Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-01-22
Politics In Canada.
The Outs and INSTRUMENTATION Day-How
Nominations are Made-GrIts and Tories
How Ballots are obtained-Mo OF
BaIloting, &c.


INeERsoLL, ONTARIO, Jan. IL. 1875.
Mr.. EpIToR:-Stopin at this point
for day or two, and having leisure
moment | will drop you line from this
fine Canadian town, one of the many
thrifty business places one will notice on
the Great Western railroad running from
Suspension bridge to Detroit. Canada
West does not seem to need any reci-
procity treaty to assist in developing its
resources, having all the needful ele-
ments to steady, healthful growth to
be found in first-rate agricultural coun-
try, and an enterprising and intelligent
population. This is nomination day 4"
and next Monday, one week hence, is to
be held the election of representatives
to the provincial legislature. Candi-
dates are numerous and political excite.
ment runs high. / have never seen any
thing at any of our presidential elections
equal to what have seen here to-day
over a local affair which corresponds
with our state elections. The town has
been thronged with the voters of the
south riding" as it is called, or the
south district of Oxford Co. 1t has
been impossible to get hold of any of
the business men to transact any bust
ness, and it is only nomination day. To
an outsider, foreigner from Bellows
Falls, VT, all this seems ridiculous, only
strife of the ins to keep in and the outs
to get in, of course / am unable to COM
prehend the momentous interests at
stake. | know the meaning of the terms
democrat and republican as applied to
parties in the states, but how can | at
tach the proper Specification to the terms
applied to parties here; here are your
reformers or liberals who are the " ins
with their radical wing who are styled
grits, and the conservatives who are at
present the outs, who also have radical
subdivision called tories. The conserv-
atives are the sore heads and were in
power during our war for the life of our
nation, and sympathized strongly with
the south, but the corruptions of the
men in power in connection with the
Canada Pacific railroad, and the general
feathering of nests with the proceeds aris-
ing from government subsidies, and the
sale of public lands, together with the
Manitoba troubles, and the failure of the
government to arrest and hang the rebel
Riel, were too much for the people, and
the gritty reformers took the reins and
seem to have grit enough to hold on to
them. l have been very much interest
ed in seeing how men are put in nomina-
ton here. For the past fortnight voters
have been putting forward their friends
as candidates for nomination, who have
circulated their printed addresses, a copy
of one | enclose to you. To-day the
voters assembled to hear speech from
each Candidate, and some ten or twelve
aspirants of all parties have appeared
and said their little piece have advo-
Gated each their own claims to nomina-
ton over those of their rivals seated
around them on the platform; have
been examined from head to foot beg
ged the voters to stand by them on
next Monday, and each having left
himself in the hands of his friends,
have made their bow and stepped down
and out, each receiving about au equal
share of applause and Kisses. The nom.
nations we're made by printed ballots
those candidates who found themselves
not running well Withdrawing "tilI
three reformers and one conservative >
were declared in nomination.
Strictly speaking, Canada does not al
low universal suffrage. A man to BIZ
qualified to vote must be the owner o.
property, or he must pay an annual rem
tai of not less than 800 or earn a salary
of $3.50 The laws, however, are easily
evaded and the farmers sons must rent &
piece of land of the old gent. or look gu
that they get their $3.50 in some way
e easily managed. When polling day
comes the tickets are furnished by gov
eminent. The candidates are not mulck
ed for funds to print tickets and "pa,
the incidentals you know" The system
of voting in vogue here think bette
than ours. All the candidates name
are printed on each ballot, and vote
to exercise his right of suffrage must g
through an ordeal almost equal to an in
itiation into lodge of the Sons of Nal
ia. He approaches the ballot clerk an
gives his name, if found recorded as
. voter, he receives a single ballot, an
, passes alone into an ante room where il
secret he makes mark or cross agains
the name of his candidate, the rest be
: ing left blank, he then passes through t
J, the polling clerk, who deposits his ballo
1 and records his name, making it impos
It sible to bring any brow-beating pressur
n to bear upon the voter, or even for it t