456 Our North Land. 



forced on us in despite of an Act of the Imperial Parliament in 

 utter disregard of the urgent needs of a young and growing com- 

 munity. We find the lands of Manitoba, guaranteed to her by 

 every principle of Provincial equality, withheld from us by a 

 Government, whose vacillating land policy has diverted the stream 

 of immigration from our boundaries. 



" We find, too, an oppressive tariff which, however beneficial 

 it may be to the manufacturing eastern Provinces, cannot fail 

 to be inimical to the interests of a purely agricultural country 

 such as this. 



" It is plain that there are grievances which ought not to be 

 borne without remonstrance — resistance if necessary. But we 

 believe that a fair representation of our condition, backed by a 

 stern determination to have it remedied, will secure for us such 

 universal sympathy and respect as will break down every obstacle 

 to our ultimate success. 



" Let us then continue to work, as we have begun, keeping in 

 view those rights we have inherited as subjects of a constitutional 

 monarchy, which can alone secure to this country that liberty 

 upon which depends its prosperity. Nay, more, its peace, disre- 

 garding, as we are bound to do at such a crisis, party divisions 

 and tactics, and directing our intelligence and energy so as to 

 secure the common good." 



But I fear that party " divisions and tactics " were not disre- 

 garded by him who uttered these sentiments. Indeed, there was 

 more or less of a party spirit running through the whole of the 

 farmers' movement. However, it was not without good as well as 

 evil results. At a meeting of farmers held in the City of BraDdon 

 on the 26th of November, 1883, it was resolved to hold a Farmers' 

 Convention in the City of Winnipeg on the 19th of December, and 

 circulars to that effect were sent out from the Brandon agitators to 

 every post-office in Manitoba and the North- West. This was the 

 beginning of the movement. Meetings were held and delegates 

 elected in nearly every portion of the Province, and over one 

 hundred representatives took part in the Convention which assem- 

 bled at Winnipeg, and which adopted the following Declaration of 

 Bights : — 



