The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-11-10

energetic opponents. He proved TO be a
capital hosi, and und'r his pleasing atten'
lions and the stimulus Il his good humor, the
legislators ats and drank and talked with a
merry activity until the expiration Of the
| two hours during VIII, IN the house stood ad
journed. There was then stampede for the
chamber, aud though | had visited Ottawa
twice before and spent much time IN the
houses of parliament, had now 10 witness
for the first time "A custom which had never
before heard OF, or imagined, in connection
with any legislative assembly. While the
house is mastering for division, or the
commencement OF "a sitting, the speaker, by
an audacious fiction, Is supposed 10 be absent,
though he is there In bodily presence before
the eyes OF all aud at this stage OF
public business shouts arise from all
parts of the house for ''the song, the
song" A member responds quickly TO the
appeal OF his colleagues, and Is joined by
the whole OF them IN u laundering chorus, TO
the evident delight, il not 10 the edtication,
Of the strangers in the gallery. One OF the
sights OF the imperial parliament Is To see
division taken, but at Ottawa you are in
vited to hear one as we'll and such was my
experience when the veteran premier OF the
Dominion. next To whom sat, at Sir Charles
Tupper's dinner, urged me 10 hasten my steps
from the dining room lest should miss this
unique exhibition Of legislative harmony.
Sir Charles Upper has had brilliant po'
litical career, and his success as legislator
is attested by the many important acts which
he introduced and carried through the iegis-
lature of Nova Scotia at an early period OF
his public life, and still more by those with
which his name Is associated in the federal
parliament ut Ottawa. He inaugurated the
movement for the union of the maritime
provinces in 1864, and was instrumental in
securing the union OF Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick with Canada in 1866 In the fed
eral parliament he carried the act prohibit
ing the sale or manufacture OF intoxicating
liquors int he Northwest Territory Of Canada;
the consolidated railway act of 1879; the act
charter to the Canadian Pacific
Railway company in 1881, and in the last
session OF parliament he carried the act by
which the monopoly previously granted TO
the Canadian Pacific railway was abolished.
The appointment of n Canadian as British
minister at Washington would emphasize the
Importance to he attached to the controversy
still pending between the United States and
the Dominion, and might have the best re-
suits in promoting "A better understanding
between the two peoples Such an appoint
ment would be handsome acknowledgement
by Great Britain OF the loyalty OF her
leading colony and could not fail to be
gratifying to Canadians of all parties
But will Great Britain depart so far
from the beaten path of precedent in order
20 consult Canadian pride OF to promote
canadian interests 10 is very doubtful.
ord Salisbury will not he wanting in ad-
,isers who will tell him that such step
would he altogether irregular and even i'm
proper, and some needy arstocrat ignorant |
If the ways of the Americans and Canadians |
nay be preferred to man thoroughly versed !
n public affairs and possessed of that practi |
al good sense and sound experience which |
ire the first requisites for success in dealing |
With the people of this continent. Howsoever |
tatesmen may differ or partisans quarrel, be-
ieve the American and Canadian peoples are |
lrawing closer to each other every day, and !
hat there will be union of hearts IL not of |
erritores Their interests are intermingled |
nd destined to be, at no distant day, in
eparable, and the bond Of . common Ian
uage and a common literature will survive
vhen political divisions have been obliterated
nd political unions have lost their signi
cance. The fitness Of Sir Charles Upper to
axe a leading part in promoting the friendly !
citations OF the two countries Is shown by |
he admirable manner in which he avoided |
rap similar in every respect to that into
which Lord Sackville fell. He, too, was in
'ited TO express an opinion on the presidential
lection, but he quickly informed his cor
espondent that in his position it would be
ntirely too delicate matter for him to in
erfere in the politics of this great ration.
O'CoNNoR POWER.