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C 'Uiited Stetson" was This'u'in m. 1875. 2hgtrfbir" . 94 move .had its. ebb aim was at the proper procedure to use in each "name. . tidal "n, tweetptrtg eves-r eases beanie somewhat more decisive in; thins out of its way; then come a re- time. Members of this House who action. I do not know that these fever- have followed this question during the ' _ ish and emotional expressions of opinion last 24 years will remember that in Bep- Eare thes best, after trll, for tho welfare ,tember, 1875, a Dominion convention of the commonwealth. I would rather was he'd in Montreal, at which there have , steadK .eduyt.iontu proeeM, ptV iwere representatives from all parts 'croaching tne by inch ttpon whatever {of the Dominion, representatives ;enls we wanted to remove, and holding of all churches and from all i every inch of the found, and making It'lasses. A few. days prior to ' the _ir.tch of to-day t e circumstance and the meeting of that convention the On- Ptar,ting?htce of tomorrow. I would tario Prohibitory League met in Toronto 1mueh rather do thig than make a fur. and through its President addressed to lions onslaught upon an evil, or supposed the people remarks which I am now go- ;vis. firi'ncyl I had dcmqllishcd it, and then ine to quote. in s ort y nfterwar s that it had ob- p, i. . . tained additional vitalit , and was thriv- l The inside" "as M" Robert let? ing perhaps more heel}; and actively who said "--"The Question of prohibition than in its previous state of existence. is one_that "ity',1' the greatest con- , 'The. experience of thefleott act and local sideration on t e part of any .G.?verT option in the United States warns "s ment, however strong, before deciding to _that in this matter we. should proceed put a prohibitory law on the statute 'with some deliberation. book. t is agreed on all hands that . . such a law to be effective must have Origin of Referendum. an undoubtedly strong public sentiment Then I want to spend a few moments in favor of the law and its rigid enforce- in considering the origin of the referen. ment. Tjat, then, is ttt best. Peth.od of dum as a temperance movement. I wk ascertaining. what public opinion " on now of the referendum as distinct from this moat important question t Some 'the plebiscitp. It is said by those who propose making it a test question at the do not like the present party in power polls. The experience of the past shows 'that we, have invented the referendum that very little dependence could be to get us out of difNutlties. Why, 1 placed on the result of such a test. So cannot claim the paternity. the Liberal ) many side issues would arise regarding ' party cannot claim the paternity, of this men and measures that the question of measure of reform. The referendum tr p.ro.h.ibtliott would in many 03993 be lost originated in the Senate of the Dominion 'ss, sight 91 or be subordinated to Some of Canada. You will find the, firat ex- o.th.e.r issue. Others propose that a l ression of a roval of this kind of leg- tl, plebiscite be taken, thus affording each (il'l/ifi"oon' brought down by Mr. Vidal on oleetor an opportunity of saying yea or. T the 7th day of March, 1876. N nay to that question, irrespective of any; i I Aave here the report of the Senate other question of public policy. This; ieommittee. presented by Senator Vidal would Bill! leave t e law to be passed; in 1875. But perhaps I should up"? by Parliament, which might or) preface this by saying that in 1874 and might not be .done. The best ivay"--l .1875 an unusual number of petitions herein the point-Nou" be to ask} were presented to the House of Commons th) Parliament t? pass a stringent prohibi- and to the Senate also asking prohibi-: $07 Uw at It., neat session and submit tory legislation. There were petitions it or tht .rtrtifitation of the electors of oiqned by nearly 100.000 individual" the Dominion at the next general elec-l names. there Were petitions from many tion." I, , 'municipalities, from the Legislatures ot, . . i l the Provinces, one from this Legislature.,; , Ffmmmh Pe. aThese petitions were referred to a com-, Now, this " tht.origin, of the referen. imittee of the House of Commons on one dum on the ',i,1llfi,e,' of prohibition, m rside and a eomittee of the Senate on the for! m "Hum we now have it. The the other. convention which met at Montreal con- l sisted of 285 delegates. All classes were, Proposed to Consult the People. l trp"i'i'gl,tred,; The Roman Catholic BlSllOpl The concludin ra n h of the .. of Sher rooke sent his approval in a port is as 1u//','V..ITi'i'lh' should 5:," letter to Secretary Gates; the Roman! Government not feel satisfied that the" Catholic Archbishop of Manitoba also'; indication of public opinion afforded by? a?!" a sympathetic letter. Reprijmte- the numerous petitions presented to Par- tires "The .there from "in? Ity1rret .m liument is sufficient to justify the early the Dominion exeept.Britisy Columbia. introduction of such a law, it would be !The convention was m session for Ic?tl desirable to submit the question to the oral days.. A Committee on Resolutions, . Idecision of the people by taking a vote iii'? appointed. l?/t H the rttolution,; 'of the elevators thereon as soon as adopted by the convention m 1875..-- i t practicable."