TF QUEBEC BAST

cm ED OY ECS Se

DELIVERED BY

J. J. CURRAN, Q. 6.

TO THE

ENGLISH SPEAKING ELECTORS

QUEBEC Bast

Epitomized from the Stenographic Report of MR. E. *. DUGGAN

QUEBEG yf" 2 |! 1877 med.

QUEBEC Basr

ADDRESS DELIVERED

BY

J.J. CURRAN, Q. CG.

TO THE

ENGLISH SPEAKING ELECTORS OF QUEBEC EAST,

Mr, CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN.

| have already had the pleasure and the honour of’ addressing more than one meeting of the English Speaking electors of Quebec East since the opening of the present contest, and at those different meetings, have covered the principal grounds involved in the present issue. But, gentlemen, we were exceedin gly anxious, to bring together the whole of the English speaking people of this district who would respond to the call of the friends and suppor- ters of Mr. Tourangeau (loud cheers), and this magnificent demonstration composed of hundreds of the English speaking electors of the Division is the beautiful and generous response that has been made to the appeal of Mr. Tourangeau that his friends should make one grand rally in his behalf. (Immense cheering.)

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A few evenings ago, I promised you that I should take an early opportunity of dealing perhapsa little more fully with the political questions of the day, than I had done at any previous meeting. (‘‘ That’s the talk.”)

Whilst thanking you for the gratifying reception which you have given me, of which any man in this country, no matter his age, position, or name ought to feel proud, and of which I feel even more than proud (loud cheers)-—I have, gentlemen, to request your attention that I feel sure you will give me though my remarks should be addressed to subjects other than those which

are most exclusively interesting to the Irish electors of

this secticn of Quebec city (hear hear.)

You ail know that for twenty years the old conservative party held the reins of power in this Canada of ours (‘‘ hear, hear, and they’ll do so again.”’) During all that time we continually heard the unceasing cry from the Opposition of the day,—the self-styled liberals,—that we were a set of corruptionists ; that the Conservative party was a corrupt party, who retained control and managed. the affairs of the country through bribery and corruption, - driving this country to ruin and degradation, (‘“ shame ! shame!”) Well, after this had been their cry during their twenty years in opposition—after they had combat- ted our leaders and succeeded in arousing suspicion in the minds of the people—they at length succeeded, one fine day, in obtaining the reins of power, and then became the government of the country (‘‘ Yes, bad luck to them !”)

I do not propose to go very deeply or extensively into the measures that were carried through by Mr. Cartier— MacDonald or the MacDonald-Cartier administration, but I will say one thing now, before going further—one thing which, I doubt not, will strike home to every workingman in this meeting (and I believe this meeting to be composed nine-tenths of workingmen)—that, during the adminis- tration of that conservative government until the last year of the reign of the party, it was not a question with the working-man, whether he conld get aday’s work, or

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whether he could earn a loaf of bread, or his food, or clothing, but it was a question with him, throughout tie length and breadth of the land, as to how many hours a day he would consent to work. (cheers.) What is the state of affairs now ? The so called Liberals, the Rouges, the Reformers, the Purists as they pharisacally style themselves obtained power, I need not say by what means.

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A voice from the crowd, * By stealing letters. ’

You know that nothing was sacred to these men. The post-oflices of the country were not even secure against them and their agents; the Post-office of the City of Montreal was rifled of a letter written by Sir John A. Macdonald to Mr. Pope. (‘‘ Shame! Shame!”) That letter tell into the hands of the Hon. John Young (“ an old fraud”) : a caucus of liberals, composed of the leading members of our original reform party, was held to deter- mine whether they should act as gentlemen and return to its rightful owner the letter which had surreptitiously come into their possession, or publish it to the world and at the same time announce their own dishonesty. (Hear, hear.) They decided to publish it. I need not go into the history of the Pacific Scandal, nor into the acts of those who originated that scandal (“ No! No!’’) You know that, whatever be the verdict of history on that question, at all events, the Hon. Lucius Seth Huntington who was found in possesssion of documents and letters which did not belong to him—letters stolen out of private offices by bribed secretaries—whatever I say may be the verdict of posterity,--one thing is certain—the name of the Hon. Lucius Seth Huntington will go down to pos- terity covered with infamy, as the perpetraior of these outrages. (Voices “ A nice postmaster general be! whose letters are now safe ?”’) Well this party came into power; but before they had reached the goal of their ambition, they had met in solemn council, and had determined upon what was to be the platform of their party (‘* Yet they've got no platform.”) They made promises of every description, and amonyst those promises was that

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we should have protection for our native industries. Hon. Mr. Laurier, the present Government candidate, was prominent in the Parti-National, and, as a member of of that party,adopted Protection as the main plank of his and their political platform ; (‘ What is his platform now.?”) When he was returned to the Local House for the Pravince of Quebec, for the Counties of Drummond and Arthabaska, although that House had no power over the tariff, Mr. Laurier was so full of the idea ot the absolute necessity of protection, that he one day consumed three piecious hours of the time of the House, making a tremendous speech against a government that had no power to settle the question. (Hear! hear!) They have taken Mr. Cartwright into the government, who was refused the portfolio of Minister of Finance by Sir John A. MacDonald (“ Served him right!”) What was the consequence? He (Mr. Cartwright) immediately inaugu- rated, not a protection policy, but one of uncompromising freo-trade ; they have adhered to this free-trade. policy through thick and thin ; nevertheless, whenever this prin- ciple came into collision with the views of a people whose votes they desired to secure they were protectionists. According to the constituency they were free-traders to the mast-head or protectionists as best suited them. At Montreal, they gammoned some manufacturer, and sent Mr. Thomas Workman to gammon the country with false promises as to what would be done for the people by this hermaphrodite government. When, however, they were appealed to in the House to pass laws that would he beneficial to our newly established manu- facturing industries—that would be the means of provid- ing work for those who had been thrown out of employ- ment by this want of protection, they said that protection would have no more to do with bringing back prosperity than would a fly upon the wheel (“Shame!”) To this Sir John Macdonald replied, “If that is the case, the people who are paying thousands and thousands of dollars to you, are paying very dear for the ily.” I need not, in addressing an audience of this kind, in Quebec — where every thing is paralysed under the effect of this free-trade policy,—where you, the operatives,are working

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at starvation wages—I need not, after the remarks of the chairman, who has shown what have been the effects of the policy of this government, go further in this question (“No! No! but please God we won't have it much_ longer.”) But I do tell you citizens of Quebec that if you will only go along the banks of the Lachine Canal in the City of Montreal, where, a few years ago, the sound of the anvil and the hum of the steam-engine were heard on every side, when manufacturing establishments were at work on every side,—where you wouid have seen three or four hundred heads of families engaged in the sugar refinery of Mr. Redpath, you will find to-day the stillness of death, where prosperity and activity were every where manifest only a few years ago; you will now dleatty perceive what has been the effect of the policy of the present government upon the entire working class and upon those who employed them (‘ Sname! Shame !”’) Although in Drummond and Arthabaska, Hon. M. Laurier and his friends, in stumping the county, affirmed that for country interests, protection was ruin, they come here to-day, to the city of Quebec and claim a verdict from you as full blown protectionists (‘‘ Never! Never !!”)

They have told you, gentlemen, that the old government Was an extravagant government ; that it was leading the country to ruin and to decay ; that under it there were too many ministers of the Crown’; and too many public employees. “ Only give us one chance, ’’ they said, “ and we will show you what we can do.’’ In showing you what they have done, I shall not say any thing, to night, that you are not eye-witnesses of, yourselves, without giving you the facts and figures, to carry out any argu- ments to the fullest extent (hear! hear!) I shall quote from the speech of Hon. D. L. Macpherson (one of the leading and indeed most experienced members of the Senate) delivered in the session of 1877,.a few figures to show you exactly what the progress of this country has been under its present government. I shall show you what we owe this government, and what they have done for us, ina very short time. The following statement shows the increase of expenditure’ charged to the Conso-

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lidated Vund for 1875 and.1876 over 1878, under its appropriate heads.—-The. increase of 1876) over 1873 was $2,960,336 ; the inerease of 1876 over 1875 was $717,062 ; and the inerease of 1876.over, 1873 was $3,677, - 398, Such was the result of the retrenchment policy of this great Reform Government. These figures: were given in the Senate, with the Hon. Mr. Scott present to chailenge every statement, made.. What'do we find upon one item of expenditure, the adminisiration of Justice ? That the total expenditure on the administration. of Justice in 1878 was, $398,966 ; in 1875, not $392,000, but $497,000, an increase of $ .00,000 in,one year ; in 1876; not $398,000, as in, 1873, but $544,091. This, gentlemen, upon one branch of the service alone and with no greater efficiency, (hear ! hear !) We have, however still. further evidence, of the extravagance of the present; government. . In, the Oustoms, Department, we find. in 1878, that, the, total expenditure was $676,675 for collections.in this country. ; in, 1875, instead of $576,000 asin 1873,. the same item of expenditure amounted of $682,000,; and the total, expen- diture for 1876 for the collection of this part of the revenue was $721,000, an increase of $200,000 over the expen- diture of 1878 and at.atime when the amounts received from customs duties have been gradually but universally diminished throughout the country. (hear! hear) Well, gentlemen, I shall refer, only to one or two more items, and then, [ think; you, will be satisfied. Let us take, as to the correctness of what | say, for instance,, the excise duties,

In 1878, the total expenditure Was.$175,000. ; in. 1875, it was $199,253. In, 1876, instead. of $175,000, as under the old conservative government, the expenditure had: reached $218,359. These are figures. which cannot be contested; Now, gentlemen, I will give you one more item to:show. how.these people have carried out. their retrenchmert,—-how they have managed their system of economy; You know that we have an.emigration depart- ment. In 1875, when the conservative, government was in power, we brought into this country 36,901 emigrants ; they cost $277,368. In 1875, when these gentlemen.

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came in.o power, did they bring in 36,000 emigrants ¢ No, they brought 16,038 but at a cost of $302,700. But, if they call this a reform, they did still better the succeed- ing year, for in 1876, they did not bring in 3€,000 people as the Conservatives had done ; nor 16,038 as they did the first year they were in power; but they brought in 10,900, at a cost of $383,000 to this Dominion,

They made quite a new departure, however, in the way of expenditures as the totals which I have given demons- trate, Bunt to draw the point somewhat finer, a little calculation and a very easy one to make, shows that under the old government, each of those 36,000 emigrants cost $7.76 ; in 1875, under the economical management of the present government, each individual cost $18.90 ; and in 1876, instead of paying per head what the Conservatives did, $7.75. each emigrant cost $26.55 (a voice, “a cabin passage”). These few facts, I think, will dispose of the loud appeals that these people are making to the country. on the score of economical government (great cheering). But, as if it was not sufficient for them to have destroyed our infant native industries ; to have closed our sugar refineries ; to have shut down our factories ; to have driven our capital and the bone and sinue of our country into the land of the stranger; to have strangled our shipping interests, and to have trampled the life out of every germ of prosperity that we had ; they went still further. When by their knavery, and their arrant dishonesty, they succeeded in reaching the objects of their highest ambition the Treasury Benches, they found the different sections of our people English, French, Irish and Scotch, living together as one yreat brotherhood, as a United, people, the bands of whe = connection were daily becoming closer and stronger. ut, as if their full mission was not complete when they had brought »bout those evils which I have just described ; they threw the brand, of discord into the community and terrible have been the effects.

This country cannot progress and prosper, uniess the different nationalities who compose it are united in the

golden bonds of brotherly love (hear! hear), untess the Catholic and Protestant shake each other by the hand, aid work for the general prosperity and material deve- lopment, leaving each man to adore his God after his own fashion and according to his own conscience (cheers.) But what says the record ? only a few months ago, the Hon. Lucius Seth Huntington, Postmaster-General (or the Hon. Copper-Mine Huntington) went to the county of Argen- teuil, leaving the side of the Prime-Minister, Mr. Mac- Kenzie, at Ottawa, with whom he had, no doubt, been in conference, with whose sanction be acted, there he did whut every Catholic in this land must have condemned him for. He sought to raise a sectional cry against the Catholic Hierarchy, more particularly of this Province, which, in its turn, raised a mighty cry of indignation throughout the length and breadth of the land. Every Catholic newspaper that had the slightest spirit, in the English or French language, poured forth from its colurus, the strongest protestations against the language useu upon that occasion by the Postmaster-General, with the exception of a few time-serving sheets here in the City of Quebec, that tried to wriggie out of it ; (loud applause) men, liberals of the old school, felt it was their bounden duty to stand up and denounce the language that had been used by the Postmaster-General. I say it here, to the credit of the Hon. Mr. Holton, that he stood up in Parliament and stated he would not sit there, as a member of that House, and of the liberal party, without raising his voice and strongiy denouncing the imprudent speech of the member for Shefford ; that he, who had stood up for his party in the past, and who now stood up for it in the present ; who had fought the battle of Reform, as he called it, through so many hs mae he was not going to have his old principles, his grey hairs, dragged through the mire to please the fanaticism of the Post- master-General of the MacKenzie government. Was there & newspaper in the land sifent upon the occasion ? Did not the Irish-Cunadian speak out the truth? and the True- Witness ? Even Mr. Anglin’s paper called it an “ imprudent speech. ” Yet Mr. MacKenzie retained Mr. Huntington as one of his colleagues and it is his govern-

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the and, leve- own But Hon. Hon. gen- Mac- n in did ined. the ince, tion ver the . its nage vith the loud heir hage iy it tood as a hout dent had dup crm, not rged Post- here Did the an

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ment that appeals to you for support (Shame ! Shame !! !) was there any. excuse for the language of the Postmaster- General.? (No! No !) There was no alestion ; the Govern- ment candidate had been returned by acclamation (Hear ! Hear !). There might have been a paltry excuse if there had been opposition--if Mr, Huntington had wished to appeal to the prejudices of the electors of Argenteuil, to bring them over to the government side,—but there was nothing of the kind, there was no election, gentlemen, the bill was there, the venom was there, the fanaticism was there—and it boiled over and poured itself on the Catholic Hierarchy throughout the land. (“ We know it,”)

Now, gentlemen, I know that the majority of you have followed pretty closely the policy of this great Gael government. I know that each and evezy oae of yuu has heard, year after year, on the public hustings in this city—at. every church door througnout the Province, you have heard—their protestations ; you have seen the newspapers teeming with their patriotic appeals ; and you know what has since happened; you know how they have carried out their promises. (Ironical cheers).

Now we will see what they have done for this conntry, and particularly, themselves. As I told vou on a former occasion, for uwenty years the Hon. Mr. Dorion, the leader of the liberal party of this couutry, and his followers, were all crying out to the people for a chance to govern the country. Mr. Dorion reached power, his heart boiling over with love of fatherland. He hada glorious opportunity. There were questions to be settled at that time which required his vast experience. There were questions of the highest importance to be regulated. Mr. Dorion reached power ; became Minister of Justice, attained the highest position in the Dominion, with the exception of that of Premier. How long did he remain there ? How long did he display his ardent patriotism ? He had been out long in the cold shades of oppositivn, and when he. got into office, he felt, his limbs thawing out, and what was the consequence ? He wanted to give

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an everlasting example of his overflowing patriotism (laughter) to show how he could sacrifice himself for his country ; and after he had occupied office for a few months he said: “ Office is a magnificent thing fora patriot ; T have occupied it for a few months ; but patriotism mnst have its reward. Jt is now or’ never.” So lhe made himself Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec.

The patriotic wave was thus started on its onward course. We had a successor of the Hon. My: Dorion from this district here. The district has given one patriot, a great and baruing light, who will be pointed to by fathers and mothers, in future generations as an vbject of emulation for their children to follow (laughter). The Oity of Quebec’ sent to parliament, after years of toil/and fifteen or twenty five defeats, Ido not know which, an honorable gentleman who had vowed, over and over again, to the electors of this City that he was anxious to show his patriotism and to give evidence of what he was willing to do for the advancement of his country and the love of the cause (hear! hear !). The Hon. Mr. Fournier got to Ottawa‘and reached office. But the example of his noble chieftain was really too much for him. In spite of himself he felt that the time had come when he must do and die for his country, as’ his chief had done before him ; and so he sprang, with the agility ef a circus man, from the seat he had occupied in the Adyministraiion, to a seat in the Bench of the Supreme Court ; and became another victim, —a patriot sacrificed upon the altar of his country (cheers !). Well, gentlemen, this great movement, this wave of patriotism stil! conti- nued to swell and threatened to carry everything before it ; it left the shores of Lower Canada and swept its way down the Gulf, until it kissed the shores of the fair Province of Nova Scotia. Then, when it had reached its destination, the heart of another liberal—reform patriot was fired, He said: “ We cannot allow the standard to be carried any longer by those Lower Canadians ; it is time that another Minister of the Crown should lay down his life for his country ’’; and the Hon. Wm. Ross, like

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a lamb led io the slaughter, sacrificed himself for the sum of $3,500 -per year, in 4 snug little office in the Oustom- house of his native province (applause !).. The wave continued. to roll on, but; gentlemen, do not.-imagine,.for one instant, that any particular province absorbed the patriotic ardor to itself. They all felt the burning desire. This time, the, Province of Ontario claimed that it should furnish, the victim to be offered as a holocaust for, the safety of this unfortunate Domixion ; what, was the result ? It was that we had/another bleeding martyr in the person of the Hon: D. A. McDonald; Postmaster General who sacrificed -himself for the paltry sum of ten thousand dollars per year (hear! hear !). [almost feel like shedding tears over the fate of these sad patriots (laughter !). No fdoubt, after leaving this hall to-night, you will make a rush for copies of the photogr. phs. of these people, that you may put them in your albums to be pointed out to your children as models of patriotism in the future (cheers !).. But, gentlemen, if you have any disposition of that kind, if you really and sincerely feel taat you would like to have these photographs, just wait anothes moment, I have one or two others to commend to you. Now it is Prince Edward Island that has declared that its turn has come to do something for this sorrowing country—to supply a victim to his overflowing patriotism—to carry out the noble ambition ef every great Reform statesman in the land—and the Hon. Mr. Laird seized the flag that had been let drop by the Hon. M. McDonald, and he rushed from the Treasury benches ; and bearing upon his back the sins of his colleagues, if not of the country was led out into the wilds of Keewative. (Applause !)

Some of the other patriots out in British Columbia, and down in Prince-Edwara Island, were just meking up their minds to sacrifice themselves, on the same terms, for their country’s good, bai they were not in the inner cirele ; they did not seize their opportunity ; they were not fully cognisant when the day and the hour had come for some other victim to immolate himself Again, then, the patrivts in this province were moved. They said, “we, of the Province of Quebec, must figure once more,

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amongst this array of martyrs who have eclipsed the gio rious deeds of the men who died in 1837 and 1838,-—who shed their blood for their country ’—and hence the Hon. Mr. Letellier de St. Jast from his senatorial chair, where we thought he was going to pass the remainder of his days as leader of the opposition—do not shed tears over his sad fate,—rushed forward, and for the miserable, petty sum of ten thousand dollars a year, consented to come and to live in Quebec as Lieutenant-Governor of his

native Province. (Loud cheers) Well, gentlemen, one of

the last, but not least, of this gallant band of heroes who have dared and done so much for their country—a man who was more vilified and abused by his colleagues and followers, than any other man in the Dominion ; who was accused of having speculated upon the poor victimd in Beauport Asylum ; who was accused of crimes which, according to reform paper cried to heaven for vengeance ; well, who, according to one paper (I think Hector Fabre’s) deserved to be hanged ; and wko according to another actually smelt to heaven, so great were his iniquities— well, when he had arrived at that ripe stage of perfection, they seized him in their arms, pressed him to their hearts, the Hon. Mr. McKenzie said : “ Here is the stuff of which to make a genuine Reform martyr.” And they took him into the Government and kept him there until his turn’ came to sacrifice himself amidst the tears of every mgp in Quebec who knew him. (Loud cheers !) Well, gentlemen, Mr. Joseph Cauchon made the sacrifice for the paltry sum of nine thousand dollars—was it not toc bad they could not give him the other thousand doliars. (Cheers.) The Hon. Mr Laurier who, as a member of the Government, is equally responsible with the whole of them, says : “Oh! he was an awful dirty fellow, it is true ; he did stink ; his corruption was great ; but he was a great patriot, and, at al! events, if he was not very clean, he was cleaner than when we got him. ” Him, they sent out to Manitoba, that he might purifiy himself by bathing for the next five years in the limpid waters of Red River. (Laughter)

I have found in this campaign, as in every other cam-

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paign in which I have been engaged,’ that amongst one class of our people, one particular argument is used by the Liberals ; they go to the Irishman who has suffered in his native land ; they go to our fellow-countrymen who were persecuted at home, than whom no section of this people know better what persecution is—who know it, not from having read of it in history, but through having suffered it themselves, or having learned it from their mother’s lips—a history which can never be forgotten (hear hear)—and they say : Are yeu going to vote for the Tory party ; look at what the liberal party has done.’’ They claim for themselves the fuli benefit of all that the liberals have done in the old country,—and that we con- servatives must be saddled with all the crimes that have been perpetrated in Ireland ! They use this argument to you on the public platform and in the public press, and they think to throw dustin your eyes—to carry you on by vour sympathetic feeling, as if you did not know the history of your country. Who formed the liberal party in Canada and who is the leader of the liberals in this country, to- day ? Who is the master of Mr. McKenzie, if it be not the Hon George Brown, the man who has trotted out the Protestant horse in Upper Canada when it suited him —who raised the sectional cry and destroyed the old genuine liberal party to. which the fathers of every one of us belonged. (Cheers.) What did this great leader of the Reform party do ? On the floor of parliament and in his own office, he was continually whacking upon the big drum of fanatism and he called us and christened us the Dogans.. I should be ashamed to repeat, in the pre- sence of any respectable assembly, what he said of our priests and our nuns. (Shouts.) Who is the next man of that party ! The Hon. Mackenzie who, with Geo. Brown and the rest of the fanatics, opposed, through thick and thin, the granting of separate school laws to the Upper Canadian Catholics. I was told, no later than yesterday, by an old respectable man, that we owe to the liberals, the passint of the separate school law, Who fought that battle out ? It was not the liberals but the Hon. Mr. Scott, whilst supporting the Cartier-Macdonald government. He and Sir George were always willing to grant the measure, but

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Geo. Brown stood there with his fanatical majority ; amongst them Mr. Mackenzie. These peeple fooght Mr. Scott, and it was only afterwards when a kid of coalition government —a semi-liberal gov: tn ment—the government of John Sandfield Macdonald—gt in, that Mr. Scott's bill was taken up and carried throug', helped along’ by ‘the late Thomas d’Arcy McGee. (Ptu'onged cheers.) ‘The government of that day profited by their position ; they knew, whea they got the grasp of power, that. the Con- servatives who had always fought for the reform of ‘the school law, would not. back out, and a certain number of the Reform party, holding office at the time, being willing to abandon their fanatical prejudices against the bill, carried it because it was forced upon them by the Hon. Mr. Scott.

Who are the other shining lights in the party of parity and reform ? Go to any city you like, and what will you find ? You will find as leaders of this great reform party, the old dyed-in-the-wool tories. (Cheers!) Take the cit of Montreal, and from Fred. Perry down to Geo. Smith and John Dougall of the Daily Witness, each and every one of them is a howling reformer-—and these are the men whom liberal orators appeal to you to shake by the hand, in the name of old Ireland. (Loud cheer-). You fought these men in the past, when they called them- selves tories, and now that they call themselves reformers I know you will meet them again and give a death-blow to that spirit of dissension which, under the protection of the present government, has appeared in our midst creating sectional division, where all before was brotherly love and good fellowship. (Voices “ So we will”).

There is one question upon which, at all events, I desire to say a few words. There are, I may say, a great many amongst you, who do not care much, perhaps, about reform, or about conservative principles —who neither care about whig nor tory—but who do care about the grand old traditions ; who have suffered in the old land: who have read its history ; who know what its people had to undergo in days gone by, when fanaticism got the

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upper aid ;. and in whose hearts: and in ‘the ‘hearts of whose children’ and grandchildren, the love of that land cam néver die; though thousands of miles away ‘from its: green hills and valleys. (Great: cheering!) Recognizing this feeling’ and) knowing that you have’ the ballot which will ‘assuresly: ‘strike down theienemy ‘of:your race, ‘I would ‘here, where the’ blood of our! French-Canadian fellow-citizens; secured for us) the “great ‘and | glorious benefits of the Constitution which ‘we enjoy!—I ask you to take into consideration, for a' few moments, a question which you know full:well, but which,’ in view of recent events, f considerit necessary to refer to, in order that you may‘be able'to meet ‘the handful of Irishmen’ who are endeavoring to: mislead their fellow countrymen to support aman and a government that ‘trod tothe: ground ‘our fellow-countryman;' beneath the: heel of the: mést heinous | oppréssion..!) I needonot go into: details of the troubles of the North: West. 0 You are’ fully aware of the ‘primary cause of that violent tempest which'burst over this land, which almost rent: asunder the ties”. of : Confederation, which set Lower Canadaagainst Upper Canada, Protestant against'Catholic, and which had one Province ‘in the flames of revolution:—That great) and primary cause was the sectionalism, stire'up by Messrs Brown, ‘Mackenzie and their «friends.'.(Hear'!;hear !)\ Task» youj:'if ‘our French friends had ‘now had fifty five me1bers, bound to’ act ‘as one man, what! would have been ‘he fate of their feilow- countrymen in ‘the struggle ? Riel and Lepine were con- demned, ‘one ofthem:to:death, ‘both to exile’ for atime: But there was another man who had no‘hand,' no. act, io part in the death of Scott—against whom a ‘whisper of suspicion, ‘in connection ‘with that offence, was never breathed~and that man was'O'Donoghue. (Great cheering !) Whatdid this liberal government do forhim ?:(‘Nothing”). He had committed no crime ;/ but, being an Irishman, he was condemned forever; during the ‘whole course of his natural life, to’ live out) of this country, and: his: land, which he ‘had ‘acquired through his industry; was confis- cated—not ‘regularly confiscated—+but: the’ friends: of the reformers pitched upon it, like so many hungry hyenas, and hold possession of it to the’ present day,—and

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O'Donoghue isistill amy exileosdndoaw outlaw. (Shame!

“ shames’); iL think that, this)Swbjectis worthy |,of| some! . considenation., (Cheers !)o After;this Jaiquitows) act: had:

beenrnarpetrated by Mr. Laurierand his»party, owhait hext» do wefind.? | We find:as disinterested; as hondrable, andias pure andrishmanasever breathed, either in)this!country or

any,ethers-we find the Hon. Mr. Costigan (immensecheer-

ing) ja the:Honse of Assembly,doing+-what? He knew the people lie;had.todeal with; he, therefore approached the subject yeny.carefully;:and did: not ask :tod much: at; onde ; he xealized, that he: need inot expecttogétanamuesty, but! he went,ab:farias heithought their liberal fanaticism would

allow’ them to; go.| He lasked:( what) he: thought(no.,

reasonable man could. recuse | he eked the government, ; with» an bumble! prayer, merdly to take; the, question

praying that -a- full, aminesty be granted to: all: persons; concerned) dino the» North-West! troubles, for. all: dots!

done; |byo them, during, these:.troubles) :saving. only! ’

Riel and) Lepine: and ‘O'Donoghue, /and;: that: amnestiy »

be granted toRiel amd: Lépine; om condition. of |their

leaving: ithe {country for five. years ;;thus. excluding

O'Donoghue; from:the ‘benefit’ of sich) | amnesty, iand «|

whereas the said. O'Donoghue has written ithe; fdllowing \

letter,!’... The} letter | of | Professor:;’ Donoghue,:is, tobe: found, inthe journals: of: the Hduse; of Commions: of :the Dominion of Canada.; In this ‘letter, he: begped::to. state:

to that Honorable (Body, that a great injustice; had been:

done him (by. the late! parliameut-incexcluding him } from:

theammesty,; thatthe did not propose, shouldeéring i the:

whole: burthea of the: responsibility of: the: insurrection,» of the execution of Scott, and the:-so-called! Fenian ibaid) // in order; that'-dll: those: who were: responsible umight go: ! forth! spotless, at shis' expense, purified bythe :resdlution:)

of parliamént ;sthat),Governor (McTavish! was thé man.

who' had advised the instirrection 4 that he;(O'Dohoghte) |

was inot a: party: to the:thsurrection untildhe 15th Nove | «: 1867,four weeks lafter cit had: odcunred); that: the case:iof Thomas. Scott was never brought’ before the Provincial ::::

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S19

Government, either before or after the insurrection or murder ; that he was entirely clear of the charge ; and that he took no part; ‘directly or indirectly, in the execu- tion of Thomas Scott ; ‘that the sd-calléd Fenian raid was ‘a ST te Hana? had. iiothing’ whatever, to do with it”’.’ These were Mr. O’Donoghues’ words, despite the ‘assertion ‘to the’ contrary of the Hon. Mr. Laurier, Minister of Inland Reyenue, for the'time being. After haviti¢ read this letter, Mr. Costigan requested the Honse of Commons of the Dominion of Canada, to look into the matter. That Was a've1, simple request. (Hear! hear!) Tf your old friend, Mr: Tourangeau, were asked that question, what do you think would be his answer ? ‘what would be his vote ?’ Well, the Hon. Mr. Laurier was there, and what did he vote upon that particular atestion ? He voted against any investigation into the case of Professcr O’Donoghue. (Shame!) The matter was agam brought up.; Mr. Costigan again made an applicaticn ; he moved, seconded’ by “Mr.. White, of Hastings, a'Protestant, ‘ that, in ‘pursuance of an address

passed by this House in 1875, a full amnesty was granted .

to all persons concerned in the North-West troubles, save only Riel, Lepine, and O'Donoghue, and 4 partial amnesty was granted to Riel and Lepine, that . this solitary exdeption of O'Donoghue has’ created . dissatisfaction amongst a4 large class of Her Majesty's subjects, of the same nationality as O'Donoghue, and that, all disquiet having long since ceased in the North-West, it is just and

‘proper ‘that My. O'Donoghue, be placed, in the same

‘position with resard to those ‘troubles as Riel and Lepine ”. Well, gentlémen, if Mr. Tourangeau; had. a vote to ‘sive, he would have said, yes... But Mr. Laurier who now cats for a vote—when we wanted a yote, then, for O'Donoghue, he, voted against him. A voice," Wwhat vote did Mr. Devlin giye?.”

Mr. Devlin will have to give ys an account ‘of his stewardship, one of these days, and. we shall be there to

ask-him to give an account. (Hear ! hear !) Well, gentle- men, let us go on. Since this campaign began ; since

‘4 i t ‘ i yi

20

Mr. Laurier put his foot into, this constituency. it appears that a sudden change has come over the spirit of his dream, and, therefore, a certain; numberof persons who are particularly anxious that Mr. Laurier should obtain your votes, and knowing full well that there is not an rishman, bearing, worthily an Irish name, who would not feel that he, himself, and every one belonging to him, would be disgraced, and would go down disgraced, tothe graye, ifhe were to yote for Laurier after the way he treated O’Donoghue—knowing this full well, a certain number of people, not authorized by an assembly like this, but authorized by whom, we do not know,. waited upon the Hon. Mr. Laurier, Minister of the Crown, to ascertain what would be the policy: of the, Government with regard to an amnesty: to, Professor O'Donoghue. (That’s a fraud !) I do not th'nk it was at all necessary to ask a man who had _ twice voted, with his. government, against O’ Donoghue, what his sentiments were on. that question. They did go and what answer did they get ? Mr. Laurier told them, in the first instant, that if he stood before them, as an ordinary member of the House, he would have no hesitation in binding himself to comply With their wishes regarding the amnesty.

It would bé a very fair exchange, if he got the chance, that he should give one vote for O'Donoghue, for five hundred Irish votes in this constituency.

But he goes on to tell you that heis not.a private member of the House, that he is a minister of the Crown and a junior member of the Government. Now, gentle- men, here comes the richest part of all. It is worthy the study of an artist to look at this document. It 1s so consistent, so magnificent, got up so that after he has got in, he can tell you, as it suits him, that he told you there was going to be an. amnesty, or that he did not tell you there was going to be an amnesty at all. Because, said he since he has been sworn in as a member of the Cabinet, he has been busy in his county,, and he had not an opportunity of speaking on, the subject with his colleagues. This is very serious. I consider. this a most flagrant

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outrage against the Irish people, almost as flagrant an outrage as the yote against 0 Densghun himself, (Hear ! hear !) This man Laurier has come beforé you and asks for, our vote but declines to give you straightforward.answers, n thé counties of Drammond and Arthabaska, however, where there are five ‘hundred Irish votes, his friends made outrageously false statements on his behalf, that the government were going to amnesty Mr, O'Donoghue ; he however never mentioned the su ject himself; he never pledged himself to an amnesty ; he left that to Mr, Devlin to do, who was not a responsable party, who did not belong to the Government, and, consequently, could say what he liked. ‘But, Mr. Laurier has grossly insulted these five hundred voters, since, that whilst he had gone through these counties soliciting their. votes on the strength of Mr. Devlin’s assertion that an amnesty was contemplated—he admits here, where there are an equal number of votes, that, although his question has been ringing through the length and breath ofthe country, that he has not thought it worth while to communicate with his colleagues on a matter of such vital importance to, Trish catholics. (Hear ! hear!) Why did he not speak to his colleagues on this question, when he went.to be sworn in ? why, when he was defeated by the Irish votes in that county, as he will be defeated by the Irish votes in this—why, orly last week, when he was closeted in St. Lawrenee Hall, Montreal, with Mr. MacKenzie, did he not have an understanding with him ? But he slights and outrages you to, the extent of showing that he never thought it worth his while to talk to Mr. MacKenzie as to what will, and what will not, be the policy of the Government on this point.

Mr. Laurier however continued that he might tell them. that che Canadian government had taken steps for the relief of O'Donoghue. What steps ? One moment, he tells you that, he had no time to consult his colleagues, imme- diately ‘afterwards he states, that his colleagues have done someting, but, unfortunately, he does not know any- thing about it. , A hat a humbug!) If the, government do not bring in this amnesty under the circumstances, he

— 22 —

can tell you | ; hk er haan any; pledge, jpntieme, the fact i SM rates, ha ot, 40 pe ie ost ion, ac Aue bist twenty sy Fe ts, ting gost. of a i$ mate me va. ig hearty T hat th & #9 yern ent inten “hee eat ha eae hed to i ta te us AY. >... What abou © oe : a ‘ se ald only Sas AeA fire ‘ean u itis ntati ich, we been spoken ving an ni fon mesurier, He ata the pur 080.0 0 ect ring, the Ashore of i Pek la Thi re re ‘te bane a deputa ion. ; and, this deputation. we oh a . wanted to si Ghat hy “thou ht apa, OW Donog atte, and he, i init plain fact, ha! ate Re did did not-think, abont him at all, and th ey told him they were ie ectly satis Let'a ‘any man. read this, docun ina and. Indge for. himself ‘of th correctness: of. my remark T think 1 have Pi r well disposed of this, nestion itteay' Hear!) “I; will refer, however, . 19, the last, paragraph, Mr. rier, havi ing been us ested, to state what efforts, had een. made in behalf, aan O'Donoghne, prefaces, Ww yi should he preface, at ‘all, why. should he not, tell them, w nat ites had. been taken but he prefaces, his remarks b at 1} brief history of the whole troubles, in the North- ast. Was not this ¥ Pry, consoling—was i itmotan, act of kindness to give a brief. istory of this little matter, showing also the action taken by the liberals in, the connection, and the difficulties with which they had. to, contend 7, Mp. Laurier was requested to state what efforts had. been made in behalf of O'Donoghue, by the Canadian government, wmd all he gave them was a brief history of the troubles in the North-West, and the troubles the Liberals had, ,to contend with, But henever told them what he had done. Yet, we find that Mz. Laurier goncluded p68 remarks amid the deafening applause, of this mutual admiratio n society, Let me tell, ‘this dspntation that if they, are satisfied, you are, not. (Cheers.) We, have discussed. this very remarkable document, that has ‘been, thrown

upon the world by. this’ Minister of the, Crown, Ww Ose

Bw Os ee Ooms

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she ‘Col he” £ not do ‘better

i and oy Mineray, | genius a oing to und cae sl ‘at ah dim af ee

i don en Lean shal} ¥ | a "4 7 8 dg wi rer to. _ sig we nay ape: a Hf public press, T may say mat pre I nes things have ¢ app vey Yabt a very exte, hans gs ane he read one little extt fait to’ show ‘what. ond pa sis. a a U was creas the a gr ha to ti <y id tro} ane Ais a 80 e replies to cer u rigs.” if et ay er a id fi journal, bu cae is not, worth 1 . while, tae ig one T may refer to for a moment. Tne ‘yout, at gh tion to, hte para graph, ! Lt vation 8, yr i held’ in differen parts Bt the city, . yh ie mgt aged by ene excellent, men as Messrs. “Tabre, ‘Tangeller, an veut against. these men, we see arrays 6a, he Ane nag Til ault, the ; hired HET the demagogue. Yallea, Be the hypo crite Tarte.” It-is| well, tha Hore words break no bones, But, the ite ing, he says, of fitespe ii sé Trish Catholics, “ wae wipes out i th shoes of; i e disho- nest Costigan (cries. of *! Shame Leave You to, con- sider what is the ehatasies of rie ie which | can this abuse.mer of whom it it knows, not which, can cast, 8 Hepilen. on aman like Mr, (as Fis gies looked upon, a patriot, a. scholar, and, a enti man, wa) has never deserted his Post, ‘who, whether Ohservative or Haforitat. was in power, never. swerved i in the. er formance ‘his. duty—and yet this’ vile, little, wrétched rag dares to call that man, dishonest Costigan, (Intense indignation.)

You will find those people trying to blindfold you, by telling you that the Conservative party haye done nothing for. the trish. people. I am, free . to, admit, that, per esti the. Smart ye party has not done ret it should. done, but, J Say. at has done. a. hu per, cent - ta than, the peloym P tr tela has ‘done. eth \ During the, twenty years, the guservatiye patty, ‘was \in power, Ns e were never, for more than a few month s,, without, havin

at ‘least, one Irish Canadian, « 2 member of the overt:

& — 34 — ment, to, sustain our catise, “(Clieets !)° Need 1 mention ny names ? They aré faraili We: Ngee 3 ‘mention the'name of your respécted felisw-citizén, th ven tiie Alleyn, who was, for years, the representative of the Itish

ty say ure ghonsyt his own’ felldw-citizens, that the eb on every occasion. Subseqtently Mr. McGee, and subse- ane shy Mz, Kenny, sat st the council, board of the

lon! tent

to O'Donoghue ? (Hear ! hear !)

Where are the great offices we were to have got from vhis: Government? Ali the offices of any account, filled mite Catholics, were. given by the late government,

he Hon. Chas: Alleyn, Sheriff, Tui ge Maguire, the Hon. Chief Justice. Doheny, were appoirted by the Conserva- tive patty. (Cheérs!) Look at the Parliament. House, and the Gotitt House, where the gentlemen who occupy the position of Olerk of the Crown and ‘other officer’ of

sis wine

great emolument, haye all been named by the Conservative Goyernment. The; facts are, there, (Cheers!) we, have Irishmen. filling, the highest positions, in. the, country. (Cheers!) oo ticmace dui) “hh aoa ahmed bnisene

)

I may. tell you, gentlemen, (and I gee, present here, a yeas of the Crown), that less than athe, months ago, an. office was vacant ; and the locai governmer%, wishing to do fair play to the Irish people, offered me tnat position of over six hnndred pounds per year, I said to;Mr. Chapleau, “Tam exiremely, obliged peat know, your, offer , is made in a good spirit... But.1 will not; go into. any, perma- nent government. office ; I: have.too much Irish Grit and Irish Oanadian. ambition, to, become, the slave of, any government by taking a permanent situation.. (Cheers !) And I may. tell you what was done in my. own case sub- sequently,, The Local Goyernment:reqnired the services of an English-speaking lawyer to, act, ag ;secretary in the Consolidation of the Statutes, and without. my asking them, the government retained my services for the per- formance of that duty at.two thousand dollars per year. I would not accept.any. office that. would deprive me of the right of standing upon the public platform, and speaking on the questions of the day ; I value my inde- pendence too much ; I have fought too long to make an independent position for myself in my profession ; I have spent too many days and rights in the cause and I think I have earnea some small share of the confidence of my country-men. ‘Loud applause).

Whether it was by addresses before Societies ; whether it was to speak of the glories of the great O’Connell, or of Moore, or of any of the great patriots, whose days we celebrate, whether attending college examinations endea- voring to urge the young people on to acquire that learning in this country, which was denied to their parents at home, to urge pupils on to grapple with the difficulties of learning, and to hecome able to discriminate, to be above the influence of vile demagogues,—wherever I could urge on the good work, I have done it to the extent of my ability. (Hear ! hear!) I feel that I have done

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eh e Bo88 td the Wana ‘I Have doniedlidated the “Trish ‘vote AES hat now’ ‘wi ‘shall. prove, that'we até a ait in'the Tend? (Loud chsers'!) ’ There never Was’ yeh an opportunity given to the [rish people to show’ their streugth throughout t the len; ch and breadth of this coun- od 18 the time to #rike the bluw.’ The’ ‘government

u Back ; the’ Trishryen of iy ig dnd’ a oten ‘strtick! con the Hist blow.” ie

syath vy hig A oe Qtaes Bast he! nate ff the ae tiat ‘is’ ode pon, ‘thent ? Geritlenien, ‘at the Aria election ‘the ‘Trish people’ ‘Will bé'as one nan, weal Pia westion: (Cheéts !) They' will adopt thie Motto oi thé Irish ‘Canadian to'reriembér anid avenge this ‘insult pan our people: ' THis recreant minister who’ comes hi ae. now, with’ his’ animoning words t6 ie jock an atio that waited ‘upon him—“you wit show ‘him that ‘you’ tire toyiil to ‘the’ ala iraelitiods ‘and ‘the “ld° nations ‘Rpitit, and ‘that’ in this ‘lénd!w i you are contributing “your “milite'to the ‘e at fal welfare; you’ mast’ ‘Have Your" thie | rights and * i? not’ aoe yoursel ¥eu to’ be andérva ited ‘by any. party. wad a Pee cote arouse

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