The Syndicate! : What is it?

The idea of writing this little sketch was suggested to the writer by hearing in course of ordinary conversation, even by those who might have been supposed to know better, the oft-repeated question, " What is this Syndicate ? and what does it all mean ?" 1 am not writing this for the enlightened inhabitants of the Capital of this Dominion, who know everything connected with the Government or politics, or who think they do so, which amounts to the same thing ; neither am I writing for those whose means enable them, and who have leisure to read and understand the very lengthy and elaborate speeches of our wise legislators ; elaborate certainly, some of them, so far as figures are concerned, -and for the generality of people not versed in such things, very difficult to follow up or understand ; I am addressing myself to the young and rising generation, who may be, and I hope are, patriotic enough to take an interest in all that concerns the wel- fare, progress and future development of this beautiful country, destined at no distant future, if her sons and daughters are only true to themselves, to become one of the brightest and fairest kingdoms of the earth.The building up of a nation does not depend on the legisla- tors thereof.These gentlemen make our laws, a nd according to their ideas of good or evil, try to keep us in the " straight path ;" but the building up of a nation is the work of every man and woman ; no one is so small, no occupation so humble, but may assist in this great work; and I think if Canadians would only begin to study this a little more and be less parti zan in their politics, incalculable good to our common country would come of it.In making this little diversion, by way of introduction, I do so that s 2 THE SYNDICATE.my readers may the better understand the few remarks I am going to make on the all-absorbing question of the hour.Every one who reads at all, and who in Canada does not read the newspapers ? at all events hear of the " Great North West," that immense country that to this day, for all the millions spent in exploring it, remains, you may say as far as practical knowledge is concerned, unknown.Our legislators and politicians talk to us by the hour of the vast fertility, the boundless wealth in this far-off, unknown land.Now my friends, if these gentlemen were only sent out to explore and till this very fertile land a few months before making these grand speeches, their enthusiasm would be somewhat damp- ed; not that I disbelieve the land is fertile and will be productive, but what of the hard labor, the privations of the first pioneers, the sweat of our brothers and sons, the self-denial and hard labor of our wives and sisters, before the glowing picture drawn by our wise and able legislators, drawn by them in their comfortable seats and warm rooms, becomes an u accomplished fact."I ask any intelligent farmer if his crops grow by looking at the land, or his cattle fatten spontaneously by looking at the scenery.The " great North West " my friends, will I am sure become a great country, but it will be after years of labor and many dollars are spent on it.Now till we find this labor and those dollars, the great North West is to you and I, and every son of Canada, as if it were not ; unless indeed we except the cost it is to this poor country to support and pay for what is called the " North West Mounted Police," a force, if reports speak truly, which will soon require another force to look after them.It costs money now, and brings no revenue.What we want in the first place is population to fill up and till the soil.To transport people in such numbers as would even in our generation give us a beginning of a country out there you must find the means of bringing them to the land ; by this I do not mean a population of the poor from the crowded cities of Europe.To make the country anything like the Parliamentary picture, you must have at least a fair proportion of men with means and experience.Neither our present govern- ment system of emigration, nor all the fine speeches will ever induce British agriculturalists who have money or brains to use it, to come to the North West as matters are at present.In saying this I am speaking from practical knowledge.Now to bring the matter down to a fine point, I may quote a very familiar illustra-

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