HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1889-05-01, Page 4The Huron News -,Record
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Wednesday, MaY 1st, IS89.
PROVINCIAL P0WVERS.
While collectively Canada is one
great nation within another and
greater natiuu or empire, each pro-
vince is also a limited sovereignty
within itself. Provincial powers
are fairly well defined in the British
North Ameriva Act, which is prac-
tically the writtuu constitution of
Canada.
Now, we must either abide by the
Couetitution or do otherwise, By
doing otherwise we become rebels
to • constituted authority. By be-
coming rebels 'we lay the founda-
tion for a train of evils which would
imperil, if not absolutely destroy,
not only our national freedom but
that individual freedom we as free-
born British subjects so highly
prize.
Let us see what our written con-
stitution says about public lands
and education. It may be remarked
that under these two heads .come
the Quebec Jesuits Estate Act.
The B. N. A. Act when defining
the "Exclusive Powers of Provincial
Legislatures" includes under this
head : "The management and sale
of Public lands."
The Jesuits' Act declares those
estates to be public lands, and the
s legislature of Quebec is clearly
within its powers in disposing of
tlfem and appropriating the proceeds
for legal purposes under the consti-
tution.
These purposes are declared to be
for the higher educating and civil-
izing of the people of the province.
Is this a lawful purpose 1 We look
at the B. N. A. Act again under the
"Exclusive Powers of Provincial
Legislatures" and we find that "In
each and every Province the legis-
lature may exclusively make laws
in relation to education."
Now, it is quite clear from our
written constitution, from which we
have quoted, that the Legislature of
Quebec has the exclusive power to
sell its public lands and use the
proceeds for educational purposes.
And this is precisely what the
Jeauit Act purports' to do.
Surely it is also clear that if the
Province has exclusive power in the
premises the Dominium Parliameut
has no right to disallow what the
Province bas the exclusive right
to do.
But we aro tolls that the agency
by which this education is to bo car-
ried
arried ou is composed of two branches
of the Roman Catholic Church, the
hierarchy and the Jesuits, and that
the money expended in this way is
giving State aid to .a church, which
wo all believe to be unconstitutional.
This. position is manifestly unten•
able, because for a priest or a Jesuit
to receive or expend State money
for educational purposes is no more
illegal than it would be fur an Eng-
lish Church, or Presbyterian, or
Methodist clergyman to receive or
expend State money for educational
purposes, and this no reasonable
roan will say is wrong. .
Many people in arguing for dis-
allowance bring in issues totally
foreign, some goiug so far as to
even assert that the Dominion Par-
liament passed the Jesuits' Estate
Act.
lint that Act was passed by the
Legislate' a of the Produce uf Que-
bec.
The ouly question before PRrlia•
trent was : Had the Province the
power to pass the Act?
We have above givou positive
evidence that they had not only the
power but the exclusive power, .
All criticism outside the constitu-
tional issue of Provincial power is
foreign al d misleading su far as
regards the vote in Parliament,
Parliament to disallow an Act uf
a province which it has the exclus-
ive power to pass would be guilty
of high-handed tyranny and a vio-
lation of the fundamental laws of
the country as explicitly laid down
in the Constitution.
We are also told that the opera
tion of the Act will tend to strength-
en Roman Catholic influence in the
councils uf the State.
But Parliament has no more right
to disallow a legal pieviucial Act
been use it will strengthen Mormonism
than it world have the right to dis-
allow a legal provincial Act that
would incidentally strengthen the
grit party or the tory party.
14 re repeat that disallowance is
confined to whether or not the Pro-
vince had the power to pass the
Act.
Notwithstanding that the Pro-
vince has the power to pass the
Act, many who concede this, and
among them a large number of the
best informed man in the Dominion,
hold that it has inherent defects
which the highest court would de-
clare fatal to it from a legal point
of view, and that it can bo legally
set aside by the courts, though it
could not bo constitutionally dis-
allowed by Parliament. This is the
position we take.
. INDIVIDUALISM.
• Individualism and indepeudent
thought are admirable elements in
the units which from either a social
or political community. In indiv-
idualism lila the germ of reform.
Luther• and Knox and John Wesley
had that sturdy independence of
personal character which has been
productive of much ' and lasting
good. Tho most successful of these
was Wesley, because he combined
policy with his personality.
Though founding a sect whose ra-
mifications permeate the world
along with the drurn beat of Eng-
land, he never completely severed
his moral connection with the
Church of England. His indepen-
dence did not at first assert itself iu
au endeavor to reform the errors of
his•mother church by the formation
of a third party church. He was too
sagacious for that. Had he done
so his success would have boon very
questionable. He would in all
probability have been a failure.
For years and years he fought the
alleged sins of omission and com-
rnisipn of the old church within its
own linos. He was a great respecter
of constituted authority and organ-
izations. With organization and
by organization for God and human
souls seems to have been the mode
and object of that great and good
man,
In another and mightily prolific
field, that of the material develop-
ment of this Canada of ours, Sir
John A. Macdonald. has; exhibited
equally remarkable traits of con-
trolled individualism and personal
independence of thought, with the
result su far that neer during a
given period of time has the un-
ification of people's of various
races and conflicting creeds, been
so ,successful in this in any other
country. And along with the
cementing of the different races
and the mollifying of creed anti-
pathies he has contributed in- en
ormous degree to thoir worldly
comfort and to their wealth pro-
dueing opportunities. It were an
old story to compare the power
and wealth and territory of Canada
to -day with that of twenty-five years
ago. And how was this accom-
plished) By his arbitrarily insist-
ing on the carrying out to the ful-
lest extent the liberal ideas which
he iuvariably possessed in advance
of his contetmporaries 1 No, but by
shaping his policy and legislation
so that while lie could not go as
far as he desired iu the direction
his far-seeing statesmanship could
discern was for the advancement
of the ivhole peopl,e,f this country,
110 yet always ntadti'eome progress.
Had he not e'lcrifieed some of his
individuality to the common good
we would at this time, in all human
probability, bo still a number of
petty provinces without a national
habitation or aspirations higher
than that of the denizens of a
miserable 7x9 parish in the stuffy
and congested portions of Europe.
But how stands our country to-
day 1 Away up in the scale of
nations. Yes for though only a
part of the tHpntust empire in the
world which embraces 320,000,000
of people we are a nation within a
nation—imperiuln in irnrerio.
And in spite of all the sacrifices
of self and some of the hobbies, if
they may so be termed, of this great
statesman, we hear, in unexpected
quarters, 'down ith John A. Mac-
donald, his government has been
long enough in power.' If these
persons will but consider a moment
they will find out how impractic-
able it is to nationally carry out
the sectional wishes of any portion
of our people. Sectionalism is an
enlarged form of individualism.
It is very good within its proper
sphere. Wo Ontarians pride our-
e.elves . upon being the no pro-
gressive and enlightened people on
this or any continent. We pride
ourselves upou our protestautiam,
reckoning it as being the lever
which has beeni mainly instrumen-
tal in effecting our progress. Nor
will we say that this is a delusion.
But we have no right to force
our indi vidualism, our protestau-
tism, upon others. Nor have we
any right to interfere with the
God-given and constitutionally
guaranteed rights of others by
refusing constitutional legislation
to the Roman Catholics in a pro-
vince where they are in the majority;
just as we would not allow them to
interfere in legislation constitution-
ally enacted iu this province by the
Protestant majority.
WHO IS TO BLAME ?
The Jesuits; the culprits first
making the advances.
Mercier, the grit premier of Que-
bec; for entering into conspiracy
with the Jesuits. .
The members of the Quebec 1,eg-
islative Assembly, especially the
protestant members; for not protest-
ing and opposing the Jesuit Act.
The members of the Quebec
Legislative Council, especially the
prOtsstants; for not opposing the
Act, -
'l'lte Quebec Lieutonaut-Governor-
in-Council; fur not vetoing the
Act.
The protestant newspapers, pro-
testant clergymen, protestant law-
ye's, and other citizens euf Q.nebecp
for not protesting against the Act
before it was allowed.
And to these must be added the
dodging and trickery of the Grit
member M•r. Barron, who gave no-
tice of a motion somewhat similar
to O'Brien's which could have been
considered on its merit, and then
absented himself so that it was put
at the foot of the paper, which
means that it could not be taken up
this session; and the bad generalship
of Col. O'Brien in •moviug a "want
of confidence" amendment, an ac-
tion which guaranteed the defeat of
his plan. One cannot but review the
whole with disgust.•
I-Iowever, "profit by the mistakes
of the past," is a good 100110. The
Jesuits Act has done good; inas-
much as protestant Canada is uow
aroused, .and the " beginning of
the end" is near. Lot every loyal•
citizen contribute one dollar, or
whatever he ean,.to.the fund to test
the matter at law, and success
should crown the efforts in that di-
rection.
It is a great pity that Col. O'-
Brieu's motion instead of askiug for
disallowance had not been to have
the case referred to the law officers
of the crown in England.
There must bo no compromise.
We are proud of -our course, for
front the first we have been one of
five or six journals in Canada to de-
mand disallowance. It was not dis-
allowed. Our next move is not to
quarrel with our frieuds; but to
unite all' iu ouo solid phalanx to
test the matters in the courts, where
it should long ago have been.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
The voluminous, reports of the
Dominion Labor Commission con-
tain much matter of a suggestive
ly practical character. The mem-
bers are not unanimous in all their
recommendations, 'This would have
been surprising. Amuug the most
urgent of the legislative reforms
which all the Commissioners are
agreed in recommending we should
be inclined to reckon those forbid-
ding the practice of inflicting fines
upon employees, compelling pay-
ment in currency and not iu scrip,
establishing boards of arbitration to
settle labor disputes; prohibiLing t he
sale of liquor in the viciuity of
mines, and asking fur the establish•
rnent of a Dominion Labour Bur-
eau.
The uudoubted and sound princi-
ples of our Federal coustittt.tiou lay
down that the central power shall
net only on general or axiomatic
principles of public policy. The
various provinces have exclusive
powers which the Federal power
cannot legally encroach upon,
Sometimes it is hard to draw the ,
line between the cunstitutionel ptivII
-
ilegos of the Dominion, and provin-
cial piivileges exercised, in passing
statutory enactments. Although
R1•
we have not in this country, as they
hove in the, States, the Supreme
Cuutt authorized to settle such
points of difference, we yet have the
court of the Privy Council of Eng-
land to appeal to. Surely when we
have such au impartial tri banal to re-
fer the Jesuits Act to, it were idle
to get up an internecine roligiqus
war.
When .the action of the Dentin-
ion Parliament fur not interfering
in the Quebec Jesuit Estates Aot is
attacked it should be remembered
that that Act is in no manner a part
of the legislation of the Dominion
Parliatneut. It is purely and solely
the act of the Grit government of
Quebec, with which the Dominion
House had nothing whatever to do
other Hutu to determine whether
anything in the said Act
infringed upon the prerogative of
the Federal government. The law
officers of the Crown said it dealt
with purely provincial matters over
which the province has exclusive
control. Pavliauteut took thia view
of it. And because the measure is
alleged to be advantangeous to the
me,jority of the people iu a Catholic
province, it is unjust to attack
'members of the Dominion House
fur t his. It was beyond their con-
trol altogether.
The Jesuits Act seems to have
caused as much irritation among
the Roman Catholics in Quebec is
amoug the Protestants in Ontario,
A paper usually considered .its in-
epired'hy Cardinal Taschereau, and
other' Erotic!' Catholie• papers, con-
sider that the Catholic hierarchy of'
the province have been overlooked
in the adjustment, and they pitd1h'
into the Jesuits as an intermeddl-
ing body, largely composed of
foreigners having no sympathy
with the native Catholic .clergy and
people. It will be remembered
that Cardinal Taschereau and the
Bishops for a long time opposed
the incorporation of the Jesuits in
Quebec. And the end is not yet.
For the Wilnexa the other day
published the following :—" A re-
port is current that the Hon. •Mr.
Mercier has been summoned to
Rome to undo the evil caused by
'his unwise legislation in favor of
the Jesuits. It is stated that the
Pope consented very reluctantly to
tho proposition, fearing that it
.would cause friction and disturh-
anco, which could only result. in
injury to his authority, but that Mr.
Mercier, on his second visit to
Rome, overcame his fears, assuring
him that everything was all right,
and that there would be no objec-
tion made."
If a new party is to be formed as
a middle one between the existing
ones it might be called the "Inter_
fin"
Inter-
im" party. This suggestion arises
from the recollection of a system
published by the Emperor Charles
the Fifth in the earlier,yeara of the
Reformation. It was to be a medi-
um between the two then contend-
ing religious parties, and it was
thought it might he acceded to by
both. But even the paternity of
the Emperor failed to give it suffici-
ent prestige to be a success. The
desire expressed by some members
of both political parties to form a
third or "Interim" party in
Canada has no more chance
for success than had the origi-
nal "Intel -int" party. A third
party would, be literally a no party.
It' either of the existing parties does
not net in accord with .the views of
the majority composing the respec-
tive parties. they can be forced to
do ao. Majorities rule in party
organizations as in other aggrega-
tions of people. The duty of Con
servatives is to fight the supposed
errors of the party within the party.
But no party urganizttion can be
expected to reflect the individual
views of every member of it. This
would be impossible. And if the
members of a party want it to bo ef-
fective they should loyally give it
their support so long as they are in
accord with its chiefest principles,
and in spite of the fact that they do
not agree with minor portions of ite
policy. Any attempt to disrupt the
party bodes no good, but is merely
playing into the hands of the op-
posite party whose principles and
policy wo disapprove in foto. It is
assuredly better to attempt to re-
form our party within party lines
than to strengthen the hands of oppo-
' nests whose policy wo know to b.
Another Lot of Thos e
Wonderful Diss Goods
ROBERTSON'S
8c., 10c., 12c. and 15c.
Everybody should see them. The best value in the
country. Going like hot cakes.
OUR SPECIALTIES
11111111m, lIaullcs and Di'ee.
Robertson's �reat Cash Store
ten thousand times more inimical to
the interests of our country than
the one we have been allied with, be
its faults what they may.
CURRENT TOPICS.
CONSTITUTIONAL AGITATION.
The writ in the case of the Jesu-
its v. the Alai! was returued in court.
The first proceeding on the part of
°the defense will he un exception to
the form` of attacking theeJesuit
incorporation, 'holding that ' the
statute under which the Jesuits
were incorporated is illegal and
ultra vires, inasutuch as it is beyond
the power of Quebec legislature un -
dol. the British North America act
to enact such legislation. Further
more, that by the said incorporation
the local legislature has recognized
the authority of the Pope, a foreign
potentate, to interfere•iu the lotus
lotion of the province and in counter
authority to that of her majesty the
Queen. Other important issues of
a similar nature will be raised.
This exception to forte is taken for
the purpose of widening the issues
in the ease, as by the declaration
the defence is tied down to the issue
as to whether the oath published by
the Mail is that taken by the Jesuits
or not. By exception of form the
whole constitutionality and status
ot: the Jesuits in Canada will be
raised. It is thought probable that
under French law and' before a
French court the exception may he
thrown out, inwhich case an appeal
will immediately be instituted and
taken to the privy council for final
decision.
AN UNRELIABE AUTHORITY.
Editor News -Record.
DEAR Sia,—I have noticed with re-
gret, but not surprise, the awkward
position the Era has placed itself in.
When cornered, as lie appears to
have been very often lately, he cries
for a new issue, introduces new
matter, or admits the falsity of his
statements by saying nothing, The
unreliable Era stated what it didn't
know about conservatives—in fact
walked unblushingly into the secret
chamber, had it on the authority of
"one who was there•'—and falsified
the record. He uow slanders the
Orangemen and makes false state-
ments concerning them. One might
surmise he had gained admittance
to an Orange Lodge from the tenor
of his statements. You may expect
the Era to assert at any time, pos•
sihly in its next issue, that its editor
has obtained all the regular degrees,
passwords and signs of a true
Orangemen. .L• When hemmed in, he
will as usual fortify his position by
asserting he got it all from one who
was there. Dear reader and brother
Orangeuleu, what roust you think of
the elarderer and falsifier, ready at
all times to walk boldly into the
sacred family circle, soil falsely make
use of their doings ? I as a Master
of an Orange Lodge received one of
the circulars last winter, referred to
last week. 1 am informed they were
sent to Master's only, and knowing
that the editor of the Era has not
yet been advanced to that position,
be can easily clear himself of the
grave charge of falsifying, in this
particular case, by making a clean
breast of the whole affair. An hon-
est confession would be interesting
reading for the public generally and
Orangemen in particular.
Yours, etc., W. M.. L. 0. L.
Our Weekly Round Up.
—The constitutional prohibition
amen tmeat was defeated in Massa
chussetts last week by about 50,•
000 majority.
—'rhe Connecticut House passed
the hill already passed by the Senate
prohibiting the use of tubaceo for
smoking by h)inore under sixteen.
The bill was amended, making the
delivery of tobacco to a minor a
crime as well as the Hale of it.
—The Episcopal bishop of Glas-
gow is alleged to have inhibited
Canon Wilberforce from talking
temperance in the churches of that
diocese because be cooperated with
the Minister of the church of Scots
land in his work.
— Large tinniber of young pines
are now shipped from the Laude-,
in France, to England, to be con-
verted into paper. Nearly 175,•
000, tons of older pines' were shut,
too, to help in propping English,
coalpits.
— The. fast express train from
Chicago, on the Croat \Vestern
ion of the Grand Trunk, ran oft the
track at the Junction . Cut,
near I-Iarnillon, Sunday morning.
Twenty passengers were killed awl
twelve were wounded. The fatals
ities wore largely 'Inc to the burn-
ing of the ears.
BIR'1'IiS.
WALK an..—In Clinton on Wednesday
24th., tha wife of Mr. Tiro . Walker of
a daughter.
Coax.—In Clinton on Watinesday 24th,
the wile of Mr. 11. W. Cook of a son.
DEATHS.
Cox.—In Goderteh ou the 24th April.
James Cox, aged 79 years.
GI.Ew.—In Clinton on Tuesday. 30th
April, Nelson Glew, aged 72 years.
FARM AND MARKET.
—To waterproof muslin a writer
recomends four eggs beaten up in a
quart of oil and painted on both sides
of the muslin, which may be thin.
—Be very paticular, says an ex-
change, about disinfecting the kitch—
en sink. Washing soda, two table-
spoonfuls to a gallon of boiling wat-
er, makes an excellent wash to pour
hot into the sink at night, after the
work of the day is over.
— The successful farmer must raise
good stock, and he should know the
history and merits of the various
improved breeds of stook,; but how
many farmers make the mistake of
their lives by blindly raising coin.
mon stock, saying and believing that
fine stock is no better?
— If you dissolve bones by boiling
them in a strong potash lye, and
then use dry earth or leeched ashes as
an absorbent, you get a fertilizer or
compost rich in both phosphoric
acid and potash. It will contain also
most of the nitrogen ivhich was in
the bones.
--It is unwise to grow hey to be
sold off the farm. Stock raising and
grass growing are joint occupations.
A higher price can be obtained for
bay by converting it into beef, while
the manure remains behind to add
to the fertility of the soil. When
bay issold off the farm it will sooner or
later be impoverished, and the prices
obtained will be less than if stock is
kept to consume the hay.
—Cut the young trees.bacic when
placing them in the around, and also
trim back some of the roots. .First
remove the top soil, lay it Raid° and
then dig_,.the ,,.hole for the tree,
When the tree1V in position throw
the top soil next to the roots, pour
on a bucket of water, stamp the soil
down, and then and more earth until
the hole is well tilled and Tracked.
MARKET REPORTS.
(Corrected every Tuesday- afternoon.)
TORONTO MARKETS.—Wheat 1.07
to $1.30, the latter price for No. 1
Manitoba hard. Barley 48c to GOc.
Oats 32c to 86c. Peas 600 Potatoes
25c to 30c per bag. Eggs, fresh, 17c.
Bettor 16e to 19c. Hogs $6.25 to
$6.75.
DETROIT MA RRI:TS.—Wheat $0.92
to $0.98. Barley 45c to 55c. Oats
27c to 29c. Butter 12c to 14c. Eggs
10c. Apples$1.ut0 to $1.50. Dressed
hogs, $5.00 to $5.50. potatoes, 18 to
18c, per bushel in car lots.
l3urrALo MAnxn•rs.—Graded steers
1.500 to 1.600 lbs $4.25 to $4.65;
from 1,300 to 1.400 lbs $3.80 to $4.15 ;
light butchers from $2.50 to $3.0.
Hogs $4.90 to $5.25.
C LI NTON
Flour $•5 00 to 5 50
Fall Wheat, new & old 0 95 to 0 98
Spring Wheat 0 95 to 0 98
Barley C 40 to 0 48
Oats0 28 to 0 28
Peas . 0 '54 to 0 54
Apples,(winter) per bbl 1 00 to 1 50
Potatoes .. 0 25 to 0 30
Butter .. 0 17 to 0 20
Eggs 0 10 to 0 10
nay 12 00 to14 00
Cordwood...) 3 00 to 4 00
Beef . 0 00 to 000
Wool 0 20 to 0 25
Pork 6 50 to 6 70