The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-31

bee BY the largest following ever accorded
10 public man in his provinces. Since
that period he has been the veriiabie Idol
OF French Canadianism. He has posed as
the champion Of the national and religious
rights OF his fellow conntrymen, and was
anec;ionately regarded by them - an
eHfaat da sol. he had honors without
NUMBER shosered upon him by the tatl-
can. including his creation as a count Of
the holy Roman empire. He had before
him a career full Of promise OF remarka-
bic ability. and possessed o. personal mag
neiisn, he vas recognized by political
friends and foes alike a. the natural
leader Of MS nationality. He has fallen
q victim to over confidence IN his
own powers, 10 the temptation OF office.
10 the aiiurements OF pleasure and 10 the
uuprlncipied conduct OF his immediate
entrurage. From abjecs poverty ne found
himself suddenly lifted to an equality
with the trst men Of the land. railway
magpates, merchants. bankers and manu-
faclurers. Stare banquefs, petsts soupsrs
and other incidents of high life, were more
than be could stand. physically or men
tally. or paw for out OF hss official salary
of s.. 600 year. Recent deve opments BY
the royal commission of inquiry have
elected the fact that nearly 81 O00. 600 of
public money. the property OF the PROV
inee, has found its way into the pockets OF
the intimate friends Of the ex-prsmier
Principally the I.angelier brothers and
Ernest Pacsud. Mercier himself bought
valuable properties ia Montreal, Quebec
and elsewhere. lie travelled by special
trains. entertained ike a prince and drove
imported horses. TIE attention of Lieut.
5000 robbery In connection with the
subsidy 20 the Bale des Chsleurs
railway. Explanations were demanded
and a royal commission Of inquiry insisted
upon. On the finding OF the commission
the lieutenant governor dismissed his
ministers, summoned a new set of ai-
yisers, and then dissolved the house, send
Ing the members back TO their constitu-
encies. thus Appearing to the popular vote
TO sustain hin. Had the popular vote re-
fused 10 ratify the change the lieutenant
governor would have been driven from
Office or deadlock would have ensued. IL
was life and death battle. Aercier and
his followers were confident Of success 20
the last Mercier was the ideal of the peo-
pie. and though some of them had openly
repudiassd him on account of the findings
OF the royal commission, he believed that
the masses of electors were still his
friends. Many of tie leading Conserva-
tives dreaded UP TO the very close
of The polls at the March election that
the radical and religious prejudice Of
the French C an adams in the rural
districts would bind them 10 the political
crime aud moral iurpitude OF their recog-
niEed leader. Their fears were as un-
founded as were the hopes OF the MERCER
ties. The habitant realized that while
MERCER Was appealing TO his prejudices he
Was pocketing ais pstrsmony, and so he
voted 10 shatter his deceptive idol and in
dorsed the lieutenant governor in appar-
ensly stretching the constitution TO I'd
himself Of a dishonest administration.
The English-speaking Canadians we're viz
taally untt. and sufficient honesty and in
dependence VAS shown by Jean Baptiste"
to more than assist the English voters
In turning the scale. Mereier's name
wss mentioned in another scandal
some years ago. About ten years ago
J. +. Whelan. OF Montreal, was given a
contract for the erection OF = courthouse
81 Quebec. 20 cost $40 ,oco. By June. Is;so.
500. 600 had been expended and loud de-
mAnds were being MADE for $50, coo more.
An investigation followed. Nhelan On
the witness stand said $l0eo has been
paid "bootiers" 20 prevent the rejection in
the house Of large claim. Later il vas
proved that Paeaud received the money.
bat the latter would not dtvalge the name
Of the party TO whom he rald H.. Iele-
grams signed by Mereier and giving
grounds Tor suspicion ihss he had been
Interested in the transaction we're pro-
daced In court