 
 Having iurived at this point, I will jias.-, 
 in review tin; history of tho litieral party 
 In this country. I am one of them who 
 do not fear to scrutniizo the history of 
 my party. I nm one of those who 
 think that there is much to he gained 
 in plainly speaking the truth, instead 
 of deluding himself and others. l,et 
 us have tiourago to tell the truth and the 
 truth only in our past faults, so that 
 that courage may prevent us from com- 
 mitting similar sins in the future. 
 
 rp to 1K4,S the French Canadians h.id 
 formed but one party, the liberal party. 
 Tho conservative party or lather the 
 tory party, as it was called, wa.-? in a 
 feeble minority. From l.^iS, dated the 
 lieginning of the two parties which have 
 since disputed for power. Mr. I^afon 
 j tame having acceptefl the .syslemof IS 1 1 ; 
 I when Mr. I'apineau returneil from e.xiie, 
 he attacked the new order of things with 
 hiB great eloquence and all tho grandncss 
 of his ideas. 1 will not here introiluce a 
 comparison between the respective poll- 
 ticsof these two great men. Both loved 
 their country ardently and passionately ; 
 both devoted their lives to it ; both, by 
 difterent means hud no other end in 
 view than to advance it ; both were disin- 
 terested and honest. Let us remrtin 
 satisli(*d with their remembrances and 
 seek not to find out who was right or who 
 was wrong. 
 
 There was at this time Ji numlicr of 
 young menol very liberal views and of still 
 greater impetuosity. Disajipoiiited in 
 being too late to join in the war of 1jj7 
 by blindly pricipitalin.; irit.-> \h» politioal 
 
 -^ ««h»*i0iAm^|I^ 
 
 R8MI 
 
T 
 
 .'< .-^ 
 
 10 
 
 iiiovpmotit of thn day, tli(>y Jninod 
 ihomsolves with Mr. liUfontuinc in his 
 ;,'reiit quarrf!! witli Lord Motcalf. Tlioy 
 immedlHtely dcsortcd him for the more 
 advimccd nolitios ol' Mr. Papiiicaii und 
 soon phiccd themselves under the hitter, 
 wliidi was natural ; they uero much 
 liidiind him. 
 
 i'lncouruged by tiieirsucccss and hound- 
 ed on by their own enthusiasm they 
 estaldishcd a paper, V AKcnir, in which 
 they declared theniselves as reform- 
 t'ls and the sr.viors of their country. 
 Without being satisded by attacking 
 political, th.'y attacked social institu- 
 tioiis. They started a programme which 
 coulfiined not less than twenty one arti- 
 cles, which commencc<l by the nomina- 
 tion of .Justice of the Peace, and ended 
 by annexation to the United States, and 
 which was nothing less than a revolution 
 m the country. If it had been i)Ossible 
 that by a wave of a wand, the twenty-one 
 articles of this programme had been re- 
 alized in the course of a night, this 
 country could not in the morning have 
 been recognizable. 
 
 The only excuse of these liberals was 
 their youth ; the oldest among them was 
 not twonty two years of age. 
 
 (ientlemen, I state facts. 1 do not in- 
 tend to reproach any one. Talent and 
 convictions ever command respect. Who 
 is there amongst us now, who, living in 
 this age, can flatter himself, that he was 
 wiser and did not fall into the same 
 errors. Everything then referred to their 
 exaggerations, the situation of our coun- 
 try, the situation in Europe. 
 
 The country was not then cured of its 
 wounds of insurrection ; they had grant 
 ed us a liberal constitution, it was true, but 
 the new constitution was not applied with 
 goo<l faith by the (Jolonial ofUce. There 
 were in the conviction of each regrets 
 whi(!h were drawn only IVnm the reraem- 
 bcrance of the vengencc; taken from the 
 insurrection. Society even now trembled 
 beneath the sounds of the groat tempest 
 which appeared some years later, nearly 
 all over the civilized world, and which at 
 the moment made the social community 
 shiver. The years procedng !S48 are 
 frightful to contemplate. It was terrible 
 to do such work which placed in revolu- 
 tion in one moment, more tiian eighty 
 millions of men. 
 
 This state of things acted powerfully 
 on the imaginations of the ardent and un 
 experienced youth. A nd our young re- 
 formers, not contented with revolution- 
 
 ' izing their couiitiy, greeted jhj lnHy 
 eacli new revolution in Europe. 
 
 However, scjircely had they made liiil 
 few steps in this life, than they jif rceivcd 
 their great error Kroiu lS('.-_' thcv 
 published a now paper. Tliey abandonee I 
 " I'Avenir" to perdition and sought in 
 their new paper tlio /'t/^.v, without always 
 lin<ling it, it is tnif Iho novel way by 
 which the friends of liberty umler the 
 new constitution shoiild follow. 
 
 One cannot to-day, in loading the piu- 
 griiminc of "rAvenir," help sniiling. in 
 linding with at times pood sense, .siH:ii 
 improbable and absurd propositions. 
 It would bo odious to go ovei' oiio by 
 one the incongruous inuiiositions ton 
 tained in the piogramine of " I'Avenir.' 
 1 will take one at ehaiice, the auniiid 
 pailianients. 1 am suie that (>aeli of tlie.-e 
 young reformers, who, formed p.-nt o!' 
 the deputation, is now liriuly of opinion 
 i that an election every five years is jk.t. 
 j fectly suflicicnt. And furthermore, is it 
 not manifest that annual parliaiiieiits 
 ' would continually tr.immel all serious 
 legislation, and be a i)eriiiaiient source 
 of trouble? 
 
 However, the evil was done. The 
 ' clergy, alarmed by these measures wiiich 
 only too well rennnded themof EinopcMu 
 revolutions, immediately declared un- 
 j merciful war against the new jiarty. The 
 ' English population, friends of liberty, but 
 ! alike friends of order, also declared against 
 ' tho new party, and during twenty five 
 1 years they remained inoiipocitioii.evcii il 
 they hail the honor of initiating all the re- 
 forms effected during that time. It was, 
 I in vain they asked and obtnincil the 
 j abolition of the seigniorial i.enuic; it wa., 
 in Aaiu they asked and oljlaiued the de- 
 cenlialization of justice ; it was in vain 
 that ihey were tho first to give iiiipoi t 
 ance to colonization ; tliese wise reloiins 
 w ro not considcretl ; disavcwiiig the 
 foiu,.s of their youth; in fact it was 
 in vain that the Conservative party com- 
 mitted faults upon faults; the gencriLtioii 
 of tlio Liberals of IS4.J had nearly entire- 
 ; ly disappeared from the political aiena. 
 j when there arose a glimpse of day- 
 light for the Liberal party. Since that 
 j time new accessions have been mside to 
 ! the party, ideas more condensed and 
 ' calmer have been adopted ; .as to the 
 I former programme of that social party 
 I nothing remains, and of the political 
 party there remain but the principles of 
 I tho Liberal party of England. 
 ! During this time what did the other 
 
 I 
 
 
 'u^iSmL 
 
 (^ 
 
■»» 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 II 
 
 p:i||\' lid.' Till' IMlitlllc lic'tWiM II Mr.' 
 
 l'.i|iiniMU iiiwl Mr, Jj'ironlMiiio \v:is com 
 |.lcli>: till' pnitioii of tlic Lihoral pMily 
 wliii'li I'lilldwcd Mr. I.;it'oiitiuiio,;illor .somo 
 liin.', Joiiicil tlio 'I'lirii's of rpjior Can 
 ii'Im, tlicu to tlic titio of Coii'U'iViitiv i 
 wliirli tlif'.v (.'nuld luit, nor dai-o, not 1 c.ir 
 they iuliicil that, of I.ihoi'iil. '!'li(> 
 ni'Nv iiMity culU'il ilsolf Lilicial* 'nnsci'viv- 
 tivc. Somo yoiir.s jiukscmI, furtlior nunli- 
 lii'iiliori.e followt'd : I )<no\v not f)y wlrit 
 ii.imo to (m11 tliis jiurty. Tlio-;o wlio to 
 d.iy M^vm t(. nilo, liiivo lp:i[iti/.i'il 
 tlKMiM'lvfs tlic I 'Itramontani- paily, tin; 
 I 'itliolin parly. Its )iiincij>Ics aro a-; 
 MiDililiud ji> [[> nam''. I f ^fr. (,'ailii'i' wcri' 
 to ri'tnrn to liic woiM again, lie \\-onl(l 
 Mdt i('C();:ni/,i> his party, ilr. t'artior was 
 doviitcd to tiie prim'ii>los of the Mnglisli 
 »-on.s|itution. Tlioe of his paity \y\v> 
 iidw aro siipi'cinp, oponly oppo.s>' the 
 pi iiiciplcs of lh<^ i;n;ili>h conNtitiition as 
 ,1 < iiiiccs.sion to what they cail tho spirit 
 of (ivil. 'I'lipy iindri'staiul ni'itlii r tlie 
 I'oinitry nor tlio ag<'. All these calcuia- 
 tions jiro l»a.sed upcn (hosc of the ii'ae 
 tionist.s of France ; a:; tlio iileas cf tlic 
 jjhriaisot iSls were ha^ed up ,>: tii^sr 
 of the I'cvolntionists of j-'ranee. 'I'hey 
 hf .inu e.veited foi- j)on<'ai'!os and the 
 Count do Chain' oi'd .'i.s the i.ili. ra!s Ijo 
 enny e.\eitod for Louis I'.hnu^ and I.' dru 
 l.'ollen. 'I'hey cried •• l,on;T live the Kiii.u" 
 a< the r,ilpOials cfied '• l.on.; live tlu' Ke- 
 puhlic."' In speakin;; of hon Carlos and 
 ip|'tho<'ount (le Cli.'imtiord. tiiey allfit 
 rdly fulled them His M.ijesty Kiny 
 Charles VII, His j\[.ijeity King Cli irle.^ 
 v.. a.^ the laherals in speaking of Napo 
 h'on, cidlcd liim Mr. l.'ini., liouapaite. I 
 eertandy respect loo much the o|iinion 
 of inv opponents to do them .in injiny, 
 iMit I reproach theui with knowing neither 
 ihi'U' coindry noi' ilic timps. Iaccn.se 
 llinn ol estini.iting the p<i!ili(^d j-itiiation 
 not liy what has occurred liere, but I'V 
 what lias oirctirred in France. I accii.se 
 them <if ejitleavoring to introduce licre, 
 :dea.s which would he impos.siblu in our 
 state of .society. J accu.so tliem of labor- 
 iously endeavoring and unfortunately 
 ind eilectu'dly to make religion the 
 simple basis oi'a jioiitical party. It is 
 th.^ custom of our adversaries toaccu.se 
 11^, l.iliera's, o[ irreligion. I am not here 
 to parad( my reli;:io;is princi]jh's, hut 1 
 proclaim it that I have too much respect 
 lor the faith m wliicli I wa.s horn, ever to 
 make it appear as the fa.-i.s of a jioli-cal 
 or,'raui,:at|iili. 
 
 You wi.di lu urgani-.c .i ( '.dliulic p->rt_s, 
 
 bill Lave not liken iidii ( oii-idcr.diou 
 till' evil of rai.-ing it ; you wili'lM'ing on 
 your country, calamitirs, the eon-i'i|Mrii 
 ces of wliicli it is iinpo- silde to prcdii I. 
 
 You widi to organi.i" all Catholic-, into 
 a single party, wilhont other .-iipport, 
 witliout oilier basis than tii'it o( ndigion. 
 but you have not rtlli-cfed tliat t>y that 
 laet alone you organiz"" the I'role.sl ml 
 population a.s ii single p.arty, and tlial 
 then insti'ad of pracc and liMiniony 
 which now e.\ist amongst the dilL'tcni 
 (dcHients of ourCauadiin nalimi. you 
 will bring on w ir, religious wa", the mn i 
 frightlul of all wars. 
 
 Hnce mor(>, CdUscival ivcs, | ariai-ii- 
 you bfiore the coimiry of knowing iiei 
 ther your country nor your limes. 
 
 (iiir advei'sarie.^ ag.iin rc|iro:ieh u.; 
 they reproach us of loving liberty, and 
 they call libmty a daiigiM'ous ami .subver- 
 sive prii! !''■'• 
 
 is there :■ ;> re.ison fur tlwvc altick--'.' 
 None, unles- thiit ni Fraivo there e.\ist-, 
 a numbei <.f Catholics who follow the 
 liber'' f)l' il<lr blasphemy. 'I'lieieloi • 
 tliO; 111 I'rance ar" I Illy ene:nies of lib 
 city who lo,)I; on lior with terror. The 
 most I'aitiii'nl IVifunls of lilici'ly often lonk 
 on her IV i h the saiuc- b'lding. iiemember 
 the ia.-t vwirds ot\Madanao Jloland. .'d.e 
 jiad truly \ov<"\ liberty, .she iiad follow- 
 ed her throughout, and hor last touch- 
 ing words Were : '•' )h, IjIh:! ly wha! crime- 
 hav ■ tieen conini'tted in tliy name." 
 
 1 perfectly inidersland, v.ithoul, Iciw 
 ever, partaking of, the feelings of Ii 'i-i 
 Frenchmen who, looking at what libcilv 
 has ecist them, in te.us, in ruin and in 
 bluod, .somctime.s wish for their cniiiiliy 
 a vigorous, ile.--pol';>i!i. 1 under.siund 
 their .■malliem.a-', but t li it llcir iniallie 
 ni.as .shoulit be here repe.iled, 1 do liiil 
 
 underst.and, 
 .\nd wi atl shall wi-'who are a ci.icpieied 
 i peojde curstMiborty ? I'ut wh.tt shmiM 
 j we be now if oui- f.itliers had hid lie- 
 j .sann- scntimeids of (lie ( 'on.servative- of 
 today, .'^liould v.e lie else tlcn :; ia<'e 
 ' of pariah-. 
 
 1 admit that librrtv :is under:-tood and 
 
 ]uactiscd in France geiier.ally, is not se- 
 
 diietive. The French kno.v but the name 
 
 of Liberty, they know not liberty her-^elf. 
 
 ] One of their jioels. August l'..iibier, has 
 
 ' given lis an e.\;ict Iclea. d the Libci ly 
 
 .which lias passed hi l-iaiee, and who-c, 
 
 : work wa:; hiot :;ei II in I'd. 1 It ! ( pit -f nts 
 
 i libi rly a., a wuman : 
 
 \ 
 
 
 \' 
 
 ^% 
 
'■-^•f' 
 
 # 
 
 Vl 
 
 <\ 
 
 "A III viiix i'aiii|iio, aux iliii's iippaH 
 "<t>iii il« l>riiii aiir la pcHii, liii feu ilaiiii lis luuncllc). 
 
 " Ak>I<' <'l iiiarcliunt a graiiiiit |iax, 
 '• Su plait, aux ciiti ilu pi.'iiijli^, aux saufilaliti's niL''ii'S 
 
 " Aiix lontjs nmloniriits (Iih taiiilioiir!<, 
 " A I'oilciir <l(! la pmidrr, aux loiutaiiii'!) vuli'cs 
 
 '* Di'S cloclii's ct ili'K can<)n>! nourds ; 
 " (jiui uc proud sis auiouiH (|iii' dnis la populace, 
 
 "l^ui uc jirctr' S( u laryi' !' !':c 
 '' i^u'a (led gous forts comiuc die, ( t liui vcut (|u'(iu 
 
 I'cuiliraHS'' 
 
 '• Avcc ilc8 1)1118 rou^c dc s.iug. 
 
 Wore liberty sucli a virngo, I could 
 tiiul(>rstaii(l tlie nnatlicma.s of our iulvor- 
 s.iiit's iiu.l I woulil bo tlie lirst to Join 
 liiciii. But tjiis is not liUeity. An Kn^- 
 libii jiot't, Tonnyson, sings of liliorty. Jn 
 Ins jiotin " 111 Mcnioiiiini,"' Tennyson 
 r(>|)lios to 11 IVicnd who nsks liiiii why he 
 doi'!^ not soiirch in to'illippn isles .1 inild- 
 er climalo, and why, notwithstanding his 
 jKior health, he iieisisis in leniaining 
 luidcp the loggy sky of jMigland. The 
 |>oel rei'lies to his IVientl tliiit ho docs 
 not wish to leave England bccauie 
 
 '' It is the laud tliat frociucii till, 
 
 'liiiit Holici-snitc'd l''rc( iloiu cIjobi!, 
 
 'I'Im land, where girt witli frioudH nr f. it, 
 
 A luau uiay speak the thiug lir will; 
 
 " A laud of seltleil govcruuiput, 
 
 A laiul of just anil old ruuowu, 
 
 Where KiTidom broadoiiH slowly dsv.n, 
 
 I'roui i)roi'cdiiit to PiCccilciit : 
 
 " Where faetiou seldom jjalliers head 
 r.iit liy dejirees to fullness wroiiwlit, 
 The slrrn;.;th of some dili'usive tl'oiij;lil 
 ilatli tiuic and sp icc to work and spicad '' 
 
 Sui'li is the liberty wc enjoy, such is 
 the liiierty which we del'einl, and which 
 our adver.-aiics attack without iinder- 
 htandiiig it, even while enjoying its 
 benelil-. loan Iwiiiti-te J\oti.<scau in one 
 of his ode.-, sjicaka ol' a Ijttibarous tribe, 
 who, one (biy, in a nionic-nl of imonr'^^iv 
 able I'llly, insulted tlic^ sun by tiiejr noise 
 and impifcalion-. The iiocl in ;i word 
 dcjcriljcs their luulish iiniiiousiieso : 
 
 l,c Dim piiursnivaut sa carrierc, 
 N'ersait des t^.rreuis de Jiiuiiere, 
 Snr firs ohseurs liiasplicmatcurs. 
 
 Thus it is with those amongst iis who 
 attack liberty. I.ilierty ■ sltields them, 
 o\ersiircads them, protiU'ts tind defends 
 them, (^vcn in their bhi-iihemy. 
 
 J')Ut our adversj'.ries in reproaching us 
 as lieing the friends ol' liberty, still lur- 
 ther repioach lis with a charge whicli 
 would be very serions \veri^ it well 
 founded, viz., refusing the chui'ch the lib- 
 erty to which it is entitled. They re- 
 juiiaeh us of endeavoring to i^ilenoe the 
 iuhuinistr.itive body of the church, the 
 cLigy. of wishing to prevent the iiistruc 
 tiiMi of the people in their dulie.-i as citi 
 zen.. .md eleetoi... They n'jim.ich us ot, 
 if I ni(iy iiNt* It baekiieyed ^iiying, wi>hiny 
 
 to prevent the clergy meddling in politics, 
 tmd sending them buck to their prayers. 
 
 In the name of the Liberal pai ly, in 
 the name of Lib(>ral princii)leH, I deny 
 the assertion. I'mler what principle- 
 would the friends of I.iberly refuse the 
 priests the right of taking part in public 
 atl'airsV PiV what right would the 
 friends of liberty refu.-e the priests the 
 right ot hiiving political ()])inioiis and 
 expressing them, the right o( ajiproving, 
 or condemning public men an<l their ai:ls. 
 of tetiching the people what they believe 
 to be their duty '.' By what principle, 
 would the priests not have the right to 
 say tha.t were J elected, religion woubl 
 be in danger, when 1 luive (he right to 
 -say that if my adversary be electeil, the 
 state will be in danger? Why should the 
 priest not have the right of saying that 
 were 1 electetl, religion would infallibly 
 be destroyed, when I have the light of 
 saying that if my iidvers.sry bt^ elected 
 the state would go straight to bankruptcy. 
 N'o, let the priest speak and jircat-h as he 
 understands ; that i.s his right. No Ca- 
 nadian Liberal will ever deny him this 
 right. 
 
 Uur constitution invite.s every citi/en 
 to take part in the direction of public 
 latidirs; it makes excejjticn of in one. 
 j Each has the right not only of e.\iircssing 
 I his ojiinion, but of inlluencing. if ho can, 
 ■ l)y (?.\pre.-^sing his opinion, the ojiinions 
 j o[' his fell(jw-citi/.en». I'liis is every one's 
 I right : there is no reason why the prie.st 
 ' should not biive it. I am here to tay 
 1 what I think tiiid I add that I am far I'roui 
 tinilmg the intervention of the clergy 111 
 ' politic-, as e.>:eieiscd during the btnt tew 
 years, .-ibenelil. 1 Mi the contrary I think 
 i that the iirie.-.t wholly loses that re.,- 
 • jKH^t which is his tlue, in meddling with 
 Itheordinary (piestions of politiiss. Ilow- 
 j ever his right is incontestaltle, and if he 
 j choose to avail himself of it, our duty as 
 ' Liberals i-; to secure it to lam if con- 
 tested. 
 
 'J'his light, Imwtni'r, is not boundles.«. 
 We have not absolute rights. The right 
 of each man in our state of society 
 ceases when he trespasses on the rights 
 of other.s. 
 
 The rigid of intervening in politic-! 
 ends when trespa'sing on the rights of 
 the elector. 
 
 The constitution of this couidry is 
 ba.cci upon the freely e\-pre,ss(>.d Iboiiglit 
 of e.teh elei tiu'. The. cDiistilution in 
 teinl.T tli.it e:u.h t belor ilepo.-it hi.-, voli- 
 as freely end vuliintanly a.- Iih wi.-Iu-«,. It 
 
 \ 
 
■**!' 
 
 "IT 
 9. 
 
 -«""~~— ■ 
 
 the electors ol'a 0( 
 o).inioii'ati(J tluit \,y 
 or sovonil men, hj 
 I lieir writings', they o. 
 Miat i-: imtliin;; It'ut vvii. 
 It in well, it the opinic 
 he (liir.n'ent (mm what t. 
 lieM had no iiiterveiitioV 
 liowever, the opinion the 
 really what tliey wish to <' 
 which is according to their 
 the constitution is granted thi 
 application. It, however, notwii 
 these reasons, the opinion of tlu 
 remains the same, hut that by in^ 
 tion or fraud they be forced tr 
 against their belief then the const 
 IS violated. 'J"he constitution, a 
 already said, intends that the op; ' 
 eacli he freely expre.ssed as it isi coi 
 ed at the tune ol its e.xpression and 
 tlie collected result of their freely 
 jiressed opinions form the Covernine 
 of the country. 
 
 The law watches witii a jealous ev 
 whether the oj.inion of the elector b. 
 given as he holds it, but if in a county tli 
 opinion expressed by a single elector i 
 not his real opinion, but an opinio- 
 dragged from him through fear, fraud o 
 corruption, tiie election sh;ill be null. 
 
 It is perfectly permissible to cliaii"i 
 the oj.iiiion of an elector by reasouin; 
 and all other means of persuasion, bu 
 never by intimidation. In fact persua-ioi 
 changes the conviction of an elector- 
 intimidation does not. When by j.nrsua 
 Mon you have ch;inge<l the convic[io>i o( 
 an elector, the opinion is his own opinion, 
 — but when, through terror you force the 
 elector to vote, the opinion he epresses . 
 ■- your opinion ; remo»e the ause of 
 
 'Jliu- 
 
 lerror and he will express anoter 
 ion,— his own. 
 
 Now 
 
 ', we imagine, if the ^pressed 
 opinion of the mnjority be lot their 
 real ()i)mion, f)ut an opinion otaiiieil by 
 I land, menace or corruption the con- 
 slituti.in is viol-ited; you h.ve not the 
 government of the mnjorily, but of the 
 minr)rity. J\Ioreover, if sucl a state of 
 things lje coafinued and (opeated, if 
 after each election the opinbii expressed 
 be not the real opinion cC the country, 
 the constitution is a<.'ain violated, respon- 
 Hil)le government is bul a word, and 
 sooner or lal'M-, ben 
 [iiilsion will prodi)C( 
 ai,d ruin. 
 
 Ihittliere are those who any that the 
 cler-'v h-ive a iii-Jii („ ,|i,.|'ite to the i.eo- 
 
 as elMnvhere, com 
 exix'^ion, violence 
 
 Now to fully appreciate the value of 
 our present institutions, let us comjtare 
 our condition with what it was liel'ore 
 they were granted to us. 
 
 l'\)rty years ago the country was ex- 
 pariencing a feverish excitement, tlie 
 jirey of an agitatio:i whicli in a few 
 months later, culminated in insurrection, 
 Tha IJrilish Crown was uphold in tiie 
 country, l)ut by i)Owder and shot. And 
 whattlid they want? .Nothing else than 
 our present institutions ; these inslilu- 
 tion.s were granted and loyally applied 
 and you see the conse([ucnces ; the l]n- 
 glish (lag floats from tl.e ancient < 'ita lei 
 oft^ueiiec: it floats this evening .^'^ovt^ 
 our heads and yet tliete is not a single 
 English soldier in tho country to defend 
 it ; its sole defence is the consciousness 
 that we owe it tlie lilierty and security 
 we find umler it. 
 
 1 
 
 |W 
 
T 
 
 '* 
 
 12 
 
 x 
 
 
 / 
 
 " A lii voix i'.iiii|Mr, iiiix il iii'3 iiii)i,ns 
 '■<liii dii liriiii siir la iiciiu, dii fi'u ilnns lis prufiollrs 
 
 " A(jilr el in;irrliaiit a giaiiiU pas, 
 '■ So plail aiix iris (lu iioiijili^, aiix saiij,'laiitos iiiu'i'ia 
 
 " Anx li)iij{8 riinli'iiKMita ili's taiiilioiirs, 
 " A rotli'iir (li; la poiulro, aiix loiiitai^ics vokes 
 
 " l)cs clnclics ct ili'H canons sourds ; 
 " (^iii ni' jinnil sis amours ((nc daiia la iMipiilatc, 
 
 "(Jiii ni' ]ir("tci snn lar;,'(' llanc 
 ■' 'Jii'a dcs yens forts uoninic cllc', it iiiii viiit iin'iin 
 
 I'cinlu'iias" 
 
 '• Avi'c di'8 liias roii;L;L' do sang. 
 
 WoiP liberty sucli a vir.igo, I could 
 uinl(M'stan(l the anatlicmas of oiir iulver- 
 s.iiios an, I 1 would bo tlie lirst to join 
 llic'in. But Uiis is not liUcity. An J'^n^- 
 lisb iioft, 'reiinyson, sings n\' iiboity. In 
 Ins poiin " In Mcnioii.'un,"' Tennyson 
 icjilics to a iViend who iisks liini why lie 
 does not search in toutiiern isles a niil<l- 
 ei- cliniato, and why, notwithstanding his 
 lioof health, he jiersisls in remaining 
 under the ioggy sky of England. The 
 
 to prevent the cV^^ci't'?'!) en daved, hii 
 and sending they'll w.^ can lieiieve tint 
 In the nanu'i wa-; a v.vy of despair, 
 the name of otlier hand, heaven had 
 the asscrti-"- veil of the future to be 
 would the e their e.xpiring vision, if 
 priests th«milted them, before their 
 atlairs? forever, to i)eiietrate the un- 
 friends r they eould have seen their 
 right clit'C and happy, the foremost 
 e.\prestnks of society ; if they could 
 orcoiiPn in the ancient cathedral the 
 of tev honor of the French governoii 
 to 'ic'd by a French (Jovernor. i 
 wy eould have seen the spires o 
 jiurches piercing the azure in ever 
 llley from the waters ol' (iaspi- to the 
 Hiiiis of Ueil liiver : if they could have 
 (t-ii this old flag which reminds us of 
 .leir greatest victory triumphantly borne 
 
 poet replies to his friend that he docsiu all our public ceremonies ; finally, if 
 not wish to leave England because 
 
 1, 
 
 '' It istlip land tliiit frci'ini'ii till, 
 'I'iiat soht'i*- sititi-d Krecdoin cliost,', 
 Till land, wlicrc ^ii't Willi Crioiids or I', it 
 A man may spi'ali tlic tliiiiij lie will; 
 " A laud of acltli'd Rriverninciit, 
 .\ land ofjust and old luiiown, 
 Wlii'rr Kii'i'dom bmailons siowh' dev.n, 
 I'roiii iiiL'i'i'dcnt to p.ecrdt'nt : 
 
 " W'lii'i'i' faction seldom Railiors lioad 
 lint liy dcgi-ccs to fallncss wroiiulit, 
 'I'lii' sti'ciM.tth of sonic diri'iislvc tl'oiij;lit 
 llatli time and sii icc to work and spread 
 
 ;--uch is the liberty we enjoy, suojs-; 
 tin; liberty which we defeiui, ttiid wh 
 our adver-aries att.ack without uu( 
 standing il, even while enjoying 
 benelil-. lean l'iapti>to Jiousseau in 
 of his ode.-, speaka of a barbarou.i tr 
 who, one day, in a inouic-nt of iiur.in 
 >-'- '~'i„ i.i^uU£iithe.hun by their n 
 
 they could iiave seen our IVee institutions, 
 may we not l)elieve that their last Ijiealh 
 was softened to a luurimn' ol' thanks to 
 heaven, an I that in dying they were cun 
 soled. 
 
 If the shailes of those heroes yet move 
 
 about this olil city for which they dii-d. 
 
 and if they are on this eveniii'; in this 
 
 t hall, we liberals miy believe, at least we 
 
 have the dear illusion, that their sym- 
 ])ithies are entirely with us ! 
 
 WiLKKK!) i.\ri;ii;i;. 
 
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