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A CANADIAN PARTY. The Platform of the Liberals of Canada. Tariff Reformation Looking to Free Tr: Government, the Vital Features Splendid Platform. Ottawa, June 20.--(Speeial0-The great- est political gathering ever held in Chrn- ada began Ms sessions here to-day. The weather was sultry, almost past endur- ance. The thermometer in the building stood at 105. It furnished a. notable proof ot the passion tor politics that is so strong 8. mm in the Anglo-Saxon nature that between 8,500 and 4000 people should sit tor three sweltering hours, packed like nrdlnes in a. box, paying the strictest at- tenuon to the Preliminaries to the remark- able gathering. One would have thought that on such a day the attractions ot the deep shade and the breezes from the cool reaches ot the river would have drawn many ot the delegates from the furnace air in the rink. But, no ; the warmth of their enthusiasm refused to be exceeded DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. by any tomdlty that this climate can fur- nish. They came, and came early, and came 1n thousaauls, and stayed till they were positive that nothing more would be done until 8 o’clock. It was precisely 2.30 pm. when President MacLean of the Ottwwa Reform associen Mon advanced to the from: of the plat- form and said t--"Gentlemen, you will come to ordem" Immediately quiet fell upon the great gathering. When Mr. MacLean had Invited all Re- form members of the privy council and members and ex-memlbers of Liberal gov- emmants to make seats upon the platform, he lNMmated that there would be no tur- ther preliminaries. and that a resolution would be moved. There was a. tremendous outburst of genuine enthusiasm as Mr. Laurler arose. It was several moments before the cheer- ing subsided. and then the leader said c-- “Gentlemen, we have the good fortune to have amongst us to-day, among this vast audience, one who is a veteran in the Hon. W. S. FIELDING, premier of Nova Scocia. Sm OLIVER Mowar, Premier of Ontario. cause of reform, who has been associated with all movements that have taken place in the last 80 years tor the advancement ot the people of Oanada. who has been the successful leader of the Liberal party in the banner province of the Dominion. I theretore submit for your choice as chair- man of this convention Str Olive: Mowat, premier of the province of Ontario. (Great Applause.) I may say that this motion is seconded by the Hon. Mr. Merchani lead- er of the opposition in the province ot Quebec, All in favor of the motion win say ' Aye.' FF The response was so prompt and unanimous that Mr. Laurier did not consider it necessary to ask if there was any opposition. . There was more cheering when Sir ou- ver Mowat wine forward. He said :-" Mr. Lauder and geatlermsm-d thank you tor the great honor you do me in calling on me ', in calling on me, I suppose I may say unanimously, to preside at the great con- vention of {the Liberals of Gamma. I con- gratulate‘ you, loyal as I know you are, that you have selected tor this great con- vention the annivemry of the accession ot our most gracious Queen. I hope that the Reform panty may be in power as long as heromahrsty has reigned over the British empire. (Applause) When I was informed that it was the intention to sug- gest my name as chairman ot this great convention. I thought it best to put in writing what I thought it was titutur to say on this occasion. and I propose now to do what I am not. in the habit of daiotr-uto try and read no you t sub- nuance 0! what ' m: put dawn to Free Trade and Honest ital Features of a have in my time been important conven- tions of the Liberals of my own province. and with good results. The present is the tlrst convention of the Liberals of all Canada. since confederation. I hope and believe that good results will come of this convention, also in consolidating the par- ty for its patriotic work, and preparing tor victory at the new: general eleotlon. In this work we have the comfort of knowing that there are good grounds for the hope that, with proper effort on our part meanwhile, the next general election will place at the head of Canadian feder- al attains the distinguished Canadian wl-ro is our cherish-ed Dominion leader, whom all men, without distinction of party or race, admire, whose purity of purpose and conduct all recognize. and who has the well-rounded confidence in all respects ot the Liberal party. A prospeot so hopeful to bur country may well animate every one of us to the greatest possible exer- tion for its realization. The provinces of rllhe Dominion are bound together by a common constitution, and a common rela- tion ‘to the empire whose citizens we are, and the representatives of the Liberal party of every province have met to-day m take counsel as to the best devisable polLey for the Liberals of all Canada to pursue as a party, in order to ithe largest practicable prosperity and greatest pos- sible well-being in all respects of every province of the Dominion, and therein of the Dominion as a whole. Ontario Liber.. als are not for Ontario only ; are we, my friends? And Quebec Liberals, though they like Quebec much, are not for Que- bec only. Is it not so, my brothers of Quebec? The Liberals of the maritime provinces are not for the maritime pro- vimces only ; am I not right in saying so, my broohens? The Liberals ot Manitoba and British Columbia. and our Northwest territories are not for these provinces and territories only ; is this not so, my brothers who come from these parts? Yes; all ot us, ttom every province and part of Canada, are Canadians, and all of us are bent on doing our best fort all Can- ada. (Applause.) I am glad to know it is so. There is no earthly object more tit- ting or grander for any people to apply themselves to with profound earnest- ness and hearty zeal than the common good at their country. It is said to be a glorious thing to die forNme's country, and the Canadians of every province and ot every pace and creed in it have repeat- edly and whenever occasion offered shown thed readiness to hazard their lives in de- fence at their country. mhanks to them Hon. C. M. FRASER, MIR, minister of public works for Ontario. Hon.A. G, BLAIR, premier of New Bruns- wick. all. Bot, if it is a glorious thing to die tor one's country, it is also a glorious thing to live for one's country. Not many of us may ever be called on to die tor out country ; I hope none of us may. But all of us may luve tor our country. and " that way may do more for it than by dy-' ing for it. We live for our country when we perform with fidelity our duties as its citizens; we live tor our country when we take an active. thoughtful interest in procuring for it good government, and in adopting or supporting a beneficial and just policy in the conduct ot its public af- fairs. And. my fellow-Canadians, are not these the objects which have brought us together to-day? lt as not the orftuirs, how- ever interesting and necessary, ot a Itownship or a. town or a county that we are to deliberate upon. hut the affairs ot half a continent. the affairs of a terri- tory as extensive as the United States ot of America. and many times more exten. sive than France or Germany or the Brit. ish tales. Questions are tos occupy the gatte*tiutt of the mmticupn which m THE WATERLOO COUNTY CHRONICLE. future of halt a continent may depend, and not for a. year or two only, but for generations. "Our country, in. the largest sense, is the British empire. “Whatgx-rréz: Vibe nwtion may have been to us or to any of our ancestors In tlmes Hon. A. S. HARDY, Ontario commissioner of crown lands. that are past, to moslt of us one or other ot the British Isles is the fwtherland. But loyalty Is not confined to these ; in Can- ada all nationalities are on alevel, all have recelved the same c'onslderation from the sovereign and her Imperial advisers and her parliament. Canadians have no complaint to make ot injustice ad her hands or an; theirs; our grievances are brought on us by the mistakes ot our fel- Jow-Cagladiaas, and the wroc1g-t1ouug of some of them. The result of the Imperial policy and practice towasds Canad,a is that no line of nationality or of creed or of class distinguishes those amongst us who are attached to the empire from those who are not. (Applause.) Many, or perhaps all, ot even those who look my- orably on annexation do not do so from hostility towards the empire. They are for annexation because they think that the present and {whine inhabitants of Canada would be better off economically it cirtizens of the United States than if they were not, and as against that view of the economical results of annexation they do not appreciate the force of consid- erations which have weight with the rest if us. The president of the Continental Urn-ion association has declared himself, and. I doubt not. honestly declared him- self, notwithstanding his aa1nexationtsm, to be “an Englishman to the core." My desire is in what I say to avoid exciting subjecter which we may not be united. But It on such occasions as thisI should say nothing about annexation or British connecnion. and there should be aseer- tained to (be some anrnexaeoiEts in the oonventRm, my silence would be miscon- strued by the enemy, and perhaps by oth- ers elsewhere as implying that I had foundmhe sentiment of the-convention to be against me on these subjects. and thast tor that reason I had said nothing. Such a%dlroi, would cause a tsuftielent stam- pede from We Ridarm ranks as to make our success at the next general election to be out of the question. As to the gen- eral sentiment regarding British connec- tion, I apprehend that a French-Canadian Roman Catholic archbishop recently spoke the sentiment of Canadians generally, as well as of himself, when In a. document tor the public, he sald _ I was born and reared in the British possessions, and my anegdance as to the crown of England, and my heart and conscience would repel summing contrary to these obligations. I Hon. C. H. Bnoxsox, M. PP., Ottawa, pi!,','),';;,), h W\ t l ' . (4 .5? a " _ N r _ / Pt I i, . of, () iii)" (iii/j, W jlil 1/ (i" My, if, Rik fit T 'ii/ii/ '( ii ?rccrgCa2ss "i, , F/j 'ict' am a British subject, and am happy to live under the glorious flag ot the empire, and I desire that rams noble standard conv Itinue to tly and give proteetion to my no- veligdonists, as well as to my other fellow- crnmtrymen.' These sentences may be read or listened to with satisfaction, whe- rther the drift of the document in other re- spects Is concurred tn or not. (Applause.) " lt is pleasant to remember here that for nearly a) years the British empire has been at peace with all those nations ot Europe and America which are repre- sented amongst the Canadian people ; and that in the war with (Russia, the only European war in which the British na- tion was engaged during these 80 years. the brave soldiers of che. tram which J/o-Gia/os the Canadian people are de- scended, fought side by side with no less brave Engllshmen and Irishmen and 1 the city of Toronto has a popuUtitan of Scatchmem against a. common toe, and nearly vtwlce. We have three other cities fought successfully. Eince the war was Wth each of thema larger population than Over it fs pleasant, from dhe standpoint Philadelphia. than had ; seven cities with of? humanity, to see from Mme to time a larger populatlon than New that, as regards the relations between the York had ; nine clues with two nations and that common toe, the a larger population than Boston had, and enemies of the war have passed away. I several more with a larger population " But while our country in the supreme than that ot Baltimore, SUPPLEMENT TO $F But while our teouotry m the supreme sense is the British empire, and while we heartily appreciate our status as citi- zens of that empire, Canada is our Coun- try in another sense, and we love it as our country and our home. It is wlth pride and with a, profound sense of our responsibility as well that We call tio mind the greatness of Canada, and that we mhink of the greatness which belongs to its future. lt is great new in the extent of Mrs territory ; it is is great in resources, and it is grew in fitness for maintaining in comfort and prosperity a vast popula- tion. We like vto remember' that in terri-. torial extend the, Canada of ours is about as large as the great republic south of us, and that it some portions of the ter- livery of that nation have advantages over some portions of ours, other partions of ours have advantages over theltrr It grart- ities us as Canadians to rsettect that, while Cmnadais thusas large a country as the Unlined Stakes, it is many times as large as the European territory of any of the great nations of Europe except Russia; and that it has not far from double the European mammary of even Russia. The population of Canada is not quite tive mil- lions according to the last census, but it is somewhat greater than] the population of the United States was when those states separated from the parent nation. or for years afterwards; and it is well Wonih knowing and bearing in mind that we awe in other important. respects tar ahead of what the population then was. The world has been moving since with gigantic strides. and Canada has moved with it in spite ot all drawbacks. I refer to This because. in considering when. we should aim at as a Liberal convention. It is important that we should be alive to what in View ot actual faets may be reasonably contemplated as our country's tuture. Let us remember then that when Wu. Pumas“, ME, South Brant. THE LEADER. Hon. D. MILLS, MP. for Bothwell. the United States. which has now 63,000,000 of people and great wealth. separated trom the parent land, and for years after- ward, the 'nation had not an}: city with anything like so large a populmtlon or with anything like such developed wealth as many of our Canadian cities have now Sir RICHARD GAmwmom, M.P. for South Oxford. reached. I have not seen any statistics of an earlier. date than 1790. In that year Philadelphia. was the largest city of the United States, and it bad a. population ot (in round numbers) about 42,000, New York had but 32,000, Boston had but 18,000, and Baltimore had but 16,000, and these cities were the only four that had over 10,000. Now, at this day in Canada, instead of tour cities. we have no fewer than twenty cities which by nhe last census had over 10,000 inhabitants. Our city ot Montreal alone hasaptrpudwthus twice as large as the aggregate populations of what were the four largest cities of the United States at mhe time I have mentioned; and Then, again, the revenue of the federal government in 1790 was abowt $4,()0l),000 only, while ouns in the year ending 30th June, 1891, was nearly ten Itimes that tVg- ure (or $38,579,311). The greater part rrt this sum is obtained from customs and excise duties, and the amount so raised is an enormous amount to take from our people ; but the fact that year after year so great an amount is obtained from Can- adian pockets, however to be deprecated. i‘llusnra'tes in a striking way the immense- ly greater wealth ot Canada at the pre- senrt ttme than the United States had with about a like population a century ago. Take some further facts :-rohe Imports into that country in 1790 amounted to $23,000,000 only ; the imports into Canada in the year ending 30th June, 1891, amount- ed to tive times that sum (or $119,f)li7,638). Their exports in 1790 were $20,000,000 only, ours in June, 1891, were nearly six times that amount (or $119,967,633). In 1790 the United Ensues had but 75 pestotrlees in thr'. whole country; Canada ha: 800 times that number, or about 40,000. They had non. a single steamboat; tte application of steam to the propulsion of vessels had not been invented; and, while they were conse- quently wmthout a steamboat, they had but few sailing v:ssels. Canada In 1891 had 1,348 steamers and 5.035 sailing ves- sels ; in fact, Canals had In 1891 more Bah- lng vessels and tree times more steam bums than glen it that date the United States had. Their vessels (were Ilarger m the average mum ours, but the tonnage owned by weir $000.0“) ot people was in Hon. JAMES Yovs6, Gait. Mr. Wai. MULOCK, ILP. for North York, 1SStl little more than twice the tonnage owned by our 5,000,000 of Canadians, " Again, our" neighbors: had no canals. eW have about. 80 mlles of canals. con- " Again, our neighbors: had no canals. eW have about 80 mlles of canals. con- structed at a cost ot $57,000,000 ($57,214,292). They had not a mile of rallway. Their other roads are described as having been . bad beyond conceptlon,’ and communlca- tum was so leLted that one stage a week was m1ttVibnt mmumuniealNan between any of their cities. I copy a, reliable statement on the subject of their roads {rem a.n arblcle m The Iih1eycltrpedta Brit- a,rynica, written by a. professor of Prir1ee- ton college. New Jersey _ The communl- Carrion between lube ewes was as bad as could be. The traveller was subject to every danger Km- annoyance that bad roads, bad carriages, bad horses, bad Mas and bad police prateetioa could combine to intliet on him.’ Many of our Canadi- an roads might be beater than they are, but the average of them are better than the average in the United States at even the present day. While their four minions of population had no railways, ou four or tive millions have now no less than 14.623 miles of railway. These railways have coat many millions of dolaars Che exact Ggure I have seen is $816,647,758). and instead of one 'trip by stage in a week there are many railway trips every day of the week Bstwderersryrtte u- abut owes. Further; rele- graphing and telephoning were mlm'own then ; Canada in 1891 had 27,866 miles of telegraph lines and many miles of tele- phone lines. Mr. J on): CAMERON, editor Liner. " I wish 1112mm 8. comparison of our public debt to-day with the dent. of the United States at the close of the last century- Was equally satisfactory trom the Can- adian standpoint. I observe 'that the net amount of the debt of Canada in June, 1891, Ls staked at $237,809,030. The large- ness ot the amount shows at all events that our credit in the English market has been good, if we cannot truly say that all the money borrowed was well spent. 01' that all the debt was reasonably and properly incunred, or M We cannot boast abowt the amount otherwise. "Let me mention one amber signis-at2 mot before I drop my comparisons. At ‘ the period at which I am comparing the present mnd‘htLon with the United States, that nation had not a single bank or a dollar of bank capital; While I observe, that Canada. had in 1891 paid-up bank can- Mr. FaANCtyrs LANGELIER, M. P. for Quebec Center. ltal of nearly $60,000,000, (or, more exactly, $59,567,7ik5), and the assets of tts banks amounted to tour times that amount and more (or, to speak precisely, $2iN,491,153). Many other companlsons to the same et- teat alight be stated. In connection with all these facts, It is also Interesting to know that the shortest route for passen- gers and freight between Amerlca and Europe is from or through Canada. tr Such facts as l have mentioned Show in part whalt. Canada, has accomplished while reaching Ms popwimjon in 1891 at 4,832,679. as compared with the condition of the Unwed States when they had a like popumlon. They show how enormously In all those elements and lndlcaltlons of comfort and prosperity which those facts suggest bur four or tive millions ot Deo- ple wre (in spite ot mistakes) ahead of thEse tour millions that a century ago formed the nucleus of a nation owning the other half of North America, and hav- Mg; now a population of 63,000,000. While we are att peace with them. our havlng those 68,000,000 ot peoplqzon our borders camade with, so tiGas%,.ssoitmaewitos Eon. ROBERT WATSON, Manitoba. London Adver- them, is a. further advam'tage in our tavar as compared with the Amerlczms of the last century. (Applause.) Why. ia vlew ot all such lads, should nm a. cemury do as much tor Canada as a century has done tor our neighbors? May it not do more? The resources ot Canada tor the pUPposeS ot agriculture and commerce are immense, and unsurpassed by any eompet- itor. We have probably the ttnest Iorests In the world and the richest fisher-les ; our country abounds in mmemels, too: we have treasures of coal and iron and copper and silver and gold and eidckei. Two.. thuds ot the wheat area of North Amen- ca are in Canada. We have climate and Mr. J GEN CHARLTON, M. P. tor North Norm folk. ', nations of the earth. More important in_ our favor, however, than an I have men- tioned, is the acknowledged tact mum: Climate,wlth all its varieties,is anaemia 1y adapted for developing an active and 'hardy race of men and women. Camsdlan!{ who, either In mature life or in early man- l hood, go to the Uited States as affording a larger myru1 for their aethvitor. comma; successfully were In every walk of lift with natives of that country who have“ had lrlke advantages of education mum otherwise. There is no future among the1 rations which such a country as Canada‘ soil which are specialdy adapted tor ralsr Lug the best wheat, the best barley, thw best horses and the began cattle in tho world, and for producing the best cheese. At (the world's eth-sttions of London and Philadelphia and Pans :3an ohioagosCap- ada has held its own, as rapes? its prln-, cipal exhibits, m competitdsl w th all ttyr! is may not attahn, if only her sons, what- ' ever their origin or their birth, comm/nus; true sons of our dear Canada, and puasuai as “as citizens the paths of Asrhtedi1snessml, and Fstriottsm. (Applause.) We admire‘ the energy of our neighbors as a. people,. an d we admire the success that they have! accomplished in aimcst every departmen? of activity to which they have ap ' Hon. Y. mmas, premier of Prince Edwud Island. themseh'es. Most, if mom an of us, may be against poDNeal union with them, but we all respect them as a nation. and en. teem very many of their people. “None will inter tron: my maximum: the facts of which I have been reminding you that I want you to believe the time to [have come when Canada. may safely, or properly part polimicany tram the em- The of which V forms a. part, ard set up as a wholly separate nation, as undet different rxynditioI1s and circumstances the other British American colonies did 120 years ago. Nor, on the other hand, am I at present speaking of Canadas great,- ness as being a. reason against giving up the country and annexing it to the tiisiirhe boring Ttation. 'Phat subject I have dis- cussed more than once elsewhere, My reason tor speaking at present of our country's greatness. and of Wheat, in spine of obstacles and mistakes, it has accom- plished hitherto, is that, in view of the object of this immense g-altlrening of re- prvsanitative Liberals from all parts of the Donunion, it is tWtit1g, as I have al.. ready suggested, and may be useful at the outset of our deliberations, to call to mind the greatness of tho country, th affairs at which, in the highest earthia sense. this great assembly has come ton' gather to confer about. This wuntry loo-l longs to u: as Canadians; Its laws at. made and administered by Canadians, aha its constitution is the constitumian whit: E) years ago Canadians. by their rem-wen- iaitives, prepared and asked tor, and got: for their asking, as they may " whatever other. changes in that constitum tion they from time to time hereafuer de- sire, The whole management and devel-' opmerut of this great country are in thok hands of the Canadian people, and tor lar constitution and government and welfare“ present and future, the (hummus of tho present day are responsible. Let us bear, in mind all These facts while we are dgei liberating on what is the power and whats belongs to the present duty of the Liberal party. . "With such a, country as Canada is,' and with such promise as it presents, and with such a population as occupies it.- ard wth such a history as belongs to t, why has there been so much depresslun; in It ot late years, and Why; is there smL so much amongst impmttdn‘t sections at our people? Why has there been, and why; does there continue to be, such an exodus of our native population ot an the aid provinces, Others not coming from outside to make the places o? those who go? Lily erals think whey see and know some " the principal causes, and that they at. “movable causes, and we have '_seriycAr, J. ISRAEL than, M.P. for L%tst,