Two serious riots, rapidly following one another, in the city
of Montreal suggest the question whether in Canada there is no reserve of physical power to which, on an emergency, the local authorities can appeal. At present it is apparent that they either feel themselves helpless before the mob, or are scandalously wanting in courage and public spirit. Small-pox has raged fiercely in the purlieus of Montreal, among a sluggish and not over-clean population of French Canadians, and the epidemic has caused so much alarm that the majority of the citizens have made up their minds to put in force a per- missive Vaccination Act of the Provincial Parliament. The municipal elections turned on this question, and a pro-vaccina- tion majority of the Town Council was returned. But the French Canadian masses detest the notion of vaccination, and being beaten at the elections, were determined to enforce their views in another way. They beset the Council Hall, and with volleys of stones compelled the Aldermen to abandon the debate on the vaccination bye-law. The Mayor went out of town to avoid the danger, and on the whole, the rioters triumphed. So they have done later, in their resolution to prevent the body of an excommunicated person being buried in the Catholic cemetery, though the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council had given judgment in favour of the burial. Surely the Provincial Govern- ment has power in such a case to use force ?
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