The morning call., 1894-10-31

them, speaking fifty of sixty times in the
course of the campaign. throwing oil upon
the fire of indignation which was already
burning fercely and in word SO taking
advantage of the situation and marshaling
the forces at his disposal that when the
elections came the Liberals had a small
ajority, which. however, was sufficient
to bring Mercier into power.
At once upon being made Premier OF
Quebec Mercier began to strengthen his
position, and so successful was he that his
party was returned to power in 1890 with
a majority in the Dominion Parliament of
26. The elections, successful though they
had been for Mercier, had cost a great
deal-$20O, 600 or $500. 900 at least-and the
Canadian Pacific Railroad people. who had
put out this money were, clamorIng for the
subsidies which had been promised them.
Money had been spent like water and the
spring was running dry. 1t was necessary
to do something promptly, and Mercier de-
termined that large loan from France
would be the best way out of the difficulty.
Accordingly. he asked for and obtained
the authorization of Parliament to raise
$40, 600, 900 in Paris, and sailed for Europe
to carry out this and other objects dear to
his heart. He did not raise the entire
sum. but the $4o0o.oOo which he got as a
temporary loan would have done much TO
tide over the immediate necessities had
not the whole structure of his power and
fame suddenly tottered and crumbled into
ashes like breath.
Mercier returned from Europe in Aug
ust, 1891, and was received in Montreal by
the largest gathering the city had ever
seen and the most enthusiastic. Mercier
rose in reply to the cries and acclamations,
but 1t was soon discovered that he was in
no condition to speak, and, to the surprise
and sorrow of every one. he was taken
away helpless and maudlin by his friends.
That was the beginning of the end. A
week later the first of the scandals with
which his name has been connected burst
like a bombshell upon the province, and
the people who had idolZed Mercier
learned the details of the Bale des Chaleurs
jObbery transaction, in which. as was
proved beyond any question. 100000 of
railroad appropriation for $175,000 went
into the private pockets of Premier Mer-
cier, Ernest Pacaud, his chief faetotum,
AttOrney-General Robidoux and Provin-
cial Secretary Langlier. 1t was sho wn
the public treasury we're arranged at the
Hotel Brunswick. in New York, the day
before Mercier sailed for Europe.
Hearing of this scandal Lieutenant
Governor Anglers asked an explanation of
Premier Mercier. and not being satisfied
with the one offered appointed a royal
commission to look into the matter For
three months, during the fall Of 1891, this
commission was in session trying to deter
mine the truth or falsity of the charges
against Mercier, who denied everything.
During that time the Govern
or's flag did not float over the Parliament
building, and all communication between
the representative of Queen Victoria and
the Premier Of Quebec came to an end.
The wheels of government machinery
stopped turning and The whole province
was in state of wild excitement.
The last straw which broke Mercier's
reputation and turned the whole hesitat-
ing tide of feeling against him was the
publication in the Toronto Empire of what
is known as the "Whelan" scandal Here
it was proved that the sum of S115, 900 mad
been diverted from an appropriation of
about $500.000 for the Quebec Courthouse
into the private treasury of Mereier, Pa
caud, Robdoux & Co., the company" in
cluding a number of gentlemen IN high
position against whom serious charges of
public dishonesty have been made but not
fully proven.
The result of this second exposure was
that Lieutenant Governor Angers at once
dismissed his Ministers, along with the
now disgraced Premier and called upon
the Hon. c. d. De Boucherville to form a
new Government. The latter asked and
obtained a dissolution in January, 1892. in
order that the will OF the people might be
unquestionably expressed in new cleo
ton. The campaign lasted about two
months and the result was that Mercier
was overwhelmingly defeated, only eigh-
teen of his supporters being returned and
not a single member of bis Cabinet having
a majority. Only Mercier himself was re-
elected from the county of Bonaventure.