LOTBINIERE

Published for the information of the People

The council of the Provincial Rights Association of British Columbia by virtue of the power vested in it by the constitution, has presented to the world a strong case against Thomas R. McInnes, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, and the Association has already been instrumental in calling the attention of the Dominion Government to the devious methods of government adopted by the said Thomas R. McInnes and his paid personal representatives.

Thomas R. McInnes has committed a series of outrages on the constitution of this Province, and therefore, on the people, beginning in 1898 and not having ended at the present hour. The man that has been his chief adviser for some time past, how long it has not yet been ascertained, is Joseph Martin a hare brained political conspirator, a modern Macduff who claims to be the Premier of this province, but who is not Premier, since this a position that belongs to the legislative assembly to confer, and no man, under responsible constitutional government, can be declared such by any autocrat, but must be so declared by the voice of the people through a majority of the legislature in session assembled. It is perfectly true that some time ago, the time not yet being a known quantity, Thomas R. McInnes selected Joseph Martin to be his chief adviser, but Joseph Martin was unable to get any members of the then existing Legislature to join his political menagerie, and he was compelled to go into the highways and the by-ways for timber, with the result that he has formed a museum of political curiosities that are in no way responsible to the people of whom the said Joseph Martin is alleged to be great friend. Thus by the royal mandate of Thomas R. McInnes, illegally and unconstitutionally exercised, Joseph Martin and his irresponsible and incapable associates are in no way the choice of the people of the great questions affecting the welfare of the Province, but are a cabal set above the heads of people who are now asked to acquiesce in a proceeding which was taken and carried out without their consent.

No man who is the subservient tool of a despotic Lieutenant Governor, who is not responsible to the people, can be a true or sincere friend of the people. The people's rights have been grossly invaded and trampled upon by Thomas R. McInnes, Lieutenant Governor of this Province and by his co-conspirators.

The Prime Minister of the Dominion, Sir Wilfred Laurier has refused to assist Thomas R. McInnes, the head, and Joseph Martin, the tail of this rump creation, and the Provincial Rights Association which steadfastly opposes all tyrants, be they representatives of the Crown, or of the people, will hunt them from post to pillar until avenging justice shall have secured their political strangulation.

Never since the days of Sir Francis Bond Head, since the later perverse folly of Sir Charles Metcalf in 1843, has there been in Canada such a bold, desperate and shame faced attempt to trample on the rights and liberties of the people as there is presented at the present hour, and each hour adds darkness to the fraud, and new attempts are being made to purchase entire constituencies wholesale by these usurpers and pretenders.

It has now, indeed, "become necessary to instruct the throne in the language of truth, "and we must if possible, dispel the delusion and the darkness that envelope it and display in its full danger and genuine colors the ruin which it has brought to our doors."

Certainly, "the people are not so dead to their dignity and duty as to acquiesce in men and measures that have thus been obtruded and forced upon them, men and measures that have reduced this fine Province to the scorn and contempt of the intelligent world. The people are asked to support men on whose records are written despotism, madness, tyranny, mis-government, misrepresentation, fraud, deception, demagoguism, ex post facto legislation, bigotry, usurpation and wrong. The horrifying banner is a fragment torn from midnight and the voices are not those of patriots and liberators, but the appeals of irresponsible adventurers skilled in the smoothness of flattery and deception and proficient in the art of political jugglery. Their legislative enactments will be a series of infamous contributions to the "statutes of fraud," while the ultimate result of their political chicanery will be certain death to Provincial credit and prosperity already on the verge of ruin, unless checked by the voice of reason and of patriotism which let us sincerely hope will receive the approval of Him, who created a system out of a "spacious void, and whose blessing we sincerely believe will not be bestowed on a tyrant like Thomas R. McInnes or a professional wrecker like Joseph Martin, assisted by Smith Curtis, the Oily Gammon of this Comedy of Errors.

We warn these three men especially, in the immortal language of Junius- "meddle no more thou busy imposers for we now have it in our power to make you curse the hour when you dared interfere with the Constitution."

Lotbinière's letters

Because of copyright restrictions, the correspondences between Lotbinière and his son cannot be reproduced in their entirety and are only available for research purposes. The following are excerpts from these letters that related to Lotbinière's thoughts on and/or experiences while in BC as well as his thoughts on forestry.

Je suis reconnaissant en pensant que tout s'est si bien passé pendant cette visite à Victoria. Tout le monde paraît satisfait. Nous n'étions pas sans inquiètude.

Et maintenant nous avons une crise politique qui a été ajournée jusqu'après la visite royale; resignation de deux ministres, l'un d'eux n'a pas pu se faire reélire... Je ne sais pas comment tout cela va se terminer.

I have another banquet... on the 9th. These two banquets will run away with over a thousand dollars for the two of these.

...a great part of such success as I may have obtained in life more than I deserve really I think I owe more to forestry than to politics.

J’espère que... tu ne manquerais pas cette excellente occasion de prendre une position bien définie au rang des protecteurs de nos forêts. Je t’ai envoyé dernièrement le rapport de Mr Ami, constatant la rareté du bois de pulpe aux états. Mais ils ont tout détruit, allons-nous leur permettre maintenant de détruire nos forêts? Il est un vrai suicide que nous commettons.

Today the fighting begins in the legislature how it will lend 2 parties nearly equal in number but all mixed up, Liberals & Conservatives on both sides. The office of Lieutenant Governor of BC can scarcely be termed “Otium, cum digniate.”

La session a commence le 19 février. 3 mois lundi et je ne sais quand elle se terminera. Les partis sont presqu’également divisés, mais j’ai tort d’employer le mot partis, dans le présent cas, car ici, Conservateurs et Libéraux se trouvent mêlés dans les deux camps, comme des fleurs dans un bouquet.

Avec notre système Parlementaires Anglais, il faut absolumment (sic) la Discipline de partis. Il est un utopie que de rêver un gouvernement parlementaire stable là où ceux qui le supportent refusent de prendre la responsabilité de ses actes. Comme de raisons, il y a une limite à toute chose humaine et il y a des cas où un membre est justifié de voter contre son parti, mais il faut de bonnes raisons pour cela…

Our parliament meets next week and things are so mixed up here that I feel pretty anxious for the future.

There are a good many thorns in the stuffing of the gubernatorial throne. However, I will try to do my duty.

We are in the midst of our « grand ménage ». You know what that entails. The Premier Dunsmuir has resigned and I have called in Colonel Prior to replace him.

Our political horizon here is still very cloudy and I am hoping against hope how it will end.

Our prime minister is the youngest member in the House and I think he is well disposed to do what is right. I treat him as if he were my son as far as advice and encouragement can do it.

The Legislature has resumed its sittings and I am glad to say that so far the session is satisfactory. I am very favourably impressed with the leader of the opposition, Mr MacDonald who shows firmness and moderation in the control of his followers and I hope he will be able to keep up the course he has started. The Government are making a very strong effort to re-establish the equilibrium in our finances... May God help them to do honestly and fearlessly their duty. I do my best to encourage them and feel more hopeful for the future that I have ever felt since I came here.

The session here is getting on & I am very hopeful some good will result for the province.

I would be grateful when leaving next June could I feel that the province is better off than when I came five years ago.

I received a letter from Sir Wilfrid Laurier telling me that he was informed that the people of BC would be disappointed if I was not present to open in my official capacity the dominion exhibition which for this year has been fixed at ...September. After such expression of confidence from the Province I feel it is my duty to render this last service.

Prince Arthur will be here next week. He will stay at Government House, great banquet... It is our last function in BC.

I am sad to leave BC, our friends here, the daily work of my office, the responsability (sic) of my position as adviser to my advisers! I have the feeling that there is no more work for me after this, and nevertheless, strange to say, though my eyesight is leaving me and my memory for names and actual events is getting weak, my mind appears to expand instead of contract.

We are accustomed to say that we live... “day by day” and to think that it means we must not be “anxious for tomorrow” Lately I have thought it meant more than that... that we must do... all work allotted to us for that same day leaving no part of it unfinished.

References

The People's complaints to the Provincial Rights Association

Lotbinière's letters