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Laurier and the British Columbia Liberal Party, 1896-1911

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Laurier and the British Columbia Liberal Party, 1896-1911 LAURIER AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY, 1896-1911: A STUDY IN FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL PARTY RELATIONS by MELVA JEAN DWYER B.A., University of British Columbia, 1943 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of HISTORY We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA October, 1961 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Head of my Department or by his representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of The University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, Canada. Date ABSTRACT A study of the British Columbia Liberal party during the Laurier period from 1896 to 1911 reveals the political immaturity which still existed in the western Province. By 1896 conviction was still lacking that party politics was the most acceptable method of governing the Province. Although both Liberal and Conservative parties were organizing, the majority of the population were un• interested in importing Eastern political.quarrels; they felt that personal rule was superior for British Columbia. In consequence, when Laurier called the Liberal National Convention in 1893, British Columbia sent no delegates. The Liberal organization, founded in the province in 1887, was loathe to show too great interest in a Dominion gathering. Prior to 1896 the representatives sent to Ottawa from British Columbia had all professed to being Conservatives but with Laurier's^ coming to office four of the six British Columbia members called themselves Liberals. Until 1908 the Liberals sent a majority to the federal House from the western Province. But the 1908 and 1911 elections saw a complete annihilation of the Liberal cause. Within the Province the Liberals fared even less well. Before 1903 the provincial government was organized on the basis of personal factions which eventually resulted in great instability. In 1903 party politics were accepted by Richard McBride, the Conservative ^ leader; from that time the Liberals remained in Opposition. At no . time were they able to gain a majority during Laurier's regime and by 1911 they were all but eclipsed, having only one member in the / British Columbia legislature. To explain this rather peculiar situation, since the Province had gained a reputation for opportunism, we find that in British Columbia the Liberal party seemed to be plagued by dissension from its inception. At no time, from 1887 to 1911, was there complete unity of purpose within the provincial organization. This quarreling and uncertainty of party philosophy disrupted party ranks and pre- vented intensive election campaigns which might have won their support. Lack of a clear cut Liberal philosophy in British Columbia also resulted in problems every time that federal appointments were considered. Laurier discovered that it was impossible to make any federal appointment whicfo' would satisfy all provincial Liberals. Delays occurred which the British Columbia electorate failed to understand. At the same time, compromise candidates were frequently selected in an attempt to satisfy the majority. British Columbia, it appeared, was not ready to accept the federal principle of working for the good of the whole rather than of the individual Province. This was demonstrated in the attitude adopted by the Liberals in the problem of Asiatic immigration and the demand for Better Terms. British Columbia politicians believed that the provincial position was unique and deserved separate treat• ment; geographical location and topographical difficulties were among the arguments used to support their claims. Laurier discouraged this attitude, to him, the federal union was of prime consideration. As a result, there was continual controversy between federal and provincial authorities and the cause of Liberalism did not prosper. Towards the end of the term some of the British Columbia Liberals began tc understand the meaning of the party system—to accept the party philosophy and fight for it against all oddsT-but not until 1916 were the Liberals able to form the government. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT Without the understanding and encouragement of Mr. Neal Harlow, former University Librarian, this thesis could not have been attempted. At the same time, the con• tinued support from Dean Soward, Head, Department of History, has been greatly appreciated. The kind cooperation of Willard Ireland, Provincial Archvist and Provincial Lib• rarian and his assistant, Miss Inez. Mitchell, is also grate• fully acknowledged. But without the advice and assistance of Dr. Margaret Ormsby,. Department of History, who was always ready to give critical aid whenever it was requested, this work would never have been completed. To these individuals and to all my friends and colleagues who have given me their understanding, I wish to acknowledge my sincere appreciation. V TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1 Laurier Liberalism 1 2 Federal party organization 13 3 Provincial party organization 2l± 4 Some problems in federal-provincial relations 1896-1911: federal appointments 48 a) cabinet members lr? b) ' senators 56 c) judiciary 58 d) lieutenant-governor 60 5 Some problems in federal-provinci al relations 1896-1911: Asiatic immigration 71 6 Some problems in federal-provincial relations 1896-1911: Better Terms and Tariffs 89 a) Better Terms 89 b) Tariffs 100 7 Conclusion 108 APPENDICES 1 Official Report of Liberal Convention, 1893, Resolutions 117 2 Constitution and Resolutions of B. C. Liberal Association, 1907 122 3 Act Admitting B. C. to the Union, Section II 12I4. 4. Formation of Liberal Association, District of Victoria, 1887 125 5 Liberal platform, 1897 126 6 Opposition Party Circular issed by C. A. Semlin 128 7 B. C. Liberal Convention Platform, 1902 130 vi 8 B. C. Liberal Association Manifesto, 1903 132 9 Memorial from Provincial Rights Association 133 10 Letter to Rodolphe Lemieux from Count Hayashi 135 11 Act Admitting B. C. to the Union, Sections I-III 136 12 Interprovincial Conference, 1906, Letter Gouin to McBride 137 13 British North America Act, 190? 138 11+ Customs Tariff Act, 1897, Section 1? and Schedule D ll+O 15 Western Farmers' Delegation to Ottawa, 1910 llj.<l FOOTNOTES 1^2 BIBLIOGRAPHY 160 vii PLATES All photographs were reproduced from the collection of the British Columbia Provincial Archives, Victoria, B. C. .. PLATE PAGE I Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister, 1896-1911 viii II British Columbia Federal Liberal Leader,1896-1911 lka III British Columbia Premiers, 1896-1900 35a IV British Columbia Premiers, 1900-1911 36a V British Columbia Provincial Liberal Leaders 1896-1909 kOa VI British Columbia Provincial Liberal Leader 1909 hi a ¥11 John Oliver's Railway Policy, 1909 45a VIII British Columbia Liberal Senators, 1896-1911 57a IX British Columbia Lieutenant-Governors, 1896-1906 6la X British Columbia Lieutenant-Governors, 1906-1911 67 a XI Political Cartoons, 1903, 1907 88a viii PLATE I Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada, 1896-I911 National Liberal Leader 1887-1917 CHAPTER I Laurier Liberalism "I am one of those who believe that in all human affairs there are abuses to reform, new horizons to discover, and new forces to develop,Sir Wilfrid Laurier made this statement at Quebec City in 1877 when he spoke on Political Liberalism. To him, Liberalism was progressive and changing; a way of life which sought to better the lot of the majority of mankind. On the other hand, Conservatism tended to be content with the past, often dis• regarding the need for change or reform. Laurier considered that the Liberal party was pledged to work for the right of the individual to enjoy freedom in civil rights such as language, religion, and education unless such freedom encroached upon the rights of others. With this as a basic principle, the Canadian party emerged as the staunch supporter of provincial rights, minority groups, and the underprivileged. The desire for autonomy on the part, of a province or group was not permitted to weaken the Dominion. Laurier rejected the theory of provincial supremacy and demanded federal unity on occasions when he considered that the welfare of the nation was at stake. Inevitably clashes occurred between federal and pro• vincial authorities in the interpretation of the powers designated to each by the British North America Act. When controversy deve• loped Laurier, as Prime Minister, attempted to arrive at a com• promise. He envisioned, for the future, a united Canada,, with a degree of autonomy within the British Empire. When British Columbia attempted to force acceptance of her anti-Asiatic legislation from 1897 to 1908, Laurier repeatedly urged disallowance of the provincial acts. He considered that the British Columbia'policy ,was a threat to the peaceful relations which existed between Canada, Great^Britain and Japan. By aiming to suppress a minority group, the Province was undermining the democratic principles of the right of the individual to protection. f Laurier, although spokesman and leader of the Canadian Liberal party fro?nl887 to 1917> was not the founder of the movement; there had been reformers in Canada from the 1820's. The Reform movement in Canada had gained ground during the l820»s and f30!s under the leadership of William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis-Joseph Papineau. Disgusted by the control exercised by the Family Compact and the Chateau Clique, they demanded the adoption of more democratic government through reform. When it seemed that such reform could not come peacefully, the more radical members resorted to open rebellion, - advocating separation from Britain and the adoption of an American form of government.
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