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D AdcMonal comments / Commentaires suppMmentaires: This ittm is f ihnad at the rsduetian ritia dMcksd below/ Ct doomiMit «st f ilmt •« taux da f*i.uctjw> indiqui d-danoyi. 'OX Mv: itx 12X ax 2«X »x 2SX 13 32X Th« copy filmad htr* Hm b««n raproduead dianki to tha ganaroaity of: National Library of Canada L'aiamplaira liltni fut raproduit grlca k la gtntroiit* da: BlbllothSque .latlonale du Canada Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality pouibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibiiity of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha fili:ting contract apacificationa. Laa imagaa suivantai ont *t* raproduitai avac la piua grand loin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da I'aitampiaira film*, at an conformity avac laa conditiona du contrat da filmaga. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara filmad baginning with tha front eovar and anding on tha iaat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- tion. or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara filmad baginning on tha firat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- •ien, and anding en tha Iaat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraaaion. Laa axamplairaa origlnaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat ImprimAa aont fiimta an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant toit par la darnMra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illuatration. aeit par la tacond plat, aalon la caa. Toua laa autraa axamplaira* originaux aont filmaa an commancant par la pramiira paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illuatration at an tarminant par la darnitra paga qui comporta una taila amprainta. Tha iaat racordad frama on aach microflcha ahall contain tha symbol -^ Imaaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha aymboi V (moaning "END"), whiehavar appiiaa. Un daa aymboiaa auivanta apparaitra aur la darnitra imaga da chaqua microficha, talon li caa: la aymbola ■^^ aignifia "A SUIVRE". la aymboia V aignifia "FIN". Mapa. plataa, eharta, ate, may ba filmad at diffaront raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraly inciudad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha mathod: Laa cartaa. pianchaa. tabiaaux, ate. pauvant itra filmto t daa taux da reduction difftranis. Loraqua la documant aat trop grand pour itra raproduit an un saul clicha, il aat film* i partir da I'angla tupAriaur gaucha. da gaucha i droita. at da Itaut an baa. an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nteaaaaira. Laa diagrammaa auivanta illuatrant la mMhoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MldOCOrr «IS01UTI0N tbt chait (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) mm^ _J /APPLIED IIVHGE Inc SF- cce!iiber la, 1894. SIR WILFRID I.ATRIKR, July II. i8y6.0ctol>er 6, 1911, HON. AI^EXANDKR MACKHNZIE, KK.HT HON. R. I,. BORDEN, November?. 1873-octolwr 16, 1879. Octobers, 1911- RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD, July I, iS67-Noveinl>er 6. 1S73, and Octulwr 17, 1879-June 6. 1891. SIR MACKENZIE BOWELIy, December 21, i894-April 37. 1896. SIR JOHN J. C. ABBOTT, June 6, i8^.\c^':\l^T^rMi.tT:''- 4,6 CHAPTER XL His Career— Wa« 'SirnK fj"" •^'^V>^«a» nitn— 438 :hapter xli chapter xlii " The Twentieth Century Belongs to Canada " i,. i 4S3 CHAPTER XLHI First Parliament Conspicuous— Alas ' all tl,- in 1. CHAPTER XLIV Canada's Future Political Outlook-A Few Observa- tions in Closing 13 4fi8 CONTENTS APPENDIX I Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and Her Jubilee "*°" Celebration, hv the Ri({ht Hnnnurable Sir Wilfrid Latirier. in tlo»iii)t His Speech in Parliament, on February 4th, i8 v k ^*^"' "> '^""^''"amc It became generally ■ ^ 21 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA known— and that the two Conservatives he had token into his Cabinet, Messrs. Cameron and Carling, he hoped to turn out good Reformers in a few years ! Mr. Sandfield Macdonald was a man of much force of character, who had decided opinions of his own and seMom failed to follow them. Before forming his Cabinet, the Honourable George Brown waited upon him and offered to pledge him the hearty support of the Liberal party and himself if he would form a party instead of a Coalition Gov- ernment. The formation of his " Patent Combina- tion." however, had doubtless been arranged with the Dominion Leader some weeks before. Apart from the severance of his relations with his life-long political friends— about which opinions naturally differed — Mr. Macdonald was well qualified to act as the first Premier of Ontario and to start the new Government on a sound and economical basis. CHAPTER II. ''"' m Z ^"''" ^^ ™= "^^ OOVHRNMENT m MOTION-THE FIRST FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS. f«ll''ma°nTd"'thV"'!,^'°"""'' Governments all offidalTd^,^! ■'"''^''' '"^g'^'^'es, and other St ht ZT ih^S of' ^'-^ "■^"•"'^^"^ °^ first Gener;.! Pi! ! ' preparation for the TT,,f M °"' '°°" overspread the land. That all classes of the people were deeply stirred was only natural. They had to give their verdro„ the first Governments chosen for them ; to elect scores of new legislators to the several Par laments and hundreds of new public offices would be i^the gift of wa^nrA 1 s"rpr,s;-.g that the new Dominion was profoundly stirred to its most distant parts As in earlier days, the two most conspicuous com- the ^ continued to be Sir John MacdonaM Td the .. .ourable George Brown, although another great man, the Honourable Joseph Howe had re ceng beco i^ent by hoifting the 'standard of Repeal in Nova Scotia. The Liberal and Pnn servative leaders were still vigorMirmen T^ fine faculties of mind and body w re ,1 ^ pa.red. and strikingly characteristic were the p:i' 23 PUBL|C MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA tions taken up by them in their appeals to the ''"thI Fkst Minister took the ground that the work of founding the Confederation was not yet fully accomplished, and that the men who had taken the principal part in carrying the measure trough Par- liament should be continued at the.r posts until U waT put into full operation. Old party .mes and dd party issues, he claimed, had been obliterated by the new Confederation, and "there were now no SsUTo divide political parties/' " All that ,s now required," he said in one of his speeches, is to have in the Government the men who are bes adapted to set the new machinery m motion and I desi« to Psk those to join me who have the confi- dence and represent the majorities in the various sections, who were in favour of this system of gov- ernment, and who wish to see it successfully earned °"The platform of the Liberal party had beenjettled bv the large and influential Convention * held in Toronto on June 27th. It consisted of fourteen Jesdutons, the principal one of which strong^ affirmed the evils of Coalition Governments or ordinary administrative purposes. Thus endorsed by his party, the Hono rable George Brown com- menced' an aggressive campaign agamst the new Dominion and Ontario Cabinets. He assailed them ( I ) , as a breach of the agreement made by Sir John . For particular, of thi. gr..t political gathering s« Volume I., Chapter xxvi. and Appendix VI. 24 A BLAZE OF POLITICAL EXCITEMENT Macdonald wiih him in 1864, tliat the coalition of the Reform and Conservative parties was only to be temporary and would terminate as soon as Confederation was carried; (2), that past experi- ence had abundantly proven, to use the words of the Convention itself, " that coalitions of opposing poli- tical parties tor ordinary administrative purposes inevitably result in the abandonment of principle by one or both of the parties to the compact, the lowering of public morality, lavish public expendi- ture and widespread corruption"; and (3), that being unable to form a Conservative Cabinet with any hope of success, the leader of that party was seeking to maintain his hold upon office by extending into the new Dominion the vicious system of coali- tions which the people had hoped the new Federal system would forever obliterate. The Dominion elections came on first, and the Government made the writs returnable at varyine dates-as the law then permitted-but the polline m most of the ridings was appointed to take place m the first half of September. Preparations for the contest, however, became general by the middle of July, and before August closed, all Canada was in a blaze of political excitement. Early in the campaign, the Liberal Ministers in the Dominion Coalition, Messrs. Rowland, Mac- dougall and Blair, called a meeting of the Liberal members from Ontario, -.ho had supported them in the late Par lament, and urged them to sustain the new Federal Coalition with themselves as Reform PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA representatives therein. Not the least powerful argument of the Ministers was, that no Conservative candidate woult was withdrawn for the session, but it soon after wards became the law of the land It was well on in December before the tw« pnnc.pa, measures of the GovemmenTwl':: suT mitted They were introduced by two set, r.f ^esouton , o authorizing them t'o obUi Lm Great Britain Rupert's Land and the North-wS Terntories by purchase of the rights of the Hudson's Bay Company thereto, and the o°her to -t^lT Vt"^'"^ °^ DominVntn;: Jr^ZTn ""T *° ^^^' the British guaranee-to commence the construction of the Intercolomal Railway. These resolutions in ffec gave the Government carte blanche to spend what ever sums they deemed necessary to car^y out both projects, and. when the ordinary Supply Ml came up_ It was found that the Gove'^n. Jnt'ask d tha bloc, in other words, without any particulars. 45 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA The Opposition approved of the measures, but sharply criticised the Government's departure from wise principles of constitutional usage in asking votes of public money in that way. Mr. Dorion and Mr. Holton moved motions protesting against thtir action, but the House sustained the Adminis- 'ration by large majorities. Being near Christmas, the session was then adjourned to the 12th of March. 1868. many of the measures being held over to that time. CHAPTER V. SEWARD'S SURPRISE-ONTARIO'S SINGLE CHAMBER MEETS-ITS SUCCESS-" THE NINE MARTYRS "- SANDFIELD MACD JNALD HOLDS THE FORT- LIBERAL BANQUET. There were still some clouds, it must be con- fessed, hovering in the Dominion sky at this time, but the people of Canada never lost faith that all British America would ultimately be iticluded within Its bounds. The difficulties in Nova Scotia, how- ever, although more political than real, had a baleful effert in at least two other Provinces. Prince Edward Island for a time holding back, and Newfoundland being driven off from the Union to this day. Then, the Honourable William H. Seward, the U. S. Secretary of State, surprised the world by purchasing ice-bound Alaska from Russia for $7,000,000, a narrow strip of which, from eight to thirty-five miles wide, called the Penhandle, makes the coastline southwards for 536 miles and thus shuts out a large tract of Canadian territory from direct access to the Pacific Ocean. In his poetic way, the Honourable Joseph Howe described Alaska as " overshadowing us as a winter cloud from the North," and Mr. Seward's purchase of it was doubt- less expected to prove a hindrance, if not a check to our proposed Western extension. 47 I PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA Nevertheless, faith in the star of Canada never waned. It was well known that the Imperial Government stood firmly at the back of the Dommion, and that, good faith being shown to the rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, they were prepared to incorporate the immense North-West Territories and Rupert's Land with the existing Confederation. This would enlarge Canadian terri- tory to 3,500,000 square miles, an area large enough and with resources manifold enough to make three or four large nations. With the possible exception, too, of a few half- breeds and trappers following a wild, nomadic life, the population so long under Hudson's Bay rule favoured union with the new Dominion, and in British Columbia all classes may be said to have united in sending delegates to Ottawa in 1870 to secure admission, almost the only condition at first asked by them being the modest one that Canada should bind itself to make a wagon-road over the mountains to connect the two countries together! What would the patriotic British Columbians who took part in this movement for union with Canada have said and thought if some genie could have arisen at that moment in their midst and, unrolling the book of time to the year 191 1, had shown them not only the immense Canadian Pacific Railway— with 10,000 miles of track, its unsur- passed steamship lines to Europe and Asia, and gross annual earnings of over $104,000,000— stretching across Canada from the Atlantic to the 48 F.RST SESSION ONTARIO LEGISLATURE Northern Padfic in ^ 'f ^"'^ '^' Canadian ^-na.3:;/i— -Xrronas.. After the New Year's hohclavs of ,Sfi« „ ,,• the case in Ontarir r[hepeIo e tH ''""■'"'"^'^ interest therein, mainb^ ^ h y r"^'?P memories of th^ Un„ j l- ^ *''° Pa'nful the legislatt ; i °n"li H"?or J^f " .""""^ -; -^ h^„ Federal system would he "ha OnSr ^/u""^ a Leeislaturp nf if= . 'Jntario would have ■<' of n Si;; """ ""■ '"" "»'">' »" .« •r.ill.„ cnpTny firfZif „,"'"'?■ ""' '" 49 I'ij PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA When Lieutenant-Governor Stisted, in uniform and cocked hat, entered and took his seat in the official chair, the historic old Chamber, glittering with new paint and decorations, was crowded with prominent ladies, venerat'd clergymen, eminent judges, distinguished officers, and citizens of all -lasses. According to precedent, the Royal Speech could not be d eliver ed until the House elected its Speaker, and the Honourable M. C. Cameron, Provincial Secre- tary, having announced this ill the usual form, His Hon- , our withdrew, and Mr. John Stevenson, member for Len- nox, was unanimously elect- ' eH to fill the position. When Lieutenant-Gover- nor Stisted delivered the Speech the next day, it proved to lie a sensible, cant ic lusly-worded document . Not much legislation was promised. A Homestead Law and free grants of land to encourage immigration and the settlement of our new townships, were the most important. But there was a great deal of busi- ness requiring to be done and His Honour sagely pointed out that, there being only one House, " un- aided and unchecked by the supervisory control of another Chamber," it remained for its members, by " wisdom, moderation and forethought," to justify SO l.rKi'T.-dnvF.RNOR SrisTtri i ! 1 ABLE MEN IN THE HOUSE their peculiar and exceptional privileges. The buoy- ant feeling both in the Legislature and the country was well expressed in the following paragraph ; "This day is the commencement of a new and important ra in our political annals. We are met together under the authority of the British Crown to enter upon a more extended application than we have hitherto enjoyed of the principle of local self-government. For years past it has been the aim and effort of Upper Canada to secure a more direct and unlimited control over her own local affair.'i than was attainable whilst in legislative alliance with another Province . . . This object we have now attained through the betieficent intorpr)si- tion of the Mother Country." When the two political parties confronted each other on the floor- of the House, Mr. Sandiield Macdonald and his Coalition colleagues and sup- porters on the one side, and Messrs. Archibald McKellar, Edward Blake, John McMurrich, Timothy Parde« and their Liberal supporters on the other, it became quite apparent that the first Ontario Legislature contained not a few able men, and many others virell qualified to discharge their duties creditably. And from the start the pro- ceedings of the session proved it to be an energetic, efficient and practical body. The address in reply to His Honour's Speech was discussed warmly, but by mutual arrangement il was closed in one day and an adjournment made over the holidays. On reassembling on January 8th. the business was promptly taken up. There SI PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA was little of what is known as "filibustering," although the political situation was by no means certain. Out of eighty-two members composing the House, forty-six were nominally Liberals and thirty- six Conservatives; nine of the Liberals, however, who afterward§ became known as " The Nine Martyrs," supported Mr. Sandfield Ma. i-nald, thus giving him about eight majority on a strict non- confidence vote. On other questions, however, the temper of the House was decidedly Liberal, and this led to occasion;.! complications. When the Homestead and the Free Orant iiues- tions were .'r.' ' cd, Imth parties were agreed on the principle, bci ihere were exciting drb,ilcs titi Mr. Blake's bill to abolish dual representation, and on a motion made by Mr. McKellar to grant $4,000 in aid of the widow of William Lynn Mackenzie, in recognition of her husband's long public .services. A Ministerial amendment tn postpone the Dual Bill to the next session was only carried In a majority of two, and the grant to Mrs. Mackenzie, although strongly opposed by the Conservatives, was carried by thirty-five to thirty-one. The Coalition Ministry held the fort during the session, as in fact they did throughout the whole Parliamentary term of four years. When the House was prorogued on March 4th, public opinion was almost unanimous that the new single Chamber of the Province was a success, and time has since proven that, notwithstanding some mistakes. Sand- field Macdonald did a real service to Ontario by S3 i BANQUET AT QUEEN'S HOTEL it gave to Zp ^^ ''°'"'''' *° ^^^ <=°"trol which forms Th? f u ' ^""^ °"'^'' constitutional re- Queen's Hotel. "'^" ^"ended bang, .t at the chaT?\nd°"tr""' ^?'"J ^^^^"^"■ch occupied the ' '' S3 11 iO f PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA received a great reception on rising to respond. His speech exhibited much of the old fire, its two prin- cipal features being a brief but masterly review of what the Liberal party had accomplished during the previous twenty-five years, and the conspicuous moderation with which he referred to political opponents and the various points discussed. This was one of the last speeches which fell from the eloquent lips of Mr. Brown, and he closed it amidst loud cheers with the following patriotic words : " I thank you heartily for the kind attention you have given my remarks. I have spoken without the slightest feeling against any of the public men who carry on the affairs of the country, either at Ottawa or Toronto; and, so far as I am concerned, every- thing I can do, no matter what Government is in power, shall be done to advance the interests of our country and to secure that harmony and good feel- ing among men of all parties, which is necessary to the good and successful working of our new con- stitution." Our second railroad era began at this time. The first move was made by Mr. George Laidlaw, of Toronto — ^a man of great energj' and foresight — who advocated the Toronto and Nipissing and the Toronto, Grey and Bruce lines. Osmpanies to con- struct these roads were soon incorpiorated, and after- wards the Credit Valley from Toronto through Gait to Woodstock fnow part of the main line of the C. P. R."). and also other roads, were bonused and heartily supported by the public. 54 CHAPTER VI. ■ ™oJE^ROVA^t!^^"°"«^^ "» ™^ CABINET Jru„ ^A'- HONOURS-INTERVIEW WITH THE HONOURABLE D'ARCY McGe"s ASSASSINATION IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. I2tl"'&°l"r ^':;''""'r ■■--^'"bled on March months Ae cT t'l'', ^''' ^"^'°"- Within six monAs the Cabinet had lost three of its members, Mr. A. J. Fergnsson-BIair, President of the Council ArSaSt' '"' '^'- """""^^"'^ Messrs. Gaha thi S c '"^ '■"'^""*^- The Lower Chamber of to h? . I Z ^^J"'y Q""" Victoria, praying g be released from its union with Canada Thf Honourable Joseph Howe, too, ha.i been commis eTmt? ^'^i-r °"' ^"'^ *° P--^^^ *- ""-trGov: tor. And on the morning of the day on which Par Lament reassembled, a hastily called'Cabim Counc niet and passed an Order-in-Council despatch^ S uTZf" Cj'-'- Tapper to England'to com' Ir^ o ^ ^"'' •"" Secessionist eflForts When Speaker Cockburn took the Chair of the Commons at three o'clock, only seyenty members o„ of one hundred and e.ghty.four were in attendance. But the House and the galleries were already quite 55 :i ,1! PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA excited over the unexpected news that Doctor Tup- per had beeti appointed Canadian Commissioner to oppose Nova Scotia's demands, and had received his appointment, packed his trunk and left Ottawa for England, all within a few hours of the meeting of the people's representatives. The Opposition promptly decided to challenge this appointment. The Honourable L. H. Holton moved for all papers on the subject, and a hot debate ensued. Messrs. Dorion. Mackenzie, Savary, and Ross (N. S.), Blake, Huntingdon, and others, warmly assailed the choice of Doctor Tupper as unwise and imprudent, in view of the bitter feeling then existing among Nova Scotians generally against that gentleman. The principal defence of the appointment was made by Sir John Macdonald, although the Honourable Mr. Cartier and Mr. Stewart Campbell f N.S.) spoke in a similar strain. The Prime Minister particularly urged the follow- ing points: that Doctor Tupper was well qualified and better informed than any other person to fulfil this mission successfully; that he had no instruc- tions except to supply information to the Colonial Secretary and keep him informed as to Canadian views; and that his colleagues and himself had desired that the Honourable Mr. Gait would accom- pany Dr. Tupper, but that gentleman had declined to go. He read Mr. Gait's letter to Mr. Cartier declin- ing to act rpt this appointment, which contained this very frank and unmistakable statement : " I consider the selection of Dr. Tupper is calculated, in the DR. TUPPER'S APPOINTMENT be.ieve I coulcfbe ofTnT ;. t .'* ° ""' "^^^'^ Another breeze over Dr tI - sprang up on April 6th Dr p ''f ' ^PP°'""nent Centre Wdhngton, n^oled to ecStl r'v'"^ '°^ much-berated gentleman A . • T ^"'^'" "'^t Confederation no a few L^ , "^^^^ '"J^^^ "'^^ called-was amply vindicatelr" "^f ^''"•^"^""y tical friends, but bvTnn { '^''"''^ "^ ^is poli- ^r from Mont eal W rth? T' "'^" '"^ •"- west, the Honourable D'Arcy wi'h thJd.Scr' "''■','"* ""^ine,, affair, and"" '""^"'' in .h. A u- *'' ""' on'y Mr. Gait h,,. fk " ''*<' '>«ome an ;n the Cabinet, Mr Carti., u j , '"* ""ost powerful Ml„.- . B h"!? ° '""°'' Government of Canada for^ 57 r it 'I i I' h ^ 1 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA McGee. His Speech, as usual, was of a high order, but he once or twice verged near bitterness as he denounced those throwing hindrances in the way of the bright pictures he delighted to draw of the Canadian Confederation that was to be. Towards midnight, Macdonald and Mackenzie — the latter having become the recognized leader of the Opposition — got into a wrangle over this bitter debate, and as neither at the time would give way, there seemed every prospect of a very late if not an all-night sitting. I therefore went downstairs to the restaurant to get something to eat. One of the first men I observed at a distance was Mr. McGee. We had been for several years on very friendly terms. Shortly after he came to Canada I attended a public dinner given in his honour at London, and made an arrangement with him to come to Gait and give a public lecture on Burns and Moore, which was one of his favourite topics at that time. This meeting took place in the Town Hall before a very large and enthusiastic audience. He was at this time a very zealous Liberal, but even after he transferred his support to the Conservative party our early friendship continued. Subsequent events which I am about to relate impressed certain circumstances which transpired in the restaurant and early the next morning very dis- tinctly upon my mind, and they have never been publicly related before. After being a few minutes in the room, seated and chatting with a friend, I saw Mr. McGee walk- S8 ^•arcy mcgee's many parts had recovered and seWom S ^^- * '""■°"' ''"' evening, and although heli^'''^ ^'^ '^an this '"0"on only two hours bel''^''"' °" ''"^ Parker «P'.yts and exceedingl/brigh Jlf ""' '" """^"»' And so, my vo«i, / • . ** agreeable. young," ..y„„ undert^k^^ r °" '^' ^°^<^ speech to-night J' '° ^° ^"^ me in your Circumstances haH i«^ * honourable genltn t^Seb^^ '° ^-"ow the 'leMrable thing for a noWce to ? ' ."°' ""= '""^^ was to some remarks maTe in ' f "'^ '''^ «""«°n on Dr. Parker; I therefore1oW„7 ^ 'f ^'' ^''^'^^ parry his friendly thrust J .^^^^ endeavoured to f-d had been on fh^'def^^^^tn"! ""'' " ""^ ^"^'^ less anyway." "^^' ^'^'^ were very harm- mahon and geniality seem d fiv.^'- ^'^'^'^ -"*- dehghtful conversation wtn^tV"^'' ^^"' '" a bnlhant conversationalist th/ ," '^''' '"^ was statesmanship, poetry anrf 1 1 ' "^^''"^ ^^ history abundance LTnlZ'Tf^'Z''^'''''^ ''™^' s:r---"^--Hi,-Ls;:„j^^so 4S^5^Xrsii^-^---othe shrilly through the' Chai'S''^"^ -"^ out -n.s. restaurant and .herer;-^-^^^^^^^^ 59 , I: N I PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA possibly be, and on hurrying upstairs to ascertain the cause, it was found that " John A." and " Mac," as the irreverent generally called them, had got over their tiflF, and the House had immediately adjourned. By the clock which illumines the lofty tower and graceful turrets of our magnificent Houses of Par- liament, it was then between half-past twelve and one o'clock, and as the tired Ministers and members hurried through the corridors and out into the dark and cheerless night, O God ! how little any of them dreamed of the atrocious and cruel tragedy which was within one single hour of enactment, and on the morrow filled all Canada with horror and lamen- tation ! Next morning at six o'clock I was aroused by a loud knock at my bedroom door. At that time a group of seven Liberal members occupied all the spare room in a hotel not far east of the Sappers' and Miners' bridges. Mr. David Thompson, M.P. for Haldimand, jokingly called us " The Levellers," and the other gentlemen composing the group were : Messrs. David Stirton, Joseph Rymal, "Thomas Oli- ver, E. V. Bidwell, James Wells and Isaac Bow- man — alas! all now gone save myself, but all v til remembered for their long and honourable public services. A second knock was accompanied by these startling words: "Get up, Young, D' » rcy McGee was shot last night!" There was no mistaking that voice. It was undoubtedly Mr. Rymal's, a man known in every corner of the Dominion as "honest Joe 60 ASSASSINATION OF MCGEE Rymal," the humourist of Parliament, but not so brusnn "" "' ""^"■"•■"^ ""^" - rough form and S L'l '""" ' '"«'"■ independent far-seeing head an'dlTr '"""^ ^"" ^^""--^ ''-•'- °' Now Mr. Rymal was quite fond of a little prac- caHed havmg been in Mr. McGee's company only a short t.me before) that he was trying ?o trick me -mo ge«,ng up two hours ahead of'time. I Sied No, Joe, you can't fool me that way " tone?/hr '"''^' "T"^'- ^"'^ "''*'<^^'' ^he saddened ^ne of his voice as he answered, " It is too true ' He was shot dead soon after the House rose ul' >et us go ^nd'Tee'^h!:;;:" ^-"""-^^ ''-'■ «« "P- -^ A few minutes later we were on our way ud ?JT. fV ^''- '^^°""'^- ^vhere Mr. McG* st ovS- \ r^'""^ °"'-^ ' f-^ minute., aS s X o clock, .and the daylight was still nmrky. But already a number of people .ere assembled aroum *e door, and the dark pools of blood on the pave ment, rendered mor. conspicous by a sligh snrink e of snow, were all too pa,n ully suggestive o "h • ul cnme wh.ch had been committed. With a fresh and natural as when in life, lay aVthat re- 6t PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA mained of the accomplished and brilliant D'Arcy McGee. It was a heartrending sight. Tears filled the eyes of many who were coming and going, and with bated breath deep sympathy was expressed for his widow and orphans. I felt keenly the solemnity and sadness of this scene; in fact, I could hardly bring myself to realize that the gifted man who had swayed the House of Commons the previous night by his wisdom and eloquence, the friend who had been chatting and joking with me till after mid- night, and whose brilliancy and geniality were seldom if ever more resplendent, had within a com- paratively few minutes thereafter been hurled by a dastardly assassin named VVhalen* across that infin- ite boundary over which no traveller ever returns. The scene in Parliament when the Houses assem- bled at three o'clock was the most painful and affecting they ever experienced. Universal horror and regret were expressed at the terrible tragedy, and senators and commoners alike were pervaded, almost overwhelmed, with sorrow and sadness. When the Prime Minister and Mr. Mackenzie rose to propose and second the adjournment of the House, profound silence and solemnity pervaded the Chamber, and the speakers were at times so over- •' No; the bullet which wantonly laid the master of oratory low was fired by a fellow-countryman (not by Whalen, who suf- fered for the crime, but by another Fenian), who thought by getting rid of McGee, that he was advancinK the cause of Ire- land. —Dr. Henry Morgan, in a letter to the Onawa Journal January jui, 1513. 62 CANADA DEEPLY STIRRED 8«"«rally, who vl? !u^ f^""^ ^^ "«= '"embers not a little when Tl^'"' ^ "'''°'" '^'l""" "fted «'«1 parties were "ed ZT n *'"'' '«"' P*"- "-ake liberal prov. '^£1 1 ^ °'""'"'''" ''"'"'d The sad story and the lib.t ,""''°* ""^ '^''"'•""• ^P-ad like wLfire ov "^t? T"°'^«^««--t world, and unless on fh, "'^^°"'""on and the Lincoln three "ars ifor.r"'''""" °' P-^^^-t were never more deeply and frP'*^ °^ «^^"ada nnmense State fnneraf^whfh?'.""^ '"■"^''' ^he real, and the nn,„e ^^ o^sr °°'' "''''' «' Mont- Vancouver to HaliCtSSdr"""^ '''' '-'"" the national grief a, wlii . ^ ""'vcrsality of -hich Mr. Mc£: L:;";; '"-^ waited place to '^'^'eur, had risen in the eS.r'' T'"^ ^"^ '''■ '° ""-nd the al^u ' er,'""" ''^°"^''' avidly Edmund Burke Xn sp ^"''1°". °' ^"'^ ^^«t °/ ""-3 political opponent on" h *'"^ ^"'^^''=" ''^ath ejection .. •• What s'al" we '"' °^ ''"^ Bristol we pursue !" '^' ^"" are, and what shadows When the business of fh- sumed, the first Par Lent nr '"J'"" '^""''^ >« 'e- an independent body sZllv ^f "'"'' *° '' ''"''e and retrenchment. The pSl" ^°"'- "^ economy -.be thus briery sumCrS-XTSr 63 i PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA peal was voted down by one hundred and ten to sixteen. After a lively debate, the Governor-Gen- eral's salary was reduced from $50,000 to $33,000, and other reductions made at Rideau Hall and else- where. The Senate created a genuine surprise by confirming these reductions by a vote of thirty-seven to seventeen! A Government Bill proposed to ex- pend $5,500,000 on fortifications, commencing at Montreal and extending here and there westwards along our boundary. It was very unpopular and warmly opposed. On account of some understand- ing in Britain, however. Sir George Cartier forced it through the Commons with whip and spur, but the whole absurd project was quickly dropped after the session amidst widespread public ridicule. The re- duction of the Governor-General's salary, too, did not receive the sanction of the Crown, and the occupant of our Viceregal Throne has ever since continued to draw a salary of $50,000 per annum without its ever being questioned. The great services rendered by His Excellency, Lord Monck, to Canada and Confederation, were suitably acknowledged by addresses from both Houses of Parliament, and among his later services as Governor-General was the prorogation of the first session of the first Parliament on May 28th. Its members strongly desired that the new Dominion should be started economically. So strong was this feeling, that the Honourable John Rose, the new Finance Minister, openly declared that he aimed at A TWELVE PER CENT. TARIFF ,., ■ '"'* Conservatives and Liberals at thi. !■ al'ke agreed with his views ihlffTM '""' "s to meet United StJ« • ' '^'' ^*> "" °- -iff a. raf ribXrcan::: '° r^' country to live in an.i w, "^ l-anada a ch?;,p spiral to ou) sllore, '" '"^'^ P^P"""'"' »'"' r 6s CHAPTER VII. -VOVA SCOTIA'S STRUGGLE FOR REPEAL-HOWE AND TUPPER IN BRITAIN— DANGEROUS POSITION IN NOVA SCOTIA— HOWE FINALLY ACCEPTS OFFICE AND REPEAL IS CRUSHED. The first three years of Confederation were largely taken up with completing its organization and consolidation. The most important question then pressing for solution, however, was the Nova Scotia Repeal agitation. Nova Scotia continued in a blaze of excitement over the Repeal movement, Howe and Tupper beir . then in London fighting it out before the Imperial Government and Parliament. The result, however, was never doubtful. Repeal was foredoomed to failure, and after his first interview with Mr. Howe, as early as April gth. Dr. Tupper informed Sir John Macdonald that there were some signs of a favour- able ending. According to official letters and explanations, on reaching London Dr. Tupper lost no time in calling on Mr. Howe. He was out, but in a day or two returned the call, when the two life-long political antagonists discussed the whole Nova Scotia situa- tion earnestly and at length. Both gentlemen agreed that Mr. Howe was bound to do everything in his power to free his Province 66 HOWE AND TUPPER ,n LONDON y.'^" Mr. Howe lat un"d °\'^"PP- P^-sed '' '/ he went back to Nova stV '""!, '"'^"^^^^"ces. before entering ..pon aJv o^ '"'^ *°''^ *''^'" tha °"'«-. they ha'd beTt^." ve Je" "'"""'' °' ^"'^^- wouJd find the Gnv ^ ""'°" » fa'r trial he Do-inion nJ^onrr^rdTto^'J'^^''^'-"* "^ ^h •concession to the interes^sof N T ""'"'''^^^^^ ^■ve the public sentiment nf^l ™"'^' ''"' to a the elections the Xt X^t, ^^^^ tie Cabinet and th«. „„.v . ^"^t a seat n r'd afford the mea'", Td'"""^'^ '' ^^-'^ clams of the Nova SrnH, °'"^ J"^"'ce to the -■te n,y fortune JS^^f,P-'>'. -•'/hat I wo^Jd .•"O't cordial support Mr ';,' '"^ ^ive them the '^pressed bv .ny statemer,; ^'"^ ''^^''"'"^ d«=eply --' things, but ex srhiff '''\' ^^-' t"-" that course his party v'uld ', 7' '^'' '^ ^' '^ol On the Mondav fl.T abandon him."* ^"-e .entleref i ' r Vf '■' ■■--- both of ;Pendadayor,wowi,h Xcrro' '"^'■»<=^ to nuke of Buckingham and Ch^ '^°"' "'"'"'y- '^' Stowe Hou.,e." Mr 1 '"^°'- ^' ^is residence ■" ^ova Scotia, .lee redThat T I'T ^""'■^''^'j' "ever mentioned on thi, .<^o" federation was JnownHisLordsh", ;::7'°"- '«'* ■■* is we, the Government in reg^J^rSaf V'' ^''^^ "^ •Ex.raci f ^ "^ ^aid to John Macdo„M i27 ,"' l>" Honourable Dr T "onaid," vo>. ii., pV;' Jr ""■ ^"" '"■• ■««; fe '\%: 67 ii PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA have frankly toW Mr. Howe at their first interview that they regarded Confederation as a great measure of Imperial policy, and its reversal would be unwar- ranted, especially after all the other Provincial Legis- latures had approved of it. Its repeal was therefore impracticable until at least the new system of gov- ernment had been fairly tried and pronounced a failure. The British Government listened with all respect and attention to the impassioned representations made to them by Messrs Howe, Annand, Smith and Troop, of Nova Scotia, and John Bright and others chamoioned their cause in the House of Commons. But Repeal met with little favour. The official answer of the Government was given on June 4th in a despatch from the Colonial Secretary to the Governor-General of Canada. Lord Monck: this carefully-preoared document took somewhat similar f rounds to those advanced bv the Duke of Bucking- ham to Mr. Howe. and. whilst conciliatory in tone. must have extinguished the last hooes of the Nova Scofians for the success of their mission. The Repeal delegates left Eneland soon after- wards. Dr. Tutmer accompanvine them on the same vessel. Mr. Howe, as it afterwards appeared, returned to Nova Scotia with verv mineled feelings. He was the leader for Repeal, but was now thorouehly convinced that it was impossible to obtain it. and his views upon the whole question were much modified, to sa^- the least, as to the 68 ;- ever, the failu^f CalL""" '""^^^^'^'J 'he .noment, added fiS t, thj A ^'"^' '' ''^'' ^°^ .^'"cml Ministry, all elecLd I """'• '^''^ Pro- ";tensely bitti £ ^'..^"'-Unionists, were Honourable Martin r.Wlkins^™'^"^"^^^'' '^e extreme. Although hold in ' I °"' °^ "'^ '""^t ""der the Crown, heTnd2e,r'"f"'"''^' ^" "^ee ° "-eason that Lieu enant S '" ""'^''' ^° "ear demanded explanations anj^t"""' °°^'^ ^''^^P'y h-d.smissal was prevented* "" "''^ '^'^'^'''t; ;^-«f^-::^i^^^£"'— '.pro- the mfluential Nova Scot^^n ^^^ ^ere not among Jnt noise to induce old Strait ' r' .""'^ ^^ O'-'eans fame, to hasten fr u" ®""^'"> "^ New fates to the scene ojitatrn ''\ ""''^ ^"^'^nd '•ealti,. b,„ rcallv to s„v!m the ,' "f """^'^ ^°'- h'"^ ix'ssihih-.ies. ' ■ "' ""^ '«"'' and size up the "•.- people „i \ ■ ,, , ^„'"- .'-•""Mi.u.ion re",„red' ..^'r""" "" 5titi.lion.-,r an,l l.,, , " ""''""'• Vou'll hear „ ""^ ''""'=• 69 Ill i f f ji; , f i 1 1 1 f t ' 1 it u 1 I PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA All eyes were now turned on the Honourable Joseph Howe. For a time he was reticent, and his position, from the first awkward, soon became em- barrassing and trying. He knew that the movement for Repeal was dead — "a dead Indian," as he called it — and found himself face to face with a dilemma; either he must go with the extreme Anti-Unionists, who were threatening sedition, or he must separate from and oppose thousands of his lifelong political and personal friends. For a statesman who had been the leader for Repeal and was the idol of the people as no other Nova Scotian ever was, this was a critical position. But Mr. Howe had doubtless considered his future course before leaving England, and whilst giving the agitation a little time to cool, made inquiries of the Dominion Oovernment what better terms they were prepared to give his Province than those con- tained in the Briti,sh North America Act. This led to Sir John A. Macdonald, accompanied bv Messrs. Cartier, Macdougall, Sandfield Macdon- ald and Tupper, visiting Nova Scotia's beautiful c-ipital. The Prime Minister and the Honourable Joseph Howe had several interviews at Lieutenant- Governor Doyle's residence, and, to make a long story short, it was ultimately arranged by corre- spondence that the Honourable John Rose and Messrs. Howe and A. R. McLelan, M.P., should meet at the city of Portland, and decide what new financial terms could and should be offered to Nova Scotia. MR. HOWE ACCEPTS CONFEDERATION -uianJtlir';!;^^'"".^'^^' ^°^^ S-'- was of $8,000,0^0 orecetrT" "f '^ P"*""'"-- ^^^t of $6o.ocx^, and the eth! '''f" ^''"' """"^"^ to all the Prov!-.r^ (/'"'' ^'' ''«'^ ^-nn^on agreed upo„ ,L fSotinXt'thS^^' ^-"^ grant shouSbt'iSSt^'sl''^ r'^' ^"""■■" "f ten years and he It S'^^ /°'' '^' '"'"' head of the non,,!. ^ °^ ^'S^^y cents per were a few^^nT rgeHuTth" '''''''■ ^''"^ -pa' financial conces:^^',!';^;:;- '^^ P""" -h:°s;:^r!-H^fi:=r^ Scotia « ere CO d™oned'°'°v '^ '° "^^ ^'^■^" *° Nova he was fina ly te vlil.!, °" *"' "'^"P'^"'"'^ of office, "■as s.orn 1 offi ;1 oT '" '^"^ ''' ^^^-' -^^ Council on Jan" arv U^Sr " "^''^"^ "^ '"^ ;'ait::;:SpS^--^^n;^-tion Sco-ia. n L:^ ;;.,^;:^^'- '"-"^^0,. ^ova Anti-Union vituier . i w^r 7 '''.'= '''""''^'■"- "f '"■"'. but the chkf a ,v rr " ,°"'^ ""■""' "PO" to Yarmouth ^:Z:^\^2^i: ""'''"'' J .-TAF4':Vn«Yr ^TKIUiOT ' PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA April 20th was appointed the day of election, and the electors of Hants held for the time being the fate of Confederation and of their old champion — Joe Howe — in the hollow of their hands. The contest proved unusually exciting, acrimon- ious and violent. The " Old Alan Eloquent " must have felt the truth of one of his earlier witticisms : " The smaller the pit. the fiercer the rats fight." In fact, the long excitement he had passed through, and tlic bitter personal attacks made upon him, on the platform and in the press, by Mr. .^nnand and other personal friends of a lifetime, were so keenly felt by his proud and chivalrous spirit that his health temporarily broke down in the middle of the canvass. For some time it looked as if Repeal must triumph. But a great change had come over the people of Nova Scotia Their eyes had \xen opened to the dangers to which the Anti-Unionists were dragging them, and " Howe and better terms " fin- ally triumphed by the handsome majority of 383. Thus was the battle for Confederation in Nova Scotia finally won. So pronounced an acceptance by the electors of Hants of the " lietter terms " offered by the Dominion Government, proved a complete Waterloo to tlie Anti-Union cause, and the dark cloud which for two years h;\d overhung the new Dominion quickly disappeared, lea.ing the way open for the union of the whole of British North America, with all its immediate blessings and future possibilities. MA CHAPTER VIII. p,,UK .. '"*" '-'CATIONS "-.sru "•\^S THK GAMK ,)F,,- HIS OWN BAT. '^ansportati,,,, Ihronji " ,t X 'r^^''''''''.'''^'^'-" -•"! I"-''ss negotiations f,>r ,he L f^>"""">n. and to West Territories a«,u.renient of the Norll.- district. This ».. •^"f*''""- '" the Red Rjver round by St. Paul i,, (he ITn f /c ^ '""^ ^^"Pf ta"ce fron, P,,„ ;;;i%^";^^^;ates. The dis- g'ven at 464 mile.s. 3,1 of whir, ^^ '"^^ ''"^" gable for sn^all craft'tnd ,3, "f den" T'" "^^■'- "^orasses and rocky ...ains.'Af ' "^^ '"^^''^' d«P we l-know„ (]o^ernnle„t en. eer '''''°"' " vv.th thi.s difficult vvork and r ; , "' ^"^"sted as the Dawson Roulin Z\ '*"'"<^ ''"°«n ion a fairly .or, ,„ " ?? "T ^''''' "^^ Donnn- fhrough our\,^.:; trnlory " "' "■^'"-te -e. The Oovernntent en^i^?.^--^^^^^^^^^^^ 7.^ PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA three routes: (i) the Northern, or Major Robinson line; (2) the Central route; and (3) the Southern. The first named had been in early days surveyed l)y the Hritish CoverntTient as a military road, and circled northwards by the l'. ■ of Chaleur. The Central and Southern lines were the most direct from the cities of Montreal jid Quebec to St. John and Halifax, the cheapest to construct, and pro- mised the most traffic, revenue and other commer- cial advantages. The Honourable George Cartier and many of his Quebec supporters, aided by the Honourable Peter Mitchell (N.B.), took a resolute stand in favour of the Northern line, v^fhilst common reixjrt said that the Honourable Messrs. Macdougall, Rowland and Tilley threatened to resign if either the Central or Southern route was not chosen. The summer of 1868 found this split in the Cabi- net still raging, but early in July it was announced that the Major Robinson line had been finally selected. This was largely due to the opinion of the Imperial Government, who in those early times seldom viewed Colonial questions except through military spectacles, but it naturally produced an out- burst of hostile criticism in Ontario and the Mari- time Provinces. It was certainly a costly blunder, as the Interco- lonial took $(K3,ooo,ooo to construct and equip, and for some forty years cost us annually from $500,000 to $750,000 to maintain it in good repair and keep its trains running ! But it may be added, the Cabinet came through safely — no resignations ever took place ! 74 MR. HOWLAND'S APPOINTMENT the^'c iTr'^Grr T '^"^ ^"^'^'^ «>• inent among the e vve- ri, m ' ''"•"'"'■• ^^"'n ourable John H vard ? °""''' ""^ ^'^'^ "°n- Ontario Bar The H".^'*"''- "'^ ' ''''" °^ "^* bell, Postn^ister r.,, 7 "'^'''' ^'^^nder Camp- no inferio? p ace o that fp'^'""'^'""" ^«"'«J awarded the K to MJ"^^P'•™^ Minister, and o" the ground J-ls Zh. "°"''^"'l' ''""''tless chiefly that gentleman's ettZT" ''T '"•^-^'ed-tha^ for certain n,ore iZmZl ll v' ^^l" "^ ^'"^ ^^^ the great opportunKSlfr'"' '''^"«" ^^ich hoped to carry oT Mr WiU 'T' ""'^ '" *'>"« now the onlyLtinot ber'a tfTiftSfr" -"^^ "-ately arose M:,,Tlf"'f""'/«''^*'°" ™™e- ij-ted that clTr arrsho:;':^"^^™"'-' Mr. Macdougall contended hat^h^ <' "P'^'"''''- entered into when the mil,! °''''"" <^°'"Pa« .ions * d b^'i^riXf,? "'"" •'""■ "" "- 75 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA i cease to be a coalition and become a straight party administration. The change to Conservatives was doubtless what their astute leader preferred. It was evidently the goal at which he aimed. But the plum was not ripe for pulling, and to crush the life out of the coalition so early would almost certainly drive oflf with cries of betrayal those Liberals who had given the Premier a solid majority in Ontario for the first time in his long political career. The Opposition, too, woukl point to it as complete proof of all they charged against the immorality of the coalition from its inception. The Gordian knot con- sequently remained untied. Sir John again resorted to his old policy of delay, left the two Public De- partments vacant, and simply hung up the Cabinet difficulties until a more propitious opportunity occur- red to carry out his plans. Both the Presidency of the Council and the office of Minister of Public Works remained vacant for about a year and a half! This naturally caused much adverse criticism. George Brown and the Liberal Opposition denounced it as unprecedented, if not unconstitutional, and that the Dominion was being made to suffer from the want of two import- ant Ministers of State simply t'l suit the exigencies of the Conservative party. Not a few Conserva- tives — some openly, some privately — also joined in the general outcry against these public offices re- maining longer unfilled. But Sir John Macdonald stood firm. One of his many peculiarities came to the front here, and is worthy of note. Paradoxical as it may appear, Sir 76 SIR JOHN A DI'AL PERSONALITV John personally and Sir r„h„ ,, ,u„ r eacler s,.e,„ed like two diffir m Zn" "^'^''^'ir lie was nearlv sKv,.,. k ■ i ^'"^^ I ersonal v. i'>hissnp,::;t;^'^^,KnttM"'"'''''^'"« R-t as ,he ConservaHve leader he '•"'"""""• ^vas in fact imper ous He «'I're.ne-his „,an,uT '"s party and he , . '^'' ''"^" ^■'•"^•^ ' ' ''ad :!'-H/£/:r:fr.;rr!;':r ''''-' '""e <.r 'no i„ Vf "ren 'e , "'• ."'"'^"^^' '"'"^'"' ents. ' " "•« "I'lnions of his opp„„. ter, was considernlTj^l ' !. J r " ^ P'*'^"'"'' ^hap- the doughty French-CaS'a re:deT ^1' '"^^ Sir Georire Cuirr n,, 7 "ad become higher than, h V „eMnT:~' ""' ^^■^" ' '■'"'e Gait was a,ai:, e,l ov f :h^n"''^'!'^""^''^f>•• nlentatitsnextsosso ,?ri ""l^"'"'"""" Parlia- 77 Miaoeow (isoiUTiON tbt omit (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) |2J m .6 ^ /APPLIED IM/IGE In ^^ 1653 East Moin Streal S'.iS RochMtar, N«w York 14609 USA "l= (?16) 482 - 0300 - PhoM ^S (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax 1- PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA above criticism, but so far as Mr. Gait was person- ally concerned, it was a marked and deserved com- pliment. This unpleasant episode, however, was in this way smoothed over, but although they continued to act together as political colleagues, it was known to not a few, and the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie informed me of several private interviews at the request of the famous French leader which clearly established, that Sir John and Sir George were never again the bosom friends they had been before the unfortunate circumstances occurred. Once more the truth of the brilliant ton mot at- tributed to Lord Chatham v/as exemplified • " Con- fidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom — and, once broken, can never be restored." ;8 CHAPTER IX. PURCHASE OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S RIGHTS THE SETTLEMENT MADE— GEORGE BROWN THE I'IRST STATESMAN TO FORESEE THEIR IM- MENSE VALUE TO CANADA— HIS REMARKABLE PREDICTION. The work of consolidating the Dominion was greatly promoted by the success of the negotiations between Canada, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Imperial Government during the fall of this year. The negotiations had already been long and tedi- ous. As a Special Commissioner for the Dominion Government in 1864, the Honourable George Brown had done valuable work in England in advancing Canada's claims to the vast Territories. The follow- ing year the Canadian delegates who met in London to complete the Confederation Act, vigorously urged the Home Government to insist that the Hudson's Bay Company should no longer delay in coming to a settlement. But it was not until innumerable difficulties had been overcome that Lord Granville, Colonial Secre- tary, Messrs. Cartier and Macdougall, the Canadian Commissioners, and Sir Staflford Northcote, and other chief officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, met in London and tackled the negotiations in earn- est. The views of the contending parties were wide apart at first, but Lord Granville finally submitted 70 y^ PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA the terms of settlement which the Imperial Govern- ment considered should be accepted by both parties. It was the Imperial policy, he intimated, that all their North American possessions should be united in the Dominion of Canada, and the negotiations ended by the Hudson's Bay Company accepting the terms offered, to cede back to the Mother country whatever rights they possessed in Rupert's Land and the North-VVest Territories. The principal condi- tions were in brief as follows : " (o) That Canada should pay to the Hudson's Bay Company the sum of £300,000 in cash; (b) that the Company should retain for its own use one-twentieth of all lands in the fertile belt; and (c) that the Company should retain its trading- posts and the lands around them, not to exceed in all 4S,ooo acres." This was not an unreasonable settlement. Time has confirmed the belief that substantial justice was done to both sides, and, whilst the first impressions of some were that the concessions to the Company were unduly liberal, it should be remembered that this was a large transaction, embracing no less than one-third of the whole North American continent, and that these concessions cleared the way for its annexation to Canada for all time to come. This immense addition to our territories, when consummated, more than quadrupled the area and resources of the Dominion when inaugurated two years before. Under the protecting folds of the British flag, it ensured the rapid growth of a virile 80 LACK OF FAITH IN NORTH-WECT Canadian people on the northern part of the con to day, but forty years ago there were very few persons, even among Canadians, who reaS th^ able t'rTrr °' '"^ ""'°" °' "^^^ -«' -d va "! able tracts of country to our new Dominion. SuJrded^helr' ^y CTP""^ ''^^ «° -^'o^ely to believe that, except a mere narrow habitable fnnge north of the forty-ninth parallel, all the re I ng but a barren, trackless, ice-bound wilderness dece'^S bvfh? '"°'' '="""^"' ^^"^dians were toTe lie *f ^'■^P/^;«''^«°n^- For example, up cultural, commercial or manuf^^uH^r^rnf^:;- me of h.r John, very clearly proves this. In Vol W'JI"^" fr' r''' " '^"^^ '° Sir Edward W' says. If Canada is to remain a country seoaratP from the United States, it is of the greatest Tmn nT'^b^h-r ^ ^^^^ UnitedS: 'Z° d not get behind us by right or force, and interceot ately adds . But not even Sir John as late as 1865 81 ^ II PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA reaHzed the value of that country otherwise than as a highway to the Pacific, for he (Sir John) con- tinues in the Watkin letter as follows : ' But in any other point of view, 't seems to me the country is of no present value tc nada. We have unoccupied land enough to absorb the immigration for many years, and the opening up of the Saskati-hewan would do to Canada what the prairie lands are doing now — drain away our youth and strength.' " It is only justice to say that the one Canadian statesman who from the first clearly perceived the immense resources and possibilities of the great ter- ritories over which the Hudson's Bay Company had held sway for nearly tlircc hundred years — their (.■barter being granted by Charles II. in 1670 — as well as their incalculable value both lo the Empire and Canada, was the Honourable George Brown. Soon after settling in Toronto, he learned from the lips of Mr. I. Isbister, an eminent and cultivated native of the Red River .settlement, the real char- acter nf the North-West aumtry. In\cstigatioii proved the correctness of Mr. Isbister's vivid de- scriptions of its immense wealth and importance, and, once convinced of this, Mr. Bjovvn immedi- ately advocated its acquisition by thif, country with characteristic energy and zeal. For several years his advocacy of this was as " the voice of one crying in the wilderness." The proposal was even ridiculed.* But he wavered not. • Two striking instances of this are given in Lewis' '' Life of George Brown," page 218. The Niagara Mail of January, 1857, said : " The Toronto Globe conies out with a new and remark- 82 BROWN'S OPTIMISM . He brought it forward >„ his maiden .peo.I, i„ P.. I""S-sup,,ose,l „orthern wilderness and 7^! tons imnortanrp t^ r "'^7'^*^ and the niomen- ^^ .^ niportance to Canada of securing possession Bi'^tSed "SI- ^^^''-'"-"■'^e view Mr. America is wer^ s 1 1, t'The" fl'"'' ^"^ hack as the ffeneral elections of Fanuary i.lh TscR forthen^nhnlVXrr^^^^^ ing remarkabt word^r"'" "'■"*■ "" "' ^"^ ^""''"'- acknowledging British ;hey„'lr;';:,;;;;;,';'f'|;;''ij"^^ "^^^ is ,1,, „„„„„,;„„ „f •ord have n.ercy „„ „s Can,, a alr.,T '""""•■•" •" Canada. n,ake ,1 .leservo Ihe re,,rnach "" " ""^ '^'"'"- '" want to !...MC'l^i;:'3^i^r,;!r,S-»' '>""-'^'. wmc^ dec^d m.dsl of a de.er,. The clfmate waJ uX" "?, '" ""'^ '" "-i- of grain. The s«,„mer. ,CS warm eno^.^r '' *" "'" ""^'^ duration, 80 that even the feu CtiU Z^T Z^^ ""> '•■■"' ■'" mature a mall potato or oeabbager ""'* '"'^''•'Hy 83 PUBLIC MEN AN. PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA sovereignty without feeling that union, not separa- tion, ought to be the foremost principle with British statesmen? Who that examines the condition of the several Provinces which constitute British America can fail to feel that with the people of Canada must mainly rest the noble task, at no distant date, of con- solidating these Provinces, aye, and of redee.nlng to civilisation and peopling -a'ith nexv life the i.'i.v/ territories to our north, now so unworthily held b)' the Hudson's Bay Coinpany? Who cannot see that Providence has entrusted to us the building up of a great Northern people, fit to cope with our neigh- l)ours of the United States, and to advance step by step with them in the march of civilization? Sir, it is my fervent aspiration and belief that some here to-night may live to see the day when the British- American flag shall proudly wave from Labrador to Vancouver Island, and from our own Niagara to the shores of Hudson Bay." This eloquent and remarkable prediction — now over half a century old — not only proves George Brown to have been the pioneer advocate* of the annexation and o])ening up to progress and civiliza- tion of " The Great Lone Land," but that, with a statesman's vision, he clearly foresaw all Briti.sh * The following extract from a speech made in Parliament dur- ing the session of 1875 by Sir John Macdonald is a pleasing recognition by an opponent of Mr. Brown's great services to Can- ada in this matter, and creditable alike to both of these eminent men : " From the first time he had entered Pai 'lament, the people of Canada looked forward to a Western extt .sion of ter- ritory, and from the first time he was a Minister in 1854, the question was brought up time and again and pressed with great ability and force by the Honourable George Brown, who was then a prominent man in opposition to the Government.** 84 MACDONALD'S " BILL OF FARE " si:.-s:.-i',..i-n;,=.?,; norJa?b niTh' ^^"°'P'^^'-^ ''^d for .some time been SsTVr ^aS 7,'^^ °^ ^°'""- ^' ^'-°'- hundred toTwf Cr^V^t^^anT^ '^"^ °"* •-a ^-■^'e'^'y large and two Con'ser'XTJws er?ou?o";T '"""r' "' •vas ,na,-n,, supported ^^Z:!.::;:;^^ --f-rLi^i^HS-s^ 11.-6 g^ PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA tion by settling several of the principal questions they had long been advocating, and settling them, too, — in the main — in accordance with public opin- ion. It was soon apparent that the programme was better liked by the Liberals than Premier Macdon- ald's Conservative supporters. The legislation, how- ever, was mainly in line with what Ontario wanted, and despite the able manner in which Mr. Blake, Mr. McKellar and Mr. Pardee conducted ttie Oppo- sition attacks upon the Coali'tion, its radical measures carried it thro;;jh the session with flying colours. '' Excellency Lord Monck severed his long con- nection with Canada as Governor-Gene«'al on No- vember 13th. He had r.-ndered valuable services during the Confederation period and had desired to be the first Governor-General of the new Dominion. The British Government not only granted him this distinction, but at the close of hii services made him a 'leer, under the title of Baron Monck of Ballytram- nion, in the County of Wexford, Ireland. 86 CHAPTi:R X. ''■li'm.nn.^^'*"^'''^^''^'''' SESSION-BRILLIANT CON- SI II UTIONAL DEBATE-THE LAUGH ON SIR JOHN HOSE-REAPPEARANCE OF SIR FRANCIS HINCKS-BECOMES FINANCE MINISTER. SiK John Young, an Irish baronet, and formerly member for Cavan. was appointed Governor-Oen- iTal or Canada, during the closing days of the Eea- consfieid Administration, but was not sworn in Hll J'l-hruary 2nd, 1869. The Parliament of Canada met for its second ses- sion on April 15th. The Governor-Genera.'s Speech from ihe Throne promised legislation on the election ia»s^h:>nk'ng and curren-y, insolvency, the Gover- nor-General's salary, and numerous matters of in- ternal economy. The two great measures of the session were expected to be: (i) The Bill to c.,n- hrm the bargain just made in U.uk.r. with the Hudson s Bay Company with regard to Ruperf- Lan, and the North-West Terr:.ories. and provide ♦or their temporary government; antl (2) the Bill to legalize the agreement made with the Honourable Joseph Howe for m easing Nova Scotia's subsidies and setthng its aggravated difil-ult'-es The Hon. Messrs. C?rtier and Macdougall returned from Bntam sho.Jy after Parliament as- •r ; h^^ ^''^ ^^" honoured .hortly before sa.hng for Canada by being cordially received at 87 PUBLIC MEN AND I'UBLIC LIFE IN CANADA niickiiiKhaiii Palace by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, am! the results of their loiij; mission were generally regarded as satisfactory. As lK)th Liberals and Conservatives were delighted that all British America was to be united, when the Mill relating to its acquirement of the immense Xorth-W'est Territories cailU' before the House it was passed with complete unanimity. But when the Bill for the settlement of the Xova Scotia difficulties — entitled " .\n .Act Respecting Nova Scotia " — came up for discussion, the Opposition opened an attack upon it all alony the line, declaring it to be, in short, not only unconstitutional but dangerous to the sta- bility of the whole Federal Union. The I fonourable Edward Blake, who was already regarded as one of the highest constitutional and legal authorities in the House, contended that the Federal subsidies to the Provinces could only be constitutionally and legally altered by *he passage of an Imperial Act, and that anv me e Dominion Bill professing to effect that purpose .vould be as worthless as waste-paper. After a very able speech, Mr. Blake moved the fol- lowing amendment to the Government's resolution, to go into Committee on the third reading of their measure : " That all the words after ' that ' be left out, and the following added : ' the British North America Act of 1867 has fixed and settled the mutual liabili- ties of Canada and of each Province in respect of the Public Debt, and the amount payable by Canada 88 A BRILLIANT p-BATE t'> each Province for tlu> Miimort „f ;. • i^ •■'tul Lcirislamre- ih-,t ^"j"' r< <'/ >ts Government I'rovinces weaken ih,. '''' °^ "'^' ^^^"al .isH<^^whi,erea.l,,^^;:-;^ClS:^ Mr. Blake's amendment, it will be observed did ;rMr r"'"T" ''''''' "p°" ^^ ''"'''■•■'' - ec r"- '*^^"y°"^ was tired of the b- to va h"' I'""'- B"' what was obje d o „a,> the way m which the Government proposed •o carry out the settlement, which was claimed to be g er": oneTir' '''"^"°"^- ^hisqueSLn debL h u "'" «"'"'"' ^"d -no^t brilliant ,;„„ , ■ , J"^ '"en. i ne Constitutional Ques- tion was mainly discussed on its merits and fhl ^ Parliamentary tribunal Highest 89 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA Smith (N.B.), Mr. Mills, Mr. Young, Mr. Hunting- ton, Mr. E. B. Wood, Treasurer of Ontario, Mr. Connell and Mr. Bolton (N.B.), Mr. Rymal, Mr. Oliver and others. The Ministerialists contended in reply, to use the words of Sir John Macdonal4 " that as a Parliament they could do as they liked with their own," and that they were justified in in- creasing Nova Scotia's subsidy without an Imperial Act. Mr. Rose, Mr. Cartier, Mr. Dunkin, Dr. Tup- per, Mr. John Hillyard Cameron, Mr. A. T. Gait, Colonel Gray (N.B.), Mr. Tilley and Mr. Howe were the principal speakers on the Government's behalf. This discussion was prolonged and exciting, giv- ing rise to several divisions. That on the Blake amendment was the most important, which was de- feated by a party vote of ninety-six to fifty-seven, but taking the vote of the Ontario members alone, the amendment was sustained by thirty-seven to thirty-two. The debate was resumed on the after- noon of June i6th, and the Bill finally passed its third reading some time during the following morn- ing. So disappeared the darksome Nova Scotia cloud ! What a lasting oflfect a great Parliamentary de- bate may have upon a free nation and its future has a remarkable illustration in this Canadian case. The Opposition failed to carry their Constitutional views on this question in Parliament, but it is both a remarkable and significant fact, having special rele- vancy to this great Constitutional debate, that never from the time it took place in 1869 to the year 1907 90 FEDERAL SUBSIDIES -a period of no less than thirty-eight years-did 1 arlrament ever sanction any other change in regard o the Federal subsidies allowed to the Provinces by the British North America Act! And it should be remembered also, that the changes agreed upon in 1907 were after a conference of the Premiers of all the Provinces, that they were made by an Imperial Act in reply to an Address to the Crown passed by the Dominion Parliament, and are regarded as a final and inalienable adjustment of the subsidies to be paid by the Dominion to the various Provinces bir John Rose, the Finance Minister, was an able man very gentlemanly and exceedingly good-na- tured. He had not had, however, much Parliament- ary experience, and a little incident in which he fie- ured during this session is worth relating, having caused considerable amusement at the time It occurred at midnight. The session was nearing TJ^- . u '°"^ ""'^ '^'^'""^ Parliamentary day had been taken up with the Estimates. There had been much talk and little done. Everyone was weary many sleepy, but Sir John Rose held to his desk hoping he might yet be able to run through a number of votes before the House adjourned Just at midnight's witching hour, when ghosts are supposed to wander, who should walk with stately tread through the main entrance to the Cham- ber but the Honourable John Mercer Johnston MP or Northumberland, N.B., who took his seat ^n the front row of the Ministerial benches. This gentle- man had been Attorney-General and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick before the 91 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA Union, and was one of the " Fathers of Confedera- tion," having been a member of the Charlottetown, Quebec and London Conferences. He was one of the many remarkable men who attended the first Parlia- ment of Canada, and although it was unfortunately blurred and dimmed by long-continued conviviality, he possessed a mind of wonderful power, brightness and wit — his faculty for punning being really extra- ordinary. An audible smile passed over the sixty or seventy tired political veterans still battling over the Esti- mates for their respective parties. They took in the situation at a glance. They saw what was com- ing. It was well known to be Johnston's custom to walk into the Chamber on awakening from his after- dinner sleep — which was often at the midnight hour — and on the first opportunity after taking his seat to rise and make a rattling speech, during which there was sure to be wit and fun, and sometimes a display of intellectual fireworks so brilliant as to remind one of a cluster of rockets. At the first chance Johnston was on his feet. He had hardly had time to learn the nature of the vote, but he immediately began to criticize it. Mr. Rose, usually so bland and courteous, turned a troubled glance upwards, which plainly showed he regarded the midnight irruption of Johnston as an unexpected calamity. Five minutes elapsed and the speaker was still thundering on when Mr. Rose called out in a slightly petulant tone, "Sir, what item are you at ?" The reply came back instantly, as a bolt from the blue empyrean : " Sir," said Johnston, raising him- 92 HON. JOHNSTON'S WITTY RETORT self on his tip-toes, an.l stretching his arm in a dramatic „,anner towards the Finance Mini ter You, sir, are the item I am at i" ' iiouse with laughter, in which Mr. Rose himself "lost heartily joined.* I'mself The reconstruction of the first Dominion Cabinet became an absolute necessity as the fal mon^h approached. The patience of'friends Ld oppX ^ as about exhausted by the procrastination of the Irnne Mm>ster in this matter; but the delays it 1^:; Lmr ihe^'i " p~%f;' ohV; I ly -scnemes. ihe awkward coalition diffimltv Ijr o ,j. Honour.* WM.„ M.cdoillL ^ sr/r*"' " "" t^"- "i . "Sis; .*sr'otui'ssr^»-^'--- he had so long occupied previously, but he •he first Parliament of Carada kinHl ^^^^ members sent to September ,„th, „o;, about thl ,J^l f T '""" '"-^'^ <"• career. After the ci;cu„,s"I„ce, re e red"'" "^ '"^ ^""""""'^ Ihe St. La«.rence in company with Jud^e i, *"!' ■"•""= ''J' Mirlmich-r^, Z'Z tf JS S^-- V°- -•'- .. was no, over four ^^^^^ ^.^^ iT^Z^^f, it^.^^- ' 93 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA declined to accept it. The Honourable J. H. Pope, Member of Parliament for Conipton, and the Hon- ourable Chris Dunkin, Member of Parliament for Brome, were both spoken of for the office, but there were difficulties in the way, and Sir John Macdonald seemed at a loss to find a suitable man for the place. Just at this juncture there arrived on the scene a well-known acquaintance of Canada's earlier days. He had been absent for nearly fourteen years. Dur- ing this time he had acted as Governor of three British Provinces — Barbadoes, the Windward Is- lands, and British Guiana — and his services had been approved by several marks of Royal favour. This was none other than Sir Francis Hincks, who had formerly played so long and prominent a part in Canadian public life, and his return to Canada, which was at first supposed to be only a temporary visit, led many of his old political and personal friends to honour him with public dinners at Ottawa, Toronto, IngersoU, and several other places. When Sir Francis Hincks reached Montreal, Sir John Macdonald met him there and accompanied him to Ottawa. The veil has not been lifted from the interview between these old-time antagonists, but the public were still discussing the unexpected advent of Sir Francis when they received a much greater surprise in learning that he had been offered and accepted the position of Finance Minister of Canada and would immediately enter upon the dis- charge of his duties! This created ? genuine sensation throughout the Dominion, and resurrected many old political quar- 94 CABINET NOW COMPLETE rels and animosities in Ontario and Quebec which it was hoped had been forever buried. Not without some difficulty a seat was found for Sir Francis in North Renfrew, but experience soon proved that he was still an adept on financial questions and well qualified to discharge the duties entrusted to his care. The Prime Minister then carried out his now well-understood purpose by making Mr. James Mor- ris, Conservative member of Parliament for South Lanark, Minister of Inland Revenue, and Senator James Cox Aikens President of the Council, Mr. Howe becoming Secretary of State for the Pro- vinces. The Cabinet was now complete, and Sir John publicly proclaimed his good faith to the Coali- tion Compact in having taken into his Cabinet Mr. Hincks and Mr. Aikens. These gentlemen had been connected with the Liberal party in earlier days, but the public did not take seriously the claim that the Government was still a Coalition and not a Conserv- ative one, more especially as the number of Liberals had been reduced, and the Finance Ministership had been oflfered to Conservatives before Mr. Hincks was appointed. Rideau Hall gained in reputation for hospitality and gaiety under Sir John and Lady Young. Her Ladyship was still a remarkably beautiful English- woman, accomplished in music and art, and her charming manner made her as popular a hostess at Rideau Hall as she had been at Phcenix Park, Dub- lin, and in New South Wales. During her Vice- 95 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA regal reign, among the celebrities whom Lady Young entertained were Prince Arthur, now the Duke of Connaught, our present Governor General. The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia was also a visitor at Rideau Hall, and among other distinguished visitors were Sir Stafford Northcote, afterwards Lord Iddes- leigh, and one of his sons. CHAPTER XI. FIRST RIEI, REBELLION-LIEUTENANT-GOVKRNOR MACDOUGALL AND PARTY EXPELLED BY ARM^D HALFBREEDS-BRIEF DIARY OF EVENTS- ' BISHOP TACHE'S RETURN-SIR GARNET WOLSELEV'S EXPEDITION— COLLAPSE of the rebellion. The Honourable William Macdougai i C B received his credential.s as Lieutenant-Governor' of Manitoba and t!.. North-West Territories of Canada on September 28th. 1869. Besides himself and fam- ily, his party consisted of Mr. Albert Richards and ru- ^ Provencher. proposed members of his Labinet, Captain Cameron and a few younger offi- cials, with a number of employees. The .same day they set out from Ottawa on their long journey to Fort Garry i„ the Red River Settlement, the seat of the new government. The farthest point they could then go north of St Paul Minnesota, by railroad, was the village of Saint ^loud. There they had to embark into North- VVest carts, of which it took al)out thirty, and after a cold and dismal journey of twelve days over rough prairie, they reached the little straggling village of Pcmbma near the boundary line between Minnesota and the North-West Territories. They did not afrive there till October 30th and were astounded to learn that one Louis 'Riel and 97 PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA about two hundred halfbreeds had erected a barri- cade across the public highway, near the junction of the River Salle and the Red River, a considerable distance below Fort Garry, and threatened to give armed resistance to the party entering Manitoba. This was the opening scene in the iirst Riel Rebel- lion, and it has been d<> SMITH'S PEACE PROPOSALS J.n..ry,„h T..S^t1 '" "'",""*" "'• »" «f.«y prJnKTcS;; Si'"?,""" ••■"<' their sat sfaction with th. i • " declared the earnest desfrei "P'^nafons given, and spite of a^i^'^X/hostr C's'^l",^''^''* ^" in getting this Convent Tjhfnitl'tr"'^.^'* Sd S;e!7o J^^^^^^^^ ;ea.ty to hrs?s's;;:rVo" °''' °^ ^ent. This^=^-5SdSS-tf ^Slh, 1870. "'"""y of State far Canada, II— 7 'onourable .awa, April 21 DUNC'f ■:.."" PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA a rising initnediately took place at I'ortagc la Prairie to litierate the prisoners by force. It spread like wildfire, and on February 14th about one hundred men niarehe