APPENDIX 193 



THE REMONSTRANCE* 



(Hansard, p. 2551.) 



*The document is printed as prepared. The event proved that 

 there was nothing to thank the House for. 



To the Honourable the Speaker 



and Members of the House of Commons 

 of Canada, in Parliament assembled. 



Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons: 



"On behalf of thousands of farmers assembled in this city 

 to-day, we warmly thank the House for the proof it has given 

 that it desires to keep in sympathetic touch with the citizens from 

 whom it derives its dignity and authority. We believe we express 

 the sentiments of all thoughtful citizens when we say that this depar- 

 ture in Canadian Parliamentary practice, following so closely upon 

 the speech to this House and the Senate, of the President of the 

 American Federation of Labour, is an agreeable recognition of the 

 new relationships which the war is producing, as between those who 

 govern and those who are governed by consent. 



"The portion of Canadian labour which is so vital to the pro- 

 secution of the war, and which we represent, appreciates to the full 

 the evidence of loyalty which the House of Commons gave in August, 

 1914, to the democracies of the western hemisphere in its instant 

 support of the Motherland in her hour of need. We trust that the 

 spontaneous action then taken will be justified by a continuation of 

 those habits of freedom which it has long been the particular privilege 

 of Canadians to maintain. These privileges are all the more 

 appreciated in view of the long struggle for responsible government 

 which was undertaken against the opposition of those who exercised 

 arbitrary authority, and who feared the free expression of opinion, 

 in the press and by the spoken word. 



"We are sure the House will permit us to say also, that the 

 citizens generally have observed with gratitude that the House 

 has shown a larger independence of thought and speech than 

 has been customary under the system of partisan government. 

 We should fail in the duty of being candid which is cast upon 

 us by the readiness of the House to hear us, if we did not point 

 out a tendency that has been observed in the House, where the 

 public will is believed to be supreme. The increasing frankness of 

 discussion so noticeable here, has been accompanied by a tendency 

 to silence on the part of members of the Cabinet, who in reality are, 

 as one of your distinguished members has said, 'Only a Committee 

 of this House.' 



"The unrest in the country which has brought about the un- 

 exampled spectacle of thousands of farmers leaving the important 

 work of planting their crops, to come to the capital to remonstrate 

 with the Government, is known to every member of the House of 



