Page:The New England Magazine 1891, 5.1.djvu/115

humble origin, beginning life as clerks in notaries' or lawyers' offices.

The fluent, quick-witted rhetoricians of this people, with fair oratorical powers, soon acquire much ascendancy over the habitants. This influence some of them often put to a base use. The chief strength of such politicians lies in their knowledge of human nature, and mastery over the passions. Shrewdly, by means of varied and solid inducements, they secure not a few followers in the political arena. To young lawyers they hint of promotion to the bench; to others, lucrative civil service appointments for themselves or relatives, or valuable aid to local railways and other projects in which they are interested. There would appear to be some truth in the theory that most politicians have their price, especially when we watch the course of these gentlemen. It must be admitted that such leaders have also British followers at their beck and call, men likewise willing to turn their talents and opportunities in public life to the best account, and they usually leave it not a little the better as to financial condition. Rebellious members of the House are often made tractable by other means, too, such as the sale, at fabulously low prices, of excellent tracts of land in the Northwest and elsewhere, for ranches or mining purposes.

The average peasant is not easily excited by questions of administration, accusations, and counter-accusations of corruption, extravagant management, and increase of taxation. Free mutual abuse and detraction is looked for at the hands of political opponents when they meet on the hustings, the strict limits of fact and politeness are sometimes, as in other democratic countries, overlooked. Political principles and ideals being by many little understood, worthy party interests often count for naught. One county will return a Liberal for the provincial chamber one day, and a Tory, a man of the opposite camp, for the Dominion party the next, as in Montmorency County last August, 1890. The farmer is more sympathetic and confiding than logical, and it is, therefore, easy to practise upon his credulity. The politician possessing personal magnetism or some charm of manner will generally capture his susceptible heart; reason too readily yielding to personal prejudice. None more enjoys befooling him than the politician, who will often entertain his intimate friends, after an election campaign, with humorous sketches of how he duped the farmers. ‘To illustrate the extent to which many of the people may be imposed upon, I shall mention the case of a notorious French Canadian politician, known to many by the sobriquet Le Grand Moulin, to designate his wind-mill style of oratory, doubtless. In spite of having committed his native province to all sorts of undertakings, each one more reckless than the preceding, this politician could yet stump many counties without raising a howl of indignation. While prime minister of the province, with only a numerically weak opposition to contend against, and many needy sycophants to humor and assist in various speculations, in return for their support, he ran up the provincial debt during his régime many millions of dollars. Notwithstanding these facts he could, because possessed of a fluent tongue and plausible manners, appear among the farmers, pretend undying patriotism, often boast of valuable services never rendered, and so befool them generally that they would return him and even his creatures to Parliament. This self-seeking politician, by such arts and the ready use of melodramatic airs, contrived to maintain himself Premier of Quebec for several years to the great injury of the province. In their native innocence many of the habitants cannot believe that so good a speaker (un si beau parleur) could be such an arrant humbug, and unprincipled schemer.

The good name and financial condition of the province of Quebec have suffered much on both sides of the Atlantic, owing to the deeds of corrupt politicians and unprincipled speculators. The province started in 1867, at the time of the formation of the confederation, equal with Ontario. The Western province has now a surplus of over seven millions dollars, while the Eastern has a debt of over twenty millions dollars. The former has also been very generous to all sorts of public or promising undertakings, inclu-