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In these days-it is seldom that the people «of Canada. are surprised at anythin‘g which the arch-trickster, Sir John Maodonald, may take into his head to accomplish, lbnt con- siderable surprise was manifest, even by his .mvn followers, last Week when it was found :that he was endeavoring to play, not one of ‘liis characteristic tricks of rashness and :recklessness, but characteristic for its mean- ness and deep seated cunning, in order to voxtriczttc himself from the difliculty he had ;;zot into on the License Question. It is well llauown what Sir John has been promismg :nnd threatening to do in regard to the ,‘icense question. Having committed him. r'sel‘ by referring to the matter in the Speech :lrom the Throne, it was naturally supposed Elze would deal with the matter as a govern- :inent question, andrboldly face the 'House ‘with a measure of some description. Fancy “the surprise ofythe'House therefore when he :moved th~it the‘mntter be "referred to a. se- .lcct committee-of the House.-nearly half of whom were taken from the "Opposition. A more cowardlyor unstatesmanlike trick was never played by any leader of a. govern- ment. Neither Sir‘John nor his Colleagues have the courage to follow up his threats. Mr. Mackenzie and his Government shoulder- ed the whole responsibility of the Scott Act, and carried it through Parliament, and Sir' John was glad to saddle the matter on Mr. Mackenzie, knowing that in thus doing he was securing for himself the liquor'iufluence. But now, after promising a. Government measure, dealing With the whole license \question, he basely shirks the responsibility and seeks to drag, the Opposition .into the _mess he had got himself into, while he knows full well that all along they have been opposed to any invasion of, or interference with the rights of the l’rovmce to deal with this question. ’] he whole thing was nothing more or less than an ingeniously laid plot to cntrup the Opposition, and a. desperate effort to get them by consent or compelling them to serve on a committee to make an ad- mission that the Dominion Government had n right to meddle with this matter, which, under the provxsions of the British NO‘Ifh America. Act, is clearly written the juris- diction of the l’rovinciul Legislatures. But the Opposition was not to be thus easily cusnarcd, but they boldly, fearlessly and in n statesmanlike manner not only refused to net on the committee, but they denounced the Government for its trickery and desire to shirk the responsibility of a measure they had said so much about. Of course, as might be expected, the Mail came out with it whole column and a half double-leaded curses and iinprecntions because the Oppo- sition refused to be a. party with the govern- ment in such infamous and unconstitutional proceedings, and denounced Mr. Blake and ,the whole Reform Party as the avowed and deadly enemy of the cause they profess to vch impion, whereas the blow is aimed by the Government, composed as it is of brewers, distillcrs, 630., such as the Csrlings, Smiths and their friends, at the very foundation of the temperance cause. The Crooks Act, which it is Sir John’s aim to overthrow, and which was denounced by him at Yorkvillc as n tyrannical and unjust measure, is consti- tutional and the best working license not .tlnit this or any other Province has ever had, which fact is attestei bv not only the re- ligions bodies but the highest ti'ihunals of the land, while any act emanating from 0t- mwa is directly in opposition to the consti- t- itiun, and not only every temperance man 1) it. every honest man knows that it would be retrogressive from a temperance point of View, but progressive viewing it from the standpoint of the liquor party. But Sir John‘s trick to accomplish his nefarious purpose is unworthy of a politician, to say nothing of n. statesman, and shows to what length he and his party will go in order to eirry out their contemptihle schemes and \vlint subtile and disgraceful methods he has 10 resort to in netting himself out of his difficulties. The Opposition is to be com- mended on their strnlulitforward course. Th 0 M unskoka Election. The Opposition has carrivd Muskoka. It is only a few months since Mr. Bettes was elected by a majority of 415. On Tuesday of last week he, was defeated. It is not a matter of surprise to any who know any. thing of the tactics (‘nipltjynd to secure his defeat. The whole riding was over-run by the emisszuios of Sir John Macdonald and Lie Dominion Government. In one day tilt‘l'c wore no loss than forty men entered the district under the guise of cattle buyers They wont to aSsist in the gencml corruyl» ion. Largo amounts of money were 001'- Lihntul by contractors to which were added tlio sales of Iiinlwr limits nnd supplsmtutod 1y grunts from the Dominion Treasury. (lver eighty cnsrs of bribery were l_:rought to light before the eluction took place, which xx ill doubtlcss be ventilated in court. The money spent in buying up votvs by whole- l-ale was the peoplm‘ own, and the eff01t thus made with the funds of the Dominion are to hand the Province of Ontario over to the control of traitorous politicians who can The LicenseIQuestion at Ottawa IIICHMOND HILL, -FKIDAY, March 23, ’83 “‘1’?” ,# wltfigiheml. Protect the Ice-holes. The Dominion Government has enacted a law just recently which it would be well for some of our Villagers to (make a note of. It is that any person cutting and leaving open n4 hole in the ice so as to endanger human life shall be guilty of a misdemeanor pun- ishable by fine or imprisonment before any Justice of the Peace; and in case any per- nen loses his or her life thereby the person in default 13411111 be doomed guilty of man. slaughter. It is reported that some danger- ous holes have been left by ice harvesters in Boyle’s mill pond, near the Queen’s high- way. Those holes should be looked after by those who in». lo them. Mr. Mulock, member {01‘ North York, has introduced a bill into the Dominion Parlia- ment to remedy the evils arising from the monopolies illut are being formed by the amulgamution of railways, which are becom- ing oppressive and bui‘demomu to the peo- ple of Canada, and which will, as shown by the experience of the Auwricmis, before long become intolerable if some (check is not put nu tin-m. This is what is (1(‘Hgncd by Mr. Mulocls‘s bill,, which prohibits any amalga- mation hemp, effected without the consent of Parliament. The bill has passt‘d its Second reading and will doubtless soon become law. 'l'llc United Status lmvu mlup‘ucd «a two cent poptal rule instead of three cent ’1 be new regulation will come in force ()clohcr lst, ’83. It is to be hoped that. the Domin- ion Parliament will follow suit, and adopt a lowér rate of postage, whlch would be a boon to the public which would, be fu‘ly appwciitv. ed. Official Changes. It is stated that the Government of On- tario has decided to appoint an Inspector of Shrievnltics. It; is more than probable that Mr. John Winchester, Registrar of the Queen’s Bench Division in the High Court of Justice, will be chosen for the position. This will be an excellent choice. His suc- cessor at Osgood Hall will likely be James Mr. Mownt’s Majority. There is considerable newspaper talk a- bout the status of the independent members of the new Legislature. Mr. Neelon, of St. Catharine's, is set down by the Mail as an oppositionist ; but. Mr. Mownt has not it stauncher supporter of his provincial policy than Syh ester Neelon, a life-long Reformer, and only agreeing with the Dominion Gov- ernment on the question of.the N. P. Mr. Lees, of South Lanark, received the support of the Liberals of that riding on the well de- fined understunding that he would support Mr. Mowat on the Boundary Award and Rivers and Streams Bill. Mr. Hart, of Prince Edward, was elected on the plain un- derstanding that he would not go into Oppo- sition of Mr. Mowat in the House. For all praotieel purposes the independent members elect may be set down as supporters of Mr. Mowat, and the Opposition can suck small comiort from the hope of these gentlemen proving false to their pledges. S. Cartwright, now deputy registrar of the Surrogate Court office. Mr. Cartwright is s )nâ€"in-law of Hon. Wm. Cn‘yley, ngistrar of the Surrogate Court office. After 9. long term of years in public service, during which time he occupied many important positions, Hon. Mr. Cayley will retire from public life, and will he succeeded in his present posit- ion by Mr. J. Gordon Brown, late managing editor and directar of the Globe Printing Company. Total Majorities . . . . . . . . . Elected by Acelumation (1) Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.861 Nearly two to one for the Government. Let the Tory journals cease their creaking about a majority of the vote in Ontario. Where Is It. The claim was made by the Mail immedi- ately after the electwns, and echoed and re- echoed by its satellites that Ldance to its music, that although the Government was returned the Opposition had a majority of the vote cast in the Province. They still stick to this claim, and on Monday the To- ronto Telryram came outwith along, double- leaded article accepting the statements as true, and predicting a re-enactment of the DeBoncherville-Jolly casein Quebec, when the House assembled. Now What are the facts of thelcasc. Had the Telegram or any other paper taken the trouble to glance at the majorities they would not display such a vast amount of ignorance concerning the po- litical complexion of Ontario. How far their statements are from the truth may be seen from the following figures taken from the official returns as far as received : Total Mnjorities . . . . . . Elected by Acclmnatiou Total . . . . bermanipulutod at will by the whiskey men and Quebec Bieus. Talk about French An- archists, German Socmlists or Russian Ni- hilists! Any of these would be grand speci. mens or humanity compared with the po- litical corruptionists that have been at work in Ontario during the late elections, and that at the instigation of the Federal Gov. ernment .and its corrupt ally; the Ontario Opposition. CONSERVATIVES. LIBERALD. 10.267 5.414 447 8.500 1.767 I Alumna election 01 re wescnmtive to the a } Local Legislature will not take place until ' June. Mr. Cusgraiu has introduced a bill into the House, one clause of which renders pub- lic contractorgfwho contribute to election funds liable to punishment. This is very distusteful to the Tury members of the se- lect committee, Messrs. Rykert, '1 upper, Amyot and Giroumd, who voted solidlv to expunge it from the measure. Mr. Casgmin will move its ru-iusertiou when the bill comes before the House. An exchange llusé con u to the conclusion “ (law the cmmrrvuiivcs am: only the work- ingmuu’s friend when on tho political stump and then only \vixcu it suits their purpose.” The \Vust Tait-.3310 case vms proof of this. The West Durham News (Consn'vatiVe) gav: itself and the whole Conservative party away, when, in a recent issue, it was argu- ing the Boundary Question it stated that Sir John cuuld not possibly ratify the Award, for Quebec would not let him. “ The truth will out.” 1h". \Yiddifield’s majority in North York was the largest Obtained by any candidate in the eutn‘e CICCLiUUS, and the largest ever given in North l’ox'L’. This is not hurpyis- mg, considering the two men that were in the ficld. In 1872 enough spirits Was consumed in the Dominion of Canada to make the tipple of each man, woman and child amount to and 7-10tb gallons ; of beer, 2 and 7-10th gallons. In 1882 the consumption of whiskey per head was 1 and 3-10th gallons, and of beer 3 and 5-10Lh gallons per head. In 1872131191: was used tobacco enough to give every man, woman and child 2 and 4-10ih 1135.; and in 1882, 2 lbs. Of the provinces, Ontario used most beer per head, Quebec the most; whiskey per head, and British Columbia the most. tobacco per head. Tobacco is now taxed at twenty cents per pound, but a movement is on foot, to re- duce it to eight cents. The matter ls re- ceiving the serious consideration of the minister of Inland revenue. It looks as if the reduction would be made. Instead of areductiona majority of the respectable classes of the Dominion would gladly see the tax on such an unnecessary and, to many, a disagreeable luxury raised instead of lowered. It is to be hoped the minister will act wisely 111 this matter. The North York and West Huron Election Appeals were up for argument in the Su- preme Court at Ottnwa last week. Mr. Lash, on behalf of respondents, moved to have the Appeals quashed, and the court, after hearing counsel, declined to pass judg- ment on the question (f ju‘xisdiction until the appeals had been argued on their merits. They were placed at the bottom of the On- tario list. Some one who has had nothing better to do. probabl) a newspz‘per reporter, has been measuring the height of the various members of the Canadian House of Commons, and finds that the tallest member of the House is Mr. James Armstrong, 01 South Middle- sex, who stands. six feet five inches, after when) comes Messrs. Dodd, Kirk and Ray, Nova Scotia members, each six feet three inches. The Post Office returns EJJOW that more than one half of the entire postal business of the Dominion is done within the Proan- ce of Ontario. The post. oilice indicates not only (he growth of the business of the Uoun- try, but 115 prognss in intelligonce. While the Mail is howling itself hoarse with the statement that Mowat is defeated. the Welland Telegraph (Conservative) thus sums up the situation ; “ The elections are “ over, and we are beaten. 'l‘here is no use ” whining about the matter ; it stands out “ in all its naked unplpasantness, and, how- " ever bitter the pill, it. must be swallowed, “ and we take it in, not even putting a. coat- “ ing of sugar on it to cover its idisagreeuble- " ness.” Our Election Law possesses many excell- ent features, but there is yet an important amendment required to make it effective in fine accomplishment of its objectâ€"the pre- vention of corruption. There should be a. heavy penaltyâ€"fine, imprisonment and dis- frunchisementmfor every person convicted of offering or promising a bribe to any elect- or and also for every elector receiving a bribe, which should not be left optional with the court. When something of this kind is done then, and then only, such wholesale corruption as has been practised by the Con- servatives may be prevented. The Port Hope News says: “ Mr. Fair- bair'n, of the Richmond Hill LIBERAL, was in town on Friday.” We would say for the information of the News that there is no such person as a Mr. Fairbairn in connect- ion with the LIBERAL, and ii anv such per- son represented himself as being either di- rectly or indirectly connected with it, he must be a. base fraud. We believe there is such an individual connected with the York Herald, but any person who knows its rec- ord. would not be surprised at him disclaim- ing any connection With it,nnd pawning him- self 011‘ as a member of the LIBERAL stafi. “ Mr. Fair- A call will convince every person Toronto that we are certainly bound begin the year 1883 with the Everthng in this line marked down These quads are all marked below cost, and every other kind of In the ren’lzu'kahle values whinh asn whole we are prepzm-d to show are the ful‘mwiuglots, tn which we ask your ‘ ' Spccml attention .7’ OUR GREAT ANNUAL CLEARNG SAE Preparatory to Taking Stack. ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS PICKED BARGAINS PREGES THAT TELL THE TALE. E’GPHLAR DRY-$0033 HQUSE, GREATEST BARGAINS ENGLISH CASHMERES, FRENCH CASHMERESI B L AN K ETS, We begto inform you that OUR NEW PREMISES will be completed in a few days, andthat on MON- DAY,APR1L 2nd, we will show a complete stock of NEW SPRING GOODS in all the de- partments, in what we have no hesitation in saying will be the Handsomest Stores in Ganada. Our Stock will, without doubt, com- pare favorably with any on this Continent, our Foreign Goods have been purchased direct from the first manufacturers of Eu? rope by our Mr. JJW. Petiey, who is a resident of MAN- CHESTER, England. Trusting to have the pleasure of showing you through our Es- tablishment, we remain ' EVER SEEN IN DRESS GOODS. SILKSJ SATINS, VELVETS. PLUSHES, ETC. 1832 Y()NGE 3391?}? 13E '1‘. 2ND DOOR NORTH. 0F QUEEN‘ Emmensa Sacmfiw T0 T PUBLW: PETLEY & PETLEY, DRESS GOODS 25 PER CENT. UNPRECEDENTED EQUALLY CHEAP. King St. East, Toronto. SHEETINGS, TABLE LINENS, TOVVE LIJNGS, WHITE GOODS, At the end of January we take it;- ventory. Our stock of FANCY GOODS, LAGES. RIBBONS. NECKWARE, HOSIERY. GLOVES. UNDERWARE AND GENTS FURNISHING GOODS IS LARGER THAN IT SHOULD BE \Ve have therefore made great reduct‘ ions in prices of all goods of which we. have a surplus. No one should miss thu nppoxtunity to secure these COMFORTABLES, FLANNELS. RARE BARGAINS NEVER BEFURE OFFERED. CLOAKIN US,