times to address himself intelligently to tunity of giving expression to his views at the consideration of subjects that may two or three points. He seemed on all come before this Chamber. The second- occasions to have struck the key-note. The er of the resolution is entitled to the in-universal verdict of the press and of the dulgence of this House, because, as he people of Canada, so far as we have been says, he has not been familiar with the able to judge, has been that His Lordship mode of addressing bodies, deliberative or seems disposed to take a deep interest in otherwise. The hon. gentleman, however, the affairs of Canada, and that he desires expressed himself very clearly and very to thoroughly understand and appreciate forcibly from his own standpoint. While the spirit of our institutions. Entering upon I am quite prepared to approve of the his task with such feelings there can be no manner in which not only he, but the other sentiment than that he will indeed mover of the resolution, addressed the be a successful Governor, quite as much House, I must say I cannot quite agree so as either of the gentlemen who prewith the matter that they submitted for ceded him. our consideration. They naturally seek I now come to a paragraph in the to praise the Administration--the prosper- Address which rather challenges criticism, ity of the country, such as we have to day, more particularly of those who take differis due entirely, in the opinions of those ent views of the fiscal policy of the gentlemen, to the policy of the Adminis- Government. We are asked to rejoice tration. They are in very close political that although there were some slight alliance with the Government, and it is impediments, in the way of a bad harvest natural that they should deliver them- and a little over-trading, that the general selves as they have done on the present condition of the Dominion is such as to occasion. fully justify His Excellency in congratulatWith the first paragraph of the Address ing us upon our prosperity. That is a I am enabled to cordially acquiese, and I statement that will not meet with the entire am quite sure that in saying that I speak approval of the people of this country. the sentiments of every gentlemen within It is admitted in the first instance that the range of my voice. His Excellency, there has been some over-trading. Now the Marquis of Lansdowne, who has been to what is over-trading due? It is clearly recently appointed to fill the high position and unmistakeably due to the stimulating of Governor General of Canada, is a noble- of the several manufactures and trades in man who has had a very considerable ex- the Dominion by the policy adopted in perience in one of the most important 1879. At that time the people of this deliberative bodies in the world. He country were told to put on all sail. The has also been a member of the sugar manufacturers were told to multiply British Cabinet and, no doubt, dur- the refineries, and the cotton men to ing the period in which he has been a enlarge their premises, that there was member of the House of Lords and a ample room for more. The increase in member also of the Cabinet, he has so those factories, at all events so far as educated himself on constitutional law that those two trades are concerned, caused it will be of substantial aid and service over trading. The Government are directto him in the discharge of his duties in ly responsible for it; they invited the this country. Following, as has been people to invest their money in enterprises observed by both the preceding speakers, of that kind in the hope that they would two gentlemen who have been somewhat be profitable, and they were told to put on distinguished, who at all events, since the all sail. Now it is assumed-and this days of Lord Elgin can be fairly singled may be a very proper occasion to question out as having taken a deeper interest in the correctness of the assumption-that the affairs of this country than any others the prosperity, which no doubt did mark who were intrusted with the Government the years 1880, 1881 and 1882, was due of Canada in the intervening period, I in some degree to the fiscal policy of the have myself but little doubt that Lord Government, to their having increased the Lansdowne will be an equal success. He duties and having adopted a higher tariff. has been but a short time among us but in That I deny. The wealth that flowed into that short period he has had the oppor-Canada during those three years can be

easily traced. You have only to consult we were to provide home markets for the the Trade and Navigation Returns to see farmer, and the farmer was to buy the that in those three years our exports grew manufactures of the country. What has in an enormous proportion as compared been the result? Has any such sequence with the exports of the three preceding followed as was predicted by the Governyears. Taking the years 1877, 1878 and ment, and which was the aim of their fis1879 and comparing them with the three cal policy? Not at all; we have been following years there was no less than importing more largely during those years $65,000,000 worth of the natural products of prosperity when we were able to sell to of this country sold in the three latter foreign countries, and I have no doubt years as compared with the three former when the returns of last year come in, it years. That is one of the elements of the will be found that while we were closing prosperity that marked the three latter our cotton factories, shortening the hours years. Had the National policy anything of labor and reducing the pay of workingto do with the increased value of our men, we were increasing the purchase lumber? Did it enable the people of the abroad of the very goods that those men United States to buy our sawn lumber, or were engaged to produce, showing how the people of Europe to purchase our utterly fallacious it is for Governments to square timber? I think no one will be rely on fiscal policies to change the true rash enough to say that it did. Was it current of trade. It is said that there has the cause of our selling more grain or selling been a partial falling off in the harvest. it at a higher price? I think not. Taking Is there any such falling off as to cause the three items which are so important in the tight times which we have experienced our trade, the three "F's," farms, forests during the last few months? Is there and fisheries, it will be found that eight- anything in the reduced yield of the comninths of the money that came into this paratively small quantity of wheat grown country in excess during the three latter in Canada this year as compared with years as compared with the three former former years to account for the bad times? years were due entirely to the sale of our I think not. The agricultural pronatural products, and no man will venture ducts have been fair, with the exception to claim that the fiscal policy of the of wheat. One hon. gentleman shakes his Government had anything whatever to do head; the section of country from which with these results. As was observed by he comes has usually a pretty large hay the seconder of the resolution, when the crop to dispose of, and this year that crop tight times came it was natural to presume has been considerably in excess of former that there would be in the pockets of the years. I know it has been so in Eastern people of this country, who had made Ontario, and the crop of oats, etc., has those handsome sales, a sufficient margin been fairly up to the average. There has at least to keep them from depression for been no reduction of the quantity, at all a couple of years. When the depression events, to explain the shrinkage in the came in 1874 we did not feel it much stocks of the country, or failures amongst until 1876-77 and more in 1877-78. It is business men. On the contrary, the soluquite clear that under a normal state of tion of the question is to be found elsethings it is too soon for the pinching process where. It is not difficult to see where it to begin if our trade is in anyway crippled comes in, and I only quote it now to show from causes that are outside of Canada. how utterly fallacious is the presumption I maintain, and I say it is an incontrovert- that the fiscal policy of the Government had able statement, that Canada's prosperity anything to do with the creation of good is largely influenced by the policy of other times in 1881 and 1882. If they could countries, those who purchase her pro- give a market to us then, they ought to give ducts. The demand in Great Britain and us a market now. It is quite evident that the United States governs our prosperity. there has been a very considerable amount We were told in 1879 that that condition of overtrading. I have before me the figures of things had continued long enough; that we were going to rely on Canada for the Canadians; that we were not going to buy any more manufactures abroad; that

from a reliable source, the Commercial Agency, giving the number of persons in business in Canada who have failed during the last year, and compared

But

I deny that in times of stringency we can, by fiscal laws, elevate the position of the country, give life and stimulus to business, or increase the value of our natural products.

with the year preceding the figures will produce can be bought easily, Canada is somewhat startle us. In 1881 the number as fortunate a country as there is in the of business men who succumbed was 635; world; we can always grow enough for the amount in the aggregate for which ourselves, and have some to spare. they failed was $5,000,000. In 1883, that 635 was swollen to 1384-in the short period of two years-and the amount had risen from $5,000,000, to $15,000,000. If we compare the figures in the United States, we find that although there was a Now, sir, I come to the next paragraph rise also in that country, it bore no pro- of the Address, which speaks of the portion whatever to the large increase in Fishery Exhibition, and no doubt it is a the failures in Canada. Take the shrink- subject for rejoicing that Canada stood so age in bank stocks, and it is quite evident well at the exhibition in London. We are that, within the last 12 months, a very naturally proud of our fisheries, and they large amount has been lost in this way. are one of the substantial products of the The two principal institutions in the country. In my judgment, however, the Dominion may be taken for this com- Government could have served the fisherparison, the Bank of Montreal in the ies very much better, by taking the duties East, and the Bank of Commerce in the off those articles consumed by our hardy West, and we find that their stocks are fishermen who are obliged to live down now nearly in the same position as in by the sea. They themselves believe that 1878, when it was the custom of hon. there were hardships in the tariff, so far as gentlemen on the other side of the House they were concerned, and that the distriat that time, to point to the Government bution of the bonus was not exactly right, of the day and say "see the large and that they were entitled to more conamounts that are being lost, and you are sideration; so just on the eve of the making no effort to revive trade, no general election a bounty was given to the attempt whatever to bring up the con- fishermen. Whether that comports with ditions of the markets." We replied we good government I leave it for hon. gentlecannot control natural results." The men to consider that any one class reply was "oh, but you can do something." of the community should be singled out Those gentlemen are now in power, under the presumed assumption that they and I ask why they cannot have been hardly dealt with, and on the improve such stocks to-day. I say that eve of a general election a very consideraour bank stocks were in very much the ble bonus should be distributed among same position in December last as they that class. In my judgment it would have were in 1878. I have the figures for been very much fairer to have reduced those principal banks, taken from the duties on the articles which the fishermen Monetary Times, somewhere on my need, as the high rates crippled their table I find that in September, 1878, means of living. But, while on this questhe time of the change of government, the tion of the Fisheries, there is another point Bank of Commerce stood at 114, and in that is of even more importance than the December, 1883, it stood at 119. In Sep- London Exhibition, and that is the tember 1878 the Bank of Montreal stood continuance of a market for our fish. at 172, and in December 1883, it stood at Hon. gentlemen are aware that, in 175, that bank having fallen from 204 in 1871, a treaty was made with the United January to 175 in December. Those States, by which a market was secured for facts cannot be gainsaid, they can the fish of this country for a considerable not be controverted, and this is the term. That treaty came into force in time to discuss them. No doubt if 1872, and it was to last for ten years, and there is stringency elsewhere Canada for two years after, each of the high conhas got to share in it; Canada is tracting parties being permitted, in the simply the barometer of other countries, latter interim, to terminate it at the expiraand our prosperity is necessarily affected by the condition of foreign markets, though when the articles that we do not

66

tion of the two years, and in that way it was made a treaty of twelve years. I understand that last year Congress did intimate

its intention to terminate the treaty, and that notice was given to the Government of England, I assume, and not of Canada; but of course the Government of Canada was bound to take cognizance of so important a matter. It seems to me a very proper subject for the attention of Parliament, and the Government might invite their opinion as to the policy of the country in connection with a Commercial treaty with the United States. The expiring treaty affected us not alone in relation to the export of our fish and fish oil, but it also contained important provisions bearing on the prosperity of this country. It made provision for the bonded system from the ports of the United States, which we necessarily must use for certain periods of the year. If those two years were allowed to elapse, and no provision were made for important subjects of this kind, the people of this country might fairly say that the Government had failed in its duty. I think myself it is not too soon to consider the course which should be adopted in the future. If we are to drift along until next year, and nothing is done, it is impossible to say how serious the consequences may be. Whatever we do has to be done through the Imperial Government, all negotiations having to be filtered through that quarter. No doubt North-West or to the Western States. It that Government would allow us to would be unreasonable to assume that appoint our own commissioner. Still we know that negotiations between Governments are very slow in their progress, and a very considerable time will elapse before an understanding can be come to with the Government of the United States, if they adhere-as I fear they will-to the conclusion at which they have arrived, to terminate that treaty. I therefore think it is a very serious omission on the present occasion, because if the Government ask for authority at the next session (1885) they will have but a comparatively few months in which to consider this question and come to some arrangement with the United States, and very injurious consequences might follow.

though I may be mistaken-and I presumed that a considerable part of it, at all events the criminal law, would have been ready for our consideration during the present session. Sixty chapters is not very great progress to make in a period of two years.

The next paragraph alludes to the number of immigrants that have come to Canada during the past season, and expresses gratification that the number has been in. excess of former years. I am not disposed to acquiesce in the opinion that there has been this large increase to the population of the country. It is a controversy, of course, that it is idle to open on the present occasion, and it is one which, even when we get the figures, is a good deal discussed and debated. Figures can be made to yield very extraordinary results, and figures have been given to us on this question, which have heretofore been very much commented on, and which have been open to criticism. We have, at all events, this fact prominently brought out-that the British Minister at Washington not long ago reported a very large exodus from Canada, and it is believed by very many that there has been a considerable diminution in the population of Ontario, by reason of their going either to the

The next paragraph is not an important one, still it has some consequences. We are told that the process of consolidating the Statutes has been going on, and that some sixty chapters are ready. I was under the impression that this consolidation had been in progress for upwards of two years

people passing from one province to another should be regarded as an accession of immigrants, and I am inclined to think that, if the amount has been made up in that way, as I fear it has, the result when analysed will be found to be very delusive.

We are glad to hear, no doubt, that the negotiations with British Columbia have been satisfactorily brought to a termination, and that all causes for discontent have been removed by the gentleman who has been deputed to perform that duty-the Minister of Justice. I cannot but remember that on a former occasion, nearly ten years ago now, when the Government of Mr. Mackenzie proposed to build the Island Railway, or to assist in the building of that Railway, the present Minister of Justice did not then give it his assent and support; on the contrary he, as the leader of the majority of the members in this House, opposed it, and succeeded in throwing out the Bill. At that time he did not believe

that it was so important a scheme, nor, I suppose, did he assume that it was one in which British Columbia took such deep interest. It appears, however, that after his personal experience there he has come to a different conclusion, and as the negotiator on behalf of the Administration, has given material assistance for having the railway on the Island constructed.

by the settlement of that country and the extinction of the buffalo, will adopt the habits of the white man, and become cultivators of the soil.

We are promised a franchise bill, which I suppose will be based somewhat upon the principles of the franchise bill of last year.

HON. SIR ALEX. CAMPBELLHear, hear!

We are told that we shall be called on to consider some amendments in the North-West Territories Act. Well, I confess the session would scarcely be like a HON. MR. SCOTT-The hon. gentlesession if we had not the North West Act man says "hear, hear!" but I had hoped before us, as I do not remember any one that, in the meantime, the Government year in which we have not had a North- had reconsidered the question, and left West Act to discuss. I trust, however, that well enough alone. It seems to me that it will now be framed in that liberal spirit the franchise of the country could be very for which many hon. gentlemen in this much better exercised, by leaving it to the chamber have contended the Government local legislatures to adopt their own are to be commended-although they did basis. Certainly we shall add to the exit at so late a period for opening to actual pense enormously by adopting the fransettlers the land along the mile-belt. Any chise, applicable only to the election of one travelling over the railways through members for the House of Commons, and the North-West would be painfully struck many, myself among the number, will view by the utter absence of any population that somewhat suspiciously any proceeding was visible from the cars, but I trust in which will give the Government the power fact I feel confident that the policy now of nominating the gentleman who shall adopted, even though it is a late policy, have the right to revise the voters' list. He will be duly appreciated by the people who is not likely to be a gentleman who is are yet to settle in that country. The land other than in sympathy with the adminison either side of the railway will certainly tration of the day, therefore I think it is be very much improved in appearance a very dangerous power to place in the by being settled, so that one travelling hands of any one who is not thoroughly through it may look out on cultivated farms impartial. It is scarcely to be expected where, at present, the wild grass grows. that a revising barrister, appointed by the One may now go for ten, fifteen or twenty Government, and appointed no doubt on miles by the railway across the prairies and account of his fealty and allegiance to the not see a vestige of civilization,-not a Government, will take other than a partial hamlet, no crops, not even the beginning view, favorable to his friends, in the revisof a settlement. Such an outlook must ing of the voters' list. I should view it, have had a very damaging effect upon those particularly if it were coming before an people who, for the first time, were ventur-election, very much as I did the re-aring into that country, as it would lead ranging of the constituencies before the them to believe that it was entirely unset-last election, by which they were so cut tled; but in many localities, if one were up and divided as to satisfy the exigento go two or three miles distant from the cies of the friends of the Administration. railway, on either side, he would find thriving farms and actual settlements.

We

We are also promised a factory bill, and let us hope that the details of the bill We are told that the education of the will be such as will protect, at all events, Indians is going on apace; well, there are the juvenile labor in our factories. so many educators up in that country, all know that children are largely employthat we should be glad to learn of some ed, some of them of very tender years, results having followed from their ap- and it is highly important, in making propointment. It is sincerely to be hoped vision for the protection of those who are that the Indians, now that their ordinary to work in factories, that we should limit mode of living has been taken from them the age and hours of labor. I trust the bill