Chapter 7

“A CASE OF RIEL DISTRESS.”

The murder of Thomas Scott, at Fort Garry, during the Red River Rebellion, naturally excited great indignation throughout the Dominion, and a universal demand was made for the apprehension and punishment of Louis Riel, the leader of the malcontents, at whose instigation the deed was committed. This righteous sentiment, however, ultimately resolved itself into mere political “claptrap,” the Conservative Government, then in power, having secretly promised the rebels an amnesty, while publicly professing an anxious desire to “catch him.”

Grip, October25th, 1873.

A CASE OFRIELDISTRESS!

“Of comfort no man speak;Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs!”—Shakespeare.

“Of comfort no man speak;

Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs!”—Shakespeare.

Typical of the overwhelming grief which seized the Conservative party on being turned out of office, after a reign of nearly twenty years.

Grip, November1st, 1873.

“OF COMFORT NO MAN SPEAK;LET’S TALK OF GRAVES, OF WORMS, AND EPITAPHS!”—Shakespeare.

“MISS CANADA’S SCHOOL.”

Being a word of advice to the new Premier. The persons represented in the Cartoon are, commencing at the head of the “class,” Hon. A. Mackenzie, Hon. Edward Blake, Hon. George Brown, Hon. E. B. Wood, Louis Riel (who had been elected M.P. for Provencher, Manitoba), Hon. M. Langevin, James Beaty, Esq., M.P., T. C. Patteson, Esq., manager of theMail, Sir Francis Hincks, and Sir John Macdonald. Monitor, His Excellency, Earl Dufferin, Governor-General.

Grip, November8th, 1873.

MISS CANADA’S SCHOOL (Dedicated to the New Premier).MISS CANADA (To the Boy at the Head)—“NOW, ALEXANDER, BE VERY CAREFUL, OR I’LL PUT YOU WHERE JOHN IS!”

“THE POLITICAL MOTHER HUBBARD.”

It had been currently reported in the newspapers that the dignity of the Lieut.-Governorship of Ontario was to have been bestowed on the Hon. George Brown, immediately on the accession to power of the Reform Government. The new Ministers discovered, however, that Sir John Macdonald had, in the last gasp of his official life, appointed one of his own colleagues (the Hon. John Crawford) to the position in question, besides disposing of ninety-nine other “places” in the gift of the First Minister.

Grip, November15th, 1873.

THE POLITICAL MOTHER HUBBARDAND JOHN A.’S “DYING INIQUITY.”

“THE IRREPRESSIBLE JACK.”

The circumstances under which Sir John Macdonald was deposed from power seemed to warrant the assumption of the Reformers that he was “done for.” But, on the contrary, it only seemed the signal for additional honors to be heaped upon him by the Conservative Party, who unhesitatingly chose him leader of the Opposition, and nominated him as member for Kingston, West Toronto, etc., not to mention banquets, and other species of emphasis.

Grip, November22nd, 1873.

THE IRREPRESSIBLE JACK;OR, THE CONSERVATIVE RESUSCITATION.JOHN A. (Side Showman)—“DID YOU THINK THE LITTLE FELLER’S SPRING WAS BROKE, MY DEARS?”

“THE PREMIER’S MODEL.”

In an address to the electors of Lambton, soon after the accession to power of the Reform Party, Mr. Mackenzie declared the cardinal points of the Policy he would inaugurate, as leader, to be “Electoral Purity” and “the Independence of Parliament.” (Before entering political life, Mr. Mackenzie followed the vocation of stone-mason.)

Grip, November29th, 1873.

THE PREMIER’S MODEL;OR, “IMPLEMENTS TO THOSE WHO CAN USE THEM.”Canada—“WELL AND BRAVELY DONE, MACKENZIE; NOW STAND BY THAT POLICY, AND I’M WITH YOU ALWAYS!”

“THE POLITICAL GIANT-KILLER.”

The “Canada First” movement, having for its object the cultivation of a national sentiment and the extinction of political party strife, was inaugurated about this time.

Grip, December13th, 1873.

THE POLITICAL GIANT-KILLER;OR, “CANADA FIRST.”

“THE WEST TORONTO RUN.”

In the General Election which followed the defeat of the Conservative Government, Mr. E. O. Bickford contested West Toronto in the interest of the New Opposition, and rested his claims to the seat mainly on the prestige of Sir John Macdonald, declaring that, if elected, he would follow that honorable gentleman through weal or woe. As the cartoon suggests, he met with defeat.

Grip, December20th, 1873.

THE WEST TORONTO RUN.B—CKF—RD (Jockey of the Nag “John A.”)—“SAY, GOV’NOR, LOOK HERE, THIS HOSS AIN’T WO’TH SHUCKS ON HIS OWN MERITS!”

“CHRISTMAS PIE.”

The treat which Santa Claus had in store for the Reformers.

Grip, December27th, 1873.

“CHRISTMAS PIE.”

JOHNNY’S “TURN;”OR, NEW YEAR’S JOY.

The election of Mr. D’Arcy Boulton as Conservative member for South Simcoe, in the Ontario Legislature, took place about this time. Although the influence of this event on the fortunes of the late Premier of the Dominion was hardly discoverable, it was hailed by the Conservative press as the earnest of a reaction in favor of that party. A Mr. Saunders (whose face our artist had not seen) was Mr. Boulton’s opponent in the contest.

Grip, January3rd, 1874.

JOHNNY’S “TURN,” OR NEW YEAR’S JOY.

“THE CRUEL OBJECT OF DISSOLUTION.”

Mr. Mackenzie and his colleagues advised the dissolution of Parliament on taking office. This was accordingly carried out, with the object, as the cartoon suggests, of keeping Sir John and his comrades “out in the cold.”

Grip, January10th, 1874.

THE CRUEL OBJECT OF “DISSOLUTION.”

“POLITICAL PASTIMES.”

Political sport, analogous to this, occupied the minds of the “boys” and the newspapers during the recess.

Grip, January31st, 1874.

POLITICAL PASTIMES.

“PITY THE DOMINIE; OR, JOHNNY’S RETURN.”

Anent the re-election of Sir John A. Macdonald as member for Kingston, in the general election which followed the accession of the Reform Government.

Grip, February7th, 1874.

PITY THE DOMINIE; OR, JOHNNY’S RETURN.Canada—“HERE’S OUR JOHNNY FOR YOU AGAIN, MR. MACKENZIE! YOU’LL FIND HIM APT ENOUGH, BUT FRANKLY, SIR, HE’S FULL OF MISCHIEF!”

“THE NEW DEPARTURE.”

Hon. Edward Blake’s withdrawal from the new Government, very shortly after it had taken possession of the Treasury Benches, created an unpleasant sensation throughout the country. The hon. gentleman had been perhaps the main instrument in bringing about a fall of the preceding Cabinet.

Grip, February21st, 1874.

THE NEW DEPARTURE.Spouse B——e.—“FAREWELL FOR THE PRESENT, DEAR; YOU AND THE GIRLS MUST MANAGE THE HOUSE IN MY ABSENCE!”

“THE CURSE OF CANADA.”

Whiskey.

Grip, February28th, 1874.

THE CURSE OF CANADA.IS THERE NO ARM TO SAVE?

“THE OPPOSITION QUARTETTE.”

The most prominent members of the Opposition (Conservative) in the Ontario Legislature were Messrs. M. C. Cameron, Q.C., J. Chas. Rykert, A. W. Lauder and A. Boultbee. These gentlemen were always most active and energetic in their labor of fault-finding, and at the time of the cartoon were ringing the changes on the public accounts of the Province, which were undergoing examination in Committee.

Grip, March7th, 1874.

THE OPPOSITION QUARTETTE.PERFORMING THE NEW AND HIGHLY AGGRAVATING AIR ENTITLED “PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.”

“A QUESTION FOR PAY DAY.”

The “Opposition Quartette” had vigorously assailed the action of the Hon. A. McKellar for having, in his capacity as Minister of Public Works, granted a half holiday (at the public expense) to the workmen engaged in building the Central Prison at Toronto, to allow them an opportunity of attending a nomination meeting in the West Division of the city. In view of the meagre amount of work done on the left side of the Speaker during the session,Grip’squestion was quite logical.

Grip, March21st, 1874.

A QUESTION FOR PAY DAY;OR, “CENTRAL PRISON” LOGIC APPLIED.GRIP (LOQ.)—“GENTLEMEN, IS THERE ANY ‘SCANDAL’ ABOUT YOUR DRAWING A FULL SESSION’S PAY FOR NO WORK AT ALL?”

“‘GRIP’S’ PERPETUAL COMEDY.”

The adjournment of the Ontario Legislature was immediately followed by the assembling of the Dominion Parliament at Ottawa.

Grip, March28th, 1874.

“GRIP’S” PERPETUAL COMEDY.“THEY HAVE THEIR EXITS AND THEIR ENTRANCES.”

“THE VACANT CHAIR.”

Louis Riel, the leader of the Red River Rebellion and alleged murderer of Thomas Scott, had been returned for Provencher, Manitoba, to the Dominion Parliament. He prudently failed to take his seat in the House, while the unanimity with which both sides cried for his arrest made “the vacant chair” a bond of union for the time being.

Grip, April4th, 1874.

THE VACANT CHAIR.ARIELBOND OF UNION.

“THE SCIENCE OF CHEEK.”

A great sensation was caused throughout the country at the announcement that Riel had actually appeared in the House at Ottawa and signed the Members’ Roll. This he didincog., and immediately afterwards disappeared. The cartoon anticipated his next step in the “Science of Cheek.”

Grip, April11th, 1874.

THE SCIENCE OF CHEEK;OR, RIEL’S NEXT MOVE.RIEL (LOQ.)—“FIVE TOUSSAND DOLLARS! BY GAR, I SHALL ARREST ZE SCOUNDREL MYSELF!”

“A TOUCHING APPEAL.”

On the accession of Mr. Mackenzie’s Government a large deficit in the treasury was discovered. Mr. (now Sir Richard) Cartwright, Finance Minister, in his Budget speech, attributed this to the extravagance and corruption of the preceding Administration. A new tariff was issued, in which the duties on various articles were raised considerably.

Grip, April18th, 1874.

A TOUCHING APPEAL.(“TOUCHING” THE SECRET OF INCREASED TAXATION.)YOUNG CANADA—“SAY, UNCLE JOHN, WON’T YOU GIVE ME A ‘DEFICIT?’ MA SAYS YOU GAVE THE GRITS ONE!”

“MRS. GAMP’S HOME-THRUST.”

Early in the session a committee was appointed to inquire into the cause of the North-West difficulties, and during the progress of the inquiry evidence was elicited (mainly from Archbishop Tache) which implicated Sir John A. Macdonald. The Reform Party is represented in the cartoon as facetiously anticipating a repetition of the right hon. gentleman’s famous asseveration of his innocence.

Grip, May2nd, 1874.

MRS. GAMP’S HOME-THRUST.SAIREY GAMP (The Reform Party).—“’AVEN’T GOT NOTHINK TO SAY ABOUT THEM ’ANDS THIS TIME, I SUPPOGE, MISTER SIR JOHN?”

“PACIFIC PASTIMES.”

The Reform Government took up the Pacific Railway scheme, but initiated a new policy with regard to it. Sir John Macdonald had pledged the country to complete the entire work within ten years. Mr. Mackenzie characterized this as a physical impossibility, and proposed, as the cartoon has it, “to tak’ the distance in sensible like jumps, ye ken!”

Grip, May16th, 1874.

PACIFIC PASTIMES;OR, THE HARD “ROAD TO TRAVEL.”

“DIGNITY” WITHOUT “IMPUDENCE.”

The Dominion Senate, usually so passive and quiet, strikingly signalized its life and vim during this session by throwing out a bill introduced by Mr. Cameron, M.P. for South Huron, having for its object the re-distribution of the electoral divisions composing that Riding.

Grip, May23rd, 1874.

“DIGNITY” WITHOUT “IMPUDENCE.”OLD MADAME SENATE—“I SAY, MR. LOWER-HOUSE MACKENZIE, WHO’S RUNNING THIS COUNTRY, ANYHOW?”

JUSTICE AND GENEROSITY

Hon. (now Sir) A. A. Dorion, a prominent leader of the Rouge or French Reform Party, occupied the office of Minister of Justice in the Government of Hon. Alexander Mackenzie. In this capacity he offered to himself in the capacity of an able lawyer, a seat upon the Bench of his Province, which offer was gratefully accepted. He still occupies the position (1886).

Grip, July6th, 1874.

JUSTICE & GENEROSITY;OR, “HOIST WITH HIS OWN”—PREROGATIVE.MRS. MINISTER OF JUSTICE DORION (To the Hon. A. A. Ditto)—“HE WAS A GOOD ’ITTLE GRITTSY-TITTSY, SO HE WAS, AND HE SHALL HAVE A NICE ’ITTLE SOFT SEATSY-TEETSY, SO HE SHALL!”

ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON

As an outcome of reckless malice, amidst the passionate decisions of politics about this time, one of the Conservative papers published a scandalous libel reflecting upon the Hon. George Brown’s private character. With characteristic promptitude the assailed gentleman had the paper indicted, and a full apology was made. To those who knew Mr. Brown, there was no need of his trouble in this matter, but the event served as an illustration of his uncompromising self-respect.

Grip, August8th, 1874.

“SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.”

THE CHIEF MOURNERS

An ingenious romancer on the staff of theMail, had, some months before this, concocted a “scandal” at the expense of Hon. Archibald McKellar, a member of the Ontario Cabinet. The story—which was regarded from the first as a joke—was to the effect that Mr. McKellar had purchased for his official apartment a portrait of an unknown lady. This imputation of gallantry to the bucolic Minister—a man in all respects the reverse of the ideal knight—was what constituted the “point.” The alleged picture soon took its place in the armory of the Opposition and was constantly referred to as that of “Little Mrs. Blank.” In the Public Accounts Committee about the date of our cartoon, explanations were made by Messrs. Ewing & Co., from whom certain pictures had been purchased, which completely killed this pleasant fiction, and “Little Mrs. Blank” was no more. The leading Members of the Opposition—Messrs. M. C. Cameron, A. Boultbee, C. J. Rykert and A. W. Lauder—were supposed by the artist to have been much cast-down at the sudden demise of such a valuable auxiliary.

Grip, September12th, 1874.

THE CHIEF MOURNERS.

THE PLAIN FACT

The amended election law (introduced by the government of Mr. Mackenzie) was purposely made very stringent as a measure against bribery and corruption, and at this time trials were first conducted under its provisions. It so happened that the first victims were members of the party that had passed the measure, but the slaughter was by no means confined to that party. The expression “Come along, John, and put down bribery and corruption” had been imputed to a supporter of one of the unseated members, in the course of the election trial of Col. Walker, the member elect, at London, and for a considerable time the phrase was one of the catch-words of the Conservative Party.

Grip, September19th, 1874.

THE PLAIN FACT.MACKENZIE—“COME ALONG, JOHN, AND PUT DOWN BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION; NEITHER OF US CAN RIDE VON MULE YET AWHILE.”

THE PROFESSOR’S “BRIDAL” FOR PARTYISM

In the columns of theCanadian Monthlyand theNation(a weekly paper devoted to “Canada First” ideas), Prof. Goldwin Smith had written eloquently against the system of party government, more especially in the Provincial Houses. He advocated a fusion of the parties on the ground that there were no questions of principle to divide them. Mr. Brown, in theGlobe, strongly opposed the theory, as a matter of course. Mr. William H. Howland was the originator of the Canada First Party, and a warm friend of Prof. Goldwin Smith.

Grip, October10th, 1874.

THE PROFESSOR’S “BRIDAL” FOR PARTYISM;OR, THE DREAM OF “CURRENT EVENTS.”See The Canadian Monthly for October.

SIGNOR BLAKE IN HIS CELEBRATED ACT OF KEEPING THEGLOBEIN SUSPENSE

Mr. Blake had made what theGlobecalled a “disturbing speech” at Aurora, in which he expressed some advanced ideas, and referred rather vaguely to the existence of a Reform Party that could find nothing to reform. As Mr. Blake was regarded as a man whose whole-hearted support was all but essential to the success of the Reform Ministry then in office, the attitude he occupied was most unsatisfactory to the chief Government organ. Mr. Goldwin Smith and Mr. Howland, as representatives of the Canada First Party, fancied they could detect some gleams of hope for that propagander in Mr. Blake’s speech.

Grip, October31st, 1874.

SIGNOR BLAKE IN HIS POPULAR ACT OF KEEPING THEGLOBEIN SUSPENSE.

THE NEW CONSERVATIVE

By way of indirect reproof to Mr. Blake for his “disturbing” speech, and, perhaps, with special reference to that gentleman’s implied stricture on a “Reform party with nothing to Reform,” theGlobeexpressed its disapproval of the spirit of restless change, and intimated that there were times when Reformers could “rest and be thankful” without losing their right to the name. The Conservative party in the Ontario House were, at the time, in sore need of recruits; and, no doubt, would have welcomed the accession of this new Conservative.

Grip, November7th, 1874.

THE NEW CONSERVATIVE.See The Globe, Wednesday, Nov. 4.

SIX AND HALF A DOZEN

As a reply to the jibes of theGlobeon the subject of political corruption, the Conservative party recalled the record of Mr. George Brown in the Brownvs.Gibbs contest in South Ontario, some years previously. This election, it was alleged, had been characterized by glaring instances of bribery on the Reform side; but there was, in those days, little or no legal restraint put upon such tactics.

Grip, November28th, 1874.

SIX AND HALF A DOZEN.SIR JOHN—“MR. BROWN, DO YOU THINK YOU COULD GO THROUGH THIS HOOP AS WELL AS I WENT THROUGH THAT ONE, IF YOU HAD A ‘TRIAL’”?

CHRISTMAS MORNING

In accordance with the time-honored custom, Mr. Grip fills the stockings of hisprotegeswith good things, in recognition of Christmas, which comes “but once a year.”

Grip, December26th, 1874.

CHRISTMAS MORNING;OR, THE POLITICAL STOCKINGS.

POLITICAL PLUCK

This widely-known chromo was adapted to the situation of the Ontario Opposition without the necessity for any change in the figures. Messrs. Cameron, Rykert and Boultbee, as the acknowledged leaders of the Conservatives in the Local House, maintained a constant allegiance to their Federal leader, Sir John Macdonald, both in and out of the local arena. It was a well-known fact that amongst that astute politician’s most eager desires, was a longing to get possession of the treasury benches of Ontario, upon which a Reform Government had long been firmly seated.

Grip, January16th, 1875.

“POLITICAL PLUCK.”(PLAYFULLY ADAPTED FROM A WELL-KNOWN CHROMO.)

THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE

Hon. Adam Crooks, Minister of Education in the Mowat Cabinet, having been defeated in East Toronto, remained for some months without a seat in the House. Hon. William Macdougall, who had been politically “everything by turns and nothing long,” and who had failed to get a Lieutenant-Governorship in Manitoba, or a seat in East York, was at this time showing a disposition to throw in his lot with the Reform Party, but met with small encouragement.

Grip, January30th, 1875.

THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE;OR, SITUATIONS WANTED.

LOYALTY IN A QUANDARY

In the House of Commons, Sir John Macdonald sought to make a point against the Mackenzie Government for having declared an amnesty to those concerned in the Half-breed rebellion in Manitoba, which amnesty included Lepine, one of the rebel leaders, who had been condemned to death. As, at this time, the prerogative of clemency was vested in the Crown, the action to which exception was taken was that of the Governor-General and not of the Government. By the efforts of Hon. Edward Blake, a change was subsequently made in the Governor-General’s instructions, by which the responsibility in this, as in other matters, was vested in the Government.

Grip, February6th, 1875.

LOYALTY IN A QUANDARY;OR, THE “LEPINE CASE” MADE PLAIN.

OTHELLO BROWN’S APOLOGY

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