PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.
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Hon. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT.—It is with feelings
of deep regret that I have to announce to this House the
sad news reported by telegraph, that the Hon. T. D'Arcy
McGee was assassinated at Ottawa, on the morning of the
7th instant. There are few hon. members present who
have not seen him, and those who have not, have heard
of his patriotic movements in Canada, before the Provinces were united, and from all
they know, they must
feel as I do, a deep regret that so worthy a man should be
assassinated by his fellow-man. I do not intend to enter
into a long display of words upon this occasion, but I
admired the man who was a co-delegate at the late Conference on Confederation, and
who always showed a feeling to do justice to the Lower Provinces, as well as to his
adopted country. I can bear willing testimony to the
love of justice and fair play which actuated the noble
heart and able mind of this distinguished statesman and
orator. I have always held him in high esteem, and
nothing has given me a greater shake than to bear that
this worthy and noble man has been assassinated for
speaking the truth, and uttering the sentiments of his
mind. All hon. members present must feel that an
assassin could deprive them of life, and might do so if
they merely speak the simple truth, and therefore it behoves
all public men to deprecate this atrocious act
Having had the honor of an acquaintance with Mrs.
McGee, I deeply sympathize, as I believe the whole House
does with her in her bereavement. It is with a deep feeling
of sorrow that I move the following :—
The assassination of the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee, of
the Dominion of Canada, having been reported by telegram—
Therefore, Resolved, That this House regards with
horror and detestation the atrocious and blood-thirsty act ;
deeply sympathizes with the bereaved widow and orphans,
and sincerely regrets that the Dominion Government
should have lost such an able and patriotic statesman.
This, I believe, expresses the sentiments of this hon.
House.
Hon. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.—As the Leader of
the Opposition, I have the painful satisfaction of seconding the resolution which
has just been moved by the hon.
Leader of the Government on the death of the Hon. T.
D'Arcy McGee. I bad the pleasure of his acquaintance
in 1864, while attending the Quebec Conference, and
from what I saw of him then, both in public and private,
I came to the conclusion, Sir, that he was one of the
greatest men of which British North America could boast.
I have never altered the conclusion I then came to, and
day by day, and year by year, subsequently, I have been
more convinced than ever, that he was a bright and
shining light. As a public man in British America, and
one who had at heart the welfare and prosperity of all
the inhabitants of these Provinces, he stood in the front
rank, and I am certain, however hon. members in this
House may differ with him as regards the means of carrying out his great object, they
must all be convinced that
he had no selfish purposes to serve in advocating the
Union of British America; because, if he would wish to
make himself popular for the moment, he would have
taken the opposite course. But he had large conscientiousness and matured views upon
this important question,
and could speak with greater weight upon that topic than
any other man, because in his early days, before his
judgment was matured, he was tinged strongly with republican principles, and firmly
believed that his beloved
country could never prosper unless under the republican
system of government. When that unfortunate crisis arrived, in his native country
in 1848, he took up his abode
in the United States, believing that he could there enjoy
greater liberty than under the flag of England; but he
did not remain there for many years before he saw that what
at first seemed to him very beautiful and fair was far
from sound and correct in principle. He crossed the line
and found the people of Canada enjoying more real
liberty than their neighbors in the United States. After
experiencing the various forms of government, he came to
the conclusion in his matured judgment, that there was
more liberty as regards action and the rights of conscience
under a constitutional monarchy, than could be enjoyed
under a republican government. From that time to the
day of his sudden and cruel death, he devoted himself to
ttie cause of his country, and after leaving the Legislative
Halls of the Dominion on the morning of the 7th instant,
having just delivered a very able speech, he was sent into
eternity by the shots of an assassin, without a moment's
warning. He is not the first statesman who has fallen in
that manner; a Prime Minister of England was sent into
eternity in the same way within the present century, and
again the late President of the United States fell also by
the brutal assassin's hand. We cannot find words, for
the tongue refuses to perform its functions, when we contemplate the tearful end of
the great Canadian statesman. A great and noble man has fallen in the zenith of
his political power; and, therefore, I am sure there will
not be a dissentient voice to the resolution. In meditating upon the sad death of
this true patriot, we are reminded of the language of the poet Longfellow, when he
said :—
"The lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time."
The resolution was here again read at the Clerk's
table.
Hon. Mr. MCAULAY.—There is no individual, Sir, in
whose breast the tender feeling of humanity exists, but
must have formed a favorable opinion of the hon. gentleman whose career has been suddenly
out short in the
midst of youth. Although he ran in the path of error,
when young, experience calmed him down, and he repented in maturer years. I am not
aware that a greater
man exists in these Colonies; although I have never seen
his person, I have read his writings and his speeches with
profound admiration. When we think of his patriotism,
his love of constitutional liberty and his superior attainments, we must, under these
circumstances, conclude that
the world has lost a great man. We may say truly that
"a great man has fallen in Israel." We must deeply regret that any community should
shelter in its bosom a
person capable of perpetrating such an atrocious crime,
and must sincerely hope that he will be brought to
justice.
Hon. Mr. HOWLAN.—I am sorry that we should be
called upon to pass a resolution of this kind. When we
see a man of such a stamp as the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee,
who had one of the noblest and most cultivated minds the
world has ever seen, and the largest heart that has ever
throbbed in sympathy with his fellow-creatures, cut down
in the prime of life, the heart is made sore at the thought
that any man could launch such a noble soul into eternity. This great and honorable
man occupied a position
and earned a name in his adopted country which cannot
be forgotten; and though he erred in his early days,
there was an ample excuse for him when we take into
consideration the views and prevailing ideas which agitated his native country at
the time. His experience
afterwards taught him the folly of the course which he
had pursued, and he took the side of justice and true
liberty; while little minds would have followed on in their
foolish course, and would have carried the errors of youth
into middle age, he saw the right path and walked in it.
While smaller minds would have taken credit to themselves if they had acted as be
did in 1848, in his native
country, he was not the man to do so. He thought that
he had thrown away his early days, that he had some re
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compense to make, and that he could do it better in the
new country than in the old one. He might have occupied an enviable position in the
United States, but be
thought that in this new country he could be of some use,
that his soul would find some rest, and that he would yet
be able to make some recompense to the public of British
America and to the Mother Country for the errors of his
youth. I have never seen him, nor do I agree with him
on the great question of Confederation; but in view of
the events which are now taking place, every British subject in America must feel
that we have lost one of the
greatest minds that have ever been amongst us. I believe
that as a poet he was unequalled in these Colonies, and I
hoped that in his old age he would have rested from his
political labors, and settled down in some quiet retreat
with his mind richly stored; and thus to have an opportunity
of adding considerably to our British American
literature. He might have written a history of the
events which have lately taken place in these Colonies.
I trust that the Dominion of Canada, to which he has
given the best years of his valuable life, will not forget
his family; they should not be thrown upon the charity
of a cold world. His name and his eloquence have resounded
throughout all the Lower Provinces, and when
we hear all tongues full of his praise for his generosity,
patriotism, ability and attainments, I think we can only
come to the one conclusion, that British America and
British interests have lost one of the greatest friends
they have ever had in these Provinces.
Hon. Mr. HENSLEY.—If an individual in the most obscure
position in the land were hurried into eternity in
the same manner as the Hon T. D'Arcy McGee has been,
I believe that every member in this House would at once,
with a natural impulse, express their indignation and
abhorrence at the unnatural and cruel act. But how
much we detest the assassination of a man whose life has
been so valuable to the people of British America, and
who was so remarkable for his virtues, his patriotism and
his attainments. It is a lamentable fact that these dastardly acts have not been unfrequent
of late, for it is not
long since the President of the neighboring Republic was
cut down, and now the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee is the
victim. I have not been so well acquainted with the
latter gentleman as the hon. Leader of the Government
and the hon. Leader of the Opposition were, but I know
him by his speeches, his writings and his actions; and if
ever there was a statesman for whom I had respect, it
was for the Hon. Mr. McGee. I recollect the part he
took in the troubles of 1848, as well as his subsequent
change of opinion on these events; and I have admired
the path which he has taken since that time. He went
into a country where there was a different form of government
and judged its merits for himself; he afterwards
returned to that country to which his allegiance was first
given. In spite of the opinion of some, he came and declared
openly that there was no form of government to
be compared with a limited monarchy, such as that of
Great Britain, and that no government afforded such
freedom to its subjects or citizens. His country was
justly proud of his talents, and indeed the whole United
Kingdom was proud of him as an orator, and as one who
threw himself into the patriotic movement with heart
and soul. The atrocious crime which has been perpetrated, has deprived the outcry
to which be belongs of
an able statesman, and there must be but one feeling of
detestation and horror at the blood-thirsty act. I am
glad to hear that this resolution will not only be communicated
to the Speaker of the Dominion Parliament,
but to the poor widow, though it will be but a small
tribute.
Mr. BRECKEN.—I have a sort of melancholy gratification in hearing the hon. Leader of the Government
move
this resolution. It is but a tribute of respect due to the
memory of that great man who has lately been removed
from life by the ruthless hand of the assassin. From
what little I have beard and read of his career, I believe
that he was one of the most valuable men that Her
Majesty had on this side of the Atlantic. He was a gentleman
remarkable for his great talents, large soul and
high attainments; and as a statesman be was eminently
successful in carrying out his designs, the principal of
which was the union of the North American Provinces.
D'Arcy McGee was a literary man of the first order, and
his abilities as a journalist, as well as the able articles he
wrote, attracted the notice of the great Daniel O'Connell,
the famous Irish agitator. We know that be had in his
youth no love nor admiration for the institutions of our
mother country, as he had in his later days, but having
worked out the political problem on the spirit of
our institutions, his unflinching interest in the cause of
these principles which he then adopted, rendered him one
of the most useful men in British North America.
No man has done more for his country than D'Arcy
McGee, and no man was more beloved by his countrymen
than he. No man has been more deservedly popular in
Canada for his unflagging labors in behalf of the cause
of constitutional liberty, and the welfare and prosperity
of his adopted country. In the prime of life be has been
sent to his long home through the malice of his cruel
enemies, for opposing all which would retard his country's
progress, and for advancing its true interests. He has
left a widow and children behind him, but they will not
be allowed to remain unprovided for. In his efforts in
behalf of the cause of Confederation, nothing but a spirit
of fairness, integrity, and true patriotism, characterized
his actions. I can imagine the desolation that will not
only weigh down his own family, but his political friends,
as well as all whose hearts were full of hope for the
future progress and prosperity of the New Dominion. I
am glad that this small tribute has been awarded to his
memory by this hon House.
Hon. Mr. HENDERSON.—I believe, Sir, that no hon.
member of this House can approach this subject without
feelings of deep emotion — at least I cannot. I had not
the honor nor the pleasure of being personally acquainted
with the departed, whose melancholy end has been the
subject of discussion, but I have carefully pursued his
speeches and pamphlets. I speak from my heart, and
express it as my honest conviction, that what that gentleman
was in his youth he was to the last day of his life—
a sincere patriot. What I mean to say is, that what he
believed to be his duty, he did with transparent honesty
and purity of motive. When he walked in the path
which be afterwards found to be not that of Wisdom, he
gave the clearest proofs that he acted from unselfish
motives, and when be saw his error, he made ample
recompense for all his former mistakes. He reviewed his
past conduct, which is certainly the best of teachers, and
gave utterance to what he believed to be his duty. We
must cheerfully admit that what he believed to be his
duty he pursued, whether that course was under the
frowns or the smiles of his fellow-countrymen; and although they sometimes thought
he was in error and
opposed to them, he was at all times their true friend and
protector; this is the conviction of my mind. And now
under present circumstances, I cannot but sympathise
deeply with all that has been expressed by hon. members
in regard to that gentleman. He, from the depths of his
warm and noble heart, gave utterance to beautiful and
patriotic language, when he apprehended no danger from
speaking freely in the Halls of the Dominion Parliament,
but on his way home he fell by the hand of the treacherous
assassin. I can fancy to myself that if Mr. McGee's late
prototype were in this House to-day, he would deliver a
speech upon this sad event, equal in power and effect to
the noble speech which he delivered on the patriotic fund,
for his large and warm heart was want to sympathize
in cases of this kind. If the Hon. T. D'Arcy McGee
had fallen in the Crimea, while advancing in that great
charge near Balaclava, my mind would be possessed of
PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.
192
very different feelings from what it is to-day, for then he
would have died as a noble warrior, by the band of a
powerful enemy; but no, he died by the hand of the
brutal assassin. All high-minded and far-seeing statesmen
will agree with me that he died in the cause of liberty,
as well as those who fell in the Crimea, while
doing battle for their country. I certainly concur with
every sentiment of regard and of sympathy, that has been
expressed by the hon. members who have preceded me in
their remarks, for the relatives and friends of the
deceased; and if anything is required for the support of
the mourning widow and her family, Prince Edward
Island will not be behindhand in doing her part, for it
should be deemed a duty to support the bereaved family.
Hons. Kelly, Davies, Laird, and Callbeck; and Messrs.
Reilly, McNeill, and Bell, then severally expressed
their approval of the sentiments conveyed in the resolution before the House, and
their deep and unfeigned
sorrow on the lamentable death of the distinguished
statesman.
The resolution was then unanimously agreed to.
Hon. LEADER or THE GOVERNMENT.—Mr. Speaker, I
wish this resolution to be sent to the widow, as well as to
the Speaker of the Dominion Parliament, through your
hands.
This motion was also carried.
House adjourned.
I OXENHAM, Reporter.
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