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progress in the arts and sciences and mentioned Mme. Albani in Music, Hèbért and Allward in Sculpture, Logan and Dawson in Science; paid tribute to the Bar of Toronto, and especially to Edward Blake and the late B. B. Osler; urged the beautifying of cities and concluded by declaring that, for his part, he wanted no other epitaph or praise than this feeling: "I have tried to do the best that was in me for Canada, its prosperity and its glory." The occasion was rendered notable by an almost affectionate personal and public tribute to the Premier from the Conservative member for North Toronto in the Legislature-Mr. W. K. McNaught. He concluded his speech as follows: "I venture to predict that in the years to come when the political jealousies and animosities of the present have faded into oblivion, and the historian of the future comes to sum up the career of our guest, his verdict and that of posterity will be that Sir Wilfrid Laurier was not only an honour to the French-Canadian people, but a loyal and true British subject who did his duty to his country as he saw it and was worthy to rank alongside of those other great pathfinders of Empire whose names all true Canadians delight to honour and revere."

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On Mch. 2nd the Premier received at Ottawa a large deputation from the Canadian Federation of Boards of Trade asking for the immediate construction of the Georgian Bay Canal. In his reply he said the Government favoured the project and, if the financial resources of the country kept on increasing, there was no reason why it should not soon be started. But they would not guarantee the bonds of a private company. By an open letter to the Premier on Apl. 15 F. S. Baker, President of the Royal Archi-` tectural Institute of Canada, drew attention to and severely criticized the design accepted by the Public Works Department for the new $5,000,000 Departmental Building. Sir Wilfrid was in Quebec on May 18 and stated at a non-political Dinner of the commercial interests of the city that it was necessary to bring the Transcontinental to deep water in the summer time, and that Quebec was the natural terminus of that Railway. He confirmed the report as to the selection of the Champlain Market for at least a temporary depot and hoped that the City would agree upon a union depot. He declared that there was no other place except Quebec for dry-docking the big vessels coming up the St. Lawrence but he emphasized the fact that if Quebec wanted to take advantage of its opportunities it must organize as St. John had already organized. It was the determination of the Government to keep the whole trade of the Transcontinental within Canadian ports.

Much of the summer was devoted to the Premier's Western tour during which, from the head of the Great Lakes to the Pacific coast, he received a splendid popular welcome. At home again in Ottawa Sir Wilfrid stood beside Mr. T. P. O'Connor on Oct. 5th and said: "Liberty spells loyalty. The fact that England

trusted Canada and granted her autonomous government has converted the restlessness and ill-feeling of former days to a deep and abiding loyalty to the Motherland. Let England trust the Irish people as she has trusted Canadians." Then came his bearding of Bourassa in the home of his success and at the seat of his present power-Montreal. His speech on Oct. 10 echoed back and forth through Canada with varied results. There was vigorous Conservative criticism of its coldness in relation to Empire unity and its variance in tone from the optimistic and buoyant utterances in the West. The Liberal press described it as one more effort of "the great conciliator" to hold rival elements of thought in harmonious action. Its chief points are mentioned elsewhere. During this visit to Montreal Major and Mrs. G. W. Stephens entertained the Premier and Lady Laurier at a brilliant Reception. At this time the usually varied opinions of the Premier received some interesting touches. In England on Oct. 17th Mr. W. A. S. Hewins (Unionist) described him in a speech as "one of the greatest masters of Imperial policy," while in Canada on Nov. 12th the St. John Standard described him as "a picturesque and wobbling opportunist." A few days later in his letter to La Presse (Nov. 17th) Sir Wilfrid said: "My duty is to work for a strong and respected country-to make Canada worthy of marching, head erect in the British Empire, in the face of the entire world."

The Premier's 69th birthday was celebrated quietly on Nov. 20 and despatches were received from His Majesty the King, from the Premiers of Great Britain and South Africa, from Mr. Chamberlain and a number of others. In the Commons on the 21st Sir Wilfrid spoke of the Fielding-Paterson mission to Washington and summarized the Liberal policy as improved commercial relations with the United States and the maintenance of the British preference. He mentioned on this occasion that when he vacated the Premiership it would be to retire into private life-not to lead a possible Liberal Opposition. On the 29th Sir Wilfrid dealt with the Navy question in the House and on Dec. 5th answered questions from Dr. Sproule and Colonel Sam Hughes as to certain matters in connection with the Eucharistic Congress at Montreal. He translated "Ses Hommages" in Mr. Justice Girouard's Marconigram of welcome to Cardinal Vannutelli as respects" and stated that the Judge was not Administrator of the Government at the time it was sent. As to Mr. Speaker Marcil wearing his official robes in the procession at Montreal during this Congress the Premier explained that the mace was not carried and that, therefore, the action was not official.

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A caucus of the Liberal Members for Quebec was held at Ottawa on Dec. 6th and, after speeches by the Premier and Mr. Brodeur, it was decided to stand by the Government's Naval policy and to initiate a campaign of education in Quebec. On the 8th a large delegation waited upon Sir Wilfrid from Van

couver, New Westminster and other British Columbia municipalities to urge on the Government the necessity and desirability of immediately dredging the north arm of the Fraser River in order to make a deep fresh-water harbour for Vancouver in view of the great expansion of trade that must follow upon the opening of the Panama Canal. To make the harbour uniform they also asked that the south arm of the river be included in the scheme which would cost $1,600,000. The Chairman of the Delegation was Mr. J. H. Senkler, K.C., President of the Liberal Association of Vancouver. The Premier expressed approval of the scheme while the Minister of Public Works said that about $250,000 of immediate expenditure would be incurred. A deputation from the Packing-houses of Canada asked the Premier and Mr. Fisher on Dec. 9th for compensation to packers of two-thirds of the loss when compelled to destroy meat condemned by the Inspectors. They pointed out that such a provision existed in the case of farmers whose animals were destroyed for disease proven to exist.

On Dec. 13th a Delegation of 200 representatives from 51 municipalities and 48 Boards of Trade, headed by Mr. W. J. Gage of Toronto, asked the Premier to hasten the deepening of the Welland Canal so as to give a through waterway, of from 21 to 25 feet depth, to Prescott and thence to Montreal. In his reply Sir Wilfrid said: "I am heartily in favour of the project of the deepening of the Welland Canal. There is no question as to the need of deepened canal or as to the enormous benefits that would accrue therefrom. I am also in favour of the construction of the Georgian Bay Canal. The two projects would involve the borrowing of perhaps two hundred millions but I am not scared." But Mr. Fielding was away and nothing could be done in his absence. On Dec. 16th the Premier and his Ministers received the greatest deputation that had probably ever waited upon a Canadian Government. Nearly 1,000 farmers from all parts of the West and from many points in the East were present. In his reply to the four requests proffered Sir Wilfrid Laurier expressed himself as in opposition to Government ownership of the Hudson's Bay Railway but as not unfavourable to Government operation; declared himself hopeful of Reciprocity in natural products with the United States; described the British preference as a cardinal feature of the Government policy; expressed a preference for improving the St. Lawrence waterway over the proposal to acquire the Terminal Elevators at Fort William and Port Arthur. In the absence of Mr. Fielding the Premier took charge on Dec. 15th of the proposed Banking Act Amendments in the Commons.

Mr. Fielding, Minister of Finance, was much before the public during the year in connection with the Tariff negotiations between Canada and the United States which are dealt with elsewhere. His 1910 Budget was that of a prosperous country. Personally, he was, on April 26, presented with a testimonial of $120,000 under

circumstances described, semi-officially, by the Toronto Globe correspondent on the following day. It seems that at the close of the 1909 Session of Parliament a Committee of Senators and members of the House of Commons, and some influential gentlemen outside, was formed for the purpose of receiving subscriptions for the Minister in recognition of his long and able services as a member of Parliament and Minister of Finance. The response to the appeal of the Committee was satisfactory and was not limited by party affiliations. Many contributions were received without solicitation. The list of donours was anonymous and Mr. Fielding was made aware only of the fact that the future of himself and his family was provided for. The Hon. George W. Ross presided at the ceremony of presentation and Sir Wilfrid Laurier assisted in the proceedings. A part of the Opposition press at once denounced this action and published various guesses at the donours as individuals or as corporations; while declaring that the gift hampered Mr. Fielding's future independence in policy and was utterly unprecedented amongst public men in Canada or Britain.

Another part of the Conservative press, however, which included the Toronto News, Toronto Telegram, Toronto World, London Free Press, Ottawa Journal and Hamilton Spectator, eulogized the character of the Minister and approved the presentation. The question was brought up in the Commons on May 3rd when the Premier denied emphatically that the Bank of Montreal or similar organizations had anything to do with it. The friends of Mr. Fielding had undertaken to provide a testimonial. They consulted him (Sir Wilfrid) and he said that he approved of the proposal. Only men in private life who had no connection, directly or indirectly, with the Government were allowed to contribute and the gifts came from political opponents as well as from political friends. "There was not a dollar or a penny from contractors or public officials." Mr. R. L. Borden joined the Premier in expressing personal appreciation of the Minister's character. Mr. Fielding's views on Imperial issues have so seldom been expressed that it will be of interest to quote an extract from a speech in the House on April 20. After referring to those who held a belief in Canada as an independent nation of the future the Minister said: "I have no sympathy with that view myself. I do not believe that in the lifetime of any man now living or in the lifetime of his sons or grandsons Canada will be other than a portion of the British Empire. That is my view, but I do not propose to quarrel with any man who, in the exercise of his judgment, thinks differently from me." Toward the close of the year Mr. Fielding was in bad health and had to go south for a time.

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Mr. Aylesworth, Minister of Justice, was the object of much praise during 1910 for his work in connection with the Hague Tribunal and of much criticism in respect to clemency granted

certain sellers of alleged immoral books. Addressing the Ontario Club at Toronto on Feb. 17th Mr. Aylesworth reviewed the procedure and operations of the Department of Justice; stated that out of 1,600 prisoners in the Penitentiaries, and double that number in the Provincial gaols, there were in the past year only 14 pardons; eulogized the British authorities for the keen interest taken in Canadian affairs and enlarged upon the Imperial and general responsibilities of a British statesman; defended the Naval policy of the Canadian Government, denounced the Naval contribution idea and reiterated his loyalty to flag and Empire; explained the issues to be submitted at the Hague. On Sept. 7th the Award was signed at the Hague in a decision which was generally acclaimed in Canada and Newfoundland as a victory over the United States. Mr. Aylesworth had charge of the preparation of the Colonial case and the work was thoroughly done. As to this the Toronto Globe said on Oct. 25th:

The case for the two interested Dominions was argued by the British Crown law officers who performed their task with the ability and lucidity so characteristic of great British jurists, but it was absolutely essential to success not only that the latter should be perfectly informed as to the Dominion contention, but also that the thousands of references, many of. them purely historical, should be instantly and accurately available when they were needed. It is safe to say that no such comprehensive and complicated case was ever presented with more methodical thoroughness and accuracy or greater forensic skill and force.

Meanwhile, the Minister's opposition to drastic regulations in respect to race-track betting and to clauses in the Miller Bill had aroused criticism from moral and religious bodies. In the Toronto Globe of April 27th so prominent a Liberal as H. H. Dewart, K.C., also attacked Mr. Aylesworth for not having organized the party in Ontario, for not being a "political force," for not doing adequate party service. But the vital attack of the year was in connection with the case of Skill and King-two men condemned for selling obscene literature and whom the Minister of Justice released on Meh. 4 after they had served two months, or one-sixth of their sentence. The April number of the Canadian Municipal Journal came out in a vigorous denunciation of this action as "a blot on the administration of Justice" for, if the Minister was right then Judge Winchester had been wrong in sending these men to gaol! On Apl. 14 Mr. Avlesworth denied in the Commons the conclusions come to by this writer but promised to look further into the matter. He defended his action as being invited by prominent clergymen and by a recommendation from Hon. J. J. Fov, Attorney-General of Ontario; declared that while passages in the books might be termed indecent they were upon the whole classics; and concluded as follows: "I gave the advice to His Excellency that these men should be summarily released, because in my humble judgment, speaking as a lawyer, they were not guilt▾ of the offence with which they were charged."

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