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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1894-05-23, Page 5HE 1 TO The Campaign Opened in a Brilliant Oration, PLANKS OF THE PLATFORMI The Honored Leader States His Position Plainly. CHEERED TO THE ECRU, The Vast Audience Goes Wild with Enthusiasm. DEALT A DEATH BLOW. The Rotton Structure of Mowatism Ex- posed. LICENBE SYSTEM B,ASCALITY, And the Outrageous Timber Policy o the Government. Mr. Meredith States His Position in the City of Toronto—A Cow- ardly Cry Utterly Reftted—"My Service to My Country is Not for Sale"—The Falsity of the Race and Religion Cry Exposed. The scene from the stage of the Grand Opera House last night when Mr. W. R. Meredith began to speak was one to be remembered. From roof to floor the House was filled with the good citizens of London and their ladies. It was a brilli- ant audience in every sense of the word, and as one looked out on the sea of faces, and took in the impressions of the scene it was indeed wonderful and beautiful, too. No city in the world turns out a better dressed or more physically perfect crowd than the good city of London, and these things count in a big gathering of people as they do nowhere else. It is from no desire to administer a huge slice of "taffy" to the constituency that this feature is pointed out, but because it was A CHEERING AND INSPIRING SIGHT to gaze upon suck an audience as that, and to give some idea of the thrill felt by everybody whose lot it was to be placed in front of the audience. The house was alive with color and sweet with the perfume of the beautiful flowers that were carried by the women. It was a model audience in more ways than one. The intelligent electors pre- dominated. They were there to listen calmly and to judge critically the argument of the speaker against the Mowat Government, and to try the case in their own minds before delivering the verdict of their vote. There were also in the crowd many who had used their influence to bring Mr. Meredith out, and who from that day to this had followed his course with pride, REPOSED THEIR UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN urn with absolute security, and loved him for his many good qualities and the bril• liant services he has rendered to the coun- try. Of course, there was many a hide -bound Grit there, too, anxious to hear the leader of the Opposition, Lon- don's never -defeated representative. And all the diverse elements and interests and minds in the audience were brought under the charm of the speaker's tuneful voice, his frankness, fairness, and the matchless eloquence of his Hibernian -tipped tongue. The address was a marvellous example of the higher class of oratory,and the music of it will never be forgotten by those who are affected by oratory. It is a pity that on occasions like last night the Opera House could not be en- H WEDNESDAY. ° MAY 23, 1894. larged. From before 7 o'clock the people began to gather at the doors, and when, after a long delay, admission was granted there was A WILD SCRAMBLE UPSTAIRS, in which clothing suffered material dam- age, and in five minutes the whole place was tilled, and the aisles, stairways and approaches were so jammed thatkhundrede and hundreds who had come ptilhaps miles to hear the speech bad to turn away. There is no difficulty in sizing up the crowd present—it was the number turned away that form the unknown quantity, and when it is stated that the Opera House was filled to overflowing the whole truth on that (occasionally) much disputed point the attendance is established to a demonstration. The platform was simply decorated, the most noticeable feature being the magnifi- cent flag that covered the wall behind the reporters and across which ran the inscrip- tion—"London's Favorite Son." AN OVATION TO THE LEADER. 1 When the curtain rolled up Mr. Mere&- dith received an ovation, the house rising Dr. Bayly, Dr. Macklin, A. Danks, C. W. Austin, T. S. Fawcett, R. Hannah, David Bauldrey, R. M. 0. Tootho, Dr. Wishart, A. W. Woodward, J. W. Hutchinson, Jackson, A. G. Ohisholm, R. J. Young, — Anderson, — Dawson, J. Tanton, G. Heard, George Lewis, Talbot, John Millets, Rev. W. Wilmer, Arthur S. Blackburn, and many others, including the ladies. MESSAGES OF REGRET. Telegrams from Prominent Support- ers of Mr. Meredith. During the evening the following tele. grams were received:— FROM TORONTO. Toronto, May 21. To W. It. Meredith, Q. C., London.—The To- ronto Liberal -Conservative Association as- sembled send you heartiest greetings and wish you most a rousing reception in 1will. We the QueenCitty youwhen it is convenient for you to come. WM. OAVID with one accord, and the waving hats and handkerchiefs and cheering continued for several moments.It was such a reception as any public man might be touched by, and the people showed plainly that "W. R." occupies a warm place in the pride and affections of the citizens of London, who claim him as their own. Mr. Meredith sat in the centre of the platform, at the right hand of Major Thomas Beattie, President of the Senior Conservative Association, who presided last night at the request of the young men. ON THE PLATFORM. The "Uld Stand - bye, and New Blood. J. H. Fraser, Q.C., Aid. Taylor, H. Brinamead. C. Parfitt, Ald. Thos. Jones, I. F. Heilmuth, J. E. Fleming, Ald. Garratt, L. Meredith, H. B. Elliot, R. Marsh, Geo. Mathewson, James Owrey, J.P. Thos. Alexander, I. M. Mayell, W. J. Walker, H. F. Whetter, Aid. J. 0. Judd. W. J: Reid, G. Dope, W. Reid (Lucan), J. D. O'Neil, V. S., R. B. Hungerford, James Priddis, E. Meredith, Q. C., James Taylor, W. H. Winnett, . Ex-Ald. Wyatt, Geo. Macbeth, Walter Smith, R. Weide, Dr. Hutchinson, Prof. Harrison, W. H. Ferguson, W. McFarlane, Wm. Robinson, H. B. Gallen, George C. Gunn, N. P. Graydon, Marshall Graydon, C. C. Hodgins (Lucan), R. Dowell, Thos. McKinley, John Morgan, (Adelaide) Stephen King, James Gilmour, (Ingersoll) iNlesouri) Ald. John Pritchard, R. Fisher, Water Com. Jones, Dr. 0. Weld, Edmund Weld, S. Davidson, George Baxter, John Pring, Charles Stirling, Charles Doe, Ald. Wm, Coo, Joseph Percival, Ald. Jas. Fitzgerald John It. Minhinnick. John Labatt, Wm. McDonough, Abe. Gibbs, W. H. Bartlett, J. S. Pearce, Richard Southam, Bert. Southern, H. M. Douglass, T. F. Kingsmill, Ssmuel Genge, R, R. Bland, John McEwan, Henry Shortt, T. F. Kingsmill, jr., ThomasMcDonougb,Thomas Duff, J. R. Peel, A. Parfrey, A. W. Porte, —. Collett, ' Benj. Higgins, George.Young, James Crawford, T. W. Scandrett, Bert Lyons, B. J. Nash, S. J. Bell, C. E. Freer, C. Elliott, Joseph Graham, W. J. Thorpe, George McNabb, MCPEERsoN, Presiding Officer; ED. W. Bass- TGL, General Secretary. FROM NIR JOfN CARLING. Ottawa, Ont.. May 21. 1894. Major Thomas Beattie, President Liberal -Con- servative Association. London, Ont. Your card only reached me this morning, too late for me to respond to your request to occupy a seat on the platform to -night, otherwise I should have been glad to have been present. I am with you in spirit, and have read to -day with pleasure the magnificent reception given Mr. Meredith Satur- day evening. Have no doubt to -night's meeting will be equally enthusiastic. JOHN CARLINO. J. II. MARSHALL, M. P. P. Ottawa, tint., May 21. Major Thos. Beattie, Opera House, London:— No one can regret more than myself that pub- lic business keeps me at Ottawa, when you are assembled to do honor to our Ontario leader, Mr. W. R. Meredith; but I know there are suf- ficient men in London of the right stripe to give him the sort of reception he deserves, and to show how thoroughly he is appreciated where he is best known. Jos. H. MARSh AL .. .JAMES CLANCY, M. P. P. Wallaceburg, May 21st, 1894. DEAR SIR; I regret exceedingly that an un- avoidable engagement deprives me of the plea. sure of being present this evening at the mass meeting of the electors of the city of London,. when Mr. Meredith will deliver his opening ad- dress on the public euestions to be declared upon by the electors of this Province on the 28th of June. I am sure that 1 need hardly express the hope that the meeting will be a great suo- cees, or that the efts, of London will again do itself the honor of this time giving Mr. Mere- dith the largest majority it has aver given him during his long and able leadership of the Con- servative party in this Province. Yours truly. J. CLANCY. T. Beattie, Esq , Pres. L. C. A., London. THE CHAIRMAN. [Major Beattie,s Introductory Re- moras. There were renewed cheers when Major Beattie rose to speak. He said:— Ladies and Gentlemen,—We are gathers ed here to -night to begin the local cam- paign, and to listen to a speech from our honored leader, Mr. Meredith.—Cheers.— This meeting will show him, I think, if he needs any further proof after the de- monstration of Saturday, that the city of London is still true to him.—Cheers.—I am glad to see such a meeting of the citizens here to -night to do honor to our faithful representative. An effort has been made, ladies and gentlemen, to injure Mr. Meredith because he has accepted a position in Toronto. A voice from the balcony—They could not get a better man anywhere.—Cheers. Mr. Beattie—No, they could not. I want to say that we shall not allow that senseless talk about Mr, Meredith and To- ronto to make us forget the ser- vices he has rendered London, and as you are all anxious to hear our representative I will not detain you with W. Blythe, George Pritchard, any further remarks, but will now have W. F. W. Findlater, A.G. McWhinney, Jno. M. McWhinney, Jonathan Ardeil, the pleasure of calling on Mr. William Charles Bogue, John Hunt, Ralph Meredith.—Cheers. C. Mclndoo, R. Whetter, (Westminster.) MR. MEREDITH. A. B. Powell, 0. Smythe, The Leader Greeted With Tremen- S. H. Craig, Capt. T. E. Robson, done Cheering. E. A. Eakins, B. A. Mitchell, E. S. Winnett, William Graham, Mr. Meredith was received with tre- Samuel Grigg, John Wrigley, mendous cheering. He spoke as follows:— Robert Wrignton, A. R. Gaipin, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,— John McCiary, James E. Snow, appreciation I should indeed be wantingin Devis Mason, W. Minhinnick, E. A. Cleghorn, J.A. Leitch (Glencoe), if I did not recognize the very kindly A. F. Campbell, M.P.P. (Algoma), manner in which this vast audience has D. McColl, M. • P. welcomed me to -night; and while others P. West Elgin, Mayor Essery, have been saying of me that I am a Dr. Nelies, Henry Hobbs, stranger to the city of London, I think I B. W. Greer, Richard Matthews, may look into the faces of those who are J. H. Flock, Q. C., It. Pritchard, here to -night, and to their words of wel- - Lon W. Gray, come when I came upon the plat - H. Irvinem , D. McCoubrey, form as my best answer to the D. W. Blackwell, E. J. McRobert, charge that has been made against M. G. Bremner, J. Smith, me.—Cheers.—I am here to -night for the John Turner, W. R, Baskerville, purpose of opening the campaign, which A. J. Abram, G. S. Tull, is to decide the result of the new election 1 R, Murray, Samuel Screaton, that is about to take place, and also for Samuel Abbott, G. N. Weekes, the purpose of addressing those to whom H. Macklin, B. Bryant, I am appealing for the renewal of the con. fidence which they have reposed in me for so many years. It will be necessary, this being the opening meeting of the cam- paign, that I shall pass over a good deal of ground which may be to yots uninteresting and dry, but I trust, ladies and gentlemen, that you will bear with me while I make my statement with regard to the affairs of the Province.. I am appealing to you, and to the country upon the platform which I will present to you to -night, and upon an occasion such as this is—.one in which the people have to determine who for the next four years are to be the governors to pre- side over the country in which they live, and there can be no more import- ant or higher duty which a free people can be called upon to per- form than you will be called upon in deciding who shall be your rulers for the next four years. The Government which is now led by Sir Oliver Mowat has had an unexampled period of govern- ment in the Province of Ontario. Taking the year during which Mr, Blake, his pre- decessor, was in office, that Government has been in office continuously for the Province of Ontario for 22 years, and un- less I am able, and unless those who speak on behalf of the Conservative party of this country are able, to arraign the policy of that Government in its acts of govern- ment and legislation successfully, then we have no right to ask you to TURN THEM OUT OF OFFICE. It shall be my duty to -night in the obser- vations I shall make to you to refer to the administration of the affairs of this coun- try by the Government of the day, to ask you to take into your serious considera- tion whether the case that I make against this Government will justify you upon the 26th of June in displacing them and giving the place to their opponents. Because, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentle- men, I am frank and free to say to, you after hearing the whole discussion through- out the campaign, after applying the knowledge which, in an intelligent and free country like this is, applies to the discus- sion and consideration of public affairs, your judgment shall be that the adminis- tratiou of Sir Oliver Mowat and his col- leagues in the interest of the country should be displaced, then I say it is your duty to go to the poll and give your ver. diet, and if, as I believe, your judgment upon hearing the whole case—you asa jury of the nation having heard the whole case—you come to the conclusion that the Government has been WEIGHED IN TEE BALANCE AND FOUND WANTING, then it will be your duty, no matter how long these gentlemen. have been in office, and no matter how much respect you may have for the individual members of the Government, it will be equally your duty to pronounce the verdict of condem- nation on the 26th June—that they are no longer to govern in the province. THE FINANCIAL POSITION Under Sandfield Macdonald and Oliver lllowat compared. When these gentlemen came into office 22 years ago they succeeded the adminis- tration of the late Sandfield Macdonald—a man who founded the first government in the Province and laid sure and deep a model economical administration. After four years of office the Province of On- tario, foolishly, I think, turned that gov- ernment out of power and the Govern- ment which I am arraigning here to -night succeeded to their place. I will now call your attention to the financial position in which Sandfield Macdonald left the Province at the time when he went out of power. He had inaugurated an adminis- tration of affairs in the country that pro- vided for asylums here and elsewhere, for the care of the insane, the deaf and dumb and blind. He established means for the purpose of reclaiming the wild lands in the western section of the country, and having provided for the administration of affairs, he left a surplus of upwards of three millions of dollars.—Cheers.— Now, sir, what is the position to -day ? In addition, let me add, to these moneys which Mr. Sandfield Macdonald left in the Treasury of the Province of Ontario, there was a large Crown land reserve and forest from which are drawn the large sums which annually go to pay the ex- penses of the Province of Ontario. There was in addition to that, large sums of money coming from the sales of Crown lands which had been sold in the years pre- vious to Confederation, and down to the time this Government left office. All this Sandfield Macdonald left for the purpose 01 providing for the affairs of the Pro- vince of Ontario and financial manage- ment of its business. Now, what is the position to -day ? Every dollar of this $3,000,000 that Sandfield Macdonald left in the Treasury HAS BEEN SWEPT AWAY, millions of dollars of the timber wealth of the country also has been swept away ; and in addition to that the moneys that have been collected from the sales of the Crown Lands in the country have all gone. Although it is proclaimed we are out of debt there is actually, according to the showing and admission of the Treasurer himself,a liability of interminable annuities and like indebtedness of at least two mil- lion and a quarter of dollars, which liabil- ity has been accrued by the administration of the day. And what do these gentlemen say ? They do not include these two mil- lion and a quarter of dollars in the liabili- ties of the Province of Ontario, because they say these liabilities are not presently payable. I say it reminds me of a char- acter in the work of a novelist of past time. Re told about a man who was im- pecunious. He owed a large amount of money, but was a man of very lively dis- position, and whenever a creditor canto with a bill, say of 250, or say £100, this debtor would give the creditor his prom- issory note at three months, or six months, as the case might be, for the amount of the indebtedness, and having given the note he would THANE GOD THAT THE DEBT WAS PAID. Laughter It is just on the same principle the proceedings of the Government of the Province of Ontario are run. It has so much money to provide for the purposes of pay- ing,and it goes into the market and borrow these moneys to be payable in a term of r+ 40 years, and it gives its promissory lilote, as our friend in the novel did, for the amount. The day before it woe an ins debtedness of so much money; then it., ceases to be an indebtedness, and the Treasurer of Ontario puts his hand on his heart and thanks God that debt Is paid•.-- Laughter.—I do not want to deceive you, gentlemen, at all. I do not want to dee calve you with regard to the financial position of the Province of O tarip, and it would be unfair of me to eV that there �• is no money. The assets of the Province of Ontario represents a sum of four or five or six millions. The amount will not be definitely ascertained until the arbitra- tion between the Province of Ontario and the Dominion has been concluded, but it is not money as the Government would give the people of the country to suppose. Moneys have been saved several ways,their supporters throughout the :country are saying—moneys that they have saved blas economical management of the affairs of the country. These are certain trust funds which were in the hands of the Govern- ment at the time. They have been trust •' funds, and there is no pledge to the people of the province of Ontario to -day that these moneys, whatever the amount may - be, will remain untouched and undisposed of, THE CROWN' TIMBER. The Government Arraigned for Its Policy. Mr. Chairman, ladies and entiemen, perhaps, indeed, the very argest;i asset of the Province of O:a-•` tarso is the crown timber of• Ontario: We had in the Province of Ontario wften this Government acceded to power the finest white forest preserves in the whole world, one might say. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that we had in the Dominion of Canada and in the Pro- vince of Ontario the finest timber preserves iu the whole world, civilized or uncivil- ized.—Applause.—You will bear in mind the great importance of these timber re- serves. A very large portion of the na- tional trade is made up of the lumbering interests of the Province and of the timber. An enormous amount of the revenue of the Province of Ontario is derived from the cutting of this timber and the dues that are paid by the lumbermen who cut the timber off the limits which are sold to them from time to time by the Province of Ontario. Now, what has been the policy of the Govern- ment with regard to these timber reserves? This matter of PRESERVING THE RESOURCES OF VIE ' COUNTRY is a, matter of personal interest for the people of this country to take care of. We haven't had as y.et direct taxation im- posed upon the people of the Province of Ontario in the shape in which it exists in the different States of the Union, although we have had, as I' shall endeavor; to point out to you, a pinch of direct taxation to a certain extent upon us. We have not had it in the same way as it exists in the different States of the Union. And what is there that stands between its and this direct taxation? It is the careful hus- banding of the timber resources of this country, which, if properly and carefully handled and managed ought to be a safe- guard against direct taxation for many years to come. Now, I arraign this Gov- ernment of Ontario with regard to the ad- ministration of these Crown lands that THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CAREFUL of the necessities of the Province of Ontario. In such countries as Germany and other countries in which there are timber forests the greatest care is taken of the preserva- tion of the timber growing in these forests. Care is taken that the young timber is not cut down and wasted by the lumbermen. Care is taken of the forests so that they may take the place of the timber that is cut off and that there may be young trees growing up again. All these things ARE WHOLLY NEGLECTED by the Province of Ontario. No steps whatever are taken for the preservation of the small timber. Lumbermen may enter upon• the timber limits may cut and slash in every direction and destroy every stick of timber. When I say destroy, fell, every stick of timber, carry it off and dispose of it, and no steps have been taken for the purpose of providing for the regrowth of the forests and the planting of these timber reserves so that we may have something to replace the timber that has been cut off. Now, what must be the effect of this policy with regard to that great and important asset of the Province of Ontario? Why, Mr. Chairman, instead of having these magnificent belts of timber stretching over the vast areas of the north-western section of the Province and in the Ottawa Valley, forming the means of regulating the climate of the country, by which the head waters of the streams are supplied, in- stead of having this timber stand- ing or these forests replenished, THEY ARE WASTED AWAY, and instead,I say,of these magnificent tim- ber resources standing there, there is waste and desolation, nothing replacing them whatever. Now, in addition to that, Mr. Chairman, the Government of the day has persistently and systematically refused to consent to allow the representatives of the people in Parliament assembled to have a say with regard to the disposal of the tim- ber limits of this Province. I ask you whether that is in accordance with your ideas of how honest Reform, honest Liber- al, or honest Conservative Government ought to be dealing with such enormous Interests as this, while with regard to the expenditure of fifty or one hundred dollars, under our constitutional system, not one dollar can be taken out of the public treasury unless the people's repre- sentatives in Parliament assembled have by their votes determined that that money shall be expended. Yet, sir, it is in the power, it is in the discretion of the Gov ernment of the day, without the consentof Parliament, to place upon the markets any quantity of the timber limits of this country . WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR REPRESENTA.. TivEs in Parliament. I ask you, Mr. ChairM: Mien and gentlemen, do you think t.' �r,•