The Dominion in 1983 | Page 5

of evil came good. The Americans for years had been
too careless about receiving upon their shores all the firebrands and
irreconcileables from European cities, and the consequence was that
these undesirable gentry increased in numbers, and the infection of
their opinions spread. American politics were as corrupt as they could
be. Bribery and the robbery of public funds were unblushingly resorted
to. A low moral tone with regard to such matters, combined with utter

recklessness in speculation and a furious haste to get rich by any means,
fair or foul, were, sad to say, prominent characteristics in the American
nation in many other respects so great. To counteract these evils, which
were great enough to have ruined any European state in a couple of
years, there was, however, the marvellous prodigality of nature--a
bounteousness and richness in the yield of the soil and the depths of the
earth hardly equalled in any other part of the world, and in consequence
princely fortunes were accumulated in an incredibly short space of time.
Millionaires abounded, and monopolists, compared with whom
Croesus was poor, flourished. But bitter poverty and starvation also
flourished, especially in the large cities, bringing in their train the usual
discontent and hatred of the established order of things. Yet these
old-fashioned evils were scarcely noticed in the general magnificent
prosperity of the country. The short-sighted statesmen of the time
delighted to look only on the bright side of things, and to them the very
exuberance of the prosperity seemed to condone, if not to justify, the
nefarious practices which obtained in high places. No wonder that
among our Canadians, hardly 5,000,000 all told, there were some who
were weak enough to be dazzled at the wealth and success of their
brilliant go-ahead neighbours, more than 50,000,000 strong. Among
those who lost heart in Canada, it began to be a settled conviction that
it was "the destiny of Canada to be absorbed in the States."
This was the state of things in 1885. Conservative statesmen pointed to
the general progress of our country, to unprecedented immigration from
Europe, increased agricultural products and manufactures, and to many
other convincing proofs of solid advancement. But facts were of no
avail in dealing with Reformers habitually, and on principle despondent.
The sanguine buoyancy and plucky hopefulness indispensable to true
statesmanship did not animate them to any extent. Unhappily events
over which no statesman could then have control overtook Canada,
while as yet things bounded along gaily in the States, and the sons of
despair seemed to have some ground for their pusillanimity. The
harvest of 1885 was deficient, and agriculture was in consequence
depressed: a slight panic in the Spring was succeeded by a great one in
the Fall. Heavy failures followed. A feeling of uneasiness was caused at
the same time by great social and political changes which were going
on in the mother country, and were threatening to assume the

proportions of a revolution. The unparalleled prosperity of the States
caused the Americans--never backward in blowing their own
trumpet--to assume an attitude of overweening confidence in
themselves, and to brag offensively of what they considered to be their
duty to mankind, namely, to convert all the world--by force if
necessary--to republican principles. Such was the commencement of
the great crisis in the history of the young Canadian nation--a crisis
through which, if our sturdy forefathers had not pulled successfully,
would have led to our gradual obliteration as a nation. All honor then to
the great men to whom, under Providence, our preservation is due!
In 1886 commenced the reign of terror in Europe, that terrible period of
mingled war and revolution, during which thrones were hurled down
and dynasties swept away like chaff in a gale. The face of Europe was
changed. Whole provinces were blackened and devastated by fire and
sword. During the three years in which the terror was at its height it is
calculated that at least four millions of men bearing arms, the flower of
each land, must have fallen. Great Britain was frequently on the very
brink of war, but was almost miraculously kept from actually taking
part. And most providential it was that Britain was not drawn into the
tumult, for home troubles and defensive measures required all the
attention of the nation. These stirring events, of course, had their effect
on this side of the Atlantic. Canada was affected detrimentally by
losing for a time the prestige consequent on being backed up by British
ironclads and regiments, every available soldier and every vessel of war
being required for the protection of British interests nearer home.
The harvest again in 1886 was below the average. Trade and finance
had not recovered from the shock of the previous year. The outlook was
certainly gloomy.
A Conservative government,