HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1894-03-07, Page 4•
rhe tiuran News -f coral
111.$ a:Y'4a.rT*l.25 lu sirens,
ri itl,DlIa6DA Y, 1,1'IAno 17th, 1894
BION, C. F. FRASER BESIt;r VS.
Ikon. O F. Fraser, Minister of Publ
Works, has tendered his resignation t
lie Ontario Government and it ha
been accepted. Mr. Fraser has fo
some time been in failing health. Si
Oliver wade public the statement las
Wednesday and added
• "By the consent of his honor the
lieutenant -governor, he is- now boldin
his office until his successor is appoin
'Os and his responsibility is for such
governmental action and such govern- ,
mental measures only as he can see hie
way to concur in, other government
matters being, as to him, an open clues -
tion,"
So we have right here in Ontario a
member of a responsible government
. who is irresponsible. He will continue
to sit at the council board and will be
one of the lieutenant -governor's advis-
ers, while in the legislature he will be
an irresponsible head of the govern-
ment. Summing the matter up the
Hamilton Spectator says :—
"This is the most wonderful state -
merit 'ever laid before a legisla t i vo hotly,
Coalition governments have heretofore
existed. Times have been when nu one
party could control the legislative
body, and when men of opposing views
agreed to sink their differences for a
time in order that the business of the
country might not come to a standstill.
Also there have been coalitions of men
to bring about some great event of
national importance, as when Con-
servatives and Reformers 'united to
secure confederation in Canada. But
the announcement maie yesterday was
practically an announcement that Mr.
Fraser can no longer agree in all things
with his nominal chief, but will remain
a member- of the cabinet for immoral
purposes. The situation reminds us of
the story told of her husband by Lady
Burton. Before his marriage, Burton
paid some slight attention to a young
lady whose mother was anxious to
secure the traveler, even then famous,
for a son-in-law. She therefore invited
Burton to her house and asked frim
what his intentions were. "Strictly
dishonorable, madam 1" said Burton.
"Strictly dishonorable 1" And he put
on his hat and went away before the
astonished matron could reply."
That staunch Reform paper, the
Montreal Witness, also condemns Sir
Oliver Mowat. It says :-
11.0410s$4
—
$,.+'#la's 8a r a§k]li a tQ,tal .festttnptlnil
of Provincial debts e ' $1Q9;490,1118, ieav*
Leg the slum of $131,701,280 aatheaotuel
net liability created by the lYominion
since Confederation,
The net debt of the Dominion in 1878
was $140,362,069, and assets $34,1595,199.
In 1892 the net debt was $241,I31,434,
is with assets of $54,201,810.
° On the Canadian Pacific Railway has
s been expended $62.044,159 ; on the
r•
r
t
"It seems to us that Mr. Meredith,
the leader of the Opposition, was right
in arguing that Mr. Fraser should
either agree with and support the
policy of his colleagues or retire at
once from the Cabinet if he cannot do
so. It has certainly been regarded as
one • of the great advantages of the
British cabinet system over that of
French that the British cabinet acts
as a unit on all questions, while in
France the cabinet members are held re-
sponsible chiefly for their own depart-
ments, and are allowed to differ from
and even oppose their colleagues on
some questions, while remaining in the
cabinet. The constantly changing and
dissolving French cabinets, with their
individual opportunism, as well as
organic tendency to opportunism, do
not compare favorably with the British
Cabiuet system, in which the appear-
ance of unity must be preserved and
united action is required. Of course,
opinions within the British Cabinet
differ, but the differences must be re-
conciled there, and must not appear
outside. That is the understanding as
to the Cabinet, which is really an extra
-Constitutional organization. When
Sir Oliver Mowat, therefor e, announces
that Mr. Fraser will for a time remain
in the Cabinet, while holding opinions
at variance with the policy of the
Cabinet, and while declining to accept
any responsibility for certain matters
of policy and measures of the Govern-
ment, he is announcing a clear depai t•
ore from the British practice in regard
to the • responsibility of the Cabinet
severally and unitedly for - -its policy,
legislation and administration.'
Bryce's chapte ; "On the Cabinet,"
taken from his "American Common-
wealth," places the situation so plain
thatthe Mowat Government and those
who endorse the position -taken by Mr.
- Fraser should be put to shame. It
rends :•—
• Part I., chap. 9: The ministers [in
England and the self-governing colon-
ies] are responsible to the legislature,
and must resign office as soon as they
lose its confidence. The ministers are
jointly, as well as severally, liable for
their acts ; that is, the blame of any
act done by any of them falls on the
whole- cabinet, unless one of them
chooses to take it entirely on himself
and retire from office. Their respon-
sibility is collective.
Ontario politics have come to apretty
pass when a minister is created an
irresponsible member. If ministers are
not to be held responsible for one
another, how can they expect mere
supporters of theirs in the Legislature
to accept responsibility for them? It
is high time the electors of Ontario
would awake and place a more respon-
sible government at the head of affairs.
OUR PUBLIC DEBT.
1n a controversy with the Hamilton
Tinies the London Free Press points
out that since Confederation the debt
of the Dominion has been three times
decreased, viz., in the years 1890, 1883,
and 1871. During the period of Grit
rule, however, viz., 1873-8, the debt was
increased by' $42,000,000, and of this
seven millions were borrowed to meet
current outlay. In 1868 the debt was
equivaylent to five and one-half years'
revenue, and in 1892 it would have re-
quired just six and one-half years to
pay off the debt.
It should be recollected that the
debts of the four Provinces at Con-
federation were assumed by the Domin-
ion, in all $77,500,000. In 1869 a further
allowance of $1,180,740 was made to
Nova Scotia, and since that date addi-
tional Provincial debts have leen
assumed by Vie Dominion to the extent
Intercolonial and connected railways,
$44,x,135, and on canals, $36,612,301,
making a total of $142,884,595. Not
only, theiefore, is the whole debt thus
accounted fur, but underthe aboveve
three heads alone
there has been spent
the suer of $11,183,309 more than the
total actual increase of the debt since
Confederation.
IN hen the partisan Times states that
the Government doesn't accumulate
anything except debt, we reply that it
has since 1878 'accumulated an addi-
tional twenty millions of assets.
Again, the average rate of net, in-
terest actually paid on the net debt has
decreased from $4.51 per cent. in 1808 to
$2.93 per cent, in 1892, being a decrease
of $1.:x1 on each $100. The burden on
the people has, instead of iucl•easing,
been made actually lighter since the
Government were enabled to change
the high interest bearing bonds of the
Province for their own bonds, at a
lower rate.
THE ONTARIO DOVER LAMENT ON
TRIAL.
Hon. John Dryden, the Ontario
Minister of Agriculture, is on trial.
The Guelph Experimental Farm has
been the talk of Great Britain and
Canada for some months because tuber-
culosis was winked at and allowed to
spread. In fact so negligent was
Minister Dryden and the government
officials that a politic sale was called
and diseased animals sold to honest
and unthinking farmers.
It will be remembered that the secret
was let out. To the credit of the To-
ronto Empire, that paper got hold of
the facts and purchasers refused to pay
for or take the diseased animals.
What sensible farmer would ? The
alleged crimp of the Ontario Govern-
ment in this matter should not he
lightly passed over.
So far the evidence goes to prove
that the milk of the diseased animals
was used in the college ; that the many
farmers' sons there consumed it ; that
the animals were not slaughtered when
the disease was detected; that diseased
and healthy animals were housed to-
gether ; that those diseased animals
and their progeny were sold to farmers
by public auction. •
In consequence of all the damaging
evidence against the Government of
Sir Oliver Mowat in this matter, last
Thursday Mr. McColl +Ynoved for an
order of the House for a return show-
ing, (1) the advertisements for the sale
of the cattle offered for sale at the
Agricultural College in December. last,
(2) the conditions of sale, (3) a list of the
names of the purchasers and the prices
paid for the animals sold, (4).a list of
the animals of which the purchasers re-
fused to complete the sale, (5) astate-
went- of the animals sold and after-
wards returned, (6) the names of the
persons from whom such animals, if
any, were purchased by the province,
and the prices paid for them, (7) a list
of the animals in respect of which the
test for tuberculosis was applied, and
statement of the result in each case.
In moving for this order Mr. McColl
went into detail.
Hon. Mr. Dryden did not defend his
position as a responsible member of the
government should.
From the general discussion it would
appear that the cattle were riot isolat-
ed' when or even after the "outbreak of
disease occurred. Tliis was what the
Opposition claimed and they bad de-
cidedly •the best of the argument. Mr.
McColl's motion was finally carried.
MR. MEREDITH crossed swords with
several Ministers of the Government
and made capital and telling points.
Among other things the able leader of
the Opposition said :—
I am a good deal surprised at the
-course the debate has taken, and the
manifest attempt of hon. gentlemen
opposite to shelve the issue that has been
presented by the hon. gentleman who
has moved this resolution. Nobody
has attacked the management of the
agricultural college. As a general
proposition that has been discussed.at
other times and other, places. Nobody
has discussed, nobody has'found fault
with- the question of experiments with
a view of stamping out the disease.
A Liberal member—Yes.
MR. MEREDITH --I tell the hon. gen-
tleman no. All that, is mere talk of hon.
gentlemen opposite for the purpose
of diverting attention from the point
raised, that the Minister of Agriculture,
knowing that tuberculosis—an admit-
tedly contagious or infectious disease,
admittedly a disease which renders a
test necessary, and where its existence
is found to destroy the animal which is
infected—existed, was willing to send
out to the unsuspecting farmers of the
country cattle which had been subject-
ed to disease. That is the graveman of
the charge which hon. gentlemen at,
tempted to answer. One or two state-
ments of fact have been made here
to -day which it is just as well, the
farmers of this coufitry, and the
members of this House, should under-
stand. It has been charged that the
hon. Minister of Agriculture was in-
formed that when these two cattle
came into the country there were
strong suspicions that one of them was
diseased. That charge has been made,
and it has also been charged that the
hon. gentleman took no steps what-
ever for the purpose of isolating these
cattle, but that they were taken up to
the herd and mixed with the others.
* * * * * * But when it comes to
this, that in that which is to be the
institution of learning, which is to be a
model to the farmers of this country—
that point, from which all the light is
to proceed, that this course of proceed-
ing is taken, and this -thing is done
1.4
which w oti4 bo etantTertrnelT iu the, cas@ •
a, fal'ip • . it does. eeeM..to rim it ia.:ati,
utltttex dernandiug. the att�ntiolt of the
.Legislators, mid 'of the mole Qf this
country. The hen,, gentleman (Zr.1k
,Amery), states --of' course that is done
for political effect, although hq ciis.
claims any intention of the kippd—that
at Ottawa somelflaing wrong hak occurr-
ed Cub,'
Ma. AwREY—I did not say it with
that object.
NR. MEREDITH—I knew the hob.
gentleman would disclaim it, but I do
not want to :defend matters down
at Ottawa. I ' do not know what is
being done there, but I can understand
this, that the sending of the cattle after
the tests have been applied, to experi-
mental farms, where they can beexam-
ined and tested with a view to ascer-
taining how this desertso can be dis-
covered and treated is an entirely
different thing to sending them out to
go into the herds of farmers, and so
propagate the disease ; and from this
side of the House we challenge the hon.
gentlemen to appoint a committee for
the purpose of investigating the fiats
and finding out upon whom the blame,
if blame there is, lies. If the fault was
the Minister's he ought to haus un-
doubtedly confessed it. If the fault
rests on his subordinates, then they are
unfit for their positions, and should be
dismissed. The Government support-
ers say, "You are unfair to the farm;
everything waas right all through," and
we are met by the charge that it is an at-
tack on the experimental farm, and we
ought to praise the Minister of Agricul-
ture for what he is doing to assist the
farmers in the experiments there,
Everybody must be glad to see the
experiments carried on, but what they
will demand is that in that institution
of learning, in that place from which,
as I have already said, the light should
spread, careless methods, which may
result in enormous damage to the
farmers of this province, ought not to
be admitted ; when discovered, ought
to he exposed ; and when exposed, the
blame ought to rest on the shoulders of
the guilty party. (Loud opposition
cheers.)
"P. P. A. PRINCIPLES."
S."
Lust week we referred to the fact
that the Toronto Globe had made so
many conflicting statements about "P.
P. Principles" in its prereginations
that people wore at a loss to know
which to believe or even to place -
reliance in any of its statements. Rev,
Father Quigley, P. P., pictures the P.
P. A. mode of operation in this start-
ling style :-
1st. —A secluded back room is selected
where the dark plottings may be carried
on free from the light of honest investi-
gation. No public meetings are held
and no interchange of ideas as to the
merits and demerits of the order. They
know that the proceedings cannot stand
the light of free discussion and therefore
their work is carried on as they suppose
with the "utmost secrecy," but alas for
the instability of intorno plans and pro-
jects, there is always sonic cruel news-
paper reporter around or some other
spy who usually "lets the cat out of
the bag."
2nd.—The next game on the program-
me is to interview one or more pro-
minent men in the town, village, or
district. There are usually three class-
es of men who are interviewed in this
way. lst.—The prominent business
man. Ile is proffered an important
office in the society and an extensive
patronage from the brethren on con-
dition i 1,hat. he will use his influence
for the extension of the Ordei•. He is
furthermore informed that until he
assumed all the responsibilities of
membership he cannot be told what
these responsibilities• are. Should he
assert his manhood by refusing to
accept these absurd and unjust pro-
positions he is cooly informed by the
brethren that he may just as well "shut
up shop."
More than one ease of this kind have
occured in Wingharu and other places
dimming the late P. P. A. organizing
campaign in Huron.
•
It is alleged that a circular has been
sent to the press, the objects of which
are to set right alleged misrepresenta-
tions of the Order. Au extract from it
reads:— -
"The members of the Canadian
Protective Association are not pledged
to ddscriurinate against members of
the Roman Catholic Church either
in business or social relation. The
issue is merely between Romanism as
a dominating factor in Canadian
politics and the time-honored liberties
of Canadians. The C. P. A. is fre-
quently accused of bringing religion
into politics. The reverse is the case;
the object of the association is to keep
religion out of politics. That there
are many men in the organization who
do not belong to any .sect or creed is
sufficient evidence of this fact. There
is no discrimination against Roman
Catholics because theyrbelieve in those
dogmas and tenets of the Romish
faith which do not conflict with the
letter and spirit of the constitution.
We contend that a Roman Catholic
who believes in transubstantiation,
penance, extreme unction, saintly
intercession, etc., might still be a loyal
Canadian. It is only when he adds to
these his belief that the priest, the
sworn servant of a foreign despot,
holds within his bands the power to
save or damn, to loose or bind, that
we are compelled to make these un -
Canadian dogmas a bar to his assump-
tion of office. Whenever the priestly
edict comes in conflict with the edict
of the people, it follows consistently
that), the Ronrrinist from motives of
future self-interest must follow the
commands of the priest, who also is
under the immediate orders of the
Roman hierarchy. It follows there-
fore, that a fully professed Roman
Catholic must of necessity make a
bad public servant."
In the city of Hamilton the Mayor,
one Stewart, was elected on the P. P.
A. ticket, and the majority of the city
council are said to be members of the
order. The Spectator, in replying to
the Globe's P. P. A. criticisms, says :—
"Look at the doings in Hamilton,
for example. The Hamilton city
council is controlled by the order thitf
year. In previous years there was some
favoritism in the hiring of men and
teams. This year those desirous of
heing employed by the city hand in
their names, and they are employed in
rotation. Catholic, Protestant, Jew,
and infidel alike—no questions being
asked by the city authorities about
'the religion of the applicants. And
last *eek the same P. P. A. council
appointed a Roman Catholic to the
office of assessor."
Q V '4rl'l.(t)4 001414%
W>< I44.I). 'b'1kl,the gble leader of
the Qntariq pppeeition la again the
honfald choice of the Conservative
party for the city ofI onden. He was
unanimously nominated, in his absence,
last Friday night, by a very large and
enthusiastic convention of loyal elec-
tors. He has accepted and his electiop
is a foregone conclusion. The speeches
were of a most enthusiastic nature.
Among those who delivered addresses
was Mayor Essery. Among other things
he said he did not know what had
been done, as he was somewhat late iu
arriving and he did not care. He was
there as a follower. of Mr. W. R. Mere-
dith, [cheers], and was at his service
from now, until the close of the cam-
paign and his re-election, [Cheers.]
He was prepared to meet any of that
gentleman opponents on the plat-
form and discuss public questions with
them until they were tired, Applause,]
Ho cordially thanked the Young Con-
servatives for stiusding by him in his
election campaign, and felt in honor -
bound to assist them in every way
possible. e. He felt that the nomination
of any other person than W. R. Mere-
dith at this time would be wrong.
[ Cheers.] There was no question but
that gentleman would be the Premier
of Ontario before the close of the year
1894 and he is in every way better
qualified to fill that office than the pres-
ent occupant. His party, however, had
not backed him in the past as it should
have done, and as his talents and
ability demanded. ft should be the
aim of the Conservatives to place men
in the field and elect them, too, who
would show by their talent and zeal
they were the right class of material
for members of a Cabinet. He humor-
ously alluded to the large microscope
which would ho required to find
Mowat's boasted surplus, and regrett-
ed that Mr. Meredith was not present
at the meeting to witness the en-
thusiasm with which his name was re-
ceived. The majority of the good
measures passed by the present Govern-
ment were crude until they went
through Mr. Meredith's hands, and for
that reason the Grits deemed it the
correct thing to suggest that his salary
he raised ; but Mr. Meredith could not
be caught by such chaff, and refused
the mite proffered him. He next re-
ferred to the.absurd cry of the'Tizer's
regarding Mr. Meredith as a citizen of
Toronto, and explained that when
that gentleman became a leader at the
bar it was necessary that he should
remove to Toronto ; but that fact did
not make him any less a London man
[Cheers]. Could the 'Tizer say the
same of the Premier? Mr. Mowat had
toet his naturalization papers as an
Oxfguld representative from some back
village in the Riding [applause]. He
closed by urging all present to go into
the campaign as if their existence de-
pended upon it, and victory would he
assured their nominee both in London
and throughout Ontario [cheers].
DICKENSO N FOR EAST HURON.
Some time since THE NEtvs-REcoun
predicted that Mr. E. L. Dickenson,
the popular Conservative standard-
bearer for East Huron, was the com-
ing representative of that Riding in
the Local House. Since Mr. Dickenson
was nominated our faith that success
will smite on him has gradually in-
creased. Although there are now
three candidates in the field—tire old
member, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Milne, reeve
of Grey, and Mr. Dickenson—the lat-
ter•certainly shonld be the choice of
the electors. The old member has
been on the road, as.a member, quite
long enough. During all the years he
has been in parliament he has not
accomplished much for the benefit of
the farming ccnununity, except to take
away from TILE PEOPLE—by the grace
of Sir Oliver Mowat ---what pcwer's
they formerly possessed. 'fear by
year, session after session, -Mr. Gibson
and the Ontario Government have
ruthlesslyy wrenched from the grasp of
the electors their freedom. When we
view the present state of affairs, corn -
pared with a few years ago,, and the
then liberties and rights of conscience
with the thraldom and bondage of this
advanced and enlightened age, natur-
ally the people are led to ask—"Who
is responsible?" Men like Mr. Gibson
and his co-workers, who by their votes
have taken unto themselves the liber-
ties of the people. The time to strike
back is on election day. The ballot
only will tear asunder tire yoke of
bondage. Mr. Milne, a farmer, is the
Patron candidate. We fancy he made
the fatal mistake of a lifetime when,
we are informed, he attended the grit
convention and endorsed the candida-
ture of Mr. Gibson. But this, of
course,- is between Mr: -Milne' and Mr.
Gibson. While we have said that the
old member has been unfaithful to his
trust, Mr. Milne, it would already
appear, has also exhibited the cloven
hoof. Mr. Dickenson is pledged to a
policy in line with the Patrons. Ho is
a Conservative and their policy is the
Patron platform. Just now an at-
tempt is being made to create the im-
pression that Mr. Dickenson will not
stand and thus make the Riding safe.
Dickenson is in field to stay. lie has
no reason to withdraw or the slight-
est cause for alarm, Electors of last
Huron, stand to your guns. The vic-
tory will be yours. Dickenson is the
man.
A REFORMER CO NSER VA 71 VE.
Mr. T. H. Race, editor of the Mitchell
Recorder, is in the field as an inde-
pendent Reform canadidate for South
Perth in the Local. We cannot but
admire the British pluck of Mr. Race,
After spending years of his time and
sacrificing his strength for the Liberal
cause, he has been "read out by the
party machine because of his liber-
alism." Mr. Race is almost far enough
advanced to be a Conservative and of
course is well in line with the policy of
W. R. Meredith. We reproduce his
whole address to the electors: ---
"I have been urged by a large num-
ber of my Liberal friends to offer my-
self as a candidate at the corning
general election for a seat in the On-
tario Legislature, I have yielded to
their solicitations and am now before
you seeking your suffrages. i present
myself under no false colors. I am an
advanced, progressive and irdepen-
o wantin
y
oiler Blifids
+r.
Curtain Poles,.
Must by all means see the
stock . of both these lines on
hand at this. Store. Nothing
half so fine ever seen here
before.
e
GILROY & WISEMAN.
deurt Liberal, read out by the party
machine . because of my liberalism.
Two weeks ago I appealed for British
fair play, but it is being denied nie.
A vindictive faction within my life
long party is endeavoring to pack and
load a convention against me. I there-
fore accept the alternative and
offer these my unnatural enemies
Open British fight. 1 take the
field and enter the lists. against them
single-handed. In seeking your suff-
rages it would seers unnecessary to say
that I adopt the platform of the
Patrons of Industry. It would be none
the less true to say that they adopted
my platform. That is the platform
on which I have stood for years, ad-
vocating its principles as those best
calculated to serve the great agri-
cultural masses of our Province; and
what serves them best benefits the
commonwealth as a whole. It shall be
may determination if elected to carry
those principles into practical effect.
My motto shall be the greatest free.
don to the greatest interests, the
greatest good to the greatest number,
with just legislation and equal privi-
leges for all."
OUR MEMBER.
• Hon. J. C. Patterson, Minister of
Militia, was in Goderich last Saturday
and returned east Monday afternoon.
He looks splendid and scents to be en-
joying the best of health. The grit
press scandal -mongers of this and
other sections will not be pleased to
learn of the Minister being in good
fighting trim.
WILY NOT TELL • THE TRUTH ?
When bur town cotem. opens its
mouth it is a well --known fact that it
generally puts it foot in it. Last week
the New Era endeavored to show that
the Patron platform was nut that of
the Conservative party and was very
much pleased to refer ONLY to the
Senate, the tariff, reciprocal trade and
voters' lists. All the while our very
good cotem., a paper that professes to
tell the truth and shame the devil, was
actually lying and putting Truth to
shame! if we may be permitted to
reverently so place the words. No
good cause can be sustained in discuss-
ing a local matter by attacking some-
thing that may or may not exist in the
arctic region. Still this is the
broad breach the New Era jumps into
in defending the Mowat Government.
AIi attack on the Conservative Govern-
ment at Ottawa will not atone for the
sins of a corrupt or extravagant Grit
Government at Toronto.
The Patrons of Industry are not
dealing with the Ottawa Government
at the present time. When the Do-
minion elections come on it will be
time enough to deal with them. Just
now the Ontario Government is on trial
at the bar of public opinion. To say
that Mr. M"redith's policy and that of
the Patronsof Industryarenotelosely in
touch would be as ridiculous as to dis-
pute the truth' of the Bible. And
honest writers should not dispute one
any more than the other. Our cotem.
will find enough to do in defending Sir
Oliver Mowat just now without spread-
ing pertume and incense across the
track. Or it might be well to enlighten
the New Era by confidently stating
that the Grit Government of Sir Oliver
Mowat is the one on trial. Dominion
issues have nothing to do with the
evidence for or against the Ontario
Grit party. Why will our cotem, not
tell the truth occasionally?
A POINTER FOR CANADIANS.
When will Canadian exporters learn
to exercise care in shipping their pro-
duce to England ? In the past, com-
plaints have been received about the
careless shipping of cheese, eggs, poul-
try and other commodities, resulting in
loss to the exporters. It is now the
turn of hay exporters to suffer. Last
Wednesday a letter was received at the
Ottawa Agricultural Department from
the Government agent, Mr. Down, at
Bristol, in which he strongly condemns
the want of ordinary care in labelling
consignments of Canadian produce for
England. When a number of different
shipments of the same article are
placed on board the same vessel it is
next to i inpossible for anyone to receive
his own consignment, owing to the
general mixing up of the whole. Mr,
Down states a special case where
a large hay dealer in Bristol,
who had obtained a consignment of
Canadian clover, and finding it the hest
he had ever handled, ordered a further
shipment of 400 tons. The bill of lading
of this shipment simply ' specified
752 bales, of which 66 wer e
clover and the fest timothy, with
not a mark or a number on any bale to
__—
distinguish it from 1,000 other bales
aboard the same vessel consigned to
other dealers. The difference in value
amounted to ten shillings sterling per
ton. Mr. Down had sent to the De-
partment of Agriculture a small speci-
men of the clover and of the timothy
substituted in its place. The dealer
says he will take no more hay from
any shipper unless the bill of lading
gives a number correspoding with the
bales, or a mark to distnguish them.
Mr. Down mentions the case of a To-
ronto firm, who reports that the whole
lot of timothy shipped by them was
stolen in England and American
prairie grass delivered in • its place.
The above facts show the absolute
necessity of labelling every package in
a consignment and marking it also
"Canadian."
CURRENT TOPICS. •
Hon. C. F. Frazer will hereafter be
known as the half -in -and -half -out
member of the Mowat Government.
He is in a more ridiculous position than
even a Toronto minority reprenta-
tive. And the Globe endorses both. At
Ottawa, in the eyes of the GIobe and the `
smaller fry, such unknown representa-
tion would be characterized' a crime
and a fraud. Anything to hold office,
you see.
A return has been presented to the
Ontario Legislature that the total num-
ber of Reeves and Deputies comprised
in the various counties of Ontario in
1892 numbered 1,149,- as against 1,093 in
1887. The amount paid as indemnity
in 1892 was $55,4'S6, as compared wit 4,,
$54,235 in 1887. The total amount of
the assessment in the different counties
for 1892 was $001,457,158 as against
$561,816,006 in 1887. The rate on the
dollar in 1892 averaged 1.88 for both the
years named. Sinicoe has the largest
number of Reeves, with 53.
Murder will out, Hon. Mr. Frazer
could not retain 'confidence with a cer-
tain vote and stand by the Mowat
Government on the Separte school
ballot bill. Consequently Sir Oliver
spreads Mr. Fr:azer's two legs across
the chaser and will leave him in that
irresponsible position for the remain-
der of the session. We feel sorry for
the Minister of Public Works and the
body of respectable people he is sup-
posed to represent. Mr. Frazer is
helping Sir Oliver to whip the P. P. A.
into line.. The little Premier is after
votes. Time alone will reveal how the
desperate game will work.•
.. -
Because L. H. Dingman, of the
Herald, has been appointed American
vice-consul at Stratford the ignorant
Grit press have been pleased to tanta-
lize him. The Consul's office is in the
Herald building and of course he con-
sulted the best interests of the service
in recommending the appointment of
an assistant located in the same build-
ing. The vice has no duties or pay
except in the occasional absence of the
consul. These - ermacientions Grits
would have long since been a part of
the American republic if their princi-
ples and utterances had met with the
approval of the Canadian people.
N. K. Connolly has secured his
liberty and now talks rashly. He said
in Montreal Thursday night that a
hostile Orange Jury from• Carleton
county convicted him, - ,and that they
were not even competent to judge such
an ' important case. The opinion
of a man of the stamp of N. K. Con-
nolly will not count for much in this
respect. Further on he says that all
creeds and classes signed the petition
for his release, which the Government
refused. These statements go to show
that the released prisoner is a danger-
ous man. If Orangemen convicted him
they would not ask for his release and
Connolly lies when he says so.
The London, Eng., Times last
Wednesday published another article
on Canada. Dealing with trade mat-
ters, the writer says that Canada's saiils
trade with the United States is not so
essential to the Dominion as trade with
Great Britain ; and the opinion is ex-
pressed that the United States will soon
open their markets in their own in-
terest. The article goes on to say that
what Canada needs is greater care in
studying to meet the demands of the
British market, improved transport*
tion facilities, and reduction of the cost
of production to a minimum by a.
lowering of duties. The writer says
Canada's outlook is excellent. Her
credit is higher than that of any other
colony, her industries and inclinations
alike pointing to a closer consolidation
with the mother country.