2
THE NEWFOUNDLANDER.
FRIDAY, Feb. 12.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
Committee of the Whole on Address. Mr. Knight
in the Chair.
The paragraph relating to Confederation having
been read.
Mr. O'RIELLY said,—So much had been said on
this matter, and so many diverse opinions offered,
that the subject might be well said to be worn
threadbare. While hon. members accused each
other of inconsistency he at least could lay claim to
consistency upon this question, and if he could
not point to, any record of lengthy arguments
which he had employed, he could at least flatter
himself that he had no shifts or backslidings to account for. His position was still
precisely the same
as that which he and his hon. colleagues had assumed
at the hustings in '65, with this difference, however,
that whatever difficulties he had then seen in the
way had now entirely disappeared. The confederate
cause had been gaining ground over all the Island,
and though the Confederate party were continuing
faithful to their pledge, that the question should be
submitted to the constituencies, public opinion from
Cape John to Cape Ray, was calling aloud for a
change. The principle of Confederation was now
under discussion. Who denied the principle?
To use the joint language of the hon. and gallant
Major, and the hon. member, Mr. Talbot, "the
highest and most gifted minds acknowledge the principle." There was not the beginning
of a difference with regard to the principle between hon. members on this and on the
other side. Hon. members
opposite were all confederates, and the only difference, between them was upon matters
of detail.
Surely then upon the question of details hon. members could well give over their party
differences.
As to terms there were few hon. members who would
be more difficult to please than himself, and
when the debate upon the subject came on
he should be prepared to contend that express
provision should be made for the encouragement of
the fisheries. Exception had been taken to the
bona
fide character of the telegram recieved by his hon.
coleague offering employment to 800 or 1,000 people.
He might safely say that all that scepticism was to be
found within the doors of this House. Those persons
who were most to be affected by it had full faith in
its reality and they regarded it as a
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tion means employment. While the abstruse argument of hon. members opposits might
be thrown
away, the people would be able understand when they
were spoken to in this manner. The only thing hon.
members opposite had done was to endeavour to
mystify the people. If their real opinions were worth
anything the people must go without them. On the
question of terms he (Mt. O'R) should be prepared to
press what he considered to be essential conditions,
no one would attempt to deny that he was an outspoken Confederate, but he should always
be jealous
of this country's interests in connection with the
question of terms.
Mr. PARSONS said that he had been waiting for
some hon member opposite to enlighten the
House uppon the question before the chair.
He had expected to hear some vigorous oration
upon this all important question of Confederation. It would appear that there was
not much
unanimity as to the meaning of the word.
The hon member, Mr O'Rielly, says that it means
employment for the people. Well, that certainly
was a new meaning to hin (Mr P.) and was one
which would hardly be found in any dictionery. If
that were really the meaning of it—it it would
procure that, the Opposition would hail Confederation
with one voice. But he feared no such meaning
would be placed upon it. We do not want to go
abroad from this colony to seek employment because
we had it within our own borders. We did not want
to transport 800 of our stalwart fishermen into the
wilds of Canada. We would keep them here and
give them better employment than Canada could
afford them. What I expatriate the hardy natives
of this colony and make them seek employment
amongst strangers? Why it was a policy that no
parental Government would entertain. The hon
member then proceeded to show that we had within
ourselves resources which if fostered and developed
by the Government were more than sufficient for our
population. He considered the bringing of this
question of Confederation before the House now was
a breach of faith on the part of the Government,
that there was no evidence before this House that
the public desired any change. He referred to the
Petitions which had been presented former sessions
against Confederation, and contended that the
opinion of the people was the same now, and that no
step should be taken by this House before an appeal
was made to the country at the next general election.
Upon motion the Committee then rose, reported
progress, and asked leave to sit Monday.
The House then adjourned until Monday at 3
o'clock.
question of terms.
meaning of the word.
Weil, that certainly
Bit he feared no such meaning
We do not want to go
We did not want
We would keep then here and
The hon
He considered the bringing of this
This individual participated in: