I was astonished to hear the
hon. Leader of the Government state in this House a short
time ago that the persons belonging to the Tenant League
agitation would have made some apology for their conflict? Who would draw up that
apology? What
language should they employ? It would be a curiosity indeed? I should like to know
what kind of a document it
would be? Would it be kept in some of the public offices
in Charlottetown for the Tenant Union men to sign their
recantation before it, before being permitted to hold any
public office? Was it because the Tenant Union men did
away with the religious excitement caused by the hon.
members on the other side of the House, that they were to
make an apology? There is only one gentleman present
who has tried to say one word in defence of the actions of
the late Government. The religious excitement got up by
that party was the means of causing trouble and serious
disturbances, and if these disturbances had not been stopped
no man could tell in what they would have ended. Again,
are the Tenant Leaguers to apologise because they denounced Confederation—because
they protested against the
proceedings of the Quebec Convention where there was not
one word of sympathy for this Colony? The Tenant
Union declared against Confederation, and that declaration
had its effect. The British Government knew all about
our troubles and the peculiar circumstances in which they
have placed us; why then do they make this unfair demand upon us? I, for one, will
never give my vote for the
payment of the salary of an officer appointed by the British
Government, as long as that Government leaves our grievances unredressed.
Hon. Mr. HOWLAN.—I am of opinion that this move of
the Imperial Government is ??? of side wind to work
this Colony into Confederation and that the demand
amounts to this, that union to join the other Colonies,
we must pay our own Governor. We may be forced to
pay this salary, but it is better to be us than to go into
Confederation. A great question, ??? to our own
the Irish Grants—couples the minds of the question of
Great Britain at the present time. This Colony, above
all the others, has above a great wish, to all ???, to
marry out the Royal Instructions, and there ??? government made in 1851, that to consideration
of the ???
which this Colony has sustained, the Imperial Government
would pay the salary of the Lieutenant Governor. It has
been shown ver clearly that the Island has been placed
in anomalous position by the Home Gouvernment. We
know that the late Secretary of the State for the Colonies
was very much in favor of Confederation, and this is one
reason why we are now asked to pay the demand made
upon us. I think any Government would be ???? to
their duty, if they did not resist this unjust pressure
which has been brought to bear upon us, and I do hope
that our rights will be sustained. As long as our Land
Question remains unsettled, and as long as the Imperial
Government refuses to give a guarantee for our Loan, to
arrange for the purchase of the Proprietary Lands, this
demand will be most unreasonable and unwarrantable. I
cannot understand the movements of the British Government in regard to the means of
getting this Colony joined to the Confederation, for it has been clearly shown to
them, tha ta very large majority of our people are against
it. Why should we be told to pay salary of our
Lieutenant Governor on the one hand and on the other,
that we shall receive $3000,000 if we unite with Canada?
At present the British Government will not sanction
coercive measures in buying up the proprietors lands;
but we are told that if we enter Confederation measures,
coercive or otherwise, would be carried into effect for the
purpose of giving us free land. As we have neither Crown
Lands nor Minerals, from which to draw a Revenue, the
demand made upon us is unfair, and therefore if we are
compelled to pay our Governor, we will appoint him ourselves. I quite agree with the
remarks made by the hon.
member for Murray Harbor on the subject, and I think
we should send home a delegate for the purpose of representing our claims, rather
than yield to the demand.
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