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» nit as a tribute to de of saying, we were the con-- regard this portrait as a "gsnppgnrles of {hese great men." Ac-- him as a party leader, we receive thf f the cor-- ortrait as a tribute to Mr. Mere cepi. again the expression of the co D j tarian, with «dial gratitude of the Legislative As-- dith as a great Parl tme"'m is bore of sembly of Ontario. whom we have shared t t this Assembly for many years. Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Meredith was, in m:mtr' reabe::)}ls. | articularly well endowe or public : tl;:'r(.)pvgot:s'ltt?;r);' :;)fi;a!(j:\lg'h&n le;b e!:,:t"u?: II:fe. He had in early YOU'U\ thhe 0;1.':"" | ® + _A * p tages of a liberal education; he A . time or the occasion for any attempt wide ex of his = > perience in the practice t to analyze tpe in aho Mn molnt m|y| di:- profession before he entered -- Parlia-- | tinguished friend and old political lea t h d both mental and er, and if it were a proper occasion ment; he possesse 0 1 I do not think that I should physical endurance to a remarkable de-- e }tlime son who should attempt to gree. As a speaker he was fiuent, beaj :epfifq public career and. speak forceful and argumentative, and from I u;thya.nv detail upor his public ser-- his first appearance in Parliament com-- f;vlce,' We of the Opposition of this manded the respect of his fellow-- | Legislature prefer to remember our members. When the leadership of the distinguished friend, who has been so | Opposition became vacant everybody |\ recently with us that we can scarcely recognized his fitness for the position, \realize the separation that does actual-- | |and during the many years of that ly exist, as a gentleman of great and ]leadership he held the unwavering con-- distinguished talent and capacity, per-- fidence of his followers in the Honse haps one of the greatest critics of leg-- > 'and of the vast majority of the electors islation which this country has produc-- who believed in the policy of the Con-- ed for many years. We prefer to re-- s fervative party. I think it may be safe-- member him for his many private vir-- y said that few leaders of party poli-- tues. He has so borne himselft before tics in Canada had a more loval or | the world in a public and a private enthusiastic following than the hon. lcapaolty that no man hated him, that gentleman whose portrait I am called |an men respected him and most men upon to accept:-- on behalf of the Gov-- | loved him. While he lives in the recol-- ernment of Ontario. lection of the members of the Opposi-- Under our system of party govern-- tion of this Legislature, there are ment the responsibilities of the leader hearts all over the Province that will of the Opposition are second only in glow with added warmth and pleasure importance to the responsibility of the wher they sead in the newspapers to-- leader of the Government. It is said morrow that political friends and op-- of Sir Robert Peel that he never ad-- ponerts have jJoined to do honor to a vocated any policy in Opposition which gentleman whom they wil always es-- . he was not prenared to accept next teem. Mr. Speaker, I desire distinctly day, should he be called upon to form to express to you my warm thanks for a Government. This high ideal of duty the kindly and happy manner in which and this impartial estimate of ques-- you have received the portrait of our tions submitted to Parliament by pub-- late leader. Further words from me lic _ men have given to the ParlHiament-- are entirely unnecessary, and J propose ary institutions of Great Britain that to leave any further remarks to other dignity and strength which have made gentlemen who may be called upon. the House of Commons the greatest On the part of the members of the Op-- deliberative body in the world. And position I thank the donors of this por-- while it may be primarily the duty trait. We shall always feel thankful of a Government, with its greater facil~ for the honor which has been conferred ities for acquiring a& fuller knowledge of [Ulmn this distinguished gentleman by public affairs, to direct legislation for political friends and foes alike. It has the well--being of the nation, it is no !novurred to me while standing here less the duty of the leader of an Op-- | that it is a noteworthy fact that, while position so to examine matters of public we are all within the walls, members of policy and so to serutinize public ques-- |the great political parties, and willing tions in all their 'details as to leave | to go into the strife of party warfare, no room for doubt with regard to their ,and while outside of these walls we public utility. In this respect Mr. Mere-- have all the clash and clamor of an 'dith rendered unquestioned service to election contest, on this floor there is Itho Government and the Province, and afforded an evidence of the value of | we cheerfully accord to him that meed' our British system of responsible gov-- of praise to which be is justly en--. | ernment, which must be government by titled as leader of her Majesty's loyal [ means of political parties. Opnosition . y F i It would be tedious to review the } Mi. B"SS Tribute. many measures on which his volce was Mr. Ross, speaking for the Govern-- heard during his twenty years of ser-- ment, said:-- vice as member of this House. Few It gives me great pleasure to accept \of us will forget some, at least, of th« on behalf of the Government the port-- debates in which he was such a prom-- | rait just presented of 8ir Wm. Mere-- \inent fAgure, and the tremendous energy | ; dith, formerly. a member of this House, with which he occasionally marshalled and to assure you that the Government all his forces for an onslaught unor will: see that it is accorded a vplace in the Government benches. By long ex--; the gallery of the Legislature, side by perience we know right well how neces-- side with the othéer portraits of dis-- sary it was to guard everv avenue n' tinguished members -- already . placed danger and to stand day and night by there. our guns lest in some unguarded ma-- * I can assure you that I speak the sen-- ment he should scale the ramparts and timents of my colleagues as well as the capture the citadel. Now that he has sentiments of every member on the retired from the strife and turmoil of Liberal side of the House when I say | politics in which he bore such a ean-- that while Mr. Meredith's friends may | splcuous part, we can only express the hope that in the serener atmosphere of | mscc Te