CANADIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 46, 16 August 1911, Page 5

CANADIAN POLITICS.

LEADERS AT VARIANCE. By Cable Press Association—Copyright. Ottawa, August 14. Mr. Lemienx, Canadian PostmasterGeneral. met M. Bourassa, the French Canadian leader, at St. Hyacinth at the first big political gathering of the campaign. Mr. Lemienx was accused by Mr. Bourassa of being an officeseeker and having sought the Speakership of the House of Commons while apparently fighting on principle only. A disturbance promptly broke out, and the platform was partly destroyed. Mr. Lemieux admitted the allegation with regard to the Speakership, but denied the other charges. Mr. Bourassa in his turn accused Sir Wilfrid Laurier of having betrayed French Canadians by bis naval policy.

FIFTEEN" YEARS A PREMIER

Sir Wilfrid Laurier was born in 1841 at St. Linn, in the county of L'Assomption. His parents were Freneh-Canadi-"is. who sent their son first to a Pro school in New Glasgow, and then to LAssomption College. Later his three veW course at McGill UniversitV won liini 1h" degree of 8.C.L., and li'o was culled f 0 J he Bar in 1804. A long fierce sfvMggle n-iinst ill-health did not' daunt the f'lhire Minister's splendid courage, :-d in 'B7l he was elected by a great majority to the Quebec Assembly. His eloquence and devotion to the ideal of a united Canada won him the place .in the affection of the peopfe of the Dominion which lie has never lost Created a Q.C. in 1880, he resigned his seat in the Quelieo Aasombly, and was chosen to represent Drtimmnnd and Atliabaska in the Dominion House of Commons. Soon he was universally acclaimed tlve first orator irt'tfurßoniinion J; or IS years he remained in Opposition, first as a follower of Mr. Edward Blake, and then as leader himself. Tn ISflfl Liberalism triumphed, and Sir Wilfrid Xanrir- formed a. Government, and has remained in power ever since.