Page:The New England Magazine 1891, 5.1.djvu/117

voters he had the ear and good-will of the government, and could obtain for them a new bridge, a new schoolhouse, better mail facilities, with other advantages. On presenting himself for re-election, he declared that the ministers had been too busy in other directions to grant what he had promised them; but they might expect them at an early day. No performance followed those promises either. He again sought re-election; this time, also, assuring the voters the promised benefits were sure to come. He explained that the deputy minister of public works had informed him that the government proceeded methodically in such matters, and could not have acted otherwise. They had a long list of counties to serve this way, which came in alphabetical order, and the turn of his and their county had almost arrived. By such declarations, enforced by a genial, plausible manner, the knave secured his third election, the people not distrusting his honesty after all.

Election day in the rural constituencies is an exacting time. The habitent, with an air of pride and defiance wears the colored ribbon of his party in his hat or buttonhole. All work is thrown aside for the day, and he gives himself up to the pleasure of the political contest. The sightseer joins the voters on the way to and from the polls, and even the women, regardless of the weather, feel the excitement and interest of the day. The touters or cabaleurs call for the voters in wagons, with fluttering ribbons of the color of their chosen candidate at the horses’ heads. They rake every cabin, hole and corner for a voter (électeur), disregarding fatigue, snubs, or rebuffs. They eloquently laud the character and merits of their favorite, drawing on their imagination, in order that, like charity, it may cover a multitude of sins. Their story of coming benefits from his election is often brighter than a fairy tale. At times they will almost use force to bring some recreant voter to the polls; and they have been known to imprison active touters or influential citizens, to prevent their using their influence in behalf of the opposite candidate, during the day of struggle. The Hon. M. P. Pelletier was thus disposed of during the recent local elections in Quebec in 1890. The common folk have a curious habit of mixing titles in connection with candidates. During the canvass they will refer to the party candidate as "our member" (notre membre), though not yet elected, while after his return they will speak of him merely as "our candidate" (notre candidat).

A meeting of the rival cabaleurs on the road, either with or without a voter "aboard," usually results in that prime test of party or personal superiority, a good race. The shouts of excited competitors and lashing of horses are thus made a prominent feature of the day; and indeed the goal itself sometimes hardly arrests the contest, the foaming horses and reckless drivers, unconquered in spirit, demanding another trial on the return trip.

The French Canadians regard political events with calm enough tempers the greater part of the year, or the life of a parliament: but toward election time they become rapidly excited and perform acts—or many of them do—the like of which on other occasions would be considered very reprehensible. Different rules of conduct seem permissible in political matters. The offences committed are often injurious, and their concealment calls forth more acuteness still. The use of the ballot in French as well as British Canada has doubtless assisted in diminishing considerably those frauds at elections, formerly rather common and mischievous. All parties habitually accused each other of being the chief offenders. Some of the plain-spoken disputants occasionally plead in defence the necessity of their respective parties resorting to corruption, fraud, or violence now and then, just to prevent their opponents having it all their own way by the sole use of such rascally practices. Clever dodgers, cunning plotters, and muscular roughs all had their uses at elections in the old time, or in the pretty evenly-divided constituencies, particularly when political gladiators were the contestants, or the fate of parties hung in the balance. If the contest at the polls had been close, the excitement ran high, and the stronger