s^. ^ ^ *^*% IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) />.*^!^ k^ 4^ 4^ 1.0 I.I lii|21 125 Ml ^B^^ |20 '''!■ 1 s ii4 !'•* < 6" ► v^ (? / I^tographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STMIT WIKTIt.N.Y. 14SM (716)«72-4503 A* *"^ ,V .^I^ V^^; ^ 4^ o CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CiHIVi/ICJVIH de Canadian Institute for Historical IMicroraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notaa tachniquas at bibliographiquaa Tha Initituta has attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy avaiiabia for filming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagas in tha reproduction, or which may significantly changa tha usual method of filming, are checked below. Coloured covera/ Couverture de couleur r~n Covers damaged/ D D D D D D Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^ at/ou peliiculte I — I Cover title missing/ La titre de couverture manque Coloured mapa/ Cartea giographiquaa en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other then blue or black)/ Encra da couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) r~~] Coloured platea and/or illuatrations/ D Planchea at/ou illuatrationa an couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avac d'autrea documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion l« long da la marga intiriaura Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutiea lore d'une restauration apparaiaaant dana la taxte. mais, lorsqua cela Atait possible, ces pagea n'ont pas «t« film«aa. Additional comments:/ Commentairas supplimantaires: L'Institut a microfilmi la meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les ditails de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-4tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent axiger una modification dans la mithoda normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pagea D Pagea da couleur Pagaa damaged/ Pages endommagias Pages restored and/oi Pagaa restauries at/ou pellicultes Psges discoloured, stained or foxei Pages dAcolories, tachetAes ou piquAes Pages detached/ Pages ditachias Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prin QualitA inigala de {'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du material suppl4mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Mition disponible |~~| Pagaa damaged/ p~| Pages restored and/or laminated/ r~? Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ r~~\ Pages detached/ ry| Showthrough/ |~n Quality of print varies/ nn Includes supplementary material/ |~~| Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Lea pages totalament ou partiellement obscurcies par un fauillet d'errata, une pelure. etc., ont M filmies A nouveau de fapon i obtanir la meilleure image possible. This item Is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X MX 28X 32X Th« copy filmatf hurm has b««n raproduead ttMnks to th« a«n«roaity o#: Dapartmtnt of Rara Books md SpMial CollMtkMW, MoQill UnivanHy, Montml. quality lagibility tha Tha imaflaa appaaring h poaaitala cofMidaring tha eondMon of ttM original eopy and in kaaping filming contraet apadficationa. L'axamplaira filmi fut raproduit grioa i la g4n4roaiti da: < Dapartimnt of Rara Books and Spwial Collacttons, IMoGill Univmrsity, Montraal. L^a imagaa suivantaa ont 4ti raproduitaa avac la plua grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da I'axampiaira fiim4. at an conformitA avae laa condltiona du contrat da fUmayc. Original copiaa in printad papar covara aia fNmad iMginning with tha front eovar and anding on tha laat paga vwith a printad or liluatratad impraa- •ion. or tha liaek eovar whan appropriata. All othor original c o p i aa ara fHmad iMginnIng on tha firat paga with a printad or iiluatratad impraa- •ion, and anding on tho laat paga with a printad or iiluatratad impraaaion. Laa axampiairaa originaux dont la couvartura on papiar aat imprimda aont filmia an common^nt par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darn H ra paga qui comporto uno omprainta dimpraaaion ou dliluatration, soit par la aacond plat, aalon ia eas. Toua laa autroo axamplairoa originaux aont filmte on eommon^nt par la pramlAm paga qui comporto uno omprainta dimpraaaion ou dlNustration ot on torminant par ia dami^ra paga qui comporto uno toilo Tho laat racordod frama on oach mieroflcho shall contain tha symhol — ^^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tho symbol ▼ (moaning "END"), whichovor appliaa. Un daa symboloa suhranta apparaltra sur la damlAro imaga da ehaqua mieroflcho, solon lo caa: la symbolo -^ signiflo "A SUiVRE". lo symbola ▼ signifia "PIN". Mapa, plataa. charta. ate., may bo fNmod at diffarant reduction ratioa. Thoeo too large to bo ontiraly ineiuded in one expoeure ara filmed iMginning in the upper left hend comer, left to rigiit and top to bottom, aa many framee aa required. The foUowkig diagrama ilhiatrate the method: planehee. tabieeux. etc.. pauvont Atre fHmde i dee taux da rMuedon diffArents. Loraque lo doeumont aat trap grand pour Atre reproduit on un soul cllcliA. ii oat film* i partir da i'angle supdrieur gauche, do gauelie k droite. et do heut en l»ee. en prenent lo nombre dlmegoe ndceaaaira. i.aa diagrammes suivants INuatrant ia mithode. i % ' ■ t : ■ f § 1 2 3 4 5 6 ''M 'Box A. ,9'!- ./it' ■,.4 Revised from the Ottawa Dally Free Press, Saturday, July 8th, 1899, A RESUME A^TD SUGGESTION. Sif / <£. S. 0' Manly. OTTAWA : C. W. Mitchell, Printer, Elgin Street. Revise A Revised from the Ottawa Daily Free Press, Saturday, July 8th, 1899. A RESUME AND SUGGESTION ^y / ^. ^- 0' Manly. OTTAWA : j : C. W. Mitchell, Printer, Elgiv Street ^ ■.If 'if ^ -y ^ u»»^ -^vj-.i* ,.J -1* ,..' . ;!'/•.// PREFACE. The subjoined communication was submitted for publication in the first week of March. The intention had been to have it inserted about the time of meeting of the legislature The object was to invite discussion on reforms of popular representation — the time for holding general elections fixed — the date for meeting of parliament fixed — vacancies in both branches of the legislature promptly filled — appointment o* returning officers — suppression of bribery at elections - reform of the Senate. Unluckily business exigencies clashed with this arrangement, and its publication has been unavoidably delayed. The Author. Jtevited .from the Ottawa Daily Free PrtM, Saturday, July S, 1899. A BESDME AND SUGBESTION. ',■.■;•; . Editor Free PiesB :— The ralBon d'etre of a Liberal goverumeut Is to be found In the reform of abuses lu the body politic with the least possi- ble delay. If this be not its mission, then is it a fraud, a fungus, an excr- escence, an abortion, to be extirpated. Nothing to Reform, Eh ! Is there naught to reform V Has Tory rule In the post been so benefi- cent as to have left to Its fortunato successors nothing to reform, nnuffht to redress ? If this could be an- swered! lu the affirmative, then s "Tory" rule the best, the most perfect the world has ever witnessed. If such be its record, what can be tliought of those who have character- ized It as corrupt, extravagant, scan- dalous, perfidious ? Their rightful place would be in the first mnk of moral assassins. In the van of public traitors, enemies of the people, of or- der, of progress, of good government. Can it truthfully be affirmed that the Conservative government bequeathed to Its successors a clean slate, with nothing to do but picnic ? Assuredly not. For my port I believe every count in the Liberal indictment, and f erring at all. It errs on the side of mercy. Did I believe that the Con- servative" administration was the friend and patron of good govern- ment, it would always have com- manded my support and confldeno. The rnrty wliicli gave, and next best, the larty AAlilch promised, good gov- ernment, has ever been my iMirty, re- gardless of names or shiboleths. I have been an opponent of the Con- servative party from a conviction, rightly or wrongly formed', that the prlneiirfes and policy of the Conserv.'i- tive fcovernmemt have been inimlol to the best Interests of the country. and the welfare of the iicople. I 1m>. lieve that not only dJd they leave un- touched a wide field for improvement, but that every day of their tenure added fresh thorns and thistles to the small patch cleared and cultivated. My earnest wish is that this govern- ment will live up to the orthodox- standard of democratic principles. This would doubly please me, for it would be a complete vindication of my life's aim and the maxims which it inculcated, while recreancy would Inevitiibly break into "smithereens" all my idols. Modern Reformers. The Irish are pre-eminently the great reformers of modern times. In- dilvldnally and collectively they make more sacrifices at the shrine of re- form than any other people. The ab- normal growth of this striking virtue Is an accidens of the Irish situation. The Avi-etched system which has been Impobed upon that people by the re- lentless law of might, and which Is only susceptible of q^e kind of refor- matkMi — tearing it up root and branch — has inherently and intuitively built up a race of reformers wherever ou the fnce of tlio e their lot is cast. This national charactertstic is well cimii>li;. sized and aptly Illustrated In the familiar expression. "Pat is agin' the government anyhow," gov- ernments being credited with moving too slowly for "Pat's" sanguine na- ture. All their literature tends In this direction. It Is a cardinal doctrine, a fundamental principle, In their politi- cal and economic ethics— to Ignore self, to put the public good before all earthly considerations. An Apt Illustrailon. I myself am a living wt!ness of its truth, 8 living example of Its streog'th. n Since my lU-hut, m-arl.v 4."» yrarH uku, ou till' Htoniiy wav«'s of itolitlcH. I ilUVC Hllfllt 10 in OltpuMitio^II, ill vuluii- t«i*y t'Xlle, III llu,' (N'st'ft. wliilc every Iit>i'H(>r.uI, (iolti»li iutei'<>8t whi&iM'red, "Juiiip on." "Umbaniue." «ir Suud- ford Fleming, no mi>an authoiity.hoUls taut to the doctrine that an en^iiieiT should not touch i>ulities with a forty foot i)ole. No doubt, m a wordly sense, he Is right. lOither thmt or "run with the hare and bunt with the hounds." In all these long years 1 have IfVed in u locality where Sir John MacDonold truly salU, "A CJrit could not be elected pound- keeper in Ottawa." Ottawa had long been a temple and shrino dedicated to the patron guddes!> of Toryism. None could enter wltli- out cleansing and absolution, ever- more renouncing and denouncing Lib- eral Iteresles. If St. Paul, or an angel, aye Clirist Uiniself, «-anie again on I'arth. and made Ottawa headquarters, should he develop any Liberal lean- ings, he would not only lie unpopular. Init slandered, ma- ligned, a.ve — crudtled. Itather thtui forego my convictions I have been resigned to submit to jwverty. Yes, I have been resigned fo submit to what is infinitely more galling to a proud and sensitive nature- niulicious abuse, slander, calumny, wilful vilii- fitration, deliberate misreprc-entatiin. But throughout tlie whole unenviable ordeal I have held an erect lu'ad, jiu eye flashing eontempt on my tm- ducers, a? became a man of high idealH. A Band of :Mo«i1 Assassins. There is today in this twwn a baul of n'oral assassins, w'ho ujaUe it their spei-ial mission to go round but- ton-holing strangers, warning them to beware of that "disreputable fellow, O'Hanly, to Avhom no re8pectablo,per- Kon would \^e seen talkiujn " Thi'y have been iMirtlcularly active in ])ly- ing their vile trade since the advent to power of the "(Jrits." They re- alize that a man of my integrity, a man of my ability, standing In the very froint rank of the civil engineer- ing profession in British North Amer- ica, a man of my disinterestedness, a man of my tidelity. under circum- stancos the most trying an-i tempting Which have ever eiuisplred to lure and alienate a human iM'ing from his poli- tical allegiance, should have soino say in the couih-IIs of a imrty he liJS done so much to build up. Tiiey hope by siicli disreputable tactico to frus- trate a ju»t rei'ogaitiOD of 8Ucb saerl- tlces and eminent servlc«»8. They know that 1 am too proaid to cniwl, fawn or flatter, or stoop to the meth- ods of the time-servers. Tliey know that the man has yet to be born after whom 1 would run. iug Ikh'II a ipersona grata wigwam, they fives in, re»t NVver bav- in the Tory could, with Conserva* on their oars. Yet these vile creatures would be highly honored in being permitted to *'sbiue my boots." ,^ , , , „ Tile late Hon. IMalcoIm Cameron, than whom Canada has not produced a nobler, a purer or better son. used to tell a quaint story of my detrac- tors, and their name is legion. I will give It in his own words, as neur as I can : "A few wtH'ks ago In tlw round room of the Russell, I sat b(>- side two men in earuest conversation. One was a stranger. I could discern tliat the conversation was about yoU, and listened. My vis a vis was draw- ing a vocal sketch of your biography. Afitor a while I dipped in my padd)(> and said : 'Mr. Smith. I couldn't but overhear your conversation. Will you tell me something that O'Hanly has said or done, which a resiwctabb' clti/eii oughtn't to say or do ?' He scratched his h(>ad. looked wise and pondtred. He was evidently non- plussed at my «iuery. At length he said : 'He applied to the late John Egtiii for a situation : — and that is his great crime, eh- Mr. Smith, you ought to be ashamed of vourself. de- liberately robbing an Innocent man of his chanicter and bearing false wit- ness against yo«r neighbor. I have heard others talk like you. I put the same (|iiestion to tliein. and their an- swers liave l>een just as p'Uerlle, just as frivolous as yours. O'Hianly's great crime is. and you know It, and bis other Tory defamers know it too — he is a staunch Liberal, an uncom- proiuising Radical whom Tory gold can't buy. He can't lx» had. and the urt' nud he ViJH ,«y hoi>« to friiH- rli HacrJ- Thoy cmwl. le meth- jy know be l*orn sVLT llttV- llie Tory Jonservu- ■8. Yet k; blKUly to ''sliim? Ciuneron. produced son. used ly dt'tmc- giou. I s. as neni" t^o In tlw I sat Iw- versatlon. Id discern bout you. svas draw- [)logmph.v. ny paddlP uldn't but Will yo" laniy li»« Slice tablt' o r ii« wise and mtly non- lengtb li« ate Jolni Imt is bis puiith. you jvivsi'lf. di'- nt man of false wit- I bavo I put the their an- uei'ile, just 0'H«uly'« low it, and ow it too— an nnoom- Tory gold id. and tbe Tofie;- In chorus siiout 'mod diojr,' 'Monr ijrapes.' But If he Joined t'lie Tory fold lie would be the wliite- headed boy, llk« Me*}^©, whom tlw'y rnbnsed so nnmercifully, but soon as lie Joinwl! I'liem. they not only ab- solve.l his sins, but ennonixed hliii. and is today one of the great saints in tho Tory nilendar, aft*»r wlioni tliey name tlieir iwms. So would It !h» wllb O'Hunly.'" Those Statues. If Canada is to renr nionunieuls in commemoration of the virtues of her illustrious dead, then should Malcolm (^raeron's lie in the front rank. His humanity was boundlesH as simico, constant as the seasons, tireless us Uio tide. In every attribute which adorns a human lielng and elevates lilm above the brute creation, lie was as superior to eltJier Oirtier or Maerior la brilliancy and illu- minating power to tlie rude dip of a iMrbnrous community. True enough, an immigrant boy, I applied to Mr. Bgan for employment, and as was his wont, he treated me with greot kindness. Indeed, he talked to me more like a fatlier than a stmnger, giving me fully an horn's audience and advice. Am I the only Lilteral whom the Tory press, Tory spouters and Tory heelers have abused ? Assuredly nor. My tradlicers have had the happy knack of two strings to tlielr bo\v. In the Catholic Tory camp, I have l»een represented as a "free iliinker." and "a disciple of (Jeorge Brown and Tlie GIo(l>e, the enemy of our race and the reviler of our lioly religion." In the Orange Tory wigwam, on tlie oih posite side of the street, I liave Ixen pictured os a l>igot and a fanatic, who would glory in leading heretics l»y a halter up to the pyre for sacri- fices, and smack his lips with grue- some glee wthlle applying a match to the fagot. Well. I have always tried to do my own tihinking. such as it is. I For file cure of souls, I liave no mis- [ sion ; it never costs me a thought. I tlin as Indifferent aibout tlie religion tftf my neighlwr as is a team's otf steed labout the nigih one's creed. For the very good renson tliat it Is none of my biisiuetiK. No child of mine ever luvird me make an invidious distinc- tion iKHTiuse of religion. I try to Judge every i mil vidua I by his deeiln, and if I liave no data I susiieud judgment. This narrative Is strictly in keeping with the nefarious conduct of my traducers. In vain have I chal- lengee if my calumniators speitk tnily, seeing that I liave continuous- ly resided in this town for nearly 45 years. Cheerfully would they re- spond, nor would they wait an Invi- tation, could they but'locate even one burnt hole in my coat. How many of the vile brood durst call for a like scrutiny ? Marvel not If the fierce fusilttde have left some scars, some lilack marks. "Where much mud' is turown some is sure to stick." What a Half Cen'tury Brought Forth. Much has been accomplished In my time, bii't much still remain^s undone. (I) Thanks to the brave friends of reform, the franchise has received a wJdeen in the van of the battle for tl'e IwJlot, when It was treason to espouse it and political death to die- fend, "A practice un-British* and un- manly, a spawn of Yankeedom." With liareti liend I knelt at the cradle of tile newly l)oni Messjige. This much have I sc!en acconiplislied in the cause of popular lilvei-'ty, atlding my mite l>y voice, by pen. l>y example. But it is only a beginuiing In the grea/t field of reform. The representation of the people is still in a most unsat- isfactory condition. Indeed; repre- sen'ta.tion today is little better than a farce, a pantomitne to amuse adoles- cent oliildren. A free people should Ikj exceediingly jealous of any en- croachments, open or covert, on their 8 liibei'e much hotter to sadile each constituency witli tlie coftt of its election, after the fashion of municipal election's, wilh the date fixed. 2.— M^itilng of Legislature fixed. The time for the meeting of parlia- meant should be fixedl and inviolate as a decree of fttte. This should, of course, be the time of the year most convenient for the transaction of pub- lic business. lit should not bo later than the last Tuesday of Novemiber or the first in December. Then navi- gation is close ' '\nd with it the active season, esi)ecluiiy for outdoor pur- suits. The pi»teHce for chamgang the fiscal year from the end of Decemiber to June was* to facilitate the early assembling of parliament. Govern- ments are proverbially eager for short session*,. A short session relieves them of much embarrassment, of ori- ticisan and ensorship. Better srtill, no session at all. If memory serves, thus has it been tersely put from the oT>position benches. Then, if the gov- ernment desirf^d a short sessiion, let Its programme b ready cut and di'y. The practice har hitherto been to waste the first hf f of the session in idle- ness and f) rollty, and the remaining half in r Bacchanalian rush, with iegislntioD io crude as to be a dls- graice to ae statute book. There Is thus .en on obvious motive. The n suggesting oppo- sition to the ex-member would be look- ed upon as a fit subjeict for an insane asylum* Tet, in a small constituency he was so badly licked that he scarcely knew whether he i^tood on bead or heels. I wanted an honest election and let the best horse win. I knew ' that hitherto such a thing was a rare avis. ... ' My duty consisted in thwarting and checkmating frauds of long standing, and did it so effectually that they hardly knew what happened them. Had the former returning officer been selected; the election would assuredly have gone- by acclamation. That was the effect of appointing one special returning of- ficer. Multiply it by 213, and! you may realize the extent and peril of the power which the government wields in the appointment of return- ing officers. Bribery at Elections. Is it not high time that the govern- ment set about checking, if not wholly preventing, the demoralizing effect of bribery at elections. Tell me not that it cannot be stopped. The "horse marines" may believe that yarn. The government can, if it desire to, and gc 10 ttte right way about it, effectually stop it "as easy as rolling off a log." I iwiU diagnose it and give you .he pre- scription, and if you follow the direc- ttions the malady will be rapidly and efficaciously checked and the patient soon on his pins again, (a) Prohibit, •under pain of disqualification for the life of that parliament, soiiciiting votes by candidate or authorized agent, leither by house to house canvass, cas- ual meeting or public assembly. (b) Xiet the only modes of communication between candidate and electorate oe printed address through the post office or other channels of distribution, and by speech from public platform. (c) Jifake it a penal offence of at least one lyear's imprisonment and perpetual dis- qualiflcation and loss of franchise for .him who offers and for him who accepts a bribe; and let the offence comprise a minister or candidate who directly or indirectly attempts to bribe a whole constituency by holding forth a temp- tation of reward or favor for electing a supporter of the government, and disfranchise the constituency for the term of at least the four ensuing par- liaments, (d) Any member convicted of having accepted a "saw-off" peni- tentiary for two years; and any mem- ber or other elector proposing a "saw- on penitentiary for one year, together with perpetual disqualification and de- privation of franchise in both cases. These penalties may sound drastic, but "desperate diseases demand powerful medicines." They will be effectual, I promise. Once known to be on the sta- tute book these offences will be given a wide berth. With the peril so im- niinent none will be foolhardy enough to court certain disaster. Try it. Here again my contention is streng- thened by what has been brought to light In certain election trials. Senate Reform. In .the great Reform convention of 1867 I entered a vigorous protest aga- inst the mode of selecting the Senate, particularly the "life" phase. I was su'bsequ'ently informed my remarks wiere far from palatable to the politl- ciaiji^, but I had the grim satisfaction of ^ftying been endprsed and lustily ap- plauded hy the rank ai^4 ^^P- ^very setjf^nc.e struck.^ a [ respoiisiye . chord,; Any reform of the Senate to be perma nent or satisfactory must eliminate the life- term. Life legislators are not in harmony with this age, and they will be still less so in the near future. John Stuart Mill says that half-measures never give satisfaction, and universal experience' seems to bear him out. Six yearn seem long enough, but ten should be the max. With a time limit of service fixed, it strikes me that a com- promise might be struck between the advocates of Dominion control and, provinicial. Let one-half of the Sena- tors for each province be chosen by the local government and the other moiety by the' Dominion government. Should the local government fail or neglect to fill a vacancy occurring in its half within one month, the appoint- ing power shall be transferred to the federal government. On the' contrary, should the federal government fail or neglect to fill any vacancy occurring in its moiety within a month, the ap- pointing power shall 'be vested in the local government in whose province the vacancy exists. Should both go- vernments fail or neglect to fill the vacancy within two months after its occurring, the appointing power sha'l absolutely lapje, and the number of Senators for such province shall be per- manently reduced. Had this practice prevailed during the last 27 years, half of Ontario's Se- nators today would be of the Liberal profession. Nor would the difference in any of the other provinces be very strik- ing or serious. Perhaps however, that it is well. The one-handled character is so con'sipicuous uuu im- pressive thnt none can fail to realize it. The Catholics. The Catholic minority, in the several provinces, would'— or should offer a firm opposition to the purely elective mode of choosing unless guar^meed a share of the represenitiation propor- tional to their numl>era in each prov- ince. In Upper Oaaiad perma nate the e not m ;hey will ire. John (neaeurea iinlverBal out- Six m should limit of It a com- ween the itrol and, the Sena- hosen by le other irernment. at fall or jrring in i appoint- ed to the ■ contrary, nt fall or occurring h, the ap- ted in the ( province i both go- fill the 1 after its ower sha'.l number of xall be per- led during itarlo's Sfc- :he Liberal m any very atrik- however. me-handled s alio im- ealize it. • the several Id offer a ely elective guar«Miie*Kl Ion propor- 'each prov- antecedent >lillcB had not mg the elec- Ontarlo out one Ca- ■c had seven It ie not improbable that under an «lectlve system, they would be no better off today. The result is, per- haps, more the effect of relative wealth than innate bigotry. Under the nominative eysitem the Ontario minority has not only been justly but .generously treated. If the Caitholioa claimed their "pound of flesh," all they could ask would be four, ithey have been given six. The Catholics of the liSaritime Prov- inces are not likely to forget the les- son taught them at Oonfedieratum. They had any amount of promises but nothing in "black on white," where on- ly iit availed them— 'the statute book. So when their school diflFioulties had «ril9en, they discovered that they had been left, and that "promises li'ke pie- crusts, are' made to be broken." In any rearrangement of the Senate, it is hardly likely that the minority will, on the prinolpe of a burned child, dreads the Are," forget the lesson .taught or the precedent set In provld ing protection for the Irish minority, in the evemt of "Home Rule." becoming law. The Senate should choose Its town president. Whatever curtails pat- [ronage broadens liberty. The Departments. Then the deipartmentis of the public service, badly need oveirha.uling. For corruption and incapacity there is lothing In the world's recent annals comparable to the construction depart- lenits, (railways and canals and public rorks) of this government. Going back JO farther than confederation, it may >nfldenitly be afllrmed. that not less than 60 million dollars, have been Squandered on construction, over and Ibove the value, for which there Is >ot a dollar's worth of return, and irhith might, for public benefit, as well »ave been thrown Inito the St. Law - >nce. Think on it. Sijcty millions rould build and equip th*ree thousand liles of railroad, from Ottawa to I>aw- son (Klondike.) Indeed every depart- ment in the public service needs reju- venation, complete shaking up from the bottom. It is gratiCytag to be able to bear testimony that two of the departments, the justice and post of- flce, ane awake to the claims of re- form. The poBtmoster general i» making laudable effocts to put his department on a sound basis. Mr. Mulock deserves thie thanks of every Liberal for tne bold, manly and coura- geous stand he has taken in grappling with this vexed and delicate question; and he will have bis reward in the esteem of all true Liberals. As for Mr. Miills, he is Imstinotiveliy a He- former. To be aught but a Reform- er he would have to be bom otuew, But unluckily the field for reform in these departments is very i«Btriot- ed. The conHtruction departments are those in which great reform* could proflitably and leflicienUy be introduc- ed. I doubt not that, without stin- ting or cheese-paring, Mr. Mulock at the head of the consfaruotion depart- ments would in a few years save the tax-payers twenty millions. That is a prize well wortlb trying for. I know whereof I speak. I must cry halt. >Bnough for one sefiisCon's programme, has already however, dmiperfiectly, been sketched, "SufBclenit for the day te the evil thereof." The government, it is to be hoped, will not let the ''olden op- portunity slip. Liberals are prone to judge their stewards by their deeds. When the day of reck- oning, and it Is not fiar off, comes, there will be little mercy for the servant who burled his talent In the ground, and still leas for him who squandered his in Idleness, riot and frivolity Off laM human affairs government Is the most serious. J. L. P. 0'H./aNLT. Ottawa, March, 1899.