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I-l-l-""",--,-:,":,".-, icentury. Would Mr. FGmberlaip re- gard the petition of tho people of this - ..-.,--ti'% 7 Mr: Itos'.4 5 Where " Failed. . 3 Mr. Ross heartily concurred in the l statement that it was the duty of the (Senate to protect the rights of the 'Pi'ovinces. but if Mr. Whitney could show him one instance during the last 30 years where the Senate bad stood in the way of Dominion legislation in or- der to protect the Provinces. the for- mer would ask the Premier to with- draw this resolution, or, failing to .achleve that, would vote against the motion. Mr. Ross enumerated one af- ter another the list of struggles for Provincial rights where the Senate might have sustained Ontario but had', failed to do so. He asked if Mr. Whit- [ ney could point to any great measure that originated in the Senate. The. hon. gentleman had charged the Lib- eral party with being a destructive party: that being the case. what- party was the constructive party? He (the speaker) contended that throughout the history of Canada the Liberal party had been the construe- tive. the progressive. the popular party of the Dominion. The broadening of the franchise. the disestahiis'nment of the church, the opening up and the de.. velopment of the Provinces. the legisla- tion for the worklngmen, the laying of the foundations of the great education-I al systems. the closer binding together' of the empire, these were due to the constructive genius of the Liberal party. In the last two years that party had built up a nation in Canada. They 'could go to Washington and tell the people there that if they did not nego- Itiate with the people of Canada on fair and reasonable terms they could keep their terms to themselves: and the Canadian Ambassadors could ro-l turn withotit sturritteing a title of Can- ada's honor, and retaining the respect and admiration of the people of the Dominion. (Government applause.) '; He referred to the Liberal party's set- I tlement of the separate school question I and its success in regard to preferen- tial trade with Britain. i, No Contradiction There. '; Referring to the interview read by Mr. Whitney, he said he did not recede from tthe opinions therein, and could at the same time vote for the resolu- tion without in anyway contradicting himself. The Senate might be reform- ed in various ways ; its constitution at the present time did not adequately represent the public interests. nor did it represent active. aggressive, strong public opinion in any way. It the Senate was partly elected by the vari- ous Provincial Legislatures it might be better than now. But should it con- runuoto he partisan. the next move was m m petition OE usv y-_,._, country a. an impertinence t Mr. Ross very-much misunderstood the tone of the Colonial Chloe, and the spirit in Which the Imperial Government re- trardeerthe greatest of her colonies, it any remonstmnce emanating from the Beven Legislatures of Canada. would be treated in the manner claimed by Mr. Whitney. Taking up the contention that the resolutions ot the Quebec Con- ference had been unproductive of re- sult. Mr. Ross showed that the contrary Was the case. and he mentioned a num- ber of reforms that had been carried out as a result of the meeting of 1888. to lune. It in a Mum! when "I D?" 9: swamp could "n"ii'.)rep1ttttet,1.v.r: ', he Liberal party, the progressive party, objected ttthe Senate for several rethr, sons. It did not protect the Provincet, it was in danger ot.becqmins a partisan body, its constitution to a certain eat- tent untltted its members for public- service, and it did not represent the people, Canada being practically gov- erned by the minority. Elf they ftett that they were the natural successors of the great traditions ot the British Empire, the rights of sovereignty and manhood, they would ask the Senate to hand back that sovereurpttttr. the people of lime country. For himself he would rather bear with the inequalities of the constitution than ruthlessly lay hand upon thero. But they were {we to face with a great principle which might interfere with the development and prosperity of the countttatatd' they must be loyal to Canada, and, above all. to the people of Canada, He dwelt at some length on tihe manner in which, should the principle involved in the re- solution be carried out, the Home of Commons. the Senate and the Gover- nor-General would act as one body, and measures approved of by the majority be out into eftect. He asked those who Knew the heroism of English lit- erature and traditions if they should not emancipate themselves from any form of tyranny. They would be un- worthy of their history and tradition and of their forefathers who had strug- gled for the liberty they now enjoyed it they did not arise to the importance of the presendt position and act like free and independent 'men. (Long'cbh- tlnued Government applause.) Calls It the Watch Dog. Mr.' CaracaJlen spoke of the record of the Senate with appros'ai.a.nd allud- ed to that body as the watch dog of Canada. In the rejection of the Yukon and Drummond bills it had done good service to this country. The Liberal party was said to be progressive. but its progress was on a par "1th that of the hurglar--the burglar did not like i to borioterfvred with, neither did the Liberals. The Government to-day heard a de- Ytttation from. the Lord's Day Alliance of Ontario in opposition to the Ottawa Sunday car bill and the bill permit- ting the Hamilton & Caledonia Rall- way to run on Sunday. The deputat- tion consisted among others at Rev. Principal Caven, President: A. E. O'Meara. John A. Paterson. Rev. Dr. Parker, Rev. It. C. lel): Mrs. Ruth- erford, President ot the W. C. T. U. ', It, M, Robson and J. C. Com). Tots onto; Rev. J. Scanlon, Ottawa; Don- ald MoGregor and Chas. Richards. Caledonia; Rev. T, Albert Moore and Rev. J. G. Shearer. Hamilton. Rev. I Principal Cave-n was the chief speaker. and hls remarks were on much the same line as at the Private Bills Committee the other day. The present legisla- tlom. he said, was in contravention of the law enacted ln 1897 prohibiting the running of radial railways. The inter- pretation of the Lord's Day act was to be made the subject of a. reference -viiireriiimate was adjourned at mid- night. Mr. Caracallen spill having the tioor.r Against Sunday Cara. 149