The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-11


tinent. but all over the world, continuing
till 1885, when the pendulum began 10
swing in the other direction Prosperity
and full dinner pals were the features
of the day.
AT the general election, which took
place in the year last mentioned,
another special, or side issue was
sprung upon the electorate and, like the
Pacific Scandal of twenty-five years
before, succeeded in landing the Liberal
party once more on the treasury benches.
During five years preceding this general
election an agitation had been in opera
ton which stirred the Dominion from end
to end. The Liberals, who were in power
in the province of Manitoba, had passed
law abolishing separate schools. A cry
was made for its disallowance by the
Dominion government. This was refused
I'LL decree was issued from the PriYy
Council in England, based on the fact
that the Catholics had been deprived Of
a privilege or right that they had pre-
vious to confederation, and, if the province
refused to restore such right the Domin-
ion government should interfere and pass
such legislation. Sir Charles Upper, who
was then premier, complied with this de-
cree and introduced an act to meet the
case. This act was a part of his policy
submitted for the approval of his peo-
pie at the general election in 1886. 1t was
very distastefuI to the ultra rotestants
among the supporters of the government.
Sir Wilfrid Laurter, as leader Of the
opposition, persuaded the French Catho-
lies of Quebec that the act did not go far
enough and that if he were elected to
power he would give the Catholics full
justice. By this promise he secured the
solid vote of Quebec and by the detection
Of uitra-Protestants in the other prov
inces the Liberals were again landed into
power.
For eighteen years the Liberals had
been crying for free trade as they
have it in England" complaining of the
extravaganza of Conservative rule;
promising economy and great reduction
in general taxation. However, upon sue
ceeding to power they almost completely
reversed in practice their protested policy
when in opposition The National
Policy of protection which had been de-
scribed as a monstrous measure to be
crushed out root and branch, was. under
the persuasions of the manufacturers
found to only require a little trim
ming to make it all right; the accusa-
tions of extravaganza were laid aside al
together, and instead of the expenses be-
ing reduced from three to five millions
annually, as they promised should be
done, they were increased from thirty
eight to ffty-One millions; to RAILWAYS
they became more generous in the way
of cash and land bonuses than the Con-
servatives had ever been-against whom
one of the strongest charges of the Lib
e'als had been extravaganza in this
respect, Altogether, it seemed to the
intelligent and dispassionate observer of
Canadian affairs that ON the. first oppor-
tunity the people would surely shuH the
Liberal party from power The opDo--
rtunitye came on "Wednesday last, the 'oc-
caston of the general election; but they
did not do 1t; on the contrary, they re-
newed the lease of power with quite as
strong. .Inajqrftgs as It had tn the late
parliament. Ontario, the New York
state of Canada, gave a large majority
against the government The western
part of the Dominion also pronounced adj
versely. The Maritime provinces, as
whole, favored the government; but an
easy analysis shows that it is to the
French province of Quebec that the gov
eminent owes it's life-which went prac-
tically solid that way. and unques-
donably for the reason that the pre-
mier himself is a French Canadian. The
Liberal government of Canada. then, con-
tinues to hold power, not because its |
policy has really been approved of at the |
polls, but because the French province |
approves of a French premier. 1t, !
therefore, comes to this: One province, |
containing about quarter of the popu- |
lation, rules the Dominion This, how
ever, is no new experience for Canada |
and it bids fair to long be an ever pres
ent possibility