at the end of the non-protective period. I can point to the fact that the consumers of the United States have for the last seventeen years paid in duties $2,429,000,000, and I may also point to the fact that these same consumers have, in addition to this enormous sum, paid in the enhanced cost of domestic production, in profits, upon duties and upon this enhanced cost, more than three times as much more. I may also point out that the producers of the United States, during the last seventeen years, while paying this enormous sum of over eight billion dollars, have actually received hundreds of millions less for their agricultural productions than they would have done but for this condition of things; that, while they have paid enormous exactions to the manufacturers, the result of that system has been to give them very much less for their production, because the system did not redeem its promise, and give them a home market. Dur ing all this time they were paying these enormous duties, they were sending the surplus of their production to England, and England, as the natural customer, being impoverished by that very system that kept us out of her market, and being unable to pay the prices she would otherwise have been able to pay, the United States have been during all these years, as was said by Professor Sumner of Yale College, in the condition of Issachar, "A strong ass couching down between two burdens,”—the burden on the one hand of enormous duties, and the burden on the other hand of diminished receipts. Well, Sir, here we have opened for our inspection a period of history. Let us profit by its teaching; let us not be regardless of its lessons. The next paragraph of the Speech, Sir, refers to a matter of the utmost interest to a large portion of the people of this country, for the French-speaking population of Canada, although subjects of the British Crown, and loyal subjects, living in the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, still must necessarily take a deep interest in all that pertains to the land from which they derive their origin, and must naturally desire that Canada, in the approaching Exhibition to be held in the most beautiful

the

capital of Europe, should make a creditable exhibition. We have shipped a portion of the exhibits of the Exposition at Paris upon one of our own steamers. She arrived at Havre and proceeded up the Seine as far as Rouen, seventy miles in a north-west direction from Paris. The reception with which the officers of that vessel met was little short of an ovation. The Customs duties and tonnage dues were remitted. The captain received an address and was presented with a medal, and the inhabitants of the towns along the river Seine were very much interested in knowing from whence came this new flag. We trust, Sir, with the blessings of Providence, and under wise leglslation, to make that flag in a few years well known in all the commercial ports of the world, and upon the distant seas. His Royal Highness, the Chairman of the British of inquired Commissioners, Canadian Government whether they desired to erect a memorial trophy. That inquiry, Sir, was taken by this Government in the light of a command, and it was determined to erect one. submitted to the The plans were British Commissioners; those plans have been approved; the materials for that trophy have been shipped, or are about being shipped, and its erection, I have no doubt, will be one creditable to Canada. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that the members of this House, and the country at large, may anticipate highly favourable results from the participation of Canada in the Exhibition at Paris. The Speech makes allusion to that event which thrilled the sympathies of Canada in June last, when the citizens of the stricken city saw the midnight of Saint John heavens illuminated with unwonted splendour by the light of a great conflagration, which laid in ashes that beautiful city, and made thousands of citizens homeless and destitute. No doubt the measures taken by the Government for the relief of the inhabitants of that city will meet with the cordial approval of the members of this House. Reference is made also in the Speech to the extinguishment of the Indian title through a large portion of the North-West Territory. The settlement of that country and the extinguish

ment of the Indian title in the | their treatment of the Indians, and North-West is a matter of the that their only desire is to pursue to a greatest importance to the Dominion successful termination the policy of of Canada. The extent of territory extermination. Such, Sir, is far from already acquired from the Indians of being the case. The policy of the that country equals in extent United States Government in the 288,000,000 acres. This territory would treatment of its Indians is liberal, make 5,760,000 farms of 50 acres each. much more liberal than the policy of Of course this land is not all arable, our own Government. Their payments but estimates of the capacity of this to Indians are greater in proportion country for furnishing food and sus- than the payments of Canada in the tenance to the human race vary from form of annuities; the United States 15,000,000 to 40,000,000. The future Government has made provision for value of this country to Canada can the Indians in the reservation of very scarcely be over-estimated. Here, Sir, large tracts of land; it has set will be the seat of Canada's power. The apart for that purpose a very old adage, “Westward the star of em- large section of the United States; pire takes its way," will be realized in it has, in addition to this ample acour history, and in a few years the prair- commodation for the Indians in various ies of that country will be dotted with parts of the United States, taken every cities, towns and villages. In a few means to induce the Indians to adopt years that Great Lone Land will be agricultural pursuits, and has offered the site of thriving and busy con- to furnish implements and even gone munities, and the desolate places of that so far as to offer them houses. But the country will be made glad. Of course, efforts of the United States Governin effecting treaties for the extinguish- ment in this regard have been thwartment of Indian titles, heavy annuities ed by the malpractices of frontier,men have to be paid, and large burdens and the villanies of agents. I have no have been incurred. But the impor- doubt that the House will be pleased tance of maintaining amicable relations to learn that the United States Governwith those Indian tribes can scarcely ment is about to turn over the manbe over-estimated, and I need not say agement of its Indian affairs to the that heavy annual annuities will be Department of War, and, from the profound much cheaper than the lightest verbially high character of the Ameriwar expenditure. Reference is made can officers, we are warranted in in the Speech to the presence of Sitting believing that most happy results will Bull, and a large body of Indians, on flow from this, especially upon our Canadian territory. I do not suppose, own borders. The next reference Sir, that our authorities invited Sitting made in this speech, Sir, is to the PaBull to make us a visit; I presume he cific Railway surveys. I need hardly he can hardly be considered a welcome refer to the difficulties that have guest. This, however, is a question attended the selection of the route of which requires delicate handling, and the Canadian Pacific Railway-diffiit was not thought proper that measures culties greater, perhaps, than have for the expulsion of Sitting Bull and attended the surveys of any similar his band should be adopted. Reference enterprise. These difficulties may be is also made to the efforts of the fairly measured by their enormous United States Government to induce cost. The cost of these surveys up to Sitting Bull and his band to return to the present time, has exceeded their reservation, which I hope will be $3,140,000. And, Sir, the time occucrowned with success. And, in this pied in the prosecution of these surconnection, I may take occasion to say veys, which has somewhat exceeded that much misapprehension exists in the seven years, is a commentary upon the public mind in Canada in regard to the absurdity of the original contract to nature of the Indian policy of the commence this road within two years United States. An impression, I am and to build it within ten years. The persuaded, is generally prevalent that country will naturally desire that the the United States, in their Indian utmost prudence shall, in the future, policy, are inhuman and unjust in characterize the policy of the country

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in the carrying out of this gigantic | to a proposed change in the system of project, and it must be admitted that auditing the Public Accounts. Alit is warranted in the belief that, under though not in the secrets of the Govthe present Administration, that pru- ernment, I presume the intention is to dence of conduct will be exercised. copy the English system and make the The next reference in this speech auditor more independent of Governis to that gradual lifting of the ment control. Reference is also made cloud of gloom and depression that has to the prospect of obtaining, at an early settled over this country for the last day, greater facilities for reaching the few years, which has resulted from the North-West. The importance of the late abundant harvest. One happy rapid settlement of that country, Mr. effect of this has been an increased Speaker, cannot be over-estimated. revenue. So far as the present Govern- is a fact to which I should call the atment is concerned, I might here tention of hon. members, that our public appropriately indulge in a word as to domain is just becoming available when hard times. It has been said, probably the public domain of the United States by way of a joke, that these hard is becoming exhausted, and we may reatimes were to be attributed to the sonably hope that the ratio of increase shortcomings and misdeeds of the pre- in this country will from this time, for sent Government. It should require many decades to come, be much greater nothing but the assertion to carry than the ratio in the United States. belief, in these times, that the hard The importance of a simple and effectimes under which Canada has laboured tual method of registration of titles in did not originate in this country; were reference to it, and a measure to effecnot due to any shortcomings, either tually insure them, is referred to, and sins of omission or commission on the we are also promised a Homestead part of any Government or any public Law. The benefits to be derived from movement in this country. I might, the Homestead Law have already been Sir, reasonably take the ground that demonstrated by the experience of the the hard times and the depression which United States for many years, and such has existed in Canada, were due to the a law will satisfy a great need in Cainjurious effect of an extreme policy of nada. Railway facilities in the Northprotection in a neighbouring country, West have also been foreshadowed, and which, suffering first, under the evils of no question can be more vital to Canawar, secondly, from the evils of an da than such a policy. Owing to inflated currency, and, thirdly, from physical causes, intercommunication the evils of undue protection, has in that region must, to a very large exbrought itself to the verge of rain, tent, be furnished by railways. Its and in doing that, has necessarily rivers flow to the north; it has no involved all commercial nations, to a natural outlet to the sea; and I have greater or less extent, in the no doubt that a wise and judicious meaconsequences. How was it possible sure on the part of the Government for for a country, having such intimate re- the promotion of railways in that imlations as Canada with the United portant section will prove of immense States, to escape the consequences of service. Reference is also made, Mr. the derangement of that country. Speaker, to a measure for better securWhy, Sir, the fact that the ing the Independence of Parliament. lumber trade has fallen to 4.500,000 I suppose experience has suggested to from 13,500,000 annually, will show every member of the House modificathat Canada did suffer most severely tions and improvements that might be from the depression in the United made in the present measure. ReferStates, and the hard times under ence is also made to changes in the Dewhich we have laboured, and which are partments of some nature which, fortunately improving, were almost en- not being in the the secrets of the tirely due to the existence of those Government, I cannot definitely causes over which we have had no con- explain. However, Mr. Speaker, trol; the removal of which will bring changes securing efficiency of managerelief which cannot be expected before. ment, without increase of cost, are Reference is also made in this Speech always desirable. The experience of