390 Our North Land 



In 1883, Manitoba and the North-West already contained a con- 

 siderable population. There was, comparatively speaking, but one 

 railway in the Province. It extended from beyond its eastern limit 

 to beyond its western boundary, but had no connection with the 

 outside world at either end. In the west, to establish such connec- 

 tions, the main line was pushing forward eastward and westward 

 with all possible speed, and the pressing wants of the people in the 

 way of local railways were overlooked or unheeded. Besides, the 

 people of the North- West already saw plainly that the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway, when completed, would not meet the wants of 

 that vast territory, and they clamoured for permission to open railway 

 connection across the international boundary with the railway system 

 of the United States, indiscriminately. This was forbidden by the 

 Central Government, and the people, exasperated by the prospect of 

 monopoly, became greatly excited. The farmers, who, of course, 

 compose nine-tenths of the population, began to organize their 

 Farmers' Unions, and prepare for their now famous " Farmers' 

 Convention." Meanwhile, the Provincial Government was negoti- 

 ating with the Federal authorities for a readjustment of the terms 

 between Manitoba and the Dominion ; and the failure of success 

 attending these negotiations, partly owing to mismanagement, added 

 to the general ferment. 



The farmers complained of the extortion of the Canadian Pacific 

 Railway; demanded the right of the province to control its own 

 railway interests ; complained of the excessive import taxation ; 

 and many other matters affecting the general welfare of the Prov- 

 ince. In the heat of their convention deliberations, certain very 

 unwise resolutions were proposed, and although they were after- 

 wards withdrawn, they found their way into newspaper reports of 

 the proceedings of the convention, and were telegraphed and re-pub- 

 lished the world over, especially in Europe, where they have been 

 very misleading, to the great injury of the North- West. The pro- 

 posed resolutions to which I refer are as follows : — 



" Therefore, be it resolved : That this Convention hereby petition the 

 Premier (Hon. Mr. Norquay) at once to declare, by resolution of the House 

 of Assembly, that this Province shall no longer continue a member of the 



