Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-10
THE QUEBEC ELECTIONS.


MORE than passing interest attaches
70 the general elections held IN Quebec
on the 0th Inst. In Canadian politics
these elections assumed the form Of a
climacteric. For months the question
asked was, what action will the
Catholic church take In the Provincial
electIons2 II was universally conceI-
ed that the party which the church
espouscd would come out victorious.
Aud so II trnnspires. The Conserva.
tivcs have obtained An overwhelming
triumph, aud Mercior and his Liberal
faction have been absolutely crushed,
by reason Of the pronounced opposition
Of the Romish church.
In early life Mr.. Mercier had been
s,aunch Tory. In 1855 he came Into
prominence by reason OF his emphatic
denunclation Of the execution OF Rlel
In the Northwest. lie assumed the
leadership Of the Nationalist faction,
and on every occasion charged tho
Conservatives with plotting to destroy
the French n,ce and the Roman
Church. He became Premier Of the
Quebec provisional government, and
was supported by n strong majority.
He was also the especial pet Of the
Jesuits, ani posed as the champion OF
his croed, his country sud his race. lie
was tho idol Of the French speaking
people OF Quebec.
Years ago Sir John Mcdonald
granted IA subsidy OF $500, OOj to build
railroad along the Bay Of Chaleurs In
the southern part Of Quebec. The
road was not 6nished, aud the Quebsc
government was peti,loned to com.
pleie It. Premier Mercier, who was q
pronounced advocate Of subsidies for
public works, took the matter In hand.
A subsidy Of 10000 acres Of land com.
mutablo into cash at rs cents an acre
was authorized to be paid to any con.
tractor who would complete the road.
a combine was formed, and Il was
fully shown later on that 800, 900 oil
this deal went into the private pursel
OF Mercler and a confederate named
Pacsud.
a Royal commission was appointed
to investigate the railroad scheme.
On December 10, 1891 report signed
by two members Of the commission
was forwarded 10 Lieutenant Cover.
nor Ausers, stating that Mercier aud
his industry we're undoubtedly guilty
OF crooked transactions The Lieuten.
nnt'Governor immc lately dismissed
Mercier and his colleagues from office.
Mefcier contended that the dismissal
was demonstrations aud the report
not official, because the third member
was not heard from. II was thought |
that minority report would follow.
II did not, the silence was occasloned
by tho illness Of Judge Je.te, the non.
signing member, who concurred sub
s,quontly In the Interior report. IL
was found also that there was prece-
dent for tue dismissal. In 1874, Lord |
Dunerln acted similarly towards Sir
John Mcdonald and his cabinet, aud
In 1873 Governor LeJellier dismissed
the Boucherville ministry.
Mercier then raised the cry ofchurch
and race. II was expected that both
would sustain him. The church did
not, aud At tho elections lac was round.
ly denounced by the prles,s from their
pulpis. II is said, however, that the
church support OF the conservatives
was the result Of contract, by which
the Roman Catholic schools in the
Northwest viii he protected. The
Conservative galued complete vic.
tory, aud their supremacy in Canada
for many day Is now assured.
Mercier does not yet regard himself
a. vsuquished. He contemplatea MAX
ing charges against church authorities
which will he Investigated In Rome.
The Quebec elections may yet be the
prelude TO some queer political compl.