McCarthyite candidates 1896
Encyclopedia
The McCarthyites were a short-lived anti-Catholic
and anti-French-Canadian political movement which contested the 23 June 1896 federal election
in Canada
.
Dalton McCarthy
was the only "McCarthyite" to win election, and the movement disbanded in 1898.
in Simcoe North
in the 1872 election
, and was re-elected in every subsequent election. In 1891, McCarthy left the Conservative Party after disagreements with its leader, Sir John A. Macdonald, and ran and won as an independent.
McCarthy was notoriously anti-Catholic
and anti-French-Canadian. He was a founder of the Canadian branch of the Imperial Federation League
, a group that sought to unite Britain and its colonies and dominions in a trans-global federation.
McCarthy also appears to have been associated with the Equal Rights Party
, although did not run under its banner in the 1891 election
.
in Ontario
and Manitoba
. At the time, candidates could present their names for election in more than one riding at a time.
McCarthy sought election and won in both Simcoe North, Ontario, and Brandon
, Manitoba. Having won re-election in Simcoe North, McCarthy resigned the Brandon seat.
McCarthyite candidates polled second in three other ridings, Lanark South
, Hastings North
and Durham East
, scoring over 40% of the vote in each case.
In Muskoka and Parry Sound
, the McCartyite candidate won 20.1% of the vote in a three-way race. In the other ridings, the McCarthyites did poorly, winning about 10% of the vote or less.
Across all ridings, McCarthyites collected a total of 12,861 votes, or 28.1% of the popular vote.
's Liberals
. He would likely have been appointed to cabinet had he not died following a carriage accident in early 1898.
His followers attempted to revive the party and pursue McCarthy's anti-Catholic theme, but were unsuccessful. the party was formally disbanded in the same year.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and anti-French-Canadian political movement which contested the 23 June 1896 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1896
The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Canada. Though the Conservative Party won a plurality of the popular vote, the Liberal Party, led by Wilfrid Laurier, won the majority of seats to form the...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Dalton McCarthy
Dalton McCarthy
Dalton McCarthy , or D'Alton McCarthy, was a Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian. It was his firm, Boulton & McCarthy in Barrie, that was the first incarnation of what is now Canada's largest law firm, McCarthy Tétrault.McCarthy was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1878...
was the only "McCarthyite" to win election, and the movement disbanded in 1898.
Formation and political platform
Dalton McCarthy, an Irish-born lawyer, had been elected as a ConservativeConservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
in Simcoe North
Simcoe North
Simcoe North is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was established as a federal riding in 1867. Its population was 119,400 in 2006.-Demographics:Ethnic groups: 92.3% White, 5.9% Native Canadian...
in the 1872 election
Canadian federal election, 1872
The Canadian federal election of 1872 was held from July 20 to October 12, 1872, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 2nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir John A...
, and was re-elected in every subsequent election. In 1891, McCarthy left the Conservative Party after disagreements with its leader, Sir John A. Macdonald, and ran and won as an independent.
McCarthy was notoriously anti-Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and anti-French-Canadian. He was a founder of the Canadian branch of the Imperial Federation League
Imperial Federation League
The Imperial Federation League was a 19th century organisation which aimed to promote Imperial Federation.-Formation:It was founded in London in 1884. Branches were established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados and British Guiana. It aimed to promote Imperial Federation. Canada...
, a group that sought to unite Britain and its colonies and dominions in a trans-global federation.
McCarthy also appears to have been associated with the Equal Rights Party
Equal Rights Party
Equal Rights Party may refer to:*Equal Rights Party *Equal Rights Party , four different 19th century American political parties*Liberia Equal Rights Party*Equal Rights...
, although did not run under its banner in the 1891 election
Canadian federal election, 1891
The Canadian federal election of 1891 was held on March 5 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 7th Parliament of Canada. It was won by the Conservative Party of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald....
.
The 1896 election
In 1896, McCarthy and nine of his supporters presented themselves for election in ridingsElectoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. At the time, candidates could present their names for election in more than one riding at a time.
McCarthy sought election and won in both Simcoe North, Ontario, and Brandon
Brandon (electoral district)
Brandon was a federal electoral district in the province of Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons from 1896 to 1953.It was created in 1892 from parts of Marquette and Selkirk ridings....
, Manitoba. Having won re-election in Simcoe North, McCarthy resigned the Brandon seat.
McCarthyite candidates polled second in three other ridings, Lanark South
Lanark South
Lanark South was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917. It was located in the province of Ontario...
, Hastings North
Hastings North
Hastings North was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario...
and Durham East
Durham East
Durham East was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario...
, scoring over 40% of the vote in each case.
In Muskoka and Parry Sound
Muskoka and Parry Sound
Muskoka and Parry Sound was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1883 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario...
, the McCartyite candidate won 20.1% of the vote in a three-way race. In the other ridings, the McCarthyites did poorly, winning about 10% of the vote or less.
Across all ridings, McCarthyites collected a total of 12,861 votes, or 28.1% of the popular vote.
Post-election
As the only elected McCarthyite, Dalton McCarthy forged an alliance with Wilfrid LaurierWilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
's Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. He would likely have been appointed to cabinet had he not died following a carriage accident in early 1898.
His followers attempted to revive the party and pursue McCarthy's anti-Catholic theme, but were unsuccessful. the party was formally disbanded in the same year.