Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-25

| Count H0nore MERCER now famous ad
dress to more than 1000 people at the
Bonsecours market place in Montreal.
He spoke in French, and such wild enthu-
siasm of the audience | had never wit
messed"
How came he to be a count" inter
rupted the reporter.
"a year or two ago the then Mr.. Mer-
cier was in Europe and took occasion to
visit the pope. The pope kindly enouired
whether there was any favor he could
bestow upon the premier of Quebec The
premier, on Bonded knee before the pope,
replied that he would be glad to accept
some favor which would count with
-he people of Quebec. Whareupon the
pope at once exclaimed Rise Count
Honore MERCER. | will not vouch for
the truthfulness of this story, which
heard In the streets of Montreal; but while
he retains his dignity as count he has
been dis counted politically"
"Why was he discharged?"
"Mercier has been premier during the
past years. He is liberal and began
with majority of 10 in parliament, which
increased to majority of 25. The con-
servatives have for some time been max
ing violent charges against him
and his ministry for extravagant
expenditures, for corruption and hood
ling. Indeed, steal of 100000 by Pc
caud and Armstrong was distinctly
shown. Mercier does not deny this, but
claims that it was done during his alb
sence in Europe, that he at once de
nounced it, and that he and his colleagues
have been making every possible effort
TO recover the monev and punish the
criminals. The government appointed a
royal commission of three judges to in
vestlgate the matter and about the l4th
or 18th of this month two of the judges
conservatives, made an interim
report to Lieutenant Governor An
giers damaging to the ministry
but not tracing corruption directly to it.
The third judge, Jette, liberal, was taken
sick and did not sign the report, but it i s
known that he addressed private note to
the lieutenant governor. Of this private
note Mercier has demanded a copy, but
the lieutenant governor fatty refuses to
furnish it. Mercier insists that the note
Is in his favor, claiming that if it was
against him the lieutenant governor
would not fail to publish it. On the 10Th
Lieutenant Governor Angler addressed a
letter to the prime minister withdrawing
from him his confidence and
retiring him and his colleagues from
further responsibility as members of tho
executive council On his retirement
Count MERCER addressed reply to the
lieutenant governor, rebuking him in
most violent and scathing language, end
ing by saying that he should soon go be-
fore the people and receive from its strong
and powerful hands new madate which
should enable him to resume in the legisla-
ture the position from which he has been
driven and to chase the lieutenant gov
ernor constitutionaily but surely from
Spencer Wood The lieutenant governor
invited Mr.. De Boucherville tc
form new cabinet mission
upon which he is now at work. Parlia
ment is called for the 29th of this month
1t will sustain Count MERCER and vote
want of confidence in De Boucherville
The lieutenant governor will then dissolve
parliament and appeal to the people
through new elections. If the elections
MERCER would return with more than q
majority in the parliament of IS members
but the lieutenant governor will probably
postpone the elections until March, 50 as t.
give the excitement time to abatt
and to give the conservative
time to still further blacker
Mercier's character. 1t will be one of thu
most exciting campaigns ever witnessed
on this continent, and the DEMOCRAT may
| have to chronicle bloody scenes in thu
province of Quebec before the next premiel
is elected
"Was the discharge of MERCER constitu
tional?"
eyes and no. Theoretically the quee,
has the night to appoint her ministers; bu
this right, if it may be so called, has no
been exercised in England or in her de
tendencies for the last 200 years. A prac
tice having been so long established ma,
be regarded as having become law ant
such high handed conduct / am sur
would not be tolerated in England, and
| doubt whether it would be brooked in an,
other British American province TIL
lieutenant governor should have waitet
until he could have laid the matter befor
parliament and then dissolve and appea
to the electors in the usual manner. Thi
seems to be the opinion of the Englisl
press on the subject, so far as | can judg
from the short kilograms which hav
read"
81 said that this right has not been ex
ercised in the past 200 years; but to thi
there is a most remarkable exception, ant
strange to say it involves the same person.
now in conflict. In 1878, De Bouchervill'
was prime minister and Letellier was lieu