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£3 was heartily responded to. The unani- mous choice of Mr. Cruess, in face of his repudiation of party allegiance and of his unreserved endorsation of the platform of the Equal Rights association is proof sufficient that Mr. Cruess and those who with one voice endorsed his nomination were not in the slightest degree influenced by those who for a. brief space “ posed ” as managers. So far as the convention of last Saturday is concerned, the liberal and independ- end electorate of West Victoria took matters into their own hands, and declared that the principles of the Equal Rights association stand first. Be it understood that Mr. Cruess comes before the electorate in this contest pledged ‘0 support those principles in the politics of Ontario, and to lend the Lindsay For cheap beautiful Wall Paper Decidedly good values are these Don’t forget it. The convention of last Saturday resulted in the unanimous choice, with- out competition, of Mr. John Cruess as the candidate in opposition to Dr. McKay, the standard bearer. of the Mowat government. The convention was large, enthusiastic, and thoroughly representative of those who are oppcsed to the present government of Ontario on the important leading questions of the hour. Whatever doubts may have previously existed as to the auspices under which the convention was sum- moned, the invita-jon. to “liberal reformers and liberal conservatives” Landlords and Tenants, Attention : Where do you expect to go For YOur 7 Spring Wall Paper; Have you thought of going to R. S. PORTER’S, The leading place in weight of his influence in their support in the Dominion affairs. No man could have been chosen better qualified for the requirements of the present crisis. It is a time when men must agree to (litter upon minor questions, in order that the principles of a great cause should triumph. Mr. Cruess has never been a strong party man, and his personal co. victiors and surroundings have always been in strong sympathy with the obiects aimed at by the Equal Rights association. To the liberal and independent electors, upon Whom the result of the L resent contest depends, there can be no difficulty in making a choice between the two candidates in West Victoria. Both men of un- questionable character and respect- ability, the one comes out as the uncompromising supporter of - the Mowat government and its Separate School policy, the other as the uncompromising opponent of the sectarianism .L which has been fostered by the policy of that government Both men will undoubtedly keep their word. There can be no question about that. Nor can there be any question about what the result will be should the present government be returned to power. Had Mr. Mowat and his colleagues freed themselves. from sectarian control, and inaugurated a. new school policy, as it was claimed previous to last session by many of their followers they would do, is there (the flLflatcbman. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1890. Saturday’s Convention. a reform supporter of Mr. Mowat who would not feel a relief in the present contest which he does not feel? We. do not think so ; and we do not except those who are proud to call themselves old Brown-Dorion liberals of the old- fashioned school either. Brown-Darion reformers of the old school, unless laboring under a delusion, are not the ‘ supporters of reaction by a large majority. We. respectfully submit this‘ problem to the reform candidate for West Victoria. Upon the support of the liberal-minded of both political parties, those who are honestly in sympathy ‘with the Equal Rights movement, the result of the present contest largely depends. We do not know that we can do better than quote the words of the venerable Dr. Caven in his recent letter to the press, as a guide to all in sympathy with the work of the association :â€" “ Equal Rights men bind themseives to maintain the principles of their alliance as set forth in the plathrm of the association ; otherwise they are as free as ever to give their support where they choose. The association represents an important principleâ€"the distinction between ‘Church and State; and it would prevent all undue ecclesiastical interference in civil affairs. It is or- ganized to defend and to propagate this principle.” The issue is now before them in West Victoria, and the verdict must be in favor of Mr. John Cruess. The Ballot and Mr. Mowat. The object of the ballot, it is needless to say, is to secure to each citizen as his individual right the exercise of the franchise, free from the interference and the idle curiOSIty even of others. It is the duty of the State to provide the necessary conditions, in order that every elector may enjoy that liberty to the utmost extent. Does the Ontario ranchise not guarantee the secrecy of the ballot? It does not. To the large army composed of those in the employ of the Government, of those enjoying contracts from or looking for employâ€" ment or favors from the same source, and of those whose bread and butter depends upon the favor of the officials of the Government, this means more than the ordinary rank and file of the electorate can apprecmte. The power which the present defective state of the Ontario ballot system places in the hands of the Government is enormous, and its influence innnoral. The very uncertainty alone which hangs over the voter under the present system, as human nature is constituted, would do the work. The persistent refusal of Mr. Mawat to remove the defects of the system, justly leaves him open to the charge of being willing to profit by the tyranny which attaches to it. So much for the provincial ballot. \Vhat argu- ment in favor of the compulsory use of the ballot in provincial and municipal electiOns does not apply to its use in the elections for school trustees? Why should not the use of the ballot be optional with each municipality in Dominion, or Provincial, or Municipal elections. Because at this late day the common sense of the community de- clares that such, would be an outrage upon the individual liberty of the citizen. W'hatjustification, then, can be offered by any candid reformer or conservative (the Brown-Dorion liberal of the old-fashioned school, and the dyed-in-the-wool tory of an older school included) for the refusal of Mr. Mowat to make the use of the ballot compul- sory in public school trustee elections 2 Is it because in many localities trustee elections are not as keenly contested as are either municipal or parliamentary elections, or that in such the citizen has no individual liberty,'in the enjoyment of which he has a right to be protected from outside interference, curiosity, or annoyance? We think not. There is no other solitary reason why things should be as they are, than that the granting of the compuls0ry use of the ballot to the public school ratepayers would stand too glaringly in contrast with the refusal of the same to the Separate school supporters, for even Mr. Mowat to care to face. If there be any other reason, we trust it will be sent along. But Mr. Mowat has as- signed reasons for his refusal to grant the ballot to , ‘ Separate school rate; payers, the honesty of which it would THE WATCHMAN, LINDSAY, THURSDAY, MAY 8, I890 be Well for Ontario electors to carefully weigh. First, the ballot has not been asked for by the ratepayers concerned. Had the voice of no ratepayer trom Toronto, Peterboro, Ottawa, Kingston, or from elsewhere reached Mr. Mowat? Had not the “ powers that be ” at these places boldly, :learly, and above board declared that the Separate school is #262)” school, and not the school of the ‘a’z‘z'zerz? If there was one ratepayer throughout the province who desired the protection of the ballot, it was the duty of Mr. Mowat to grant that pro tection. As to the necessity for the “ It was further argued by the learned counsel for the defendants that the Legis- lature had no power to pass any law to interfere with the position or mode of election of trustees of Separate schools as settled by Statute prior to Confederation; and section 93 of the “ British North America Act ” of 1867, was cited in support of this contention. It would be a most unforâ€" tunate result of this enactment, if it were found that it precluded the remedying defects in, or improving the machinery for working out the Separate School system. The first sub-section of clause 93, says: “Nothing in any soch law shal prejudicially affect any right or privilege with respect to denmninational sci-nols which any class of persons have by law in the Province at the Union.” It is clear that it was not intended by this sub- section to preclude all legislation ; for the the 3rd sub-rection enacts that “ Where in any Province a system of separate or dissentient schools exists by law at the Union, or is thereafter establisned bythe Legislature of the Province, an appeal will lie to the Giwernor-General in Councxl from any act or decision of any provincial authority affecting any right or privilege of the Protestant or Roman Catholic minority of the Queens subjects in re- lation to ctlncatioiu” and further by clause 1: it is enacted that “ in case any such provincial law as from time to time seems to the lovernor-Gcneral in Council. requisite for the due execution of the provisionsof this section is not made, or in case any decision of the Governor- General in Council on any appeal under this Section is not dury executed by the proper provincial authority in that behalf, then and in every such case, and as far only as the circumstances of each case re- quire, the Parliament of Canada may make remedial laws for the due execution of the provisions of this section, and of any decision of the Governor-General in Council under this section.” So that there is here laid down a system of appeal in case there be legislation by a province inj uriousl) affecting any right or privilege of the minority in relation to education; and also a system of appeal is awarded in case needed legislation be not had by the Provincial Legislature when required in relation to education ; and power is given to the Parliament of Canada to make remedial laws in such cases. It is there- fore clear that the Provincial Legislature has some power to legislate as to the denominational schools; and is scarcely possible to conceive a. case in which it could or should more properly interfere than where as here it is asked to remove an ambiguity in the working of the Act, and to give to the Separate Schools the same class of machinery rl'er carrying on its work as is given to the public schools Toronfo I'Vorltl :â€"-â€"The public and the politicians are beginning to see Winn a force there is in the Equal Rights move- ment. In two cases has its voice already been heard in Ontario: in the Lambton by election (Ontario Legislature) and in the Dominion election at, Ottawa on Saturday last. And in the second Case the voice was much louder and stronger than in the first. Wlmt will it he on June 5 when Mr. Mownt goes to his trial '3 He and his organs have belittled and ridiculed the movement. They think (lifi'ercntly now. And if D’Alton McCarthy and Principal Cziven and the other patriotic men who have taken up this cause of Equal Rights to All, go on thcplatvformund raise their voices in the counties of Ontario the re- sult must be utter annihilation of the Liberal party and the rout of Oliver Mowat the man who has denied to Roman Catho- lic electors the right of the ballot. who has conceded to the hierarchy special legisla- ballot for Separate school ratepayers; the voice from Kingston alone is a sufficient answer. But there remains another “reason” assigned by Mr. Mowat for his refusal in this matter. In face of the many amendments made to the Separate School act since Con- federation, the people of Ontario must have been “surprised to learn” that Mr. Mowat, the great Ontario consti- tutional lawyer, “did not feel quite sure” that under the B. N. Act he could impose the ballot upon the Separate school ratepayers. In reply to this we present the judgment of the then, Vice-Chancellor S. H. Blake de- livered in 1878 in the case of the Roman Catholic Separate School Trustees of Belleville vs. Grainger et a]. We leave it without comment for the careâ€" ful, the candid consideration of all those who desire to arrive at the truth, and to decide the issue in the best interests of the province. The judg- ment of Mr. Blake reads as follows : Does it not meet the point at issue? ~â€"n machinery which, after much thought and many years’ experzence, IS found to he the best and s1mplest» we have yet had.” Press Comments. tion in return for a. corporate vote, and whose still greater crime is not even so much the rights that he has already denied and the special privileges he has already conceded, as the further rights he would deny and the further privileges he would concede were he put in power again. For his onlv hope 'of retaining power is in get- ting a solid corporate vote, and if he can get that he would concede any demand that might be made upon him. ‘ Equal Rights was head In Lambton and the Voice was loud 111 Ottawa Throughout all Ontario it is now roaring in the ears of Ohver Mowat: The Relation of the Equal Rights Asso- cuation to Party. To the Editor of T he Mail. SIR,â€"-â€"ln View of the near approach of the elections for the Legislature of On- tario, I desire to say a. word respecting the relation of the Equal Rights Association to party. arate schools; while the recent modifica- tions of 'the Separate school law are in substance what our platform demands: Should the views recently advanced in the address by the I’rm‘incizil Council of the liquid Rights Asmciution, respecting the abolition of Separate schools, receive due endersution and tind. a good measure of support in the community (as I trust they Will), an issue of very great; import- ance, both in Provincial and Dominion politics, will have to be decided. Mean- while, the association will endeavor to bear its part in forxning'public opinion; but should constituencies wish to ascer- tain the opinion of candidates upon a question of deep significanceâ€"a question which In the judgment of most; who are watching the educational movement: both in Europe and America must come to the frontâ€"they cannot be blamed for doing so. Let all friends of Equal Rights who 'ure more anxious to have our principles pre- vail than to secure a party triumph act in concert, with wise forbearance, and with fidelity and honour. A time has come to test us whether we are worthy to be en- trusted with the defence of :1 great cause; a cause which has no party significance, and which, let me say, can hurt 'no party whirh will not make war upon it. It is reported that the ‘Wells Fargo ex- press messenger on a Southern Pacific tram was robbed Thursday night of $45,- 000 at Eagleville, Tex. The writer is entirely responsible for this letter, which is not in any degree of- ficial; :it the same time he is cmlident that he expresses the opinion of the excellent men of all parties with whom it has been his privilege to act in the Equal Rights Association. The association is not itself a. party in the ordinary sense. It has nothing to say regarding the questions which divide Con- servatives and Reformers as such. Both these parties are representedâ€"in what relative proportion I cannot venture to say â€"in the membership of the association, and the very existence of the association depends upon the scmpuhus impartiality with which all matters that affect or in- volve party shall be treated. The great question of provincial poli- tics to which our principles apply is that of Separate schools. It does not appear to me that the past relation of the parties to this question permits any line to be drawn by one association in favour of or against one party rather than the other. Whatever accretions have gathered around the Separate School Act have had, I think the concurrence of all. Neither party can charge the other with developing Sep- Equal Rights men bind themselves to maintain the principles of their alliance as set forth in the platform of the association; otherwise they are as free as ever to give their support where they choose. The as- sociation represents an important principle â€"the distinction between Church and State; and it would prevent all undue ec- clesiastical interference in civil affairs. It is organized to defend and to propagate this principle. The Provincial Association cannot for- bid those who in any constituency favour its views from bringing forward candidates who are pledged to support those views. Localities must have the right to do so should they deem such action prudent. But none who value the principles of Equal Rights will lend themselves to any sinister method. or permit the association to become an instrument in the hands of designing men for the adVancement of party. Should anything of this kind be attempted in any place every true mem- ber of the association will regard it as base and immoral, and as fitted to do irrepar- able damage t-o a most necessary move- ment. TI) all men of any party, who have shown no interest in our organization till they imagined that it might be used for personal or party ends, conscientious and intelligent friends of Equal Rights will give a wide berth. Launch ofa Fine New Steamer by the Collinewood Dry Dock Company. COLLINGWOOI), May 5. --Thc new steamer built by the Collinmwod Dry Dock Com- 11111) forNoble, Davis A 011., of Colling- wood, to be used for the fast tr 1ns1t of fiesh fish from their fishingr ”rounds at Squaw island, Killainey and other stations, was successfully launched this afternoon 111 presence of 11 :11rge concourse of people The new stc 1mcr was christ- ened the Fred A. Hodgson, after the popular theatrical 111111111ger of the She company of New York. Mr. Hodgson presented the steamei with 11 magnificent set of colms. The boat is 100 feetlong 19 feet beam, 9 feet depth of hold, wiéli new compound engrines built by the Killey- Beckett Engine Company, of Hamilton. The steamer is 11 perfect picture in the water, and in fact the finest of her class e\ or hunched here. The Hodgson will make her first trip on Saturd- 1y next, with Captain Alex. Clark 111 command. Your Hour Has Come. Toronto, April 29. Yours. etc. , W M. CAVEN. MR. RICHARD HUMPHREYS, orjggill _v_is_it pupils at th_e_i_r homes. Would in{'ite the public to see STOCK of MUSIC, both Classic and‘ Modern, which he has for sale, and will furnish both MUSIC and INSTRUMENTS at reasonable orices PIAN OS TUNED Shapes, Trimmings, Ribbons, Laces, Veilings, Feat ers, Flowers, etc. These goods are now opem out, and ladies are cordially invited to call and i spect the stock before purchasing elsewhere. Having visited the Fashion Centres of Torom Buffalo, and New York, and made extensive pu chases, I have a very Choice Stock of Latest Fasl lons 1n Parties intending to bulk! should call and inspect our Work before buying elsewhere, ana “.79 will convince them that they W111 save money by doing so. Lindsay, will receive pupils there for DRY ‘KILN NOW IIT FULL BLAST AND DRY 00023, 3M, mnuwmcs, as, ' @UR SPRING STM Every LINE COMPLET REMEMBER WE REPAIR EVERYTHINGi Watches, Clocks and Jewellery. To Me Ladies 0/ Victoria County : S. J. FEVER“ THEJEWELLE NEXT DOOR to the, DALY HOUSE. -| INTERESTS LOOKED AFTER. PRICES AWAY DOW HavingP removed to the North End of and GoOds away up in design and quality. Earings, Broaches, Braclet Band, Keeper Rlngs, Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Gold and Silver Watches. 9* LAST Second to none in the County. All kinds of Jewellery manufactured, if required, on shortest notice. PIANO ORGAN, VIOLIN, ETG, Ingle Ryley' are now showing the largest and best assorted stock we have ever shown in Lindsay. Pvne’s Row NEW MILLINERY, Guaranteed with Prices right. MISS G’BREEN-I "E TRIMMINGS, ETC. COMPLETED at above réfiés‘ secunty. Debentures, Mortgages and Notes In ated to best advantage, 55 2! 66 2 BARRON MCI A full rePO .tIindsaY “'7 St; AndreW’s tor this issue, An able u ma, Saturday 3‘ lineal and. and arches: Rev. L; (Haitian l fl mi See: Mr. :X'Bfid sklil