The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1891. CANADIAN ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2178, 21 March 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1891. CANADIAN ELECTIONS.

We have for aeveral years been accustomed to regard the loyalty of a large number of Canadians as very doubtful. It has been frequently asserted that Canadians were disloyal to the British Crown, and were only watching an opportunity for annexation with the United States. The question has been discussed in debating societies and argued in the public press, and at one time it was worked up to such a degree that Sir John Macdonald suggested that a plebiscite should be taken so as to ascertain the real opinions of the people with regard to it. We presume the recent elections will serve that purpose at any rate for some years, and that Canadians will now settle down into the old grooves. In the elections which have just closed the so-called disloyalty took, a very mild form. It simply resolved itself into a question of reciprocity. One party desired to establish freetrade between Canada and the United States, and this was stigmatised as disloyalty, and those who favored the proposal were practically regarded as traitors. It is true that if United States goods were allowed into Canada free while English goods were taxed, the result would be that England would loose the trade of Canada, but this does not, in our opinion, justify charges of disloyalty being preferred against those who favored such a change. However, such was the case. Instead of the proposed change being discussed on its merits, passion and prejudices were appealed by making it one of loyalty or disloyalty, and judging by the cablegrams which reached us from time to time, feeling ran very high during the election. However, loyalty to England won the lay, and it is worthy of note that the 3a\holic provinces were the most loyal, Lower Canada is chiefly Catholic vhile upper Canada is inhabited by English Protestants, yet it was the alter who exhibited the desire for ipnexation with the United States. 3pglieh Protestants on all occasiena

arrogate to themselves a monopoly of loyalty, while they unhesitatingly brand Catholics with the stigma of disloyalty. The Canadian elections have shown that the Catholic provinces were the moat loyal, just as they were 100 years ago when the other American States rebelled, and just as they were at the time of the Spanish Armada. Is is not time these prejudices were done away with, and men opened their eyes to the truth ? Half of the members of the Canadian Government are Catholics, and they are the most loyal subjects Queen Victoria has in the Dominion.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Waimate has a large and prosperous branch of the Shearers’ and Laborers’ Union ; in fact, it is the union’s headquarters. It has also a branch of the People’s Political Association, with about 100 members. Thus then the people of Waimate are looking after their own interests pretty closely, and what is the result? It is that the first official visit which the Hon. John McKenzie paid to any place was paid by him to Waimate. There he held a meeting, and took council with the leaders of the people, and promised them to see that land was obtained for the purposes of village settlements. That is the result of people looking after their own business. God helps those who help themselves, and politicians help them too. There is nothing like combination amongst the people to secure things which they may stand in need of, and without it they can do little. For instance, if Mr McKenzie came to this district who is he to sse? Who is to give him information as to local requirements ? Hot one, with the exception of Mr Edgeler. There ia no organisation, and consequently no one to speak on behalf of others. The result must be that Mr McKenzie would havo to go away without getting any intelligent idea as to what was wanted. We bare heard it said that what workmen intend to demand if the Minister comes to this district is 50 acres each. They may as well ask 50,000 acres each, for they will not get either. Possibly they would get 50 acres in the backwoods of the Horth Island if they liked to go there, but there is no hope of their getting 50 acres down here. They may get between 6 and 10 acres, but that will be the outside of it, and if they get that they ought to be well satisfied. It is more than they deserve, for they have not helped themselves, and consequently they do not deserve.tbat others should help them.

BANKRUPTCY OF MR O’BRIEN. A cab legeam states that Mr William O’Brien, M.P., has been declared a bankrupt on the petition of the Marquis of Salisbury, the Prime Minister of England. The circumstances which led to this are as follows:—In one of his speeches Lord Salisbury said that Mr O’Brien advocated murder. This of course being a gross libel Mr O’Brien instituted legal proceedings against Lord Salisbury, with the result that Mr O’Brien got the worst of it. He appealed from court to court, but had very little chance against Lord Salisbury in any court, and finally Mr O’Brien was mulcted in costs. A cablegram told us recently the amount was £17,000, and that Lord Salisbury had sued Mr O’Brien for this amount. No doubt judgment was obtained, and there being no effects Mr O’Brien was declared a bankrupt. This will cause Mr O’Brien to lose his seat, but that will not matter—he will be elected again immediately that the writ is issued, and as be must iu the meantime remain in gaol it does not matter a great deal to him. He has already been nearly a month in gaol, and he has five months more to run before be regains his liberty. By that time he will probably be elegible for re-election.