LL

(erce of the Empire would be exercised În our. favor in the event of our being {nvolved in war in consequence of Imperial policy, we had every reason to suppose that she would treat us in such circumstances in the fairest and most liberal spirit. (Hear, hear.) If the country was to be made a battle ground, it would as a matter of course be solely as the result of Imperial policy; but he (Hon. Mr. Gait) did not see that their was any foundation on which to grou:d a belief that the whole face [force] of the Empire would not be placed at our disposal in case of danger. It should not be forgotten that our abilities to meet the exigencies of war, along the immense line of frontier which we possess, would almost cease the moment that war was actually declared. (Hear, hear.) A great deal had been said about the doctrines urged by

aot the men who held the destinies of the Empire in their hands. As forming part of the Empire we should be prepared to share in her difficulties as well as her “prosperity. If the mother country were assailed, we should not and we would not stand by with folded arms (Hear, hear). But, on the other hand, we were entitled to expect in the hour of danger, from the mother country, that support and assistance .to which we were entitled and which we had always received. Those who said, in the House of Commons, that ‘Canada would receive no assistance were also those who maintained that England should have no colonies. Their doctrine relative to Canads was therefore part of their system and policy. It was pretended by them that we ceceived the protection of England’s fleet. We should, however, bear in mind that our land frontier was a great source of danzer to us; and it was in the defence of that frontier that our difficulties mainly existed......(74)

Hon. Mr. ROSE:....The measure now before the House was of a comprehensive aature, inasmuch as if it were carried out to the extent proposed it would affect considerably the finances of the country. It was one which should led. them to consider what was due from the Imperial Government to the colony, and what was due from the colony to the à TU ee

g qo%ter country. Lord GREY was al cales b4$

before the committee, and he endorsed to the fullest ‘extent the views he held as te LÉ. dm 67)— the duty which he maintained, at the period Lord Elgin was governor General of ik È : Canada, rested on England in the event of war to defend the colonies with all he £ anada resources. Lord Grey said he considered that the British Coianial Empire ought te LES ver be maintained principally, because he believed that much of the power and influence É f En- Of England were derived from her colonial Possessions, and because also of the assis- ë r the tance she might expect from them jn return, This view Was expressed in Lord E Fr olicy, Greÿ’s work on Colonial Connection, written S0M years ago, and which he repeated + ; ire as time since before the Committee of the House of Comnmons—Lord GREY in à des: L

patch to Lord Elgin referring to the same subj only to provide for the Governor’s salary,

but {0 aid in the construction of tbe Hab.

fax Railway, and this in order that Canada might at all Seasons of the year be Within k. 1 the reach of the aid which England, in Case of war, would be ready to afford. Ang k t one when examined before a Committee he was asked if the mother country derived any Ê under Advantage from the Colonies which should lead the former to expend money upon L d by their defence, he said he could not see what reason the Colonies would have te conti. | ht nue their allegiance unless they received the Protection which would guarantee thetr Ë vould safety in time of trouble, Mr GLADSTONE, it was true bad said on the same oces- le | This sion that in his view the Colonies should be Drimarily responsible fer their own de- hi N the fence, but he then went on to say that the subject ought not to be viewed simply î» j ished the light of the national balance sheet, It was Proper we should ou & 4 nples duty in case of need; but at the same time it was proper we should also know what j jh :s no we might expect from the mother country, The reason why the feeling that Cansds LS The should provide for its °wn defence, had grown 50 much in England of late, was that + ither it had been jumbled with the other Colonies Without censidering the fact that its dis- case was quite peculiar, It Was now intended to limit the whole military expenditure j .. on the Colonies to £4,000,000, of which only £400,000 was expended upon the North. rhole American Colonies, of which the Canadian Proportion if Properly analysed was ; ing than £200,000. Now, Australia and the Mauritius cost sums for defenes and s0 did pose the West Indies, but Canada should not be mixed up with them, and the 40 or 60 other pirit. colonies of Great Britain. Cansda had maintained order at the fisheries and had > of faithfully performed her part of the contract with the mother Country, {in respect ef t sce providing the means of securing peace and quiet on her own border...... (75) Bd Mr. LANGEVIN 5... even Canada was to be an independent a country — and everything pointed to such a destiny in Proper time — jt Was neces- Fa sary that, even Without reference to the threatening aspects of the time, we should | by gradually place ourselves in the condition to meet such a state ef things...... (75) hose Le 20 mai, le ministère fat défait sur la deuxième lecture du biu hs par 61 voix contre 54, Le 22, il s’éleva un court débat sur la crise miher nistérielle. Je me borne à en extraire cette déclaration intéressante du colonel Haultain :— (] ince COL. HAULTAIN :—...... ‘tteeeses...lt was understood that certain resolutions , in were to have been Proposed by an hon. gentleman on that side, who desire of the Opposition to place the Militia service of the Ceuntry [on] an efficient ads footing (Cheers). The resolutions were expressive of devoted loyalty to our Most we Gracious Sovereign the Queen — (cheers) — and expressed the determination to do that all that was possible to render the defence of the Country efficient, and to maintais that our connection with the mother country, (Renewed cheers) Much, however, to the

surprise of meny honorable gentlemen on the Opposition side ef the H the

£] measure was put to the vote Without these resolutions being placed before the sive House...... (118)

Les ministres démissionnérent le 23 mai et le cabinet McDonald. Steotte fut formé le lendemain. Le 26, un débat s'éleva sur “la politique da nouveau gouvernement” !—

policy. (Hear, hear.) (120)......

tteoeronsesesses We were willing to help Canada to carry out the plodge given Run sP'iteh nation that the whole power of the Empire would bo exerteé bre ner et of foreisn invasion; but what can we think of men who will not eue eus oeiL 2e Drinciple of a measure to enable them to fight fer their own libertin durs Seal De Da 078 country... Now is the time for organisation, and that mens would be a traitor to the best in of the country, who would not urge by argument je 407. vote, and by every means in his power, the necessity of immediats en ment te defend our country, and ourselves. (121)

HON. Mr, LORANGER Pen irrtressmmec ose The present Government would take means under the existing law for the military defence of the country, and when the hon, member from Kingston attempted to place such a construction in what he (Mr. Loranger) had stated, as that nothing would be done for the defence ef the

the :

what they wanted was a Militin Bill in harmony with the wishes and the resources of the country. (Hear, hear... (121)

Le colonel Rankin prononça, à cette séance, un discours qui fut

officielle des débats, en reproduisit, aprés la clôture de la session, le texte intégral qui fut ajouté à la série des comptes rendus compilés.

consequence

If war had grown out of that unfortunate affair, we, the people of Canada, regardless of all selfish considerations, and animated by sentiments of generous devotion to that flag which is the emblem of so many glorlous recollections, would have rushed to arms as one :nan in the cause of England's honor; but, Mr. Speaker, if war had taken place, we Canadians, after that war was ended, and every town and village in our country had been reduced to ashes, or levelled with the ground, would doubtless have been “thanked”’ for our “loyalty” and then bermitted to rebuild eur homes and repair our ruined fortunes as best we might, consoled by the reflec-

Mr. Speaker, I claim to be behind no man in point of attachment to British institutions and “real” loyalty to the Crown, but, Sir, loyalty is one thing, and “servi. lity” is another, and in this coun 1 regret to say, tae latter quality is sometimes mistaken for the former. Experience is a reliable, though sometimes a harsh ins-

.ructor. I well remember, Sir, when fn times of trouble, caused by the armed insurrection of 1837, In this country I, in common with thousunds of others, and the hon. member for Peel (1) will bear me out in what I am about to say, for he

(1) Hen. J. H, Cameron.

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