New-York tribune., 1877-03-14
A CINIDIAN ELECTION.

MONTREAL
lrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
NoxrpF A.. Canada March 0.-We Canadians have
felt such deep interest in the great struggle JUST
so satisfactorily finished your side OF the border,
that think the Americans may ieei some interest III
a case occupying Canada at the present moment anu
which is of far greater import than would impress
the indifferent observer. i refer to the contes'eu
eoction in the district of Charevox in this province.
little over year ago very hotly fought eecfioh
took place there between Mr. Hector Langevin Con
seryative). and Mr.. Trembay GiberaD. which re-
shifted in Mr.. Langeyin being sent to the Dominion
House Of Commons But his seat there proved itself
ANYTHING bat a comfortable one and has just been
ruthlesslv pulIed from under him. All this would
not be worth the writing since contest Is usually
fbe seque TO an election in Canada, II it did not IN
yolve certain action and questions which VIII make
IT, believe a marking-StOnc in the history OF DO
mnion politics.
When the first attempt was made last year to un-
seat Mr. Langevin, fraud, bribery and so on were
pleaded against him; and here let lie tell OF some
petit practice which for cuteness would 40 credit TO
the traditional Yankee. 1t is undoubtedly true that
much money was spent at Charlcy0ix, but oh SAD 10
relate. there is a low whispe" going arOdnd that the
dsbursers used broken bank bills wherewith 10 pay
their debts Of honor. Think of the hopelessness Oh
such a transaction Fancy suclng man Tor paying
for your vote in Illegal currency. Mas rereRons
nos mostoas, Mr.. Langevin has been unseated and
charged with costs. However IT is not OF the result
bt of the means used to prevent ii, OF which WISH
70 write Now you must know that the Bishop of
Rimouski in Charlcvoix is Mr.. LIS Sbrother and, like
too many Of the clergy of Lower Canada, tries to
hold the balance of power in his own hands. Conse-
ouently. when the case was decided against
1,ig hrnth har "
then bv appeal taken before the Supreme Court OF
tbc Dominion Bishop. Langeyn issued n mdRdenent
threatening TO deprive of the privileges oi tie
Chutchs ali who supported Judge CasauIt in his decl-
SION Nothing c0uld have been bolder or more aTro-
CANT than the tone Of tins m0ndemeni and dare say
il had its weight with such as could read 1t OF his
moor ipuoraut parislioHers. Bat beyond this save
bv those in the IlltramOUtane party, il met with
the defiance and contempt it deserved. 1t was plen-
tifuy bcsfrcWn with biblical and papal authority,
and heavy Latin quotations, and III terms plain ana
round Le threatened accommodation and daina-
tio, 70 all who needed not lis voice. lie proclaimed
that the Church was aboyO the law. and that he
who oboycd the latcer in preference to the former
WIS an outcast and renegade, without religious
rights or hopes.
Naturally this drew n storm about his Episcopal
crown from all parts OF the Dominion. Except
for few savish journals in this province, the press,
almost unanimously. discOuntcnanced in blOadeSt
tc.ins this olici,as aud impudcnt mrddling. Even
the clcrgy-Saye hs immediate followers aud fellow
tlinkers-secaod startled by the boldueSS of lils
move. and as open warfare Is seldom tic policy OF
the Catholic Church uiward and seeming fcgret
for the step is expressed by many. What their real
feelings are il IS hayd 10 cl. Bat sUch an outbreak
serves good end. Just rs think the Catholics Of
the United States did themselves a bad turn in their
war upon your public school sy'sten they in both
eases showed their hand, too soun1 The Liberal
party presented an mbYOkru front against this high
authority The following extract from Tie UHae9s
Of this city gives Ia.r idea of the view taken by
tie party whose political views 1he u iiness ex-
presses:
bishop Langcyin had better take care There ia
h.hcr eccosiastic 'hap mn IA tins pro{ircg' 'rd he
90 " t,i' H., ,.5,,i. -, ~ NJ -, ~.
n!r Su:irnN mn" hm,t'r 'f',iyi 9. nc Iny - mr.
Ar,hbisipri 'c'f'6"s pfti 1D3-apd GiS bisl"irc
d-'t" h-S '"o ga 'F.''Y''""' = 10 '., "'5'' ~
ctacr br. in virtue of iis jeyrau,e ~ Iiishop
LEeey.ua tod thu the priests ia his dioces =
hN.nC% H' ii5 10 say "d icl 49, ~ Pi..'7e ~ tl,g
llo"s Jtcre Is only 0ne iiit '..iCsiW ~ ine way
communication by tie I;,nop oi Elma@s6 Isnp. scy %
slEe il judges aua !. n- N0r- came to O." worst tGe
bishops be nominated ry the Queen caic being taken
anal tly held such Opinions a. would not Dru-- them
INTO collision with tho law and tic judges.
final snab has been administered by the ST.
prcine Court which has decided IN tins cisc-wheh
establishes a pgeccdout-that the only political
right a cleJ gyuan Las is to vote and that any ill.,
t:;nidlion At his hands is unlawful as from any
other source. The same contestant, arc again in the
field, and il remains 10 DE yet which comes of
best. The protcstauts of the Province of Quebec
wait patiently. Lnowin. That clerical interference
- an evil which VIII oi necessity cure Itself.
While this case ASSUMES certain dignity from
the gagencsa of ,hc question TO be decided have
another. Illustrative Of Canadian politics of the
present day, which ] must sketch briefly for the
benefit Of your readers But ~ the details
Of the case would be Of only little interest
to them, | leave them out. ! only allude to
it at all to show you that yours is not the only
country in which '.bnlldozing" is practiced. In Il
certain district there has lately been held an cleo
tion to fill vacancy in oar provincial Parliament,
and there is certain gentleman 10y the name of
Tartc in Quebec, who found the people of this dis
trict not quite pi-ously inclined as he could have
wished. He wanted to 20 to Parliament and the
cure wished to have him go, they laid their heads
together, and rs result he went. THIS was their
little device. Now perhaps your readers do not
know that political speeches are usually made at
the church door, after Mass has been said but such
is the case. Now, Mr. Tarte was promptly upon the
ground one Sunday not long ago but perhaps through
iaIlure to notify TO him. his opponent was not
so the good cure said to his people. Since Mr. - is
not here to defend himself his side in the argument
must not be unrcpresented. / will argue for him."
His parishioDeis knowing full well that the cure
and Mr. TaFte were OF one mind, looked admirngly
upon the holy man, murnured "What stern Justice p.
and prepared to listcrn. Mr. Tare spoke. The cure
rcfuted his argument, but to little avail The elo-
ouent Tarte completely overpowered him. He was
discounted, aud finally said, at is of no use
Mr.. Tarte plainly shows himself the better
orator aud with the best position, lhat must give
up" Then the parlshiOners said. WHAT eoquencc,