The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & ExperiencesDenison, George T. (George Taylor)
History
The Struggle for Imperial Unity: Recollections & Experiences
Denison, George T. (George Taylor)
Canada -- History -- 1867-1914
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's most obe't humble Serv't,
JAMES LYNCH.
QUEEN'S HOTEL, TORONTO,
_29th June_.
This was also given to the Press and widely published.
The meeting for which, as has been said, a requisition had been
prepared, was called for the 22nd July, and in addition to the formal
posters issued by the acting Mayor on our requisition, Foster and I
had prepared a series of inflammatory placards in big type on large
sheets, which were posted on the fences and bill boards all over the
city. There were a large number of these placards; some of them read,
"Is Manitoba to be reached through British Territory? Then let our
volunteers find a road or make one." "Shall French rebels rule our
Dominion?" "Orangemen! is Brother Scott forgotten already?" "Shall our
Queen's Representative go a thousand miles through a foreign country,
to demean himself to a thief and a murderer?" "Will the volunteers
accept defeat at the hands of the Minister of Militia?" "Men of
Ontario! Shall Scott's blood cry in vain for vengeance?"
The public meeting was most enthusiastic, and St. Lawrence Hall was
crowded to its utmost limit. The Hon. Wm. Macdougall moved the first
resolution in a vigorous and eloquent speech; it was as follows:
Resolved, that the proposal to recall at the request of the Rebel
Government the military expedition, now on its way to Fort Garry
to establish law and order, would be an act of supreme folly,
an abdication of authority, destructive of all confidence in
the protection afforded to loyal subjects by a constitutional
Government--a death-blow to our national honour, and calls for a
prompt and indignant condemnation by the people of this Dominion.
Mr. Macdougall in supporting this said that:
There were many of our own countrymen there who had been ill-treated
and robbed of their property, and whose lives had been endangered.
Were we to leave these persons--Whites and Indians--without support?
Was this the way that our Government was to maintain its respect? How
could we expect in that or any other part of the Dominion, that men
would expose themselves to loss of property, imperil their lives,
or incur any hazard whatever, to support a Government that makes
peace with those assailing its authority, and deserts those who have
defended it.
Ex-Mayor F. H. Medcalf seconded this resolution which was unanimously
carried.
The second resolution called for the prompt punishment of the rebels.
It was moved by James D. Edgar (afterwards Sir James D. Edgar,
K.C.M.G.) and seconded by Capt. James Bennett, both members of the
Canada First group.
The third resolution read:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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