The Widow's Demise by Don Gutteridge Read Free Book Online Page B

riding
of York County.
    Cardiff sat down to polite applause from the
minority section of the audience. The majority were farmers who, if
they had not actively supported the Rebellion, were nonetheless
sympathetic to its aims: they were stalwart adherents of the Reform
party. It was now the turn of Francis Hincks. He was recognized
instantly by the crowd, and applauded. As editor of the Constitution , his voice was well-known throughout the
area.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, five years ago this
province, then Upper Canada, was in a state of turmoil. The Seventh Report on Grievances had just been issued by the
Legislative Assembly and ignored by the governor and his executive
council. The parliamentary system was deadlocked. Governor Head
dissolved the Assembly, and he himself, against all tradition and
direct advice to the contrary from London, participated in the
subsequent election. The Tory victory did nothing but drive the
grievances further underground, until, at last, frustration boiled
over into outright armed revolt. The British government, having put
down the Rebellion, finally decided to act decisively. Lord Durham
was sent out here to recommend practical political solutions. The
result has been the creation of a new dominion, comprised of
English and French provinces. Our first Assembly has already met.
And with the aid of Lord Sydenham, who now lies close to death, the
outlines of a system of responsible government were established. To
the astonishment of all, French and English Reformers formed a
working coalition that resulted in a productive session of the
Legislature. All that remains is for you to elect Louis LaFontaine
to that body so that he can lead the Quebec wing of the coalition,
and continue to right the many wrongs of the past. I know you will
do your duty.”
    Hincks sat down to sustained applause.
    “Up with Reform!” someone shouted.
    “No truck with the French!” came a response
from near the back of the crowd.
    The second nominator for Arthur Dingman now
stood up and undid most of the effectiveness of Cardiff’s speech by
droning on incoherently for fifteen minutes. Dingman himself was
squirming by the time the address staggered to its conclusion.
    It was now Robert Baldwin’s turn. The
applause was so overwhelming that he had to start several times
before he could actually get himself launched. He began with the
candidate himself, extolling Louis LaFontaine’s many virtues in
simple and direct terms. LaFontaine was above all a leader, a man
who stuck to his principles, and one of these was a desire to
establish a form of responsible government. Moreover, he was a true
reformer with a progressive economic and social policy. He wished
to cooperate with his English-speaking counterparts to help build a
new society on the northern half of the continent – neither wholly
British nor wholly American. He was a man for the future.
    The applause was thunderous. And Louis stood
up amidst it, smiling.
    “No truck with the French!” came a lone voice
from the rear.
    Louis spoke for twenty minutes in plain,
straightforward English. He reviewed the steps by which the
coalition had been formed. He downplayed his own role in the
affair, giving Robert Baldwin much of the credit. He said how
profoundly moved he was – so soon after an armed revolt – that he,
a Quebecer, could stand for election in a riding won by said Robert
Baldwin, a riding which was one hundred per cent English. He
promised to work with his English-speaking counterparts to develop
a just and prosperous Canada.
    There were cheers and one or two
catcalls.
    Arthur Dingman then got up to respond to his
nominators. He was partway through a plodding address when there
was a sudden commotion over to the side of the hustings near the
verandah in front of Danby’s tavern.
    “You tell ‘em, Arthur!” someone shouted.
    “We don’t need the French tellin’ us what to
do!”
    “Down with the rebel bastards!”
    “Let the man