Sellar’s Voice in our Time
by Mary Ducharme (August 2015)
Founded in 1865, and for 57 years with Robert Sellar at the helm, the Canadian Gleaner was once local, national and international in its scope. Sellar’s 19th century prejudices are clear in its pages but whether viewed as an outspoken man of courage or a bigot, his legacy is that the perspective and history of English-speaking people in Quebec is part of the written record of this province. His range of topics included the great debates of his era that were part of the formation of Canada as we know it. Whether dealing with the bitter controversies of the railroads, or parliamentary deliberations about controlling border smuggling, Sellar’s reports were not in the sparse “bytes” of the modern style, but presented with passion and detail.
Reading Sellar is impossible without drawing comparisons to the modern era. It seems that history is not “past.” Out of many parallels that could be cited, here are summaries of two examples taken from Sellar’s reporting in the 1870’s and 1880’s.
“Oka troubles.”
Because of land-use restrictions and other “oppressions” the Okas are cold and hungry. They have been arrested for putting up fences for livestock, for cutting firewood, and making use of the land on which they live. In cold weather, the school and Sunday School are closed for weeks because the children do not have adequate clothing. The Okas express their anger and frustration by burning a church, and many are arrested. The crown prosecutor made the statement that “ they are anxious for the penitentiary where they will be better housed and fed than at Oka.” The claim is that Seigniorial land is being over-cut for firewood by the tribe, and this must stop. The tribe of 73 families, all Protestants was being asked to give up 2500 acres of land, their houses and belongings for $20,000 – to be paid by a Catholic Seminary.
To end the troubles, the government is offering the Okas a bushy island in Lake Huron, hundreds of miles away. The $20,000, however, does not cover the costs of the travel or setting up adequate shelters until they can establish means of survival on the island. They do not accept the offer.
Sellar reported a similar situation in which Julius Scriver defended Indian lands at Dundee, in which the government reneged on a 999 year lease agreement leaving members of the tribe with nowhere to go. Neighbouring white farmers hope to take over the land because they are “better farmers and better neighbours” than the Indians.
Abuse in the workplace:
In 1878, Sellar relayed a horrific news story from London, Ontario of children and young women tortured in a factory owned by Jarvis and Hargreaves – not single incidents, but abuse of many over years. Two cases finally brought the factory owners to justice. Annie Sparks was forced into a dark room, gagged, and her wrists were bound with leather straps. She was whipped by a cane, and hoisted by rope and pulley off her feet for hours, and at one time for four days. The punishment was for talking at work about religion. In the court case, another incident came to light. A boy by the name of McGoey was stripped of his clothing, and forced to stand on his toes and then bow until his nose touched the floor. If he stumbled, he was beaten with a leather strap, and this happened over a hundred times. It was punishment for “trifling acts of disobedience.”
In 1883, a parliamentary bill was under discussion in which children under 12 are not to be employed in any factory or store, but a child of 12 to 15 may work 60 hours a week, except if a business, by unavoidable cause, cannot continue operation without additional hours. In this case, women and children can work 72 hours a week. There must be water-closets for their use, ventilation, dangerous machinery must be safety-guarded, and fire escapes provided.
Comment was made not only about despotic employers, but the “cupidity” of able-bodied parents whose only work appeared to be bringing lunch to a child working from 6 am to 6 pm.