settlement developments in which like a few they didn't believe. And thus we lost terribly. Had Mr. Smith, however, been brought up in the Northern Department, as was Governor Mactavish, Joseph Wilson, and other Chief Factors and Chief Traders, he would assuredly have been as staunch for all land rights as anyone." APPENDIX D THE SESSION OF 1878 THE close of the session of 1878 in the Dominion Parliament was marked and marred by a "disgraceful scene in the House," when -- see Chap. XVIL., pp. 393et seq. -- Sir Donald Smith was violently attacked by Sir Charles Tupper and Sir John Macdonald. The following is a description of the scene, taken from the Toronto Globe, May 11th, 1878: "Mr. Donald A. Smith, after answering an attack made upon him by Sir John A. Macdonald, last night, began to reply to the slanders Dr. Tupper circulated in regard to him during the last picnic cam- paign. But the honourable member for Cumberland (Dr. Tupper) raised the point of order that Mr. Smith had no right to refer to this question in the closing hours of the session when he could have brought the matter up at any time during the past three months. "The Speaker decided that the member for Selkirk was in order, and Dr. Tupper commenced to interrupt Mr. Smith in the most unseemly fashion. Mr. Smith kept his temper well, and in a few well-chosen sentences showed conclusively the unfounded character of the charges brought against him. Finding the efforts of his col- league to shut down the honourable member for Selkirk unavailing, Sir John A. Macdonald came to the rescue, and for several seconds the leader of the Opposition and his right bower made the Chamber ring with epithets of an ungentlemanly character, Mr. Speaker trying in vain to keep them within bounds. "In the midst of the confusion Black Rod was admitted, and with difficulty delivered His Excellency's message summoning the Com- mons to the Senate Chamber. No sooner had the Sergeant-at-Arms shouldered the Mace and the Speaker begun to descend from the Chair than Dr. Tupper and Sir John renewed their rowdy conduct. A rush was made for Mr. Smith, and it was feared that blows were about to be exchanged. The Speaker called out to the Sergeant-at- Arms to arrest the disorderly members, an order which could only refer to Sir John A. Macdonald, Dr. Tupper, and Mr. Rochester, -616- |