Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-19

/ said to my father: independence
means anneXatiOn-the lesser must be
absorbed by the greater. .....:: -.
From boyhood Mr.. Laurier has been
a great admirer of our form of govern
ment and of our heroes and great men
Reverence for our institutions were
a better word. All through these
speeches. are references to the Unit
ed States and the ethical principles
of our government.
And Mr.. Lauriers friendship for Mr.
Taft together with his support of reel
procity, were factors that went to de.
feat the eX-premier when his oppon.
ent, Mr.. Borden, was elected. ,@:".:
In a speech against the Franchise
Act, April II, 1885, Mr.. Laurier said ::
But our constitution is derived not
only from. british institutions; it is
mainly derived from the American
constitution, and the American con-
stitution has a principle exactly SINH
lar to that which I now advocate. Now
the American constitution is our mod
lei. That constitution has stood the
test of a great civil war 1t has been
amended from time to time, but very
sparingly, and there has not been
to my knowledge any complaint made
against this provision of the consti-
tuticn." ~. ri. .
In the Hansard of 1885, p. .3119. l
find clause formulated by Edward
Blake, then in the house: -. II.
1T IS resolved, That in the admin
istratio1 of northwest affairs by the
present government, prior to the re-
cent outbreak, there have occurred
grave instances of neglect, delay and
m1sma1aSement in matters affecting
the peace, welfare and good govern
ment Of the country" II >~.".
1t was just after the return of fed
eral volunteers from campaign in
the northwest, which cost the coun-
try both blood and millions in money,
that Nj. Laurier made his famous
speech on The Northwest Rebellion"
and closed it with these words: .'
But this | say, and | say 1t coming
from province where, less than so
years ago, every man of the race to
which belong was rebel, and where
today every man of that race is a true
and loyal subject and as loyal as any
that breathes-I say give these men
justice, give them freedom, give them
their rights, tleat them as for the
last 40 years you have treated the
people of Lower Canada. and, by and
by throughout those territories you
will have contentment, peace and har-
mOny where today discord, hatred and
war are running the land"
+ After referring to the leniency
shown rebels in the Civil War, Mr..
Laurier in his speech on the execu-
ton of Louis Riel, said:
In our age, in our civilization,
every single human life is valuable,
and is entitled to protection in the
councils OF the nation It was. 1u-
dicial murder 10 execute him. The
mercy should have been extended to
all the prisoners, Rlel included, be-
cause the rebellion was the result OF
the Eolicy followed by the government
against the haIf-breeds." ....7
In 4 private letter Mr. Laurier tells
me that Lincoln was his early pattern
and ideal; that he had made a study
Of Lincoln's life and career. and tried
to mould his own upon that of our
loved president. If such an admira-
ton for one Of the worlds greatest
men has subjected Mr. Laurier to cri-
ticism, it is only from the small and
narrow,
: AS Canada becomes more homoge-
neous, partizan bitterness is dying out
in a land where American ideals and
Institutions prevail p. !
Collection OF the Principal
SnannnaA MAtt.a IN EarlIan1a nr. Pc