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SIR CHARI,ES TIPI'KR.
May i-July 8, iSy6.

SIR JOHN THOMPSON.
Decemljcrs, iSy2-I>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<i-December 5, 1892.

f)F THt. CANADIAN CONFEDERACY

■! Iho Stirring Events whi.h (oIlow«d the

H iiMh ,\-..-.h America Into the

■4KS yoi'N(;

MKS-VOI. II.

v^'

tV\''

'JSVCAk,.

lii.s. ?*.k J.
.ni». ,. 1-71 -.

PUBUC MEN AND PUBMC
LIFE IN CANADA

THE STORY OF THE CANADIAN CONFEDERACY

MINO

RECOLLECTICNS OF PARLIAMENT
AND THE PRESS

AND EMBRACING

DOMINION OF CANADA

HON. JAMES YOUNG

Vnmber of the nomin

oM)„,„,o,„dA„lho, of "nLtoryor

Ion .n.l o„i„|„ p.Ml.raenI,. Provin

»"--=;, c-"rr^:r:.^"""

cial TrcMurer

'Conim«rci«i Union." eic.

IN TWO VOLUMES-VOL. II.

TORONTO

WILLIAM BRIGGS
1912

'f V »•

184321

Coprriffht. Canada. 1912. by
JAMES YOUNG

^tore for them or have alCtr LledT ""' ""t'"^ ™
youDK and virile nationality rfki "'«.P"'°'S'' "f tlieir
primeyal world, Canadawafks i^ ''"'^'° '''"''''''' '» »

her golden wooiis and the m:r;ro7h''"'r\^"'^ """""^
catching but broken glanesoHerradLnr "^^^''' ''''^'^'^
on their surfaoe, and sea^ely reek.tf ve T"T !"' "'•"""^
her in the Olympus of nations "-io^ the glor.es awaiting

Preface

Whilst it has not been deemed necessary to have
a preface of length to this edition of this work it has
been thought advisable by the Author to put his
readers on their guard as to dates. My first volume
was written ten years before the present volume
(1912), and jnless some care is taken in comparing
he numerous dates, they might, in a rare case, lead
to some confusion on the part of the reader

Another point is in my judgment most important
bome of the press seem to have the idea that these
two volumes are practically on the same subject

w.th Pubhc Men and Public Life in Canada as a
pubhc journalist; Volume 11. gives my connection
as a member of the first Parliament with all the
leadmg men of Confederation during the first twenty
years of Confederation. ^

The two volumes are entirely different, but in the
two combmed I have endeavored to give the story
of the Canadian Confederacy in an accurate but, at
he same t.me. in an interesting manner, which will,
't .s hoped, be acceptable to the reading public of
every part of this already great Canadian Confed-

Gaw, October 15th. 1912. ^^""^^ ^°"''^-

Contents

CHAPTER I

The Dominion Begins to Unravel its Destiny '"'^?7

CHAPTJiR II

Setting the Wheels of the New Government in Motion

— Ihe First Federal and Provincial F.lections 23

CHAPTER ni

Opening of the First Dominion Parhament-Imposing
Ceremonies— Lord Monck Declares Canada to be
A .\ew .Nationality " ,j

CHAPTER IV

Events of the First Session-The Howe-Tupper Duel in
Parhament-Maiden Speech of Edward Blake^
McGee's Brilliant Oration ,„

CHAPTER V

Seward's Surprise-Ontario's Single Chamber Meets-

.fLfu^St'^J \^^ ^'"^ Martyrs "-Sandfield Mac-
donald Holds the Fort-Liberal Banquet 47

CHAPTER VI

The Tupper Mission— Trouble in the Cabinet Over Roval
Honours-Interview with the Honourable D'Afcy
-Mci.ee— His Assassination Immediately Afterwards. 55

CONTENTS

CHAPTER VII

Nova Scotia's Struggle for Repeal— Howe and Tupper
in Britain — Dangerous Position in Nova Scotia —
Howe Kami!) Accepts Office and Repeal is Crushed.

CHAPTER VIII

Dawson Route to Red River— The Intercolonial Railway
—Cabinet Split Causes Delay— Coalition " Complica-
tions"— Sir John Macdonald, as Leader, Plays the
Game Off His Own Bat 73

CHAPTER IX

Purchase o' the Hudson's Bay Company's Rights— The
Settlement Made— George Brown the First States-
man to Foresee Their Immense Value to Canada—
His Remarkable Prediction 79

CHAPTER X

Second Parliamentary Session— Brilliart Constitutional
Debate— The Laugh on Sir John Rose— Reappear-
ance of Sir Francis Hincks — Becomes Finance
Minister °7

CHAPTER XI

First Riel Rebellion— Lieutenant-Governor Macdougall
and Party Expelled by Armed Halfbreeds— Brief
Diary of Events— Bishop Tache's Return— Sir Gar-
net Wolseley's Expedition— Collapse of the Rebel-
lion

CHAPTER XII

Incidents of the Third Session— Sidelights on its
Speeches and Events— Huntingdon's Brilliant Ora-
tion—Sir Francis Hincks' Reply— Sir John Macdon-
aWs Dangerous Illness ^°0

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XIII

The Pacific Railway — Washington Treaty Carried— Lib-
eral Victory in Ontario— Blake Forms New Min-
istry — Second Dominion Elections 115

CHAPTER XIV

A Political Surprise— Blake and Mackenzie Resign—
Judge Mowat Becomes Premier of Ontario — His
^lrst Session Settles Difficult Questions 126

CHAPTER XV

Advent of Lord Dufferin— The Pacific Railway Scandal
—Mr. Huntingdon's Charges— Sir Hugh Allan's
Own Statement of the Facts ' 134

CHAPTER XVI

The Political Crisis of 1873— Remarkable Parliamentary
Struggle— Strange Scenes in Parliament— The Clos-
ing Debate— Fall of the Macdonald Government ... 145

CHAPTER XVII

George Brown— His Bow Park Farm— Joseph Howe-
Becomes Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia— A
Great and Brilliant British American— George E
Cartier— His Pathetic Death in London 156

CHAPTER XVIII

Ottawa Thrilled Wher the Hon. ,<\lex. Mackenzie Be-
comes Prime Minister— Members of the New Lib-
eral Cabinet— Remarkable Activity of the Defeated
Minister j^^

CHAPTER XIX

Third Parliament Elections— Making it " Hot for
Mowat "—More Trouble Fomented in British Colum-
bia—Sir John's Course ,-0

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XX

PACE

l'"irst Liberal Session — Unheralded Appearance of Louis
Riel, the Metis Chief — Uebut of Thomas Moss and
Wilfrid Lanrier — Dorion's Firmness — Riel lixpelled. i£i6

CHAPTER XXI

Signs of Progress— The British Columbia Quarrel— The
Brown-Thornton Reciprocity Treaty— The Canada
First Party— Blake's Aurora Speech 198

CHAPTER XXn

The Dominion Developing — Riel Banished — Premier
Mackenzie Visits Britain — Honoured by Queen Vic-
toria — McKellar's Drollery 212

CHAPTER XXni

Early Letters of Sir Wilfrid Laurier— Natural Citt for
I^eadership — Costly Dufferin Festivities — The Com-
mercial Situation — Unpublished Letter Thereon —
The True Story of Mackenzie's Action 225

CHAPTER XXIV

The N. P. Debate Continues — Conservative Amendment
— The DufFerins Visit Columbia — His Lordship's
Success— John A. on The Stump — The Liberals in
Convention, Etc 238

CHAPTER XXV

Unpublished Letter of the Honourable Alexander Mac-
kenzie on the Tariff — Sir Francis Hincks and His
Views — An Able Man and Good Debater 250

CHAPTER XXVI

The Secret Service Fund — Sir John Macdonald's Con-
nection Therewith — Unexpected Disclosures — Mac-
kenzie's Generosity 262

CX)NTENTS
CHAPTER XXVII

'"'Ta"io,n?PoIirv"'\rw"'V^-""''"'V'' Votes on ,l,o '■'^"

^70

CHAPTER XXVIII
' ''"'itiJZl J""*'?-Work of Blake an.l Mowat-Tlie

CHAPTER XXIX

The Elections Draw Near-Honourable Charles Tupper
--ihe Irade Debate Grows Hnft^r Vfr A 11 .

CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI

■^'"L?rd"'Duk'-' Elections-Letters of Mackenzie-
Late Pr,lr.r 't7=";'t'^*"C-"'^ Tribute to th^
Hnl w^M^^'^T,^'"?, '^"="' Conservative Cabinet-
Hon. Wilham MacDougall and Others ,,.

CHAPTER XXXII

The Marquis of Lorne and Princess Louise-Mowat

SanTrr, P'-'T".",?! Rights-Dismissal of S
enant-tjovernor Letellier— " A Temoes- in 1 T,^^t-
-X-a.,onal Policy Passed-', he' "pTc?fic RaillT' . 3,6

CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXIII

PAfiK

Death of the Honourable George Brown — Brief Review
of a Great Career— Ilia Characteristics as a Man,
Writer. Orator ard Statesman — Unsiiroassed Among
The " Makers of Canada " 330

CHAPTER XXXIV

Blake Becomes Liberal Leader— Passage of the Gerry-
mander Act — Federal Attacks oil Ontario's Rights
— Boundary Question Nearly Leads to Bloodshed —
" Mowat Must Go " 354

CHAPTER XXX\'

Failure of the National Policy — Sir John Macdonald
Honoured in Britain — The Marquis of Lome and the
Princess Louise — Second Riel Rebellion — Its Collapse
at the Battle of Batoche— Rii-'.'s Execution rbg

CHAPTKR XXXVI

Hot Fight Over the Franchise Act — Canada's Foremost
Parliamentary Debater — Mowat's Clever Tactics —
Great Struggle Between Macdonald and Blake —
Sir John Victorious 38^

CHAPTER XXXVII

Disturbing Symptoms — VViman and Butteriield's Com-
mercial Union Tour — Its Failure — The Elections of
1891 — Unrestricted Reciprocity — Sir John Mac-
donald's " Tactics " — Blake's Farewell Address — An-
nexation Defunct 394

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Death of Sir John Macdonald— His Career and Charac-
teristics — Stands in the Front Rank of Canada's
Nation Builders— Senator Abbott Becomes Prime
Minister— Painful Disclosures 406

PACK

CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXIX

Hon. Edward isl^>^.\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

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<j8 _j^,

APPEXDIX II

rnpublished Lett" of the Hon uirable .Alexander Mac-

kcniic on Cimiinerciiil Union ,ind its Results 473

APPENDIX III

Extract from a Pamphlet on Imperial Federation Bv

the .Author of ;hiB Book 47,

APPENDIX I\-

Correspondence with the Right Honourable Sir Wilfri.l

Lauricr m Rcgar I to Reform of the Senate 480

Portraits and Illustrat

ions

"""«■«" or Canada ih

■(3 ^KiBsorCoNfEnenA-

''<"'* ■■■■ Fronliipite,

Ontario's Fimt (Coau-

T'ON) CMilNBT

Hon. J. Sandhbi.,, Mac-

Hon K. n. \\V,u
•'■<• .M. <■ Cam WON

•OK. S. a ,. ,,A«DS

'on. John Caruno
Tk Old Parhamuxt

Bl'udixcs, Toronto ..
LiEUT.-GovKR.voR Stistbi..

P'XST LlCGI.Sr.ATlVE ASSEM-

BI.V 01- O.vrvRio, 1867.

Louis Kiel

Hon Chari.,;, TirrER ... 1
Hon. K.nvAHn Ruke .... ,
Hon. J. Sa.vwmxd Mac-

DONAID

^OME Pro.«,se.vt Mg„;

HERS Ol- TMK JIoH-AT j

MiNISTSY j^

Hon. Richard VV. Scott
Hon. S. C. Woon I

Hon. T. B Parhee

I ''0«o Dufkerin

I Sir Hugh Auan ,^

I Sin George E. Cartier .... ,6,
Hon. Aicx. Mackenzie . . ,68

Ontario's Third Cabinet. a6-
Hon O. .Mowat
Hon. C. F. Fraser
Hon. J. \f. Gibson
Hon. G. W. Ross
Hon. a. S. Hardy
Hon Richard Harcourt
Hon. John Dryden
Hon. E. H. Bronson

Six Wm. R. Meredith .. 423
Ho.v. Sir John Thompson. 4..,^
CjimviN Smith, D.C.r,. .. 430
Sir Ohver Mowat

J.ARi. OF Aberdeen ^,

Sir Mackenzie Boweli. '.'. 44,

jHoN. ,S,„Wm. Mi;i.ocK..45o
Sir Whfrid Laur.er .... 4,,

'Hon. VV„. S. Fieu.ing ..457

Sir Richard Cartwpioht
GC.MG ' g

Ho.v. David Mius ...!'.'. ^r^

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFH
IN CANADA

CHAPTER I.

THE DOMINION BEGINS TO UNRAVEL ITS DESTINY.

With the Confederation of the Provinces of
Ontano, Quebec. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
;;n July rst. 1867. the Dominion of Canada bll'

tude but with bright hopes for the future

the strains of music, not to speaic of the patriotic
orat,ons and poems which distinguished "he fi '

menT"'T- ."I' ""/''^ '° P^°'°"g '^e poh'tical excitl
ment wh.ch had so long existed. But when the
augura re,o.cings were over and the responsib li!
t.es of the new system of government became more
apparent, a shght reaction very gradually seTin
Th.s was distinctly felt even in Ontario, enthusias ic

be and ,t spread more or less over all the Provinces.
This passing cloud, however, speedily disappeared
as the people generally, rising to the importance of
the occasion, perceived more clearly the grand work
which ha<l oeen accomplished, and the im^mense nat-
17

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

ural resources and brilliant prospects of the sturdy
young nation whose inauguration had begun under
such peaceful and auspicious circumstances.

Though legally united by the British North Amer-
ica Act, the Canadas and the Maritime Provinces
were not altogether homogeneous. They were iso-
lated geographically, or. to speak more exactly, an
immense tract of wild, unsettled country divided
them, and there was no direct way of communication
except by the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence. This
want was immediately and pressingly felt.

Then, No- i Scotia was the cause of serious alarm.
Under the spell of the Honourable Joseph Howe's
eloquence, aided by the Honourable William Annand
and other Anti-Unionists, the Province had been
worked into a state of intense indignation and bit-
terness on the alleged ground, chiefly, that it had'
been forced into Confederation by the Tupper Gov-
ernment against the people's will. .'Although it had
not been treated differently from the other Pro-
vinces, there were, unfortunately, sufficient grains
of truth in this charge to enable the Anti-Unionists
to " .set the heather on fire," and they soon produced
an agitation for the secession of Nova Scotia from
the Union, of a very inflammatory character. Be-
fore it culminated, hints and even threats of rebel-
linn were occasionally heard, and it was feared for
a time that the ferment might extend into New
Brunswick, the sister Province.

The Federal .\dministration, the most conspicuous
members of which were the Prime Minister, Sir
i8

I FIRST LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS APPOINTED

John Macdonald, and the Honourable Messrs. Car-
dut'ie?"'' ^f"«'°"^^" ^"d Tilley, grappled with the
dut.es devolvng upon the newly-fledged Dominion
v.th energy and zeal. Among their first duties was
he appomtment of Lieutenant-Governors for the
four Provinces under their charge, and the setting

°n motiot "'" '''■°""^'^' Government!

The first Lieutenant-Governors appointed were-
Major-General H. W. Stisted for OnXio, Sir N F
Bellea or Quebec, Lieutenant-General W F Wil-
hams ,.r Nova Scotia, and Major-General Hastings
Doyle for New Brunswick ; but three of these gentle!
.nen were Imperial officers, and their appoinLnts
were only temporary. The longest of their term
barely exceeded twelve months, and they were super-
eded by the following civilians : the Honourable Wi -
mm P. Howland, C.B., for Ontario, Sir Edwa d

UA. Wilmot for New Brunswick, Sir N F Bellea.,
bemg continued for Quebec. These gentlemen w!re
the first permanent Lieutenant-Governors appointed
and the precedent of selecting these highTffic at'
from leadmg public men of the Province^hey were
Le "" '" """ ^^'^°'" departed' from

The first Provincial Government of Nova Scotia
was under the leadership of the Honourable Hiram
Blanchard and the Honourable P. C. Hill, and that
of New Brunswick had the Honourable A R VVet
more and the Honourable J. A. Beckwith for iu
19

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

;hiefs. In Quebec, a strictly Conservative ministry
was formed. The Honourable J. P. O. Cliauveau
was first Prime Minister, and bis colleagues were
the Honourable Messrs. Dunkin, Ouimet, Irvine,
Beaubien and De Boucberville. In Ontario a differ-
ent course was pursued. For many years the Con-
servative party had been in a minority in this
Province, and the skilful hand of the Conservative
leader was soon manifest in a carefully devised plan
to form its first Cabinet on a Coalition basis like
that of the Dominion Administration, and thus fur-
ther divide and weaken his opponents.

It was quite a surprise to the people of Ontario,
however, when they learned that the Honourable
John Sandfiekl Macdonald, of Cornwall, had been
asked and had consented to form this new Ministry.
That gentleman had opposed Confederation from
first to last, had been a steady opponent of Sir John
Macdonald during his whole public career, and their
personal relations had often been of an unusually
bitter nature. So much was this the case, that when
Sir John had requested Sandfield to accept office in
his Administration some years before, the curt tele-
gram " No go!" was the only answer vouchsafed to
the graciously written invitation. Nothing could
better illustrate what a master opportunist the Con-
servative leader was when he had a political object
to gain, than this offer of the Premiership of Ontario
to one of his foremost, life-long opponents. But
on this occasion his advances met n-^ rebuff and
were graciously received and promptly accepted.

HUN. E. B. WOOD.

HO.V. J, s.,,;n,.
"ON. S. a. RICHAKDS

"O"- M. C. CAMliRON
MACUONALD.

"ON. JOHN CAmiNo.

ONTARIO S FIRST (COALITION) CABINET.

ONTARIO'S FIRST PREMIER

in the new Cabinet ^u""""""^' ^"^^P^^d portfolios
as folIowsT- ' ' "'^ "^"'"''^'■^ °f ^hich were

dor^d^'SchrTreT"^^"^^^^^^ J' ^^ ^^

ents could little influenc h m ''!''' °' "^P"""
Liberal wJfh , '"'"'^"'^^ "»"• He was natura ly a

poi";xJ-^x=-t^t^^

resented any imputation that he had become aTorv

jokmgly said his Administration wasT " Pa^.nt'

Combmation "—by which n-,m> 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 woul<l be brought out against those who
agreed to give the new Government " a fair trial,"
the Conservative leader having pledged this so far
as his influence went.

Nearly all of those who attended this caucus,
however, declined to support the coalition system
any longer now that Confederation was accom-
plished, and some of the few who did consent to do
so — notably in the famous South Waterloo con-
test* — failed to secure re-election even with the aid
of the Conservative vote.

The course which the Hon. Messrs. Macdougall,
Howland and Blair chose to take at this time, as well
as Mr. Sandfield Macdonald, Mr. S. B. Richards and
Mr. E. B. Wood, was not in harmony with the views
of the great body of the Liberal party which they
professed to represent. Their taking part as

• The question of Party Governnient vs. Coalitloni wu
straightly fought out during the Waterloo contest. The much-
respected member of Parliament at that time, Mr. James Cowan,
of Clochmohr, at first accepted the Liberal party nomination, but
at the Macdougall. Howland and Blair meeting he was induced to
promise the new Ottawa Coalition "a fair trial." When the
Liberal Convention reassembled, they immediately rescinded Mr.
Cowan's nomination, and selected in his place Mr. James Young,
who, much against his wish at the lime, accepted the nomination
after a week's consideration. A straight fight ensued on Party
vs. Coalition lines. The Hon. Messrs. Macdougall, Howland and
Sandfield Macdonald were all in the riding at one time. Mr.
Cowan was supported by the Conservatives and Coalition Liberals,
and Mr. Young by the great body of the Liberal party. Many
considered this contest the most strenuous and exciting of the
whole Dominion elections. When counted, the vote stood thus:
Young 1324, Cowan 958

ti:l
|il;l,

FIRST DOMINION ELECTIONS

Liberals in the new Coalition Cabinets, however
Had coHMderable etTect ..[xm the result of the
elections. It strengthene.) the i)osition of the Con-
servative leader, tended to widen any divisions
existing m the Liberal ranks, and influenced many
uncertain voters towards the Government side

The action of these gentlemen at the same time
greatly stimulated the zeal and exertions of the
Liberal party, and their leader. Mr. Brown, seemed
to double his exertions, and his power and influence
—particularly among the masses-were seldom or
never more manifest. This was made signally
apparent in the acceptance of the overtures which
he made to an influential convention of 250 Roman
Catho hcs held in Ontario about this period. The
then Mayor of London-afterwards Sir Frank
Smith-was its chairman, and its object was to
secure the reunion to the Liberal party of the
members of that faith who had temporarily with-
drawn on account of the Separate School agitation
This proved a successful political move, and doubt-
ess cheered the veteran Liberal amidst political
abours which would have overwhelmed a man of
less powerful physique and abstemious habits.

These first Dominion elections were also con-
spicuous on account of the large number of young
Canadians of both political parties who were induced
to take their dip in the murky waters of politics for
the first time. Prominent among the new Liberal
aspirants were Messrs. Edward Blake, Thomas
Moss, David Mills, Adam Crooks, Timothy Pardee.
27

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Chris. F. Fraser, James D. Edgar, J. Lorn
McDougall and M. C. Cameron, all of whom sooner
or later secured seats in one or other of the new
Parliaments, and several of whom were destined to
take leading positions in the future administration
of public affairs.

The Liberal party fought this battle with much
unity and enthusiasm, and with the exception of
rashly accepting nomination against so strong an
opponent as Mr. T. N. Gibbs, of South Ontario,
when his duties as leader prevented his proper
canvass of the riding, and which led to his defeat,*
the remarkable powers of the Honourable George
Brown as a party orator and organizer never
appeared more conspicuously, and were never more
prodigally and disinterestedly used to achieve his
party's success.

His laborious efforts, however, were met with
equal ability, and in some respects with more adroit-
ness and tact, by his old-time rival, Sir John
Macdonald. That gentleman took a strong position
in filling his first Cabinet with those who had been
prominent in carrying Confederation, and in claim-
ing from the electors " a fair trial " until at least
the machinery of the British North America Act
was fully set in motion.

Looking backwards, it is now quite evident that
from the beginning of these elections the tide ran
in favour of the Federal Government and its Pro-

* It was afterwards proven that money was largely used at this
election, especially during the polling on the second day.

COALITIONISTS WI,. VICTORY

Thetor- '* '"" '^■■"^ ''''' '^-" ^*----
heart they were a little tired of political strif . They
1, K T: ^^' "^^^ Governments, too, were

natron f k '°^'''^''' ^"'^ '^^^ '"""-^e publ c
patronage at the.r command. The coalition system
was generally disliked, but the clever appeal To th"

wet^trpfr^""'--"^^^'----^--

The battle continued to rage to the nth jAth
and iSth September, when it Lame p^/
Coaht,o„,sts had won a decisive victory. They

OnTrt trt'T" °"' °^ ^^^'''Hhree'seatlt
Untano. forty-five out of sixty-five in Quebec
sever, c.,t of fifteen in New Brunswick and Jne out'
of nmeteen m Nova Scotia, the only Unionis

t-harles Tupper, who made a gallant and patriotic
fight agamst the Anti-Unionists, but was lef hk
the last rose of summer, blooming atoJ ' "

his fo"lln'"^ "'' "°"°"'-^'''« Jo^^Ph Howe and all
h.s ollowers agamst them, the Dominion Govern-
ment st.ll had triumphed by a good workTn^
niajonty, and they were not to have fhe ParTam n'
tary oppos.t.on of the Honourable George BrZ
who by a combined effort of the Conserva ives and
secedmg Liberals was defeated by sixty-nine "n
29

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

South Ontario. Much to the regret of thousands of
his personal and political friends, Mr. Brown took
an early opportunity to declare that he availed him-
self of the opportunity of his defeat to resign the
leadership of the Liberal party and retire into
private life.

3»

CHAPTER III.

OPENING OF THE FIRST DOMINION PARLIAMENT-
IMPOSING CEREMONIES-LORD MONCK DECLARES
CANADA TO BE "A NEW NATIONALITY."

The first Dominion Parliament was called to
meet promptly after the elections. The official
proclamation named November 6th for the opening
of the session. *

The capital of Canada, Ottawa Ojty, was in 1867
an antiquated, half French, ha . . ' -jlish place of
about 20,000 inhabitants. It. ^^earance was
unattractive, if we except the new Parliamentary,
Departmental and Library buildings overlooking the
Ottawa, and the immense modern lumber mills
driven by its rushing waters. The magnificent
Government structures, their grandeur and beauty
enhanced by their location on the bold and pictur-
esque bluflfs overlooking the Chaudiere Falls and
the river, appeared like a group of brilliant planets
in a sombre sky, but there was at that time little
else about the capital which gave promise that it

Nn!iJ"°°"^-^r/°P '"*° '^^ "Washington of the
North, which It already and not unreasonably
aspires to become. ■'

As the opening of Parliament drew near, the
C!ty began to manifest some signs of bustle and
31

"'11

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

excitement. Up to the day before the opening

tneir travels. It was in fact no easy matter at that

alone the Maritime Provinces A rr,„„u
Portable branch railway Jr^ Pret^ S ^ ^o;

Trom r i "'^ '"'^"' °^ *^"«"y reaching there
from either East or West. When the senators and

TrJ"7\u°'J^' "°"^^ °f Commons had moJtIy
arrrved, the hotels and boarding-houses wereTound

tt^^S^"'' '''' accommodations unLt

WelLr?Tiier/r '""'1'° °""^"' ^ ^^^ "^ ^^e
western Liberal members held an imDromnti,

Br^n" %£: ""J"^ °^ ^''^ HonourabTe'Sg
r/r^ ^^ ^ gentleman's determination to retire
remained firm, but he continued to take a wa 1
.nterest in political affairs, and took this means ol

firSe"%r ' *'r •" '^^'^'^*°" togetheTfor th
first time. The gathering, which took place in the
evening, was quite informal, but naturaHv eVl
some discussion of the political situS ^j ,;:
best course for the Opposition to pursue duHnt tie
coming session. Beside Mr. Brown, Mr II x
Mackenzie and Mr. Edward Blake were amon^ .h
more prominent gentlemen present ^ '^'

This was the first occasion on which I rem.,„K
having met Mr. Blake, and as he i^tly "wt
demurely, walked into the oarlour ihll \ ,
occasioned a slight ^^^^^IZ^^^^'I^^

BLAKE'S FORCE OF CHARACTER

H^P'^vk'^ '" ^ P'^'" *^''^ ^"'t ^"d a black slouched
ha , w.th an almost total absence of those pecuS

e,,in I ^°.^::^'5"-"y distinguish the legal pro-
fession he m,ght easily have been taken ffr some
stalwart young Canadian farmer instead of tTe
great lawyer wh.ch only a few years at the bar had

features "i;?^- ""r"'^^ ''^^^ ^^^ -l£u
matures, however, mdicated much force of

character, and as the conversation proceeded hi

arose shone out conspicuously, though alwav,
modestly and unostentatiously expressed ''

NovembeT&r °' ''"''''''"'' °" Wednesday,
^ovember 6th, was a great day in Ottawa ThP

Governor-General, Lord Monck, as vvdt as hi!

a°tranT:nr^^' '''^''' '° "'^'^ ''^ ""'-
at endant on the openmg as elaborate, grand and

cty generally was decked in holiday attire.

to take part ,n the opening ceremonies. ffis
33

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Excellency was attended by a numerous staff, and
was received on Parliament Hill by several com-
panies of regulars, volunteers and Civil Service
men, who, in their scarlet and other brilliant
uniforms, and accompanied by bands of music,
made an imposing military display which greatly
pleased the thousands who lined the beautiful
square.

When the Viceregal party entered the Senate
Chamber, the scene was grand and imposing, but
as the Ho-^se of Commons had not yet elected their
Speaker, the proceedings yftrt exceedingly brief and
formal. After Black Rod had summoned the
members of the Commons, and a pell-mell rush of
the people's representatives had taken place to the
Bar of the Senate, nothing was done but making
the usual official announcement " that until the
House of Commons had elected their Speaker, His
Excellency would not declare his reasons for calling
them together." And with this brief ceremony,
to the evident surprise and disappointment of many,
the proceedings in the Senate were over for the day.
On the return of the Commoners to their own
Chamber, Sir John Macdonald, the leader of the
Government, proposed that the Honourable James
Cockburn, member for the west riding of Northum-
berland, be elected the first Speaker of the House of
Commons. The only objector was the veteran
French-Canadian, Mr. Joseph Dufresne, who com-
plained that Mr. Cockburn could not speak the

OPENING OF THE HOUSE

French language. With this exception, Mr.
Coclcbum was elected unanimously.

The ceremonies on the follovving day, Thursday,
when the Speech from the Throne was delivered,
were more elaborate and memorabl';. The stately
Senate Chamber never presented a more magnificent
spectacle than on this occasion. Promptly at three
o'clock His Excellency Lord Monck took his seat
on the Viceregal throne, and was naturally the
central figure of the occasion.

The members of the House of Commons, headed

by the Honourable James Cockbum, their Speaker,

stood at the Bar of the Senate, and crowded all the

space to the doors. On the right and left of the

Governor-General were distinguished Imperial and

volunteer officers in gorgeous uniforms: Sir John

Macdonald, the first Prime Minister; Sir George

Cartier, Sir W. P. Howland, Sir Leonard Tilley,

Honourable William Macdougall and other

Ministers of State, several of them in Windsor

uniforms; whilst in the body of the Chamber were

Lady Monck and a grand galaxy of ladies in full

dress, gay plumes and sparkling gems. Behind

them most of the Senators politely stood, while the

spacious galleries of the splendid Chamber were

crowded with ladies and gentlemen, and hundreds

filled the corridors out to the streets, unable to gain

admission.

To this grand assemblage of Canadians and their
representatives. Lord Monck delivered the Speech
from the Throne with much dignity and grace
reading it first in English and then in French amidst

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

profound silence and intense interest. It was a
carefully prepared State paper, and as it throws
some light on the circumstances and hopes with
which " the great Confederation," as His Lordship
called It, started out upon its national career, a brief
reference to its principal contents will be found
useful and interesting.

After expressing Lord Monck's gratification that
It had been his official duty to assist at every step
taken in the creation of the new Confederation,
the Speech declared that the Imperial Act of Union
had laid the foundation of "a new nationality"
and expressed the belief that it would ere long
extend its bounrfs from the Atlantic to the Pacific!
Numerous measures were then foreshadowed for
the amendment and assimilation of the laws of the
.several Provinces, to make provision for Western
"Territorial Extension," and for the immediate
construction of the Intercolonial Railway under the
terms of the Union Act, and of which it was said,
" This great work will add a practical and physical'
connection to the legislative bond which now unites
the Provinces comprising the Dominion."

" Your new nationality," His Excellency said in
concluding, " enters upon its course backed by the
moral support, material aid and most ardent good
wishes of the mother country. Within your borders
peace, security and prosperity prevail, and I fer-
vently pray that your aspirations may be directed
to such high and patriotic objects, and that you
may be inspired with such a spirit of moderation
and wisdom, as will cause you to render the great
36

una MONCK SHOWS FEELING

felt the importance of the work of Pnnf j .•
in whirh fiP i,,j . 1 (-on federation

in wnicn he had taken so active a narf ,«^ u
tw ce declarpH ;t f u , "^^ ^ P^", and as he

at these ,,o,nts which sufrsestcd (hat h. ^r

bounds and i. • '"""^'' "''^ embraced within its

The closmg words of Lord Monck and th '

tion of the srenp ,..», r • "^ mspira-

The first \': I U f^^"^"^""" applause.

Fridav ^ „ nr"^^' "--'"^-■-m took p.ace on

n.nst pleas"' of th ""'""' "' ^""^ '"S"' ""-l
held in t? P , """""'^ ceremonies, ft was

n all" """' ""'i!''"'^ 'y ^-'J and Jd;

RxcellenciTs an ' a ""' '"''' '''''"'"^ '" t"^----
scene "''" "'^ =* ^^^ ^"d brilliant

"""" . 37

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

heard on all sides. "John A.," as the Bluenoses

already called him, from his position and reputation

naturally attracted general attention. So did the

plucky, peppery little Frenchman, Cartier. " Which

is Tupper?" was a frequent query, and not a few

attributed the Honourable Leonard Tilley's fresh

looks to his temperance principles. The leaders of

the Opposition were also in great request. Many of

the Maruime members, in particular, were eager to

see the Honourable George Brown— who was not

present— the Honourable A. A. Dorion. the

Honourable L. H. Holt-^n. Mr. Edward Blake

and Mr. Alex. Mackenzi\ ^ 'y jse reputations already

stood high throughout the Dominion, and who were

expected to play important parts in the future. Nor

were the Honourable L. S. Huntingdon, the

Honourable M. Joly. and the Honourable Peter

Mitchell overlooked. " Howe of Nova Scoria " was

inquired for on all sides, and conspicuous among

many other celebrities present and absent, which

space prevents being mentioned, were Ontario's

first Prime Minister, the Honourable Sandfield

Macdonald, the courtly Sir A. T. Gait, and the

eloquent D'Arcy McGee. who afterwards became

the martyr of Confederation.

The Viceregal Drawing-room, although many
distinguished persons met for the first time, made
an exceedingly interesting and successful termina-
tion of the ceremonies marking the opening of the
first Dominion Parliament, and it was followed by
a round of public and private festivities which
added further fclat to the memorable occasiOi..

CHAPTER IV.

EVENTS OF THR FIRST SESSION-THI- HOWET.rPPrp

DUEL m PARLIAMENT-MAIDEN SPEECH OF

EDWARD m.AKF.-McOEE-S HRH LIANT

ORATION.

DuRiNc the fall and winter of 1867-8. political

, ,h S ^^- ''^'*'*'"" "'" '■''f^'' The outlook

The difficulties ,n Nova Scotia, unfortunately were
aggravated by a partial failure of its fl.sherie; This

people, but the p .t manner in which the Legis
latures. ct.es anc, towns of the more westerly
Provnces contributed to their assistance, af^o ded
P.eas,ng proof that the ties of citizenship which
cZrar'^'^"'^^^^^"^"--^'^- ----'.

ful'^'' Vr' k"'' "'n'' "'""'^ -"Parativelv peace-
f"'. The Franco-German war, it is true was
oommg up ,n the distance, but neither NapolZ
.K.r B.smarck was ready, and so the arts of
d,pk,macv staved off for a few months Ion;; the
Woody arbitrament of the sword

In Canada pubHc interest was chieflv centred on

first session. The Parhament was an exceedingly
39

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

able one. Nearly all the leading statesmen were
niemben of either one House or the other, and the
facility with which they assumed their respective
duties as Ministerialists and Oppositionists, indi-
cated thorough acquaintance with the principles of
constitutional government. The Prime Minister
almost solely wielded the Conservative baton, and
the Liberals were chiefly under the leadership of
Mr. Doriou, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Holtoti and Mr.
Blake.

The debate on the .Address furnished the first
oratorical display. .After the speeches of Hon. Mr.
Fisher, of New Brunswick, and Mr. Desaulnier, of
Quebec, in moving it. and Sir John Macdonald hail
e.xplained the resignations from his Cabinet of
Messrs. .Archibald and Oalt — the latter having been
Finance Minister — the House received a momentary
surprise, one, in fact, which produced a thrill of
interest all over the Chamber.

The Honourable Joseph Howe, of Nova Scotia,
the -Xp istle of Repeal, had left his desk and stepped
into the centre of the Chamber almost directly in
front of the Speaker. This action was unusual, and
instantly every eye was turned upon him, and every
ear strained to catch his opening words. The
veteran statesman presented a striking figure. Tlis
leonine appearance, his fame as the hero of a
hundred political battles, his graceful o.itory, and
his hostility to Confederation, all united to make
his first speech in the Federal Parliament a thrilling
occasion.

MR. HOWE AND CONFEDERATION .
After defining the position of himself ami

;i~e.,t^^r;i:Hi.; ::;./-

1 nn,Kh the. Nova Scotia I.ej,islat..n. a.wl the Z e
<len,e, an opportnnity to vote upon i,. All kincNof
d.ffic..t,es an.l dangers which 'he foresa v the
way of the new Dominion were depicted a lenJth

Excellency. " he c n,d fn , , '^'^^''^ »-

sS ' "~ -■ =»

get back was e.ghty cents per head, the price of a
Nova Scofan as well as a sheepskin!" Th,s com
panson created some laughter' after whS, Mr"
Howe became more discursive and referred to
ahT,os every paragraph in the Address. He con-
cluded by announcing that, although in a heipTe"s
mmonty he would move an amendment regr tt„
that Confederat-on had not been submitted to a "S
of the people of Nova Scotia before being passed
. 41

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

It was expected the Honourable Charles Tupper,
the doughty antagonist of Mr. Howe in many a
Nova Scotia encounter, would reply to his speech ;
and as he rose in his seat to proceed, the reception
he met with very clearly indicated which was the
popular side of the question in that body. His
speech was effective, and was delivered with even
more than his customary force and volubility. It
consisted chiefly in a glowing picture of the benefits
which the Union would confer on Nova Scotia
and all the Provinces; a defence of the manner in
which the measure had been carried in Nova Scotia,
which was by vote of the Legislature, the same as
in all the other Provinces; and by the successful
quotation of numerous extracts from the past
speeches and writings of Mr. Howe, warmly
advocating a union of the British North American
Provinces such as he was now opposing.

The House enjoyed this rhetorical duel between
the two famous Nova Scotians, but the occasion
was evidently a trying one for Mr. Howe. He had
a great and well merited reputation for ability and
eloquence to maintain. One year before, I had
heard his great oration before the famous Detroit
Commercial Convention. He completely captured
that immense gathering of wealthy and distinguished
Americans, and a more brilliant and eloquent plat-
form address was seldom ever uttered.

On this occasion, however, the conditions were
entirely different. Mr. Howe was in an awkward,
even inconsistent, position. Confederation was an

MR. BLAKE'S MAIDEN SPEECH

When this episode closed, the interest of the
debate was revived by Mr EdwarH RIol • •
make his maiden ParCenfarrslS ^7^ '°
on both sides described it as a Sir ^"'''

it raised him at a bound o he from PaHr''' ""'
rank. The next day Mr A ex CI T'"'"^
with a rousing atta'k upon CoaE'^'= '""""^^
-n general, and those a't Ottawa a"d^orT'"''
part cular Ho «,„j "-"idwa and loronto in

of a return t^pTrt;^''""" "^"•"^"' '" ^-°-
model ^ Government after the British

Admmistrat on as unhnW r^^f i "eiena the

-^;^an,edr£^?ti[1--^-

intS:tS^r:a:LS^^£-s^^s

man the Honourable ThomL D'A 1^ M ^t

Although pained by an injured limb, which he reSd

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

alternately with a chair and a cane, his impassioned
oratory charmed the whole House, which listened
with almost breathless attention except when cheers
interrupted the speaker. This has frequently been
declared to be Mr. McGee's most brilliant speech in
the Canadian Parliament, and if it could be com-
pressed into a single sentence might be described
as an eloquent refutation of Mr. Howe's attack, and
a dazzling picture of Canada and its future
possibilities.

Nearly all the Nova Scotians spoke, and that in
a bitterly Anti-Union strain, and towards the close
of the debate considerable interest was revived by
the speeches of the Hon. Messrs. Smith and Anglin,
of New Brunswick, followed by the reply of the
Minister of Finance, the Honourable S. L. Tilley.
Mr. Anglin, in particular, strongly denounced the
unconstitutional manner in which the Smith-Anglin
Ministry had been dismissed by the Lieutenant-
Governor and the Union measure carried in that
Province, but both gentlemen finally announced their
acceptance of Confederation now that it had become
law. After a week of oratory the Address passed
without a division.

The Hon. Mr. Holton, who was generally
recognized as an expert on constitutional and
Parliamentary practice, soon afterwards raised a
very important question of privilege. He declared
that Mr. Sandfield Macdonald and his Ontario
colleagues, and Premier Chauveau and his Quebec
colleagues, were sitting and voting in the House of

PURCHASE OF THE NORTH-WEST

Cornmons illegally. Being Provincial Ministers
and regular salaried officers under the Crown he
con ended they were ineligible to seats in the Fede«
Parliament and were liable to a large penalty for
ever day they sat therein. The point seemeSwel
taken and excitement began to run high, when Sir
i^L^Tf'l "^T^^'' *° ^^' "' 'l-'-bing

Mr. David Mills brought the subject up again by

w,= ^'',!,j^°^^^"'"«="t opposed the measure, and
>t 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.

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 " .""""^
<liffereMccs of r^.„ Canada, through

alwa^s^^ni S^; "fS-;l-'">-; -^ h^„

Federal system would he "ha OnSr ^/u""^
a Leeislaturp nf if= . 'Jntario would have

■<' of n Si;; """ ""■ '"" "»'">' »" .«

•r.ill.„ cnpTny firfZif „,"'"'?■ ""' '"

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 !

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

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

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.

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^

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-

^•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;-^-^^^^^^^^

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.

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

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"""'"' »'"'

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 '\%:

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 „ ""^ ''""'=•

Ill

ji; ,

' 1

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: ""'''"''

.-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.

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 !

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

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

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-

Miaoeow (isoiUTiON tbt omit

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

|2J

^ /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

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."

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

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 ^

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-

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

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.**

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<lJ,^ro;rai,t J:^^:, => ^-■^'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.

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

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

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

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^.^^- '

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-

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-

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<><jnied advisable to carefully
arrange and condense the ex-
citing events into paragraphs
as follows :

(a) Lieutenant - Governor
Macdougall and party pushed
right on from Pembina to a
Hudson's Bay fort about two
and a half miles within British
territory. The next day (Sun-
day) they rested there. But
on Mrmday, a force of twenty
armed halfbreeds arrived at
the fort, who by threats and force conveyed the
whole Macdougall party back to Pembina.

(b) Mr. Macdougall immediately forwarded full
despatches of this outrage to Ottawa, but, learning
of the insurrection from the United States press, Sir
John Macdonald cabled Sir John Rose not to pay
over to the Hudson's Bay Company the £300,000
stipulated in the deed of surrender, and also cabled
Earl Granville, the Colonial Secretary, that Canada
would not take over the North- West until it could
obtain peaceful possession.

Louis Riel.

RIEL SEIZES FORT GARRY

November i6th. It spent several days over a so-
called " Bill of Rights," bf' accomplished nothing
beneficial.

((/) The halfbrccd chief, Louis Ricl, was a rather
g(X)d-looking young French-Canadia-.i, his dark, rest-
less eyes being a conspicuous feature. He had been
well educated in Quebec Province, and possessed
some mental brightness of an erralic kind. He was
carried away with conceit and desire for notoriety,
and easily persuaded many of the halfbreeds that
llicy would suffer if Lieutenant-Governor Ma'-dou-
gall and the Canadians were allowed to come in and
take possession of the country.

(c) On November 20th the insurrectionists seized
Fort Carry, where the Hudson's Bay Company had
large supplies of goods, provisions and ammunition,
and they grew bolder daily in exercising illegal and
terrorizing powers over the peaceful community.

(f) Before leaving Ottawa, it had been carefully
arranged that on December ist the Hudson's Bay
Company should be paid, the British Government
should issue an Order-in-Council transferring all the
Xortb-West to Canada, and that Mr. Macdougall
should issue a proclamation as Lieutenant-Governor
assuming the reins of government in Manitoba.
Unaware that the Prime Minister had counter-
manded these arrangements, Mr. Macdougall issued
his proclamation accordingly and commissioned Col-
onel J. S. Dennis, Surveyor-General of Manitoba, to
proceed to the Red River District and take whatever
steps he deemed necessary to restore law and order,

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

((/) Colonel Dennis entered upon his duties with
zeal. As "Conservator" he issued a proclamation.
He found many active sympathizers, prominent
among whom were Dr. Schultz, Dr. Bowen, Mr. •
Charles Afair, Captain Wehh and Dr. Lynch. In a
few days Colonel Dennis had a small armed force
of English halfbreeds and foriner halfbreed em-
ployees of the Hudson's Bay Company assembled at
the stone fort known as Lower Fort Garry, and
.some sixty or seventy men under command of Dr.
Lynch occupied one or more buildings in Winnipeg.
In the meantime Riel sent out messengers and
augmented his force to about 300 men, and the situ-
ation looked alarmingly dangerous. Bloodshed
seemed inevitable.

(h) On December 26th Riel marched out of Fort
Carry sufficient halfbreeds to completely surround
Dr. Lyn"h and his men. Neither ingress nor egress
was allowed, and the next day the whole sixty men,
including Dr. Lynch and Dr. Schultz, had to sur-
render and were imprisoned in Fort Garry.

(i) This defeat frustrated Colonel Dennis' whole
movement, and he issued another public announce-
ment of an entirely peaceful character. This gave
rather a quixotic air to the "Conservator's " opera-
tions, and it was fortunate they did not result more
seriously.

(/) Having authoritatively learned that the trans-
fer of the North-West to Canada had never taken
place, thus rendering his appointment as Lieutenant-
Governor and his proclamarlon alike abortive, Mr.
Macdougall saw that nothinp remained for him and
100

■».VAU> 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<l past Winniiteg on their wa" 'o Kil-
dman, where they hoisted their flag on ^ public
oolhouse. Captain Boulton was in command, and
the next day his force rapidly increased to three
hundred and fifty men, mostly English halfbreeds.
Not more than two or three miles separated the
prospective combatanis! According to the Winnipeg
Nation of February 25th, 1870 — sent me from there
at the time by a friend* — the situation at Fort Garry
and Kildonan was as follows :

" All day long men were coming and going in that
tisually peaceful locality (Kildonan) like ants in an
anthill. Before nightfall, 400 men had been mus-
tered. Captain Boulton, Captain Webb, Dr. Schul: :
and Mr. Mair, were the chief figures in the force,
and caiuusing and C(iuiiselliii(; in abund<ince went
on throughout the day. \n eighteen-p inder was
dr.-gged from Lower Fort oarry by six o. .:n. Two
tons of i»unpowder, cannister, and in short, any
quantity of arms and amrrunition came thundering
along. Next day the muster is calculated to have
swelled to six or seven hundred men, the largest
number under arms on that side during the ailair.

" At Fort Garry, we cannot attempt to portray
the scene. Men were gathering, cannon mounted,

• This old newspaper— now over forty years in my possession —
was sent me by Mr. Alexander W. Wright, now Conservative
organizer and Speaker of Toronto, and as it is filled with accounts
of the so-called Kiel Rebellion, has fully repaid the care with
which it has Ijeen preserved during that long period.

103

KIEL'S TREACHERY

grape ami canister laid in order. Five luindred men
and more were told oflF to man the bastions, ram-
"■Tt* etc. hlu,, an.| shell «ere piled an.im.l pn.

It i.nfi.fli^.... tt...^ .lilt '

parts,

m.scumisl.v. bverythmK that co.dd I* done was ,|,.Me
to make the place impregnable."

(«0 Barring a little exaggeration, this was the
situation during Tuesday. February isth, and was
the culminating danger of the whole insurrection.
A bloody conflict— the end of which no one could
foresee— once more seemed inevitable. When
things reached this terribly dangerous pass, however
Kiel made another unexpected move, and. to the
universal surprise, suddenly liberated all the prison-
ers in Fort Garry, even to the four sentenced to be
banished.

(«) This important news was imniediateb com-
municated to the liberators' army at Kildoiia.i and
completely changed the situation. A council of war
was immediately called, and long and hot discus-
sions followed, some ardent spirits persistently
opposing di.sbandment until Riel abdicated and his
followers dispersed. But having accomplished their
main object, the political prisoners in Fort Garry
being all released, the liberators finally and wisely
decided to disband, and thus for the second time
the North-West escaped, at the last moment the
worst horrors of civil war.

(o) The want of good faith— treachery would

be a better term-of Riel, Lepine and O'Donohue

was strikingly manifested as Captain Boulton's force

were dispersing. On the forenoon of the i/th, that

103

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

officer and forty-seven men were peacefully cross-
ing the prairie on their way home to the Portage.
When they came in sight of Fort Garry, a force of
mounted half breeds galloped wildly from the fort,
surrounded the returning liberators and captured
and imprisoned the whole party ! Thus Riel, in the
face of danger, emptied Fort Garry of prisoners on
Tuesday, and treacherously filled it again on Thurs-
day! Thi same afternoon, he had Captain Boulton
arraigned for treason before a court-martial com-
posed of his rebel associates, and ordered to be shot
the next day at twelve o'clock! It was only at the
last moment, and after the greatest exertions on the
part of the Dominion Commissioners and the leading
clergy and citizens, that this gallant officer's life was
saved.

(p) The so-called President and Provisional Gov-
ernment now became more arrogant and reckless
than ever. They coquetted with Colonel Stulzman
and other Annexationists, who sought to bring about
American complications, and on March 3rd a young
prisoner from Portage la Prairie, named Thomas
Scott, who was guilty of nothing but some trifling
insubordination to his guards, was court-martialed
and ordered to be shot the next day! All eflforts to
save this respectable young man proved unavailing.
Shortly before one o'clock p.m. he was pinioned, his
eyes bandaged, led a few feet from one of the out-
side walls of the old fort, and a band of six half-
breeds, under Ambrose Lepine, shot him down in
cold blood as he knelt in prayer on the frozen snow.
As he walked to his doom, poor Scott is reported to
104

I i

MURDER OF SCOTT

have exclaimed: "My God! my God! this is cold-
blooded murder!" and that was the universal opinion
when the shocking tragedy was learned throughout
the Dominion.

(q) Five days after this terrible occurrence on
March 9th, Bishop Tache returned to St. Boniface
He went to Rome shortly before the rebellion broke
out, but at the urgent request of the Dominion Gov-
ernment returned to aid in restoring peace and order.
Bishop Tache's power as the head of the Roman
Catholic Church at Red River, and the wide pro-
mises of amnesty he made in the name of the Cana-
dian ^ Government— even to those concerned in
Scott's death— were quickly apparent. Riel and his
followers became inclined to accept the Bishop's pro-
posals, and the desire for peace and union with Can-
ada rapidly spread among the halfbreeds in all the
settlements.

(0 The cruel murder of Thomas Scott produced
mtense indignation all over the Dominion, especially
in Ontario. Public opinion now imperatively de-
manded that a military force should be immediately
dispatched to crush the rebellion. Numerous diffi-
culties stood in the way. The Cabinet was divided
on an armed expedition. Earl Granville and the
Governor and officers of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany were annoyed at Sir John Macdonald's refusal
to carry out the " Deed of Settlement." The Im-
perial Government objected to take part in a military
expedition until Canada had fulfilled its part of the
bargain. This was finally done with the best grace
possible. The Hudson's Bay Company was paid on

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

May 3rd, and by proclamation the British Govern-
ment transferred the whole immense North-West
Territories to Canada on June 23rd, thus closing
forever this important transaction.

(s) It was the middle of May when Sir Garnet
Wolseley and the military forces under his command
quietly left Toronto for Prd River. There were
about 1,400 Canadian volunteers and British regu-
lars, Colonel Fieldon being in charge of the latter.
Colonel Jarvis, of the Ontario, and Colonel Casault
of the Quebec, volunteers. They camped a little
west of Port Arthur at the head of Lake Superior
on the 25th. They were then confronted with the
wilderness. Eighteen miles of the Dawson route
remained unopened, and it took them five weeks to
cut their way through to Lake Shebandowan. Sir
Garnet decided to follow the water route, although
very roundabout, and went by boats from Sheband-
owan to the Lake of the Woods, then down the
Winnipeg River to Lake Winnipeg, then along the
lake and up the Red River to the seat of war.

This dangerous journey through the Canadian
wilderness was accomplished without the loss of a
single man, and the bugles of Canada's first gallant
little army which had so manfully grappled with
the hardships of the route were heard in shrill and
de-fiant tones before Winnipeg on the morning of
August 24th. Officers and men were alike eager
for a brush with the rebels, but it turned out that, a
few days before, Riel, Lepine, and their entire fc rce
had deserted Fort Garry and fled as fugitives !
106

REBELLION TERMINATES

The victory was, therefore, a bloodless one. but
It completely collapsed this much-talked-of rebellion
and quickly brought it to an inglorious termination.
(/) The troops were received at Fort Garry with
universal rejoicings. Citizens of all classes appeared
delighted that Kiel had been driven into the United
'5'ates and his followers dispersed. The Canadian
ngime was then installed. The Honourable A G
■Archibald, M.P., of Nova Scotia, was sworn in as
Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, and the Honour-
able John Norquay became its first Premier. There
being nothing further for them to do. Colonel Wol-
seley and his forces— after a rest of two weeks-
started on their return to Toronto amidst the cheers
of the citizens, and from that day to this the whole
of the Canadian North-VVest has Ijeen opened to civil-
ization, and has developed in population ?.rA wealth
with a rapidity .seldom equalled in the WLild's his-
tory. The success of this expedition added to Col-
onel Wolseley's fame as a mili'ary commander and
won for him Royal honours and future promotion.

Such was the commencement, principal events and
termination of the first Riel Rebellion, and I cannot
take leave of the chapter without expressing how
much my sympathy has been excited by the unfor-
tunate train of circumstances which, with little or no
fault on his own part, so sadly clouded the political
career of the Honourable William Macdougall,
and that, too, at the moment of his sup-
posed personal triumph. His stoppage and
deportation to the United States by Riel and
his aiTtied force was a real misfortune, and when
107

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the Dominion Government refused— contrary to
the arrangement made— to take over tlie North-
West until peace and order were restored, it
completely wrecked the career of Mr. Macdou'gall
as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, whose appoint-
ment and proclamation were thus alike rendered
ridiculous.

I consider the standing of the Honourable William
Macdougall and party at Pembina one of the most
pathetic incidents in Canadian public life. Next to
George Brown he did more to secure "the Great
Lone Land " for Canada than any other person, and
we have only to consider what the great Provinces
of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have
already become, and what the whole North-West will
be before this century closes, to realize what valu-
able services Mr. Macdougall rendered to his native
country by his long, able and consistent advocacy
of the great measure which made Canada the owner
of all the British possessions on the .'\merican con-
tinent.

to8

CHAPTER XII.

INCIDENTS OF THE THIRD SESSION-SIDELIGHTS ON

ITS SPEECHES AND EVENTS-HUNTINGDON'S

BRILLIANT ORATION-SIR FRANCIS HINCKS'

REPLY— SIR JOHN MACDONALD'S

DANGEROUS ILLNESS.

Whatever temporary friction prevailed at the
commencement of Confederation, especially in Nova
Scotia, almost entirely disappeared during the yenrs
1870, 1P71, and 1872. This period proved one of
quie.- consolidation and moderate progress. The
politics of the Dominion and the various Provinces,
however, continued active and exciting, and many
circumstances occurred of much interest to all stu-
dents of our history.

This was specially true of the third session of the
Dominion Parliament, which met on February 15th,
1870. It was an exciting one. This arose from a
variety of causes. Several nev.' Cabinet Ministers,
notably Sir Francis Hincks, took their seats on the
Government benches for the first time. Then Sir
John Macdonald was confronted with the opposition
of his former friends, Sir Alex. T. Gait, and Mr.
Richard Cartwright. The Honourable William Mac-
dougall, too, had resumed his seat in Parliament and
also gone into Opposition. The country generally was
in rather W-' humour over the North-West Rebel-
lion and t! itormess of the Government in tak-
109

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

ing steps to bring Riel and the murderers of Thomas
Scott to justice.

Most of the measures laid before Parliament were
of a useful but minor character, except the Bills to
grant to Manitoba Representative Government, and
to prepare for taking the first census. Most of these
measures, as well as the general administrative
action of the Administration, were vigorously
assailed by Messrs Mackenzie, Dorion, Blake, Hol-
ton and other Liberal members. Occasionally they
were joined by Messrs. Macdougall, Gait, Cart-
wright and other Conservatives, making the attack
on the Government fortress more formidable. Its
chief defenders were the Prime Minister and Sir
Francis H incks, aided by the ever-ready Sir George
Cartier and the Hon. Dr. Tupper. A succession of
strenuous debates followed, which again clearly
brought out the great ability and versatility of our
first Dominion Parliament.

Not a few striking incidents occurred before this
session closed. Several notable bouts occurred
between ex-Governor Macdougall and the Honour-
able Joseph Howe. During one of these, the former
accused the latter when in Winnipeg as Minister of
the Interior and His Honour's forerunner, of not
only acting in the spirit of John the Baptist, but as
having actually hobnobbed with some of the prin-
cipal rebels. This roused the old Nova Scotia lion
to a state of fury, and he furiously replied. Soon
afterwards Sir John Macdonald took an entirely
opposite course to Mr. Howe under somewhat
similar circumstances.

SIR JOHN'S STRATEGY

Under some real or siippoted ca se of irritation,
.Sir A. T. Gait arose one afternoon and made a
caustic criticism of his old-time colleague, the Prime
Minister. He went so far as to allude to him as
fast becoming the Pecksniff of the House, and whom
he had never before known to assume " the high
moral tone " in all the numerous roles he had known
him to play. The House fairly " sat up." to use a
common phrase, at this unexpected attack by the
former famous Finance Minister, and every eye in
the Chamber was instantly fixed on the First Minis-
ter. I watched him eagerly from the first word to
the last. There he sat at his desk, his elbows rest-
ing on its lid, and his face partially hidden by his
hands. He listened without a move to all that was
said, and, master of strategy as he was, he passed
the unpleasant incident over without uttering a
single word in reply. His tact in an emergency was
seUlnni ever more conspicuously manifested.

There were many splendid speakers in Canada's
first House of Commons. Among them Messrs.
Blake, Macdonald (Premier), Mackenzie, Macdou-
gall. Hincks, Howe, Gait, Dorion, Tupper, Holton.
Cartier, Hillyard Cameron, Tillev and Huntingdon
were all in the first rank.

The finest oratorical efTort of the session was
made by the Honourable L. S. Huntingdon, member
for Shefford. He was a born orator. Nature had
given him a strong, intellectual face, a most pleasing
voice, and a graceful manner. He could be power-
ful, too, as well as brilliant when his rather waning
ambition saw fit to assert itself. Sir Francis Hincks
III

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

was at this time the shining mark for Liberal attack,
and Mr. Huntingdon was induced to review his
political career and return to Canada as Finance
Mmister, which hf did in one of the most clever
and eloquent orations ever heard in the House of
Commons.

Mr. Huntingdon's most successful hit was his
comparison of Sir Francis— after fourteen years
spent as Lieutenant-Governor of the Windward
Islands and other British possessions— to old Rip
Van Winkle of Catskill fame, who, after twenty
years' sleep in the mountains, awoke unconscious
that he had grown old and grey, shouted for his
dog, which was dead, and grasped for his gun, to
find it mouldered away ! This speech held the House
of Commons spellbound for an hour and a half, ani
has ever since lingered in my memory as one of the
finest bits of Parliamentary oratory I heard during
twelve years' membership in that body.

But Mr. Huntingdon did not have it all his own
way. Sir Francis Hincks was not an orator, but
he was an accomplished and exceedingly clever and
ready debater, and, true to his Irish lineage, was
always spoiling for a fight. He therefore promptly
and effectively gave his opponent a Roland for his
Oliver, his chief ground of attack being Mr. Hunt-
ingdon's alleged desire for Canadian independence,
which he warmly denounced as certain to lead to
Annexation, or, at least, to the disruption of the
Confederation which had cost the people of Canada
so much time, trouble and expense to bring about.
The gallant knight proved that he still retained much
of his old fire as a speaker, and, like Mr. Hunting-

SIR JOHN'S SERIOUS ILLNESS

don, was rapturously cheered by his colleagues when
the intellectual duel came to an end.

The Conservative leader was a much overworked
man during this arduous session. Shortly before it
closed another threatened Fenian attack on Canada
added to his perplexities. Under the increased pres-
sure of this and ofher things Sir John finally broke
down On the afternoon of May 6th, when he was
con,s,dered better of his first indisposition, he was
.suddenly attacked by biliary calculus when about to
s.t down to lunch in his Parliamentary office, falling
to the floor in spasms of agony until life was nearly
e.xtinct. Colonel Bernard, his brother-in-law, was
quickly at his side, and medical aid procured as soon
as possible.

VVhen the House of Commons met at three o'clock
bir George Cartier announced the Premier's serious
Illness It created a painful impression. It was at
first thought he could not recover, and, in any event
that his political career was ended. Political oppon-
ents and friends alike united in the warmest expres-
sions of .sympathy to Lady Macdonald, who had long
acted, .nd now more than ever, as Sir John's
guardian angel. The Premier hovered between life
and death for nearly three weeks, after which date
he was able to be removed to the Speaker's Cham-
bers, and ultimately to the beautiful Province of
Prince Edward Island, where he remained until he
was sufficiently restored to return to Ottawa

The Government was in peril more than once dur-
ing th,s session and during Sir John's illness stood
badly m need of additional debating talent. Most of
the best debaters were then on the Speaker's left. But
"3

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the large majority of the Government and the wide-
spread fear that danger might result to the Con-
federation from a Ministerial crisis at such a critical
time, carried them and their measures safely through
till the prorogation, which took place on May I2th.
Shortly afterwards the Honourable Charles Tupper
for the first time became a niemlje^- of the Cabinet
as President of the Council, the Honourable Senator
Kenny having resigned the Receiver-Generalship and
accepted the position of Administrator of the Pro-
vince of Nova Scotia.

The Imperial Government made an important
change in Colonial policy during 1870. The Glad-
stone Administration withdrew all British troops
from Canada (except garrisons at Halifax, N.S.,
and Victoria, B.C.), as well as from all other prin-
cipal colonies except India. This new departure was
the more memorable inasmuch as the Riel Rebellion,
the Fenian raid and the United States Alabama
Claims were all unsettled, but the centre of Europe
was being crimsoned with blood by the great Franco-
German war, which few at first dreamed would in a
few weeks end in the siege and capture of the city
of Paris by the victorious Germans, and the exile of
Napoleon and Eugenie to England.

The hand of Mr. Gladstone was also conspicuous
at this period in the c .iestablishment and disendow-
ment of the Irish Church, and in his Government
taking over all the private electric telegraphs in the
United Kingdom and making them part of its postal
system, which is one of the first examples of Govern-
ment ownership of public utilities on record.
114

All ■

HON. CHARLES TUPPER.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PACIFIC RAILWAY-WASHINGTON TREATY CAR

RIBD-LIBERAL VICTORY IN ONTARIoTbLAKE

FORMS NEW MINISTRY-SECOND

DOMINION ELECTIONS.

By 1871 four years had elap.sed since the Domin-
ion was established, and the term of the first Pro-
vincial Legislatures was drawing to a close. The
Confederation was already so firmly established that
the existing Governments of Quebec, Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick passed through their second
elections without much change of men or policy

The Ontario contest proved more lively and excit-
ing. Lieutenant-Governor Rowland closed the
House of Assembly on February ,3th. and within
a few days Attorney-General Macdonald issued the
writs for the second General Elections. The nomin-
at.ons were appointed to take place on March 14th.
.md the polling on the 21st. When the fateful dav
arrived, It was found that Mr. Blake and the Liberals
had made undoubted gains, and claimed the victory
Premier Macdonald and his colleagues, however,
mamtamed they would have a working majority
«hen the Legislature was called together. And so
this important point remained undecided all throueh
tlie summer and fall. ^

The union of British Columbia and the construc-
tion of the Pacific Railway were among the chi^f
"5

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

questions debated during the fourth session of the
Dominion Houses. They met on February 15th, and
prorogued on April 14th. Sir John Macdonald was
absent during the whole period at the city of Wash-
ington, U.S., being one of the members of the
famous British and American Joint High Commis-
sion. Sir George Cartier acted as leader in his
chief's absence, and numerous hot discussions, and
not a few " scenes," took place during the session.

British Columbia — then numbering about 10,000
whites — only asked at first that the Dominion should
make a wagon-road over the Rocky and Cascade
Mountains. But when the negotiations closed it
was found that the Government had agreed to con-
struct, equip and operate a railroad from the Pacific
coast all the way to tidewater at Montreal — a trans-
continental line involving an outlay of at least
$100,000,000.

The Liberal party, under the Honourable Alox,
Mackenzie's leadership, although anxious for Colum-
bia's admission to the Union, stoutly opposed pledg-
ing the credit of the Dominion to such a gigantic
undertaking until competent engineers had thrown
some light on its practicability and cost. The
measure, however, was passed by both Houses with-
out material amendment, and British Columbia be-
came a Province of Canada on July 20th, 1871.

The first Census of the Dominion was begun in
April. The Honourable Christopher Dunkin, Min-
ister of Agriculture, supervised the work. The
population of the four original Provinces in 1871
was found by the Census Commissioners to be
116

CANADIAN INTERESTS SACRIFICED

3,485,761.* .\ compaii-o.; at the time made that a
gain of 395,2^'. vr 12.71) p.-r cent, in ten years. The
result caused c-'..-iier-ible disappointment, and some
incredulity as to the correctness of the enumeration.

The sittings of the Joint High Commission at
Washington, in which Lord de Grey and the Hon-
ourable Hamilton Fish were the British and Ameri-
can members, excited much interest all over the
continent. It was earnestly hoped by Canadians
that it would compkicly establish international peace
and goodwill.

But when it became known that our losses through
Fenian outrages in Canada had been withdrawn,
whilst Britain had to pay £3.229.166 for the famous
Alabama claims; that additional Fishery conces-
sions had been made to the United States, without
our getting any adequate consideration: and that
certain new rights and privileges had been granted
to them on the St. Lawrence, the Stikeen and other
far northern rivers, a wave of dissatisfaction spread
over the whole Dominion. It was felt that Canadian
interests had been sacrificed to settle British and
American difficulties, and for once Conservatives
and Liberals were united in feeling and expressing
strong dissatisfaction therewith.

Much of the unpopularity of the Washington
Treaty fell at first on Sir John Macdonald. He
was warmly assailed for not resigning his position
as High Commissioner rather than become a party
to any sacrifice of Canadian interests. When the

• Canadian Year Book, 1910.
II.-8 „7

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

full history of the negotiations was revealed, how-
ever, it was quite evident that it was Lord de Grey,
under the direction of the Imperial Government,
who made the concessions so unpopular in Canada,
and that Sir John Macdonald had protested against
and strenuously opposed their adoption. His pri-
vate letters to Ottawa friends, afterwards published,
also went to show that he had felt keenly his isolated
position as a Commissioner, and only signed the
Treaty when his refusal might have destroyed the
whole work of the Commission and left the difficul-
ties of the two nations in a more dangerous state
than ever.

Ontario experienced a political crisis and change
of Ministry as soon as its new Legislature assembled
on December 7th. Eight members of the new Legis-
lature could not take their seats on account of
breaches of the Controverted Elections Act, and
Mr. Blake and the Opposition had a narrow major-
ity actually present.

The defeat of the Sandfield Macdonald Coalition
came about in this way. After Mr. R. W. Scott
had been elected Speaker, Mr. Blake moved an
amendment to the Address, attacking the Adminis-
tration's railway policy and involving want of confi-
dence. The Honourable M. C. Cameron hotly re-
plied, and an excited debate became general. The
House soon saw that a political crisis was now on.
The day after the debate opened, a motion of Pre-
mier Macdonald to adjourn was defeated by thirty-
six to thirty-four. On the ensuing Wednesday a
118

BLAKE FORMS NEW GOVERNMENT

Ministerial motion, moved by Mr. McCall, of Nor-
folk, to postpone the consideration of Mr Blake's
amendment till all the members of the House were
present was defeated by forty to thirty-two, and on

./ «^T^" °^^^' ''"^'"^ f"-" delay having failed
—Mr. Blake's motion of want of confidence was
carrned by forty to thirty-three, a majority of
seven. The Mmisterialists refused to resign on the
ground that eight members of the House were not
in the.r places, and it was only after three other
defeats-showmg that the Ministry had lost control
of the House, and the Honourable E. B Wood Pro
vincial Treasurer, had resigned his positionl^hat
he remainnig members of the Cabinet handed i,i
their resignations.

Lieutenant-Governor Howland summoned the
Honourable Edward Blake and entrusted him with
the formation of a new Government, which he
promptly accomplished by the selection of and
acceptance of office by the following gentlemen —

President of the Council (without portfolio),
Mr. Edward Blake, Provincial Treasurer, Mr Alex
Mackenzie; Atto-ney-General, Mr. Adam Crooks ^
Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Richard w'
w ,' V°"''"'ssioner of Agriculture and Public
Works Mr. Archibald McKellar; Provincial Secre-
tary, Mr. Peter Gow.

It would carry us too far to enter into details

Suffice rtto say that Mr. R. W. Scott having accepted

office Mr. J. G. Currie, of Welland, was elected

Speaker m his place; that Mr. Sandfield Ma-donald

119

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

refused to attend a Conservative caucus * and left
abruptly for Cornwall ; that Mr. M. C. Cameron was
chosen the Conservative leader, and that Mr. Blake
and his colleagues, especially Mr. Scott, were assailed
by the new Opposition with unusual bitterness and
acrimony. The new Liberal Government, however,
now that Coalitionism was dead, was sustained by
an ample majority, and a very laborious and useful
session followed. No less than it8 public and pri-
vate bills became law, the chief of which restored
to the people's representatives full control over all
grants made to railways, abolished dual representa-
tion, and set aside $2,000,000 additional for the
promotion of new railway projects.

The Governor-General, Lord Lisgar, who had
been honoured the previous year by admission to the
peerage, opened the fifth and last session of the
Dominion Parliament on April nth, 1872. There
was some belief abroad — at least in Liberal circles —
that the big Coalition at Ottawa might meet some
check before the session closed. These expectations,
however, proved completely illusory. Universally
disliked though the Treaty of Washington was, it
was carried after a six days' absorbing debate —
chiefly for Imperial reasons — by a vote of one hun-
dred and twenty-one to fifty-five. The Paciflc Rail-
way Bill also became law.

*The current report in the corridors was that when invited
to attend this c.iucus, the late Premier jocularly replied in his
bluff, offhand way, " You may go to blazes — I'm going to Corn-
wall."

120

LORD LISGAR PROROGUES PARLIAMENT

This measure, briefly summarized, authorized tiie
granting of ?3o,ooo,ooo and of fifty million acres
of land and numerous other concessions to a Com-
pany with $10,000,000 of subscribed capital and
?i, 000,000 paid up, which would undertake to con-
struct, equip and operate the road. It had evidently
been drawn, as was the Redistribution of Seats Bill
(necessitated by the Census), having in view the
coming General Elections, and Sir John Macdonald
voted down all the efforts of Mr. Blake, Mr Mills
and others to have all elections held on one and the
same day, and to enact other electoral reforms de-
signed to promote fair and honest elections

His Excellency Lord Lisgar prorogued Parlia-
ment on April 14th in a dignified and graceful fare-
words "'' '°"'-"'"'''"8^ '" ^^^ following pleasing

" I now have the honour to bid you farewell, with
those serious thoughts which the word ' farewell '
naturally awakens, with every acknowledgment of
the many courtesies and the effective assistance I
have received at your hands, and with the most cher-
ished and ardent wishes for the welfare of the
Uominion with which I rejoice to think my Immble
name has been connected by an honourable tie for
more than three years."

Not a few leading Conservatives desired to see
Sir John Macdonald appointed Governor-General as
Lord Lisgar's successor— a few of them, possibly
not altogether disinterestedly. In view of his recent
critical illness, however, even prominent Liberals
121

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

agreed it would be a fitting close to his long and
successful political career. But as heretofore, Sir
John continued too fascinated with politics to think
of resigning as Prime Minister unless his health
absolutely incapacitated him.

The Imperial Government next chose as Gover-
nor-General the Right Honourable Frederick Temple
Blackwood, Earl of Dufiferiii. an<l His E.Ncellency
and Lady DufTerin arrived in Quebec on June
25th. They were received there by Sir Hastings
Doyle, the .\dministrator of the Dominion, Lieuten-
ant-Governor Belleau, of Quebec, Sir John Mac-
donald and other Ministers, the Honourable Joseph
Cauchon, President of the Senate, Mayor Garneau,
of Quebec City, and a large gathering of military
and citizens. Both Lord and Lady Duflferin made
a most favourable impression upon all Canadians
from the day they landed, and the citizens of Que-
bec, Montreal and Ottawa welcomed them to
Canada with receptions of the most enthusiastic
character.

The life of the first Parliament of Canada — five
years — expired on July ist, 1872, and the writs for
the second General Elections soon began to issue.
.'Xt this signal, the whole Dominion — then compris-
ing six Provinces — seemed to burst into a political
conflagration. The Liberal party had been greatly
strengthened and encouraged by the success of the
new Ontario Administration, and the Honourable
Messrs. Blake and Mackenzie, in that Province,
Messrs. Dorion and Holton, in Quebec, Messrs.
Jones and Ross, in Nova Scotia, and Messrs. Smith

SIR JOHN TOURS ONTARIO

and Anglin, in Xew Brunswick, threw themselves
nto the contest with great energy and determination
to win.

The Dominion Government felt that its life was

IL.'T';^''/'''-^"''" '^'^'^'Jo"=»W frankly declared
hat for the first tnne an extensive electioneering
tour by him throughout Ontario had become a neces-
sity Messrs. Cartier and Langevin were more opti-
mistic abotu Quebec, but in Nova Scotia Messrs
Howe and Tupper had a more difficult task These
eminent Xova Scotians had been lifelong antagon-
sts. They had grown grey in opposing each other,
their elo(,uent but l,itter political fights had been
heard on almost every Xova Scotia stump, and when
they now appeared arm in arm-brother Ministers
of the Crown-in conducting the Dominion cam-
paign, many of the electors in that politically
disrupted Provn... were utterly puzzled to know
where hey were at. Howe and Tupper had to fight
not only the straight Opposition Liberals, but also
tne Anti-Confederates, who still controlled the Pro-
vincial Ministry and exercised a wide influence
1 he.se two gentlemen were at that time, however
among the most powerful platform orators in Can-
ada, an<l greatly helpe<l the Dominion Government
during the canvass by their able presentation of the
Ministerial side of the case. In New Brunswick
Messrs. Til ey and Mitchell conducted the contest
on behalf of the Government with their usual activ-
ity and zeal.

I !?'"^,f "^^'^ '" °"*"'° ^''^ hotly contested. Sir

John Macdonald and Sir Francis Hincks made a

123

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

grand political tour of the Province. Messrs. Mac-
kenzie and Blake were equally energetic and
eloquent, and the contest proved a very strenuous
one all along the line.

It was September before the final returns came
straggling in. The Liberals had won a decided
victory in Ontario, having carried fifty-one to
thirty-seven seats, whilst Sir Francis Hincks and the
Honourable William Macdougall were among the
defeated. Sir George Cartier was also beaten in
Montreal, an; his solid phalanx of "Bleu" sup-
porters was t\i^i.n shattered. Together, Ontario and
Quebec gave a small majority against the Govern-
ment, but Sir John MacJonald claimed that the four
smaller Provinces would sustain him when Parlia-
ment met, and so the result of the second Federal
elections, as in the case of the Ontario contest,
remained in uncertainty till the following year.

The death of the Honourable Sandfield Macdon-
ald on the eve of the Dominion Elections caused
widespread regret and sympathy. He was born in
1812, elected member for Cornwall in 1841, and
assisted Baldwin and Lafontaine to Ight and win
their great battle for Responsible Government. He
occupied a distinguished position in Parliament for
over thirty years, and undoubtedly remained a stal-
wart Liberal in his views even during the four years
he was Premier of the Coalition Cabinet. Sir John
Macdonald found — as George Brown did before him
— ^that Sandfield Macdonald 'vould take his own
course whatever anyone else a>^/ised or said.
124

HON. JOHN SAXDKIELD MACDONALD,
Firsi Prcnier of the Province of Ontario. '

(fr,„„ an ,.il ,„i,„i,,:, ,,„ J. w. L. F,.r.„r, RCA.)

A TRIBUTE TO SANDFIELD MACDONALD

I knew Mr. Macdonald personally for a eood
many years. With some „,inor defects he possesS
many noble qualities. He was a good lawyer an
able Mm.stcr of the Crown, and his record as an
admm.strator and citizen was clean and creditable
Although he was a.nong the snmll band of i.ulepend:
ent L-berals who declined to support ConfederTnon
he rendered valuable service to his native coumry
■n Parliament for over a quarter of a century and
has as good claims to he classe.l a.nong the m;^

w tho,?r "t'"'"^ "'^° "'' awarded%hat honou
without question.

His Ontario Administration, it must be admitted
made some mistakes. But none were dishonourable
on Jh""' ^'T'"'- '""^ ^ '■^^'^ '°"g held the opin-

Sandfil"r "'",'■' °" '"'°''^- '''^^ 'he name of
Sandfie d Macdonald deserves to be ever held in

fhe nod r '?^'"" '^ "^^ P'^^P'^ °f O"'"^ for
he inode t and economical manner in which he set
Uie wheels of our first Ontario Government and
Legislature m motion, the beneficial effects of which
continue to be seen and felt even to this day

125

CHAPTER XIV.

A POLITICAL SURPRISE-BLAKE AND MACKENZIE

RESIGN— JUDGE MOWAT BECOMES PREMIER OF

ONTARIO-HIS FIRST SESSION SETTLES

DIFFICULT QUESTIONS.

Some important political changes in the Govern-
ment of Ontario occurred during the fall of 1872.

The termination of Dual Representation, and the
desire of Mr. Blake and Mr. Mackenzie to continue
members of the Federal House at Ottawa, necessi-
tated their withdrawal from the Ontario Cabinet.
When its reconstruction took place, there was not
a little public surprise when it was learned that Mr.
Blake's successor, the new Prime Minister of Onta-
rio, was to be one of the most eminent Judges then
on the Bench, the Honourable Oliver Mowat.

The idea of inviting Mr. Mowat to re-enter poli-
tical life originated with Mr. Blake and the Hon-
ourable George Brown. These two gentlemen waited
on His Honour at his house on Simcoe Street during
the forenoon of October 21st, and proposed that he
should resign his Judgeship and take the former's
place as Premier of Ontario. There can be no doubt
this important proposal was quite unexpected by
Mr. Mowat, and he had many and strong reasons
for continuing his successful judicial career. But
Mr. Blake and Mr. Brown so forcibly set forth the
critical position of political affairs both at Ottawa
126

HON. S. C. WOOD. "O""'- KICHARD W. SCOTT

SOMK PHOM.HNT M.MBHRS OK 7;k;o;;7L.,SXKV.

!i)!

MOWAT RE-ENTERS POLITICS
and Toronto, and the wide field for usefulness as

h.s duty to undertake the onerous task wW h hi

Mr. Blake tendered the resignation of Mr Mac
kenz,e and hmself to Lieutenant-Goven.or How
ntn;s;\?r"MT ^f '•'.-^.^'^-ed His Co"" To"
Jainistry. This was accordingly done. Mr Mowat

tenlTcT'""''. ''^ J"''^^^''^' -cepted thf Ue :
tenant-Governor's commission to form an AdnX;
trat,on, and the same day himself a"d his £„«
were sworn into office as follows • "

Honourable Oliver Mowat, O C LL D Pr<.^-
Attorney-General ; HonourabSam^cSk; Q r
SKei.ar'cr"'''"""'-^^'"---"^^^^^^^^^^^
ivicK-ellar, Commissioner of Aericultiirp =.nH p m-
Works; Honourable Richard W Scott or C
n,,ssioner of Crown Lands : HonouS ?;moth; b"
Pardee, Provincial Secretary and Registrar ^

Oltri- . m'%"^^ '°' ^''^ North' SI; S
Oxford, which Mr^George Perry. M.P.P., resifned

of whr/^'t"- ^''"^ '^^^^" "- ««ccess uSer

fsi^^nSrh:,j:£:-£rr=r

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

for seventeen years, but Mr. Mowat's surpassed this
by nearly eight years, and has the distinction of
being the longest Administration in the whole his-
tory of Constitutional Governments.

Mr. Mowat's resignation from the Bench and
acceptance of the Liberal leadership, however, did
not escape criticism. After the surprise which always
occurs when the unexpected happens, his course was
variously received. The Liberals almost unani-
iiously regarded his appointment as a master-stroke
ooth for the Province and their party, and this
feeling was increased by the very able and earnest
election address and nomination speech made by
him at Woodstock to the electors of North Oxford.
The Independents, and not a few moderate Con-
servatives, frankly admitted that a better and safer
man could not have been fou-id — at least in the Lib-
eral ranks. The great bulk of the Conservatives,
however, and especially those under the leadership
of Mr. M. C. Cameron, bitterly assailed Mr. Mowat
as having degraded the Bench by resigning one of
its foremost positions to dabble again in political
strife, the effects of which upon the Judiciary, they
alleged, would be of the most deplorable character.
These doleful predictions were fortunately no more
realized than when Sir John Thompson some years
later left the Nova Scotia Bench to become the Con-
servative Minister of Justice and afterwards Prime
Minister of the Dominion.

On the contrary, during his long and active offi-
cial career as head of the Ontario Government, Mr.
Mowat proved himself to be a most able and prolific
138

SIR JOHN RECONSTRUCTS GOVERNMENT

legislator a most careful and clean administrator,
and established strong claims to be considered the
most dignified, popular and successful Prime Min-
ister which this country has ever had in its service

when these political changes were completed pub-
lic interest all over the Dominion naturally centred
on ine political situation at Ottawa. The recent
elections left the Government with not more than
eight or ten of a majority, and its future, when
Parliament met, was therefore uncertain.

Sir John Macdonald reconstructed his Govern-
ment as follows: Sir George Cartier obtained a
seat for Provencher, Manitoba, by the resignation
of Louis Riel. He was in England vainly trying to
recruit his shattered health. Sir Francis Hincks,
after his defeat in Renfrew and Brant, temporarily
accepted a seat for Vancouver, B.C., but from the
hrst insisted upon retiring from public life. Before
the session opened. Sir Francis resigned both his
office and his seat. Mr. Tilley then became Finance

T'A 'J^'- ^"PP^"" ''^"™^ Minister of Customs
and Mr. Theodore Robitaille, member of Parliament
tor Bonaventure, Quebec, was admitted to the Cabi-
net as ]\Iinister of Inland Revenue.

Both political parties found an opportunity at
this time to display their growing aggressiveness at
a bye-election for the County of Welland, caused bv
the lamented death of the sitting member. Mr
Thomas C. Street. This riding had long been a
Conservative stronghold, and the late member had
recently carried it by a majority of 529 The Con-
servatives nominated Dr. King, a successful local
129

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

physician, and the Liberals Mr. A. \V. Thompson,
well known as the promoter of the Southern Rail-
way. Both parties put forth extraordinary efforts
to carry this election.

November 12th was nomination day, and the
number of Cabinet Ministers, Liberal leaders, mem-
bers of Parliament, press reporters, canvassers and
agents present at Welland 011 that day was probably
never surpassed at any previous Canadian contest.
Among the Ministers were the Honourable Charles
Tupper, Honourable Peter Mitchell, Honourable
John O'Connor, Honourable J. C. Aikens, aided by
the Honourable William Macdougall. The prin-
cipal Oppositionists were the Honourable Edward
Blake, Honourable E. B. Wood, Honourable J. C.
Currie, Mr. A. H. Dymond, and several others. The
nomination proceedings lasted all day and part of
the night, and oratory on the sins and virtues — par-
ticularly the former — of both Grits and Tories,
flowed like water for nearly twelve hours !

The most striking incident occurred near the close.
Mr. Blake had been nearly jockeyed out of speaking
altogether by the Ministers' — especially the Honour-
able Peter Mitchell's — long speeches, but he finally
evened things up by the clever device he adopted in
replying to his opponents. He said he would
reply to the clever speeches of Messrs. Tupper,
Mitchell, and O'Connor, by simply citing the Hon-
ourable William Macdougall, their late and present
colleague, as his witness in the case. He then quietly
drew from his pocket that gentleman's famous
pamphlet on the Red River Rebellion, and reading
130

BLAKE'S CLEVER SPEECH

nf/i"M °"""'°" Government-including some
of the M>n,sters present on the platform-h! con!

w fsmr; r" "'^''^ ''""'"^ -^^ sud : .

sarcasm, and eloquence as greatly discomposed his
opponents and worked the tired audience X a state
of great h.larity and enthusiasm.

The nomination over, this strenuous fight was

•nes. Among other Conservative members of Par
Jament present were Messrs. Angus MorriroT
and T r""' •''"'^^"' ^^"d-- Charles Rykert'

throur u^"""- ^■''''""' "'^'^ ''^f-^ P-S
tnrough such an excitmg contest, and Drobablv

t^r "' K,'^f !"• °^^'°" -^ -"--ers contLu d
th.ck as blackberries in July until the polls closed
when ,t was found that Mr. Thompson wa elected
by a majority of sixty-eight

th7!"!i"'u"''°"°^'''"0"'^"°I'^&is>ature under ■
the leadership of the Honourable Oliver Mowat

Win ?",!■•'"''"" "f 'he Con,n,„n Pleas Sir
W.lham R. Meredith, then of London, and the iSe
Honourable Christopher F. Fraser, of Brockv II
The official speech of Lieutenant-Governor How '
land on opening the House was conspicuous f or ts
firm and hopeful character, and the number of u
ful, practical measures promised. The general feel
Conf V'^?'°'"^ of Ontario as to theCrk Lg of
Confederation at this period was clearly set forth
m the opening paragraph, which was as follows
131

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

" ^ye have now had six years' experience of the
worlfing of the great measure of Confederation,
which the people of ITpper Canada franl<Iy accepted
and from which they anticipated much advantage.
I am confident that you will agree with mc that their
expectations have in a large measure been realized,
though in some of its details the Act of Union may
have done less than justice to this Province, and
incidents to be regretted have occurred, as they will
occur in the first establishment of all new constitu-
tions. The general effect on the local affairs of
Ontario has been eminently beneficial. The ad.—'nis-
tration of these affairs is now to a large extent in
our own hands; and our revenue has enabled us,
without taxation, not only to defray all the charges
of Provincial government and tc afford essential aid
to numerous railway enterprises and other public
works and improvements, but also to accumulate a
surplus now amounting to more than four millions
of dollars."

The address in reply to His Honour's speech was
moved by Mr. William C. Caldwell, of South
Lanark, and seconded by Mr. R. M. Wells, of
Toronto, member for South Bruce. Mr. Mowat
and his colleagues, and their proposed measures,
did not lack for criticism from Mr. M. C. Cameron,
the Conservative leader, Mr. W. D. Ardagh, Mr.
Fred W. Cumberland, Mr. W. R. Meredith, Mr.
Herbert S. Macdonald, and other Opposition mem-
bers. But the new Administration was firmly
entrenched in power, and aided by such clever
debaters as the Honourable E. B. Wood, Mr. James
Bethuiie, Q.C.. Mr. Thomas Hodgins, Q.C., and the
new member, Mr. Fraser— whose fine oratorical
132

VALUABLE LEGISLATION PASSED

grappled with them and found he h^d ilr"
elephant on his hands, but after m„.h • ^ *"
work on the part of h,m e f "n. T'°"' °'"-
secretary* he finallv =»»! " ™f*'' ^"^ his private

had been afrlid oSra^f ' ''""■°" '^'"■■^'-^
general satisfact on T^. ' '''^' '°°' *° R'^<=

sine. " "'»'''' '^ ■"'' >«r.l.tion «v,r

several other Acts to give more libljt' ^"^
ment to new railwavc 7 • ^' encourage-

public fmprovem 'nr\t3^ "°t ^"'^ "'^^

hundred ind se^en v rS!^ "° '"'^^ '^-^^ °"e

l_^^^ seventy Bills were passed and became

"on, connrntd with thfsmat er ot, V°k "" ""Pleated q„„.
Mowat wrote to a friend' « OlT«, u" f k''"'*'^ ."'"'• '^'J, Mr,,
a man to be. The Municipal LoJnP ^T " " " P°'''^'' '"
about his neck. Even hU nriva^r '' "^"1 " '"«= » "-illstone
h« told me the other day hTJad h'S^T l".^^ " '"■' « '"»«
»Ii.ch ,.„ that he was ^„ a „t^ti f"«hfol dream, part of
?ravc,to«e, on which wa. carvS T^ f*' ""'..'"'I "^ his own
"Uf. of s„ OHv„li?ow,"'Tol.''l'., '•;.';;•,«■ '■■ ""-Biwar".

"■"* '33

CHAPTER XV.

1 .

ADVENT OF LORD DUFFERIN-THE P .CIFIC RAILWAY

SCANDAL-MR. HUNTINGDON'S CHARGES-SIR

HUGH ALLAN'S OWN STATEMENT OF

THE FACTS.

The Earl op Dufferin, the new Governor-Gen-
eral, had a keen eye for the spectacular, and opened
the first session of the second Canadian Praliamenton

©March 5th and 6th, 1873, with
surpassing pomp and cere-
mony.
His Lordship was evidently
much gratified by the enthu'
astic reception which gree .
him and his large and brill 'iit
staff on reaching Parliament
Hill. The noble Parliamentary
buildings with their magnifi-
T ,, tent central tower; the fine

LoKD Dufferin. .,., ,. , , "^

mih'ary display bv the

Royal Artillery, the Governor-General's' Foot
Guards and the ounted cavalry; the thojsands of
prominent and well-dressed people who crowded
the Senate Chamber and the corridors and passages
leading thereto; and the still greater number of
citizens who crowded the terrace outside and much
of the great Parliamentary square, made up a very
grand and imposing scene.

LORD DUFFERIN OPENS PARLIAMENT
When His Excellency, with Ladv n..ff •

seat in the Viceregal Chair Vh \,- ■ •""

Crown in Windsof L^ o' ^„ Th ^::;TZ °' 'l
the staff and the plain black of fh.Q " °^

upper end of the ChaVbe;. Spe t'S" "' '".'
members of the House nf r Cockburn and

Bar- H,» - ;• Commons standing at the

and long-to-be-rememl^li ^' '^" " •"«='"orable
prevailed. Hi^. Sw "' dT";"' /^'^*" ^■■'^"-
pleasing emphasis and /ract te^h'' •^'''''^'l "'^'^

Canadian capitalists," the speech rll . ^ "'
much legislation Tl,» ^ , ' "°' Promise
were brif find geneS n';^k""■'"''^ '"^'^"'"^ "^--^f"
it was around the Pactif " ' '"' '^'^''' "^^^
^ernmentant.£S^r'SrrSS

i;t:^tr^-SKLS£!

'35

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

necessary to enable the reader to form an intelligent
i>pinion upon the subject.

Two companies were incorporate', during the
previous session with the view of securing the great
railway charter. One w.- Sir Hugh Allan's of
Montreal, which was callod the Pacific Railway
Company, and some of its principal members were
United States capitalists, Mr. George W. McMullen,
of Pictor being their Canadian agent. The other
was a nurely Canadian company organized by the
Hm arable D. L. Macpherson, of Toronto, and
onwn as the Interoceanic Railway Company. The
lieadquarters of the former was Montreal, and of
the latter, Toronto, and a sturdy fight took place
between them to secure from the Government the
coveted prize. This struggle lasted all through the
summer and to the following February — although,
as subsequent revelations proved, Sir Hugh Allan
had been secretly promised in writing at the
l)eginning of the General Elections, as early as July
26th — and by the two principal Ministers of State
— that he would be made President of whatever
company they decided should get the charter to build
and operate the road.*

After interviews numeroi;s and difficulties and
wrangles many. Sir John Macdonald found he could
not amalgamate the rival companies. He finally cut
the Gordian knot shortly before Parliament met by

•A telegram of Sir John Macdonald to Sir George Cartier,
dated July a6tli, 1873, and a letter of Sir George Cartier to Sir
Hugh Allan, dated July 30th, 1872, were produced and certified
a* correct before the Royal Commiition, an4 fyled.

»36

HUNTINGDON'S CHARGES

S:;i''"fh ^''' '!"«';■ ^"""-^ ^'"*^'-' fiends.

mak.ng the great shipowner chairman of " The
Canadian Pacific Railway Co„,pany.- but nam n.
Canadians only as directors. The Board was Tom
posed as follows: Sir Hugh Allan. .MontrM-
Honourable A. G. Archibald, Hal fax NS
.-.nrable Joseph Octave l.eanl.ien an. Je'a„ bJ.-

S- .I'f"^ /n ■ -^"V.^- ^^- ^'""'berland, Hs,,., „„

''■'I. .M.. Shcrbrooke, Onelnv; Honourable |ohn
S. re inc. en, Vi....ria IJ.C. : An.lrew McDern J

W Iter Sanies l,s,., N„r,|, A.lanis, N,.S.. and fob,
Walker, b.sf)., London. Out.

Aside from being unnecessarily partisan this com
pany was cre,li,able to the Government ^l'"
members being Canadians, and most of "h ' f „ ,
ably known to the country at large

It was on April 2nd that the Honor ,> . s
Huntingdon, member of Parliament for ■ „ '
startled the House of Commonr." d t^-^^o ;!"

aga.nst the Government at the previous elections
They v^.er et forth in an elaborate resolution
drawn with strict regard to Parliamentary practke'
the substance of which was, that the Gover'S

WmseTf^a^' "f ^" ""«" ^"='"' «" ^ehaH
himself and his American and Canadian colleagues
that he vvould l>e ap,x)inted chaim , .kI chief of
the Pacific Railway Company, and that in tJn
Sir Hugh had advanced large sums of money
137

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

($162,000 directly to Cabinet Ministers, and
$350,000 in all) to aid the Government in carrying
the General Elections held throughout the Dominion
the year before !

Having moved this motion, Mr. Huntingdon sat
down without uttering a single word. The Hon.
M r. Mackenzie afterwards
explained that silence was
observed to avoid any charge
of prejudging the case. it
was nevertheless a tactical
mistake, which Sir John
Macdouald promptly availed
hini.self of by calling for an
itnniediate vote, which defent-
e<l the motion by 107 to 76.

Such grave charges, how-
ever, made by one of the
of Parliament, could not be
Canada was quickly
The press and public

Sir Hugh Allan.

foremost members
refused investigation. All
excited over the charges.

opinion demanded an investigation, and the pressure
became so great that the First Minister felt himself
called upon to move that a Committee be appointed
for the purpose. The House selected Messrs.
Hillyard Cameron, Macdonald (Pictou) and
Blanchet, Ministerialists, and Messrs. Dorion and
Blake, Oppositionists, to compose it.

The Committee promptly met and elected Mr.
Hillyard Cameron chairman. It soon appeared,
however, that neither the Government nor the Com-
mittee were in any hurry for the investigation.
'38

L'i

THE PACIFIC SCANDAL

First, it took several weeks to get a Bill passed to
examine witnesses on oath ; then, when they met on
May 5th to examine witnesses. Sir John Macdonald
attended and asked an adjournment to July 2nd on
the ground that Messrs. Cartier and Abbott could
have time to return from England and be present
which was opposed by Messrs. Dorion and Blake'
hut carried by the majority; and when they met
again on Ju!.- 2ntl at Montreal, the chairman opened
the proceedings by announcing that on the previous
day— July ist— an oft,. ,al proclamation* had been
puhh.shed at Ottawa announcing that the Oaths Act
had been disallowed by the British authorities And
on this ground the majority of the committee forced
another adjournment to August 13th— to which
Parliament itself had been adjourned-on the plea
of giving the committee sufficient time to take
evidence and report.

Messrs. Dorion and Blake strongly opposed these
repeated delays, and moved to call Sir Francis
Hincks, who was present, as a witness, but Messrs
Cameron, Macdondald and Blanchet voted all these
rnotions down. And in these various devious ways
the investigation into grave political charges
solemnly ordered by Parliament, was successfully
obstructed and brought to naught for several
months.

Sir John Macdonald, before the committee
adjourned, wrote, renewing a former offer to make
the Select Committee a Royal Commission, which

139

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

would enable them to examine witnesses under oath
and give thenr all the necessary powers. But in
dignified and caustic terms Mr. Dorion and Mr
Blake refused to act on a Government Commission,'
their chief objection being expressed in Mr. Blake's
letter m these words :

" It would be of evil consequence to create the

of Enquiry into matters of a . harge against itself;

Tr.?^"'""'T^^^' •«'■"&. as they are, subject to the
direction and control of the accused."

The day after the committee adjourned amidst
popular expressions of <li.sapproval in Montreal, the

Fni'.?7-"'°" ^"^ ''"''"' '" '^ Sreat surprise.
Frustrated in getting their evidence before the
Parliamentary Committee, Mr. George W
McMullen and his friends handed the secret history
of the whole Pacific Railway Scandal to the press
of Montreal. It consisted chiefly of copies of the
correspondence between Sir Hugh Allan and the
American capitalists associated with him in trying
o secure the Railway charter, as well as Sir Hugh's
letters to and from leading Dominion Ministers.
The original letters subsequently produced, and the
sworn testimony of Sir Hugh Allan himself, clearly
established the general accuracy of the principal
charges made. Sir Hugh's own story of the most
material points of the scandal may be summarized
as follows:

(I) That on July 26th, Sir John Macdonald
telegraphed to Sir George Cartier at Ottawa,
140

TERMS OF PACIFIC CONTRACT
instructing hin, " ,o assure Allan that the influence

wh^ff ,eT^^^ "^^^^^^^^^

S'sfceo^rc^ .^'"'°" "'''' "^Pointmen
After leLhT ^'""' ^' ""^ •'^°""-^al office
After lengthy discussion of the railway matter S,r
Oorge Carfer finally signed a letter to Sir Hug

Sh::;r:::f:^K,r-"^'"^wh;s

Icn with this H ,^ "'^^ "°' "^^''^^ '•°"-

I">n of h,s colleague's letter Tl,- v tT

and discuss the whole matter with them ru
revealed Cartier letter and theTltj eTe Jm wer^
thereupon both withdrawn, Sir HughX^ph^

He has no personal ambiHor'bm Cannot IT ■^".'' ""P""™"
concede any preference to Quebec „ the 1" 'I' '° °"'"'°
or m any other particular. He savs the °' "'° P^sWency,

dency should he left to the Board ^^"'.1 "" "^"^ ""= P«^-
authoriie you to assure Anan^hat M. « ""^ '^'■•^•"stanees I

The other tern.s to I,e as agreed , t i' '""""'" "> '''""'<•«.
Abbott <,„rf He whole mallcr'otTM '""" M^^Ph'^on and
lio«,. then the two rntl^e^ V^i r''' ""^'' "''•''•''''■ ''''"
Ottawa and settle the fennfof a nrovii T ^""^ C™ncil at
the only practical solution of °he dMcVl, Z'^.'""'"'- This is
" onee hy Allan. An.,.er°' f^^^J^^f ^^•>^^^_^^.6

141

ii :

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

this fact to Sir John Macdonald, and adding these
words ■■ " Your telegram to Sir George Cartier is the
basis of the arrangement, which no doubt you
approve of."

(c) That on the same day— July 30th— when
Sir Hugh and Mr. Abbott were preparing to depart,
acconhng to the evidence of the former before the
Royal Commission, tiio following important circum-
stances occurred : "As we were leaving. Sir George
said to me in l>is usual abrupt manner, ' Are you not
going to help us in our elections?" or words to th;n
effect. I replied that, as on former occasions, I
would no doubt do so to .some e.xtent, but I wanted
to know how much he required. He said it was
impo.ssible to tell, but from the opposition raised t,;
the Pacific Railway project it might be $100,000.
I thought this was a large sum, but I felt that the
interests involved in the approaching Montreal
elections were most important in a national point
of view. I therefore determined to give the Govern-
ment all the assistance in my power, and in answer
to Sir George's request I asked him to state to mc in
writing what he wanted me to do. In the afternoon
I waited on Sir George and he gave me a letter of
which the following is a copy:

" Private and Confidential.

" Montreal, 30th July, 1872.
" Dear Sir Hug!i,— The friends of the Govern-
ment will expect to he a,ssisted with funds during the
pending elections, and any amount which you or
your Company may advance for that purpose will
142

DETAILS OF GRAFT SCHEME

■' Very truly yours,

" G. E. Cartikr.
" N-m. wante,! : Sir John Macdonald ... $^=000

.. . S.rG.H.Cartier $20.ocx>

^i>JohnA.(a,l<litional) $10,000

.. .. ""';;^I'-I'angevin .....$,0,000
S.rG.E.Cartier $30,000-

lomuland), asking hnu to advance $20000
•"ore to Ins Central Con«nittee on " th same ST
d.t.ons as the amount written by n,e at the 00 "f"
my letter to Sir Hugh Allan o/the 30th ultto "
and m a footnote attached to thi- letter Sir P^r '

^.se.;rSr.A^,tmt::^?^flir
mg telegram marked " Immediate-pri;ate I muT

Mr'.''A&- "■' '"'" "' ''' ^°^^' earner ,o .he »„„„„„„«

— =t5^HH^'^=" ------

on the 30th ul-imo ' °' '"" '"'" "> Sir Hugh Allan

' ^f

!:l f:

(J -!;

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

(c) Taken altogfllier, Sir Ilugli Allan swore tlrt
he had advanced to various members of the
Administration the sum of $162,000,* and his evi-
dence went on to say : " I also paid for the assistance
of other friends of my own in connection with the
elections, between $16,000 and $17,000. These
sums, with the preliminary expenses on the Pacific
and the various railroads in which I was engaged
more or Jess connected with the Pacific enterprise,
ma.le up the amount of my advances to aljout
$.?5o,ooo."

The foregoing was in brief Sir Hugh Allan's own
slory of the principal facts of the Pacific Scandal,
l)ul there were numerous other unpleasant circum-
stances disclosed which are purposely omitted.
1 hese astounding revelations were published,' in
whole or in part, in every Canadian newspaper from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, and the transactions
were generally painted in much darker colours than
the knight of Ravenswood employed. They were
in fact read with pain and regret by all right-
thinking Canadians, and the general feeling was
that they must leave a dark and abiding stain on the
escutcheon of Canada unless Parliament and people
rose in their might and vindicated the political and
Parliamentary principles which had been so shame-
fully violated.

™.*n,' '" l^'t ^'"'' r "'^ "=""" ' f°""<l ""t <he "niited pay-
ments which I at first agreed to had been exceeded, and with
subseciuent advances they finally stood as follows: To Sir George
flH r'"i S""-!""'". »«5.ooo; ,0 Hon. John A. Macdon
aid, toward election expenses in Ontario, $45,000; to the
Honourable H L Langevin, towards electoral expetises „ Quebec

Ro^'aT Co:r,LJn'"°°°- -'''^ "■""• ^""■■•' """"« "-'- «■'
144

CHAPTER XVI.

FALL OF THE MACDONALD
GOVERNMENT

1 ne (jovernor-General T nrri n.,% ■

Macdonald advised an imm. v\ "^ J°^'^

Excellency oTflrtT '""" '''^ prorogation. His
of Prot^ion bu^LT'^ adjournment instead

distLt underTtknX SpaSel';""",;" ''^
be called together in Lhrnr f ^ "'°"''' ^S^"'
First Minister reLT?'"7'''''- When the
by Mr Sfchard r ^ ^"^l ^^P"^^*'^". headed

Hi. ExcU^cy. r,pl, ... ta . c«„™?™n,

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Judges would be appointed to take evidence in
regard to the Huntingdon charges, and that Parlia-
ment would be assembled again as soon as their
labours were concluded.

Lord Duflferin's consent to the prorogation of
Parliament before it could take further action in
regard to the Pacific Railway investigation raised
a storm of criticism, and for a time he was much
perplexed. As evidence of this I may mention that
after the prorogation he sent for the Honourable
Alexander Mackenzie and frankly discussed the
situation with him. This interview impressed the
Liberal leader favourably as to His Excellency's
desire to act with fairness as Her Majesty's repre-
sentative, and this becoming known, greatly modified
the criticism of his action which had set in.

When the Houses of Parliament met at three
o'clock, the Governor-General amidst a great crush
of spectators in the galleries promptly took his place
in the Viceregal chair to declare the prorogation.
Mr. Cockburn, Speaker of the Commons, was over
twenty minutes late on that day, nnd Lord Dufferin
had to wait, and Black Rod play the part of Peeping
Tom through the glass of the central door, during
all that time. When the Speaker did appear, the
Honourable Mr. Mackenzie immediately began
speaking to a question of privilege, and a very
unusual Parliamentary scene followed.

The Speaker was soon on his feet, the Sergeant-

at-Arms stood waiting to announce that Black Rod

was at the door with a message from the Senate,

and Mr. Mackenzie, amidst cries of " Order! order!"

146

HOUSE BREAKS UP IN DISORDER

from the Ministerialists, and of " Privilege •
privilege!" from their opponents, continued to speak
m loud tones against any interference with the rights
and hberties of Parliament. He sent up the follow-
ing strongly-worded resolution to the Speaker:

"Constitutional usage requires that charges of
corruption against Ministers of the Crown should
be investigated by Parliament and that the assur^^
t.on of that duty by any tribunal created by the
Executive would be a flagrant violation of the
privileges of this House."

Mr. Mackenzie then continued his speech amidst
loud noises and confusion, during which the Speaker
motioned to the Sergeant-at-Arms to admit Black
Kod. That sable functionary from the peaceful
regions of the Senate was for a moment nonplussed
by the stormy scene around him, but managed to
give his bows and message in pantomime. Scarcelv
anyone heard a syllable, but Speaker Cockburn evi-
aent y understood his meaning, for he immediately
left the chair, although Mr. Mackenzie was still
speakmg m defence of what he declared to be the
liberties of P.-.rliament.

Headed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, but amidst
continued expressions of disapprobation both on the
Hoor of the House and in the Kalleries, the Speaker,
Ministers of the Crown and their supporters then
proceeded to the Senate Chamhev, where the proro-
gation ceremony was quickly performed.

All the Liberal Senators and Commoners, with
very few exceptions, declinol to attend the proro-
'47

ill?'

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Ration, and soon after Lord Dufferin had concluded
and retired, they convened an indignation meeting
in the large Railway Committee room. Mr.
Mackenzie presided, and the principal speakers were
Senator Christie and Messrs Holton, Cartwright,
Blake, Dorion, Young (Montreal), Laflamme,
Huntingdon, Mills, Smith and Anglin (N.B.), and
Letellier de St. Just. At six o'clock an hour's
adjournment took place, and the night was far
advanced when the resolutions were unanimously
passed. The first declared the prorogation to W
" a gross violation of the privileges and independ-
ence of Parliament and of the rights of the people,"
and the second, that Parliament should again take
the investigation of the Huntingdon charges into
its own hands as soon as it was called together. And
thus ended this memorable day — the 13th of
August — in our Parliamentary annals.

The Governor-General immediately left Ottawa
to rejoin Lady DuflFerin at St. John, N.B., and the
following day the Government appointed their
promised Royal Commission. The Commissioners
were : Judge Day, of Montreal, and Judge Polette,
of Three Rivers — ^both of the Quebec Superior
Court— and County Court Judge Gowan, of Barrie,
Ontario.

The Honourable Mr. Huntingdon, Senator
Foster, George W. McMullen and other chief
witnesses refused to give evidence before this
tribunal, but about October ist the Commission
reported the evidence of over thirty witnesses,
without expressing any opinion thereupon.
148

GREAT POLITICAL EXCITEMENT

True to his promise. Lord Dufferin summoned
the second session of the second Parliament of
Canada to meet on October ajrd. It met amidst
greater pohtical excitement than ever. The Royal
Speech contained little except an announcement that

the Pacific Railway m England, and had thrown
up the charter.

The great debate which must either vindicate or
overthrow the Government did not begin till

^^ \'^\ '='"'' ^'''" immediately after the
Address had been moved and seconded, the Honour-
ab e Mr. Mackenzie in a powerful and eloquent
but moderate speech, moved that the following
words be added to the second clause thereof:

"And we have to acquaint Your Excellency that
by their course n reference to the investigation of
the charges preferred by Mr. Huntingdon in h°s
place ,n th.s House, and under the facts disck,sed
m the evidence laid before us. His Excellency's
advisers have merited the severe censure or^is

The Hon. Dr. Tupper, with customary forceful-
ne..s and fluency, replied at length to Mr
Mackenzie s attack upon the Government, and in
this way was opened one of the most remarkable
and profoundly exciting debates in all our Parlia-
mentary history. Nearly every member of the
House of Commons spoke on one side or the other
But details are impossible, as the struggle went on
"— o .49

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

for seven days and most of the nighU, and many
singular scenes took place.

The six representatives of Prince Edward Island
—which Province had recently entered the Federa-
tion-took their seats for the first time at the
beginning of the debate, and this added to the un-
certainty of the approaching vote. Both sides
•ought hard to capture these votes, in fact all
members supposed to be doubtful were besieged bv
both sides almost day and night. The crowded
attendance, late hours and prolonged excitement
naturally led to undue conviviality on the part of
those so inclined, and so uncertain was the vote
txpected to Ir.. lK,th as to time and result, that some
members were actually kept under lock and key for
days and nights lest they should be s/<mted away
and got to vote contrary to their expressed
intentions.

It was not until the second Monday of the debate
November 3rd. when there were at least eight or
ten avowed defections from the Government's sup-
port, that Sir John Macdonald and his friends felt
that he could no longer delay in entering the arena
of debate. A report that he would speak that after-
noon, and the Honourable Edward Blake reply
spread like wildfire throughout Ottawa, and all day
the spacious Chamber was crowded with members
.senators, and deeply interested spectators— hundreds
of whom in the evening were unable to gain admit-
tance to the galleries.

It was an hour after recess— nine o'clock-when
the Prime Minister entered the Chamber and

SIR JOHNS DEFENCK

'-ameV;a„., rSvf' r"='-^- ''^^ -'-ce
-for in many res„7„ hi ' '" ^'"^"^ ■^''"'■'K^'-

-ide his us„L ': ,"^; "'r'r"-' "rown

"«rvo„s. His poli, ,-^'- ,,''' '""'"^'^ pale and
a statesman, hu,,, i„ X b ',, " '"r"^' '•"«" «»

pressed, as indeed everv I , 7'''""'^ "'^^ i"'-
wi;h .he .ravi,;::^^;::;;;;;;'"^- House was,

'■•- of ar«u„K.„;\- n .J^^fe^

"•ent's action in rer-a d to , "^- ""^ ^"'^■'■^"

...ittee's adjournmems i ? " "'^""«s"nff Com-

Commission; i„ rT.Z' ,' /Z°'T^ ""^ R"'''
Oaths Act; anlTtl, f ' disallowance of fhe
Railway Companv i J% °',?''*r "' 'he Pacific

These points he disc, sed S'^'' 'i"''" '' "^ '^«'"'-
shrewdness and k i l^l^^''"' :"f '' "^ 'he ahilitv.

^H-^^^any'^a^HlI^LrXl;-''^^^^^^""^

ally became /ondernnd 1 """■. "''^ ^°'>e gradi,-
excessive, and n2Z ' '"■"'"'■ '"■" ^'"'"hih-ty
eharges agains A " "^^."^ '" V"'"''" of Personal
"andin, the empha ic ZXl:f'\ ""'-'■"^-
Pers.sted in repeating nntH tl I , J-'entleman. he

He --'erated^ain^:: .SnS^th'"'"' '""'"•

l.arga,n-no contract between hi r„v' '"''' ""

^■^ Hugh AHan, and finan;::;^----'

»5i

r***l

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

mense sums paid by that gentleman to himself and
other Ministers were only a large election sub-
scription, which all Governments made a practice
of, and were justified in accepting from their
political supporters. His peroration was almost
dramatic, and closed with the following words : " I
can see past the decision of this House, either for
or against tne. But whether it be for or against me,
I know— and it is no vain boast for me to say so.
for even my enemies will admit I am no boaster—
that there does not exist in this country a man who
has given more of his time, more of his heart, more
of his wealth, more of his intellect and power, such
as they may be, for the good of this Dominion of
Canada." (Prolonged Government cheers.)

During the latter part of his speec" . hich lasted
a little over four hours. Sir John failed to do himself
justice. But successful defence of the actions of
his Government and himself in this matter was an
impossibility, and his authorized biographer, Joseph
Pope, Esq., now C.M.G., has frankly told us that
" before he rose he must have felt the judgment of
the House was against him."*

When the Honourable Edward Blake arose at ten
minutes to two o'clock in the morning to reply to

• " For the first and last time of his life he failed— or perhaps
I should not say he failed, as before he rose he must have felt
that the judgment of the House was again.-t him— but there and
then only was his supreme effort in vain. His majority, not large
in April, had been steadily melting away. A sense of extreme
uneasiness prevailed in the Ministerial ranks, which was ominous
for the Administration. There was ' a sound of going in the tops
of the mulberry trees,' a feeling of impending change everywhere
abroad. —Pope's " Life of Sir John Macdonald," Vol. H.. Daze
194. • " *"

15*

BLAKE'S G!JEAT SPEECH

these high and elevatinJ f "°'' ^' '^'^- " '»

the intelligent judgment oflh ' ' T^l "°' "P°"
but upon Sir Hufh^ A i > P'°P'«= he had relied,

retort electr fie? the Ho?" ' T"'^'" '^^^' ^harp
proceeded to ^s Lt " e P '";.^''.''^'' ^^- ^'^ke
with conspicuous f!^^rn« T' .^'"'^ter's defence
his line of rZ rwts ^i?^°^"^*-"- I" brief.
Allan control of theVlt. l " ^'^'"^ S"" ""gh

whilst ta.i„;' ht '1! "w^:^ ttxr tT ''^-'^

ment had be»n pniltv A^f '"^.orner, the Govern-

hadplannedlo'^l^e^elThrSiafc'^''"'-'*--^
appointed by Parliam^nf 7 ■ Committee

Huntingdon chareeThl IT '"^"t'S^t-ng the
Bill, it was the pfemil?. "" ''' P"''""^ '^' "^'hs
caused its dial owanT l^tT" representations that
mittee was again Sed from '"""^^'1°" Corn-
Montreal on July Sn^ bv tlTc "^ '^"^'"« ^'
issuing a ProcUaS o^ ju y r"hTd"' ''"k ?"^
-<ieclaring that the Oaths 4 ~ht t -■■'
allowed: that the I^tt. . Vc \ ° "^^n dis-

fGeo;ge£rtt ^rljelbl'ilhfd^b "'^" '"'
the former gentleman; Ld fu S ,h"^r ^'''■
tence that Sir Hugh Allan's m„ ""^ P''^"

election subscriptifn w li tSe7thr'' ^'^'•^^
toth m ,, ^, anytnS^^X-'-f

word:\'"r'bet7e'ltT"'\"' '^'"^'^ ^^^ '''-
Deiieve that this night or to-morrow will

153

'/W

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

see the end of twenty years of corruption— f ironical
Government cheers)— this night or to-morrow night
will see the dawn of a brighter and better day in
the administration of public affairs in this country."
(Immense Liberal cheering.)

When Mr. Blake concluded, many considered this
to be the greatest speech which, up to that time, he
had ever made in Parliament, and he had the unique
compliment paid to him that, when his Liberal
friends ceased cheering, his Conservative opponents
united in giving a hearty round of applause.

It has been often said that it was not till the
Honourable David Laird spoke for Prince Edward
Island, and the member for Lisgar, now Lord Strath-
cona, had thrilled the House with his brief but ever
memorable speech,* that the Ministerialists gave up
hope. But the position of these gentlemen was known
before they spoke, and there is little reason to doubt
that it was Mr. Blake's thorough exposure of the
Pacific Scandal in all its details, and his ringing
appeal to his Conservative opponents not to further
stain the fair name of Canada and their own

* The principal portion of Lord Strathcona's speech was as
follows : With respect to the transaction between the Govern-
ment and Sir Hugh Allan he did not consider that the First
Minister took the money with any corrupt motive. He felt that
s- u f °' "« po^'rnment was incapable of taking money from
Mr Hugh Allan for corrupt purposes. He would be most willinn
to vote confidence in the Government -(loud cheers from the
Oovernraent side)-- could he do so conscientiously. (Immense
Opposition cheers and laughter.) It was with very great regret
that he felt he could not do so. For the honour of the country
no Government should exist that has a shadow of suspicion of
this kind resting on them, an,i for that reason he could n-.t
support them. ( Renewed Oppotition cheers.)

^34

SIR JOHN RESIGNS
S'sVr'^'' ''^' «-"^ -ed the Govern.

vote of censur whlVhTdT °' ""'■ ^^-^Ws

C r '';^'"^'^' ^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^ °^

hadthrslpportTtL'HoSrj?'"'^ '^''^^^d they
not only give them a %"?« of ^"'j^ "°"^« would
c>ent support to carry oisaLfT.f'''?'^"'.''"' ^««-
°f the country. HowevJ f°"^y "'e affairs
stated in this House r^/' ^^^'^ "''fain things
tK>ns more or less 'w f *"" ''"^■■" "mmun kf
*ey had reason to be&i^ft of the HoTs'
'hey had not at this^l" ^f"^' ^'''^^ ^new-tha

the res.fe^nation of the Admin- »'•''•= ''^'^ a<:<:eptld
Mr. Mackenzie, the leadeTof tf'°?.^"^ ^^"'^°r
form a new Government ^ Opposition, to

'55

CHAPTER XVII.

GEORGE BROWN— HIS BOW PARK FARM— JOSEPH

HOWE— BECOMES UEUTENANT-GUVERNOR OF

NOVA SCOTIA— A GREAT AND BRILLIANT

BRITISH AMERICAN— GEORGE E.

^ARTIER- HIS PATHETIC

DEATH IN LONDON.

Before entering upon the history of the new
Liberal regime under the Premiership of the
Honourable Alexander Mackenzie, there are a few
occurrences which are worthy of relation.

Whilst the new Prime Minister had led the
Opposition from 1867 to 1872, and was cheerfully
and loyally supported by general consent, he was
never formally elected leader until the opening of
the second Parliament in 1873. ^^ the first caucus
of the party it was decided to appoint a joint com-
mittee to consider the leadership and report as early
as possible. The Ontario section named Messrs.
Mackenzie, Blake, Young (Waterloo), Rymal and
Richards; the Quebec section Messrs. Dorion,
Holton, Letellier, Huntingdon and Jette.

The committee held two or three meetings. All
were agreed, first, that the leader should be from
Ontario, and second, that the choice should be either
Mr. Mackenzie or Mr. Blake. Mr. Mackenzie
praised Mr. Blake and Mr. Blake advocated the

156

MACKENZIE BECOMES LEADER

selection of Mr. Mackenzie, making it clear that he
could not accept the leadership under eZZjl

J^e Honourable John Young, of Montreal, Mr

a^d unTn" "^'Tr^""'" ">' "^^ J-"' ~itVee
and unanimously elected.

th.'^S"^^ in retirement from public life so far as

the Honourable George Brown continued to take

e sTfT' Tf '" ""'"■'^ ^'^--^ -d in the sue!

H left the'L? , fL'" "^ "^^ ^° '""^ '''^ '-der.

asked 11 ' i'"^'" " ^''' '^^"^- ''"'• when

asked, was ever ready to advise or assist in oartv

hTsTHif ■" '"' '""'' "^ '^' Pr.L\lT?/r
meTL S ''°"' ''"' '"" P°'^""'^' both in Parlia-
ment and the country, and he rendered great service

87?alfho n'ri '"""^ "'^ criticaf elect:::
IK72, although he only made one single sneech ThU
was at Newmarket, North York, on JuT .tt 1

:«=:frt~'T"vf^^^-
XSfr;&^T°'"^-^---^

powertul on the platform m earlier days
Mr. Brown's energy still continued unabated and

w..e,. „, the Grand R. or !,.„„i„j „ ,.",: ^^^^
'57

STSwacK. ^T»eHU'

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

of an ox-bow. Having successfully sold out his
estate at Bothwell, with its oil, cabinet-ware and
other industries, Mr. Brown proceeded not only to
stock Bow Park with the most costly of pedigreed
British Shorthorn cattle and other live stock * but
lavished money in making its buildings, fences and
grounds on old country models.

He had two Scotch masons from Gait working
on his stables and other buildings at that time They
were brothers, named James and Thomas Dalgleish
both intelligent, superior men, and one day in his
office at Toronto, I rallied him on what one of them
toid me after his return.

"What was that?" he asked, impulsively "Well "
I replied, " one of them told me he had always con-
sidered you would be the best man for Finance Min-
ister we could find in all Canada, but after seeing
the way you were throwing away money at Bow
Park he had been much shaken in this opinion "

Tossing down his pen, Mr. Brown jumped to »-.is
feet impetuously, exclaiming : " Ah ! fools and chil-
dren shouldn't see half-done work!"

•The Honourable Robert Jaffray, Senator, during the summer
of '^oe related :o me the following amusing incden, iLs^ve
of the absorbing interest which Mr. Brown toolt in Bow Parl< and
his splendid Shorthorn herds. Whilst Mr. Jaffray was one dav

Streifoffi- I'A" 'Tr" 'i"' "" Mr. Brow"; athis Ktn^
Street office, a telegraph boy rushc. in and thrust a message into
he editor's hands. Hurriedly glancing over it, Mr. Brown i" e
to his feet, and with swinging arms exclaimed : " Oh that is
grand-that is glorious new, I" Wondering what could cause such

••mat^s''h^""'H^*T''"'"'"■ ^'- J^'f"^ ^■™'"«'' "> »"<.
What IS It? and o his great surprise and amusement, Mr

_r^'

HOWE APPOINTED LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR

whfch Bow K'ha?;""' .'"^''"^ °" *"« ^"'x'
the characTer oftS stor^^^^^^ "" '" '•^'^'"^

-d predicted tha he would ere w';:! m '''"^''''•
"sh statistics which woud p Jr,^tt °^'"^
-.n, concern. But th. tir^n/oV^^,; n^^'

Cabinet durinrXJ T "J 'u *''' °°""'"'°"

the Honourable jo?eph Ho' ■' 'u '"' °' ^P"'
been failing f„/°''P'^ ,"°"'e, whose health had

"1 lauing for some time, resigned hi? nffi.
Secretary of State for th Provinces and ''
appomted L,e„tena„t.Govemor Tr^ati e pTo!

NoTa Sc" , rv'STe'hIn ^""f ^ '''^°"^''°-

countrymen en oved 5 "•'" ^''''-■'' ^"'^ ^^"°^-
hJo li enjoyed. Animosities beine- stillpH h„

h s old age and retirement i„ poor heafth hi '
almost universally welcomed back to N I ^^'
as its new Lieutenant-Governor Buf ^°'f .^"^"^^
not long to eniov that I. u T ■ ■ *'^'' ^^ ^^s

weeks after his homecoming-the grt^ Not ?"'
tian breathed his last ^ ^'^°"

hiSft;S""£ ss-r 9-"'^ ^°"^^-

"ova bcotias greatest sons— and
IS9

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Judge Longley, in his recently published biography,
very justly place the Honourable J<v*eph Howe
among the greatest men born under the British
Crown on this continent. In his " Life of Joseph
Howe," page a 'S, Judge Longky nv.kts the follow-
ing observati -ns upon Howe's connection with the
Dominion as a Minister of the Crown :

" Howe's four years as a member of Sir John
Macdonald's Cabinet are the least glorious of his
whole career. His health was impaired and he did
not possess the vigour and fire of his former years.
But apart from this the situation was novel. Howe
had been accustomed all his life to lead and control
events. He found himself a member of a Govern-
ment of which Sir John Macdonald was the supreme
head, and of a cast of mind totally different from
his own.

" Sir John Macdonald was a shrewd political man-
ager, anopportunist, whose unfailing judgment led
him unerringly to pursue the course most likely to
succeed each hour, each day, each year. Howe had
the genius of a bold reformer, a courageous and
creative type of mind, who thought in continents,
dreamed dreams and conceived great ideas. Sir
George Cartier, a man not to be named in the same
breath with Howe as a statesman, was, nevertheless,
a thousand times of more moment and concern, with
his band of ' Bleu ' followers in the House of Com-
mons, than a dozen Howes, and the consequence is
that we find, for four years, the great old man play-
ing second fiddle to his inferiors, and cutting a far
i6o

HOWE CHAMPION OF POPULAR RIGHTS

from heroic figure in the arena in which he had been
cast under circumstances altogether unfavourable."

Whilst not subscribing U. all the view, of his
biographer given above, there can be no doubt they
fairly present the principal reasons why Howe failed
to take that high position in the Dominion Parlia-
ment which .!..• great reputation he had deservedly
won in earlier years led many to expect. There
was, however, an additional and most potent reason.
Whether actuated by patriotism, pique or some
occiilt reason, his Repeal agitation was the mistake
of Howe's life, and his subsequent acceptance of
Confederation and a Cabinet office rather tended to
deepen than dispel the cloud which hung over his
course in this matter.

But at the worst this was only a spot upon the
sun, and vo fair-minded man cati read the history
of Joseph Howe from his birth in 1804 on the North-
West Arm of Halifax harbour, till he practicalix
became, by the will of the people, the dictator of
Nova Scotia, without feeling that Nature had lav-
ished upon him many of her choicest gifts.

He was at once a graceful writer, an orator almost
without a peer for brightness, humour and pathos,
a poet of no mean order, the tried champion of
popular rights, a constructive statesman when in
office, and a man so approachable and genial as to
be the idol of the people. A few mistakes during
a lifetime of devoted public service cannot obscure
the intrinsic greatness of a man cast by Nature in
such an heroic mould, and therefore history must
161

I!T"

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

rank "Joe Howe," as his fellow-countrymen de-
lighted to call him, as one of the most brilliant and
distinguished statesmen that British America ever
produced.

Word was received in Canada by cable on May
20th that Sir George Etienne Cartier — for nearly
twenty years one of the most striking figures in Par-
liamentary and Government circles — had died in
London that morning at six o'clock. This sad news
was not unexpected by those who knew his condi-
tion. His health had been failing before the recent
general elections, and the defeat of himself in Mont-
real East and of so many of his veteran " Bleu "
supporters throughout the Provinces made his ail-
ment — said to be Bright's disease — so dangerous to
his life that he was persuaded to set out for England
in hopes of getting treatment and change which
would effect his recovery.

He was affectionately cared for in London by his
wife and two daughters, but it soon became apparent
that he was slowly dying week by week. Nothing,
however, seemed to dim his hopes that he would
soon be well enough to sail for Canada again, and
it was extremely pathetic and affecting under such
circumstances that .he continued to write Sir John
Macdonald and other friends as long as he could
hold a pen, his letters evincing the deepest interest
in Canadian affairs and desire to resume his part
therein. Only three days before his death he tried
to write a letter in bed — vvliich his daughter Joseph-
ine had to finish — addressed to his old colleague Sir
163

SIR r.KORGE E.

CARTlER.

MKIOCOPY MSOUITION TiST CHART

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

1.0

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1 2.2

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III 1-8

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/APPLIED IM/tGE Inc

1653 Eoit Main Slreet

Roetie»t»f. N«w Yort. 14609 USA

(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

(716) 288- 5989 -fan

DEATH OF SIR GEORGE CARTIER

^^^aB;:^^::;:;^!^ 'He hope that he
Canada on the 29th - ^,°s I r^?'' '° '^'^ ^°'
suddenly culminated and on th '.T''"'""' '"^'^''y
-orning. after su^n, nrstre'n^ T "' ''"t^'^'
dy».g." he peacefully passfdlw^f '° "^ ^ ^

JacteJ'c;^L'^re^'r?«'' ^""^'^^ ''^^ '"
discoverer of thVst"'^"^ ^■■''°" "^^'&^tor and
County of Vercheres^oTh "' ""'/^^ ''°"' '" 'he
'8'4. He was7typlP^,tn"h c1 T"'^^ '^*'''
sessed fairabilitie^bu ha7n;Se"r "• "' P"^'
presence. graceful speech nor a^^ .'" =^npressive
though gifted with vl H courteous manner,

.^; My d«r MacTnl!S;4 a^I^'^ft L*"'' "''^ ■'«■• ■8^3
hc^d a°oen''"?V'<= "^'"^ in "; aes^* fa" ' ''" ""^^ -«""

day Very hk^ly he is waiting fo'',^"', ' "£"' " '■'om day to
Ur. Johnson says I am „,„ ■ "" '*'>' officers of th. r„
cold weather and .he Tof/SZ" " T" ^^ P°-ible "b^u. 7h"e
ro'^ed'^or"*" "°* '"-X for™? 5\t" •■"» -ce severa

<. V ""^'levc me as alwavq
Yours very sincerely ^ '
,63 "G-E.C«„,....

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

he possessed much kindliness of heart and geniality,
especially when met in social intercourse.

During the earlier sessions after Confederation,
Sir George displayed his hospitality by giving an
entertainment to the members on Saturday nights.
None but gentlemen were ever invited, which
quickly won for them the name of " stag parties,"
and as all political shades were freely intermingled,
a more free and easy, jolly festivity could hardly
be imagined. It was generally ten o'clock befoi..
most of the guests arrived, and the rooms were
often so crowded that you could hardly get space
to stand.

The chief event of the evening was supper at
half-past eleven o'clock (when on time), but the
evening was principally spent in conversation,
French-Canadian boat songs, Scotch ballads, or
other divertissements improvised for the occasion.
Sir George himself set the example in jollity, and
after welcoming those present liked nothing better
than to grasp hands with two or three friends and
jump round in a ring like so many garcons just out
of school.

At one of these Saturday night entertainments a
rather weird but unnoticed incident occurred which
I am tempted after forty years to relate. A promin-
ent member of Parliament was announced, a man
not generally liked, and with not a few bitter oppon-
ents. I had never seen him before at close range,
and something about his face had arrested my atten-
tion. As I stood gazing, my thoughts involuntarily
wandered to a figure seen at Madame Tussaud's in
164

POLITICAL BITTERNESS

London. Just at that moment a tall rf,ri, • .
me.andputtin^hI•smo„ft, f ^ ^'"'^'* '°^-»'-ds

•'Do yo^u sX^f^c vts^rd't^^''--

glancing towards th^ „. sparklmg dark eyes

added: "ItTsTked.f.T'"''' "'*" *"= «>°«'ly
This staJh-J f '^ °^ ^ mur-da-raire !"

geniality, fun and frnl^' ',,^ u l"^"' ^^ ""''''« the

'■•vely fe'^^^tiWties as any hin"' u"''"^"'^''^'^ *''«'«
m^n P I- ^"ythmg could poss bly be

Sir Sr^SS; t"th'■1"^-^ '"'°-ed of
Mr. Mackenzie Mr Dor' »^ /°''" Macdonald,
Cauchon, espenalfv tE- f "' ^'^ ^""«^^"'" """ Mr.
graceful SSir^^VZllV^^ ^-«-en. paid
deceased Minister. a'nJon ^u ^e ttrhT" °' *^
were conveyed to Montreal C.l^ .u "■""*'""
largest and'most impos "g StaTe fuLr',""^ "' ^
stowed on a Canadian cilen '"'' '^-

very^sc'r^X/f ;;;:,7- l^r^^^^"^^' ^ -
in politi • warfare h?,/., "^^^P""' '^^ "sed

pendencc. course and J'\^^Pr*"°" f"-- inde-
manded the ^s^!' fl ^^^'ght forwardness con-
He was for Snt! yearsT h '' "'" "' '"'''"''■
during whichTriod r!^" the champ.on of Quebec,

its arcl, enemy'l^d alUheT. °"" "'^ '^'^'"'"^ ^
Macdonald and himsl prfo/tnT '"'?' ^j'" J°hn

-d-m_o,tofrSe:^----^^^^^^^
165

i'l!

'! L

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

but when an important Cabinet difference arose. Sir
George had the courage to put his foot down and
become the ruler of Canada for the time being, and
he controlled the votes necessary to back him up.

Though not wif it serious mistakes, his policy
brought about some .mportant reforms in the Pro-
vince of Quebec, and as a member of George
Brown's famous Federation Committee, as a visitor
to the Charlottetown Convention, and a delegate to
the Quebec Conference, he was the zealous and un-
wavering friend of Confederation from first to
last. Take him all in all, Cartier was a bold and
striking figure in our public life for nearly two
decades, and as one of the Makers of Canada he is
entitled to be placed in the foremost rank.

i66

CHAPTER XVIII.

OTTAWA THRILLED WHEN THP Hriv .

c^^"L::ntl?Zf "^^ ''"'^' -"- ■' be-
1873, that the S !^ '"°°" °f November 5th

ourable Alexander mI u ^"'1' '"^ '''^' '^e Hon-
and entrusted with the for.ation^f ^l^^ ^Snt'
Mr. Mackenzie * accented H;= it 11

VI ed mc_much lo ,„y surprise- ir,= °"'' <=«ning he >n-

I he recollections of ihat rid,- it u . "'"'^"^ '<"■ an offict-
«;« « charac..ri,,ic of^Mrl^^^^™'" ''f,"ard to obli.era.e.^T,

appeared no more „plif,ed Z^ilhlTTl- ""P"""''e<i- He
ordinary day's work No word of u •'^'" ^°'"^ ™' 'o an
« wa, in fac, ,„„„ subdued and r ,^""^"/>" ""ped l,i. Up,
tafon to me was no dS intended 1""' "'^" ■""^'- His I'^i:
v.ere not a few reasons whv-hl ■ 1 *f " compliment, and tliere
■<f his political plans. B^te,^ce«'?b' ^''' "''' ""■"W"? to me
was going to call up„„,Te ^as Ken, «"',T c' "■« «-""l™an he
h-5 arrangements, and not The re™^t I I ^^^'"^ '" "g"^ to
"s as to tie new Cabine" either To?'"* '^"*'"' P^"«l b«ween
Alexander Mackenzie. E^en „?,n T ^ ■""'"""■"'"K ' Such was
Mt and best, he was so cannv T^H ' '""""o"' "ere the ki"d
out the si,,„ 3,.^, ofTheSd'anS'tMr'Vr' "" »""'" '"rne'd
'o.t Um .Mny a friend before hi, poUt^Lu^" ^ "■ ""'"'""««'/
' vBuucai reign came to a close
167

V '■

i'UBLIC MEN ANL PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

less difficulty in completing his task. As usual, sev-
eral deserving candidates had to be overlooked. But
no complaints were heard, although it was said one
little, ambitious, but deserving member of Parliii-
ment shed a few tears in one of the corridors when
he learned he was not in the cast.

When the House met the next day, the honour-
able L. H. Helton, who spoke for the new Ministers,
announced that Mr. Mackenzie had formed his
Cabinet ; and that with the exception of the Presi-
dency of the Council, the portfolios had been dis-
tributed as follows'

Province of Ontario. — Premier and Commis-
sioner o' Public Works, Mr. Alexander Mackenzie;
Without Portfolio, Mr. Edward Blake; Secretary
of State, Senator David Christie ; Finance Minister,
Mr. R. J. Cartwright; Postmaster-General, Mr. D.
A. Macdonald ; With Portfolio, but unassigned, Mr.
R. W. Scott.

Province of Quebec. — Minister of Justice, Mr.
A. A. Dorion; Agriculture, Mr. Letellier de St.
Just; Inland Revenue, Mr. Telesphore Fournier.

Province of Nova Scotia. — Militia and De-
fence, Mr. William Ross; Receiver-General, Mr.
Thomas Coffin.

Province of New Brt nswick. — Fisheries, Mr.
Albert J. Smith ; Customs, Mr. Isaac Burpee.

Prince Edward Isi-and. — Minister of the In-
terior, Mr. David A. Laird.

Although only a few hours in office, the new
Government decided that there should be an imme-
diate dissolution of Parliament and a General
l68

HO\. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE.

MACKENZIE GOES TO COUNTRY

to the people that X^^h uT"' '"'^ '' *" ^ue

objectionable circLs a„c« T!? n1 ''"^ '"'
rogued Parliament the "Le^f *"" P'^"

^""-nving speech: afternoon with the

'h- resignation ol 1 la^ wili;. ^" ^""P^-J"'"" of
ba^e on the AddresTi hale ' . J"" r''"'L"» ^'''^ ^e-
tration to my Conn;/ 7^ "^ " ^'■"'' Adminis-
the House ha^nghus 1^'^" ""'"'^^ "^ ««'* '"
decided, whh dTreJard tT .^«'^=""' ^ have
<he -ase. that it will Kstn' '^■^"•Tistances of
ests of the puhhc toXueX P '^E ^^V"-

and^'^ti'r tcific'Ta-r' '^''^"'^"' -^^ ^-''a.

'onga,i,,,3T;;rts':;'rc:":;:v^'''' '-' ^

office. Three wer^ of £ fiv '7 ''PP^'n'^nts to
John Crawford, member or'-r'' """''^^ ^^•
Toronto, appointed LieutenanfSr'"* 'j ^«'
r'o; the Ho„our.:Je S L A^ "^^' ""^ °^ °"'"-
ernor of New Brunswick- :!"'-^ ^■^"'«=nant-Gov-
Macdonald, Jud« "f Thf^ * Honourable Hugh

^ Jllector of Customs fnr A u ' "'^^ appointed

of others to minor office/ ShSr'' '"'^^'^°'«

cancel these improper a^ttf o?nT, P^J

169

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

ill

was the first knotty point they had to face, and they
took the conciliatory course of allowing the appoint-
ments actually completed but disallowing all the

oth'li.

Ontario's new Lieutenant-Governor, the Honour-
able John Crawford, was sworn in at Government
House, Toronto, on November 12th. Among those
present were Messrs. Mowat, Crooks, McKellar and
Pardee, Chief Justice Draper, Honourable Judges
Gait and Duggan, Honourable J. B. Robinson, M. C.
Cameron, S. B. Richards, Reverend Principal
Caven, Vicar-General Jamot and other distinguished
citizens. His Honour was publicly congratulated
liy Chief Justice Draper and Premier Mowat.

Whilst most men would have been crushed under
the circumstances of his defeat, the nonchalant activ-
ity with which Sir John Macdnnal set to work to
break the fall of his Adrain'-tration and hold his
party together was truly remarkable. Within a few
days of his resignation, h. called an Opposition
caucus, offered to wake way for a younger man, but
promptly accepted the Conservative leadership again
when offered to him. Then he was tendered a grand
banquet at the Russell House. There was a torch-
light procession, and about two hundred guests.
Mayor Martineau presided, and the speeches were
made in the following order : Messrs. Macdonald,
Tupper, Mitchell, O'Connor and Pope.

Sir John's speech was, as usual, quite character-
istic. Aside 'rom his defence of his Government,
attacks on those members who deserted him during
the crisis, and calling the Mackenzie Government a
coalition between the Grits and Tories like Cart-
170

AN "ANIMATED JVATION "

h'lspeech was"" a hlT^ror'^'T"' '"'"'« of

.h*" "a fallen Minister ", J' „?' !"«' «"hough
encouraged him to beheve h. '^ ?."''"' '" ''wd
The Prime ?r:nis°er Mr m T"''' ''*'= »«««•"
•'« 'he capital to goZfjntnT,''"f- "=» "^ ''"^^
On "tarting for hi., hoi " c '"'' °^ November
"■; railway Nations r..,"/??"' ""' '' ""'"^ «'■

••'^■^•lamations by thousands who L""' ^^T'''' '^''"'
<°n gave hin, a fine re„ • ^ ^^^«"bled. Un-

«-nia. the town wasfou to'^""'' °" ^«"^'""K
^'reets ornamented ttdTa '• ^^ '" »«'=» attire-
•several thousands of people fiS ^^^'r P'"^'"^ and
and adjacent IhoroughSls ^ ""' ^^ "'^''^n

ourabKtSra'd?^ ''^^"^ '^^^'-^ '- Hon-
Mackenzie was condSed fhrTu\^°'"'"'''^'^- ^r.
^heers and music "o thi Bef h ^^^ ""' ''"■^«' '•"'■dst
'^Icony of which he wL „ 'e "T^" "°"^*^' »" 'he
Address by the mayoro^S Ift' ^''''"-'•"^
Sarn.a,andtowh,chhereDhedl i''' '"'^'"^ ^1
Pnate terms. An " anim,!.? "'°'^"* ^nd appro-
of the newspaper descrTbed .h"'"°" " '"^ '"'^one

new Prime Minister by hLl' ''''''"'°" °^ '^'
Mr. MackpnrJ- ^ ^"°*^ townsmen

^.o"owin;te"^:rebTSr ;r '^'"'^- - '"«

t'on. and the sam'e evening t "'!' ''>' ""'an'a-
^rand banquet at the BeSJ'i^.rjt^''^"""^^ by a
>t was estimated, by over Z h "°"'^attended,
«ns of I^ambton anH In- ""'^'^'^ '^^ding citi-

the guest himself, the HoCSit b"w "^'-^^
Honourable Alex. McKellar, "EtlfJl"^; S^
'71

f^l'

l:'^..

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the riding, the Honourable Malcolm Cameron — ^then
residing in Ottawa — and Mr. George Ross, M.P.,
were among the principal speakers on this festive
occasion.

The reconstruction of the Mowat Cabinet was
necessitated at this period by the promotion of the
Honourable R. W. Scott to Ottawa. Mr. Chris-
topher Findlay Fraser, member for South Grenville,
was found to be Mr. Mowat's choice for the vacancy,
and the following changes took place shortly after-
wards: Mr. Pardee became Commissioner of Crown
Lands, Mr. McKellar, Minister of Agriculture and
Provincial Secretary, and Mr. Fraser, Commissioner
of Public Works.

One of the most brilliant political banquets ever
given in Canada was held at the St. Lawrence Hall,
Montreal, on the evening of December 23rd, in hon-
our of the Honourable L. S. Huntingdon. That that
gentleman had, during the late crisis, rendered great
service to Canada, was universally recognized by
his political associates and the people generally. His
fine talents, especially as an orator, and his frank,
genial, disinterested character, had also won for him
a wide circle of personal as well as political friends.*

• The present Earl of Rosebery visited Canada for a consider-
able time during the Pacific Scandal crisis. He was the lion of
the season both .. Government House and in Parliamentary cir-
cles. He looked youthful at that time and had a bright and
pleasing manner. Mr. Huntingdon seemed to be one of his favour-
ite Ottawa acquaintances, for they were frequently seen together
both in the Pariiamentary Chambers and elsewhere. His Lord-
ship was accorded the honour of being admitted to the floor of
the House of Commons, attended several sittings, and seemed
to be deeply interested in the exciting debates then going on.

172

BANQUET TO HUNTINGDON

s'on of the feelings of fdmirM; '°"'P"^"°"^ expres-
ta.ned for him by Cant^rn °" '"n ''"P^'^' «"'«r-
Dominion. This bLque" f^n" '" "" P^""*^ °f 'he
pose-it proved, in fa^ nnf h^ ^^omplished its pur-
testimonial. The diSng h^ 1 ll*°" °^ ^ "-'■■onal
gentlen,en, including manv IT "T'^"^ ^''^ 40o
«"d nearly as many mor^^ ;;"f' ^^^^ Canadians,

-were unable to^rocu^.ttt '°J^'''„'--oy.nce
J"hn Young, Af.p^ nresid!!? • /^''^ Honourable
-<' Mr. Joseph Doutfric T\T''' ''^"'^^■^
Seated on ,he Chairman'; 2.^; ^""^ "^"^^-Ch^innn,..
Mr. H„„ti„gd„„ the Hn^ r''^"'^Wo"oi"rable

Cons„,.Ge„e?n,Da Ns'd'a t ^"^'"'^^ «'«S
A. Laird and Messrs f' a tMro^'"" °-"''

Honourables Alex. Mackenzie A°"i"'r^'^' ^^^« "'e
Cartwright, L. H. Hohon n^' t ^^ °°'''°"' «• J-
!- Christie. LetelEr S ' Jus" T V'"■■'^ «--
Messrs. L. a. Boyer \r p"^ 5 ?°"^"'er, and
James Stewart and others M.n^^°'' ^'™^^<1' Mr.
from Shefford and other ott, J "T'"'"' '^'"■^«"«
sealed around the tables " ^^'"='' ^^^« also

GuetthTHol SrSl7d'°"^ ^'-^'-^--shed
by the Chairman in ve y ISr" t~^"' P^P^^^^
rose to reply, Mr. Hunt n' 1°'^ ''™'- ^^en he
■mmense cheering. After he £, "".' '""''^"^ ^'*

'73

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

— his whole speech being received with unbounded
enthusiasm.

The new Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr.
Dorion and Mr. Blake followed in brilliant speeches,
after which nearly all the members of the new Ad-
ministration spoke, as well as Messrs. Holton, Jette.
A. Mercier, M.P.H., L. O. David and others. The
oratory throughout was of an unusually high order,
and the whole " magnificent ovation " — as it was
called — was in every .sense worthy of the importance
(if the occasion.

The Mackenzie Mitiistry made their first appoint-
ment to the Senate of Canada a few days before
Cliristmas. The Honourable Oliver Blake, one of
the elective Legislative Councillors of old Canada,
who had been appointed a Senator at Confederation,
passed away on December loth. Ten days there-
after, not a little to the public surprise, the Official
Gazette contained a notice that the Honourable
George Brown, so long the leader of the Liberal
Party, had been appointed to the Senate to fill the
vacancy caused by Mr. Blake's decease. This
appointment was quite congenial to Mr. Brown. It
connected him directly with public affairs without
seriously interfering with his newspaper business
or Bow Park, and he soon showed by his attendance
at Ottawa that he was still prepared to take a modest
share in carrying on the affairs of the Dominion
which he had done so much to establish and uphold

When the members of the Government returned
to the capital after their re-elections, they set vigor-
ously to work to get thoroughly in touch with and

174

take control of th^.V j

Parations for thicoJT''"T' ^"^ '<> "lake pre
was no easy task S^.l' '%^^' P^P'e Th s"
clerks and other offidaT le ^°?"'^ ^■"«S:
"^■e**. and althongh tJiere T ^^'°"' Conserva-
--■ept,ons, the net I^ Cal M? ■".'""^ ''-'""^abt
,■^'1 cases very graciously recefved''? ^^'■'' ""' '"
I he energy and houndlessfn ? ! °'' '"^^"^ '''^'■ved
'^■'■"-■e, however. qukWv h ''''^ °^ P'-«"^'er Mac-
^'^"-•y was sha/erbj .S;,''.?;"^ ^PP^^-'t, and h s
"■abled the>n to gralr ""' "^""eagi.es. which
•"e hindrances vvhlh'ti //""f ""^ ->" mo! o

^" 'he Province, n^ I ""'' '" 'heir way
P-ations ror 2TCZn^Zl° T""' ^^^ P-
>f Canada, which the G ennnel'^j'"' ''^'''^'^^-^
as early as possible. ^"""ent des.red to hold

'75

CHAPTER XIX.

THIRD PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS— MAKING IT "HOT

FOR MOWAT"— MORE TROUBLE FOMENTED IN

BRITISH COLUMBIA— SIR JOHN'S COURSE.

The New Year's holidays — 1874 — pas.sed over
quietly, but the Parliamentary battle (jiiickly fol-
lowed. Politically the people had grown a little
tired of politics and desired a rest. Besides this,
the result of the coming contest was generally
regarded as a foregone conclusion. For the time
being, the Conservative party was shattered, and its
old chieftain — as he began to be called — found him-
self helpless to coax or whip his followers into fight-
ing form. For these reasons, these Canadian elec-
tions proved the shortest and quietest on record.

The canvass did not become active until Premier
Mackenzie issued his election pronunciamento, ad-
dressed nominally to the electors of Lanibton but
really for the people of the whole Dominion. The
election writs were dated January 7th. As the law
stood, the Liberals might have brought the contests
on in a way to unfairly favour their party interests,
but they very properly recommended the Returning
Officers in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick to
hold th nominations on the 22nd and the polling on
the i^th of the month. These recommendations
were almost universally observed, and contributed
much to the convenience of the electors.
176

COUNT,, SUPP„,„ ,„,^^3

I'shment of a Supreme Cour/^» ''"^"°"^' "i'= «tal>-

Franchise Act and the triaUf J !' '° ™P'-°^« 'he
by the Judges, and to sutt/tut 1°'^^'' ^'^<^"°"^'
system of open votin/rhif ''" '''"'°' f°r the

•-'the Premier iJad.Id" ^'f u? ''-^^---'
to elevate the standard J. • ^^ ^hall strive
°- opponents have dot 0"°'"?' '""^^"^^ -h ch
«>nduct public affairJon prin^,? '°f''''"'-' «nd to
■T^n can approve, and by'^.^e f ' "{"^^'"^ """^^^
the light of day " ^ Practices which will bea-

PaS: Sir; reSi"""" '"- -- and the
^'"-•^'y came round Jh^' 'l^ "'^ P°"'ng day!
;«« a pronounced one 5 vva "* °' '"^ ^°""trv
favour of the new Liberal AH ^^'^'•^''elminglv in
■'^"'t; ■•" the five Eastern pr?"'"''''""°"- The r J
as follows: '"'" Provmces were tabulated

°"'ario Gov't. Opp. r„„

Quebec ... • ■ • 05 j^

Nova Scotia 44 i6 •'

New Brunswick'.;.; ■ /^ r f

P- E. Island . . . '^ 4 o

■ : _^ o

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

returns had been received at Ottawa, it was found
that to the new House of Commons — numbering at
that time 206 members — only some forty-five
straight Conservatives had succeeded in securing
election.*

Sir John Macdonald himself was barely saved
in Kingston, which he had represented for thirty
years! His election was successfully protested for
corrupt practices, but he was returned again,
although with a still further reduced majority.

When public excitement cooled down, it was gen-
erally felt throughout the Dominion that this long
political struggle had ended fortunately for Canada
and its future. That curse of modern democratic
government, political corruption, had been spreading
with leprous speed for several years. The Pacific
Scandal was only one of many evidences of this.
Fortunately for the Dominion, the Parliament and
the electors alike proved that, when it is clear that
any polit-cal party has gone wroii"-, they can be
relied upon to uphold the principles of political mor-
ality, no matter who may suffer at the polls.

The Honourable M. C. Cameron and his Con-
servative colleagues made it pretty " hot " for the
Honourable Oliver Mowat and his Cabinet during
the third session of the second Legislature of Onta-

*"In the General Election of 1874 the Conservative party, taken
by surprise and weighted with all the disadvantageous circum-
stances which attend defeat, were well nigh annihilated. Out of 306
members of the House of Commons the Conservatives did not
number more than forty-five. The once great party had dwindled
to a mere handful, to be pitied rather than feared." — Pope's
authorixed "Life of Sir John Macdonald," Vol. II., page 198.

178

MOWAT'S CLEVER MOVE

and 8th, on the latter rf' "?"' °" ^"»arv 7th
mony. Mr.R M weilf^'"!'' T""'derable -cere-
was elected Speake^ SrTs^H ""f ""^ ^'■"«-
Brant, moved and Mr Peterp!;. '^^' °^ ^""th
onded the Address in, i ^^''^''^on. York, sec-
Throne. Thrs r^a t'c''-'' ''°^ ^^

attacked the Government !c • n ^^'"^••°n sharply
the Crown's sane on ^Bin " '°- "''""^"''''"^
to mcorporate the Orani A« r'^'°"''y P^^^^^
and Westerr Ontario ^ Assoc.at.ons of Eastern

nnlX'iSoS'-rM''' ^-'-'-^ --•-
difficulty with customary^ i,^' '^^^'^ -'th the
■n a general measure for tL • '• "^ brought

as the Orange Association rTPf"'' '"""^ o-^ders
ties, thus saving thnSe 'f th f ''^5,^°^ate socie-
large expense of nume^l, .^' ^'^l^'^^^'-^- and the
'emtives hotly attS thil'"" °'"^- '^''^ ^on-

PressedtoadfWsion twascarrTed'^'^^^ '"' "''^"
th'r y-a majority of eleven S ^ ^"''^'""^ '°
smallest majorities Sir Oliver had .^ ^^' T °^ "'^
turbulent session, but therrL, K ^"^ ""' '^"'^'•
of sjmiiar Orange troupe h'tte"'"' ''"''

The session had another hhVJ ! .^■
vote in the SuppIemenUrv K f" ^^^^ "^'^ °^^^ «
award of $3.oo^'to pay jl^Sr^- ^t was an

--noidclaimwhicT^S^^^^^^^^^^^^^

THEN»TION*LCOUNCItOF
tOUNG MEN S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS

IIDUND'S'-C ■ -^-SMO.

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

again. Mr. Merrick, Mr. D'Arcy Boulton, Mr.
Corby, Mr. Boultbee, and -ther descendants and
friends of the famous old Family Compact of Rebel-
lion days were quickly up in arms and hotly opposed
the vote. Mr. Merrick declared the Legislature had
refused to recognize the claim in 1851 and the Globe
had approved of their action. Mr. Corby declared
" the claims of rebels should not be recognized after
nearly forty years."

Attorney-General Mowat, however, affirmed that
the Legislature had recognized the claim to the
extent of $1,580, which was sanctioned by 'he Lieu-
tenant-Governor at the time. Montgomery, how-
ever, claimed a los.= of $15,000, and although his
hotel— which was r iited at the time— was in the
hands of the Mackenzie forces, he personally dis-
claimed being disloyal. Under all the circumstances
Mr. Mowat considered the Government should
recognize the claim to the extent of $3,000, and set
this long-standing grievance at rest. The Conserva.
lives still remained dissatisfied, however, and Mr.
Merrick moved to amend the resolution by strikmg
out the vote of $3,000 to Montgomery. After some
sharp cross-firing the amendment was negatived by
thirty-five to fourteen, and the grant to Montgomery
confirmed.

Strange to say, with all its acrimony and waste
of time, this session proved one of the most fertile
in passing valuable legislation for the good of Onta-
rio which had so far ever been held. Among the
chief measures passed were the following: A com-
prehensive Act for the consolidation and improve-
180

BLAKE RETIRES

SLt fnd th^e B^ard of pf ,■ ^^'^'^^ Collegiate
fhe Rev. Dr Ryerson ^ " ^"'""■'^tion. which

commended in aT ^er .0^'"^?' °' '^'^"-'■0"
terms of praise,* the ntr, I ! "'" '""'^"'^ ■" high
voting by banot ,h pr ";':i:'''7V'^ ""= ^^■'''^'" "f
and the promotion^rpurv .""''''"'' ''^^°'^'
'he extension of the fran .V '''?'°'^' ^°"'«ts;
come; the establishn^nrof the r " ""^ ''^^''^ °^ '"-
Appeal, and numerous other Ie"r f ^^^°'- ''"'»
Attorney-General Mowattad .£,;''°r ^""''^
ously prepared. It was Hn. ^ ^ ^"'^ '"''""t"'-

hefore the House adjourne?" """" ^'^^*" -"''^

fons took place. The S °f "^ '^'" *e elec-

^eHred. Although it had h""!..^''^"'! Blake
by himself at hi.frei,S„^;:" ff "^'^ ^""°""«d
office without portfoWn ,^.' '"' acceptance of
his ^ithdrawal'from °heTl' "^ ""'^ '•^'"Porary
the public with mingled feef " T '"'''"''^ by
■•egret. Rumours of in. ''T °^ '"'P"'^ and
-d Mr. MacLnU w :"?on "''l'^' '^'^^^'^ "-
even stories of disagr^eT. '" •'"°'^"' ^"^
agreement were circulated by

*«e Rev Dr Hv >

proposed in tht amllJ^ i f,""^ considered all ,h, L'^'^ '"'"
revise. I thi„t •. t'"'^"' School Bills and i!, modifications

«u««d in ear^„:°"""-'>: =""1 altention and ^\ " """'' >"»■
-."a..-on„.'renre'';,."'""' "■™"«'- -' Le JsiS^e ZC
"-" .8,

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

opponents, whose wish doubtless was " father to the
thought." But as Mr. Blake zealously supported
the Government during the session which followed,
these rumours gradually disappeared. The Honour-
able David Christie resigned from the Cabinet and
became Speaker of the Senate the Honourable S. L.
Huntingdon entered the Government as President of
the Council, and the Honourable R. W. Scott be-
came Secretary of State. The number of Ministers
was in this way reduced to thirteen, all of whom
had working departments.

Most of the Provinces composing the Dominion
were at this period in a peaceful and fairly prosper-
ous state. There were of course the usual skirmishes
bet"-;en local politicians, but their relations with
the Federal Government were satisfactory, and their
'i.cal Ministries seemed to enjoy the public confi-
dence. The only exceptions were Quebec and Brit-
ish Columbia. The De Boucherville Ministry in
Quebec was in a moribund condition. The revela-
tions of the late elections had undermined it, and
although, after several narrow escapes, they man-
aged to struggle through a .short and turbulent ses-
sion on January 28th, their fall or reconstruction
was considered certain at no distant date.

Early in February, British Columbia indulged in
one of these local outbreaks which led some to fear
it might become the " stormy petrel of the
Dominion."

The Honourable Amor De Cosmo.s was the Pro-
vincial Premier. He was a man of considerable
ability, somewhat erratic in speech and action and
18?

^ BRITI.SH COLUMBIA

"omm.on guarantee o Lerl\ '"" '" P'«« °f the
^'-•"ctrng the Es,,„,^,l p''""' °" 'he cost of con'
"P'ta/ization of the p"',"*^ ^'^^' a"'' the £
had^been mooted '^''^''''' '"^^i<iy at $950,0^

;r--'^"''^S'''^i^r^/'^^-ebi.er
'°°; vvere just beginning n. „"]'"'"" ^''-tions,
party had been strfngsu?„or?e„;'u'''^" ^"J his
Government, so much "ofhl.?^ '''' ''''"^ Ottawa

""'on Act, an,, „,., ,^" '»? »l»" *„,„ ,■„ ,,,,

-'-...-. Mtp;: --:£;.'

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

in Victoria in order to embarr.iss the Mackenzie
Administration at the outset of their career. The
reports of his speech in Kingston contained the fol-
lowing paragraphs :

" Sir John Macdonald referred to Mr. Macken-
zie'.' Pacific Railway policy, which was -i breach of a
solemn contract entered into with British Columbia
and the Imperial Government. In this Mr. Macken-
zie commits, for the first time in Canada, a breach
of the public faith. The original contract says the
railway was to be commenced within two years and
completed in ten, and it was to be bttilt through
Canadian territory. For this bretvh of faith British
CnUimhia lias a rii/lit to secede, for this was one
the conditions of Confederation. The Queen ai.
the Imperial Parliament would not allow that bread,
of faith, and as honour reigned supre ne in the
Imperial Parliament, they would repudiate the idea
of having a hand in the breach. He wanted no rail-
roads for the TJnited States s Mr. Mackenzie
wanted, and we \,ould have no ''.'rmaphrodite sys-
tem of transport carrying away the great produce of
the West from Canada (cheers). They would have
to give up that policy or give up British connection
nnd the endorsement of England."

Something in extenuation of thi*; inflammatory
language may possibly be advanced for Sir John on
the following grounds : that he was labouring unaev
the bitterness of his party's defeat, that he was at
the time engaged in a desperate struggle to secure
his own re-election, and that he may hav; spoken
under the excitement of the mom.'nt. The wisest
184

^^^^ -a* quite repret^i""' '"" '"^^ « """o /

^'?''" on sue W.trrh'' "^" «'''- To oro
whatever, that "r •.*"''• '"''wcl, on anv », "^ ?"

I8s

CHAPTER XX.

FIRST LIBERAL SESSION— UNHERALDED APPEARANCE

OF LOUIS RIEL, THE METIS CHIEF— DEBUT OF

THOMAS MOSS AND WILFRID LAURIER—

DORION'S FIRMNESS— RIEL EXPELLED.

Cannon resounded in thundering tones from
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on the afternoon of March
26th, 1874, when His Excellency the Earl of
Dufferin, Governor-General of Canada, left the
official residence, Rideau Hall, to open the first
session of the third Canadian Parliament, under
the new Liberal Administration.

Some of the more extreme adherents of the late
political regime had freely predicted that with the
advent of the " Grits " to power the ceremonies and
festivities at the opening of Parliament would be
commonplace, and Ottawa in fact suffer a social
collapse. But under the inspiring influence of the
Duflferins, there was not the slightest danger of
Canada suffering from inattention to official cere-
monies and festivities.

On the contrary, the danger was rather the other
way. On the night of the opening of Parliament,
an immense State dinner was given at Government
House to the members of the Cabinet and other
official and distinguished guests ; on Friday evening.
Lord and Lady Dufferin held a Drawing-room in the
Senate Chamber, which, with the decorations, illu-
186

GAV AND FESTIVE SESSION

""nations and br'ir
Previous efforts of\he"sar!!"''>' ^"^P^^^ed all
^venmg they gave a moTb.S"'' '"'^ °" S^t"'-day
R'deau Ha;i, which was IJ J ^^"' ^' H°n,e '• at
of prominent personf '"'"'^' ''^ '"^"^ hundr^dl

^ne Speakers of thp « .
most of the new Mi„rsters "f ^"'' ^'"'"'""ns and
entertainers; some of h? ° P'^'^^d to be liberal
■" f^ct, that the^ feSl'/"''P°'''^" complaS
numerous. But between" ^*^^ ""necessarS
•Je profuse hospitail "/th n'"if""''""^«s and
o say that there never hajL'^^""^' ''' is safe
festive session of pIn '^^" ^ "lore gav anH

'h«' the predicted .'^oSalTon '^'"^ '" Canada! a„d
Pos Poned. ^°"^' ^o"apse " was indefinitely

When Lord r)„ff •
opening services in S; Sen'?"''! ^^'^'^ ^he brief

moved that th^ ""-^enzie, seconded bv Mr n •
At,„r 'ne Honourahl* m- ^ ' ^°"on,

Anghn. member for ri. Timothy Warren

Speaker Ti,- Woucester, MR k ,

in : ; •'^"'^ motion wa<! .,n • " °e elected
". and his mover and TeconH "''^ '=°"'=""ed

'"^^^C^air amidst mucl ^"1^ ""'"^^^^ ^^ ^o

^-•stersr^eSranfoffi^T^'^ ^'^^--ed and

mmgled in excited groups f''^^*^^ ^""n inter

appearance at the capS nf .f "^ '''« ""f^eralded

R'e', of Manitoba ReSl 1 "'', "°^°"o«^ Loms

elections he had been re ' fT' ^"""S the late

^as opposed by another m";' '°'" P^^encher Si

«'el was electe^d by IpJ.^g^ "StfT;""' ^"'

igj,^ ihe Grand Jury of

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench having found
a true bill for the murder of Thomas Scott agaitist
Louis Riel in his capacity of President and moving
spirit of the so-called Provisional government, no
one supposed that, although elected to Parliament,
he would leave his hiding-place in Manitoba, journey
all the way to Ottawa, and appear within our Parlia-
mentary portals. Kud Banquo's far-famed ghost
suddenly appeared in the Senate or House of Com-
mons, the members could hardly have been more
surprised than when the swift-winged rumour
reached them that Riel was in Ottawa, and during
the lunch hour of that very day — less than three
hours before the House convened — had in company
with a Quebec member entered the Clerk's office,
claimed his seat as the member for Provencher, took
the oaths of office and signed the Parliamentary roll !

This rumour was at first discredited by many as a
skilftdly-concocted canard. The signature " Louis
Riel " on the official roll of Parliament, however,
soon set all doubts at rest, and the news and excite-
ment spread like wildfire, the enquiry being in every
mouth — " And what are they going to do about
Riel?"

The whole capital — more especially Cabinet,
Parliamentary, municipal and magisterial circles —
was soon in quite a flurry over this matter. That
Riel was in Ottawa or neighbourhood was
undoubted. That all formalities had been com-
plied with to enable him to walk into the Commons
Chamber and take his seat was equally ctrtain. And
no one knew what his next move would be. He
i88

•^'SAPPEARANCE OF WEL

'- nSn? c;,?r' r-'^'"^^ '"- ^a.

^° on the morrow? ^'^^ ^"' ••"''' "^'dly do

Hundreds were nn tu

f ''™- There was" e L^ ote *° "'^^ ^ ^'™P-
for h,s arrest, and coVrM ''^"*"' '" 0«awa
'-■'■ Some amulC" J^f^„!-". ^'^''^^'^ °" h^:
"'-e said to have occu^d ^h'""'"''" ''''"'''y
^'rangers in the city. But S , "u ''^'"g '"any
R-el could not be found H^'f"' ^'' '" vain
van.shed as he had unexpe"l^ " '"ysteriously

fe accepted advice and a list. '"° ^^ ''°' '^at

^r^-^-^^^^-Ss^r^ii;;^^-

S--;^^e--^K-^--hro„ewas

r— --^nrn^^^^^^

the one of British, the other JT^'" Canadians-
"'ho had already ^on for Th ^"'^ extraction-
■"the law cour'^s of thei'?'''"^ '"^''' '^"'•e's
Their speeches fully ma ml; ^f Peet.ve Provinces
,v^'h.•ch preceded the^^ "f "'^ "^^ "igh reputation
'^ftnooneindoubt thaT h '' '"'° P^^'-ament, and
;-'ents and eloque cetpw'""""' *^"---
since done— a lon<r ^ ,• >'— as one of them h^\

189

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

The former well represented Ontario, the latter
as fitly the Province of Quebec ; Mr. Moss was essen-
tially British — fair, stout and outspoken; Mr.
Laurier as essentially French — dark, slender and
polished. Both were good specimens of Young
Canada, and in appearance, language and manner,
they afforded a striking illustration of the chief
mental and physical characteristics, even the idio-
syncrasies, of the two great races — the solid founda-
tion-stones upon which our Canadian nationality is
being built up.

I well recollect the day and the ripple of surprise
which crept over the Chamber when Wilfrid Laurier
rose to make his maiden speech. He was then in his
thirty-third year, having been born at St. Lin,
County of L'Assomption, on November 20th, 1841,
and at first glance he looked like an unsophisticated
country boy. His long, chestnut-tinged hair, natur-
ally inclined to be thrown back on both sides, and his
clean-shaven face, deepened this impression on the
beholder, and many of his fellow members, who saw
him for the first time, supposed he was much
younger than he really was.

As he proceeded to speak, however, displaying all
the self-possession of the practised orator, there was
instinctively felt to be something about this boyish-
looking French-Canadian which arrested attention
— a charm of manner, a touch of dignity, an air of
candour, a sparkle in expression, and a native elo-
quence seldom found eor.:bined in one person.

He spoke in French on this occasion, but a few
days afterwards gave Parliament another surprise
190

S'R WILFRID'S MAIDEN SPEECH

-a most difficit si,bject fo"^, •"" ^T"" P^^''^""""'
-closest a«e,«io„ of the HoSe n"""^'" '"^ ''^''' 'he
chivalrously cha.npio'd ?h °'"' '"'" ''°"'-- He

-Possfble cause, bu ,e d'd "T'-'t '''''' °' -'
argument, sou.ul judgment n ? 7"^ ''"'^ ^^ilful
a'though inexorab . TSment h"" ''^'^""^ "-^^
"ew star had appeared ,n ^^'^^^ered that a

though many f£ af th. ?"" P°''""' ^^ament
and bnlh-an/y through th^^^" P^-- '^s size'
stances. ^ "^ "a^e of existmp circum-

l^^^S^^:^ '^e Government. Sir

'■"-of tactics, as he ave/re/far/'^^'^^^^^^^ His
opponents a loose rein for !, "' ^'' *° ^''^^ his
Address was therefoe carried r'°" "' '"°- ^^e
he same sitting the House a 'r ^"""'/"""^'y- and at
to a motion of Mr m!,^'''^ ''n'''^"' °PP°«>'tion

Attorney-General CarRM^r^" '° have
the Bar of the House in r"J'°''' '^^"""^d at
election for ProveX bd?f "■' '° ^'^' ^"^^ ^is
towards a motion to expel iTnl " P;^'™'"ary step
declare the seat vacanf ""^ Parliament and

MacSrmS--^'rrssor,P.emier
of the Government readv i^^'L' """^ "^^asures
promptly introduced then/ ^" ^''''ament met,
of the session with vig^u "frTm fh""'' ''^ "^"^'""^

^'"■«' '-. CartwnVht sh-?' "'/" '^' ^'"^"ce

-- 0fhisinteS;nt;^--SrS
191

If'''

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Committee of Supply and Ways and Means. Mr.
Dorion also introduced the new Parliamentary
EUctions Bill at the first opportunity. This was the
chief Ministerial measure, and it was an elaborate,
able and carefully-drawn document. It stamped out
many of the old electoral abuses and introduced the
following reforms :

(a) The adoption of the Provincial franchises
and voters' lists as the basis of representation; (b)
vote by ballot at all elections; (f) all general elec-
tions (unless impracticable) to be held on one and
the same day; (d) Sheriffs and Registrars to be
returning officers instead of party nominees; (e)
lie abolition of the old nomination day and the
nomination of candidates by a document placed in
the hands of the returning officer signed by not less
than twenty-five electors; (/) the abolition of any
property qualification on the part of Parliamentary
candidates, and many other similar changes. Over
150 clauses were devoted to the promotion of fair-
ness and purity at elections.

The Honourable Mr. Dorion, Minister of Justice,
was a man of small stature but large intellect. I
had seen him as far back as 1857 sitting beside the
Honourable George Brown in the old Parliament
Buildings in Toronto, and he had been steadily
fighting the battles of his party in Parliament ever
since. He was universally admired for his fine
abilities and acquirements, his disinterestedness and
his moderation and courtesy towards both opponents
and friends. He was probably the gentlest and
politest man in Parliament, but he was firm as a
192

SECRECY IN VOTING

■" vuiiNG

rock against friend nr f .

■"aterial changes in tiL i^ \° '°"^''' '° make anv

Jgal examination fnto/is ''f °^^^ '" «^e o

adopt th.s system of ballot Sead T^""'' "'■^''' ^°
^'"- Even the Honourable P^ f^ *''^ °"e >'" his
^^luest to n,any other R.f,'^":,"^ ^'^''^ «dded h s
Donon could not he m^' f ^" ^^^ ''n vain m'
absolutely secrefba loTa", •" "^""""^ '° -^ b"t^n
earned that his unbel n" S^^^'es an^rvvid
earnest conviction that anv f '^^ ^"""^e from the
person^Iay, judicial or '^:leK'T ""'^'^^ ^^ich any
how any elector had cas7hi ^^'~'°"'d ascertain
^'"« of Quebec not prot rhr''' "°"''^ ■" "^e Prt
. -^"d I fee, bound'^o add r""^^"^"'^ reverse
- numerous elections aft r'anfs' "'"^' ^-^P---
^r- Dor.on's firm stand .°"'''"'^«'d nie that

!"t'relyright.notonlyforO , ""■' ■"•"^■on was
dread that those in li'l^'f^'"^ vote. The nSe

as
dre;

"'eaa that those in char«. r. " ''°'e. The ni

19.3

he marks h

1 in
's ballot,

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

prevents many a man from voting as he otherwise
would.

Few objections were raised to the Government's
big budget of electoral reforms. The Honourable
Charles Tapper criticized taking the Provincial
franchises for Dominion elections, and Mr. John
Hillyard Cameron called the ballot un-English,
although it had been in use in the old land for some
time. The only division which took place on the Bill
was in Committee, when an amendment to retain the
open system of nominating candidates, although
defeated, received a considerable vote. Discussion
served to show that Mr. Dorion's Bill was nearly
perfect, and he had the great satisfaction of seeing
nearly all its clauses passed into law without the
slightest change.

The expulsion of Louis Riel came up early in the
session, and was the most stirring— in fact, almost
the only deeply exciting— incident which took place.
From the day of the Metis chief's unexpected
appearance in Ottawa, the excitement over the
matter continued to widen and increase. The situa-
tion was felt on all sides to be both delicate and
dangerous. Bad management might open a veritable
Pandora-box of racial and religious feuds. After
the conclusion of Attorney-General Clark's state-
ment at the Ear of the House, and some material
evidence had been taken by the Special Committee
appomted for the purpose, the question came up in
the House on April 15th for final debate and
decision.

194

"'°ved in amendment "Tu """""""aWe m" h„u'°-
pone the furth ^^^'^ t h exn»j' ^°'ton

before the H. '""^'deration of ^f "' '° P°*'-

Baby th^ ^'■- Mousseai, Cameron, of

^^anted fo alfV'"""'^^^ Pardon al^'"'"'^'"^"''

Sniith, Mai!' ■^°"°"' ^"".ssean ^°""";'"8 order:
X9S • '"'""^^'^ *he

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

House very irregularly during this session, and his
name does not appear in any of the divisions taken
on this question. He was evidently not present.

The Rid s|)ectre having l)eeii laid by Kiel's e.xpulsioii
from Parliament, the sessional business proceeded
quietly and quickly. There was comparatively little
debate, but there was an unusual volume of valuable
public and private legislation submitted and passed.
Among the more notable Government measures ,jt
already mentioned were the following: (a) To
establish a Mounted Police force in the Xorth-West
Territories ; (b) To improve the Act for the Trial of
Controverted Elections by Judges: (c) To raise the
Customs Tariff sufficiently to prevent a threatened
deficit in the year's transactions; (d) To establish a
Military College for the training of officers at
Kingston ; (c) To enable the Government to proceed
with its new Pacific Railway policy, which will be
explained later ; (/) To give a lump sum of £50,000
to British Columbia in place of the original subsid>
of fj.ooo per annum for ten years to facilitate the
building of the Esquimalt Dry Dock; (g) To place
the Intercolonial Railway under control of the
Minister of Public Works instead of Commissioners;
(h) and to make the Militia forces more effective.

Among numerous Public Bills introduced by pri-
vate men:> -s, that for the establishment of a daily
report of the Parliamentary Debate.s — popularly
called the Canadian Hansard — was passed by the
House, and continues to flourish to this day.*

• Efforts to secure an official report of the debates of the House
of Commons had failed several times. But experience having

196

A USEFUL SESSION

sssj^rr Sirs- '"^^*"^' «"

n„.- • , . ^^'-"'c Kailway po icy. and Mr
Donon s adopfon of the Provincial franchTses

This session-with the exception of the Riel
ep.sode-v,s generally considered one of thi
shortest, quietest and n,os. useful on record.

authoritative record of what wa. .J,u% ■'}'■" ''""'^ ^ «"
moved early i„ ,he fe.s^n „f ?L!","t >' ?"* '" P"l'»n>«nt, I
con.der and report on he ,ub,«,'' Thi." ^P"'"'. Committee to
POMi was oppcsed by „me Reform ,„ , ,. ""' """=''■ The pro-
The „on.,peaking mem^T. , foo ™re ».„*;°r"f,"'"";" -"'P'Pe".
to quote from my private note, at .1.^ .' ^..**°'"" "■ " »"'•"
me up well, ..well a, ultL nuu '"''/ ^"^ ""'y ''«'<c<i
d.5cu«ion finally partook .om.wh.t ^ the rh '' ^"■""J' '"■' "-e
t.on of party independence." The Commlf,""'" "' ' <■«'«"•
and on May i8th I moved the adooHoZf f "'"'""' ''^""Wy,
some opposition, mostly from the barb^n'i:"^""' *'-i'=h-af./r
out a division. "^ benches— was carried with-

n.-i3

'97

CHAPTEF{ XXI.

SIGNS OF I'ROORESS-TIIK BRITISH COLUMBIA
QUARREL— THE BROWN-THORNTON RECI-
PROCITY TREATY— THE CANADA FIRST
PARTY— BLAKE'S AURORA SPEECH.

The Dominion now began to manifest more signs
of progress and development than at any time since
its lormation. It must be admitted the advance was
slow at first, and occasionally " hard times " had
been complained of. But substantial progress had
tieen made all along the line since Confederation,
and the outlook was steadily growing bettet .

The official records of our annual commerce amply
sustain the foregoing statements. Seven years had
elapsed since the Union, and besides an increase in
our transactions with the sister Provinces, the total
volume of our foreign trade had expanded as fol-
lows : —

1871-2. .$194,070,190
1872-3.. $217,801,203
1873-4.. $217,565,510

1867-8.. $131,027,532
1868-9. .$130,889,946
1869-70..$ 148,387,829
1870-1.. $170,266,589

Whilst Canada was thus progressing commercially
the relations of the Federal Government with all the
Provinces were of a satisfactory character, with the
exception of British Columbia.
198

ATTEMPT TO APPEASE BRITISH COLUMBIA

The salient points of this controversy may be
hncfly s.„nmanzed as follows: The Hon. m7
Unlkem, Prenner of British Columl.ia, as early a,
ist V hS'V''""'* '" ^"^"^" Mac,lona!,rs Min'
Pn llV 7 7"" T P^oceeclinp with the Pacific
Ka>l,vayas fast as the terms of union reqinre,!
When the Liberal CvernnH-nt «as ina.,Kurate<! he
l^ro.estc.1 aKa,n. Mr. Nfacken.ie replic/cautiou;!;

foment. Early .n 1874 he sent o„t Mr. James D
Edgar, barrister, Toronto, as the representaH of
he Domm.on to treat with Premier Walkem, and

lie^z;;;'';."'''" ■'•* ^"""^ "■^^""•^'"'^ ^'^'"~ °f

mil^J^v If "'"/' "'■'" pleasantly received by Pre-
m.er Walkem and introduced .0 the latter's col-
eagues as repre.senting the Federal Government But
he s.tuatmn in a few weeks developed thus- B.-Iiev-
mg the or>gn«l bargain with British Colu.nbia to be

theP "P'^r.P™'^""'"^ '" f^-- as the completion o
the Paofic Radway was concerned, Mr. Mackenzie"

o^rtime?1"-1 '•" ""r ' ^^<^°^"'-^ "'-''"
LnH . ""'' "• ^'- ^V^"«='"- "" the other

hand msisfng on " the bond and nothing but tho

iZ^rU T^'- ^°'^' "f^ negotiations with Mr
Edgar by d.sputmg his credentials ! He then entered
upon a crusade of protests to the Governor-Genera,
despatches to the Colonial Secretary, Lord Carna'

t'-e"'in LonH '"f " "'"^ '''' ^"^P^"'^' -"thor,-
ties m London, etc., etc. After almost interminable
correspondence, the Colonial Secretary, Lord Ca !
narvon, recommended a settlement on the followfng
»99

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

li! !

terms: (l) A railway to be constructed by the
Dominion between Nanaimo and Esquimalt on
Vancouver Island without delay; (2) surveys on the
mainland to be pushed; (3) a wagon road and tele-
graph through the mountains to be promptly pro-
ceeded with; (4) not less than $2,000,000 to be ex-
l)ended on the railway within Columbia during each
year until completed; and (5) that the time for its
completion — at least to Port Arthur, the head of
Lake Superior — be extended to the 31st December,
1890, a period of nine years.

The above are known as the Carnarvon terms.
They were communicated in a despatch dated Nov-
ember 17th, 1874, and were promptly accepted by
the Mackenzie Government on December i8th.
British Columbia also agreed to this settlement, and
all parties to the long and disagreeable quarrel were
congratulating themselves that it was at last finally
settled, when at the ensuing session of Parliament
the Dominion Senate took up the evil work of Mar-
plot, threw out the Government Bill to construct the
Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, and reopened the
whole dangerous controversy again! The Senate
was at that time almost wholly Conservative, and
Mr. Mackenzie bitterly blamed Sir John Macdonald
and his other political opponents for unpatriotically
intriguing to checkmate his eflforts to carry out the
Carnarvon terms and thus restore peace and har-
mony with the Pacific Province.

Mr. Mackenzie's plan for the construction of the
Pacific Railway was to proceed gradually — not to
rush construction in advance of population, and
200

■ '"i-ENirvf; OP DAWSON ROUTE

through .MMjal wiJdc nesses which few white men
had ever u 'dusn. Ke considered that the Dawson
route, with Its water stretches, should first be utilized
between Port Arthur and Winnipeg, and that a
wagon road should precede, and w^uld be of im-
mense advantage in constructing the railway through
the Western mountain ranges

Admitting there was great force in this view

uTu^Z" -^'T ^^°' subsequent experience, it
must be admitted, goes to prove that the magnificent
l>ra,r,e lands of the great North-West warran^d raS
railway construction through Canadian territory to
open them up for settlement, and it having been de-
cided to commence the construction of a great trans-
continental railroad, the sooner it could be coin-
pleted and put into operation the better would it be
tor the country.

wJrtrf T"'^ 1°' ''''■"'' ""^^y communication
was clearly brought out during the summer of 1874

The Dawson route had been opened the previous
year It cost over $1,000,000. It carried some
1,660 passengers and their eiTects during the first
season, and late in the fall about 150 of the Mounted
Police went up by the new route. The cost of pas-
sage was at first $is from Toronto to Winnipeg.
But the next summer a firm named Carpenter and
Co^ undertook with the Government to operate the
me. They charged $10 from Thunder Bay to
Winnipeg, and made an earnest eflfort to popularize
the service But the line was necessarily slow un-
comfortable and uncertain, and complaints by pas-
sengers were soon, if not as numerous, at least as
201

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

iningent as the persistent attentions of the biackflies
and mosquitoes in passing through the swamps.
Nevertheless the Dawson route was of great value
to the Dominion at this time, being the only way to
our great North- West through our own territory. As
a passenger route, however, it was never a success.

Surprise and regret were felt by Canadians
generally when, during the first week of June, it
was learned that the Hon. A. A. Dorion, Minister
of Justice, had retired from public life. His resigna-
tion was justly regarded as a great loss to llie Mac-
kenzie Administration. But Mr. Dorion was no
longer a young man. He had been battling in
Parliament for decades, and his Quebec friends,
although conscious how much their party would
suffer from the loss of so gifted a leader, united in
pressing upon him to accept the Chief-Justiceship in
the Quebec Courts, then vacant. He finally de-
cided to do so, and shortly afterwards the Honour-
able Telesphore Fournier was promoted to the
Ministership of Justice, and the Honourable Felix
Geoffrion taken into the Cabinet as Minister of the
Interior.

The prospects of the renewal of Reciprocity with
the United States appeared bright at this period. In
consequence of encouragement received from Wash-
ington, the Honourable George Brown and Sir
Edward Thornton, British plenipotentiary at Wash-
ington, were appointed to negotiate on behalf of
Canada. Under date of April 24th, 1874, a valuable
pamphlet prepared by Mr. Brown, and setting forth
the great commercial advantages to both countries

AMERICANS REFUSE RECIPROCITY

of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, was placed before
the American people. The Honourable Hamilton
Hsh Secretary of State, was the chief negotiator on
behalf of the United States, and after several long
and earnest meetings, the Commissioners succeeded
m framing a valuable measure. It was in substance
hke the previous Reciprocity Treaty, but there was
an enlargement of the list of exchangeable natural
products, which Canadians liked, and some addition
to the list of exchangeable manufactures, which the
Americans liked.

When negotiated, the adoption of this Tre-tv
looked certain. The Imperial and Canadian Govern-
ments approved of it, President Grant and his
Labme. ^ - favourable, and promptly forwarder! it
to the ■ States Senate for consideration and

advice, ihe Senate, however, which was near its
prorogation before receiving the measure, dispersed
vvMthout taking any action, and when another ses-
.sion came round it was only too apparent that manv
senators and other American statesmen still har-
boured the absurd idea that by denying Recipro-
city they could squeeze Canada commercially into
seeking some form of political relationship. And
thus, again, was Reciprocity vainly sacrificed on the
•■Annexation altar.

The summer trip of Their Excellencies LonI and
Lady Dufferm, including a gay party, was more ex-
tensive than usual this year. They spent five days
hshing up the Nepigon River, toured the Great
Lakes, including a day at the great American
western metropolis-Chicago. Returning, they
203

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

came down the centre of Ontario, remaining over
at Brantford, the Telephone City, where His Ex-
cellency had some public duties to perform.

The next day the party met large gatherings of
the Six Nation Indians at Mohawk Church, the
village of Oskewekea, and other parts of their Re-
serves, lunched with the Honourable George Brown
at his famous Bow Park Stock Farm,* and the same
evening held a largely attended public reception in
the Brantford City Hall. The sparkling oratory of
Lord Dufferin and the pleasing manners of both
Lady Dufferin and himself added to the widespread
popularity they had already won.

That the Louis Riel drama was not finally closed,
the country now received another reminder. Nomin-
ations to fill the vacancy in the representation of
Provencher, Manitoba, were called for on September
3rd, and although Riel had been e .pelled from Par-
liament only a few months before, he managed to
secure nomination again. Dr. John Bowen was
proposed against him, but by some informality, the
Returning Officer ruled him out, and Riel was de-
clared elected by acclamation. As this could not
have happened without the support of a considerable
number of his compatriots, it created a painful im-

M*''^'"j i'i"°'",?° " ^"^ ^"^ P""'' » "'^ delight.':;! affair.
^. ,?,, r"- ?,''™" '"""'' ^ """'=" of i"'™="<^ friends "to
n fT '!■';,"■ ^.l"""^""". «he Governor-General and the Countess of
Uuttenn. The invitations were mostly confined to Brantford and
vicinity, but a few were sent to Toronto, G:ilt, and other places.
When the guests were assembled, Bow Park p.esented a very
festive appearance and nearly two hours were spent in examining
Mr. Brown s splendid Shorthorns and in exploring the beautiel
of this most beautiful place.

204

CANADA FIRST PARTY

pression. and revived fears on the part of many that
poss,bly the worst of t),e Riel troubles were not J^

The fall of this year witnessed the announcen,e-,t
of a new poht.cal n,ovement, Toronto being its Tea.
quarters. It had its origin about four year pre-
v.ously, and was at first con.posed of a smaH Jro^

ci.t dTh""' " ''""'"' -'°""^ ^^"^^'^"^ -ho^asso
ated themselves together for patriotic purposes, but

Henry J^ Morgan, the eminent Ottawa w iter
Colonel Demson is still active and distinguisl ed i i
the Chief Magistracy of Toronto, but Mr Foster I
I"- of fine character and litera;y culture d no
long survive to accomplish his political dreams
tri£;f7 -'^ "-^ers of ^he organiXn

Tosenh P M -^^ n^''^"''' ^''°'"^^ \Val,nsley,
Joseph E. Macd^ugall, Hugh Scott, Geor-.e R

thmg pohtical, ,t quickly became known as the
Canada F.rst party, and after Mr. Foster and hi,
nends announced that they intended to form a ird
pohtical party, a considerable number of prom 1.
young Canadians were attracted to the new mole'
205

if"

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

nient.* When they finally organized, Mr. William
H. Howland was elected President and Mr. George
McWiIliams, Secretary; the name of "The Cana-
dian Xational Association " was formally adopted,
hut the piihlic always called them tlie Canada First
party. Not long afterwards, Dr. Croldwin Smith,
the famous litterateur, took steps to form another
Canadian Club— professedly- non-political— and otit
of these various elements, by gradual evolution, has
arisen what is probably to-day the most successful
organization of the kind in all Toronto, the National
Club, whose beautiful clubhouse now adorns the
centre of the metropolitan city.

The name of Goldwin Smith, D.C.L., deserves
special reference. He was a great and grand imn
with a few limitations. He first settled in Canada
in 1871, and four years thereafter married Mrs
William Boulton of The Grange, Toronto. He
accepted an invitation from me, as Chairman of Gait
Collegiate Institute, to close the summer term of the
College some time after his settlement in Toronto.
His address was scholarly, dignified and pleasing.
Having to lecture in Woodstock four days after-
wards, I invited him to remain at Gait until that
time, which he cordially accepted, and I have always
looked back to it as one of the most instructive, bril-

• Willison's •• Sir Wilfrid Lauricr and the Liberal Party " Vol I
page 20^, g,ves the names of the following prominent gentlemenas
tavmg joined .he Canada First party at this stage: Messrs. W.
H. Howlaiid, T.iomas Moss, W. G. McWilHams, Nicol Kingsmill

Snfon r'"' ^w^ ^^^'"-"=h. J- K. Macdonahl, Frederick
Fenton, George W. Sadgerow, C. R. W. Biggar, James R. Raff,

kLZ'T, "■ ^ff^'"^^- W. T. O'Reilly, James H. Morris
Frank McKelcan, and James H. Coyne.

206

FRIENDSHIP FOR GOLDWIN SMITH

deta.Is of the world s history, I,„t he had in co„,„,a„,l

1 or example, when commenting on the thrillin,r
penod m the history of Napoleon Bonapane ,^
to ehoo ? ;°^°-/he faithful JosephiL. and h
to choose between fourteen or fifteen Euro„e-in
Prmeesses for a new En,press, Dr. Smith not onl
portrayed the negotiations between Prince Me"te ■

great French Emperor, for the hand of the \rch-
d..chess Mane Louise, but he quoted freely the '^ y
words wh>ch passed between these two mo^t e^,'i ,ent
'vmg statesn,en during their most delicate ad
.leeply ,„portant interyiews. For most of fotr da^
I did httle else but listen to Dr. Smith's histo c ,'c
"res past and present, which were of the , o t
charming and delightful character

The friendship thus formed was neyer broken I
I'd n«t share his views on many points and fel

r im in the'V ^' ^'''"^^ ^^°^ C-^^' -'
ny mm in the American oress Rut ;„ v,;„

letters, hospitality at The Grtgctd wl e e^w:
chanced to meet, his friendshi; never at an" time

P^:io„'tha"t he"" '"' '"'""^ '^^^"^-'^ ^^^ ■-
pression that he was not only the woWd's mn,t

eminent hi.storian and //«.V„.J, but that ,n prir;

207

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

life — notwithstanding his fearless and often aggres-
sive logic — he was one of the most kindly, consider-
ate and truest of friends. The last time I called was
during his last illness, only a few weeks before his
death, and the recollection of Dr. Smith seated at
the table in his spacious library, in the midst of the
books he loved so well, together with the courtesy,
cordiality and dignity of his reception — although
tempered by physical weakness — made a most strik-
ing and unique picture, which left an impression on
my mind which time will never obliterate.

Public interest in the Canada First movement vms
deepened by a somevvliat remarkable speech made by
111" Honourable Edward Blake shortly after its an-
nouncement. It .soon became known as the Aurora
Speech, was unusually original, advanced and bril-
liant even for that distinguished Canadian, and
Liberals as well as Conservatives regarded it — as,
indeed, the speaker said himself — as of a disturbing
character. It was delivered at a very largely attended
North York Liberal celebration held at Aurora
on October 3rd, and at which the Honourable Oliver
Mowat, the Honourable Archibald McKellar, Mr.
^milius (now Sir ^milius) Irving, M.P., Mr. A.
H. Dymond, M.P., and many other prominent
Liberals were present.

The striking feature of the far-famed Aurora
speech was Mr. Blake's open advocacy of a number
of advanced political reforms, most of which har-
monized with the Canada First platform. The
principal of these were as follows: (a) the encour-
agement of a Canadian National sentiment, (b) the
208

BLAKE'S AURORA SPEECH

reform of the Senate, of which he said: " I do not
believe it consistent with the true notion of popular
government that we should have a Senate named by

, ?Tf" ""■"' °^ ""* '^^y ''"'' *'°''''"g 'heir seats
tor hfe ; (< ) the deploration of the prevalence of
electoral corruption, commendation of the new
Mackenzie Election law, and the advocacy of still
more drastic measures if needed ; (rf) the placing on
tlie statute Book of a law— with proper safeguards
—making it compulsory for every qualified elector
to cast his vote at Parliamentary elections ; (?) votes
for fsrmers' sons actually employed on the farm:
and (/) the adoptirn cf Hare's or some other system
of plural voting at elections which would secure the
representation of minorities, thousands of whom
It was clearly shown, have practically no voice what-
ever in selecting their represenatives under the
present system.

The immense crowd listened with surprise and ihe
deepest attenuon to the impassioned orator, who
during his peroration, used the following words'
My honourable friend, Mr. Mowat, will, I doubt
not, by your suffrages, enjoy a long time in wliich
to perform his high duty, but it may be permitted t„
one who prefers to be a private in the advance guard
of the army of freedom to a commanding place in
the mam body— (Loud cheers)— to run the risk of
promulgating what may be called a political heresv
to-day but may perhaps become a political creed to-
morrow.' (Cheers.)

.1 ^'°'!"'"^f PP^i-^d, so far as I am aware, to show

mat Mr. Blake was ever a member of the Canada

Urst party or that its organization on a political

809

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

basis and liis Aurora speech were more than a
coincidence. His advanced proijramnic as unfolded
to the electors of North York covered somewhat
more than the new party's proposed reforms, but
there was sufficient similarity to lead many of the
latter's members to cherish the hope that Edward
Blake might prove the coming Moses to lead them
into the Promised Land.

The third party, however, soon found that all was
not plain sailing. Some members objected to the
influence wielded by Mr. Goldwin Smith and Mr.
I lowland, t'- latter of whom on becoming Presi-
dent, ma('e i favourable allusion to Canadian
Independence. This was resented by Colonel George
T. Denison and the Imperialist wing of the organiza-
tion, and it was not until it was finally decided to
relintpiish its party aims and again become neutral
that the dissensionists resumed connection there-
with.

The old political parties promptly proved they
had no love for the new organization. The Globe
on the Liberal side and the Mail on the Conservative,
\ igorously assailed it. It was held up to ridicule,
accused of being founded on the narrow basis of
Know-Xothingism or Nativeism, and as being at
heart in favour of Canadian Independence, which
was pictured— as usual— as the end of British con-
nection and the first step towards Annexation ! The
well-intentioned and innocent Canada First party
looked desperately fierce and dangerous as dressed
up by its political opponents.

The party never realized t' ■ ambitious expecta-
tions which heralded its formation. The death of

310

INFLUENCE OF CANADA FIRST PARTY

uoula.ul. not lon^r afterwards, also passcl awav
ni,i *• ^™"y '*'"■ '^ few months afterwards Afr

St:™:.!:"" v' "'"" "^ ''-'"'" ""^ ^'^•^■S

.he -a" ,,: r""T^'' J"*"'^" T'lis sealcl

c-areerasa h !.""''' u""'' ''=""'>■■ '" '■••«• ''^

fett.T in r.f. '"'*'" burst.HK some old party
at r n „pl,f„ng the t.-end and freedom of'^,„ i^

Halifax to Vantuve? """ '" '''"''"'''^ f^"
Before closing this chapter, this year's remark
no ce'lu "' "' x°"^''"" L^^'^'^'- < "- es

vC ^'f.-°"'y 'a-^f'Sr forty days! R„t Mr

'hei m ""' ''" '""'^"■>- --^ then'all-pow ,ful

^^in^ryinto^etS-lS^n^^^r:^--^
ural College at Guelph under Professor Mccl„

211

CHAPTER XXII.

THE DOMINION DEVELOPING— RIEL BANISHED—
PREMIER MACKENZIE VISITS BRITAIN-
HONOURED BY QUEEN VICTORIA—
McKELLAR'S DROLLERY.

Though not so exciting as some others, the year
187s was one of much importance and interest.
The elections to the third Ontario Parliament had
begun before the New Year came in, the nomina-
tions for which came off on January i ith and the
polling on the l8th. Considerable interest was feh
in the result of this contest, in consequence of its
being held under the new Redistribution .\ct. but
the Mowat Administration was sustained by a
majority of fifty-one to thirty-three, with four
classed as Independent members.

Several circumstances at this period indicated
the Dominion's growing development and import-
ance. Among these may be mentioned : The unquali-
fied success of the new North-West Mounted Police
force; the friendly treaties made by Lieutenant-
Governor Morris of Manitc ba and the Honourable
David Laird, Minister of the Interior, with the
Indian tribe,', of the North-West, thus legally and
honourably extinguishing the Indian title; the
inauguration of the Supreme Court of Appeal at

AMNESTY FOR RIEL

Ottawa:* the establishment of the Military Coll^pe
at Kingston : and the union of all the Presbyterian
Churches throughout the Dominion into one
denomination. The Mehhodists not long after-
\vards were similarly united, and the usefulness of
these two great religious bodies correspondingly
mrreased throughout the Dominion.

The outlook for Canatla's future peace and pros-
perity was also brightened bv the final settlement
ot the Kiel rebellion troubles. When Parliament
met on February 4tb, the Honourable Mr Mac-
kenzie immediately placed ,„, the notice paper a
resolution dealing with the .\mnestv -juestion It
was evidently the work of a master-hai.d. and con-
cluded in the following terms:—

"That in the opinion of this House it is not for

he honour or interest of Canada that the question

'>f_^ Amnesty should reiuaiu longer in its present

"That in the opinion of this House the facts
deve oped m the said evidence (taken bv the \orth-
Wes Special Committee) cannot be ignored bv tbe
people of Canada and must be considered in the
expression of their views as to the disposition of
'lie question.

" That in the opinion of this House it would be

cxptnse. lonif delay in .,..li„„ 1\: "^r'^y council. The increaseil

to poorer cHem ^ ;, H 3e. nnvr r"'"''""' ""'"™""

the Right of AnnTfl .L .2 "•*" '" '"^o""' "f continuing
.crive opp^Iit^"'- '"'' "" "■"-»"■ "■■<' no' ■"-'":,«« in,"

II.-)

213

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

proper, considering the said facts, that a full
Amnesty should be granted to all persons concerned
in the North-West troubles for all acts committed
by them during the said troubles, saving only L.
Riel, A. D. Lepine and W. B. O'Donohue.

" That in the opinion of this House it would be
proper, considering the said facts, that a like
Amnesty should be granted to L. Riel and A. D.
Lepine conditional on five years' banishment from
Her Majesty's dominions."

In a speech, conspicuous for good judgment and
careful preparation, Mr. Mackenzie moved the
adoption of this important resolution, and a spirited
debate ensued. Many members took part and the
stream of eloquence continued till the third day at
2.40 a.m. When the vote was taken, it was found
that Mr. Mousseau's amendment for an uncon-
ditional -Amnesty was defeated by 152 to 23, the
minority being almost entirely composed of French
Conservatives. The Government resolution was
then put and carried by the large majority of 126
to 50, the result being received with much cheering.
The vexatious Manitoba rebellion troubles were
thus at last set at rest, and in a way which gave
general satisfaction throughout the country.

The Honourable George Brown took his seat in
the Senate of Canada for the first time in 1875. His
first duty was to explain and discuss the proceedings
of the Reciprocity Commission which met at Wash-
ington the previous year, and of which Sir Edward
Thornton and himself were the Canadian repre-
sentatives.

214

BROWN'S SPEECH DISAPPOINTING

When Mr. Brown began his speech, the House of
Commons soon presented a deserted appearance,
many of its members having gone to the Senate to
see and hear for the first time a man of whom they
had read and heard so much. He was then only in
his fifty-seventh year, full of all his old-time life
and vigour, and his fine, manly appearance made a
most favourable impression upon the large audience
present. His speech on this occasion, however, was
generally regarded as a little disappointing. This
was not surprising. It necessarily had to be a quiet
recital of what the Reciprocity Commission had
accomplished. Few men can make an interesting
explanatory statement.

Sir John Macdonald was the most conspicuous
success in speeches of that kind of any person to
whom I ever listened— natural aptitude and long
practice combining to make such statements his
forte as a public speaker. But Mr. Brown had
httle or no experience in such deliverances, and
although an able and lucid account of the doings
of the American and British Commissioners and
the nature of the proposed new Reciprocity Treaty
his speech contained little of that powerful and
aggressive oratory which had made old Canada red
hot, and contributed so much to bring about the
union of British America of which we are now
all so proud.

On returning to the Commons in company with
the Honourable Mr. Huntingdon, who had also
been listening to his old political leader, I asked him
if George Brown's great reputation as a Parlia-

215

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

mentary orator in the stormy days before Con-
t'ederation was entirely justified. Few members
of the House were better quahfied to judge of this
than the eloquent member from Sheflford, and his
swift answer was more emphatic than polite: "In
those days George Brown was the damnedest
agitator I ever listened to!"

The Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, the Hon-
ourable John Crawford, passed away on May 13th.
He was not an active politician, but was universally
respected. The Ottawa Government pressed the
acceptance of the vacant Lieutenant-Governorship
on the Honourable George Brown, but the honour-
able gentleman could not see his way to accept it.
He politely declined, and the Honourable D. A.
McDonald, Postmaster-General, was thereupon
appointed to the vacant office with general
acceptance.

During the month of May, the Marquis and
Countess of Dufferin and family left Canada for a
summer visit to Great Britain, and early in June
they were followed across the Atlantic by the Hon-
ourable Alexander and Mrs. Mackenzie, a trip
which the Prime Minister greatly needed after his
long and arduous labours. It so happened that the
Honourable George Brown also weait over this
summer, and soon both England and Scotland were
pleasurably excited over what the newspapers de-
scribed as "the Canadian invasion."

In honour of Canada and of his successful ad-
ministration as Governor-General, Lord Dufferin
was entertained at a great banquet given by the
216

BANQUET TO LORD DUFFERIN

Canada Club of London. Many eminent persons
were present, including Sir Francis Hincks and Sir
John Rose. The principal toast was "Tlie Governor-
General of Canada and Prosperity to the Dominion."
His Excellency's reply was most eloquent, and con-
tamed one happy allusion to the relations between
the United States and Canada which deserves to be
preserved. It was as follows :

"Nothing in fact can be more friendly than the
relations and feelings which prerail between the
Canadian people and their neighbours across the
frontier. Whatever may have been the case in
former times, every thoughtful citizen of the
United States is now convinced that the future of
Canada has been unaherably fixed and determined,
and that she is destined to move within her own
separate and individual orbit. So far from regard-
mg this with jealousy, the public of the United
Mates contemplate with a generous enthusiasm
the daily progress of Canada's prosperous career.
In fact they are wise enough to understand that it
IS infinitely to the advantage of the human race that
the depressing monotony of political thought on
the Amencan continent should be varied and
enlivened by the development of a political system
akin to, yet diverse from, their own, productive of
a friendly emulation, and offering many points of
contrast and comparison, which they already begin
to feel they can study with advantage." (Cheers.)

Mr. Mackenzie went first to London, where he
had some Canadian matters to look into. He was
received with marked distinction and courtesy by all

317

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

members of the Imperial Government with whom
he came in contact, and Her Majesty Queen Victoria
conferred upon him the high honour of inviting
him to Windsor Castle as her guest.

He was graciously received by Her Majesty and
most favourably impressed with all she said and
did. There were rumours in the press at that time
that age was telling upon the Queen's mental
powers, but in answer to my inquiry on this point,
he declared it was irtter nonsense, that he found
her an exceedingly sensible and sharp woman, who
-vas punctilious in dischargfing the duties of the
Crown, and equally punctilious in insisting that her
Ministers, from the Premier down, should pay that
deference to the Crown which the Constitution
requires.

The fact that Mr. Mackenzie, though naturally a
bright Scotch lad with a good education, left his
native village of Logierait with little besides his
trade as a stonemason, and now returned Prime
Minister of Canada — a land more than double the
size of all Europe combined — greatly impressed the
press and people of the mother-land. This was par-
ticularly the case throughout Scotland, and various
cities and other places vied with one another as to
which should be the first to do him honour. He was
presented with the freedom of Dundee, Perth,
Irvine, Logierait — where he was born — 'the banquet
at the latter place beng held in a large and gay
marquee near the old house of his father, which
was specially decorated for the occasion. Sir Alex.
Muir Mackenzie, Bart., of Delvine, presided, and
218

AN AMUSING INCIDENT

the guest's reply to the honours done him— standing
near the house in which he was born and surrounded
by the gra\es of his ancestors— was unusually elo-
quent and touching. He afterwards addressed the
Chamber of Commerce at Greenock, but the time
arranged for his departure for Canada being near
at hand, he had to decline the further honours which
Ciusgow and Manchester desired to bestow upon
him.

When on his way to Perth, on July i6th, to
receive the freedom of that city, Mr. Mackenzie
was greatly amused by an incident which occurred
en route. At one of the railway stations the guard
ushered into the compartment of which he had been
the sole occupant a well-dressed, fine-looking,
middle-aged lady who proved to be well-connected,
intelligent and inquisitive. After long and cautiously
surveying her unknown companion, she at last
opened up conversation. She suspected he was a
Colonial, artfully managed to ascertain he had been
in Canada, and proceeded to tell him that there was
to be a great celebration in Perth that day as the
Prime Minister of Canada, who was on a visit to
Scotland, was to be presented with the freedom of
the city by the Lord Provost and other dignitaries,
followed by the usual festivities. She intended to
be present. Mr. Mackenzie was naturally interested,
but soon found himself embarrassed in finding
answers which would not reveal his identity.

The thought evidently ne\-er crossed the lady's
mind that the quiet, plain, unas.suming stranger
219

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

could be the hero of the occasion, and after dilating
on the honour it was to Scotland as well as himself,
that Mr. Mackenzie should have risen from being
a working stonemason to the high position of chief
ruler of Canada, she suddenly switched on to some
embarrassing questions just as they were entering
the city.

" You say you have yourself been in Canada — did
you ever see Mr. Mackenzie?"

With some restraint to hide his amusement, Mr.
Mackenzie replied : " Oh, yes, I have seen him,"
and he was finally forced to admit that he had
frequently been in his company.

" Well, then," rattled on his companion, becoming
steadily more interested in the subject, " what is
your opinion of Mr. Mackenzie? Is he a grand-
looking man, and does he deserve the flattering
reputation which the Scottish newspapers give him
for ability and stern integrity in all he does?''

" I have always had my doubts about that," was
the quick and witty response which followed this
question, the Prime Minister turning his head away
to hide his amused smile at the embarrassing situa-
tion, but which fortunately was soon terminated by
arrival at Perth, and the rattle made by the guards
unlocking the doors of the railway compartments.

As Mr. Mackenzie arose, took up his overcoat,
and assisted his inquisitive but intelligent companion
to alight, he quietly handed his visiting card to her
without a word of explanation.

A moment later he was being greeted by the Lord
Provost and other dignataries of Perth, amidst the

UNION OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES

cheers of the assembled citizens, whilst the heroine
of the incident stood on the railway platform, Mr
Mackenzie's card still in her hand, and evidently
not a little surprised and flustered over the flood of
light which had suddenly dawned upon her mind in
regard to the Premier of Canada and his varied
characteristics.

Ecclesiastical circles were pleasantly stirred bv
the consummation of the union of all the Presby-
terian Churches throughout the Dominion, which
took place at Montreal on June 15th. All the four
Synods, headed by their Moderators, marched in
procession to the Hall. About 2,000 persons were
present. The religious service was conducted as
follows : —

Dr. George M. Grant, Kingston, gave out the
100th Psalm; Principal Snodgrass, Montreal, read
the Scriptures; Principal Caven, Toronto, offered
prayer; the Rev. P. G. McGregor, of Nova Scotia,
presided as Senior Moderator, and the Rev \V
Reid, of Montreal, Senior Clerk, read from a parch-
ment the Basis of Union agreed upon, which the
four Moderators came forward and signed In
solemn language and amidst the deepest silence and
interest, Mr. McGregor then declared the four con-
tracting bodies united together under the name of

The Presbyterian Church in Canada," whereupon
all simultaneously rose to their feet, joined hands
and sang the 133 rd Psalm.

The venerable Dr. Cook, of Quebec, was elected
first Moderator of the new Church, and thus
221

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

modestly was "The Presbyterian Church in
Canada" started on its career. But the same evening
at a grand social entertainment, presided over by
Principal Dawson of McGill University, it was
estimated that not less than 5,000 persons were
present, and many brilliant speeches were made in
regard to this happy union of Canadian Presby-
terianism and the wide field for usefulnfess as "a
Church which lay before it.

The new Supreme Court was constituted on
October 8th. The Judges appointed by the Gove.. -
ment were as follows : From Ontario, the Honour-
able Chief-Justice William Buell Richards and the
Honourable Samuel Henry Strong; from Quebec,
the Honourable Jean Thomas Taschereau and
the Honourable Telesphore Fournier; from New
Brunswick, the Honourable Chief-Justice William
Johnston Ritchie; and from Nova Scotia, the
Honourable William Alexander. In honour of the
creation of the new Court, His Excellency Lord
Dufferin— who had just returned from his British
trip — gave one of the largest and most imposing
State Banquets ever attempted, at Government
House, to which an unusually large number of dis-
tinguished Canadians were invited.

Some political changes towards the close of 1875
were of public interest. Among others, that time-
scarred political veteran, the Honourable Archibald
McKellar, retired from the Ontario Government
and was appointed Sheriff of Hamilton. He had
been the hero of many electoral battles, and left
222

A CLEVER REPLY

behind him an honourable record for probity and
good nature. Whilst he could not be classed as a
great I'arliamentarian, Mr. McKellar, was a great
power throughout the country, his fine presence and
common sense, ready wit and unfailing fund of
luiniour making him almost unrivalled when in his
prune as an effective and pleasing platform speaker.

As an illustration of Mr. McKellar's adroitness
m a dilemma the following incident, which occurred
(luring one of his Kent elections, is selected from
numerous others. Th»re are many negroes in Kent,
and at that time whether blacks and wliites should
be educated together in the public schools was a
burning question. Before a large meeting— mostly
coloured— his shrewd opponent in the contest dared
him to answer the following question : " Would he
vote to have the coloured children educated in the
same schools as whites?" This question was a
poser. The answer might decide the election. There
were about 300 coloured ^•otes in the section; if
he answered "Yes" he would lose many white
votes, if he answered "No" he would lose the
coloured vote.

It so happened that the Conservative candidate
was a strong Orangeman and a man of unusually
dark complexion, and Mr. McKellar promptly
replied as follows: " His opponent," he said, " was
a loud and strong upholder of the British Consti-
tution, and he (McK.) would continue to use all
his powers as a legislator to secure the coloured
people all the rights and privileges they were entitled
^23

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

to under the British Constitution." Then he slowly
at' d, looking straight at his opponent, " But if we
are going to have schools for different colours, then
the quadroons should be separated from the blacks,
as well as the blacks from the whiter, and in that
event he very much feared that neither his opponent
nor himself would ever be able to get their children
into the white schools!" This unexpected sally
brought down the house and alike collapsed his
opponent and his question.

324

CHAPTER XXIII.

EARLV LETTERS OF SIR. WILFRID LAURIER-NATUR M
GIFT FOR LEADERSHIP-COSTLV DUFFERIN
FESTIVITIES-THE COMMERCIAL SITUA-
TION—UNPUBLISHED LETTER
THEREON— THE TRUE STORY
OF MACKENZIE'S ACTION.

The Liberal Government was now at the zenith
of Its career, and notwithstanding the cloud in the
West had given general satisfaction. They had
already passed into Jaw the principal electoral and
other reforms they had advocated in Opposition,
and the Riel and other difficulties inherited from
their predecessors had mostly disappeared. The
future of the Administration really looked roseate.
But, although it did not appear at the time, they were
in reality nearing the beginning of a great political
agitation which might prove a turning-point in their
career.

Several important changes in the Cabinet had
taken place since its formation. The I0.3 of Mr.
Dorion was distinctly felt. Mr. Letellier St. Just
had retired to the Lieutenant-Governorship of
Quebec. The introduction of the Honourable
Joseph Cauchon into the Cabinet— able man though
he was— did not popularize it. On the other hand.
Mr. Blake's return to the Cabinet as Minister of
225

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Justice in May, 1875. greatly strengthened Mr.
Mackenzie's hands.

There was one weak joint in the Administrative
armour, and it was one of the then junior members,
Mr. Wilfrid Laurier, who, with customary bright-
ness, first brought it (,, n-y notice. That gentle-
man and I regularly corresponded from his entrance
mlo Parliament until he became a member of the
Cabinet in 1877, and it has continued more or less
ever si- 'e.

Mr. Laurier's early letters — now thirty-.seven
V. ,;rs old— lie on the table before me, and read by
lie liglit of the brilliant success which he has since
achieved as Prime Minister of Canada, clearly fore-
shadowed his natural gift for leadership. Not that
they are free from the |)eculiarities of youth. Far
from it. They are at once unsophisticated, impetu-
ous, self-confident and extreme, .-Xt that time he was
strongly radical. In aflFairs both of Church and
State he was outspokenly democratic. He was a
Rouge of the reddest tint. But amidst not a little
of the inexperience of youth, the letters contain
many evidences of that remarkable political pre-
science which so quickly raised him from a country
lad with a moderate education to the first rank of
Canadian statesmen, and has since made his name
famous in every land possessing Representative Gov-
ernment.

The Mackenzie Government was never excelled
by any previous Canadian Administration for care-
fulness, honesty, or economy. The principal
measures of their programme, however, were dis-
aa6

FRENCHMEN REQUIRE EXCITEMENT

ill ■ , f"" °^ '•"y "^^^ Ministerial measur t
Rave the r,t r. 1, . ''"'''''" "^ ""= Dominion,

fits--— M.i.n .

nJrl'mr'".'?. P^^"^'"*'"' was called f, ,- R„
niary lotli of the vear 1876 and th .

U^aln,,d,.Conntess^fDirr:"ra

CanLf ^"^'^" P'''^"'""'''y attempted aV;u.
Canadian capital. Besides the cnston,arv ooe-

came off on the night of Fehnv „ i • l

-endance of fn../fiftee.f hZl^ed HZ:^
(-anartian and other guests. ^^^m^winea

227

I I

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

As many members and others invited did not see

ve ZiVT"' '■" ^"'"'"^' -^° entertainmen
uere found to be necessary. At t!,e first one fancy
costumes were rf. regucnr, except in the case of "he
Honourable Mr. Maclcenzie and a very few other
pnvdeged persons. Many of the costLs prov:i'
to be reproductions of those w«m by ancient h^
tor,cal personages, and were at once eSm '
expensive and beautiful.* eiaoorate,

ary, full dress or fancy costume as they preferred

ments R.deau Hall was in fact completely crammed
w> h the guests-hundreds of then, in brilSTTud
picturesque costumes-and when the opening pro-
cession headed by their Excellencies, entered the
ga,ly decorated ballroom, and the devotees of
Terpsichore beg.n to whirl into the maz« of the
waltz and ,nadrine. to the sweet strains of L band
of the Governor-General's Foot Guards the scene

"ant of the kind ever witnessed on this continent.!

tioVa?; ntv^.^'nid' Tz.r •" '"t •■"'"^-^' -"-

nuches,- a Hi^H„„ ■«<' Indian conversed familiarly with a

Morn"g'm\"S°hrSpi„-r'o"'''.he"'p * ^"""V"' N'<rk« and
Heard."-Daily CM. Repor, "" """ '"""' '"' B'"'"

ce,7on%o°"u;'ef."^^;''L°;ir;„:; t%'s' "=r'? •" ">= p™-

o-irable Mr. MackenzS and H,l p'^ «^ Mrs Mackenzie ; Hon-

an. Mi. ^^^r^^^^-^i::^^::;^^^:!:^^^

338

CANADA A SLAUGHTER MARKET

measures. AmonTthe^ T^' °^ ^'"^^le

'aw in regard TcomtZ P "^- *""' *" ^"'^"'' ^he

to afford greater secSJ to r T'' territories,
Assurance CompanesS^*'^Pf'=>:,'^ders in Life

■nal Statistics, in regarfto '^ ^f ''^'^'^^ ^rim-
rndians and to proWde 1 °th. h '.? '^"f'"''^'"^"' °^
of insolvent banks Par,;.!! . administration
-•^h the • .ngratuiltions ^thToffi:", S^"'^\'"--d
opening of the PrinrP P^ '"« ufficial Speech on the

^eneafco^plIt^rdoSSSA^""? ^"^
which the trade of Onffr^l ^ j i^ ^"**''™'onial,

Manti.eProvi„c:/„^X°;ip-'>ec wfth the

f- theS hr Ire'oHe""^"'^'^- '^ --
Jon abroad, and ^Xer't ? S"st ' '*=''^^'-
Canada ent rely escanpd n „ ^^^^^^ "or

'n.de declined iT9T.';,?";;""^'874-S our annual
$'6,i C4 1 10 Tht I "■•'•■" "'' ""^ following year

ag.;aSiedV ha IpreTr"'"^''""' *""• "-
ers and n>erchanrse^,d n. ?'"'" "'anufactur-
Canada and sac fi^ tLf". ' '"^ '"''^"^^ '""^o
'heir own home S-'f S V^^^ ■"a^her than in
'■•- averaged a,!;':';;;, p^r cen't'tr '''"' ^' ""^
were admitted at a lower dutv n. ^"''."'^"y articles

"« tarl of Dufferin in Canada, pag" ^^g. '^^■"■•if'f »Hoii of

II.-.S

32Q

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

1; : I

market without much loss to themselves, but when
we desired to send our Canadian productions into
the United States markets, their high tariiT, averag-
ing about 35 per cent., almost completely shut us
out.

The press and the Canadian people soon began to
complain of this. On its face it did not appear a
square deal, and the advocates of Protection for
Manufacturers — who had made little progress in
their long agitation up to this time — ingeniously
started a cry for agricultural protection against
United States farm products, as the best means of
getting protection for themselves. This proved a
most adroit move on their part. The catchy pro-
posal took immediately with many of the farmers,
and before the year closed, a lively agitation had
arisen on the subject.

Up to this time the Dominion Parliament —
divided on nearly all other questions — 'had always
been a unit on our commercial policy. At Confed-
eration, our first Finance Minister, Sir A. T. Gait,
declared — and both sides of the House agreed there-
with — that the best fiscal policy for Canada was one
the reverse of the high Protective system of the
United States, one which would make the Dominion
conspicuous as a country for cheap living, low taxes,
and attractive inducements to all classes at home or
abroad seeking homes for themselves and their
families. Mr. Gait indicated an average of I2j4
per cent, as our maximum tariff, and the general
feeling for many years seemed to be " The- lower
the better."

230

CHANGE TO HIGHER TARIFF

Whilst Conservatives and Liberals continued to
be united against it, the policy of Protection was
considered un-English and remained under the ban.
But the refusal of the United States to agree to
Reciprocity, or to lower in any way the fiscal bar-
riers obstructing our international trade, naturally
aroused some Canadian feeling, and a spirit of
change on this question soon became perceptible.
From meetings addressed by me at this period in
Guelph and other parts of Wellington on behalf of
the first election to Parliament of Mr. Hugh Guthrie,
Sr., K.C.. I became convinced the agitation for tariflF
change had already obtained a strong hold upon
the masses of Canadians, especially certain classes
of farmers, and unless the Mackenzie Government
made at least some moderate concession to public
opinion — and the deficiency in the pulilic revenue
supplied them with ample reasons for that — they
must inevitably suffer more or less in popularity.

Under these circumstances, correspondence was
opened with ti t Liberal leader on this subject, and
the following letter was sent to him the week before
the session of 1876 opened. It is now published for
the first time :

Thornhill.' Galt. February 3rd. 1876.

" My Dear Mackenzie :— The trade question con-
tmues to attract great attention throughout the
country. There is little or no improvement as yet
in the position of manufacturers, and much interest
is being manifested in the legislation the Govern-
ment intends to propose.

231

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

" The popular idea undoubtedly is : Reciprocity
with the United States; Free Tr- le if they will,
equal duties if they won't. This would be my own
feeling if I could see how the difficulties in the way
could be overcome.

"The opinion of Sir Francis Hincks which he
has kindly communicated to me is : That our com-
mercial position to the United States should be con-
sidered exceptional. That Schedules B and C of
the Brown Treaty should be made to impose the
same duties on American goods coming into Canada
as they charge us on Canadian goods going into
the United States, with the provision attached, that
if their duties were afterwards decreased, so sliould
ours be to the same extent, but not otherwise.
This is the view of Sir Francis roughly stated, but
the proposed legislation would he exceptional as
regards the United States, and might prove danger-
ous in the end.

" But would it not be practicable to take Schedules
B and C and reconstruct them on the American scale
of duties, excluding particular articles which would
materially affect British trade and be unfair to our
consumers, but covering those of the United States
which of late have been ' slaughtered ' in our mar-
kets to the harassment and injury of our industries
more than the benefit of the people at large?

" Mr. Cartwright and you are in the best position
to know whether such a step is either advisable or
practicable. I have not as yet considered it fully
myself, but believe the Tariff could be so arranged
on the basis of these schedules as to remove the
charge of unfair competition from the United States
without resorting to exceptional legislation or mater-
ially increasing the cost of articles to the consumer.
333

TARIFF ARRANGEMENT UNJUST TO CANADA

" My chief object in writing, however, is to let
you know that public sentiment runs strongly in
favour of a bold and resolute policy towards Ameri-
can manufactures coming into competition with our
own. That the present Tariff arrangement with the
L nited States is unjust to Canada is the settled gen-
eral opinion of the people, and if this feeling is not
allayed before another election, it will have a most
potent influence in detentiining its results. The
Opposition know this, and will act accordingly dur-
ing the coming session. Hoping to have the pleasure
of seemg you by the close of next week,
" I remain,

" Very truly yours,

" James Young.
" The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie,
" Ottawa."*

Almost endless discussion has since taken place
as to the circumstances which led the Mackenzie

• When I began to write " Public Mm and Public Life in
Canada one of the root principles aflop ed was to avoid refer-
ence to myself in every practicable way. When Volume I. was
nearly finished, the appearance of a book in which the author
and an able man, used between fifty and sixty capital I's on a
single page, led me to go twice over my MSS. and strike out every
capital I which was not felt to be absolutely necessary But
in consequence of my intercourse later on with many eminent
statesmen when in the House of Commons and the Ontario Legis-
lature, as well as personal connection with some of the political
and other events described in this volume, I find it dilficult to
adhere to the principle of self-abnegation as completely as in
Volume L After consideration, therefore, I have concluded to
publish the above letter and some other unpublished correspond-
ence on the Trade question, including a reply from the Honourable
Alexander Mackenzie, and also to introduce such other personal
references and letters as my connection with public life may
render necessary to the elucidation of several other interesting
circumstances yet to be dealt with.

233

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Administration to choose the position they did on
this commercial agitation, and ntany misleading and
not a few absolutely erroneous statements have been
published in regard to it. Circumstances having
placed me in a position to know the inside history
of the matter, nwre especially during the early part
of this session — when the die was cast — 1 will
endeavour to relate the facts as clearly and cor-
rectly as possible.

On reaching Ottawa, the assistance of the Hon-
ourable L. H. Holton, of Montreal, was requested.
He was a strong Free Trader, but heartily agreed
to join in pressing upon the Government the views
contained in the letter given above.

We had several interviews with the Honourable
Mr. Mackenzie and the Honourable Mr. Cartwright,
and pressed our views in other influential quarters.
Other members doubtless also did so. The Prime
Minister was never convinced that even the trifling
departure from Free Trade principles proposed
could be justified by sound argument. But in view
of all the circumstances at the time, I have good
reason to know that, though possibly the matter
never came before the Executive Council, the leaders
of the Government did come to the conclusion to
make the small advance in the Customs duties which
so many of their Ontario and Quebec supporters de-
sired. As proof of this, I may mention that Mr.
Holton confidentially told me, one day, that he had
seen and read the Government resolutions on the
subject, and rumours were soon afterwards current
that the Administration intended to take this course.
234

OPPOSITION TO TARIFF CHANGES

The Honourable R. J. Cartwriglit was announced
to make the Budget Speech on February 25th. As
the day drew near when the Government poHcy
would have to be declared, public interest greatly
increased. It was then almost universally believed
that there would be a moderate increase in the tariff.
But the old saying again came true : " There's many
a slip 'twixt cup and lip."

Two or three days before the Budget Speech Mr.
A. G. Jones, M.P. for Halifax, and Mr. James
Carmichael, M.P. for Pictou, arrived from Nova
Scotia. At that time the Maritime Provinces were
overwhelmingly for Free Trade, and these gentle-
men, especially the former, were emphatic in declar-
ing to the Government their opposition to the pro-
jected fiscal changes. The prominence of Mr. Jones
warranted his being considered the mouthpiece of
the Maritime Liberals, and there can be no doubt
they were nearly all opposed to the suggested in-
crease of the Tariff, more especially any increase
for Protective purposes. Reports were after-
wards circulated that they had signed " a round-
robin," as it is called in political circles, or had
unitedly pledged themselves to vote against the Gov-
ernment, if the proposed Tariff changes were per-
sisted in.

These reports were entirely without foundation.
To make certain on this point, I wrote a letter of
inquiry to the Hon. Mr. Jones, then Lieutenant-
Governor of Nova Scotia, a short time before his
death. From his interesting reply, dated " Govern-
ment House, Halifax, April nth, 1903," it is quite

235

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

^Jh""* *^u ?°. ""'*'*' '■«=P«s'=ntatio„ whatever was
made to the Liberal Governn.cnt on the subject S
*e Marnmie members. In reference to th.?SnT
Mr. Jones m h.s letter distinctly says: " Thlrfwas
no concontred action among them or resolve tha
hey would oppose any increase in the Tariff Bu
iwiZVl ''"°^'' *" ^«« Traders, and natur
dt'ecSn.'" "" '" '"^ ■''«' '" * Protectionist

<i£L""1 F^l"°"^ P°''"^" «" """""r thus
t^Ti . ""^ '''"*^ "'«'« ^^w" [anti-Protec-
^n] but my strongest objection was that the
r^onstruct,on of the Tariff was not to be gei^eS
^"t only to apply to some articles in which S

■ir fhet °' ^^V^—'-t had sj«^?a
merest. The Sugar question was in a very disturb-

We^rT"' '"'• °" ^^-^"""t °f °"r trade^with the

and Mr' Canw^ht '" M ' ^"' "''= P"-' ^"'^^'
4na Mr. Lartwnght could not see their way to make

-nment except their open advocacy oTpree T?ade"
n preference to Protection. Their view, rndoosi

MacEl-e ''^'=„^7""«'«nt. 'he Honourable Mr.

coS^'hari^t^^-L^tSe^-:

vfeThL'll''^ r'^'-^^/' P°"''=^' E»"C Thes
v.ews had been learned in his rugged Scottish home

336

CARTWRIGHT SPRINGS SURPRISE

and had been cherished as truth ever since And
to make a long story short, Mr. Mackenzie found
no difficulty in finally deciding to adhere to his own
life-long opinions, and make no material changes
m the commercial policy which had prevailed since
Confederation, and which all parties had considered
the best for the Dominion until the existing agitation
Arose.

'nie foregoing is the true story of this interesting
chapter in Canadian public life, but the Finance
Minister was well on in his able Speech on the
Budget before the crowded House of Commons
realized the surprise in store for them. The secret
wa.s confined to the Cabinet and a small circle of
fnemls. and when Mr. Cartwright announce.1 that
the &>yemn,ent had decided neither to increase the
lanff 1,1 .1 time of depres.don, nor adopt a policv
which would be '• a servile plagiarism of the worst
blunders which the United States have committed "
he <;urprise was as manifest among the Conserva-
tives as on most of the Liberal benches

237

CFtAPTER XXIV.

TlIK N. P. IJP.nATK CONTINUES-CONSERVATIVI'

AMKNDWKNT-THK DUFFERINS VISIT I'OI.UM-

niA -HIS LORDSHIP'S SUCCKSS-JOHN A

0\ THE STUMP-THE LIBERALS IN

CONVENTION, ETC.

Sir John Macdonald ami the Honourable Charles
Tapper did not disguise their surprise at the Gov-
ernment's action. The latter had to reply to the
Finance Minister, but Sir John at "a later stage ad-
mitted his own surprise. " I came, I confess it, to
liear his [Mr. Cartwright's] speech, impressed with
the idea that he was going to bring down an altera-
tion of the Tariff." According to current report
the Honourable Charles Tupper came to the House
loaded up to denounce an increase of the Tariff, and
to dilate— as he had done before— on the danger
of permitting an entrance to the thin end of the Pro-
tectionist wedge!

Such an unexpected change in the situation would
have appalled many another man. But in debate
nothing could appal Sir Charles. As usual he rose
equal to the occasion. With surprising coolness he
turned his guns, took up the opposite line of attack
and probably made a more forcible and effective
criticism of the Government's course than if he
had been able to use the mental ammunition which
he had specially prepared for the occasion.
338

TUPPER NONPLUSSED

There were many throughout the Dominion,
especially ni Liberal circles, who believed that if the
Mackenzie Administration had even moderately
raised the Tariflf at this time, the Conservatives
would have opiKised Protection and raised the cry
that III. commercial policy of the Ivnprre. and even
Hruish connection, was In d.iiiKer. This would
have been quite in harmony with Sir John Macdon-
ald 3 previous record on this rjuestion, but as the cir-
cumstances did not arise, this must remain a moot
question.

The (ollowing incident may be related, however
as possibly having some bearing on this interesting
point: When Dr. Tupper concluded his speech
about half-past ten o'clock, and shortlv before the
House adjourned, the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie went
across the Chamber to the front of the Doctor's
desk, and the two doughty antagonists— the heroes
ot somany political battles— indulged in what seemed
to the onlooke/s a very friendly and amusing con-
versation, which at times seemed to verge a little too
near the hilarious for a legislative body with the
Speaker still in the Chair, r watched the whole
proceeding across the gangway, and was somewhat
surprised when the Premier on returning came
straight across the front of my own desk. Know-
ing that my opinion was that the Government had
made a serious, if not fatal, blunder, in not dealing
with the TarifT as originally intended, he went on
to tell me his conversation with the member for
Cumberland, which seemed to have amused hin,
very much.

239

h 't

PUBLIC MRN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

hc"bXan' ''° ^''" "''■"'' '''""P*-'^ ♦>" J"^' '"'J mc?"

" I have no idea," I replied.

" \\ ell." continued Mr. Mackenzie, " I went over

o banter h„„ a little on his speech, winch 711ZZ

alleged was a capital one considering he had E

loaded „p on the other si.le. He regarded thisa"

frankly adnmte.l to n,e that he had entered t Ic
irmiHenndertielK-Iief t!v>Kl,.. (' n'lcren nic

.,,..: .1 M> ..'"•"'"' '"'^f'lmentnituKled

;.;sviL'r;i?;i[."''-'- '"--"' '''•'^' ■»•'■<'

Both of these political veterans were in the sati.e
l-x with regard to their action „„ il,i, n,,",,-^

he ne „f ,,at,le seen,ed to aliford both of then, not
a httle a,nnsen,ent as they bantere.l each other in a
friendly manner. What the Liberal and Conse va-
t.ve parties d,d that night, however, was pre^a„t
with nnportance. They were making history ^ad
Mr. Mackenzie increased the Tariff^he Conserva^
t.ves would probably have become-as already
suggested-the Free Traders instead of the Prot£
t.on,sts ot Canada, and our political history wouTd
have been qu.te different during the ensuing't^enty

After the speeches of Messrs. Cartwright and

ll rTal'l t" T'"T °''=^'°^^ "" "'^ Trade quLtbn
burst all bounds. At every stage of Supply amend

f., ; jy°°''' °* "^""'ton. Mr. Thomas Work-
man, of Montreal, and several other Liberal sup-
240

SIR JOHN'S SHREWDNESS

poriers of the C.oveminem movH in favo- f
increased protect ion to manufacturers Dr Oi
as usual wantc.l ll.f farmers protected. So '>M,i
many othei-s who were after their vot- . Sir John
Nfacdcalds attitude so far had bee, ..omewhal
hal?/", non.con,mk,al; l„,t the Oovern.nenl
hav ng declared ,ts pohcy, it now H.ca,„e necessarv
for the Conservative party to pla. i„clf on record
It was not until the loth of M,„rh, l^wcver .hu
Its veteran leader did so by »v.unn the fo'i.iui,,..
amendment: "

"That the Speaker do not now leave tlie Chair
but that it be resolved that this House- regrets Hi."
Excellency the Governor-General has not been ad-
vised to recommend to Parliament a measun for
a readjustment of the TarifT, which would notonlv
aid in alleviating the stagnation of business deplored

lo^ffnfnT- ^P''''' '■'°'" *^' '^^'°"'' b"' would
also afford fitting encouragement and protection to
the struggling manufactures and industries, as well
as to the agricultural productions of the country."
Sir John did not support his motion with a care-
ful, argumentative- speech. He seldom ever did
His readiness on all Parliamentary topics was such
that he nearly always trusted to the spur of the
moment-a habit which saved him much labour but
frequently was not just to himself and his reputa-
lon. But If anything was lacking in argument on
this occasion, it was more than made up by the great
shrewdness he manifested in dealing with the Tariff
situation, and the happy nranner in which he quoted
the famous riiyming despatch of George Canning

241

%9-

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

to Sir Charles Bagot, the British plenipotentiary at
The Hague, when the Netherlands put a duty on
Rngh'sh shipping :

" In matters of Commerce the fault of the Dutch
Is in giving too little and asking too much,
With equal advantage the French are content,
So we'll clap on Dutch bottoms just twenty per
cent."

The Hon. Mr. Cartwright brieflj but effectively
replied to the Conservative leader, after which this
interminable debate became more boisterous than
ever. Whilst it was going on, the Whips on both
sides used every exertion to swell *heir division lists,
and when the vote was finally tu ; led, the Govern-
ment was found to be sustained by a majority of
one hundred and twenty-one to seventy-five. Thus
ended the first fight in Parliament between our two
great political parties on the Protection question,
which was ultimately to agitate and divide the wlinle
Dominion.

The Honourable .Alexander Mackenzie's reputa-
tion for ability and effectiveness as a speaker had
been steadily rising for some time, in fact, ever since
his acceptance of oflfice. The leadership of the
House of Commons is a very difficult task, and more
so for a layman than a lawyer, ft must be admitted
that during his first session, Mr. Mackenzie showed
some lack of experience, but by the session of 1876,
he had become completely master of the rules of
Parliament and was found equal to every emergency

MACKENZIE'S SPEECH ON PACIFIC RAILWAY

which the leadership of the House of Commons
entailed.

Near the close of the session the Premier quite
distinguished himself and delighted Parliament with
a speech on the progress and position of the Pacific
Railway of a most instructive and interesting char-
act ;r. It manifested thorough knowledge of the
engineering and other problems of the great work,
explained fully the progress already made, the diffi-
cult portion of the line yet to be located, and the
policy of the Government in seeking to meet the just
expectations of Columbia in regard to the road. Mr.
Mackenzie's industry was so great, he was so fully
master of his subject, that he delivered this long
speech— necessarily abounding in figures and de-
tails—with coraparati\ely few references to his
notes, and it was so truly eloquent in its sincerity,
accuracy and clearness, that it made a vivid impres-
sion on Parliament and raised him l<> a higher niche
in the public estimation.

It was just at the turn of the sunny days of <iimi-
mer— July ^ist— when His Excellencv Lord Duf-
ferm and party left Ottawa on their famous British
Columbia tour. Besides Her Excellency the
Countess of DuflFerin, *he partv consisted of the
Honourable R. O. P. Littleton, the Oovernor-Oen-
cral's Secretary, Captains Ward and Hamilton.
.A.D.C.'s, and Mr. Campbell, private secretary. They
departed amidst the acclamations of the Prime
Minister, Chief-Justice Richards, the Honourables
Messrs. Scott, Burpee, Vail and other members of
the Cabinet, a detachment of the Govemor-General's
M3

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Foot Guards and band, and a large number of citi-
zens. On reaching San Francisco they were met by
H. M. Corvette Amethyst, and landed at Esquimalt
on August i6th, after a sea voyage of 760 miles.

The relations of the Dominion and British Col-
umbia were still in a " snarl," and Lord Dufferin
made no secret that the principal object of his visit
was to endeavour to restore more friendly relations
between them. Their Excellencies were received,
from their landing to their leaving the Province,
with much enthusiasm. Lieutenant-Governor Albert
N. Richards went aboard the Amethyst and greeted
them as soon as the vessel weighed anchor, and on
landing in picturesque Esquimalt — only a village
then — they were met by Sir James Douglass and a
large Reception Committee, who welcomed their
Excellencies to the Province. Wlien they reached
Victoria they found the cppitsl elaborately and gaily
decorated — not the least brilliant part being the
Chinese quarter — and the Mayor and Council pre-
sented Their Excellencies with another address, fol-
lowed by salutes, music, illuminations and other
expressions of civic joy of the most cordial char-
acter.

r,ord DufFerin's visit jjroved a master-stroke of
diplomacy. Few men ever lived who were by nature
better fitted to succeed on such a mission. In social
functions of state. His Excellency was at his best.
It is unnecessary to enter into details. Lieirtenant-
Governor Richards, whom Premier Mackenzie had
recently apj- minted, had not yet entered Government
House. It had jtist been refitted throughout, and

244

tf. '^'K-.-imBsfiji "■• '?■*

LORD DUFFERIN'S TRIP

His Honour offered it to the Dufferins during their
stay in Victoria. This kind offer was graciously
accepted, and Their Excellencies— in fact the whole
Viceregal party— entered upon a round of dinners,
receptions, balls, picnics and other social entertain-
ments with such gracious courtesy towards all
classes whom they met that they quite captured the
hearts of the Columbians, and kindlier feelings to-
wards the Dominion soon began to be perceptible on
all sides.

After taking a long voyage northwards, during
which they sailed to the Skeena River, 514 miles
from Victoria, and even went as far north as Port
Simpson, the Viceregal party returned via Charlotte
Island to New Westminster on the mainland of
Briti.* Columbia on September sth. Their Excel-
lencies received an equally warm reception there
made a tour of the Eraser River, and finally reached
Victoria again on the 13th. The round of festivi-
ties was again resumed, but the following week Lord
Dufferin proved that he was capable when necessary
of soaring into the region of the highest statesman-
ship. ..nd made ttie master-stroke of his mission. He
invited all who had signed or presented addresses to
him, all whose acquaintance had been made, and
all prominent citizens who were so inclined, to
attend at Government House on the forenoon of
the aoth, when he would in an address give the
impressions formed in his mind during his sojourn
among them.

The response to this invitation was a large and
influential attendance. His Excellency spoke for
11.-16 245

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

over two hours with his usual rhetorical brilh-ancy
His remarks chiefly concerned the relations between
the Province and the Dominion, which were handled
with much tact, frankness and couraqc. With sym-
pathy towards his hearers, he nevertheless frankly
explained and discussed the great difficulties in the
way of pushing the construction of the Pacific Rail-
way faster than the Dominion was then doing and
in a very noble and generous spirit, he defended the
Prime Minister, the Honourable Mexander Mac-
kenzie, from the numerous calumnies circulated
about hini on the Pacific Coast. He eloquently
niaintained that he was an honourable statesman
and an upright man. who fully recognized the claims
of the Province upon the Dominion and was earn-
estly seeking to fulfil them as fast as the limitations
placed upon him would admit.

This remarkable speech, and his mission to British
Lolumbia generally, were probably the greatest ser-
vices rendered to Canada by Lord Dufferin during
the five years he was Governor-General, and although
he had no power to make any bargain or settlement,
from the day he first set foot in Victoria the bad
teehng of the Province towards the Dominion began
to dissipate like fog under the summer's sun and
fortunately disappeared entirely long before the
Pacific Railway was completed.

Lord and Lady Dufferin bade farewell to the
British Columbians at a grand open-air entertain-
ment given by the city and people in their honour
m the Beacon Hill Park. This took place during
the afternoon of the same day on which His Excef-
246

"a rum 'UN TO LOOK AT"

lency's famous speech was delivered. It was a very
arge and etrthusiastic gathering, and the next day
the Viceregal party set out on the Amethvst for San
Francsco, hon.eward bound. Lingering on the way
at the Aniencan Centennial E^chibrtion at Philadel-
phia, they did not reach Ottawa until October ^^rd
when His Excellency received many felicitations on
the success of his mission to the Pacific Coast

Tort,°°^- t'u P""^"^^"t ^^^ prorogued on April
loth, Sir John Macdonald. who had removed from

moted himself to the work of party managemeni and
organization. Conventions, public meetings, and
occasionally the mammoth picnic, were soon in evi-
dence, the two principal speakers on most of the

"""ir^'x M,'"^ """ OPP°^'t-o" 'eader and the Hon-
ourable Wilham Macdougall, who, notwithstanding
his famous North-West pamphlet, had again ,l„nned
the Conservative colours.

.J^V^i^^""^^^!"- ^' ^^ ^'■'' "°^ g^""='"y "lied.
tZ '^'^'^f'} '^;='^^'"g "--d at these gatherings.
Thousands desired to see a man who was at once
described as an angel of darkness and an angel of
'ght ! Everybody also felt pretty sure there would
be more or less excitement, and possibly some fun
at any meeting which John A. addressed. That
gentleman was too shrewd to surfeit his hearers

,Tl,nf ^m' """V^ '"■' S^'^'^™S^ manifested any
f ign of dullness, he would raise a laugh bv describ-
ing him.sel as "A rum 'un to look at but a rare
"n to go, or by rehearsing in his inimitable way
some funny old story, a favourite in his repertoire
^47

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

evidently being the old squaw who declared " A little
too much was just enough !"

In my humble judgment, the remarkable tact and
cleverness of Sir John Macdonald as a political man-
ager were never more conspicuous than in the untir-
ing and successful efforts he put forth at this time
in Toronto, and under many discouraging circum-
stances, to throw off the load of public obloquy
under which his party and himself had been crushed
at the general election only four years before.

Spurred up by the activity of their rivals, the
Liberals also felt the need of better party organiza-
ton, which had been somewhat neglected, in fact,
since (jower was obtained. They therefore united
in holding a Provincial Convention at Toronto, on
July 6th. It was largely and influentially attended.
Mr, James Young, Member of Parliament, presided,
and among the more prominent public men present
were : The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie, Hon-
ourable Oliver Mowat, Honourable J. G. Currie,
Honourable Adam Crooks, and Honourable T. B.
Pardee. Besides speeches from these gentlemen, the
discussions were taken part in by Messrs. .^milius
Irving, Thomas Oliver, William Kerr, A. S. Hardy,
James M. Bethune, James D. Edgar and others. A
small executive body was formed to carry out the
work as outlined by the Special Committee appointed
for the purpose. This proved a thoroughly business
convention, composed largely of influential men
from the business centres, and its proceedings were
characterized by short speeches and much unanimity.
248

LIBERALS OPTIMISTIC

The Liberal Government of the Dominion and
that of Ontario manifested increased party activity
from this time forward. The Honourable Alexander
Mackenzie made an elaborate and powerful defence
of his Administration at Watford, and immense
picnics were held at Dunnville, Branttord and el'^c-
where. The array of speakers at the Telephone City
was somewhat formidable. Among 'hem were the
Honourable Messrs. Mackenzie, Mowat, Cartwright,
Patterson, C. F. Fraser, Hardy, and, last but not
least, Mr. Joseph Rymal, so long known and
esteemed as the outspoken champion and shrewd
humourist of the Literal party both in Parliament
and the country.

Three Dominion bye-elections took place this fall.
They were for North Middlesex, South Wellington
and Glengarry. The latter, in particular, was hotly
contested by the Conservatives, but the Government
carried them all. These and other circumstances
rather tended to reassure Mr. Mackenzie and his
colleagues that they still had a solid majority of the
people of Ontario at their back.

I i

249

CHAPTER XX\ .

UNPIHUISHKD LETTER OK THE HONOURABLE

ALEXANDER MACKENZIE ON THE TARIFF -

SIR FRANCIS HINCKS AND HKS VIEWS—

AN ABLE MAN ANO OOOD IWBATER.

The agitation among many manufacturers and
certain classes of farmers in favour of higher duties
on American and other imports competing in our
markets, was augmented Ijy the late session's dis-
cussions. Having previously ascertained this, cor-
respondence was renewed with the Hon. Afr.
Mackenzie on the subject. On July 19th I wrote
him in still stronger terms than were employed in
the letter given in the last chapter, pointing out thi.-
certain danger to his Government and the whole
Liberal party from the growing agitation, and sug-
gesting — not a protective policy — but a moderate
readjustment of the tariff, which, it was believed,
would satisfy public opinion and " make the political
horizon brighter for the party than it is at present.'

The Prime Minister replied at length from
Ottawa, on July 21st — two days afterwards — and
as this important letter gives an inside view of Mr.
Mackenzie's opinions at that time, and has never
been published before, it is worthy of preservation
by reproduction here. The letter is as follows : —
250

A MATTER OF EXPEDIENCY

"Ottawa, July aist, 1876.

" My Dear Young :— I am much obliged for your
long letter. I was aware from many indications that
our farmers were more or less led astray by a
plausible cry, and undoubtedly it must be met.

" It is a delusion to believe it will do them any
good to go th' >ugh the form of imposing a duty
on United States farm produce. It would injure
our farmers in two ways. First, it would injure
the general trade of the country, and everything that
does that must injure the principal class in it. Sec-
ondly, it would in all probability provoke retaliation.
The Yankees don't recjuire any of our produce, or
rather they can easily do without it, and they could
very easily raise the duties to such an extent as to
deprive our farmers of the only market they have
for the greater portion of their produce.

" I am not only a Free Trader in principle, but, as
a matter of expediency, 1 am opposed to the pro-
posed policy. I have therefore felt inclined to make
a speech shortly, dealing exhaustively with the whole
matter. In that speech I would show that iti the
matter of manufactured goods we had reached the
maximum of our collecting powers by custom dues;
that any furriier duties would only diminish the
revenue and raise prices, and that our farmers
would not only pay more for what they buy, but
would have to bear a direct tax to make good the
sure deficit in the revenue.

" You might get over a present clamour by a
temporizing policy which would show itself in pro-
mises to consider the imposition of higher duties,
but that must inevitably lead to some new mode of
taxation which would get into operation nicely to
tell against us at the General Election, It would

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

be useless to tell our opponents or the people, as a
rule, that this was brought about by the adoption
of their own policy. We would certainly be judeed
by what existed at the time, without regard to pro-
moting causes.

"Remember the feeling in the House against the
protecting duty put on petroleum oil. It was so
strong that we were compelled to promise its con-
sideration next session. With regard to common
cotton goods denims, etc., I fmd that Canadian
mills supply all the demands now. It is only on cer-
tain higher articles any duty can be collected. We
can, therefore, only accomplish raising the price but

^l^/!!^""^''y additional duties. Mclnnis admitted
that to me last winter.

K '!V^l other main articles are not so bad as this,
but I doubt If they will bear more taxes without
diminishing the importation.

"Take woollen goods, our people have almost a
monopoly of what they can make. We impose no
duty on wool and we import a half more than our
exportations. It would be monstrous to let them
get wool free and excessive protection too! If we
tax wool even five per cent, and raise the general
duties to twenty per cent., they will be worse oflF
than they are now. A duty on wool would do our
farmers no good as they don't grow the kind re-
quired for cloth in Canada.

"Again, what is raw material to one person is
finished goods to another. I had several deputations
late y. One says. You admit printers' ink free
while you charge seventeen and one-half per cent on
lampblack, linseed oil, and other ingredients.' An-
other says. You admit type at five per cent.' Well
ink and type are raw materials to the printers and
252

MACKENZIE'S LETTFR

publishers. Lampblack and oils are raw material';
to the ink maker, but they are all finished articles
for ordinary use such as painting. Irunmakers de-
mand duties on pig iron. That is raw material to
our rolling mills. The rolling mills demand a duty
on bar iron and plate iron. The one is a raw iiiuter-
ial to the blacksmith and waggon-maker, the irthcr
is a raw material to the boiler-maker and iiail-iiinker.
I am not drawing a picture for yott I mi reciting
what has passed in my office.

" Another consideration 'itist gn\ern statesmen.
That is, would a Protectionist policy be for the
ultimate good of the country? I am firmly con-
vinced it would do the greatest possible injurs to
us. Protection is a inonster when you look closely
at it. It is the essence of injustice. It is the acme
of human selfishness. It is one of the relics of bar-
barism. Cannot we show this ? Cannot we use the
press vigorously as well as the rostrum in showinj.;
it up when it is advocated as a principle? Cannot
we show how that as a temporizing measure, conse-
quent on the folly of our American neighbours, we
have gone far enough? Cannot we show how
manufacturers have, as a rule, thrived by compelling
all others to pay for their prosperity?

" Lastly, my impression is that a turn will soon
take place Our revenue has improved during the
present month so far by about $80,000 over the
same month last year. I think if this continues we
may count on the disappearance of the grumbling
and the recent agitation for protection.

" I remain, yours faithfully,

" .A. Mackenzie.

" James Young, Esq., M.P.,
" Gait, Ontario."

253

••etOCOW MSOWTION TKT CHAIT

(ANSI end ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

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^Sr^ 1653 East Main Street

KS RochMter, N** Xork 1 4609 USA

•J^£ (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

^S ('16) 2M- 5989 -Fox

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

-tra.- '° ^^-^e the stand .ulJ^t^ZoTZ

can l,e e.xan^ine.l and tlTe f " ''•'"''' ^^' ^"^^J^^t
upon my mind by actLi^ T"^ ■n?P'-««ion „,ade

meeting^ assemtU 'S °oT; ^nM fr'^ '"
desire be ne to keen ,^„ ■ ^ /ecent letter— mv

public opiniol°as?fii;^"if PP"-d °' '''' ''""^^ -''

crisis, with mkny fa lures ft? ^^ -^ commercial
is difficult to govern bv th'" ''''''"^' ^<^- ''

abstract principroTpoSicVoZry ^Ver"'^ "'
of our people are nrif ^„i '^^"r^'PY- very manv

trull. i„ ,hdr ZpE!:,"4 '""■!■ »"»"« "'

2S4

SECURE POWER BY MAKING CONCESSION

our industries. Add to this, that business continues
dull, manufacturers unprosperous in many cases,
and workmen unemployed, and you have a state o
^mgs which can be, and is being, worked up by the
Tory party to the imperilment of the Government
and our party generally. <:rnmeni

"Our first duty, as you say, is to the country—
L r .u- S°^r."^«l "ghtly. The most essential
hmg to this end m my humble judgment is, to keep

^nd l°T ^'""l '"'r'!'''"^ *""* """ P°'^'^ ''gain.
and If they can be checkmated by a slight concession
to public opinion in the business centres— in other
words by a moderate readjustment of the tarifiF—
need there after all be any such deviation from the
principles of our existing tariff as to make that
course inadmissible?

'' It is well to examine questions from all sides,
and, aside from its merits, I desired to put this one
before you in the above light, for I fear some of our
Protectionist friends may be less tractable next ses-
sion than heretofore, and we shall be compelled to
stand or fall as a party by the position then taken up
If times change and business becomes brisk mv
views may not be realized. But if things remain
much as at present, which will likely be the case
and no notice whatever is taken by the Government
of the strong feeling existing in regard to our one-
sided fiscal relations with the United States no
matter how right generally our party may be on the
merits of the question, serious disaster will inevitably
result. '

" You know the state of affairs in Quebec, and
in such a case as I have mentioned above, the Gov-
ernment might find themselves in a minority in the

255

ill d

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

lllilll

two large Provinces. That we could long continue
to govern the country under such circumstances is
extremely doubtful.

" In regard to the farmers, I am of course agreed
that Protection would not do them any good. But
some reason in this \vzy : ' If higher duties on Amer-
ican produce would not do the farmers any good,
they would at least do him or the public compara-
tively little harm, and as wc now have duties on
horses, cattle, cheese, pork, etc., what sound objec-
tion can there be to the addition of a few other
articles to the list ? It would be a harmless proceed-
ing (provided duties were remitted on articles re-
exported), and would satisfy thousands who now
feel aggrieved.' This is not my reasoning, but I give
it as the way many Reformers put the matter, leav-
ing references to yourself.

" Considering the position of your Protectionist
supporters, I fear a Free Trade speech would be
very embarrassing to them. Nearly all our friends
hold (so far as I know their feelings) that the issue
should be put, not as Free Trade vs. Protection, but
a Revenue Tariff vs. a Protective TariflE. That is
the true issue, and the only one we can maintain
where there are manufacturers.
" I remain,

" Very truly yours,

" Jambs Young.
" The Hon. Alex. Mackenzie, Ottawa."

There were few Canadians better informed on
trade and financial questions than the Honourable
Sir Francis Hincks, and during a short visit to
256

INVENTION OF THE TELEPHONE

Montreal when our commercial relations with the
United States was the all-absorbing topic, I had
an opportunity to learn the views of that famous
old political veteran on the subject. When I called
at his office, he was just going to respond to an invi-
tation from Professor A. Graham Bell, of Brant-
ford, to see his wonderful new invention, the tele-
phone, and kindly asked me to nccompanv him.

This trial of the telephone
was, of course, for only a short
distance. The wires had been
strung around several blocks
in the heart of the city, and
the gentlemen present were
e(|ually surprised and delight-
ed with the result of the expe-
riments. The distinct manner
in which the singing of a few
verses of an old familiar song
was heard elicited general
admiration. The inif.ression of those assembled
seemed to be that the ''phone would be extremely
useful to send messages to different parts of a city
or for other short distances. But unless it was
Professor Bell him.self, it is doubtful if anyone pre-
sent had any idea that the new and comparatively
little instrument would become an almost universal
\-ehicle of communication throughout the world, and
by which persons would be able to talk freely with
each other though hundreds of miles apart.

My first personal contact with Sir Francis Hincks
in any debate took place at the town of Paris. At

2.S7

A. GR.^HAM Kkll.

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the elections of 1872 he proposed to run in one of
the Brants, and a very large and excited meeting
took place to hear him. I drove over from Gait,
and was requested to reply to the honourable gen-
tleman, to which he freely i. .ented. The speeches
were at length,* and .some severe and bitter things
were said of the Ex-Governor's former Canadian
career. Notwithstanding this. Sir Francis was too
plucky and magnanimous a fighter to notice them
afterwards, and subsequent intercourse with him in
Parliament proved him to be an exceedingly manly,
straight-forward and clever opponent as a debater,
.^fter retiring from the Dominion Government he
decided to spend the evening of his days in Mont-
real, and he not only wholly disconnected himself
from politics, but friendly relations were resumed
by him with many Liberals who had been his oppon-
ents for many years. He was most courteous and
obliging in supplying information in regard to the
Tariflf and other Dominion questions, and it affords
me pleasure to acknowledge that I was gradually led
to modify many early opinions formed of Sir
Francis, and to rank much higher those qualities as
a statesman which had distinguished his long and
successful career in old Canada, the West Indies and
the Dominion itself.

* Mr. Charles D. B;irr, Registrar of Victoria, Lindsay, was tlien
a risinR young reporter on the Clobc, and he gave my speech
verbaliw. In the flutter ■>! Sir Francis Hincks' reappearance on
the political stage, it was accorded seven full columns in that
paper. Political speeches were evidently then at a premium.
To-day the press heavily discounts them.

258

SIR FRANCIS HINCKS' RETIREMENT

From letters received from Sir Francis a short
extract or two will be acceptable. Under date of
January 8th, 1876, he iiMkes the following refer-
ence to his retirement and to the Honourable Alex-
ander Mackenzie :

" You are quite correct in assuming that I have
completely withdrawn from political life. My deter-
mination to do so was formed long before the gen-
eral election (1872), which preceded the last
(1874), but you are too old a politician not to
he aware how difficult a thing it is for a party
man. and especially a Minister, to withdraw himself
from the ties which he has formed. I had great
pleasure when on the other side of the Atlantic in
reading the various utterances of your friend the
Premier (Honourable Alexander Mackenzie), for
whom I have always entertained a great personal
resiject. and I thought he said nothing that ought
not to have given satisfaction to every true
Canadian."

Having solicited the favour of his views on our
commercial relations with the United States, Sir
Francis replied on January 20th: the following
extract from his letter gives a concise but clear idea
of vvhat his opinions were as to the commercial
attitude we should take towards our .American
neighbours : —

" With regard to the other subject of vour letter,
I believe that I mentioned to you that I had received
a commnnication from Mr. George Stephen (now
Lord Mount-Stephen) a leading manufacturer, ask-
ing my advice regarding the imposition of dirties on
259

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

certain manufactures. I will as sonn as possible
send you a copy of my reply, which will put you in
full possession of my views, which in brief are:
That an Act for establishing Reciprocal Trade be-
tween the United States and Canada should be
passed. That exactly the same duties should be im-
posed in Canada as are charged in the United Statef,
on the articles included in Schedules B and C of the
Brown Treaty. And that the Act should contain a
clause empowering the Governor-in-Council to re-
duce or abolish said duties, on being .satisfied that
the United States had abolished or reduced their
duties on all or any of the said articles."

This would have been, it is to be feared, a rather
drastic and somewhat dangerous renredy for our
commercial difficulties. It was pointed out to the
veteran legislator that it savoured of retaliation,
that it might be construed as exceptional legislation
against the United States, and might give rise to
international difficulties. But Sir Francis denied
there was any retaliation about it, stoutly maintained
it was Reciprocity pure and simple, and defended
his views with much of the old fire and zeal for
which he was so noted during the many frays of his
early years.

Several important changes in the Hominion Cabi-
net took place near the close of 1876. The Honour-
able David Laird, Minister of the Interior, was
appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Wet
Territories: the Honourable Letellier de St. Just,
Minister of Agriculture, became Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Quebec ; and the Honourable Felix Geoflfrion
a6o

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN CABINET

resigned as Minister of Inland Revenue on account
of ill-health. These vacancies in the Cabinet were
filled up as follows : Mr. David Mills, Member of
Parliament for Bothwell, was appointcil Minister
of the Interior; Mr. T. A. R. Laflamme, Member
of Parliament for Pontiac, Minister of Inland
Revenue; and Mr. C. Pelletier, Member of Parlia-
ment for Kamouraska, as Minister of Agriculture.
All the new Ministers were re-elected by considerable
majorities.

rr-t-

261

iiii^

CHAPTER XXVI.

^^rn,^^!!®^"^'^^ FUND-SIR JOHN MACDONAL J'S

CONNECTION THEREWITH-UNEXPECTED DIS-

CLOSURES— MACKENZr'S GENEROSITY.

The V ienant-Governor of Ontario, tlic Hon-
ourable Donald Macdonald, opened the OnUrio
Legislature very quietly on January 3rd, 1877 The
Liberal Ministry of the Honourable Oliver Mowat
continued to have a good working majority, and
the session itself proved as quiet as the opening The
principal Conservatives then in Opposit.on were Mr

M AT !,"l^°,"' '"''*"■• ^'- ■^""^" Macdougall,
Mr Meredith (now C^ief Justice). Mr. Long Mr
Lauder, Mr. Patterson (Essex), Mr. Merrick! and
fu ^f ?°"- T''« business was vigorously pu.sheri
through by the Ministry, an^ the prorogation ;vas
reached in eight weeks.

The changes for tome time projected in the Oni;i-
no Education Departn enf took place early this year
The Reverend Dr. Egerton Ryerson had grown grev
m the service of the people as Superintendent of
Education, and had done grand work for the Pro-
vince m that capacity. But the Government and
Legislature had passed an Act to abolish the Super-
intendentship of Education and to make that office
a Government department, presided over by a Mii -
ister of the Crown responsible to the people. This
:62

THE SECRET SERVICE FUND

proposal met witli Dr. Ryerson's own approv;. . and
when he resigned at this time, the Honourable Adam
Crooks, then Provincial Treasurer, was made Onta-
rio's first Minister of Education. ' "le Honourable
S. C. Wood at the same time became Provincial
Treasurer, and Mr. Arthur S. Hardy, M.P.P. for
South Brant, was admitted to the Cabinet as Pro-
vincial Secretary.

When the curtain rose at Ottawa, on Pebr ry
8th, on tho fourth session of the third Parlia..ient
of the Dominion, it was evident from the opening
that political excitement wrs growing, and that the
session would most probably be lively and bitter.
This was rendered th;; more certain from disclosures
which had recently been made in regard to the Secret
Service Fund, controlled by the late Government,
and which were sure to cause Parliamentary investi-
gation and more or less personal recrimination.

The Secret Service Fund was not unknown before
Confederation, but it had its chief development
under our first Dominion Government. During the
first six years they held oflSce, they asked and re-
ceived from Parliament at different times, $125,000.
and no one outside of the Prime Minister and one
or two of his colleagues knew anything whatever
about how it had been spent. The ostensible object
of this Fund was to secure .secret information and
provide means to checkmate the Fenians and other
secret and open enemies of the Dominion, but when
a vote for as much as $75,000 was asked for in a
single year, Parliament ' -gan to manifest some
a63

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

anxiety to know how wide an interpretation was
being put by the Prime Minister on the objects for
which such large sums of money were voted.

This feeh'ng found vent in the Public Accounts
Committee as early as 1872, when I brought up the
subject and proposed the following resolution:—

" That inasmuch as such large sums as $75 000
have been voted as Secret Service money, of which
there is no audit, as in the case of other expendi-
tures, this Committee is of opinion that a record of
all Slims spent for Secret Services should be kept as
in England, in a book specially prepared for the
purpose, and that this book should annually be
inspected by a Confidential Committee of five mem-
bers, of whom two should be members of the Oooo-
sition of the day." ^^

Sir John Macdonald declared that under no cir-
cumstances whatever would he ever disclose how the
Secret Service money had been expended, contend-
ing at length that it would not only endanger the
lives of the persons who received it, but would pre-
vent the Government from jetting further informa-
tion in that way. The feeling of the Committee,
however, although the majority were Conservatives
was decidedly in favour of some confidential check
being adopted which would tend to prevent any
abuse of this secret fund, and Sir John having inti-
mated that he would withdraw his objections if the
resolution were confined to the future, this was
agreed to by the mover, and the resolution carried
unanimously.

264

SIR JOHN EXPLAINS

Nothing further occurred in Parliament on the
subject for five years-until. in fact, this session
opened. Immediately afterwards, however, report^
apprared m the press that for two years after the
late Conservative Administration had resigned office
v32,i79 of Secret Service money had been lyin^'
unknown to the Mackenzie Government, in a special
account ni the Bank of Montreal. The original
deposit had been made in the name of a Cabinet
siib-committee of four, but it had always been
nainly, and for several years wholly, under the
control of Sir John Macdonald; and, further that
in November, i875-two years after he had c'ease.l
to be a Minister of the Crown-^that gentleman ha<l
chequed out $6,600 from the Bank of Montreal to
pay two unsettled Secret Service claims, and in-
structed Mr. Drummond, the Ottawa Agent of the
Bank, to refund the balance,' $2S,>;7q to the
Dominion Treasury! ^-^5.579. to the

Before the orders for the day were called on Feb-
ruary isth. Sir John Macdonald rose and entered
mto lengthy explanations in regard to this matter
The members of the House were intensely interested
and listened m profound silence. The circumstances
of he case were practically as already related, but
that no injustice may be done to the Opposition
leader, it is deemed advisable to give the material
portion of his explanations in his own words as
contained ,n the following extracts from his speech
as published ?.t that time :—

wa'i IV^^ ** *^ •'■?'' ^^^ Government resigned, I
was the only remaining member of the Sub-Com-

26s

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

mittee, and there was left a sum of $32,179. The
matter stood over for some time, as I expected to
hear a good deal about the claims. I knew there
were $6,600 of claims that beyond doubt must be
paid, because in one case one of my colleagues had
paid the money out of his own pocket, and in another
my colleague had pledged his personal honour and
his legal liability to pay the amount. These claims
had not been adjusted and were allowed to stand
over, until in November, 1875, when I was down
here in Ottawa on private business settling my own
affairs in this city, as I had gone to live in Toronto,
and I thought I had better close this also. I was
not up exactly to the correct mode of doing this, so
I went to the Auditor-General and asked the best
mode of doing it. I said I should wish to retain
$6,600 to meet the two claims I have mentioned,
which would leave $25,579, the sum mentioned in
the Estimates, which I wished to refund. I made
up my mind that all other claims, all just claims, had
been pretty well quit and settled, and that I could
pay it over, and I had no doubt that if any other
just claim came up with the consent of the party I
could confidently go to the head of the present Gov-
ernment and state it. I therefore thought that the
time had come when the money should be paid over.
The money lay in the Bank of Montreal as a special
fund to be drawn upon by the Sub-Committee. It
was never touched by me in any way whatever from
Ihe time we resigned until I gave two cheques draw-
ing on the special account which stood there in my
name as the surviving member of the Committee —
one in favour of the Receiver-General, and another
to myself, for the purpose of reimbursing my col-

266

MACKENZIE'S MAGNANIMITY

leagues. No portion of this money was ever in my
hands, no portion was ever in my pocket. I paid
it over in the manner I have mentioned, and that
is the whole story."

Although all this was surprising news to Parlia-
ment, the circumstances had been known to the Gov-
ernment for over a year. A few weeks after the
balance of the Secret Service money had been re-
funded in November, 1875, Mr. John Langton, the
Auditor-General, informed the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie
of the circumstances. The Prime Minister was, of
course, greatly amazed, declared Sir John Macdonald
had no right to cheque out any public money after
leaving oflSce, and instructed Mr. Langton to write
him immediately that public explanations of these
expenditures would have to be made. He replied
he would see Mr. Mackenzie and explain as soon as
the House met. But delays arose. Sir John was
frequently absent at this period. Then he was
unwell for a time, and from one cause and another,
and in spite of Mr. Mackenzie's requests, the session
passed away without the promised explanations ever
being made.*

The magnanimity with which Mr. Mackenzie
treated the Opposition leader in regard to this mat-
ter deserves to be mentioned in these later days,
when slander and abuse of political opponents in

* Fuller particulars in regard to the Secret Service disclosures
may be found in a very careful and unbiased personal statement
given by the Honourable Mr. Mackenzie before the Public Ac-
counts Committee on March 27th, 1877, and published in all the
leading newspapers at that time.

267

tiJ

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Parliament seem to be rapidly usurping the place of
criticism and debate.

The Prime Minister confidentially informed me of
the Secret Service disclosures at the time, and said
that Sir John Macdonald had urged him not to press
for explanations in Parliament, at least for a time
Whilst firmly maintaining that explanations must
be made before the session closed— to which Sir
John agreed— the Premier practically left him to
choose his own time for doing so. And when his
expectations in this respect were disappointed, out
of chivalrous feeling towards his old antagonist he
not only made no announcement to Parliament him-
self, but allowed the veil of secrecy to enshroud
the circumstances during the whole year. \ more
magnanimous act of a rival statesman towards an-
other cannot be found in the annals of Canadian
public life, and it brought out in a clear light another
of those sterling qualities in the character of Alex-
ander Mackenzie which finally won for him universal
respect and admiration.

When Sir John Macdonald made his explanations
the following year, as given above, Mr. Mackenzie
replied with studious moderation, making use of
these words : —

"I do not say one dollar of this money was either
^en I^n "''^ ™P'-°P.^'iy- but I do say the honourable
gentleman had no right, and that no member of his
Government had the r.gh', to pay out one dollar of
that money after they 1 .t office."

The Honourable L. H. Holton and other leading
268

NO SECRET SERVICE NOW

Parliamentarians spol<e in much stronger terms of
the unconstitutionality and impropriety of the course
which had been pursued, and the House instructed
the Public Accounts Commiticc to make a thorough
mvestigation into the whole circumstances. This
was done as far as possible— Messrs. Langton and
nrummond being the principal witnesses— and a full
report was made to the House of Commons. The
conclusions of the Report were five, which may be
condensed as follows: —

(i) That a grave irregularity and breach of duty
rr?''°',""''"^^'' (2) t'^a' *e $6 600 taken from the
lubhc tunds should be repaid; (3) that by the
destruction or removal of the vouchers all chance
of audit has been lost; (4) that the Auditor-General
seriously erred in concealing the facts within his
knowledge from the Government; and (5) that fur-
ther safeguards are necessary if Secret Service
money be voted in future.

This exciting question was finally disposed of
when, as its Chairman, it became my duty to move
the adoption of the Public Accounts Committee's
Report on April 14th. The Conservatives decided
to vote against it, but indulged in scarcely any dis-
cussion. Several Liberal members were absent when
the division took place, the vote not being expected
until the evening, but the Report was carried by
eighty-two to sixty, a majority of twenty-two.

This took place over thirty years ago, and it is
not a little singular that no vote of money for Secret
Service purposes has ever been asked for from that
day to this I

269

I
m

CHAPTER XXVII.

INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT-PARLIAMENT VOTFS
ON THE NATIONAL POLICY-BLAKE RESIGNS
-CAUCHON AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR-
POLITICAL EXCITEMENT INCREASES-
LAUiilER ACCEPTS OFFICE.

Quite an excitement also occurred during this ses-
sion (1877) over alleged violations of the Inde-
pende.^ce of Parliament Act. It began bv a
discovery made by the Hon. Mr. Huntingdon, Pre-
sident of the Council, when reading proofs of the
i'ubhc Accounts to be laid before the House.

That gentleman found that in each of the two
preceding years from ^;8,ooo to $10,000 had been
paid for Government printing to the Freeman news-
paper office of St. Job:., N.B., of which Mr. Speakc.
Anghn was the principal, owner, and he promptly
reported the circumstances to the Executive Council
The Cabinet were alike surprised and concerned
over the matter, and immediately decided that as
.soon as some work then in hand was completed and
for which expensive paper and material were on
their way from Great Britain, no fi.rther orders
should be given to the Freeman office, and all such
printing .should thereafter be done by the printincr
contractors at Ottawa. "

The Opposition took the matter up as a violation
of the independence of Parliament, and Mr. Mac-
270

INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT

kenzie Bowell moved a condemnatory motion which,
if passea, would have left Speaker Anglin without a
seat. Then the seat of Mr. James Norris, member
of Parliament for Lincoln, and of several other
Liberals, were assailed on account of some trivial
contracts made with the Government, or minor arti-
cles furnished to officials on public account. These
attacks naturally provoked reprisals, and very soon
the seat of Mr. J. M. Currier, member of Parlia-
ment for Ottawa, was attacked on similar grounds,
and some six or seven other Conservatives were
threatened, if not actually serxed, with writs.

The penalty for sitting in Parliament improperly
is two thousand dollars per day, and for a time some
alarm was felt on both sides. However, all the
breaches of the Act were trifling and unintentional,
and Messrs. Norris and Currier were the only mem-
bers whose contracts with the Government were of a
nature to vacate their seats. On learning this they
both resigned.

In the case of the Speaker, Mr. Anglin. Mr.
Bowell's motion was defeated by ninety-seven to
forty-five, and the question on motion of the Gov-
ernment was sent to the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, to enquire into the facts, search for
precedents, and report.

After thorough enquiry the Committee reported
that the Speaker had vacated his seat for Westmore-
land, but Mr. Norris, Mr. Currier and himself were
all re-elected by their constituents, and the Govern-
ment brought in a bill of indemnity for all members
who had unwittingly incurred the penalty of two
271

m -.^iu

f ' : ''11

PUBLtC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

thousand dollars per day. Although somewhat
stormy, this ventilation of the Independence of Par-
liament had a wholesome effect.

The Conservative party was quite aggressive dur-
ing this session, and endeavoured to keep what thev
had already christened as the National Policy as
much to the front as possible. Sir John Macdonald
had ev.demly at last decided upon this as his war
cry at the next elections, and the partv n:oved two
or three resolutions on .the subject, somewhat non-
comn,.ttaI, but skilfully expressed to influence public
opinion throughout the country.

On March 2nd, when the Hon Mr. Cartwright
moved the House into Committee of Supply the
Opposition leader commenced a general discussion
ot the question, and closed by submitting the follow-
ing amendment :

«.^''?!* "^ '*'? resolution be not now read a
second time but that it be resolved that this House
regrets that the financial policy submitted by the
Government increases the burthen of taxation 6n the
people, without any compensating advantages to
Canadian industries; and, further, that this House
lnl°r'°V^V^'J^^''''''y '" the revenue
aS h. T ""'*.? ''■""""t'on of expenditure,
aided by such a readjustment of the Tariff as wil
benefi a„d foster the agricultural, mining, Tud
manufacturing interests of the country."

Mr. A. T. Wood, of Hamilton, a Ministerial sup-
porter, moved an amendment to the amendment
which was in effect that the additional revenue
272

BLAKE RESIGNS PORTFOLIO

should be raised by increasing the duties and giving
more protection to home industries.

Both of these motions were based on the assump-
tion ' lat you could decrease taxation and increase
protection at one and the same time, an idea which,
the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie caustically said, reminded
him of a man standing in a tub and trying to raise
himself by its handles ! Mr. Wood's amendment was
defeated by one hundred and nine to seventy-eight.
Then Dr. Orton moved to amend his leader's amend-
ment—but with the latter's approval— by a straight
declaration for agricultural protection. Some six or
seven days' discussion took place at different stages
on these various motions, and when the votes were
finally taken, that of the Government was carried
by one hundred and twenty to sixty-nine.

At a meeting of the Privy Council, presided over
by the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, and held
on June 7th, an unexpected change took place in the
Dominion Cabinet. The health of the Minister of
Justice, the Honourable Edward Blake, had been
somewhat impaired by his strenuous labours in the
Government, especially during the recent session,
and as relaxation had become necessary, he resigned
his position as Minister of Justice, to the great regret
"f his colleagues and the country.

At the earnest request of Mr, Mackenzie and his
colleagues, however, he was induced to remain in
the Cabinet for the present as President of the Coun-
cil, which greatly reduced his labours and responsi-
bility.

^•71 1 Hk NATIONAL COUNCIL OT

OFCAK.-,: ,
21 OUNDASEQll' -^ ^' >

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

These changes necessitated others. The Hon. Mr.
Laflamnie succeeded Mr. Blake as Minister of
Justice, and the Honourable Joseph Cauchon took
his place as Minister of Inland Revenue. The latter
gentleman had had a long and chequered public
career, and was a man of niarked ability and not a
little influence among rertain classes of his fellow-
countrymen. He was rot generally popular, how-
ever, especially among the younger French-Cana-
dians, and in a few months thereafter, on the retire-
ment of the Honourable James Morris, he was
appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba.

This recalls to nind an interview which a friend*
and I had with Lieutenant-Governor Cauchon in
Winnipeg wi::!st he held that office. The old Hud-
son's Bay Fort, the scene of many stirring and even
tragic events in the wild days of the pa.st, was at
that time the official residence. It was a very anti-
quated, queer-looking residence for a representative
of Royalty, but His Honour was equal to the
occasion. He received us with a certain air o!
dignity, but as we talke.l of Canadian alTairs, this
gradually melted into cordiality, and iiltimatelv
found expression in the tender of a glass of wine.

On rising tn leave, his Honour conducted us into
a ramshackle little stable of about sixteen by twenty
feet It was built of pieces of old boards which
.seemed as if they had been pitched together, and
in which he had housed three rathei well-bred speci-
mens of pedigreed cattle. They were Jerseys,

• Mr. D. McDougall, of Berlin, Ontario, formerly Registrar of
the County of Waterloo.

INFLUENCE OF CX)VERNMENT HOUSE

which were then r , dy to be seen in the West. He
prided himself much on these animals, which did
not appear to advantage, however, in their cramped,
chil y and cheerless surroundings. He afterwards
took us out to where we could get a fine view of the
splendid Red River, upon the beauties of which
and the great future before Winnipeg and the
Nnrtli-West, he dilated with eloquent volubility.*

Government House dignity and hospitality, after
the Viceregal iiodel at Ottawa, are kept up in a
moderate way in all the Provinces of Canada.
Naturally, the ceremonies are of a quieter and less
ostentatious character than at the Capital, the
Lieutenant-Governors being a step further removed
from Royalty than the Governors-General, but there
can be little doubt that the influence of Government
Hou.se in all the Trovinces, and especially in those
newly-organized in the Great North-West, is of ,111
uplifting and beneficial character.

During the summer and fall nf this year, the
political picnics and other demonstrations, both

^!!.t"°''°'J'' ""! WimipfK incident mentionerf abnv 1 „as
Z^r^ \"'T''- " r**?' ' '"'""« Conwrvaliv. „f ,ha, city-afr,'
cauch n s entertainments, as compared with those of a well-
know; predecessor of his own party. My friend said " Thr
ZTZKZ" ,'" "" ""*" *"' '"nuen.'and'of.en'p^om.Vd
Zr i,ri^h/= .• "?■' ";"=/"»>' '«!'•"« th=' somehow or other
your bright antcipations had failed to materialise! On the other

Wrnnioe,r'th°»T'ri''H '''"■'^''°" "'"" "''■' "» «•-' >■= ''"^--^
go ng to waste money on swell dinners and parties. But he g.
enlerfainments occasionally, and when Madame Cauchon and he

every respect anu ..t most pleasing recollections in the minds
^f^^those privileged to be present." The narrator pref "n^ .he

f 1

I'!

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Liberal and Conservative, became so numerous in
Ontario and Quebec— particular'v in the for —
as tr suggest that the coming greiit elitiorai cam-
pai). bad actually begun. The Hon. Messrs.
Mackenzie, Huntingdon, Mowat and Cartwrigh.
made a tour of Ontario, and were actively assisted
by Messrs. Hardy, Ross, Young, Fraser, Patterson,
Mills, Rymal and numerous others. On the Opposi-
tion side. Sir John Macdonald was still more active
and zealous. The Hon. Dr. Tupper and the Hon.
Wm. Macdougall continued to be his chief assistants,
but Mr. Masson, of Quebec. Mr. Bowell, Mr.
Plumb, Mr. M. C. Cameron, Mr. Patterson (Essex)
and some of the younger men, such as Mr. A. W.
Wright and Mr. James Fahey, both briglit and racy
speakers, rendered the C jnservative chieftain much
valuable assi<itance.

Arbitration betw.ien the Un. ed States and ■ t'eat
Britain, to settle the difficulties which had arisen
over our Canadian fisheries on the Atlantic coast,
took place this summer. The Commission was
appointed under Articles twenty-^wo and twenty-
three of the Washington Treaty. This treaty was
negotiated in 1871, but en account of delays, chiefly
interposed by the United States Senate, no meeting
took place until 1877, ""x years afterwards. The
Commissioners named were: His Honour Judge
E. H. Kellogg, for the United States, and Sir A. T.
Oalt, nominally for Great Britain but really for
Canada, as he was chosen by the Mackenzie Admin'
stration. Both nations united on the Honourable
376

FISHERIES AWARD

Maurice Delfosse, Belgian Minister at Washinffton,
as third Commissioner.

The Commission otganhed in the city of Halifax.
N.S.. on June isth. and there was a large array of
eminent legal counsel present. It \vas not until
Novcnik-r 23rd, hoivever, that its labours were con-
cluded. The award valued the fishing privileges
granted to the United States under .Article eighteen
of the VVashmgton Treaty at $5,500,000. and it
was signed by Messrs Delfosse and Oalt. which
rendered it bi.iding on lx>th nations.
Judge 'N'ellogg declined to sign the award, and
le Honourable Dwight Foster, of Boston, the
•iierican Government's agent, in respectful
1. -.guage. guarded again.st silence on his part being
taken as acceptance thereof. The award was popu-
lar throughout Canada, being generally regarded as
the only occasion when this country had got any-
thing like justice from an International Commission.
There were not wanting .strong objectors at Wash-
ington to the payment of *he award, but the United
States Government finally and honourably paid the
full amount in December, 1878, the .share of the
Dominion l)eing $4.4rx3,882 and that of Newfound-
land $1,039,118.

It is not a little singular that it was not until three
years after entering Parliament that Mr. Wilfrid
Laiirier. M.P., was sworn in as a member of the
Liberal Government. As the ancient correspondence
already adverted to proves, he was somewhat of a
philosopher as well as a politician in those eurly
days, and :;ad so much faith in his political star
II.-18 277

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

that he was not anxious to assume the responsi-
bilities of office too early in his career. Under date
of Arthabaskaville, December 2nd, 1875, he wrote:
" I am really glad to hear from you. You saw
my na:ne in print concerning the place in the Cabinet
left vacant by Mr. Fournier, and you desire to know
from me how the matter stands. I am just as
Ignorant as you may be, and the cause of my ignor-
ance is I do not care. My name has been put for-
ward, but I never made a step towards it. In fact
o speak the truth, I do not desire an appointment
to an official position at present . . . the Liberal
party pushes me ahead and would have me take a
more active part in politics than I have done hereto-
fore. I however feel very reluctant to do it I
am at present quiet and happy. The moment I
accept office, I will go into it actively and earnestly
will b^^ " "'°"'^"* "y quietness and happiness

However, when the Honourable JosejA Cauchon
was translated to Manitoba the demand was
universal among the Liberals in Parliament that
Mr. Laurier should enter the Cabinet, and on
October 8th, 1877. he was sworn in as Minister of
Inland Revenue. His re-election for Drummond
and Arthabaska was taken for granted, and it was
a genuine pohtical surprise to the whole Dominion
when the return of the polls revealed that the new
and popular young Minister had been defeated by
a Mr. Barbeau, vnth a majority of twenty-seven

This unexpected result was accomplished by the
local Conservative Government of Quebec, aided by
278

LAURIER ON LIBERTY

influential hierarchical influence, which was at that
time hotly opposed to Mr. Laurier and his views

His opinions were modern and advanced. He had
the courage of his convictions, and was outspoken
in advocating them. He thrilled his Province by
going to the city of Quebec and delivering a brilliant
^cture on Liberty, in which the principles of British
Parliamentary government and of civil and religious
liberty were boldly and eloquently advocated He
was considered too liberal-^oo advanced-in his
political views, too independent of Ultramontanism
and a combined effort was made by both lay and
clerical extremists to crush him at the outset of his
otncial career.

This subjected him to an unexpected defeajt, but
the check was only temporary and was promptly
overcome Mr. Thibaudeau, M.P.. chivalrously
resigned his seat for Quebec East, and after another
hard fight, the Hon. Mr. Laurier was elected to
represent the ancient city by a majoritv of 315 and
has now held the seat continuouslv for over thirty
.vears. Then followed such a round of banquets
unohes and receptions as completelv established
the widespread popularity which the new Minister
enjoyed all over his native Province

279

CHAPTER XXVIII.

TWO GREAT JIRISTS— WORK OF BUAKE AND MOWAT—

THE STIRRING SESSION OF 1878— EXCELLENT

MINISTERIAL MEASURES— BITTER CRISIS

IN C3UEBEC— DE BOUCHERVILLE

MINISTRY DISMISSED.

Events then transpiring throughout the Dominion
as clearly foretold the general elections of 1878 as
the rumbling thunder tells that the electric storm is
drawing nigih.

Among these circumstances were three bye-
elections in Nova Scotia. Through some trivial
breaches of the Independence of Parliament Act,
Mr. A. G. Jones, Halifax; the Honourable W. B.
Vail, Digby, and Mr. Robt. Moffatt, Restigouche.
had to resign their seats. Mr. Vail had been
Minister of Militia for four years, and his re-elec-
tion was considered certain. The Honourable
Charles Tupper and the Conservative party, how-
ever, decided upon a determined effort to run him
out, and they succeeded by a majority of 372. All
over the Dominion the Opposition were much
encouraged by this victory.

On learning of Mr. Vail's defeat, Mr. Jones
boldly stepped to the front. He had always previ-
ously declined to accept office. But he now promptly
uplifted the fallen Liberal banner by entering the
280

BLAKE WITHDRAWS FROM MACKENZIE

Government as Minister of Militia. He was sworn
in two days afterwards by Sir W. O'Grady Haley
then Administrator of Nova Scotia, and continued
with mcreased energy his canvass for re-election for
Halifax. Mr. Tones was an extensive shipowner
and merchant, „. well as a member of great ability
and force of character. Dr. Tupper personally con-
due^ and took part in the contest against him,
and .xie whole Conservative party put forth extra-
ordinary eflforts to repeat the Digby victory But
m the new Minister of Militia, though not quite so
experienced, Dr. Tupper found his match in debate
and power of organization, and when the polls closed
on January 26th, Mr. Jones was found to be elected
by a majority of 223.

Another of the circumstances alluded to was the
resignation from the Liberal Government of the
Honourable Edward Blake. Even with the light
duties of President of the Council, that gentleman's
heath had not improved. His exalted views of
public duty, and the keen conscientiousness and high
sense of honour which entered into all he did, seemed
to mr::e any Ministerial responsibility unbearable
to him at this time, and his medical advisers and
friends felt that rest and quiet had now become
absolutely necessary to his restoration to health

As too often disgraces politics, there were slan-
derers who attributed Mr. Blake's resignation to
other causes. But there is no reason to doubt that
his withdrawal from the Mackenzie Administration
at such a critical time— the general elections being
close at hand— gave much pain to Mr. Blake him-
281

rUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

•

self, as it undoubtedly did to the whole Liberal
party, who learned of his retirement from the Cabi-
net with universal regret.

It must forever remain an honour lo the Liberal
party that, at Confederation, it gave to Canada two
great lawyers — Mr. Blake and Mr. Mowat. It was
probably fortunate, too, that the former devoted
himself mainly to the Dominion, and the latter to
the Provincial sphere. The Quebec Conference of
1864 furnished the blocks which were to compose
the Dominion edifice. As hewn by the Fathers of
Confederation, many of the resolutions were at first
in a very rough, and, in some cases, unworkable
shape, and very few Canadians are even yet aware
that it was chiefly due to the great legal acumen and
untiring industry of Sir Oliver Mowat that they
were chiseled into the harmonious proportions in
which they were finally adopted by the Conference.
The British North America Act itself— founded
on the Quebec resolutions — is undoubtedly a grand
charter, but by no means a perfect instrument, and
if during the first decades of Confederation its inter-
pretation had been in the hands of incompetent
Ministers, many entanglements might have arisen,
especially between the Federal and Local Adminis-
trations. The great services rendered by Mr. Blake
during our first two Parliaments, in keeping Federal
legislation and administration in harmony with our
new Constitution, was acknowledged in iarliament
by Sir John Macdonald himself, and when he be-
came Minister of Justice in the Mackenzie Admin-
istration, his services as a constitutional lawyer were
282

CANADA'S DEBT TO BLAKE

'lis ""I -e 'o • "~ •'" '"'""

ing oJ the Liberal Association at Tor™ p l

Lindsay, and Tohn «: v- ' """^S' *-• ^- Barr,
Joint se'cVetarii Mr- Geo"Se R 7'°' T™ ^'-^^^

during the same week bZh^ Parhamem meeting

of C^nfede::?Jt4 « . -^TveTtif^' T'^
enthusiasm. '-"eived with unbounded

283

s ,.

ift

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

The Ontario Legislature, which opened as early
as January 9th of this year, completed its labours
in six weeks and one day ! It was a fruitful session,
but attracted little attention, as the eyes of the Do-
minion were centred upon Ottawa and the Federal
Parliament, whose proceedings were regarded as
the prelude of the general election.

This was the last session of the fourth Parliament,
and was opened on February 7th, 1878, by Sir Wil-
liam Buell Richards, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. He acted as Deputy Governor-General; and
with the customary foniialities, the Honourable
David Christie, S ^.retary of State, announced that
Sir William would not declare the reasons for call-
ing Parliament together until the members of the
House of Commons had elected their Speaker
according to law.

An unexpected objection was raised on the
Speakership when the Commons reassembled and
the Clerk of the House, Mr. Alfred Patrick, had
taken the chair. The Hon. Mr. Anglin — who had
been re-elected to Parliament during the recess —
was proposed again as Speaker by the Prime Minis-
ter, seconded by the Honourable A. J. Smith. But
Sir John Macdonald objected. He contended that
Mr. Anglin could not be elected Speaker, as it was
an old English rule — which applied to Canada — that
a member elected during the existence of a Parlia-
ment had to be introduced to the Speaker before
he could take his seat, and as there was at that time
no Speaker, Mr. Anglin could not be introduced and
284

A FANTASTIC OBJECTION

■take his seat, and vvas, consequently, ineligible to be
elected to that position.

This objection was generally regarded as some-
what fantastic, and Mr. Mackenzie skilfully suc-
ceeded in ridiculing it. He showed Ihat Sir John
himself, on being re-elected after losing his seat for
Kingston for breach of the election laws, had de-
clined to be introduced to the Speaker a second
time; con.sequently, the Premier argued, he had
himself broken the old English rule he now invoked
and if his present logic were correct, he had broken
the law and was sitting and voting when he had no
right to be inside the House at all !

Sir John did not deny this, but replied in a spirited
manner, maintaining his point. The episode aroused
much interest while it lasted. The Clerk finally put
the motion to the House, when it was carried bv
one hundred and sixteen to fifty-two. Mr. Anglin
was thereupon conducted to the Speaker's Chair bv
h.s mover and seconder, and, with one foot upon
the dais, he returned thanks in appropriate terms

This was to be the farewell session of the Duf-
ferins, and great preparations were made to make
the opening ceremonies the ne.xt day more imposing
and brilliant than on any previous occasion. Every-
thing was skilfully planned and zealously carried
out. Their Excellencies the Governor-General and
the Countess of Duflferin had already opened Par-
hament five times during their Viceregal reign in
Canada, but their sixth and farewell Parliamentary
opemng-much to their gratification-surpassed all
previous functions of the same kind.

2^5

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

His Excellency delivered the Speech from the
Throne with customary dignity and grace, and
among the many thousands w4io crowded every part
of the beautiful Parliamentary buildings and grounds
almost universal regret was expressed that the Vice-
regal reign of the noble Earl and his charming
Countess was swiftly drawing to a close.

When the Houses settled down to business, it was
found that the Government had prepared an excel-
lent legislative programme for their consideration.
Among the more important were measures to better
secure the independence of Parliament; to ensure
a more thorough audit of the Public Accounts, by
making the Auditor-General an independent officer,
removable only, like the Judges, by a two-thirds
Parliamentary vote; to assist railways in new dis-
tricts in Manitoba and the North-West, and to
encourage settlement there by a Homestead law, and
easier facilities for registering property.

The Ministers also announced that the Pacific
Railway surveys had been practically completed;
that the work of construction was now proceeding
satisfactorily; and that further treaities had been
made during the previous summer with the Black-
feet and Piegan Indians extinguishing the Indian
title on fifty-one thousand additional square miles
of territory.

Territory from Lake Superior to the Rocky Moun-
tains, and from the southern boundary of the Domin-
ion to near the fifty-fifth degree of north latitude —
comprising the large area of about 450,000 square
miles— was now ready for settlement, all the
286

QUEBEC GOVERNMENT DISMISSED

claims thereon of the chiefs and native tribes havine
been settled by peaceful negotiations.
March winds had only just began to blow when

^hMf 't' '"'■'■'"' "*'''"' ^""" ''"= "^y °f Quebec
*at the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, the
Horn Luc Letellier de St. Just, had dismissed the
De Bouchervilie Government and commissioned the
Honourable Henry G. Joly de Lotbiniere, the Liberal
leader to form another in its place! This event
was hke a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky
No one had dreamed of such an occurrence. His
Honour had apparently got on pleasantly with his
Conservahve advisers for two years, and at th s

"tailed h ■= ^'"*"""^ """ ''^ -"-g-s were
sustained by a majority of twenty in a House of

sixty-fiye members. Their political position was
generally looked upon as secure.

The correspondence, however, between Premier
Ue Bouchervilie and Lieutenant-Governor Letellier
;;;'n^r ^'■''^"''"''^■'-P^^^^d ^^at for several
ZT^'^'l^T^' considered he was not being
treated by his advisers with the respect due to th!
■ -esentative of the Crown. In a letter to the Gov-
ernor-General, Lord Dufferin. he specified nine or

TIV^'a u- T'?'l'' ""''^^ '^'"'''P^' ^^s shown
Lt n . " ^'^^ °*" '^^^ '""'•^ ™Portant of

w^ ^^ "' ^"^ ^''^' ^"'^ ^''^ ''^**^ «« f°'-

rr,i^^'°'"'Ty^^^r. "y "^"'^ has been used by the
members of the Government as the signature of
documents I had never seen. gnature ot

287

4::

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

" Third. — That there has been |)iihlishe<l in the
Official Gazette a proclamation caUing the Legisla-
ture without my having been either consulted or in-
formed, and before my signature had been thereto
appended.

" Fourth. — That another proclamation apiiointirij,'
a day of Thanksgiving was similarly issued under
the same circumstances.

" Fifth.— That although I had i)y my advice and
my letter of the 14th March, 1877, intimated to the
Premier my firm determination to protect the inde-
pendence of this Province against the arbitrary
decisions of the Executive in matters in which the
tribunals had jurisdiction, the First Minister be-
lieved it his duty, without my co-operation and
without consulting me, to propose to the House in
the legislation on the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa
and Occidental Railway, to substitute executive for
judicial authority.

" Sixth. — That without having notified nie, aii<l
without receiving my authority in any way what-
ever, the De Boucherville Government had taxed
almost generally business contracts and the ordinary
transactions of life, transfers of bank stocks, etc.,
no message having been demanded from me on the
subject, and none having Nen signed by me as its
authority for the act."

After Lieutenant-Governor Letellier and Premier
de Boucherville had discussed their difficulties in a
very gentlemanly manner— creditable alike to both
gentlemen — His Honour decided that the dignity
and honour of the Crown required that he should
dismiss his Cabinet and seek other advisers. This
288

CRISIS IN QUEBEC

S^^'' ?. ^"""^ ''"'^ «"d was received with a
oud b t of ,dig„3,i^„ ,^ ,^^ dismissed Min'iers

tne excitement m the two Houses at Ottawa an,!

The Oueljec crisis was not .liscussed in the House

"">- , (o; As soon as th»y were sworn in m„

coiirew /'J^ Tu ' '"= people ot (juebec on the r

After an unusually bitter contesf »!,» ^

ernn,ent gained about four^nlea.s an7 ^u
c>a.n, to be sustained by the.^rovS Whe^tte

foZ';'; -„7„%^"^.°««' •■;^^^^. .1;^= Jo,, Ad.i„i,.„,„„ „,„ .,

Public Works: D. A. Ros, Al,ornr„r ''r°''^«"'^''''""""<'

and, Provincial Secrtta^TH SilZTk "\"^J ^- °- M"<=1-

'■•- H. M„oi„, So,ic[fo;-LtT7olfor„rcrat//„'" '-'"'■'-

389

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Legislature met for business, however, they were
only able to elect their Speaker by a vote of thirty-
three to thirty-two — a majority of one. Premier
Joly managed to hold office for one year and eight
months, but his majority was too narrow to enable
him to enact the vigorous policy of Reform which
he nad planned and was anxious to carry out. Like
Sandfkld Macdonald in 1863, he didn't even possess
a " drinking majority." *

I remember well t'he excitement in the House of
Commons after the dismissal of the De Boucher-
ville Administration became known. The Hon. Mr.
Mackenzie sought to proceed quietly with the public
business. The members, however, were in no mood
for ordinary State affairs. The unexpected crisis
at Quebec was the all-absorbing topic. Individuals
and groups discussing and disputing about its causes,
constitutional bearings, and probable results, could
be seen in the lobbies, corridors, in the Chamber
jtself — everywhere — so general was the excitement
on all sides. The French-Canadian members seemed
quite to enjoy it, although the Bleus as hotly de-
nounced the action of Lieutenant-Governor Letellier
as the Rouges loudly praised and commended it.

Walking in the lobby the same evening with the
Honourable Hector Fabre, then a member of the
Senate, but for many years past and until his
recent death chief Canadian agent at Paris, France,
we discussed the question in its various aspects.

* See Volume I, page 197.

II f

290

FRENCH LOVE A COUP D'ETAT.
After a free exchange of opinions. I asked him if

dear Sior^ '"Z "^ ^""'^"'^^'"'^ CaS Z a
m!t ^'^ ly "^ '*^"'y '" 'heir favour would not

S al l" tT ■■ . "* P'°"'P"^ answered: "Nt
at all. Lc ellier s dismissal of his Cabinet is a reiT

itTnlf?"'-'"'' '" '"'" '^ anything our poS

est! L^ Tl" '\" '""^ '^''^"" '" 'he public inte^
ests made at the right moment !"

W)I

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE ELECTIONS DRAW NEAR— HONOURABLE CHARLES
TUPPER— THE TRADE DEBATE GROWS HOTTER-
MR. COLBY'S SPEECH— THE CHIEFTAIN'S
FINAL MOTION— ADDRESS TO LORD
DUFFERIN— STORMY SCENES.

As the session of 1878 advanced the (so-called)
National Policy — like Aaron's rod — seemed to swal-
low up all other topics. The discussions mainly
revolved around the Hon. Mr. Cartwright's Budget,
which he delivered on February 22nd, in an able
and elaborate speech. The applause which greeted
his conclusion at that time, however, was taken up
with equal zeal by the Opposition as the Honourable
Charles Tupper rose to reply.

That gentleman had come to be called the " Cum-
berland War-horse," and from the origin of Confed-
eration he had certainly been the war-horse of the
Conservative party. He had been at the front in
every great political battle fought, and although
verging on three-score years, he retained his phy-
sical and mental powers to a wonderful degree, and
in or out of Parliament was always ready, always
willing, sometimes in fact seemed to be aching for a
fight, especially when any important party object
was in sight.

Whilst his facts, logic and methods were not
always above criticism, the Doctor was certainly the
292

NATIONAL POLIO .NTRODuCrD

most active, aggressive and 'Vner -.ll-raund Con-
servatwe politician who came from the Mari^me
Provmces at Confederation, and a formidable anS!
omst to meet m any debate. On this occasion he

War hTrL . K f " '? ^- ""^^ '"^^ " ""^^^^^^
War-horse by the voluminous rhetoric and sonor-

terWMH-'","' ^' '°''^^''^ '^' F'"^"« Minis-
ters political economy, and denounced the real and

-agmary shortcomings of the Liberal Adminlstra-

Dr Tupper did not follow his speech with an

himself and the debate went on until March 17th

menTlnd"t/°'" "'"'^'""^''^ P'^"'' "^^^-^ P-Iil-
PoH v l'u"u"^ *' P°'"'*'°" °" *he National

el to^rs At' ''V''^'^"'^'' '° ^PP«^' ^o the
„r.7 ^1^ ""f '''"^ *''^ resolution he had pro-
t'hat Mr c/rt' "t''° *="•' °' ''77. he now mo'ved
of Snnni \ mI ' ' '"°*'°" *° S° '"'» Committee
of Supply should be amended as follows :—

oui'a^d'fhf /''i? ^^°■"^^^^ter the word 'that ' be left
out and the following inserted instead thereof- • It
be resoved that this House is of op nfon tha

of t^e rir^ff '^n'J:^"!''^ ^ j"^''"^'"""^ readjustment
ot the Tariff will benefit and foster the agricultural

of th™ Sin'' manufacturing and othe'r imS
ot the Dominon; that such a policy will retain in
Canada thousands of our fellow cou^t™ ^o "
obliged to expatriate themselves in search of th^
emgoyrnent denied them at home; will restore pros-
parity to our strugghng industries now so Lily

t n

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

depressed ; will prevent Canada being made a sacri-
fice market; will encourage and develop an active
interprovincial trade, and moving (as it ought to do)
in the direction of a reciprocity of tariffs with our
neighbours, so far as the varied interests of Canada
may demand, will greatly tend to procure for this
country,' eventually, a reciprocity of trade."

Sir John Macdonald contended that " the resolu-
tion embraces and embodies a policy which will be
accepted, and accepted warmly, by this country,"
and proceeded to discuss it at considerable length
with all the tact, ability and versatility for which
he was deservedly famous. He concluded in these
words: "I will move the resolution in the hope
and belief that it will be accepted by the people of
Canada as the enunciation of a fair and just policy,
and we pledge ourselves to fight the battle d outrance
at the polls and in the country."

The Finance Minister having already answered
Dr. Tupper, neither Mr. Mackenzie nor he deemed
it necessary to reply directly to the speech and
motion of the Opposition leader. Mr. A. H.
Dymond, M.P. for North York, and Mr. John
Charlton, M.P. for North Norfolk, however, were
evidently inspired to champion the Government
cause, and very successfully— so far as sound argu-
ment was concerned — repelled the Opposition at-
tacks. They exposed and ridiculed numerous weak
points in the National Policy with much effect, the
general attitude of the Government and its sup-
porters being very pointedly expressed in the closing
words of Mr. Charlton's address :—
294

II I

MR. CHARLTON'S ADDRESS

" The intelligent people of Canada." said that een-
tleman w.th a faith that was not realized fad
only o have these facts placed before them for con
s.derafon and hey would reject this political scheme
of the Opposition, which was adopted by them not

Sfircan?/'="'=r^ '' r- ^ policy that wo, M
Jeneht Canada, not even because they expected to
reconcde conflicting interests and reduce their absurd
theories to practice if successful before the peonle
bu because they believed it would be a specious and
deusiye cry, which would catch the p'opZ eaJ

niight serve to g.ve them a temporary advanta-^e
^l.v"'' '^IV *^' ^^' of their prayers and

wh?.W^~*' '°''"" ""^ ^'^^' of office-to reach
which they were willii, , >avel bv any road and
profess any principles. '

This debate on the National Policy was probablv
the ongest since the Union-certainly since the
Mackenzie Government attained power. According
to Hansard, not less than forty speeches-many of
them long, and some unduly long and tedious-
were delivered for and against the Opposition
amendment, whilst there were speeches ad libitum
on similar amendments. To give even an outline
of what the various orators said would take up too
much space, and is unnecessary at this late date
to th "? !; ^°"^"'dered. this debate hardly rose equal
to the .standard of the Parliament of Canada; there
were not a few good speeches delivered, but there

wishe<l to define their position before the elections
295

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

came on, to permit of the discussion taking a high
"rge The ablest speeches on the Government s.de
wer' made by Messrs. Cartwright. Blake Laur.er
George W. Ross, Patterson, Charlton and Dymond,
on th^e Opposition side by Messrs. Tupper, Macd^n-
ald (Sir John), McCarthy, Masson, Burr, Plumb,

"SmS' n'oSe speech of the whole debate-

.inly on t^e O^pogr .de^^^^^^^^
latter eentleman, Mr. cnanes v,. >->-" .'.
Pari ament for Stanstead. That gentleman was
born h^ Derby, Vermont, in 1827. and came to
S nstead in ,83. Unlike most of the members on
both sides of the House, he had been an out-and-out
Protertionist from his youth. He was thoroughly
fmbued with the views of Horace Greeley and
George W. C«ry, and he gave what was until re
centW the unanimously Free Trade Canadian Par-
Ikrlen a genuine surprise. During the eleven years
rColby had been in the House he had rarely
ever addressed it, but on this occasion he arose and
delivered one of the longest, most argumenta ive and
eloquent addresses on behalf of the National Policy
Sthe members cf the Chamber had ever heard.
When he concluded, the delight of ^e Conserva^
dves found expression in a -""^ /j/^^f 'J"f_
although the Ministerialists considered his argu
ments to be mostly Protectionist fallacies, all were
Tgrid that Parliament had seldom listened to a
speech more earnestly and gracefully delivered,
^ts the debate threatened to become interminable,
tlae two leaders-Mr. Macken^ie and Mr. Macdon-
396

NATIONAL POLICY DEFEATED

aid — finally agreed that it should close and the vote
be taken on Tuesday, March 12th, and many of the
speeches were crowded into that afternoon and
night. At three o'clock the next morning, the flow
of oratory was still going on briskly.

The House, however, was now tired and restless.
Belated speakers were met with unnatural noises,
desk scraping, cushion throwing and an occasional
chorus — anything, in fact, which would make for
the division. Mr. Mackay (C.B.), got little further
than stigmatizing the amendment as a political kite,
meaning nothing. At 3.20 Mr. J. i\I. Currier, of
Ottawa, tcxjk the floor, but quickly succumbed, and
at 3.30 Mr. William McGregor (Essex), was com-
pletely overwhelmed by cries of " Division!" discor-
dant noises and confusion. The House in thunder-
ous tones answered "Yes!" when Speaker Anglin
put the usual question : " Shall the members now be
called in?" The division bells then pealed out joy-
ously throughout the Chamber, corridors and lobbies,
and the tired and jaded members came trooping in
from every part of the great building, eager for the
closing act of the drama. The division was taken
amidst deep silence. But when ihe Clerk announced
that there were one hundred and fourteen against
and seventy-seven in favour of the National Policy,
the Ministerialists broke out into loud cheers, which
the Oppositionists followed with a demonstration
equally enthusiastic.

Lord and Lady DufTerin, who were about to say
fart well to Canada, were the recipients of a very
graceful compliment at the hands of Parliament on

III

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

April nth. In a highly eulogistic and evidently
sincere speech, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Mr.
Mackenzie, moved that an Address be presented to
Their Excellencies from the Parliament and people
of Canada. This was seconded by Sir John Mac-
donald in appropriate terms, and eloquently sup-
ported by the Hon. Mr. Laurier on the one side and
the Hon. Mr. Laiigevin on the other.

" We venture to convey the assurance," said the
concluding paragraph of the Address, " that your
Excellency and your distinguished Consort will bear
with you on leaving us our wannest wishes for your
future welfare and happiness; that we rejoice in the
conviction that, though Canada may no longer pos-
sess the advantage of your Excellency's experience
and knowledge of public affairs in so exclusive a
degree as she has enjoyed them in the ])ast, this
country will continue to have in your Excellency a
friend and advocate ; and that it is our heartfelt wish
that for many years the Empire at large may have
tlie benefit of your Excellency's rijie wisdom, expe-
rience and eminent abilities."

The Address was duly presented to Their Excel-
lencies at a distinguished function held in the Senate
Chamber on April 17th. The reply of Lord Dufiferin
was conspicuous for its expressions of warm attach-
ment to Canada, of sadness in bidding it farewell,
and for the bright and brilliant rhetoric for which
His Excellency was famous. The following were
among the more striking paragraphs: —

" It is difficult for one to find fitting words in
which to thank you for the signal and unprecedented
298

SIR JOHN ARRAIGNS LETELLIER

honour which has been conferred upon me by this
Jomt Address from your iwo Houses ^

1 found you a loyal people and J leave you the truest-
ear ed subjects in Her Maj.-sty's dominLn" I
found you pnnul of your .lescent and anxious to
na.nta,„ your connection w.th the Mother "ounry-
I leave you more convinced than ever of the so hd'

of her h"^"'!, ''"'"■" '" ^^'^'P^""'- your affec ■ „■
o her dependence on your fidelity i^ every emer-
f,.y- ■■ • ■ When I resign the temoorarv

tile hands of my Sovereign, I shall be able to assure
her that not a leaf has fallen from her Mapk ChaX
and that the lustre of no jewel in her t^ansatlant'c
diadem has been dimmed." transatlantic

Later in the day on which the Viceregal Ad-
dress was passed Sir John Macdonald arraigned
the action of Lieutenant-Governor Letellier of
Quebec, for his dismissal of the De Boucherville
Ministry. He treated the question at great length
from a constitutional point of view, quoting whh
much ability, tact and moderation Britisl precfdents

Grey and others in support of his motion, which was
m the following words :

but'thafi/'r ^P^f ^-^do not now leave the Chair,
but that It be resolved that the recent dismissal bv

versive 'fTh *''«..'='^'="™^tances, unwise and sub-
versive of the position accorded to the advisers of

ZS^ziT '"' ~""r" °^ *^ P"-S o

can'^olonies ■'""""''"' '° '^' ^"'''^ ^"""^ ^meri-
299

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

lit -

The Prime Minister replied. Mr. Mackenzie was
then at the zenith of his powers and distinguished
himself by another display of the ascendancy he
had attained as a Parliamentary debater and leader
of the House. His speech was one of the cleverest
he ever made. He agreed with most of Sir John's
constitutional authorities. He dechned, however, to
discuss the merits or demerits of Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Letellier's course, contending, in a masterful
argument, which greatly impressed both sides of
the House, that the question was one for the Pro-
vince itself to deal with. It was then, he contended,
in process of settlement. The Hon. Mr. Joly and
his colleagues not only had assumed all responsibility
for His Honour's dismissal of his late advisers, but
they had dissolved the Legislature and appealed to
the people of Quebec — the highest tribunal — to de-
cide the question by their verdict, and for the Federal
Parliament to interfere and condemn one side or
the other under such circumstances would be a most
unwarrantable and dangerous interference with the
Provincial autonomy which the Confederation Act
confers upon the Provinces.

The most bitter debate of this stormy session fol-
lowed, chiefly affecting Quebec. The French-
Canadian members naturally took the most promin-
ent part. Many of them did not emulate the moder-
ation displayed by their leaders, but indulged in
party strife and bitterness to an unusual extent. *

• During some of the sharper passages between these opposing

orators, it was often insinuated and sometimes even charged that

some of the French Ministers had influenced Lieutenant-Governor

Letellier to dismiss the De Boucherville Cabinet. Not the slight-

300

LEGISLATIVE PANDEMONIUM

The debate began on Thursday, April nth, and con-
tinued until two o'clock the next morning. On Fri-
day afternoon it was resumed, and on account of
some bitterness which was stirred up, the debate
was carried on all that day, throughout the whole
of Friday night, and continuously during the whole
of Saturday until five minutes after six o'clock in
the evening!

The Opposition spoke against time during Friday
night and Saturday, and the House was frequently
a sort of Legislative pandemonium, esnecially during
the long night sittings. Many of the members were
utterly fagged out, and, according to the press the
next morning, a few unpleasant scenes of a festive
nature took place during the night. All day Satur-
day the galleries were filled with eager spectators,
and Her Excellency Lady Dufferin and suite hon-
oured the Chamber by their nresence. Sir John
Macdonald came in late in the afternoon, and" Mr.
Mackenzie and he soon afterwards arranged that a
vote should be taken on Monday night without fur-
ther debate, ivliereupon the Premier announced the

fhLc!',?'' "/"■■.. °l ' remember, was ever produced to prove
th.s «atement, and there are strong reasons (or believing that His
Honour, naturally proud-spirited and impulsive, acted entirely on

th»t°irj !"".'"',■ '^' '"Ti' P""' of ">" " ""y be mentioned
that in a private letter to Premier Mackenzie explanatory of the
crisis and only a day or two after its occurrence, Mr. Letellier
used these words: ■• I thank God not to have at any time asked
your advice on the dismissal of Mr. De Boucherville, and to h.ve
acted m the same way with your colleagues." In the same letier
he chivalrously offered to send in his resignation of hi, office if
Mr. Mackenzie desir.-d it, but the latter declined to interfere in
what he considered to be a Provincial question in process of
settlement under the well understood principles of the Corstitu-
tion,

301

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

agreement and adjournment amidst a whirl of de-
light.

When the vote was reached on Monday as
arranged, the motion to censure Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Leteilier was negatived ))>• one hundred and
twelve to seventy.

This , -my session kept up its character till it.s
close. Twenty minutes before the prorogation on
May loth, Mr. Donald A. Smith, of Selkirk, now
Ivord Strathcona, rose to a question of privilege,
and proceeded to deny som :'njust attacks ni^ide by
the leaders and newspape- jf the Opposition in
attributing to him mercenary motives in supporting
the Government. This aroused both Sir John and
Dr. Tupper, and the most violent scene of the session
occurred between Mr. Smith and these two gentle-
men. Speaker Anglin was unable to quell it, although
he threatened arrest by the Sergeant-aii-Arms, and
the triangular duel was still going on amidst much
noise and confusion when Black Rod was admitted
and with some difficulty delivered his message.

In the Senate His Excellency the Earl of Duf-
ferin sat in the Viceregal Chair for the last time,
gave the Royal assent to various measures passed,
delivered his farewell speech to Parliament as Gov-
ernor-General, and prorogued the two Houses till
June i6th.

Thus closed the third Parliament of Canada, and
ks late members went forth from the capital in no
amicable mood, to fight out their political battles
at the fourth general Dominion election, tl* - close
at hand.

302

CHAPTER XXX.

'''■"r.'c-DOVA?n°r''^I POLITICAL BATTLE-SIR ,OHN

MACDONALD A STRIKING AND PICTURESQUF

F IGURE-MACKENZIE ENTHUSIASTICALLY

OREETED_THE OPPOSING BATTLE-CRIES

—GREAT CONSERVATIVE VICTORY.

The greatest electoral battle yet fought in Canada
vyas now transferred from Parliament to all parts of
the Dominion. Both political parties had been so long
organizing and canvas.<=ing that, when the Houses
prorogued, a huge political wave seemed to spread
eastwards to *>-^ Maritime Provinces, westwards
over our gu... ..kes, prairies and mountains to the
sparkhng waters of the Pacific, and northwards as
fa- as settlement had penetrated towards the Arctic
Circle.

That Parliament would be dissolved and the elec-
tions held immediately was generally expected. Mr
Mackenzie favoured an early summer contest, as did
nearly all 'his principal supporters. But there were
so many Liberal laggards, especially in Quebec, who
declar«l their ridings were not organized and
pleaded so earnestly for delay that the Premier at
last consented to postpone the elections till after
harvest, and September 17th was finally chosen as
the great and decisive day. That this delay proved
a serious mistake for the Government and its candi-
303

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

dates soon became apparent, and it is well known it
was a source of regret afterwards to Mr. Mackenzie
as long as he lived.*

With little rest from the session's fatigues, Minis-
terialists and Oppositionists sprang to arms for the
final struggle at the polls. The chief lieutenant of
the Conservative party, the Hon. Dr. Tupper, after
a few lively meetings in Ontario, departed early for
Nova Scotia and the East. The Hon. Mr. Tillcy,
less aggressive than his colleague, but a forcible
speaker f and generally res])ecli'd, was speedily at
work in New Brunswick. The main body of the
army remained under the immediate command of
the Chieftain himself, zealously aided by the Hon-
ourable William Macdougall, Messrs. Bovvell, Hag-
gart. Plumb, Meredith, M. C. Cameron, Kirkpatrick,
T. N. Gibbs, and many others. Although in his
sixty- fourth year, Sir John Macdonald never matie a
more rtriking display of his remarkable faculty for
party management and organization than during
this whole campaign.

• In *' The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie, his Life and
Times," page 501, Messrs. Buckingham and Ross say: "Almost
the last words the writers of this biography heard from Mr.
Mackenzie's lips when they were with him on his sevenxieth
birthday, a few weeks before he died, were these : * I made a
mistake, I should have dissolved in June.' "

t A story was current in the lobbies of the Hou.-e of Commons
early in the first session under Confederation, which caused some
amusement. It was to the effect that when Mr. Tilley left for
Ottawa to attend to his Parliamentary duties, one of his old
admirers in New Brunswick, true to his Province and his leader,
exclaimed : " How surprised the Canadiars will be when they
hear "Tilley's eloquence reverberating through their Legislative
halls I" That man was a supporter worth having.

304

OLD CHIEFTAIN A GREAT FIGHTER

Amidst the embattled hosts, he was undoubtedly
the most conspicuous fiR:urc, Not five years before,
he had fallen from the hifri, office of I'rime Minister
—utterly crushed by the electors of Canada— for the
part he and his collnipucs had taken in the Pacific
Railway Scandal. His Cabinet and party lay in
rums beneath the painful disclosures. Not one
statesman in ten thousand could have survived such
a blow. But outwardly, at least, lie bore himself
jauntily. From the day he was reap|>.,inted leader
he went right forward heedless of the past, bending
e\ery faculty of mind and body, apparently every
thought, to one great object— the recovery of his
former exalted position. He moved from Ottawa
to Toronto, as we have already seen, to accomplish
this great purpose, and he fought the whole of this
electoral battle witl. the desperate energy of a great
man who knca !.<: had tarnished a great career, and
felt that his political future and reputation for all
time was trembling in the balance.

Political history furnishes few more striking and
picturesque figures than Sir John Macdonald on the
eve of the elections of 1878. The mique circum-
stances produced a strong wave of sympathy
throughout the Dominion for the old Chieftain,
which blinded thousands to his admitted faults, and
brought into the limelight his remarkable ability and
tact as a political leader, as well as the many valu-
able services he had rendered to Canada — especially
after he accepted Confederation— during his long
and successful public career.

305

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Sir John*s task at this time was for other reasons
an exceedingly difficult one. He had always been
a Free Trader — an admirer of England's commer-
cial policy — and at first fought shy of being com-
mitted to a system of high protective duties. That
bright but erratic genius, Nicholas Flood Davin, in
one of his witty public letters, describes an interview
in the Mail office during the elections, at which Sir
John, Mr. Oharles Belford and himself were present,
during which Macdonald warmly took the editor to
task for publishing an article favourable to Protec-
tion!* As time went on, however, and it became
clearer that the trade agitation could be utilized to
win success at the polls, Sir John, with customary
flexibility, finally came out as a full-fledged advocate
of the National Policy, and baited his motion in

* Mr. Nicholas Flood Davin had some brilliant qualities, but
was somewhat eccentric. He was a great admirer of the Con-
servative Chief, and in one of his Ottawa letters drew the follow-
ing clever pen portrait of that gentleman as a political leader :
" Sir John M'>cdonald was a statesman of large national views but
he wai not, nor did he profess to be, a thinker on questions with
the object of arriving at new ideas to apply in any department
of Goverxunent. He considered that was not his business. Wal-
pote's and Melbourne's maxim was cherished by him. ' Quieta non
movcre.' His business was to govern. The first duty of a poli-
tician was to get in ; the next to keep in, both sine qua nons of
Government that we arc not living in Plato's Republic, but in a
democracy — m foece Romuli. He was no crusader, no Don
Quixote, but a large-minded man, who knew there is no absurdity
like expecting five legs of mutton from a sheep. He had one gen-
eral principle of action — he would give the people what they
wanted. If they were wrong he would resist them as far as he
dared : try to divert them : appear to do what yet he was deter-
mined if possible not to do ; but once the majority of the people
of Canada were set on any course, he would give them their
desire. If Israel wanted a king, Samuel would find them one ;
if he could not turn the tide, he would go with it."

306

MACKENZIE'S CAPACITY FOR WORK

Parliament so cunningly as to capture most of the
popular voite.*

The Hon. Mr. Mackenzie never displayed more
abihty and capacity for work than during the late
session, often working for weeks from twelve to
eighteen hours a day! But at its close he found
himself by his own confession " almost completelv
used up. His family and friends insisted upon
his taking a holiday. He was finally persuaded to
accept the invitation of a friend to spend a short
vacation with him amidst the majestic but restful
scenery of the lower St. Lawrence. But within ten
days he was back in Ottawa at the helm of the Gov-
ernment, and entered immediately on the work of
preparing for the elections with all his old-time
vigour, ability and persistence. His chief lieutenants
in the Maritime Provinces were the Hon. Messrs
Jones, Smith. Anglin, and Davies, the latter now
on the Supreme Court Bench; in Ontario and Que-
bec, the Hon. Messrs. xMowat, Holton, R. W Scott
Huntingdon, Laurier. Cartwright. Laflamme, Ro.ss'
Hardy, Charlton and numerous others; westwards
the Hon. Messrs. Sifton and Greenwav were the
most conspicuous.

to nt into thi Zu»V\ ''"" ""'' "°' "''"'< I am going

_ 307

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

During August the Premier and the Finance Min-
ister, Mr. Cartwright, made a successful tour of the
Maritime Provinces. They spoke at Georgetown,
Charlottetown, Summerside, Pictou and the cities
of Hahfax and St. John. The Bluenoses received
them with enthusiasm, the reception of Mr. Macken-
zie at St. John, in particular, being described as one
of the most splendid ovations which he ever re-
ceived.

On his return to the capital, the Premier found
his desk piled up with urgent calls for public meet-
ings, and he lost no time in entering upon another
extensive Ontario tour. He was zealously supported
as usual, and spoke at Ottawa, Glengarry, Toronto
(where the workingmen honoured him with a flatter-
ing address), Strathroy, Millbrook, Sarnia, Wing-
ham, Kincardine, Paisley and elsewhere. In all his
long political experience Mr. Mackenzie afterwards
declared he had never been greeted before by such
immense, enthusiastic audiences, and when he re-
turned to Ottawa — on the morning of the elections —
he very naturally felt hopeful that when the polls
closed that evening. Victory would again perch on
the Liberal banner.

The flood of oratory throughout the Dominion —
good, bad and indifferent — turned chiefly on the
National Policy, and it flowed on to the last hour
with ever-increasing interest. The Conservative
speakers enlarged upon the ruinous results of the
commercial depression; the injustice and bad effects
of allowing the Americans to use our markets whilst
they had barred theirs against Canadian products;
308

HOPE IN THE NATIONAL POLICY

the failure of the Mackenzie Government to bring
abou better fmes. and whose Finance Minister they
dehghted to tell, had declared that the Cabinet were

Ti, :?" Th " 'r °" '■" ^^'^^^' " *° -^'°- ''Goo"
1 niKs. Then turning the silver side of the shield
they declared that the National Policy would speed-
■ly restore prosperity to and expand our Canad.an

viz:%rr r" '--■-'« the exodus "o"

v.rl .K " ^^ providing the unemployed with
^vork at home ; would enrich the farmers by prevent-

ZwXT ^"""r"'''"" ■■" «"■■ home markets with
the r .v^eat. corn, hay, pork, oats and other natural
procucts; and pave the way for a new Reciprocity

P^r V", '^.T' "''* "^^ P^PO^^d new National
Policy, backed by a new Government, would quickly

pX onhe'c' '™" '"" ''''°'^ P-per';to an
parts of the Dominion and all classes of the people.

The Liberal appeals to the electors were equally
loud but the very opposite in tone. Their sneakers
contended that the National Policy would place Can-
ada m antagonism to the commercial policy of the
Empire; that it would be no cure but an aggravation
of the hard times to inflict increased taxf^on upon
he suffering people at such a time; that protec-

when Canada exported over $100,000,000 o
farm products annually, was a palpable dodge
to catch the agricultural vote" and wouW
take ten dollars out of the farmers' pockets ^r
every one it put m; that whatever protection was
g ven to manufacturers would have to be taken out
of the pockets of the farmers, merchants, mechanics

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

and other working classes; that the great mass of
Canadians would be injured by the increased cost
of their food, clothing, tools and most articles they
required to buy — in short, that the so-called National
Policy largely consisted of humbug, cunningly
shapen and coloured by Sir John Macdonald to get
himself and party back into power, when the era
of Pacific Scandals and extravagant and corrupt
expenditures would inevitably revive in grosser
forms than <? er; and, finally, that the welfare and
highest inter ■'■/ts of the Dominion required that the
electors shouid sustain the Mackenzie Government,
under whose cautious, economical and honest policy
the cloud of commercial depression was already lift-
ing, and the sun of prosperity would soon illuminate
again every Province of Canada with all its accus-
tomed splendour.

Thus this memorable electoral contest went on
until the fateful day — September 17th, 1878 —
dawned upon the scene. In Ontario, at least, the day
proved bright and beautiful, with that slight crisp-
ness in the atmosphere which makes so many Cana-
dian fall days invigorating and delightful. The
time for talk was now past, and tens of thousands
of canvassers and conveyances were out before day-
break, scouring the back concessions and streets for
the doubtful and loose-fish voters, and from nine
o'clock in the morning to five o'clock in the evening
— the polling hours — the whole Dominion was the
exciting scene of the most thoroughly organized and
well contested political elections which it had ever
experienced.

310

MACKENZIE GOVERNMENT FALLS

Still more exciting and memorable was election
night from ocean to ocean. It would require the pen
of a Macaulay or a Dickens to picture the scene as
the returns of the polls began to arrive at the head-
quarters of the various constituencies, and were read
from the electric wires to the hundreds of thousands
who awaited the results with intense interest. Only
two hours after the last vote was cast at five o'clock
rt ,^s learned that, although Sir John Macdonald
had been defeated in Kingston, the Conservative can-
didates generally were gaining. Two hours later,
nme o clock, it became apparent that the Mackenzie
Government had fallen, and by eleven o'clock doubt
had deepened into certainty that the elections had
resulted m an overwhelming Conservative victory
pregnant with important results to Canada and its'
future !

Full returns were not obtained for a few days
When completed, they proved there had been nothing
short of a political revolution. Among the defeated
were many prominent men. The Conservative leader
was the most conspicuous on the Opposition side-
having represented Kingston for over thirty years
continuously— but except the Honourables Hector
Langevin, Peter Mitchell and Thomas N. Gibbs all
ex-Ministers, most of his prominent supporters had
been re^ acted. Three members of the Mackenzie
<^ab,net lost their seats, the Hon. Messrs Cart-
wrigbt, Jones and Coffin, and among that solid

'^'^ °^^??'*^"° ^^'^^^ P-'^'ty generally known
as The Old Guard," many of them met their
VV aterloo on this occasion. Among the more prom-
3"

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

inent of these were : Messrs. Irving, Wood, Young,
Landerkin, Dymond, Metcalfe, Lorn McDougall,
Blain, John Macdonald, McCvaney, H. H. Cook,
Norris, Biggar, Archibald, Buell, and numerous
others. The Hon. Mr. Blake, who was away in
Europe for his health, was also defeated in South
Bruce, and the loss of Messrs. Davies ( P.E.I. ),
Power, Forbes, and Church (N.S.), and Devlin
(Que.), added to the extent of the Liberal disaster.

At the previous general election (1874) the poli-
tical pendulutn swung far to the Liberal side, and
Mr. Mackenzie found himself sustained as Prime
Minister of Canada by an overwhelming majority.
In a full House, the Conservatives did not number
more than forty-five.* Now, the fickle pendulum
had swung quite as far to the Conservative side.
When the official returns of the contest were all
received, it was found that Sir John Macdonald and
the National Policy had carried the elections by one
hundred and thirty-seven to sixty-nine on a straight
party vote, the most sweeping political victory which
the Old Chieftain had ever won during his long and
eventful career.

That night and all the next day — ^the i8th — were
generally devoted by the Conservative party and

* " In the general election of 1874, the Conservative party,
taken by surprise and weighted with all the disadvantageous cir-
cumstances which attend defeat, were well-nigh annihilated. Sir
John Macdonald himself narrowly escaped defeat in his own
constituency, was unseated on a petition, and re-elected by a
majority even less than before. Out of 206 members in the House
of Commons, the Conservatives did n< * number more than forty-
five. The once great party had dwindled to a mere handful, to
be pitied rather than feared." — Pope's " Life of Sir John Mac-
donald," Vol. II., page 198.

312

TRIUMPH FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

^^l!l "''. "'"'"•A''°" «^ '^''"- "ndoubtedly great
P°" , y"^°'-y' Only four years before the L^

natural that the Conservatives should now induW

fnMc f • • ^"'^ "^'^ "'^i'- opponents with sc^du

Canarl:. =.n^ r !^ Certainly a great triumph for
reason to rejoice over and feel proud of.

8 1

313

CHAPTER XXXI.

AFTERMATH OF THE ELECi IONS— LETTERS OF MAC-
KENZIE—LORD DUFFERIN'S " FAREWELLS "—HIS
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PREMIER— THE NEW
CONSERVATIVE CABINET— HON. WILLIAM
MACDOUGALL AND OTHERS.

The day after the great electoral battle of 1878
found the Dominion surprised and somewhat
stunned by the sweeping character of the result.
The general anticipation was that the contest would
be close. Few — probably none — expected a com-
plete turnover. Sir John Macdonald himself was
surprised at the large majority which hs obtained.
The Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, from his enthusiastic re-
ception throughout Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, had been
led to the conclusion that his Government would be
amply sustained, and in writing his principal Parlia-
mentary supporters immediately afterwards, he
frankly confessed his surprise and disappointment
at the verdict given by the electors.

The Liberal leader, however, accepted his defeat
with characteristic promptness, manliness and cour-
age. Two days afterwards he wrote the Governor-
General, Lord Dufferin, that, as the elections were
sufficiently over to be conclusive as to the defeat of
the Government, he would assemble his colleagues
as soon as possible, and finish up what business they

314

MACKENZIE RETIRES WITH CLEAR CONSCIENCE

had on hand, after which he would wait upon His
Excellency and tender to him his resignation^ He
oncluded h,s letter as follows : " I„^he meantime
I have o express my deep gratitude to you for Cr
unvarymg kindness to me, and the constant anxrey
you have shown to aid me in every way in carryS
on the Government. This I shall never forgeTf
w,ll only say for myself that I have endeavoS to
do what was nght in the interests of the Crown and

whiK 'cS "" "°" '°°' '^"^"^ "'"^ '"« P'-"-
necessan-l/gL"""'""' '""■'"' ^"'^ '^"°"^'-

kin'^dnel°a"„d"''" 'T''''^- '^' "'''' ''^^ -"^ -""ch
kmdness and consideration, and enclosed, also a

specal note to Mrs. Mackenzie. The most important

paragraph m His Excellency's letter to Mr Mac

ken.e remmds one of his famous tribute to l^s Fi

Mmister when m British Columbia. It read as fol

the'„^^^*f ".'"^ P**"""""*' convictions may be upon
he general pohcy of your Government, it woKot

I suppose, be proper that I should expresMhem even
IdeTe/r ''"''' ''"' "° -"-deration nee" pre-
neitherTn kZ.^T""^- ^°." *''^' '" '"X °Pin'on
serl^nf nf i^o '' ""^ '" C*"^''^ has any public
servant of the Crown administered the affairs of
the na .on with a stricter integrity, with a nureJ
patnofsm, with a more indefatigaWe ndust^ or
nobler aspirations, than yourself and tho,,<,7fr
chances of war have gone' against you' afthfpofs
you have the satisfaction of knowing t^t voi;
s.ngIe-m„Kled simplicity of purpose, l^^l.^'Z
315

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

upright conduct ' ave won for you alike the respect
and goodwill ut friends and foes.

" As for myself I can only say that I shall ever
retain a feeling of warm friendship for you. From
first to last you have treated me not only with grea .
kindness and consideration but with a frankness,
truthfulness, and openness of dealing for which I
am grateful."

Among the earlier letters of Mr. Mackenzie on
the result of the elections were those to the Honour-
able L. H. Holton, Montreal ; Senator Hope, Hamil-
ton ; Mayor Waller, Ottawa ; Mr. J. D. Edgar, To-
ronto, and myself;* but, doubtless, there were scores
of others which have never been published. The
letter to Mr. Holton was dated on the 21st. " I
scarcely know," he says, in the opening paragraph,
" how or what to write you. The disaster in Ontario
was to me wholly unexpected. Up to the day of
polling I was satisfied we would hold our own. I
wish now to get your views about the future. I pro-
pose, as soon as our friends can be got together, to
resign my leadership and give them an opportunity
of selecting one who may be more successful." The
letter addressed to me by Mr. Macki-nzie was sub-
stantially as follows: —

" Ottawa, Sept. 26th, 1878.
" My Dear Young : — I suppose you have hardly
got over your shock of disappointment at your local,
as well as the general, result of the fight. For my

•These and other letters are published in Macl<enzie's "Life
and Times," l>y Buckingham and Ross, Chapter xxxiii., page 514.

316-

MACKENZIE'S KEEN DISAPPOINTMENT

own part I was much astonished at the revolution
It IS evident that the feeling for protection had got
minds"*''"' ^' supposed on the people's

y2,^l^r"u''TV^''^ "° e-^'wption. I should
have had six hundred on a straight party vote, and
only got one hundred and forty-six. Every Province
excepting one went in the same way. I was not able
in my long tour to detect any signs of defection any-
where, or any lack of enthusiasm, and I returned
here on the day of polling satisfied that our Ontario
majority would be as large as before. I m, e
coiinted on the loss of a few counties, but considered
I would gam others. We did gain four out of the
eleven I counted on winning.

" All my schemes for the future are cut short
Mmmenal and other arrangements to be gone into
after the elections are all nipped.* The result is not
very encouraging to Liberal leaders. We resisted a
policy which would be deeply injurious to the
masses, and the masses have turned upon us and
rent us. I suppose the German element was a prin-
cipal e-ement with you, judging from the majorities,
but the trouble elsewhere was really the fact that a
large proportion of the people had become desirous
of a change, believing that a change would brine
prosperous times, plenty of work and money. New

317

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Brunswick alone among the faithless stood faithful.
' Among the faithless, faithful only it."

" I feel it a tremendous task to begin agair he
work of reorganization, and quite shrink from it.
Perhaps the party will find some oro r.iove likely to
command success.

" It is intensely di.scimraging to lose so many true
men— McGregor, J. L. McDougall, Blake, Snider.
Landerkin, Cartwright, Norris, Wood, Irving, Mc-
Craney, Dymoml, . .nith, Metcalfe, Blain. John Mac-
donald, Cook, Kerr, Biggar, Archibald, Buell.
McNab, A V McDonald, Blackburn. L. Ross— all
gone! VV'hit a splendid lot of men, in addition to
those from Waterloo. There are hardly enough
left to form a skeleton battalion."

The downfall of the Mackenzie Administration
after so short a reign was the result of a singular and
unfortunate combination of circumstances. These
have been indicated already in the history given of
this great commercial agitation, and more especially
in the letters addressed to the Honourable Alexander
Mackenzie two years before, which may be found
in Chapters XXIII. and XXV. The administrative
as well as the legislative record of the Mackenzie
Government was highly creditable, and their cautious
dealing with the Pacific Railway was probably a
blessing to the Dominion at that particular time. But
it must be admitted that, with the exception of that
gigantic undertaking— for which they got little credit
— their policy as a whole embraced few measures
bold and striking enough to satisfy the impatience of

318

DUFFERIN'S FAREWELL VISIT

the people for relief from the hard times then
existmg.

The Governor-General, Lord Duflferin, paid his
farewell visit to Ontario to open the Agricultural
Exhibition at Toronto. It took place on September
24th, and when His Excellency mounted the erand-
stand, surrounded by a brilliant staff and the Presi-
dent and officers of the Agricultural Association, to
begin the opening ceremonies, he received an enthu-
siastic ovation from the thousands assembled His
speech was one of the most brilliant and witty which
he made during his long sojourn in Canada, which
he concluded in these eloquent words:—

"In a few weeks one of the most promising of
the younger generation of English statesmen will
reach your shores, accompanied by a daughter of
your yueen (tremendous applause). Under the
auspices of these distinguished personages, you ar
destined to ascend yet higher in the hierarchy of tl
nations, to be drawn still closer to the heart of tht
mother country, to be recognized still more univer-
sally as one of the most loyal, most prosperous and
most powerful of those great Colonial Governments
that unite to form the Empire of Great Britain
(Great cheering . May God Almighty bless vou
and keep you, ami pour out upon your glorious co'un-
tiy the universa blessings that lie at His right hand "
( 1 remendous cheering, renewed again and again.)

On October 9th— only three weeks aft. ir

defeat-the Honourable Alexan.ier Mackenzie

waited upon the Governor-General at Montreal and

placed m his hands the resignation of himself and

319

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

his colleagaes. Nothing could better prove the warm
personal friendship which had grown up between
Lord Dufferin and the Liberal leader than the fact
that, after the latter had taken his departure and was
no longer Prime Minister, His Excellency wrote and
sent to him one of the most touching notes ever
penned under similar circumstances: —

" Montreal, October 9th, 1878.
" My Dear Mackenzie : — I can assure you I felt a
very bitter pang in shaking you by the hand yester-
day. We have been associated so many years to-
gether, in promoting the interests of the Dominion,
and I have such a sincere personal esteem for you,
that it felt like parting with one of my oldest friends.
" I have told them to send you a portrait of Lady
Duflferin and one of myself, which I hope you will
allow a place upon your walls.
" Believe me, my dear Mackenzie,

" Yours sincerely,

" Dufferin."

Lord Dufferin, who had been already delayed in
sailing for Great Britain by the impending changes
in the Government, now called Sir John Macdonald
to the Premiership and entrusted him with the form-
ation of the new Administration. His task was not
a difficult one. Most of his colleagues were, in fact,
already chosen, but a week elapsed before the Con-
servative chief, with all his expertness, was able to
get the last of his Cabinet complications adjusted.

Quebec's farewell to Lord Dufferin was a notable
event. It lasted for two days, and in the number
320

DUFFERIN LEAVES CANADA

of eminent persons present, its tasteful decorations
profuse festivities and universal enthusiasm the
Ancient Capital's ovation to His Excellency was not
^.npassed by any other Canadian city. As the noble
Earl stood on the deck of the Polynesian bowing
his acknowledgments to the tens of thousands wav-
ing farewells with flags and other devices from Duf-
fenn Terrace and the rugged streets and by-ways of
the grand old city, down to the shores of the majestic
^t. Lawrence; and, ac. Dmpanied by H. M. Ships
SynusznA Argus, the Polynesia,, slowly steamed
out of that magnificent harbour, and from bene^S
the frownmg guns of the greatest fortress in the
world, a scene of natural grandeur and beauty was
presented worthy of the brush of Bell-Smith, Homer
p2te°rs. " "' °''''" °' °"^ ''^""^^ Canadian

The gentlemen selected to compose the new Con-
servative Government were as follows :—

S.-r^rT^r ^.T^T'"" ""^ ^'"''^'^^ °^ the Interior,
^f^ A Macdonald; Receiver-General, Honour-
able Alexander Campbell ; Secretary of State, Sena-

ZlT'^- '^T'' ^^'''^' °^ C"^t°'"=- Honour-
able Mackenzie Bowell; President of the Council
Honourable John O'Connor.

Quebec :-Minister of Militia, Honourable L R
Masson; Postmaster-General, Honourable Hecto;
Langevn ; Minister of Agriculture, Honourable John

" F Tkfby "'"" °^ '"'^"'' ^''"""'' """""-^^ble
321

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Maritime Provinces: — Minister of Public
Works, Honourable Charles Tupper; Minister of
Finance, Honourable S. L. Tilley ; Minister of Jus-
tice, Honourable James Macdonald; Minister of
Marine and Fisheries, Honourable J. C. Pope
(P.E.I.) ; Without Portfolio, Honourable R. D.
Wilmot (N.B.).

Eight of the members of the new Government
had been colleagues of Sir John Macdonald at the
time of the memorable crisis of 1873 ; the other five
gentlemen were in office for the first time. The
Government was experienced, therefore, as well as
able, and entered upon the work of introducing its
new commercial policy with commendable energy
and despatch.

As usual in Cabinet-making, there were some
disappointments. Among old colleagues passed over
were the Honourable Peter Mitchell, Hon. Dr.
Robitaille, and the Honourable William Macdougall.
Considering the undoubted ability of the latter
gentleman, as well as his great services to the Con-
servative party during the elections, this occasioned
some surprise. But it no doubt arose from the fact
that he never was a favourite of the Prime
Minister's, as proof of which I may at this late day
mention that the Honourable George Brown
informed me that as early as the Coalition of 1864,
Sir John Macdonald recommended him not to in-
clude Mr. Macdougall with Mr. Mowat and himself,
as one of the three Reform members to enter the

322

HON. WM. MACDOUGALL A STATESMAN
Cabmet. Mr. Brown, did not, however, accept the

My first acquaintance with the Hon. Mr Mac-
cloi,ga« was ,n 1854 (see Vol. I., page 66) and T

or TtS r r K "^ '^^ ^^^ ^^--

some of them possibly bom with him but he had
oTc7 S ^1 """'^ ''-'■^'- He wL'^m' al

hat m™ °' """^ '' *" ■»' "•"''

S« ol e?h.r"""T"""' '" '"""""l "M to

'My acquaintance with Mr Hillvarrf r
Durmg two or three sessionrat Ottawa ),„"™ ""' ''"'='•
hreakfasted together at the R?deau cTuh h""' "' '^"l^'ntly
But this gradually wore off and k^ I^' "" "">■ »' «"'■

charming conversationaHst over hi. ""• ''"'"'' '" ^ » ">"»>
will never forget ih,. .„.l • '•""""••« cup of coffee I

n.e more than o"ce his^r^ "aTn" *''' '" *"■=" "' «l««d to
which happened to be aga nsf the'n" " 1,^'""" *" Court!
B.a.e, afterward, Chanceir'of V-rSl 7fcf Zd

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Dalton McCarthy— the latter a Q.C. of much ability,
a man of advanced Ideas and promising future — all
of whom had strong claims for Cabinet rank. But
Sir John had not room for them all, and evidently
preferred as Prime Minister not to have ambitious
colleagues like Mr. Macdougall and Mr. McCarthy,
but men who could be relied upon to support and
maintain the policy and measures which— as the
chosen Conservative leader— he carefully planned
and mapped out, and considered best for the country
— or, at least, best for the success of his party in the
House and the country.

As already mentioned. Sir John Macdonald
socially, and as the party leader, was not like the
same person. This was first impressed on my mind
by a prominent Conservative who was a great
admirer of the old chieftain. He frankly discussed
the Premier's peculiarities in this respect, and
summed up his conclusions by saying that whilst
considerate, agreeable and delightful in his social
intercourse with his supporters, which seldom failed
to secure their personal attachment, in his capacity
as leader he was a perfect autocrat, and would not
tolerate the interference of supporters, or even of
Cabinet colleagues, with his management of the
party or other duties, which, he held, had been

father if the Honourable Edward Blake. He described in a
most realistic way his nervousness and anxiety when he learned
who was to be the opposing counsel, and seemed to enjoy his
triumph all over again when he tuld how he won his case and
received the congratulations os his iriends on the success of his
maiden effort against so eminent and eloquent an opponent.

SIR JOHN AGAIN IN THE SADDLE

Mtrusted to his charge as leader by the party at

Whatever the future had in store, Sir John
Macdonald was now again firmly in I lie saddle as
the Prme Minister of Canada, with the prospect of
a long lease of power before him, and having always
posed as the champion of England an.l of English
policy, not a few wondered how far he would imple-
ment the wild promises of a high Protective policy
after the United States model, by which the elections
were carried.

II.-2

325

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE MARQUIS OF LORNE AND PRINCESS LOUISE—
MOWAT CHAMPIONS PROVINCIAL RIGHTS-
DISMISSAL OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
LETELLIER— "A TEMPEST IN A TEA-
POT "—NATIONAL POLICY
PASSED— THE PACIFIC
RAILWAY.

The new Governor-General of Canada, the
Marquis of Lome, and his Royal Consort, the Prin-
cess Louise, arrived in Halifax after a very stormy
passage on November 25th, 1878. Except on the
visit of the Prince of Wales in i860, Nova Scotia's
charming capital never indulged in such elaborate
ceremonies and unbounded enthusiasm as on this
occasion.

The same day, at half-past one o'clock, an
immense procession accompanied the Viceregal party
to the Provincial building, where His Excellency was
to be sworn in as Governor-General. Among those
present were the Marquis of Lome, Major de
Winton and other officers of his staff, Chief-Justice
Ritchie, in the scarlet robes of the Supreme Court
— who took a seat near the throne — Sir John
Macdonald being on his right and the Duke of Edin-
burgh on his left hand. Among other distinguished
gentlemen present were the Honourable Charles
Tupper, Honourable James Macdonald, Honourable
3a6

MARQUIS OF LORNE TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

Mackenzie Bowell and other Cabinet Minister..
\.ce-Adnin-al Inglefiekl, Chief-Justice Yo„nc

oToIer":-S;nf ^'^^^' "^-■^'-" -'' ^""^^^^
Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise was
conducted .nto the Chamber by her brother, the
Duke of Edmburgh. and Sir Patrick McDoug H
hen act,ng Governor. The vast audience stood
unfl she was seated, and her reception could not

iii^h^Tu """1 '■'^'"'^ '"^ ''"■"'■^"*- Chief-Justice
M .V ^" admmistered the oaths of office to the

as Governor-General was announced by the roar of

The Halifax celebration lasted three days and
made bnlliant reception to Their Excelle^^L ^n
f5rst landing on Canadian soil. Similar honours
greeted them in Montreal on the .9th. and Ottawa

Miss'card r' w^r'"'^^"^^- ''"* ""fortunatel-
M.ss Canada took the dumps and indulged in one of
the widest days of "rain, sleet, hail and snow •'

Z''J"'":Ti^'' '''' °'^'^^* ■■"''^bitant. It was
s mply awful. The celebration had to be postponed
hut It was estimated that 9,000 people* defied the

t7ZV ""r "'^ "^^ Governor-Genera
and the Pnncess at the railway station with enthusi-
astic cheers and other tokens of welcome

The demeanour of the new Governor and his
Royal Consort," said a Canadian PreL cort

• Siwcial «rr«ponden« of the Toronto Globe.

3^7

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

siMindent who accompanied thein from Halifax to
Ottawa, " was such as could hardly fail to elicit the
warmest sympathy of the people . . . The Princess
has handsome features, full of the evidence of
refinement, culture and intelligence, a fair com-
plexion, light brown hair, and wonderfully earnest,
expressive eyes. Her complexion has that rare com-
bination of fine texture, delicacy of colour, and
wondrous freshness that is so seldom n.et with.
But after all. her greatest charm appears to be a
certain expressiveness that is altogether indes-
cribable."

The Honourable Oliver Mowat was now in his
seventh year as Premier of Ontario, and with his col-
leagues Messrs. Crooks. Pardee. Fraser, Hardy and
Wotk] was still firmly seated in power. When, there-
fore, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable D. A.
Macdonald, opened the Provincial Legislature on
January Qth, 1879, the proceedings were not
enlivened by expectations of any political change.

Since the previous session, the old-time Opposition
leader, the Honourable M. C. Cameron, had retired
to the Bench He prided himself on being a Ton,'
of the old school, and had the courage of his con-
victions, which is something in favour of any man.
Mr. William R. Meredith. M.P.P. for London,
was elected leader in his piace. the Honourable
.Alexander Morris, late Lieutenant-Governor of
Manitoba, being his chief lieutenant. The new
leader, unlike his predecessor, mixed up some bold
democracy with his Conservatism, advocating as he
did biennial sessions, the election of registrars,
328

ONTARIO'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

slieriffs and other officers by county councils, and
other radical changes. He also began a vigorous
assault on Mr. Mowat and his colleagues in prepara-
tion for the approaching general elections.

But Mr. Mowat was invulnerable. He was
already regarded as the champion of Ontario's
constitutional rights. Some of these had been
denied and assailed long before by the Premier of
the Dominion Administration. To protect the Pro-
vince, Attorney-General Mowat had at various
periods to make appeals to the Privy Council in
England. The two most important were on the
delimitation of the western and northern boundaries
of Ontario, and the persistent disallowance by the
Dominion of an Act "To Protect the Public Inter
ests m Rivers, Streams and Creeks."

Had the contentions of Sir John Macdonald and
the Federal Cabinet prevailed, the western boundary
of Ontario— to use terms easily understood—
would have been fixed at a line drawn six and a half
miles east of the cities of Port Arthur and Kurt
William on the shores of Thunder Bay, Lake
Sui>erior, and the northern boundary at the top of
the watershed or h. ight of land. Sir John instructed
his officials to maintain these limits. If consented
to, this would have reduced the area of the Pvox iuce
from 260,862 square miles to u6,78a more than
one-half!*

Fortunately, when Mr. Blake hov.uue Premier
of Ontario — as far back as December, 1871— he

* Biggar's " Life of Sir Oliver Mowat '
page 376.

Vol. II., Chapter xiv.,

j29

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

promptly repudiated any such emasculation of the
Province. Mr. Mowat, on succeeding Mr. Blake,
took the same ground, both of them contending that
the true boundaries of Ontario were : On the west,
beyond the Lake of the Woods, and at least 300
miles nearer the setting sun than Port Arthur and
Fort William ; and on the north and east that they
extended to the mouth of the Albany River on James
Bay, 332 miles north of the watershed or height of
land. It is unneces.sary now to repeat details. The
above outline gives tlie chief grounds of this famous
boun<lary dispute Iwtween the Dominoti and Ontario
Governments, and Sir Oliver Mowat had deservedly
won great popularity among all classes by the
remarkable ability and zeal with which he was
fighting to prevent such a deadly blow to the
standing of Ontario in the Confederation as the loss
of one-half of its whole territory would undoubtedly
have been.

Under these circumstances, it is not surprising
that Sir Oliver had become known as " The Cham-
pion of Provincial Rights," and that notwith-
standing the rout of the Liberal party in the
Dominion contest of the previous year, he won the
Ontario elections of 1879 with a larger majority
thai: he had before.

The opening of the fourth Federal Pariiament,
on account of the great political changes which the
recent elections had brought about, was naturally
looked forward to with deep interest. It took place
on February 13th, and the new Governor-General,
the Marquis of Lome, and his Royal Consort the
330

MARQUIS OF LORNE OPENS PARLIAMENT

Princess Louise, performed their parts in the

opening ceremonies with eminent dignity and grace

Even thorough loyalists like ex-Premier Mackenzie

had fears that the presence of Her Royal Highness

might lead to the introduction of functions fashioned

after hose of the Royal Court at Windsor, and not

suitable for a democratic country like Canada. But

nothing of the kind occurred, and with the exception

of an unusually grand and gay State Ball, which

over one thousand eminent Canadians and other

guests attended, the opening of Parliament on this

occasion did not materially differ from its

predecessors.

The session of 1879 was chiefly memorable for
three important questions. These were: The dis-
missal by the new Govermnent of His Honour, Luc
Letellier de St. Just. Lieutenant-Governor of Que-
i>ec; the introduction and passage of the new
commercial system known as the National Policy
and the changes made by the Administration in
regard to the Pacific Railway and its construction.
I V! "°"°"'-^''''= J- G Blanchett had hardly been
ejected Speaker before it became evident that the
Quebec s.ipporters of the Government had come to
Ot awa irntated because Lieutenant-Governor
Letellier was still in office, and determined to have
him dismissed even if a political crisis resulted An
excited and bitter Parliamentary debate speedily
arose, during which constitutional principles and
party passions were oddly intermingled. The same
resolution on the subject which had been proposed
by Sir John Macdonald during the previous session,
331

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

and voted down by the Mackenzie party by iia to
70. was again proposed by the Hon. Mr. Mousseau,
seconded by Mr. Dalton McCarthy. Nearly all the
leading speakers on both sides of the House then
engaged in an unusually heated discussion, which,
as everyone expected from the Government's atti-
tude, was finally carried by 136 to 51, and Lieu-
tenant-Governor Letellier's dismissal approved by a
straight party vote.

Like most vexed ^litical questions, the dismissal
of the De Boucherville Cabinet by Lieutenant-
Governor letellier had strong arguments on both
sides of it. The consensus of opinion throughout
the Dominion settled down to something like this :
(a) that His Honour acted within Constitutional
limits; (6) that his protests against some of his
Cabinet's legislation were quite justified; and (f)
that the evident neglect and ignoring of His Honour
by his advisers was a contempt of the Crown in the
person of its representative, and afforded justifica-
tion for dismissal. Sir Francis Hincks and other
eminent authorities took this view. Admitting all
this, however, the determining point still remains :
In view of the fact that the Cabinet was amply sus-
tained in the Legislature, and the principles of
Responsible Government admittedly in force, were
the delinquencies of Mr. De Boucherville and his
colleagues sufficiently grave— was the honour of the
Crown so seriously compromised— as to call upon
His Ilonour, as he evidently himself believed, to
exercise the Royal prerogative and dismiss his
advisers from office? That is where there is room
332

MARQUIS OF LORNF. ACCEPTS ADVICE

for difference of opinion, and so it is likely t,. rpinain
for all time to come.
When Sir John Macdonald advised IJeutenant-

.overnor Utcllier's dismissal, it ca.ne ,,„( that
the Coveninr-General, the Marquis of L„rn<- could
not see his way to dismiss Mr. Letellie, o.lhand ' He
therefore replied to his Prime Minister., au.-rt ,'s
follows : —

the S^mrn""' "' rf '? '^' P-""^"'' the relations of
he Dommion and Provmcial Governments in regard

precedents''!, "'"'fr™'^' ''"'' "^«« ^"« "»
precedents o guide him in the present case he

I >m. and the whole case with the attendant circum-
stances to Her Majesty's Oovernment fo? the r c"l
sideration and instructions." ' -eir ton

His Excellency's course was quite reasonable, but
when announced to Parliament the Quebec Bleus
expressed great indignation, and turned the vials of
their wrath from their victim-thus temporarily
resp,ted-to the head of the noble Marquis himself^
ihey compared him to Lord Metcalfe, denounced
his course as unconstitutional, and openly threatene<l
to commence agitation for his recall! It was the
proverbial "tempest in a teapot. But the Prime
Minister managed to moderate the bitterness of his
Bleu followers, and when the Home Government
advicToT;"' I'' ^°— -General to accede to Z

a senteH .v' "'"!' """^ *° ^'"'^'^ '^e Marquis
as en ed, this noisy and discreditable political squall
quickly came to an end. ^

333

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

The great event of the session was the abolition
of our long-established Revenue Tariflf, and the
enactment of a highly Protectionist commercial
system after the United States model. The measure
was introduced by the Hon. Mr. Tilley on March
14th. His speech was replied to by the Hon. Mr.
Cartwright, and the Honourable Charles Tupper
and the Honourable Alexander Mackenzie followed.
After these addresses, which were able on both
sides, the oratory of the recent elections — much of
it, unfortunately, of the stump order — flooded the
House of Commons and continued more or less
throughout the entire session. It filled many hun-
ilreds of pages of the official debates in reporting it.

The new Tariff was quietly received through* • :
the Dominion. The country was in fact tired of
discussing it. But in Britain both Conservatives and
Liberals denounced it with unusual bitterness. The
press was particularly severe. They learned of the
high duties imposed by the National Policy, as one
influential paper said, " with profound amazement
and sorrow," and the whole land rang with protests
against the measure as " unstatesmanlike, unwise
and retrograde." Many apparently thought that
the elections once securely carried, Sir John
Macdonald would find some way to avoid antagon-
izing the commercial policy of the Empire, and con-
fine his fiscal changes to a mere readjustment of the
Tariff, as indeed he had publicly promised the New
Brunswickers to do.* But, whatever his real

* Sir John Macdonald's telegram to the Honourable John Boyd,
St. John, N.6., during the elections.

334

NATIONAL POLICY INTROuUCED

feelings, he could no longer do this. He was in the
hands of an overwhelming Parliamentary majority
flushed with victory, and no other practicable course
was then open to Sir John but to go with the tide
and give to the people the restrictive commercial
system which the large majority of them had been
induced to vote for.

Mr. Tilley's measure was fairly in accordance
with the Administration's promises, even the
absurdities of agricultural protection — which it is
safe to say took ten dollars out of the farmers'
pockets for every one dollar put in — being faithfully
provided for. The changes which it made in our
trade policy were important and far-reaching. Under
the old Revenue Tariff, the Customs duties averaged
about twelve and one-half i)er cent, and seldom rose
above seventeen and one-half per cent., but under the
new Protective system duties of thirty, forty, anil
even fifty per cent, were not uncommon. In some
specific instances even sixty per cent, duty was levied.
Both British and United States trade with Canada
was badly hit b> the increased taxation. The former
suffered most in cottons, woollens, silks, carpets and
similar manufactures, and the latter in furniture,
mowing machines, ironware, carriages, leather
manufactures, clocks, etc., then largely imported
from them. The true-blue Protectionists, however,
continued to feel confident their pet panacea would
ultimately make good. In their opinion. Protection
high enough to shut off foreign competition was all
that was necessary to restore good times, increase
manufactures, enrich the farmers, develop our latent
335

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

resources, and in short make tlie whole Dominion
rich and prosperous in short order.

But alas for human hopes' What actually did
take place was as follows : prices generally through-
out the Dominion were advanced, the cost of living
was increased, taxation became more burdensome,
the hard times were prolonged for several years,
and, as we shall see later on from the Government's
own official statistics, during the eighteen years of
Conservative Government which followed — the
great National Policy working overtime during the
whole period— the progress of Canada was slower
and its prosperity more disappointing than during
any similar period since Confederation took place.
The new Pacific Railway policy was introduced
on May loth, five days before the House prorogued.
It consisted of a series of fourteen resolutions.
Their adoption was moved by the Honourable
Charles Tupper in a clever and conciliatory speech,
during which he frankly conceded that the
Mackenzie Government had " directed their efforts
with a sincere and anxious desire, as far as the cir-
cumstances of the country admitted, to carry out the
(Pacific Railway) obligations which the Dominion
had undertaken."*

The resolutions submitted and the Bill founded
upon them gave the Government most extraordinary
powers in regard to the construction of the railway,
but it was the fall of the following year before the
Government succeeded in effecting a contract for
the construction of the road. It was made with a

'Parliamentary Debates of 1879, Vol. II page 1887.

.-jV'?^^^

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY POLICY

Montreal syndicate, the principal members of which
were Donald A. Smith., Esq., now I,ord Strathcona,
Oeorge Stephen, Esq., now Lord Mount-Stephen,
Duncan Mclntyre, Esq., R. B. Angus, Esq., Morton,
Rose & Company, and a few others.

The principal terms of this famous contract may
be briefly stated thus : That the Montreal syndicate
were to receive for the construction of the road
25,000,000 acres of selected North-West lands, $25,-
000,000 in money, and all portions of the line com-
pleted or in process of completion, valued at not less
than $28,000,000. Besides these main items, the
syndicate was to be exempt from all Provincial and
municipal taxation on their unsold lands, to be
exempt from Customs duties on all their steel, iron
and other railway supplies needed for the com-
pletion of the road, together with numerous other
concessions of immense value.

Parliament was called together on December 9th.
1880. chiefly to confirm this contract. When the
Houses assembled, not a little excitement was
aroused by the advent of a rival Toronto syndicate.
Among the more eminent of its members were Sir
William P. Rowland, Honourable D. L. Mac-
pherson. George A. Cox, James McLaren, A. R.
McMaster. William Hendrie and many others. They
offered to do the work for some $12,540,000 less on
the land and money subsidies aloiie.* But the
Government was no doubt committed to the
Montreal syndicate. Sir John Macdonald was

•Resolution moved by the Honourable Edward Blake Parlia-
mentary Debates, 1880-1881, Vol. I, page jtr.

337

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

inflexible. He would allow no alteration in the
Montreal contract, and the great majority of the
members felt bound to support the Government at
all hazards. After numerous Opposition amend-
ments — including Mr. Blake's famous Omnibus
resolution — had been voted down, the contract was
confirmed, and all difficulties cleared out of the
way of the rapid prosecution of this great and
important public work.

Both Canada and the Government had no cause
to regret that the construction of the Pacific Railway
fell into the hands of Messrs. Strathcona, Stephens,
Mclntyre and Angus. They made a splendid bar-
gain out of Canada, but th'y brought to the aid
of the Government great ability, experience and
enterprise, and carried out their contract with such
wonderful energy and zeal that the last rail was laid,
and the last spike driven, in 1885 — five years before
the time set for the completion of the gigantic
undertaking.

This rapid and successful achievement reflected
much credit upon the railway syndicate and the
Government as well. It was also a feather in Sir
John Macdonald's own cap. It helped to soften the
memory of the failure and scandal of his first
contract with Sir Hugh Allan, tended to confirm
his reputation as a clever administrator, and to
secure for him the long lease of power as Prime
Minister which he enjoyed until the time of his
death.

338

CHAPTER XXXIII.

DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE GEORGE BROWN— BRIEF
REVIEW OF A GREAT CAREER— HIS CHARACTER-
ISTICS AS A MAN, WRITER. ORATOR AND
STATESMAN— UNSURPASSED AMONG
THE " MAKERS OF CANADA."

The whole of Canada was startled on March
2Sth, 1880, when the telegraph flashed the intelli-
gence that the Honourable George Brown had been
shot in the Globe oflSce that afternoon. The deed
was done by a drunken employee named Bennett,
who had been discharged by his foreman, and after-
wards went to Mr. Brown's private room and
insisted on his giving him a certificate of service
and character. Mr. Brown referred him to the fore-
man or the treasurer, but personally refused to sign.
Bennett then drew a revolver, whereupon Mr. Brown
grabbed him by the wrist and endeavoured to put
him out. During the struggle Bennett fired the
pistol, the bullet striking Mr. Brown on the out-
side of one of his thighs. Mr. Archibald Blue, now
head of the Statistics Department at Ottawa, has
given a brief but graphic description of what he saw
of this fracas. It has been summarized as fol-
lows ; —

" It was late in the afternoon, and I had just .gone
by the open door where Brown and Bennett were

339

M'n -nit'i^r

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

facing each other and talking eamestly. I had
barely got to the door of my room on the next floor
(George Brown's old room) when I was startled by
1 crashing noise below, and a cry as of a wild
animal at bay. ' Help ! Help ! Help ! Murder !
Murder!' The next moment three of us were
tumbling down the stairs on each other's heels. Allan
Thompson. Sr., fir.st. and wasn't it John Kwan next?
Mr. Brown had the assassin by the throat with one
hand and with the other the hand in which was the
smoking revolver was held secure. The two first-
comers instantly seized Bennett, and Afr. Rrown
stepped back to the wall, where he stood trembling,
and with his face as ashen grey as death. 'Are you
hurt, Mr. Brown ?' Mr. Blue asked. ' I don't know,'
he said, and the writer pointed to the bullet hole in
his clothes. ' There.' I said, and Mr. Brown thrust
down his hand and brought it out red with his blood.
He walked into his own room, a surgeon was called
in, the wound was dressed, and Mr. Brown was
taken out of the Glohc building for the last time."

The public excitement would have been more
intense had it not been the general belief, and Mr.
Brown's own opinion, that the wound was not at all
dangerous. Unfortunately, however, blood poison-
ing set in — as often occurs from gunshot wounds —
and the skill of his medical advisfrs was much
neutralized by his restless energy in undertaking
work at his house on Beverley Street, when he
needed perfect rest and quietness. The greatest
mistake was in addressing the annual meeting of
the Globe shareholders from his sick bed. There

340

ASSASSINATION OF GEORGE BROWN

were not many present, but his exertions had a dis-
turbing and weakening eflfect, and from that day
his illness assumed a highly dangerous character.

I have reason to recollect these circumstances,
inasmuch as the same afternoon on which the share-
holders met I was surprised to get a telegram from
Mr. Brown requesting me to come to ToronKi the
next day, as he wished to see me on an important
matter. I suppo.sed this might have reference to
previous offers he had at various times made me
in connection with tlie press, but in any event it
seemed a matter of duty to comph with the request.
Shortly after eleven o'clock the next day I called
at Mr. Brown's residence. I was received by Mrs.
Brown, who explained that her husband had been
awake during the whole night, had only fallen asleep
at seven o'clock, and she would like me to call during
the afternoon, as he was not yet awake. This
request was instantly complied with, and was
followed by an inter\'iew with Mr. Gordon Bmwn at
the city office. He seemed surprised at his brother's
telegram, dwelt on the dangerous character of his
illness, and advised against the proposed interview.
I'uder these circumstances, and believing I could see
Mr. Brown later if his health improved, I did not
return to his house in the afternoon, and so never
saw him in life again, nor learned the particular mat-
ter upon which he desired an interview.

Being a man of grand physique. Mr. Brown's
recovery was hojied for till near the last. But it was
not to l)e. Shortly before daybreak on Sabbath
morning, the gth of Mav, his spirit took its flight.

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

The whole of Canada was profoundly touched with

sorrow and regret.*

For the moment alt Political diflferences were
hushed. It was universally felt that a primt had
fallen in Israel, and th- was clearlv attested bv the
immense number of citizens of all ranks and classes
—many of them from long distances— who attended
the obsequies on May 12th.

The pallbearers on the occasion were the Honour-
able Alexander Mackenzie, Honourable Edward
Blake, Sir Antoine A. Dorion, Honourable Archi-
bald McKellar, Sir Alexander Campbell, Professor
Wilson (• Toronto University), Honourable L. S.
Huntingilon, His Honour Judge Morrison, Sir R.
T. Cartwright. Honourable David Christie, Honour-
able G. W. Allan, Sir W. P. Howland and the
Honourable William McMaster. No special arrange-
ments were made in regard to the procession, but
with such a vast assemblage in carriages and on
foot, comprising Cabinet Ministers, members of
Parliament, the Judiciary, ministers of the Gospel,
University and other Professors, municipal repre-
sentatives, numerous deputations, and citizens
generally, the absence of any formality seemed to
deepen the silence, solemnity and sorrow, and gave
to the mournful scene an impressiveness which few
ever felt so keenly on any similar occasion.

No name is more conspicuous, nor deserves to
stand higher or brighter in the pages of Canadian

* ^ '?■•«• proportion of all the municipalities of Ontario, either
iV pubhc meetings or their Councils, met and passed resolutions
deplonng Mr. Brown's tr-jir r!,.vh ,n-i loss to the <:oantiy.

TRIBUTE TO GEORGE BROWN

history, than that of George Brown .Vntuie had
cast him m a large mould h,>th intellectually and
physically He lovcl Caua.la and Britain intensely
and s,H.ed>ly won the front rank in Canadian states-
manship by the renr-kable rungy, the far-sighted
political vision, an<l the fearlessness and disinter-
estedness with which he originated and advocated
measures for the advancement of the country and
the good of the people.

„i" •'"^"y glancing at his place among the eminent
makers of Canada, the subject may be considered
from three points of view: (i) the man and his
personality; (2) as a writer and orator; and (7)
as a statesman and citizen.

In regard to his personality, Mr. Brown was in
the glare of public life for nearly forty years, hut
nevertheless was often greatly misunderstood He
was a man of deep convictions and decided opinions
-religious as well as political-who was enthusiastic
>n their advocacy and defence, and seldom or never
surrendered in any controversy. These character-
■st.cs, coupled with an unusually powerful but .some-
what aggressive logic, led his political opponents to
represent him as an arrogant dictator, bigoted and
headstrong-who would tolerate no other opinions
Init his own from friend or foe.

This was merely a partisan caricature of the real
George Brown. To his political and personal friends
he was always bright, agreeable and optimi.stic, and
ms long and pleasant relations with Messrs. Dorion
Holton, Mackenzie, Mowat, Blake, Tolv Hnntin-'
don, McKellar, Crooks and other Libe;al leaderl^
343

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC J.IFE IN CANADA

proves that he was no more dictatorial than every
successful party leader requires to be. For politicians
who sought office hy selling their principles, he was
outspoken in expressing scorn and contempt. But
the good men and true, who under the Liberal ban-
ner won by hard work nearly all the great political
liberties which Canada now enjoys, found the great
Liberal leader easy to approach, ready to discuss and
ad\Mse, and even modify his opinions and actions, if
circumstances required.

On the .second point, Mr. Brown as a writer and
orator, even political friends may differ. His arti-
cles in the press were not models in style. His
sentences were often cumbrous and sometimes
ungraceful. But they were like the man himself:
bright, positive, logical, powerful and convincing.
.'\ close observer could tell his articles in the press
quite readily. One day I met him on the railway
lietween Hamilton and Harrisburg. He was on his
way to Bow Park. Tn conversing I remarked I could
nearly always detect his articles. Quick as a flash
he opened out the Glohe which he was reading, and
pointing to a long article under the editorial head,
" Now," he said, " did I write that ?"

This unexpected cotitestation of my assertion was
somewhat embarrassing. When I examined the
article, too, my embarrassment was not relieved, as
the earlier part was apparently written by him, but
the latter part contained no signs of his master hand.
Becoming satisfied, however, that I could not be mis-
taken in the parentage of certain sentences and senti-

344

A GOOD GUESS

menfs, the reply was finally made, " Yes, Mr. Brown,
I think you wrote it."

With a merry laugh he burst out, " Oh, you are
wrong! It was Gordon who wrote it!"

I then pointed out to him the characteristic expres-
sions and sentences which convinced me that no one
else than George Brown could have been guilty of
writing them, when, with another good-huih.nired
laugh, he exclaimed : —

" Well, now that I recall the circumstances. I did
write the first part of that article after all ; but. beiiij;
called away, I hud to le ve Gordon to finish it. So
you are right after .ill !"

George Brown was a powerful writer and a great
orator, but different in type from any of the gentle-
men heretofore mentioned He was siii generis, anil
he several times told me that few persons had ever
found more difficulty in learning to speak in piil)Iic
than he had.

" In my early efforts," he said, on one occasion.
" I stuttered and stammered badly, and even yet I
often feel as if I had been lumbering and stumbling
all througli my remarks."

To the end of his life he never quite overcame a
slight nervous hesitancy in beginning his speeches.
But this disappeared like the morning mist under
the rays of the summer sun. Then, his command-
ing presence, his clear, ringing voice, his evident sin-
cerity, his intellectual grasp and his powerful appeals
seldom failed to capture his audience, and for two
or three hours thereafter, his impassioned oratory-
rendered more effective by unstudied but highly
345

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PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

dramatic gestures-enabled him to command the
undivided attention of his hearers, and often to sway
them at his will until the peroration closed amidst
rounds of applause.

" Oratory," according to the Standard lexicon, " is
the art of public speaking; the ability so to speak in
public as to please, arouse, convince, move or per-
suade one's hearers." Judged by this definition, no
yanadian speaker surpassed George Brown. Both
in the Parliamentary forum and on the public plat-
form, his speeches probably swayed the masses of
the people more than those of any other Canadian
of his day. The Hon. Mr. Huntingdon has bluntly
told us (page 216) what an immense power as an
agitator he exercised in the old Parliament of Can-
ada ; and his famous and touching defence of his
aged father s grey hairs when attacked in Parliament
by a heartless opponent, his eloquent vindication-
whilst labouring under deep emotion— of his course
■n joining with his political opponents to form the
Coalition Government of 1864,* and his ever-mem-
orable speech in explanation and support of the great

earner and h„ friends for the purpose of carrying oTconfeder

346

GEORGE BROWN A MAKER OF CANADA

Act of Confederation when laid before the House
of Commons, have often been cited as probably his
finest efforts within our Legislative halls.

On the public platform throughout thp country
he was unsurpassed, and after thirty years' associa-
tion with him and other leading politicians — during
which I heard them frequently— my opinion has
always been that George Brown, whilst not the most
graceful, not the most polished, nor always the most
judicious, was decidedly the most impressive, power-
ful and effective political orator whom I ever heard
address a popular audience.

Turning to the third point, Mr. Brown as a states-
man and citizen, he proved himself one of the most
active makers of Canada from the first day he set
foot in it. As far back as 1844 he helped Baldwin
and Lafontaine to overthrow the old Family Com-
pact; he greatly aided to secure the boon of Respon-
sible Government, in getting the Clergy Reserves
and Rectories abolished, and in frustrating the
efforts of the old Tory party to inflict the evils of
Church and State upon this country.

When he first entered Parliament he advocated
numerous measures for Canada's advancement
although they made him, as he himself declared, " a
Governmental impossibility." In the long fight with
Lower Canada he became the champion of Upper
Canadian rights, and spent many toilsome years in
Opposition advocating Representation by Population,
Unsectarian Education and other remedies for the
gross political abuses then existing.

347

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Whilst other prominent statesmen, too, ridiculed
the idea, and even Sir John Macdonald considered
the immense Hudson Bay Territories— nearly one-
half the whole continent— as of little value to Can-
ada,* Brown's broad and far-sighted political vision
led him to advocate with boldness and success the
annexation of the whole vast domain to the Domin-
ion— a masterstroke of statesmanship, which has
done tnore to make Canada great and powerful than
any other achievement in our history.

When the Governor-General, Sir Edmund Head
betrayed the Brown-Dorion Administration in 1858
Mr. Brown became at last convinced that Upper and
Lower Canada could never be made to work to-
gether under a Legislative Union. With character-
^tic energy, he soon afterwards convened the great
Kefomi Convention of 1859. That influential body
declared for a Federal Union, as we have already
seen, and he then immediately began a systematic
agitation of Parliament, press and people, in favour
of the great constitutional changes which he pro-
posed. ^

When old Canada drifted from bad to worse, and
m 1864 Deadlock became King and Representative

v^llT\^^^^°""^ "'-''' °' ^'" J-'"' Mcdonald," Vol. II.

imti. '"!■"•"""'''' ''° "• Canada what thrpraWe land, of

una? /he aT/™°'^' '™" T'^ •™'J™"' "d^trength • For
ranattly, he afterwards saw his mistake and changed his mind "

MR. BROWN FAVORS FEDERAL UNION

Government impossible, Mr. Brown became alarmed
He feared Canada was on the brink of disruption,
and made no secret on his way to attend the session
at Quebec that he would support any political party
and any political changes which would avert the
threatened danger and restore peace and prosperity.
It is at dangerous and critical emergencies like
this m a nation's history, when the true statesman
comes to the front. On this occasion it was George
Brown. He saw that the crisis ought to be utilized
to effect constitutional changes which would per-
manently restore Canada's peace and prosperitv, but
that, m consequence of the refusal of the Conserva-
tive leader for a considerable time to support Federal
Union,* the present opportunity was in danger of
being sacrificed again on the altar of a miserable
opportunism, whose chief aim was merelv to get
office and to hold it. '

The great Liberal leader rose equal to th- occa-
sion. Party bitterness was intense. He was not

Brw°rh''^'K,"^ *' " '"'"^ ^'^ J"*^" Macdonald.
But with a noble couiage, patriotism and sacrifice of

stir-is SH -^-- --' - -

ence of many otherr La. hi7o°Xr'f,™"' °"? '" "■= "■•"-
own term, with Mr. Browl if he^r" fuse/ ."""'' "t"" '^"'

tion. Not until then did ■? r I^l,„ '"'" '"'° *« Coali-

with them "-Sir R SirJohn consent to throw in his lot

Memo„"es"' '' ^^^""Kh''^ Address on "Canadian

349

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

his party and personal leelings, he openly approached
his Conservative opponents and pressed them to
accept the policy of Federal Union, and thus, at one
stroke, end the crisis and the country's whole
troubles.

At the magnificent banquet g- a by the Canadian
Uub of Ottawa, on April 21st, 1^09, in honour of
the twenty-four Senators and members of the House
of Commons still surviving of the first Parliament
of Canada * (186; ), the late Sir John Carling, of
London, threw some light on the energetic, impulsive
way in which Mr. Brown pressed his viewa at this
time. In a letter read at the banquet, Mr. Carline
wrote as follows :—

" I happened to be on my way to Quebec to
attend to my Parliamentary duties, and when the

'— ''™.."''' '*"'0'»s Banquet took place in looo the tn.»l

able EdJiTRtS*' «°"°''"'"= Sirkckenlie BoweT Honour
t„hn r ," i*""' ""■■'"""I'le James Young, Honourable Sir
Cottitan S^f T^'^r"'" ^^ ^- '"• P="«ier, Honourable John
H^n * K, ,J'S".,°""'' Honourable William Ross (Halifax)
Honourable W. H. Ray (Clementsport, N.S.), His Honour ludLe
Savanr (Annapolis Royal, N.S) Mr. Frank^'KinamTva^^^^^^^^^^
!■!■»■), Mr. L. de V. Chipman (Kentville, N.S.), Dr. HuKh Cam
eron Inverness, Cape Breton), Honourable George BBak";
(Sweetsburg, Que ), Mr. Basile Benoit (Chambly, Q«.) Sheriff

S Nathan"'?:" ^T^- ?•>■ ^'- ^"^ Hurdon (Toroito) Mr.
"• Nathan, (now of London, Eng.).

Died since.— Of the gentlemen mentioned above the foIlo«rinK
have since passed away: Messrs. Carling Rav Baklr B™„?,

?:«wri^h";. ''''"""■ *"""""■ '■*"'"• «'-■<< K"'a,n^ctman"an'd

350

JOHN A.'S GREAT CHANCE

train reached Toronto. George Brown, the leader
of the Reform party, came into the coach in which
1 was seated and sat down beside me. We soon
got into conversation, the subject naturally being the
political crisis. Finally Mr. Brown brought his hand
down on the arm of the seat with some force and
vehemently exclaimed : —

'"John A. has the chance of his life if he will
only avail himself of it.'

I" What is that?' I asked.

"'Let him go in for Confederation,' was the
reply.

" ' Would you support such a movement?'
^^ ' Most decidedly I would,' he returned.
" Mr. Brown presented to the Cabinet at Quebec
the attitude of the Reformers on the Confederation
movement, and on reaching the Ancient Capital I
lost no time in telling the Honourable John A. Mac-
c'onald, Prime Minister, and his colleagues, that
Brown would support Confederation,"

Fearing lest the golden opportunity might still be
lost, Mr. Brown took another more decided and
important step. After consulting a few leading poli-
tical friends, the history tells us * that he authorized
the Honourable James Morris and the Honourable
John H. Pope to inform Sir John Macdonald and
his colleagues, that if they would adopt and under-
take to carry out the proposed constitutional changes
he would pledge them the support of the Reform'
party and himself in Parliament and the country
in carrying through tl,e necessary legislation !

3SI

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

This remarkable offer — one of the most memor-
able ever made by an Opposition leader to his party
opponents in the whirl of a dangerous political crisis
— was crowned with complete success. The Gov-
ernment asked an interview with Mr. Brown, and
the Hon. Messrs. Macdonald and Gait waited on
him at the St. Louis Hotel. He was personally
opposed to accepting office, and fought valiantly to
avoid it. But all parties insisted upon it, and his
courageous and patriotic action in finally consenting
led .step by step to the formation of the most power-
ful Coalition Government in Canadian history, to
their attendance at the Charlottetown Conference,
to the calling of the famous Quebec Convention of
delegates from all the Provinces, to the drafting of
the British North America Act, to its passage by
the Imperial Parliament, and, finally, to the union
of all British America into the Dominion of
Canada!*

These brief recollections of George Brown and
his intensely active public career clearly attest what
a strong, self-reliant, far-sighted statesman he really
was. Ambitious he undoubtedly was, but he was
naturally indifferent to office and its fascinations.
He was twice offered knighthood by the Imperial

• Professor Hugh E. Egerton, M.A., Beit Professor of Col-
onial History in the University of Oxford, in a famous address
made by him at the time of the Coronation, paid the following
brilliant compliment to Mr. Brown, for the part he played in
bringing about this great achievement : " Special circumstances
may be very different, but it can never be without a lesson for
us, to recall the action of the stalwart Canadian Liberal, George
Drown, who, out of the nettle of the break-down of Party Gov-
ernment, plucked the flower of a greater Canada !"

BROWN OFFERED KNIGHTHOOD

Government * and the Mackenzie Administration
pressed him to accept the Lieutenant-Governorship
of Ontario. He respectfully declined these and all
similar honours. Like all other men he had his
limitations, nor were his actions by any means free
from mistakes. But it may justly be said, that no
other of the Makers of Canada' rendered greater
and more disinterested services to his country than
(lid George Brown during his unusually active and
influential public career.

• Mr. Brown might have been knighted in 1874. and in 1S79
waj actually gazetted and arrangements made for his investiture
at Montreal. He went to Montreal to thank Her Maicity's repre-
sentative, but respectfully declined the honour. Mr. Brown's
course was highly commended, and was In line with the refusal
of knighthood by the Honourable Alexander Mackenzie the Hon-
ourable Edward Blake and afterwards by the Honourable W. T
Fielding. There were special reasons why the Honourable Wil-
frid Launer and the Honourable Oliver Mowat could not refuse
these Royal Honours offered them without discourtesy. But
there can be little doubt that titles and other class distinctions
are not consistent with our democratic Canadian institutions, and
that Canadians generally have no sympathy with the numerous
ambitious aspirants nowadays, secretly or openly besieging .^ur
Governments for knighthoods and other distinctions which they
hope may keep their business or raise them a niche above their
tcllow-citizens.

353

CHAPTER XXXIV.

BLAKE BECOMES LIBERAL LEADER-PASSAGE OF THE

GERRYMANDER ACT-FEDERAL ATTACKS ON

ONTARIO'S RIGHTS— BOUNDARY QUESTION

NEARLY LEADS TO BLOODSHED—

"MOWAT MUST GO."

The. formal reorganization of the Liberal party
in Parliament uid not begin until the middle of the
session of 1880. The Honourable Alexander Mac-
kenzie up to that time had continued to act as Leader
of the Opposition by general consenf, and although
apparently not so vigorous physically as formerly,
he continued to display the same strong int-llectual
grasp, extensive knowledge and fine debating powers
which had made him the undoubted leader of the
House of Commons during his last two years in
office. Subsequent events proved, however, that Mr.
Mackenzie had undermined his health by his her-
culean labours as head of the Government, and that
under a brave exterior he felt keenly the defeat of his
Administration at the recent elections.

No formal caucus of the Liberals had been held
smce their defeat, and the first step in reorganization
was the selection of a leader. Glancing again at
letters received from Messrs. Holton, Workman
Burpee (N.B.), Mills, Huntingdon, Carmichael
(N.S.), Rymal, Fleming, and other M.P.'s on this
delicate point, I find all were agreed that the choice
354

■

MR. BLAKE INVITED TO LEAD

lay, as it had years Ik; fore, betweei Mi-. Mackenzie
and Mr. Blake. But whilst hoth of these gentlemen
were admired aru! respected, and some prefeired one
and some the other, there was a growing feeling
among the Liberal Senators and memhers that in
^Mcw f,f the recent elections, it might better promote
the mterests of the party if Mr. Blake became
Leader under the circumstances then existing Mr
Mackenzie with characteristic independence cleared
the way for his party to act as thev pleased by mak-
mg the following a.iouncement before the adjourn-
ment of the House on April 27th :—

" r desire to say a w.ord or two wich regard to n,v
personal relations to the House. I yesterday deter-
mined to withdraw from the position of Leader of
the Opposition, and from this time forth I will speak
""d act for no one I::* myself."

V/hen the Liberal caucus met on the 29th, there-
fore, tf.e party was without a leader. There was a
full attendance of the Liberal Senators and mem-
hers. On motion of Mr. M. C. Cameron, of Hu-on
.;:econded b> Mr. Wilfrid Laurier, of Quebec Pan'
It was unanimously resolved : " 1 hat as tht party is
now without a leader, Mr. BLkc be inyited to fill
the position." That gentleman, v w had preyiously
clechned when Mr. Mackenzie was a candidate, now
signified his acceptance of the Leadership amidst
much applause. Subsequently, resolu .ons were
passed with eq. enthusiasm, acknowledging rl.e
great seryiees which the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie had
so long rendered to the Reform party, .ind express-
355

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

ing the universal admiration, resiwct and attach-
ment felt towards him l>y the Lik-rals in ail parts
of the Dominion.

The Honoiirahle Edward Riake entered upon his
duties as Leader of the Lilteral party with unsur-
passed ability and zril. His rcpntatinii and popu-
larity, not less than his preat powers a< a jurist and
a statesman, were tlien at tlieir zenith, and as a
Canadian "to the manner Iwni," thuusauds looked
to him as the rising hoi)e of the Dominion. Mr.
Blake's task, however, was an exceedingly difficult
one, for whilst he was still aided Iiy Mackenzie,
Holton, Huntingdon. Mills, Laurier, Cartwright,
Burpee (St. John), Anglin, Charlton, and other
eminent men, his followers in Parliament were too
few to have much influence in the country. His
leadership, however, gave fresh Inspiration to the
Liberal cause, and he bent his great talents and
energies to dispel " the .leadly ajiathy " which he sr
oppressively felt and elofjuently declaimed ag'-'nst.

Not much revival in politics, however, took place
until the spring of 1882. His Excellency the Mar-
quis of Lome opened Parliament on February 19th,
•and the principal measure foreshadowed in the
Speech was a new Representation Bill based on the
census of the previous year. This proved an eye-
opener for Mr. Blake and his slender battalions, for
it quickly appeared that the Prime Minister felt so
conscious of the change already going on in public
opinion that he had determined to bring on a new
general election in advance of the full term, and,
under the plea of adjusting the representation to cut
356

. - )i^

DISCREDITABLE GE1...YMANDER

and carve and contort the various constituencies ->f
the Donnnmn so as-to use his own unf,n,ar<led
words-to '■ hive the Grits." and mal<e certain the
continued ascendancy of his partv and him-tf

The late Mr. Gerry, of the State of New Jersey,
had become famous as the inventor of this summary
mode of kdhng oflF his political opponents, but his
laurels were now endangered b;, 'le skill and in-
geninty w.th which this Canadian gerrymander was
secretly and artfully planned.

Ten years before, when redistribution took place
after the census of 1871, Sir John Macdonald lealt
with the same question. He then laid down lese
prinoples: That in readjusting the various co. ,titu-

Zlfn '°""'^ •'"'^ "'*'" """'■'^'P^' boundaries
shou d never be mterfered with unless unavoidable,
and that the population of each riding should be as
nearly equal as possible. This mode of adjustment
gave general satisfaction. Sir Oliver Mowat acted
on the same principles. But in the Dominion
measure of ,882 Sir John deliberately trampled
upon these ju.st prmciples. Countv and other bound-
aries were broken with impunity to effect party
purposes, and the equalization of population in the

s,^"'^''"'k'??'^'''V'?" "^ **"■« 'n«*s«« are unneces-
sary, as public opinion throughout the Dominion has
long since been practically unanimous that it was
T°J ^'i' "'ost discreditable measures ever intro-
duced and passed by a Canadian Parliament-^r to
use the words of Mr. J. S. WiUison. Editor-in-Chief

1.-33

3S7

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

of the Toronto News : " The Redistribution of 1882
violated all the decencies of political warfare, and
subjected the Liberal party to a ^reat and enduring
injustice."

The gerrymander discussions aroused Parliament
and woke up the country. In a series of powerful
speeches, Mr. Blake, aided by his chief lieutenants,
fought the bill at every stage. Sir John had charge
of it, and there was e\ idently " a conspiracy of
silence." In introducing it he said little. He moved
the second and third readings without a word. His
followers, with only one exception, were equally
silent. But he never missed a chance to press for
divisions, and nothing could better prove his won-
derful determination and cleverness as a Parlia-
mentary tactician than that — bad and indefensible
as every intelligent member of the House of Com-
mons knew this measure to be — and in spite of the
energetic opposition of the Liberal leaders from day
to day, he piloted it through all its Parliamentary
stages in less than two weeks, and on May 12th was
able to move its third and final reading.

Like Napoleon's Old Gua d at Waterloo, there
was nothing left for the Opposition but a final and
hopeless Legislative charge. During that day and
night, they moved no less than twenty-three amend-
ments against the third reading of the bill, and
divided the House twenty-three consecutive times!
Party feeling ran high. In la..guage too strong to
be Parliamentary, many Liberals denounced it as
the basest and meanest gerrymander on record.
Even Mr. Blake, nearly always studiously moderate,
358

MR. BLAKE'S STRONG INDICTMENT

described it as a "shameful and deliberate attempt
on the part of the Government to stab their political
opponents," and in closing made this memorable
appeal to the Prime Minister :—

"The Right Honourable gentleman said with
some pride in our hearing the other day : 'A Briton
I was born and a Briton I hope to die." Sir, it is a
grand thing to be a Briton, because associated with
that name is all that is noble and brave and chival-
rous; but if the honourable gentleman puts that Bill
through, a Bill intended to level a fatal blow at his
opponents and intended to strengthen himself in the
House by sheer force of the majority which he has
I put the question to the honourable gentleman-
Having been born a Briton, how can he hope to die
a Briton with that blot on a name which I would
fain hope may yet go down unsullied by it to pos-
terity ?' ' '

But Mr. Blake's fervid eloquence was all in vain
In reply. Sir John said nothing, but continued to
press for the final division. This was not reached
till well on in the following morning, when this
flagrant measure was carried by the usual partv
vote. ■'

As soon as Parliament was prorogued on May
17th, the Government hurried on the Dominion elec-
tions with unusual speed. The writs, which had
been quietly prepared in advance, were sent out the
following week, the nominations were appointed for
Jiine 13th, and the polling for the 20th! It was
difficult to understand why the Government were in
such a hurry. But it was doubtless in accordance
359

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

with their leader's " tactics," and certainly left Mr.
Blake and his supporters no chance of success
against a Government with packed constituencies
and immense power and patronage. All things con-
sidered, however, the Opposition made an energetic
fight, but the Conservatives carried the elections by
one hundred and thirty-nine to seventy-two, nearly
as large a majority as they had before.

Firmly seated again in power, the Dominion Cabi-
net resumed its opposition to Sir Oliver Mowat and
his position on the boundary question and the Rivers
and Streams Bill. The Ontario Legislature was
clearly within its constitutional rights in passing an
Act to protect the public interest against the rapacity
of lumbermen and others using our rivers and
streams. Nevertheless, on the plea that private
interests were not sufficiently protected by the Act —
which Attorney-General Mowat unequivocally
denied — Dominion proclamations were issued at
Ottawa for three successive years, 1881, 1882, and
1883 — disallowing this perfectly constitutional and
wise legislation.

This was not only a direct interference with Onta-
rio's Provincial rights, but directly opposed to the
position taken by Sir John in 1872 when opposing
the disallowance of the New Brunswick School Act.*

♦ Sir John Macdonald, in his important speech against the
disallowance of the New Brunswick School Act in 1872, spoke as
follows: "The Provinces have their rights, and the question is
not whether this House thinks the local Legislature to have been
' i^ht or wrong. Whenever a matter such as this comes before
us, we should say at once that we have no right to interfere as
long as the Provincial Legislatures have acted within the bounds
of the authority which the Constitution gives them. If they did

360

THE BOUNDARY QUESTION

It was not until the British Privy Council had decided
the famous McLaren vs. Caldwell suit, which estab-
lished the perfectly constitutional and legal char-
acter of the measure, that the Rivers and Streams
Act of 1884 — enacted by the Ontario Legislature
for the fourth time— escaped the Dominion guillo-
tine and became law.

The Boundary question had now reached a crit-
ical, even a dangerous stage. This arose chiefly
from Ottawa intrigues. When the Honourable
Alexander Mackenzie was Premier, Mr. Mowat and
he decided to settle the question by arbitration. The
Honourable Sir Francis Hincks, Chief-Justice R. A.
Harrison, and Sir Edward Thornton, G.C.B., then
British Minister at Washington, were chosen as the
arbitrators— a most excellent selection. During the
first week of August, the Board held court at

rmennr "■!>* ">= '"^'"o" 'l-^y *"<: "guing and discussing and
amending and modifying, to suit their own people, would be law
n was all a sham and the Federal principle wa., gone foreve*'
iv,^ 1 fH. "'S ^"^' responsibility of interfering with

eveor law passed by Provincial Legislatures, it would-instead
of being, as it is now, a general Court of Parliament for the
decision of great Dominion questions-become simply a Court
of Appeal to try whether Provincial Legislatures were right or
wrong !n the conclusions to which they came."— Biggar's " Life
of Sir Oliver Mowat," Vol. L, page 342. '^'KK" » Life

suWecf'' -If'"' '""f *."^ "1"'= P^^8"^nt w<"-ds on the same
T., 1^1 . ^ V? '" '"'"'" ""' ^''"^ "'^' "■= Dominion Cabi-
net may veto and destroy your legislation on purely local ques-
tions, you make your local Legislatures a sham, and you had
bet er openly, honestly and above board do that which the other
system aims at, viz create one central legislative power, and let

o tiTi/ T":l °', °"^^^ 1° ^" "■= ''"^'""'- I ^l^i" only as
to this. Is the law passed by the local Legislature within the
exclusive competency of that Legislature and not materially affect-
ing Dominion interests? If so, the Ottawa Cabinet have no
right to touch it."~lbid., page 343.

361

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Ottawa, and fully enquired into the whole matter.
The speeches of the many eminent counsel present
were most illuminative, and the arbitrators unani-
mously decided in favour of Ontario's right and
title to the larger boundaries— which indeed had
always been part of its territory.

The Ontario Legislature promptly accepted this
award, and during the sessions of 1879 and 1880
both Conservatives and Liberals in that House—
with one solitary exception— voted unanimous
approval of it. The Conservatives, however, were
now in power at Ottawa again, and the Dominion
Cabmet declined to take any action in regard to
the award in 1879, and during the session of 1880
Sir John Macdonald announced that the Govern-
ment would not confirm it by legislation, which, in
effect, was a repudiation of the award altogether.'

This was a most objectionable proceeding, but
those at the head of this intrigue to dismember
Ontario* now took a more artful and dangerous
step to effect their purpose. According to Biggar's
" Life of Sir Oliver Mowat," Vol. IL, page 380,
the Ottawa authorities directly inspired and induced
the Manitoba Ministry to call a special meeting of
their Legislature (December i6th to 23rd, 1881)
and pass an Act to extend their Provincial bound-
aries so as to cover and take into Manitoba the
most valuable part of what was known as "the
disputed territory."

* "I "-"e "-"son to know th^t this Act was introduced and
passed under direct inspiralion of the Ottawa authorities."—
Biggar's Life of Sir Oliver Mowat," Vol. II., page 381.

362

THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR

The Dominion Government had this Act promptly
confirmed when Pariiament met at Ottawa, and
thub undertook to settle the Boundary question by
Dominion and Manitoba legislat.nn, and thus strip
Ontario of about one-half of its entire territory!

This cunningly-devised but reckless action against
Ontario by the Dominion Cabinet— the Prime
Mmister of which should have been his own
Province's foremost defender— brought Ontario and
Manitoba to the brink of civil war. Few Canadians
are even yet aware how closely the opposing forces
of the two Provinces came to bloodshed at Rat
Portage during the summer of 1853.

The circumstances are indelibly stamped on my
memory, as I was sworn in a member of the Execu-
tive Council and Ontario Government on June 3rd.
1883, and on my return to Toronto after re-election
in North Brant, I found the situation at Rat
Portage seriously alarming. Mr. Mowat was across
the seas on a much needed holiday. Mr. Adam
Crooks, Minister of Education, was at the Hotel
Rigi in the mountains of Switzerland, dangerouslv
ill,* and the little backwoods village of Rat Portage
had suddenly become a danger-point of contested
jurisdiction between Ontario and Manitoba the
latter now claiming most of the vast and valuable
territory then in dispute between the two Provinces,

.ssJ'lL""?; ^'^ ^'°°'\^ '''■°'' "= f™"' Switzerland, July ist
883, and after congratulations, closed his letter in these words
I am .mprovmg so satisfactorily in health and strength from

tluhTT""" *?""'"* "= I ""»"" ■•""" fully restored M
heath and even better than for some years." Crooks was a
noble Can.,d,an. Alas! his recovery was never reaH.ed.

I m'

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Ontario was represented by Commissioners
George Burden, of Rat Portage, and George R.
PatiiMo of Woodstock, and Stipendiary Magistrate
W. D. Lyon, and they had sworn in a considerable
force of police to preserve law and order, and main-
tarn the rights of the Province; the Manitoba
Government had sent down several officials and the
Winnipeg Field Battery to maintain their real or
supposed rights. I well recollect the deep anxiety
felt by the Honourable T. B. Pardee-who was
then acting Prime Minister— and indeed all his
coIIe<->gues. lest hot-heads in the two forces should
get m.o antral conflict and serious bloodshed result
For several days it was feared every hour that the
telegrams being constantly received from the scene
of trouble would bring tidings of an actual outbreak
between the two hostile forces.

Fortunately, with the exception of arrests, counter
arrests and some verbal and fistic altercations, no
other breach of the peace occ; rred. The fact was
the officials representing Manitoba, as well as those
of Ontario, clearly saw the dangerous position
which the boundary troubles had reached," and it
was doubtless largely due to their anxiety and pru-
dence that the crisis passed over without the rela-
tions of the two Provinces being stained with a
colour which often takes a long time to wash away
When Sir Oliver Mowat returned home he acted
with characteristic promptitude. He addressed the
Manitoba Government direct. He proposed that their
Attorney-General, James A. Miller, Esq QC
should meet him in Toronto to decide upon some
364

ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW MOWAT

mode of relieving the dangerous situation at Rat
i ortagc, a.id of settling the whole question. This
offer was accepted. Sir Oliver and Mr. Miller
soon afterwards met as agreed upon. They care-
fully prepared and agreed upon a Special Case
covering the whole Boundary question from its
incepfon. This was to go to the Judicial Committee
of the Pnvy Council for final arbitrament, and a
modvs Vivendi was agreed upon in regard to the
administration of affairs in the disputed territory
until the decision was reached, .hus the serious
dangers which menaced the public peace at Rat
l^ortage happily disappeared, and the question over
which the Dominion and Ontario had wrangled for
years Ontario and Manitoba in a few interviews

seMlement ^""^^''" ^°^^ *° ^" '=<J""^'''« ^"^ ^^'^V
Triumphant in the Dominion, the Conservative
party, Federal and Provincial, very naturally united
in an active movement to overthrow Si- Oliver
Mowat m the fall of 1882. They held a Provincial
Convention m Toronto on September nth The
Honourable (now Sir) W. R. Meredith, the
Ontario leader, the Honourable Alexander Morris,
Mr_ Lauder, Mr Merrick, Mr. Creighton and other
M.P.P^s were the ostensible movers. But behind
them Sir John Macdonald was the inspiring and
directing spirit, and he added to the eclat of this
occasion by bringing the Honourable Leonard Tillev
and the Honourable John Costigan of New Bruns-
wick with him to the gathering. The convention
was well and influentially attended. The Conserx-a-
36s

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

liili

tive chieftain delivered one of his old-time, clever
party philippics against the Grits — spiced by a few
of his droll stories — and the whole proceed ngs
were well calculated to stir up the party to make a
special effort at the coming elections to capture the
long-defiant Liberal stronghold.

Mr. Mowat and his colleagues did not underrate
the danger of this Conservative movement. They
prepared to meet it. They assembled the Legis-
lature on December 13th. Then Mr. Mowat called
a Provincial Liberal Convention to meet on Januar}'
3rd, 1883, during the holidays. The Province
responded heartily. The attendance in fact was
extraordina.-y. It was estimated that from six
thousand to seven thousand persons were present.
The Pavilion in the Horticultural Carder ■ could not
hold them, and Shaftesbury Hall was crowded with
the o\ erflow.

Captain McMaster, Toronto, was chosen chair-
man of the former meetingf and Mr. James Young,
M.P.P., of the latter. The principal speeches were
made by Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Blake, and Mr. Mowat
in both halls, and the principal themes of discussion
were the Boundary question and the Rivers and
Streams Act, intense feeling being exhibited by the
delegates against the attempts being made to despoil
Ontario of a large part of its territory and consti-
tutional rights. I have attended every Reform
Convention held in Ontario for over half a century
— including that of 1857 — and am convinced this
was the largest and most influential political con-
vention ever held in this country.
366

"MOW AT MUST GO "

Both sides now had their armour polished for the
elections to the fifth Onlario Legislature, and Casar
and Pompey lieing much alike in some respects,
Mr. Mowat followed the Dominion example and
hurried them on. His Honour, Lieutenant-
Governor John Beverley Robinson, both prorogued
the f !ssion and dissolved the Legislature on the
same day— February ist, 1883— and the Govern-
ment appointed the 20th for the nominations and
the 27th for the polling.

The contest had in fact already begun in some
places, and it proved one of the hottest which the
Province ever experienced. With Ontario's bound-
aries still unsettled much was at stake. Sir John
Macdonald and his Ministers took a very active part
on behalf of Mr. Meredith and the Ontario Opposi-
tion. Mr. Mowat and his colleagues also exerted
themselves as they never did before. They felt it
was a life and death struggle. Sir John gave out
the war cry : " Mowat must go !" But whilst he had
swimmingly carried the Dominion for his own
Administration only the year before, the polling on
this occasion proved he was unable to overthrow
Sir Olivet Mowat in Ontario, whose electors gave
him a safe majority of ten to continue what proved
to Ije, when complete, a quarter of a century of the
wisest, purest and best government which repre-
sentative institutions have ever produced in any land.
Taking all the various legal disputes between the
two Governments which had to go to Great Britain
at this period for adjudication, the Dominion was
singularly unfortunate.

OFC*:i*DA

.^ .-n • ■ - - TOtlONTO.
IIDUNDASnC. -

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

On one of the earlier cases — the Rivers and
Streams Bill — the Dominion's position was un-
sustained. The Special Case prepared by Mr.
Mowat and Mr. Miller on the Boundary question
came before the Judicial Committee on July isth,
1884. It was probably the most important anf.
elaborately argued colonial case which ever came
before that illustrious body, and Ontario was com-
pletely successful, the Province being confirmed in
all its original boundaries and rights.

The Boundary .question settled, Sir John Mac-
donald then claimed that having extinguished the
Indian titles, the Dominion owned all the lands,
timber, minerals, etc., in the vast territories! Sir
Oliver promptly decided »■ . put this latter claim to
the test. He very shortly began a suit to dispossess
the St. Catharines Milling and Lumber Company
from the large tract of land and timber which the
Dominion Government had granted to them, and
also to set aside numerous grants made to other
speculators and friends when the territory was still
in dispute.

It was 1888 before this case reached the Privy
Council for argument. But on this important
question, which involved the Dominion claims under
their Indian titles, Ontario was again completely
successful, and in at least six or seven different law-
suits which had to be sent to the Mother Country
for final settlement, and over which Sir John and
Sir Oliver battled for many years, the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Imperial Privy Council decided every
one of them in favour of Mr. Mowat's contentions
368

CiiAPTER XXXV.

FAIf.URE OP THE NATIONAL POLICY-SIR JOHN

MACDONALD HONOURED IN BRITAIN-THE

MARQUIS OP LORNE AND THE PRINCESS

LOUISE— SECOND RIEL REBELLION— 'TS

COLLAPSE AT THE BATTLE OF

BATOCHE-RL'^L'S EXECUTION.

The elections of 1882 and 1883 firmly entrenched
the Conservative party in power at Ottawa and the
Liberal party in Toronto, and the Dominion entered
upon a period of political quietude. Unfortunately,
It was dull commercially as well as politically. Not-
withstanding the fact that the National Policy had
been in operation for several years, the highly-
coloured promises made by its advocates of Domin-
ion development and business prosperity failed to
materialize.

The total commerce of Canada during the last
year of the Mackenzie Administration (1878) was
of the value of $172,405,454. The National Policy
came mto force early in 1879. The returns for that
year rlechned to $153,405,682; in 1880 they rose
agam to $174,401,205. But as early as 1872 and
1873— nearly a decade before that— and under the
low Revenue Tariff then existing, the volume of
our trade during both years was consid-irably ov
$217,000,000. The exact returns for 1873 wei
$217,304,516, which is over forty-three millions of
369

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

dollars more than our total trade in 1880, the second
year of the famous new policy.

Our farmers were blessed with a splendid harvest
in 1882, and with the immense expenditure then
going on in the construction of the Canadian Pacifi
Railway, r commercial transactions were excep-
tionally eii ged. The value of our commerce in
1883 expanded to $230,339,826. This promising
result revived the hopes of some of its devotees that
the National Policy would yet niake good and get in
its promised work.

But alas for sUch expectations, from that year of
promise (1883) onwards till 1897 — a period of
fourteen years — and during which the National
Policy was constantly in force — our official Blue
Books prove that the Dominion made disappoint-
ingly slow prog ess, did little more, in fact, as
regard', our annual trade, than simply mark time!
Our imports and exports seenied as if struck with
some blight. In proof of this, I think two facts wi"
be deemed conclusive. Thanks to t. t good harves'
of 1882, the value of our exports during that year
were $102,137,203 For nine or ten successive
years thereafter, under the National Policy, exports
actually fell below the above figures. In 1883 our
imports were $132,254,022. But during the whole
future continuance of the National Policy — fro*n
1883 till it was swept out in 1897, fourteen years
afterward. — our imports were actually less, an i
••ontinuously less, during the whole long period than
they were at its beginning.*

•"The C»n«d» Year Book." 1908, T»bk XCV.. ptge 177.
370

LAURIER AND THE PREFERENCE

If any further proof is needed to thoroughly dis-
credit the old National Policy, it may be found in
the following facts: When the Laurier Administra-
tion rescinded that policy in ,897, gave to Great
^tain a preference in our Canadian markets, and
reduced and rearranged our tariff more on a revenue
and less on a protective basis, the Dominion bounded
forward like a young giant who had burst his
fetters. Our commerce immediately began to boom
imports and exports alike expanded, and have been
expanding annu:.IIy ever since !

The :. .£ year of the National Policy (1896) the
total commercial transactions of the Dominion
p-y inted to $339,025,360, not quite nine millions
: than i »y were thirteen years before! The
hi full year of the Fielding TariflF (1898) our
coi. -nerce expanded to $304,475,736- in five
years (1902) to $423,910,444; in ten years (1906)
to $550,872,645; and for the year ending March
30th, 191 1, the value of our commerce reached the
magnificent aggregate of $759,094,389!

By consulting our official Year Books ample cor-
roboration may be found of the foregoing state-
ments, which quickly wrought a revolution in public
opinion throughout Canada as to the boasted merits
of the National Policy, and led to the universal

vT'^ °l^^^ J"""* °^ "^*= P«"°d, "Has the
-National Policy made you rich?" The present
extraordinary expansion in our annual commerce
however IS doubtless not all due t» the change of
nscal policy, but, contrasted with the commercial
stagnation which so long existed under the National
371

"t^'^III^

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Policy, clearly establishes a fact which Canadians
may well ponder — that whilst in the skilful hands
of Sir John Macdonald the National Policy was
made the winning card at the elections of 1878, it
proved a costly blunder for Canada, involving im-
mense loss to the people for eighteen successive
years thereafter.

The Viceregal reign of His Excellency the Mar-
quis of Lome and his Royal Consort the Princess
Louise, came to an end in the summer of 1883. They
arrived amidst political storms, and His Excellency
soon found himself enmeshed in the short but
dangerous Letellier crisis. They departed amidst
political calm, taking with them one of the most
complimentary and eulogistic Addresses ever passed
by the Senate and House of Commons on a similar
occasion. His Excellency, now the Duke of Argyll,
lef; many warm friends all over Canada, and Her
Royal Highness, the Princess Louise, was univer-
sally regarded as one of the most beautiful, accom-
plished and gracious ladies* who ever represented
the Crown in this country.

During November, 1884, Sir John Macdonald set
out on his third visit to Great Britain since his re-

* I can speak of this with some knowledue. It became my duly
as a Director during the Provincial Exhibition held at Ottawa
in 1883, to conduct Their Excellencies through what was then
known as the Crystal Palace, for a private examinatioii of the
mechanical, industrial, pomological, art and other exhibits. I
was much struck witli the great interest which both of Their
Excellencies manifested in many of the exhibits, and especially
with the distinguished but amiable and graceful manner in which
Her Royal Highness treated all who had the honour of an
introduction to her.

373

MACDONALD'S VISIT TO BRITAIN

installment as Prime Minister of Canada. Honours
from the Imperial Government, of which Gladstone
was the distinguished he?d. awaited him there, and
Mr. Joseph Pope, his biographer, has expressed the
opmion that this visit was " in some respects the
culmination point in his career." He was treated
with great distinction. Mr. Gladstone oflFered him
the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and he
was invited to Windsor Castle, where he was
invested with this distinguished Order by Oueen
Victoria herself. He was also dined at the Eighty
Club, many eminent statesmen and military officers
being present, and received numerous other private
courtesies which the Imperial authorities know so
well how to bestow on distinguished Colonial
visitors.

The Dominion was thrown into much excitement
during the spring of 1885 by the breaking out of the
second Riel Rebellion in what was then considered
the far-distant North-West. The half breeds on the
Saskatchewan, like those in Manitoba, were
intensely dissatisfied with the way the Government
engineers were surveying and parcelling out their
lands, and the former rebel chief, Louis Riel— who
had returned from banishment in Montana, U.S..
immediately before— saw another opportunity to
gratify his overweening desire for notoriety by
arousing and organizing the halfbreeds and Indian's
into armed resistance to the Government and the
local authorities.

The immediate scene of Riel's operations may be
described as follows : Prince Albert was then the
ir.-24 373

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

centre of the small white population. Thirty miles
east, at a point known as " The Forks," the great
Saskatchewan River divided into two branches —
the North and the South — both extending in a
northwesterly direction and nearly parallel for a
considerable distance. Prince Albert is situated
about thirty miles up the north branch from the
Forks, and fifty miles above that place was Fort
Carleton, a fortified post of the Mounted Police,
with a few small log houses around it. Straight
across the country from Fort Carleton to the south
branch of the Saskatchewan — about twenty miles
distant — lay the village of Batoche Ferry, which
Riel had chosen as his headquarters, and between
Batoche and Fort Carleton was the little settlement
of Duck Lake, where the first blood was shed.*

Major Crozier and a body of Mounted Police
from Port Carleton, accompanied by about forty
Prince Albert Volunteers — about eighty armed men
in all — started on March 26th in sleighs for Duck
Lake to recover some Government stores which the
halfbreeds had seized. About two hundred of the
latter under Gabriel Dumont — a brave and daring
fellow — had taken up a strong position and resisted
the further advance of Major Crozier and his force.
In the midst of a parley between the officers, some
person or persons began firing, and a murderous
fusilade was commenced, which lasted for nearly
an hour. Being greatly outnumbered, the Mounted
Police and volunteers had to retire, having lost ten

* The above statements have been mostly gleaned from
Roberts' " History of Canada," chap. xxv.

374

NORTH-WEST REBELLION

men killed and about twelve wounded ! Being shel-
tered, the insurgent loss did not exceed five. This
encounter was little better than a massacre, and
aroused the Dominion as it had been seldom aroused
before.

The whole region between the north and south
branches of the Saskatchewan River, from east of
Prince Albert to as far west as Battleford and
beyond, quiciily becie a wild scene of alarm and
danger. Details need not be repeated. Suffice it
to say that Riel had succeeded in getting several
hundred the Metis (some estimates were as high
as i,ooo; to take up arms, and had persuaded Big
Bear and other Indian chiefs to go on the warpath,
whilst Poundmaker and other Indians, even the
Blackfeet, were restless and uncertain. If the Indian
rising had become general, terrible bloodshed and
suffering must have f611owed.

Thoroughly alarmed, the Federal Government and
Miljtia Department acted with energy and prompt-
ness. They immediately called out a considerable
number of our volunteer forces, who sprang to ami
with commendable alacrity. In the short space of
about two weeks, Major-General Middleton, the
Commander-in-Chief, found himself at Qu'Appelle,
then the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific-
Railway, with a small Canadian army at his com-
mand, eager to start on the long marches still neces-
sary to take them to the seat of war. These troops
were mostly from Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba,
but others from the Maritime Provinces were on
the way. Much fear was entertained that the
375

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Indians would seize Battleford, and even Edmonton,
much further west. General Middleton therefore
decided to divide his little force into three columns.
General Strange and between five and six hundred
men were sent to protect Edmonton from Big Bear
and his braves; Colonel Otter (now Brigadier-
General) and a similar force went forward to relieve
Battleford and keep an eye on Poundmaker and his
reserve ; whilst the main body under Middleton him-
self was to protect Prince Albert and then advance
on Batoche, the rebel chief's headquarters.

What follows is now matter of history. General
Strange relieved Edmonton, but was not in time to
prevent some of Big Bear's men from committing
the cruel Frog Lake massacre, and causing a small
body of Mounted Police under command of a son
of the great Charles Dickens to abandon Fort Pitt
as indefensible. Colonel Otter also relieved Battle-
ford, but got into a severe fight with Poundmaker
,.nd his three hundred warriors at Cut Knife Creek
on May 2nd. This wily old chief claimed he was
only defending his reserve and wigwams and would
not take any part beyond them, but fought with skill
and desperation. The battle of Cut Knife Creek
was a sharp encounter. Colonel Otter and his force
acted with great bravery — acted, in fact, like
veterans — but circumstances convinced that officer
that it was better to withdraw his force and return
to Battleford, which he did successfully. During
the engagement, however, eight Canadians were
killed and fifteen wounded.
376

CAPTURE OF BATOCHE

Prince Albert was out of danger as soon as
General Middleton and his main force advanced,
but on proceeding towards Batoche they came on
the rebel lines at a place called Fish Creek, on April
24th. The battle of Fish Creek began the next
morning at nine o'clock and Dumont and a large
tody of half breeds made a desperate resistance from
well-chosen positions. It was a sanguinary struggle,
but they were finally driven back, leaving the Cana-
dians ir possession of the field. General Middleton
did not follow, but decided to encamp at Fish Creek
and await the arrival of some reinforcements on
their way, including Captain Howard and his
Catling gun.

General Middleton and his now well-equipped
force of atout one thousand volunteers did not reach
and invest Batoche— the Riel headquarters and pro-
posed seat of government— until May 8th. The
insurgents had thrown up entrenchments, dug rifle
pits, and made their position quite formidable. Re-
connoitering and skinnishing began on the morning
of the 9th and continued for three days, witii a
number of casualties on both sides, but without any
general attack or satisfactory results.

The delay in assaulting the rebel position soon
caused some murmurs. It appears that the com-
mander and other British officers were loath to risk
the volunteers on a frontal attack on the strong
entrenchments and rifie pits of the halfbreeds, but
the Canadian officers and their men generally grew
tired of inaction, and became eager that a general
attack upon the enemy shoul made.

377

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Roberts' History says (page 310) that about
noon on the nth, the Kiel fire slackened, and
Colonels Straubenzie, Williams and Grassett begged
General Middleton " in vain for permission to
charge." In Colonel George T. Denison's " Soldier-
ing in Canada," chapter xxiii., page 295, it is stated
that " on the night of the nth Williams said to one
of his comrades: ' The next time I am sent forward
to skirmish, I will dash right on with the bayonet
and end this matter, and I will want you to back
me up,' and this seems to have been agreed upon, as
the result proved."

However this may have been, there is no doubt
the general attack wns precipitated. The next day,
about noon. Colonel Williams, Colonel Grassett and
other officers did not confine themselves to skirmish-
ing, but, as if by arrangement, made a joint attack
with fixed bayonets on the nearest points of the
rebel position and rifle pits. Thinking this only the
beginning of the Government attack, the first line
of halfbreeds, after a short resistance, retreated in
some disorder to the second line— the commanding
General's first knowledge of the attack being said to
be the vociferous cheering of the volunteers in pur-
suit of the fleeing insurgents. It was current report,
in fact, that General Middleton and Colonel Hough-
ton were quietly taking their mid-day lunch at the
time when the cheers first aroused their attention.

After a moment's surprise and indignation,

General Middleton ordered out the rest of the

troops, and soon joined Williams, Grassett and

their comrades in carrying the other rebel positions

378

END OF REBELLION

and completing their defeat. After holding their
ground for a considerable time, the halfbreeds
finally became completely demoralized, and began
a general flight in almost every direction. They
were pursued by the victorious Canadians till their
rout was complete.

Thus ended the battle of Batoche, which com-
pletely crushed the power of Rial and his followers
—never very great at any time— to do any further
serious harm. Big Bear and Poundmaker had still
to be subdued, but this second North-West Rebellion
practically collapsed with the battle and victory of
Batoche, and in a short time thereafter Riel, Pound-
maker, Big Bear and numerous others were in
custody to answer for the crime of treason and other
criminal offences.

The trial, conviction and execution of the Metis
chief, Louis Riel, kept the Dominion for many
months in as much excitement as the Rebellion itself.
He was brought to trial in Regina, N.W.T., before
Judge Richardson and a jury of six, on the 28th of
July. His chief counsel was Mr. Charles Fitz-
patrick, Q.C., of Quebec (now Sir Charles, and
Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court), and the
representatives of the Crown were Mr. B. B. Osier,
Q.C., and i\Ir. Christopher Robinson, Q.C., of
Toronto. The trial lasted four days, and after some
thrilling scenes— the most singular being Riel's
angry and violent repudiation of his counsel's plea
that he was insane — the jury brought in a verdict
of " Guilty," with a recommendation to mercy, and
he was sentenced to be hanged.

379

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Through the great pressure brought to bear on
the Government, especially by the French-Canadians
and Western half breeds, tie execution of Riel was
postponed two or three times, and hope that his
sentence would be commuted to life imprisonment
was entertained by many to the last. But the end
of this painful case had to come, and on the 12th
November the Dominion Government issued an
Order-in-Council that the execution should not be
extended farther than the time already set,
November i6th, and on that day the unfortunate
man, who had confidently hoped to be reprieved,
was hung in the Mounted Police prison at Regina
in the presence, almost exclusively, of a few Crown
officials.

Thus ended the career of David Louis Riel — a
man of much natural brightness, with great influence
over his halfbreed compatriots, but carried away
with an insane ambition for public notoriety, irre-
spective of the suffering and misery brought on
others. Having fomented two rebellions, under the
law he had doubtless forfeited his life. But a care-
ful consideration of all the circumstances — nearly
twenty-five years after their occurrence — has left
two strong impressions on my mind in regard to
this painful chapter in our history. The first is,
that aside from the strong medical testimony given
at the trial by Drs. Roy, Clarke and other mental
specialists, it is difficult to conceive how Riel could
indulge in the wild, visionary schemes and lawless
and silly actions during this Rebellion without being
mentally unsound, and suffering — at least at times —
3ito

SCOTT'S TRAGIC DEATH

from what is known as ambitious mental mania.
And the second is, that the death penalty would
probably never have been inflicted, and Riel might
have been a living man to-day, but that Thomas
Scott's tragic and cruel death outside the walls of
old Fort Garry, in the winter of 1876, still pro-
jected so dark a shadow that it deadened all appeals
for mercy and sealed the prisoner's doom.

' II mt

CHAPTER XXXVI.

HOT FIGHT OVER THE FRANCHISE ACT— CANADA'S
FOREMOST PARLIAMENTARY DEBATER -MOW AT'S
CLEVER TACTICS— GREAT STRUGGLE BE-
TWEEN MACDONALD AND BLAKE-
SIR JOHN VICTORIOUS.

The political situation at this time began to show
manifest signs of a great political struggle between
the Honourable Edward Blake and Sir John Mac-
(lonald for possession of the Federal Government.
The Parliamentary session of 1885 afforded stirring
evidence of this. It was opened by the Marquis
of Lansdowne on January 29th. The prorogation
did not take place till July 20th — nearly six months
thereafter !

The session was early excited by an aggressive
speech made by Mr. Blake attacking the Govern-
ment's lavish Pacific Railway concessions. This
was follijwed by a direct want of confidence motion
censuring them for neglect and mismanagement of
the second Riel Rebellion. *hen raging in the North-
west, and a systematic and .jiirited effort to "Stone-
wall " — as they call it in Australia — the proposed
new Franchise Bills, which the Opposition felt
should be opposed at every stage and by every
means in their power.

The latter proved the most hotly contested fight
of a fighting session. From the beginning of Con-
382

PARTISAN VOTERS' LISTS

federation— a period of eighteen years— the Domin-
ion had steadily used the franchises and voters* lists
of the Provinces for all Federal elections. This
system worked well, but Sir John Macdonald, with
some plausibility, maintained that the Dominion
should have its own franchise and voters' lists.
Pope, in his " Memoirs," says : " The main prin-
ciples underlying Sir John Macdonald's Franchise
Act are, (i) uniformity of the suifrage, and (2)
the recognition of a property qualification as deter-
mining the right to vote."

Had this Bill been fair and impartial — had it
proposed that the choice of the makers of the voters'
lists should be confined to judges, sheriflFs, registrars
and other permanent officials disconnected with poli-
tics — much might have been said in its favour. But
when it became known that the Government took
power in the Bill to appoint their own revisers — in
other words their own political partisans — to pre-
pare and make up the voters' lists for the elections
throughout the whole Dominion, the utterly unfair
and partisan character of the measure became mani-
fest to every impartial person.

The Liberals immediately denounced it as a twin
measure to the notorious Gerrymander. It was so
grossly unfair that political passion was immedi-
ately aroused. Hot words became the order of the
day. Mr. Blake, in a series of speeches, fairly
riddled the Bill, scathingly exposing and ridiculing
Its unjust provisions. In one stirring passage he told
the Prime Mmister fatly th-' " in 1872 he had taken
Sir Hugh Allan's money .0 carry the elections of
383

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

that year; that he had reconstructed the whole
constituencies of the Dominion to ensure his success
in 1882; and now he had produced a Bill to take
over the preparation and control of the entire voters'
lists into the hands of himself and his partisans in
preparation for the next contest."

The Opposition stonewalled the Franchise Bill
for weeks. They moved nearly thirty amendments
against it. Among their numerous unavailing
objections they declared — in eflfect — that Govern-
ment control iof the voters' lists was not politics,
but a daring violation of the principles of repre-
sentative government artfully planned by the Prime
Minister to fasten the grip of the Conservative party
on place and power by their own interested votes!

"When Self the wavering balance holds,
'Tis seldom right adjusted."

The hands of the political barometer for some
time had been moving towards " Change." The
National Policy had ceased to be a pull. The farm-
ers, in particular, had found it out. The Dominion
as a whole was not prospering as it should have
done. The bloodshed and enormous cost of the
North-West Rebellion had damaged the Govern-
ment's popularity. Their chief danger, however,
arose from the rapid rise into prominence and popu-
larity of the new Leader of the Liberal party — the
Honourable Edward Blake.

I have already described (Vol. IL, page 32) my
impressions of Mr. Blake on meeting him for the
first time. His portrait in this volume and the
384

EDWARD BLAKE HAD NO SUPERIOR

life-siMd oil painting of him by Mr. Wyly Gn>r
•"stice'" ^*'^"''''*''*' Buildings hardly do him

He belonged to the highest type of native Cana-
dians-physically, educationally, intellectually and
morally Opponents have occasionally spoken of
him as bemg distant and cold. But he possesse.l
the warm Insh heart, and what some have thought
coldness arose solely from defective vision. I recall
an modent which verifies this. One ,lay when
walkmg down Sparks Street, as we were leaving
Ottawa at the close of a session, he burst out with an
exclamation of deep regret that he was unable to
bow, shake hands or utter a passing word of leave-
tak-ng— as I was almost continuouslv doing— to
he numerous Ottawa and other friends' wc chancel
to meet. The trouble is," he said, " my eyesight
prevents me recognizing them until thev are either

tS " °'' " '' *°° '^** ^°' ■"* '° '^'^^ "■■ Sr^^^
Among all the distingin-shed state.smen who com-
posed the first three Dominion Parliaments-and
many of them were most able and distingui.shed
rnen-,t ,s safe »o say that Edward Blake had no
supenor. L,ke other political leaders he had his
bm.tations, but h,s high personal character, pron,-
nence at the Bar, and his masterful powirs in

Ssl:,? '^'^^'^ ^^^-^ ^™ -"■•"«--

There are many reasons, in fact, for classing Mr
Blake mh.s pnme, as the most logical, effective
and bnlhant Parliamentary debater-after the
38s

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

British model — whose voice has yet been heard
within our Canadian House of Commons. His 'ame
at this time spread to the Dominion's remotest
bounds, and thousands of Canadians began to
regard him as the coming Prime Minister and rising
hope of his country.

The veteran Conservative chief evidently foresaw
and felt this growing danger to his political ascen-
dancy. He began preparations early for the
Dominion and Ontario elections. Quebec was hot
and bitter over the Cabinet's course in regard to
Riel and the North-West troubles ; an elaborate and
costly banquet to Sir John at Montreal might help
to allay the storm. This was most successfully
carried out, and the power of the Government was
concentrated — as we have already seen — in carrying
through Parliament the trump card for the ap-
proaching elections — the new Voters' Lists Act.
Then the Honourable John S. D. Thompson was
induced to resign from the Nova Scotia Bench to
become Minister of Justice, and several further
Cabinet and other changes were made which clearly
indicated that Canada's famous political strategist
was already laying his plans for the coming political
contest.

The sessions for the following year — 1886 — of
the Federal Parliament and the Ontario Legislature
did not materially alter the political situation. The
Ontario House assembled on January 28th, the
Senate and House of Commons on February 25th.
Both sessions were expected to be stormy, but turned
out rather tame and unimportant. The fact is, the
386

MOWAT SUSTAINED

eyes of both political parties wre already -,xed
upon the constituencies, which it vrs cIcaHv fore
seen would speedily have to decid. uecw.cr Mac-
donald and Blake at the polls. The DomS
elect.on was expected to take place first, as its

tt fi'l't'^'i'^"'' ^"^■°"^' -^ 0"t-io on^^
T^r' .^u' ?'^0"^" Mowat had followed Sir

lo"Zt 1"'°"^ °'. ''''' ^"'^ ^-« ^- shrewd
to want to do so again. He therefr„e on this

took and t'v", '°°' ' '^^' '■■°'" ^'^ °PP°"en?
a^ but If "°',*° ''"'^ ^"^ ^°"«h session at
all, but appeal immediately to the electors of the
Province. Accordingly a proclamation issued by
the Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable John
Beveriey Robinson, dissolved the Legislature o
November igth, and the writs were fssued for a
new election to be held on the 28th

Mr. Alowat and his colleagues were greatly helped
by Mr. Blake and his friends during this lively con
tes as they worked hand in hand till its close. Vhl

z" bvihe r"*"' ""' ^^"^' detem.ination and
zeal by the Conservative chief and Mr. Meredith

thai ::tor\i''° ^^^^ "°' without c

ast election, i""" "t '° '■""" ^ "^''""'y «' ^h^
last elections, they might now be able to defeat him

nd crush Blake at a single stroke! These brig
hopes, however, proved entirely elusive. At ^e

lose of the polls, the Mowat Government waf LI

sustained by fifty-seven to thirty-four-more tlian

or" Vp i°T,'- -J-ty_and' Mr. bE ^

Vothi!?:" h''^""^ "^"^^ ''"^'^*" than ever.
Aothmg could better illustrate the undaunted

387

ivm

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

courage of Sir John Macdonald and his jaunty con-
fidence in his poHtical plans than that — notwith-
standing this crushing Ontario defeat — he never
hesitated, but promptly brought on the Federal
elections. The constituencies and voters' lists which
gave Mowat victory, however, were not those to
which Mr. Blake and the Dominion Liberals had to
appeal, and the action of the First Minister clearly
showed his reliance on the influence of the Govern-
ment aided by the Gerrymander and the new
Franchise Bill. Shortly after the holidays, the
Federal elections were announced, the nominations
to take place on the 15th and the elections a week
later — February 22nd, 1887.

This contest for the sixth Canadiaa Parliament
proved unusually exciting. The Hon. Mr. Blake
surprised his friends— after all the hard work he
had already done— by the remarkable energy and
spirit with which he conducted the canvass.

At an influential meeting held at his own house in
Toronto he informed his principal lieutenants that
he would collect no campaign funds, that he would
conduct the elections legally and purely, and trust
his fellow-Canadians in each Province and riding
to organize their own sections. At this gathering.
Mr. Blake's principal colleague — whose phenomenal
talent for party leadership has since made him
famous — was the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier, of
Quebec, but scores of other distinguished young
Canadians had rallied to their standard. Blake and
Laurier made an attractive combination, and Liberal
hopes soared accordingly.
388

SIR JOHN SUSTAINED

Tlie Government, however, had almost every
advantage in their favour. By the votes of thei-
own Parliamentary majority, they had placed them-
selves m an almost impregnable position. But not-
withstanding this, the roll of the popular wave in
favour of the new Liberal leaders was sufficient to
cause Sir John Macdonald some alarm. Although
late m the day, he hastily summoned Sir Charles
Tupper from London— where he had for several
years been Canadian Commissioner— to become
Fmance Minister, and conduct the elections, and the
whole power and patronage of the Government were
exerted to the utmost, backed by the openlv solicited
aid of the National Policy's beneficiaries. '

Such was the position of t: nservative and

Liberal parties when their force. hurled against

each other on February 22nd. 1887. It was one of
the most important General Elections since Confed-
eration, and from Nova Scotia to British Columbia
It was stubbornly and strenuously fought out So
close was the contest that the night closed in wild
tincertainty as to which side had won. Next morning
the Government press claimed a majoritv of twelve
with some places in the far North-West to hear
from, and that Sir John Macdonald would at least
control the House;" the Opposition papers held
that the returns indicated a tie, and the final count
was uncertain. Both parties were evidently dis-
appomted and several days elapsed before it became
Clear that the Government would have a small
majority when Parliament assembled.
"■~^5 389

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Far-reaching political and personal consequences
followed. Rumours were soon in circulation that
the great and long-continued exertions of the
Liberal leader — Mr. Blake- -especially the ?'.rain
arising from the local and Federal elections follow-
ing each other so closely, had temporarily injured
his health. This, unfortunately, proved to be true.
and his medical advisers forbade his attending
Parliament or acting as leader until his health was
restored. Under these circumstances, Mr. Blake
regretfully felt it to be his duty to privately inform
the Hon. Mr. Laurier and other of his Liberal
colleagues, that he would be forced to resign the
leadership and some other person would have to be
selected in his place.

This also soon became known and greatly altered
the whole political situation. It was a signal for
most of the political loose-fish to cast in their lot
with the Government, and, as a matter of fact, made
its hold upon office temporarily secure.

That Mr. Blake's brilliant career should be sud-
denly checked, and that, too, by dangerous illness,
caused deep regret throughout the length and
breadth of Canada, and his resignation as Leader
was doubly unfortunate for the Liberal party, many
of whom believed that with Blake and Laurier in
command, even although the former was temporar-
ily absent through sickness, they would soon be sHt
to defeat the Government and obtain control of the
affairs of the country.

The first session of the new Parliament was called
to meet on April 13th. Although evidently a sick
390

LAURIER NOT ANXIOUS FOR LEADERSHIP

man, Mr Blake appeared at the opening. He ma.le
a few bnef remarks, his observations on the Gov!

for Laval as Speaker-who had voted "want of
confidence" m them for executing Riel-being un
usua% sarcast,c and cutting.* He seems to have
attended the House occasionally till the end of Mav
but he was „lt,macdy compelled to leave for Europe

health and "• '" *J- ^"^ °' ^^'""■"^ "ack the
sac Ld t;^""' '"^"^ ^^ ''"'' ^" disi"terestedlv
sacrihced m his country's service

The caucus of the Liberal party to deal with Mr
Blake s resignation and the appointment of his suc-
cessor, -.vas postponed from time to time till near
the close of the session. In the end his resignation
was regretfully accepted, and the unanimous^hoice
of the caucus was in favour of his co-leader the

mh °"'y/°^'y-fi^e. and on account of not verv

obus health and other reasons, he did not wish o

accept the responsibility of ihe leade-ship. Before

the prorogation took place, however, the impoituni!

the votM with mr5 '" Cl>»mb" the gcntltman who shared

hearty co„;r«l;f;;,"f/^f,J^-«^tHte'?o"°"' ' """" "^
»8 inst Canadian law to IZ htZv ' ""' """nspirator

hypocrite and Trah^^;, n,y '^assocU^e 1^%""^ '""'^ "'>' ''""^

I :

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

ties of his friends and supporters and the hope that
Mr. Blake might resume his place the following;
session, led Mr. Laurier to waive his objections and
accept the onerous position so strongly pressed upon
him. Time soon proved this to be a most fortunate
choice for the Liberal party, for Mr. Laurier has
since been for twenty-four years the undisputed
leader of the Liberal party — during fifteen of which
he Las been Prime Minister of Canada — and still
remains as popular as ever in Great Britain and
throughout our broad Dominion.

No influential person in Parliament or the press
now thinks of defending either the Gerrymander *
or the Franchise Act.f Public opinion quickly and
almost universally condemned them. But they
played an influential, a deciding, part in the critical
and important elections of 1887. In fact they were
the principal factors in making Sir John Macdonald
Prime Minister for the rest of his life, whilst there

♦The Gerrymander was more effective in the elections of 1887
than in 1883. When tirst passed many Conservatives honour-
ably refused to take advantage of it as heiuR unfair. But the
objections of many were forgotten four years later, and in the
Province of Ontario, East Bruce, East Lambton. West Middle-
sex, South Norfollc, North and South Ontario, West Huron,
South Wenlworth, and other gerrymandered ridings— which
elected Liberals in 1883 — were all carried by Conservatives in
1887.

t Proof of the unfair character of the Franchise Act is fur-
nished by the fact that the new Minister of Justice, the Honour-
able John Thompson, asked Parliament during the session of
,887 — shortly lafter the elections were over — to suspend the
operation of the Act for that year and finally rescinded its
Voters' List provisions altogether, going back to the original
system of using the Voters' Lists prepared by the various Pro-
vinces. This system still continues.

RESULTS OF FRANCHISE ACT

are strong reasons for believing a.id affirming that
but for the effects of these indefensible measures
throughout the Dominion, the elections of 1887
would have resulted in the choice of the Honourable
Edward Blake as Prime Minister of Cana.la, and
greatly changed that eminent Canadian's whole
future life and career.

l!l;

393

CHAPTER XXXVII.

DISTURBING SYMPTOMS— WIMAN AND BUTTERFIELD'S
COMMERCIAL UNION TOUR— ITS FAILURE— THE
ELECTIONS OF 1891— UNRESTRICTED RECI-
PROCITY—SIR JOHN MACDONALD'S
•• TACTICS "—BLAKE'S FAREWELL AD-
DRESS—ANNEXATION DEFUNCT.

The events narrated in the last chapter were fol-
lowed by some disturbing symptoms throughout the
Dominion. More or less restlessness, discontent,
and even hopelessness appeared in different quarters.
The Liberal party — very naturally — were bitter, dis-
appointed and resentful. Notwithstanding the
immense expenditure on the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way, business continued quiet. Immigration was
sparse. Farmers were banding together to get a re-
lease from the burdens of the National Policy, and
their cry was almost universal for Reciprocity with
the United States in some shape or form.

All the Provincial Governments except British
Columbia and Prince Edward Island sent delegates
to an Interprovincial Conference held in the city of
Quebec during the first week of November, 1887, to
press numerous changes upon the Federal Adminis-
tration at Ottawa — a somewhat disturbing move.*

* This Interprovincial Conference organized by the election of
Sir Oliver Mowat as Chairman, and leading men of the various
Provinces took pan. They deliberated several days, and passed
in all twenty-three resolutions. The principal of these requested

394

COMMERCIAL UNION

Advocates of reforms, and flings that were no
reforms, sprang up like mushrooms. Nor did they
lack audiences. The people, in fact, manifested
eagerness to listen to the political nostrums pro-
pounded, more especially if they bore on reciprocity
of trade or any other means to increase our com-
mercial prosperity.

For some months Mr. Erastus VViman, of New
York, the Honourable Benjamin Butterworth of
Ohio, and other Americans had been carrying on
an active agitation in the United States in favour
of Commercial Union with this country. They now
availed themselves of the opportunity to extend the
agitation into Canada, and particularly Ontario
where they announced a tour and series of public
meetings. I had known Mr. Wima ■ ever since 1855
At that time, when acting as the Toronto manager
ot Dun & Company's Commercial Agency of New
York, he brought a letter of introduction to me at
(-alt, and my acquaintance with him became more
intimate when he was promoted to Montreal and
started the Trade Review, many of the commercial
editorials of which I contributed weekly from Gait
until he was promoted to New York City, and the

slmcd'^X",,!"?' '"7 '" 7^'^*" ""= D"-"'-*"- Government con-
S with , hi P ™' °'. ""L ^"'"^ North America Act. and
tir?,l, 7 •'''/™^'"«s "• their Federal relations. They par-
n dt.!^'""'"'t,""?' ^'"'•^"^ 'T'"" *' Dominion Veto power
Queen no"* Provincial legislation should be changed to The
aVDci^teH ^""""l; they desired one-half of the Senator, to be
resdnded and th P"^'""^ • '^ey wanted the Franchise Act
rescinded and the Provincial lists again adopted; they also

Xr^matttr^" '" '"^ ^""'•''"'' subsidies "and' in 'revS

395

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

pap«r was finally merged into the Toronto Monetary
Times.

When Mr. Butterworth and he began their Cana-
dian tour, Mr. VViman was at the zenith of his
career, and up to that time had won deserved dis-
tinction fr '••is rapid rise from a newsboy in Toronto
to the chief managership of the Dun Commercial
Agency, and for his remarkable energy and success
in promoting large public enterprises.

Considering any scheme -f commercial union
quite inconsistent with Caua i > j relations to Great
Britain or its ultimate national future, I felt it to be
my duty to write a series of letters to the Globe
strongly opposing it. These were afterwards pub-
lished in pamphlet form during the summer of 1887
— and a second and larger edition was speedily
called for. Having sent Mr. Wiman copies of this
pamphlet, the following short extract is made from
his reply, which is dated —

" 340 Broadway, N.Y., Nov. isth, 1887.
" I duly received some days ago the pamphlet
containing letters on Commercial Union. I desire

to heartily thank you for them There

is a great deal in what you say which impresses me
deeply, and if I could be moved by any argument
from any source against what I conceive to be the
best interests of Canada, what you have said would
move me. But I am so fully impressed by my long
residence here with what Canada might be -ne,
under British connection, with a free market nere,
that all else seems to fade away into insignificance
396

CHAMBERLAIN'S IDEA OF COMMERCIAL UNION

in comparison with it I had a long talk with the
R.ght Hon Mr. Chamberlain atout the whole sub-
ject yesterday, and he maintains very stronclv his
position, that discrimination against England means
a cessafon of British connection. It is a very hard

to sKak on Satur<lay night, and I will try to meet
this argimient." '

Persons who would like to consult the pamphlet
on Our National Future "-which opposes Im-
pe.jal federation as one extreme and Commercial
Lnion as the other-may fi,,,! it in the Parliamentarv
and o her public Libraries.* I hope to make an
extract from ,t in the AppciKlix.f but at present
"Hist confine my reference to its closing paragraph
which bnfl, ^,,^^ J ,^^^ fj ^.^V^

o be he final and only true destiny for Canada in
the still distant but certainly coming future:

Unio^Ii' ,!""./' i'^'' '" ^ ^°""^' '""^'•' Commercial
Union >s «t erly anti-Canadian and leads directly
away from that National future which ought to be
and IS worthy to be, the hope of every trie Canal
fecHn J ' fx'fts throughout Canada the kindest
feel ng towar.ls the Unite.l States. For mv own part
I admire the great Republic with its noble work for
human,ty and freedom, and I like the AmeHca;
people. But as a nation they have their dangers.

m
W

I'd;
I'll

397

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

They have still unsolved their Negro problem, the
Mormon scandal, the Socialistic conspiracy, which
steadily becomes more dangerous, and Lynch law,
which continues to prevail over a large part of the
Union. The Continental Sunday, too, with its open
theatres, concert halls and baseball matches, is be-
coming alarmingly common. Canada doubtless has
its dangers and difficulties also, but it is my firm
and earnest conviction that at present we occupy a
better position than any other as a self-goveming
Dominion under British protection, and when the
circling wheels of time bring this connection to an
end — as it is believed they inevitably must — that we
have territories vast enough, resources immense
enough, institutions good enough and a people with
character enough, to establish and maintain a Cana-
dian Nationality which will be honoured and re-
spected all over the world."

If the large number of congratulatory letters
received 'iy the writer from prominent Canadians
of all pa. ties throughout the Dominion afford any
evidence on the point, this pamphlet helped to expose
the Quixotic character of Messrs. Wiman and But-
terworth's tour and proposals. A raid across the
lines by these gentlemen to convert the Canadian
people to Commercial Union — and the political re-
volution which it involves — was indeed singularly
suggestive of Don Quixote and his famot? attack
on the Spanish windmills. Among the more import-
ant letters received on the subject was one from Sir
John Macdonald, Prime Minister of Canada. This
was exceedingly characteristic of that distinguished
gentleman, and will be read ivith interest : —
398

COMMERCIAL UNION TABOOED

" Earnscuffe, Ottawa, Dec, 15 1887
" My clear Young :_I have rea.I with great inter-

. n iTm^sf r "f r''J"' °f Co„,merf,Tu„tn.
ana 1 must congratulate you on the vieour aiu
al^l.ty w„h which you have con.batted thaf allac
mX al" 1'' 'r ^^^-.T-hurl.r is written in a 1. t
n^ny and loyal stram, and should convince Tha
gentleman that opposition to Commercial Union i
not confined to any one party in Canada.
>,nf„ -.t"! P'!,':'«^"'='-Iy pleased at vour saying ' that
notw, hstandmg some grievous misgo^vernment
Canada never developed nor prospered more th-in

explreV oT'' 'T T' ^^e R^iprocTy Trea
expired. Of course I understand you to mean that

^eLiefrS."'^^"^''"™^"'" ^^^ '^"-"^-
" However, it is more than gratifying to have

Cana<la has held her own in this world's progress
Believe me, my dear Young,

" Yours very faithfully,

„T,, „ "John A. Macdonai.d.

I he Honourable James Young, Gait, Ont."

Canada continued rather dull, as were the Parlia-

commercial Union was speedily tabooed, but the

no I f K '"P™"*^' '"^^ "°' °P«" to the serious

pohtical objections to Commercial Union, but mam

Liberals throughout the country did not wish to

399

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

have the party committed even to that measure,
feehng assured that its advocacy would prove a
political blunder in the end. During a long corres-
pondence with Sir Wilfrid Laurier, I constantly
pointed out the danger and certainty of this.

The political situation was decidedly singular
when the General Elections for 189 1 were an-
nounced, the dissolution to take place on February
3rd, and the polling on March 5th. Both political
parties felt sor^ewhat in a dilemma. So also did
many independent electors. The latter were evi-
dently tired of the Government, and as the agitated
state of the Dominion indicated, were ripe for com-
mercial and political changes. But, on the other
hand, the Liberal party were not even united in
favour of Unrestricted Reciprocity, and the open
advocacy of Commercial Union and even Annexa-
tion by Dr. Goldwin Smith, Mr. Edward Farrar,
Mr. Solomon White, M.P., Mr. Elgin Meyers, Q.C.,
and others alarmed many of the electors lest even
Unrestricted Reciprocity might jeopardize our
happy connection with Great Britain, or at least
complicate our relations with the United States.
This fear made many electors uncertain as to their
position and duty.

■ Sir John Macdonald, then beginning his 77th
year, and not so robust as formerly, nevertheless
took in the embarrassing situation with the eye of
a seer. With that far-sighted vision which marked
his whole career during a political crisis, he saw his
opportunity, and, as usual, determined to avail him-
self of it by every means in his power.
400

EDWARD FARRAR'S PAMPHLET

He began by describing the coming contest as his
last pohtical fight. He unfurled and waved the old
flag with a vigour never surpassed in his palmiest
days. In a long manifesto to the electors, he gave
forth the battle-cry : " A British subject I was born
and a British subject I will die!" Then followed a
carefully planned surprise. This consisted of a sen-
sational speech delivered before a large Conservative
meeting held in Toronto for the purpose, on the
evening of February 17th. Its chief feature was a
series of quotations from proof-sheets of an unpub-
lished pamphlet written by Mr. Edward Farrar for
some of his American friends for circulation in the
United States-the proof-sheets read from having
recently been stolen from the printing office of
Hunter, Rose & Company!

This was a genuine surprise, and as Mr. Farrar
had long been an advocate of Annexation the now
aged but shrewd Conservative Chieftain waxed loud
and hot in denouncing his political opponents, whose
policy of Unrestricted Reciprocity he classed with
Commercial Union and boldly stigmatized as An-
nexation in disguise.

The following night at a great Liberal meeting
he d in the Horticultural Gardens, ?ir Oliver Mowat
ably and effectively replied to the Conservative
leader s not very dignified nor scrupulous coup. Mr
Mowat utterly repudiated Commercial Union, but
contended that the Liberal policy of Unrestricted
Keciprocity would be of immense advantage to Can-
ada—being simply complete Free Trade between the
two countries— and that it would not change our
401

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

political relations in any way with either Great
Britain or the United Staites. He then went on to
vindicate the Liberal party from the old, effete
charges of disloyalty, the members of which were,
he warmly maintained, as sincerely attached to
Great Britain and British connection as their
opponents.

- This and other Opposition speeches helped to
place the commercial question more fairly before
the electors. There can be no doubt, however, that
the tactics of Sir John Macdonald in zealously wav-
ing the Imperial flag and loudly beating the loyalty
drum had on this occasion more effect than usual,
and helped to turn the political tide which for some
time seemed to presage a Liberal victory.

When the polls closed on March 5th it was found
the Government had suffered some serious losses,
but still retained a moderate majority. The Lib-
erals won a slight majority in Quebec and Ontario,
but all the outside Provinces — Prince Edward Is-
land excepted — went strongly against them. The
majority was at first placed at twenty-four, but
before the first session closed, several divisions
showed considerably smaller Government majori-
ties. Thus Sir John Macdonald won his last poli-
tical battle. He was himself a strikingly picturesque
figure in the contest, whose clever and amusing
peculiarities on the political rostrum appealed to
many of the electors, and he had been for years, too,
fortifying his hold upon power by legislation and
other means — as we have already seen — which were
quite unjustifiable. But all these circumstances com-
402

BLAKE'S WEST DURHAM LETTER

bined-in my humble judgment-would not have
saved his Administration from defeat on this occa-
sion had not the Liberals in Parliament mistakenly
adopted and pressed Unrestricted Reciprocity at a
t.me when the electors were more or less disturbed
by the disloyal vapourings of a small but noisy band

s°tric^eJ'p •^"'"°"''*'- ^'■"P^^'y ^"''^d- Unre-
stncted Reciprocity probably would not improperly

affect our political relations with the United States
But the mere suspicion that it might do so and pos-
sibly imperil our future as a great Canadian nation
embracing the entire northern half of the continent
threw the Dominion elections for the fourth suc-
cessive time into the hands of the Conservative party
the majority of the electors evidently having at last
deeded to act on the well-known maxim of the poet :

" Better endure the ills we have
Than flee to others we know not of."

The day after the elections the country experi-
enced another sensation. This arose from the publi-
cation of a written address by the Honourable
Edward Blake to the electors of West Durham gi,-
ing at length his reasons for declining their re-
nommation to the House of Commons, and bidding
hem farewell" in words at once pathetic and
touching. This IS one of the most remarkable utter-
ances ever penned or spoken by a Canadian states-
man on Dominion affairs, and, it need scarcelv be
said IS characterized by that powerful grasp of
public questions, that rare ability, candour and bril-
403

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Uancy for which Mr. Blake was distinguished during
his whole public career.

This famous address frankly declares that the late
Liberal leader found his position in the Dominion
Parliament had become unsatisfactory, if not un-
tenable. I had been aware of this for a considerable
time. He was not in harmony with the advocacy
of Unrestricted Reciprocity, and felt that his only
right and honourable course was temporarily or for-
ever to retire from public life. Shortly after the
Dominion elections were announced, he favoured me
with a perusal of the original draft of the West
Durham address announcing his retirement. I
urged that it should not be published until the elec-
tions were over, and this was doubtless in accord
with the honourable gentleman's own feelings, for
he not only withheld it, but after its publication he
continued as warmly attached to his fellow-Liberals
in Parliament and out of it as he ever had been at
any period of his life.*

* This address of Mr. Blake displays deep feeling throughout.
After explaining its retention till the elections were over, he
closes his farewell in the following pathetic words : " (32) Now,
while I am unable to fight under false colours neither can I
endure, at the very height and crisis of the battle into which a
wrongful dissolution has unexpectedly plunged the Liberal Party,
to take a different tack, or to turn one hostile gun against the
well loved friends in whose company, whether as comrade or
commander, I have sailed so many stormy seas, and fought so
many hot engagements; whose genera! course I approve; and
whose ships I wish not wrecked, but safe in port! (33) What
then is left for me to do? This only. Since I cannot help, to
hurt as little as I may ; and, therefore, to go down vtith my little
ship in silence, bearing for the moment all possible miscon-
struction, and leaving, till the ides of March be past, the explana-
tioc of my action."

ANNEXATION AS DEFUNCT AS MASTODON

The Commercial Union agitation really proved to
Canada a blessing in disguise. It taught us as a
people some needed lessons. In a special way it
brought the question of the Dominion's national
future_at least .o far as the United States is con-
cerned-squarely before us for examination and
debate. All sensible QMiidians soon discovered that
a rec.procity treaty such as Lord Elgin negotiated
in 1854 was one thing, Commercial Union (luite
another: and that the only logical outcome of this
latter pohcy must in the end be political union *

As soon as the Canadian public understood and
became convinced of this, the Wiman-Butterworth
campaign-which never had any real strength even
.n Ontario-completely collapsed, and from that
clay tc this, now nearly a quarter of a century, the
Idea of annexation has become almost as defunct
throughout Canada-certainlv in Ontario-as the
mastodon and other gigantic mammals of the pre-
nistoric ages.

ande°"Mackf„'ii"on'T"hr""'"' '""" "■= """-"ble Alex-

11.-26

405

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

DEATH OF SIR JOHN MACDONALD— HIS CAREER AND

CHARACTERISTICS— STANDS IN THE FRONT

RANK OF CANADA'S NATION-BUILDERS

—SENATOR ABBOTT BECOMES PRIME

MINISTER— PAINFUL

DISCLOSURES.

The first session of the seventh Parliament of
Canada was opened with much eclat by the
Governor-General, the Right Honourable Lord
Stanley of Preston, G.C.B., on April 29th, 1891,
and lasued five months and one day. It opened
quietly, but numerous storms were gathering on the
sessional horizon. It must also ever remain a
memorable session in Canadian history, for on the
evening of June 6th, the corridors of Parliament —
where he had been the presiding genius so long —
and the streets of the capital city, where his cheery
joke and laugh had so often been heard, were
pulsating with excitement and sorrow over the
swift-flying report — " Sir John Macdonald is dead !"

The late elections had indeed proved his last poli-
tical fight, and alas for human glory, he survived
his victory at the polls only three months. The
public meetings at Toronto, Hamilton, London,
Stratford, Napanee and elsewhere, with which he
opened the recent campaign, had proved too excit-
ing and too heavy work for the aged Prime Minister.
406

DEATH OF SIR JOHN MACDONALD
His wiry constitution enaWrrl u;^ *„

was a dying man from the close nf tu,^ ~ .
laborious and trying election. *'''* '"°'*

Whifl ?! '•' "'"^'' '"o^ed tliat Mr. Peter

t House"o7ror''^ ^''°"' •'^ -^ P™ ^"
H L ^ . ^°"""°"S and spoke on seVeral

d'ffereni questions, as late as May Lnd ThT

however, the last attendance ofthe Jreat JonsVr''
tive IpaHpr ;,i ti,. r> I- 7 great Lonserva-

Thf u Parliament he loved so well

n.lfnd Laurier, m Canada-the latter address
407

!li

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

probably being the most generous, appropriate and
eloquent ever delivered in our Legislative halls on
such an occasion.*

Expressions of regret and sympathy with Lady
Macdonald and family pouri.,1 into Ottawa. The
most distinguished were from Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, the Princess Louise, the Duke of Argyll,
the Viceroy of India, Sir Donald Smith, Sir George
Mount-Stephen, Sir Charles Tupper and other
eminent persons. Queen Victoria conferred on
Lady Macdonald the title of " Baroness Macdonald
of Earnscliffe" in recognition of her husband's
" distinguished services." Parliament honoured
him with a state funeral. The body lay in state in
the beautiful Senate Chamber for parts of two days.
Many thousands visited it. The funeral pageant in
Ottawa was grand and impressive. It took place
on Wednesday, June loth, and the next day at
Kingston amidst similar solemn services the body
was consigned to its last resting-place by the side of
liis mother in Cataraqui Cemetery.

Sir John Macdonald was born in Glasgow on
January nth, 1815, and was consequently in his
77th year. He was first elected to represent Kings-
ton in 1844, and was continuously a member of
Parliament — and much of the time either a Cabinet
Minister or Premier — for within a few days of
forty-seven years! This is an exceedingly long
record of public "service, and the prominent part
which he played in Canadian affairs during his whole

♦ See Pope'i " Life of Sir John Macdonald," Vol. II., chap.
xxvii.

408

MACDONALD A NATION BUILDER

career stamped him not only as a shrewd far
s-glned man, but as one of^he most ^cc'essfu
pol.fc.ans that ever undertook to pilot h"s partv
and country through the sto.tny and treacherous
waters of political life. treacnerous

.hHJ^^ f k'". ^^'^ '^''^ that eminent statesmen
?pLste"n V S'^' '' '^'" contemporariesZ
ml. rl c^ r . "^""^'^ particularly applies to

Ta ;t " ^°'",^^"=t"='''^' ^h"- combinedtith

S^ cv anH ' T "^""T-"^^^ "" opportunist in his
Pol'cy and actions and whose born passion for

me^'r sT7 ''' ''" '-^ emergencies to resort to

and whTch n "■'""'' ^'"'^'^ "•^^'^ objectionable,
and which no one now seeks to defend Tn thJ
■nterests of truth I have not felt it totmy d^

n aTS e°ed''h": 7" ^""^ ""''°"''"^'' •"-■'^2
ma Chequered but distinguished career.

The late Prime Minister, however-I have no

hesitation m affirming-should be judge 1 from a

broad, not a narrow point of view. The manT, a

m nt:!" >""■" "■'"^^"^'^ ^' ^ Canadia„\"ta^ s-
man are the only correct standards of measurement
and judged from this broad point of view! the name
of John Alexander Macdonald must eve standTn

b u-lder whrh °' '^" ^'^'^^"^ ^-='^-" ""^on-
.hrr ^'7u ' ^^ t''^"' '"domitable energy and
abihty led the way in turning the tangled wiWer^e's
01 British America into the most prosperous pow"
ful and promising young nation of modem 'tiZ

has often r°"i '"'^ ^''^ J°''" Macdonald, it
Has often been said, resembled each other. I saw

409

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the former in th( Jritish House of Commons in
1864 and satisliod myself that there were some
points of resemblance, the first to attract notice
probably being the little jaunty-looking lock of hair
which each permitted to fall over his foreheac".
When in repose, His Lordship's expression was a
trifle pessimistic. His Canadian admirer's was
nearly always bright and optimistic, and his manner
towards his fellow-members of Parliament was
almost invariably jaunty, jocose, and jolly.

His consideration for young men just entering
upon political life was often manifested. I may
mention one out of several little incidents in my
own experience which exemplify this. One night,
during the memorable session of 1878, when the
still powerful Mackenzie Government was battling
its Estimates through the House and Committee of
Supply — of which I was Chairman — I stole out*
to the anteroom, tired and restless, for a breath of
fresh air. It was near midnight; the old parlia-
mentary stagers were still battling over almost every
item in the Supplies, but many of the members had
retired for the night, and the corridors and ante-
rooms were almost deserted. As I was about to
return, who should rush in bu "sir John Macdonald,
then in the best of health and spirits.

"Hello, Young — you here!" he exclaimed in his
usual sprightly and breezy way.

* The words *' stole out " are used because at that time, and
probably it is the same still, there was no legal provision for
the Chairman of the House in Committee of Supply to leave the
chair, and towards the close of a session the Committee some-
times sits from 8 p.m. till 2 a-m. without intermission.

410

SIR JOHN'S STRONG CHARACTERISTIC

sp^t^:,,^' ''^'°'-'S-J°»'<' ^replied re-
„,J!'*"'l""'u ^7°^^^^y "° J""'""- member of Parlia-

" whn? "* '""1 '"'"• ^''^ J"*"'-" vvas my reply
»Uk, knows when to keep his mouth shut." '^'^'
He smiled and continued • " Vpc th^f , .

(.™,„ „„,K ,;„; ,„;s;:a , ",r :„'

that I had never met any other statesman
411

t>UBUC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

I 1

who could drink in the temper and spirit of a great
parliamentary body so quickly and successfully as
you can."

A flush uf colour and a genial smile suffused his
face like a sudden flash of summer sttnlif^Iil, and
with evident pleasure and a trace of feeing in his
voice, he said as he turned to depart:

" VN'ell, Young, I must own up — I always did
pride myself a little on that."*

Sir John was not a . latesman after the Gladstone
model. He seldqin sudied out or submitted legisla-
tion in advai ;■( ,f public opinion. New reforms
introduced into Parliament he almost invariably
opposed. When the efforts of his opiwnents or
friends, however, had crystallized public opinion
in favour of any particular measures, and the people
generally began to demand them, he was quite ready
to give way, and equally efficient in framing and
passing legislation to carry out the popular will.

His friend and admirer, Mr. Nicholas Flood
Davin, M.P., in his clever pen portrait of Sir John
already quoted, said : " He had one general policy —
he would give the people what they wanted." Mr.
Davin hardly did justice to his distinguished friend
in this remark. The Prince of Opportunists he
undoubtedly was! But he had also some strong
political ideals. Among these were sincere attach-
ment to the mother-land, British connection, British
Parliamentary Government, and the maintenance of
the standing and dignity of our judges and courts

* The conversation recorded in this incident is condensed,
but where given is almost verbatim.

MACDONALO A MASTERFUL STATESMAN

lation'he woulc i^nera, rake*; T-"°"""' '^«'^-
political life uSh,; °?. ""'' ^P'""''«= f"--

and had his faults a M' Ster of Te r '"'"'^
there is no reason to ,hu,uli ' ^'■°"'"- >•"'

Excellency Lord Sta lev h. I ^ ^'^°mP''on, His
John J C Abbot? o7 A f'^,'"'"'' ^"="^'°'- S->
Minister, and tlm at the 'o' '" ^^ P"™
all the preceding CaheM,rerrh'.d'"' "''"^^''

stt:;:;^;^:^^^^"- ~^

-- Which h^^SS-;--po.^

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

of the session soon afterwards burst forth in great
fury.

This arose from a series of startling charges and
exposures made by the Honourable Israel Tarte,
M.P., against Mr. Thomas McGreevy, member of
Parliament for Queliec West, certain extensive pub-
lic contractors, the Honourable Hector Langevin,
Minister of Public Works, and one or two other
officials. Ai'oiding details, Mr. Tarte charged, in
effect, that by collusion and conspiracy of the per-
sons named, the Construction of numerous Govern-
ment public works had been improperly given to
the contractors at greatly inflated prices; that, in
this way, the Dominion treasury had been for many
years systematically defrauded out of immense sums
of public money — some estimates being as high as
$750,000; that Mr. McGreevy — for about twenty-
five years the active treasurer of the Conservative
party — regularly received, by agreement, large
" rake-offs " from the Government contracts of the
firm in question, and that this money so scandalously
obtained had been used for political purposes and
was largely instrumental in helping the Government
to carry the general elections of 1883, of 1887 —
when the Honourable Edward Blake was defeated
— and of 1891.*

This is one of the most painful scandals in Cana-
dian public life, but Parliament happily vindicated

* It was clearly established before the Parliamentary Committee
that in the defeat of the Liberal party under the Honourable
Edward Blake, in 1887, some twenty-two Quebec constituencies
were largely won by the corruption practised at that election.

414

CANADA'S GOOD NAME VINDICATED

itself. The Committee on Privileges and Elections
-the majonty of whom were Conservatives-after
holding over one hundred meetings in investieatinJ
the matter reported that Mr. Tarte's chaj s v^ "rf
substantially sustained, the result being thf foTced
resignation of the member for Quebec West and the

S~ °^*'^ fT'^' °^ P"*"- WoS ac^or'd!
tLT l""l°^ ^"'''^ Parliamentary practice
These painful disclosures made the closing debates
and d,visions of the seventh -arliamenfs firs
session somewhat stormy and exciting, during which

to afloT::"' "r"^ '*"'"^''='^ in';ome dS
to as low as seventeen.

The final action of Parliament, however, and the
subsequent decision of the Dominion La; Court

aTratie'd °" *'.' ^""^^'^ "^^ ^f*"-"d
arraigned-were such as to vindicate the good name

ill!

415

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ONE OF CANADA'S NOBLEST STATESMEN— HON. ALEX.
MACKENZIE— THE MAN AND HIS CAREER-
INCIDENTS THEREOF— SUCCESS OF THE
ABBOTT-THOMPSON MINISTRY— HON.
EDWARD BLAKE ACCEPTS THE
IRISH MISSION.

The Parliairientary sessions for 1892 began
simultaneously in February, the Ontario Legislature
assembling on the nth and the Federal Houses on
the 2Sth. The proceedings do not call for special
reference, unless it be the fact that Her Majesty,
Queen Victoria, in distributing her birthday hon-
ours, conferred the distinguished title of G.C.M.G.
on the Honourable John Abbott and the Honourable
Oliver Mowat, the Dominion and Ontario Premiers.
On April 29th of this year, one of the truest and
noblest Makers of Canada passed • away — the
Honourable Alexander Mackenzie. Though in the
unrelenting grasp of creeping paralysis for several
years, and latterly— though intellectually unim-
paired — unable to speak in Parliament, he attended
its meetings to the close with surprising regularity.
His illness was due to overwork when Prime
Minister, and his death was not unanticipated. But
when it was announced from Toronto on Easter
Sunday that it had actually taken place, there was
a burst of feeling and sorrow throughout the whole
416

DEATH OF ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

Dominion From coast to coast his death was

trZt '" t""'" "'^ ^^"'^ ^^'™ -d even!
-ng and he enlogiums passed upon him proved how
h ghly all part,es and classes had learned to estimat^
the grand character of Mackenzie, whose Treat
na nra ab,hty, wonderful industry and perseverfnce
unhen<lmg integrity and stern devotion to what h'
be heved to be his duty and the good of the peopi

anv o hlr°r '!," "'"='"'' ^"^' "^^- '^n>Jed by
any other Canadian statesman ^

pourS tZ^ri °', '■"""' ^"'^ ^>""P="''y which
poured into the family residence at Toronto were
numerous and wann. Among the most imlrTant

StaTe thTn'r. "-;•■' ^='™^^^°"- SecretTrJo
State^ the Duke of /.rgyll and his Royal Consort
the Princess Louise, the Marquis and Marchione.S
of Duflferin and A^a, Lord Strathcona. the British

persons"' P;V'^"'"'^°" '^"'^ --^ "'''- emin^n
persons. Parliament adjourned as a mark of
respect, and Sir John Thompson, Sir WilfrS

work in terms at once appropriate and eloquent
For the moment the acrimony of politics dS
ppeared, and the generous nature and imiversal^
of the tributes paid to the memory of the deceased
proved what a strong hold he had gained-^s^f
ay during his later years-upon tie r™'^nd
attachment of his fellow countrymen

anj ^Uti!^J, '^r'^'"'", '"'^^'^'y- ''"'h personally
and politically, for nearly forty years. He was a

man so unassuming, so utterly de^'oi,l „f all display

of self-importance, and withal so outspoken when

417

'IMj)

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the public interests required it, that superficial
observers seldom estimated rightly either the man
himself or the importance of the work which ht
was doing. It was only when they came to learn
that when in office, besides acting as Prime Minister,
he conducted both the Public Works and the Rail-
ways and Canals departments — practically directed
at least two other Cabinet portfolios — that during
some periods he worked from fourteen to eighteen
hours a day in the public service, and had to be
ready at any moment during a session to meet the
Opposition on ^ny question they saw fit to bring
up — it was only, I repeat, when Canadians came to
know all this that they realized the true greatness of
Alexander Mackenzie, and discovered that beneath
his modesty and unassuming manner there breathed
one of the ablest Canadian statesmen and truest
men who ever graced our legislative halls.

It has already been mentioned how Mr. Mac-
kenzie, during the later years of his Premiership,
became the undoubted leader of the House of Com-
mons during its debates. Sir John Macdonald and
he frequently broke a lance with each other, and
both gentlemen enjoyed a good joke even when the
laugh happened to be on the wrong side. Sir John
seldom studied his speeches, and trusting for his
words to the spur of the moment, he sometimes left
a loophole for retort which Mr. Mackenzie, with his
great store of facts and accurate memory, became
remarkably expert in availing himself of.

A notable instance of this, and one well worthy of
preservation, occurred one day in the Commons
418

"ART THOU HE WHO TROUBLEST ISRAEL?"

SirTnh'^-^ *''°" ''" ^''° 'r°"West Israel'"

troubled Israel, but thou Irthy fathert I "'

i:^si^s^t:H5r™-^-o°t:^
Sntr^^sis-— -°SSS:

yea^rs'bJlfit dT'"' ^'''"'"■^''■-'■•on «ved only five
period I htJ ^° '7'"" ^°' ^^"^d^' during tha
Susly carrieVol't ''^'^' "^''^ "»"*--

•vir. Albert Smith and Mr I«ar R,,,-,, -j"'":,-,,

r/,.'"'"'*' Scandal revelations, Vol 11 ,.1,„.

Tarte exposures, chapter xxxviii. '^'"' '"'■■ """l ""^

419

11.

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

to the capacity and industry of the Government by
many much-needed reforms and other valuable
measures which they placed upon them. Among
the more important were the following: —

(a) The ballot instead of open voting; (6)
simultaneous polling at elections; (c) trial of elec-
tion petitions by the judges instead of partisan com-
mittees; (d) Supreme Court established in accord-
ance with the British North America Act; (c) the
Canadian Pacific Railway commenced; (/) Hali-
fax Fisheries Commission, which awarded $5,000,-
000 to Canada from the United States; (g) enlarge-
ment of the Welland and other canals; (/i) repre-
sentative government established in the North-West
Territories; (t) the introduction of free postal
delivery in cities; (;) reduction in postage to the
United States; (k) the banishment of Riel and
other Manitoba rebels; (/) the settlement of the
New Brunswick school question; and (m) the
establishment of the Dominion Military College at
Kingston.

The character of Mr. Mackenzie as a man and a
friend was a very fine one. He was naturally kind-
hearted, well read, bright in conversation, full of
anecdotes and racy in humour — but always refined
and never vulgar. His valued correspondence, which
I retain, well illustrates these characteristics, and
although physically infirm in his later years, during
the occasional visits of Mrs. Mackenzie and himself
to Gait, his mental brightness and cheerfulness
seemed as manifest as ever. The last time we were
honoured with his presence, however, he was evi-
420

MACKENZrE'S SIMPLE PIETY

ably expert-and Itwi;;:', "^^-'^ ^' ^'' ^<="'"k-

ever quench his pktient rh f . """""^ """''*
spirit. "^ ''"'■ •^''•^"f"' and "ndaimted

omitted. When T"^ h ''""'' ''^°"''' "°t be

occasion, afh.s urlnf ?',"'? '"" '° ^"^'"'^ °" ""«
days at the Prmf Mitfr '""" ' ""'' ^P^"» 'wo
n^emories du^^^'Z'.:^:""^ , '^^1

monies Here was th^ "^ ^''^ P°'">* ^"-^ ««!
-the man whosTbr ""7°^"'^ ™'*^'- °^ Canada

people g^drd'X'hZrstt^'^- r ^-"."^ ^"^
health from day toX u^ ;*^'^""dern„ning his
service, and in a h™- \°l^'7°'^ '" 'he pubhc

Jen.ie .ade'"atrracr bTTt • .Tvth'' T' ^^^-
hosptality. but which prolJZtt tS p'^"''
Mmister of Canada nr.f I ■ • '"^ ^"n'e

.i.mo., <.™S:.t.sr;;i[;j? "■■""■' "• '»■« ■-

'" the evenine the I',-;L lu ^ "istomary hour

took up the I b,e ;r, .f^:;"-^^:-- "^ Canada quietly
humble reveren ■ ^f'.; ITru'"' '"^''''"^ "'
offered up one of 5^e II • 'l''""" "^ ^'^'^<=-
beautiful of praters for the a!""^'';. '°"'^'""S ^"^
forpv-eness and Cc « the ^ ^'^ 1^ '°"*'""^^
-emn ., impressivTanXne.trso^r

421

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

found that the lapse of time has failed to dim or
lessen their uplifting power and influence.

Public interest began to centre on the Federal
Parliament and the new Federal Administration
from the beginning of ihis year. Under their rising
young leader, the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier, the
Liberal Opposition had become aggressive and hope-
ful; many Conservatives, on the other hand, were
not altogether certain how the Government would
succeed without the controlling power o^ its late
leader. The new Prime Minister, Sir John Abbott,
of Montreal, was a man of talent. He was promin-
ent as a commercial lawyer, took a very active
part with Messrs. Donald Smith, George Stephen,
Duncan Mclntyre and R. B. Angus in forming the
famous syndicate which built the Canadian Pacific
Railway, and was respected as a man of probity and
moderation. He had been for some time leader of
the Senate without portfolio, and now found a very
able colleague in Sir John Thompson to lead the
House of Commons.

With two such acceptable Ministers in command,
the Government appeared to be well equipped for a
long and successful career, but when Mr. Abbott
proceeded to make some changes in his Cabinet
before Parliament was called together, unexpected
difficulties cropped up. He specially desired to avail
himself of the services of Mr William R. Meredith,
M.P.P. for London, then leader of the Conservatives
in the Ontario Legislature. The Quebec Bleus,
however, hotly opposed this. They took a firm
stand against Mr. Meredith being taken into the
42a

LOSS OF COHESION IN CABINET

wSt «tCt CL™""'- "■^"^

■I

Si« WiiiiAM Ralph Mbhsdith.

circu,nsta„ces ^ ' '"■''"" ""^^'^ ^''tiwl

The Dominion elections of th^

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

tests and bye-eI*ctions. When the House of Com-
mons opened, Mr. White anounced that, under the
Controverted Elections Act, the judges had officially
reported upon sixty-three petitions, thirty-four of
which were dismissed, but no less than twenty-nine
elections were voided for bribery, corruption or
other violations of law.

The chief measure of the session was the Re-
distribution Bill, consequent on the new census
returns. Ontario, Quebec, the Territories and
Columbia retained the same number of members,
Manitoba gained two, Nova Scotia and Prince Ed-
ward Island lost one each, and New Brunswick two.
Nor did the Bill make many changes in constitu-
encies for partisan purposes. It was drawn under
the care of Sir John Thompson, and to the credit
of that Minister it was a much fairer and less objec-
tionable measure than its predecessor of Gerry-
mander notoriety.

During the numerous straggling bye-elections
which occurred during this period, tjie Abbott-
Thompson Ministry maintained its hold upon the
electorate, and notwithstanding the vigour and
vigilance of Mr. Laurier and his colleagues, was
sustained throughout the session with rather
increased majorities.

The opening summer brought something of sur-
prise and interest to the Dominion. For a consider-
able time the Honourable Edward Blake had been
quietly following his profession — not taking any
active part in politics — when the British Associated
424

BLAKE GOES TO IRELAND

nit I oXt >■ "'"' "' -~-e„t which
an. hHf w ^^ ™ns,.ic„o„sl, f.fore Canada

l-litical ate : '"t"' T " '"'^•'y ^'Pl'le on the

i"timati.,n that ciher . ', '''^'' "'* ''"'

self ha.l that ifV "'■.l'"''''c -r Afr. Blake him-

acceptance t-omtnons for his

C«™,1 1,., „™,i„„ |^„

moments cons.deration will show that thrwould

435

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIPE IN CANADA

have lieen entirely out of place so far as the public
were concerned, and I know and am in a position to
state that, amidst his necessarily hurried departure
for Ireland, he found time to write a carefully pre-
pared document which, at his request, was shown
confidentially to a few of his most prominent
Liberal and personal friends. Within a few days
he was on the ocean, and was shortly afterwards
elected member for Longford, Ireland, to the British
House of Commons, without any opposition.

When he sailed from Canada's shore, it was the
hope of his wide circle of friends throughout the
Dominion that Mr. Blake's absence would only be
temporary. There is also reason to believe that this
was his own hope and expectation. But his tine
talents as a jurist, his thorough knowledge of the
Federal system of government, and his splendid
character as a man soon placed him in the front rank
of the Home Rule party, and rendered it almost ini
possible for him to leave them so long as the Home
Rule agitation remained in doubt.

The Irish party have always generously expressed
their appreciation aid gratitude for the eminent
services rendered by Mr. Blake to them and the
Home Rule cause, and instead of a short absence
from Canada he continued to serve in the Imperial
Parliament for no less than fifteen years! During
the session of 1907, however, he was disabled by a
severe nervous stroke which furnished ample reasons
— in fact necessitated — his resignation as member
for Longford and early return to Canada.
436

BLAKE RETURNS HOME

Hiake drnved in Toronto on his return home He
^IZT"/' '"1^"''*" Station by many lov.W
S'l k""^ T^^"^ ^"*"''*- To ^onie old pre"!
fnends he ,„ded in recognition, b.,t simply L7d
I have come home to rest," and although intellectu

/"..^-...r

427

CHAPTER XL.

ABBOTT RESIGNS— SIR JOHN THOMPSON SUCCEEDS
HIM— HIS CAREER— WAS SIR OLIVER MOWAT
CANADA'S IDEAL PRIME MINISTER?— HON-
OURABLE WILFRID LAURIER THE RISING .
POLITICAL STAR— THE FIRST ALL-
CANADA CONVENTION.

This volume having reached its fortieth chap-
ter, it is necessary to draw towards a conclusion.

How much political parties depend upon the per-
sonality and popularity of their leaders has often
been exemplified in Canadian history. When S'v
John Macdonald passed away, the Administration
he had so elaborately built up, immediately mani-
fested signs of crumbling. When Sir Oliver Mowat
resigned later on, to enter the Federal service, his
famous Ontario Cabinet also began to lose the firm
grip it formerly had on the people. The Govern-
ment of Sir John Abbott only lasted one and a half
years. In consequence of ill-health. Premier Abbott
resigned on December 5th, 1892, and he died in
Europe on October 3rd of the following year. His
successor was Sir John S. D. Thompson. He was
comparatively a young man, being only in his ft.rty-
ninth year. He was sworn into office on December
6th, but his Administration — as we shall see later —
did not last much longer than its predecessor.
428

SIR JOHN THOMPSON ACCEPTS OFFICE
The new Prime Minister deserves more th=.„

of Halifax, m 1870, and the
next year adopted the Reman
Catholic faith.

Sir John Thompson began /'
his active life as a Court re-/
porter, became a barrister in
1865, served as Attorney-Gen-
eral m the Holmes Nova Scotia V :
Ministry, Ijecame Premier of "
Nova Scotia in 1882, ami was
defeated at the elections which
followed. Soon afterwards lie Hos- Si« Joh.n
accepted a Judgeship in the Ti,„mpso.v.

SraTth?"" "' '''' ^'"°""'--^- ^" 'he fall of
he left dt 7'"' c"''""* °^ '^*'- J"hn Macdonald,
Dnnl r *'' ^'°*'=' ^^""^h and entered the

Domimon Government as Minister of Justice and
.mmediately took front rank in the Ho, se . bo"

" Thfnr "? ^" •' ^"°""'"''^^'=" ^"-^ -^^^Set
MiHs .h . """■ ^"'' '"^^ Honourable David
Mills- hough strongly opposed politically-vvire
personally what is called "chummy,'' and the foZr
requent ly told the latter that he'dislik*^ pol.™
Me. He was naturally of a retiring, sensitive dis
429

c»|

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

position, and the asperities of debate frequently
wounded his feelings. He was a politician with a
conscience, as was manifested by his great speech
on the execution of Louis Riel, and in flatly turning
down his party's policy by refusing to longer use
the fraudulent Franchise Act to make up the Do-
minion Voters" Lists, and in finally arranging to

GoLDWiN Smith, D.CX.

return to the old system of using the Provincial
Lists as the fairest and best system for all parties.

Sir Oliver Mowat was now not only politically
supreme in Ontario, but continued personally as
industrious, aggressive and successful as at any
period of his long career. During this summer, how-
ever, he was much annoyed and occasionally dis-
tressed, lest the silly vapourings of a little, insignifi-
cant group, masquerading under the name and fame
430

■MWA

MOWAT STAMPS OUT ANNEXATION

of Dr. Goldwin Smith, might do some harm to our
allegiance to the mother-country

How indignant Premier Movvat was at anythine
savounng of Annexation was made clear to L by
several letters received at this period. In one o^
them he frankly declared. "It distresses me very
rnuch and then he goes on to express him e" ^

the difficulty ? In my position, I have not the time,
nor have I now the energy which would be needed "
Notwthstandmg these words-not unbecoming
a man of seventy-two-Sir Oliver, with character-
■stu: courage and determination, finally picked up his
cudgels and boldly entered the lists himself He
dismissed Mr. Elgin Meyers, Q.C., County Attor-
ney of Dufferin, for advocating Political Unli
crushed the efforts of Mr. Sol. White, M.P P to

stock. North Oxford, wrote a masterly letter to the
Honourable^lexander Mackenzie denouncing ^
such movements, made an intensely patriotic sLch
at Niagara Centennial Celebration 'on Sb' S

S ""^'l^'^r'^ '^'°^^ '"^^ Toronto Board of
Trade and elsewhere. This plucky and energetk
rusade did much to win for Sir oLr the soE
quet of Ontario's Grand Old Man," and was suc-
cessful in stamping out the expiring embe s of an
unpatriotic and unpopular attempt a? agitation

niAJ"''?\^''"' "^''^'^'^ 'h« fit'* °f "Grand

Old Man than the Premier of Ontario, and his

record was equally grand in the Dominion as in the

431

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Provincial sphere. He was, in fact, another of Can-
ada's great Nation Builders who stands in the very
front rank. The British North \merica ."Kct — our
Canadian Constitution — was largely drafted by Sir
Oliver from the crude resolutions of the Queljec
Conference into the legal form in ,vhich the clauses
now appear, and no other Canadian did so much
as he did to have our new Constitution interpreted
by the English Privy Council in a way to preserve
the just rights of the Provinces and promote the
good of the whole Canadian people.

To the distinction of being Canada's ideal Prime
Minister and political leader, many consider that
Sir Oliver Mowat has very strong claims. Upon
points such as this, however, opinions naturally dif-
fer, and, fortunately in a free land like Canada, each
person can choose his own ideals. But that Sir
Oliver was a model Premier and Leader very few
will deny. He held the office of Prime Minister
longer consecutively than any other Canadian ; as a
Minister he was remarkable for his legal ability,
his untiring industry and unfailing uprightness;
after many years of careful legislation, he left Onta-
rio one of the finest Judicial codes in the whole
world ; in many lawsuits with the Dominion before
the British Privy Council — as already mentioned —
he won every case; he was not an orator but an
exceedingly well informed, able and ready Parlia-
mentary debater; in the Cabinet he was revered by
his fellow-Ministers, who regarded any expression
of his opinion as closing any further debate ; he had

43a

MOWAT AN IDEAL PRIME MINISTER

the happy faculty of avoiding scandals of never
niak,ng political enemies, and Although „'ever 7Z
o tliCet'h''"'"'"^"'' ''' E''^-*'- ecu- ■

Dolir. °'^" supporters but with all his

political opponents worthy of respect

said oV^S."^' '".^ '""'^'^ '"°'-^' '"'■^ht be justly
said of Sir Oliver Mowat and his unusually long

after So"""- ^"^ "•'^"' ^ ^^ ^^^ 'ate'
atter giving Ontario a quarter of a century of effi

"sits bv r ^r"'™"'-""* surpassed'in thfe
respects by any other country in the world-he re
■gned Its Premiership to enter the Senate of Cai -
ada as Minister of Justice in the Laurier AdmWs-
tration and that, too, without a stain upon " s
escutcheon wearing, in fact. " The white flower o a
blameless life." he furnished at least a nobk ™ie

large and enthusiastic demonstratio; was given in
Toronto to Sir John Thompson, the new Prim"
Minister, and his colleagties. This was S r Joh™
fi St speech since becoming Premier. It was able

clearly apparent that both political parties were
433

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

already on the alert for the Dominion elections por-
tentously looming in the distance.

Another sign that politics were in the air was the
holding of a Provincial Liberal Convention in Rich-
mond Hall, Toronto, on January 24th. This proved
a most active, intelligent, influential gathering. They
met at eleven o'clock, and elected the Honourable
James Young, of Gait, Chairman, and Mr. John B.
Aylesworth, of Addington, Secretary. The Chairman
announced the business simply to be— Organization.
Sir Oliver Mowat and Sir Richard Cartwright spoke
briefly, after which the Convention dealt with the
business in a thoroughly business way. It was
decided to form a Provincial Reform Association
with a permanent Secretary. In the afternoon the
Special Committee reported the names of those pro-
posed as the first officers of the new organization.*
These were unanimously elected, and the whole busi-
ness of this eminently practical Convention ctesed
in the promptest and most satisfactory manner.

These gatherings heightened public interest in
the new political situation, which was steadily be-
coming more interesting. The Fremierships of Sir
John Abbott and Sir John Thompson did something
to restore the confidence of the Conservative party
after the loss of their late leader. Not a few be-

•The name, of the firrt officers of the new 'Reform A.»dl-
tionwere- Honorary Presidents, Sir Ohver Mowat and Sir
'Sard bartwright^ President. «-«'>'«" J|'f"'i/°"7.;
Vice-Presidents. Honourable James Young, Gait ; Mr. CUrles
Mackenrie, M.P.P., Samia; Honourable C. F. F"se' B™*7»;„
Mr. John C. Snell, Edmonton; Messrs. George A. C« »»» J?*»
W^MI°. Toronto: Mr. Thomas Murray. Pembroke; Mr. W.Iham
Thompson, Orillia, and Mr. A. N. Eelcourt, Ottawa.

434

SIR OLIVKR JIOWAT
Premier of „„,ario for alK„„ a <,uar,er of a century.

LAURIER THRILLS THE DOMINION

Keved they would be able to hold the fort. Close
observeni, however, considered that from the death
of MacQonald the Government had been graditally
tes.ng ground, and that the eyes of the people of the
I>)min.on were turning towards the young leader
Of the Liberal party-the Honourable Wilfrid
Laur.er-who was, in fact, at this time the rising
star m Canada's political firmament. His brilliant
and touching speech on the death of his chief oppon-
ent, Str John Macdonald, thrilled the Dominion like
an electric spark.- At a single stroke it proclaimed
ZLT.^ "o ordinary man. It proved he pos-
sessed the gift of statesmanship, with views so
broad, so generous, and so kindly, and with an elo-
quence so graceful and appropriate, as to win the
admiration and applause of his political opponents
as well as his political friends.

The greatest political event in Canada during this
year «ns u«k>v,btedly the great Dominion Liberal

fm" 'Cth '?-,t' ?" ^''P'"*^' °" J""« '^^ -"d
thV hn ^ ^',^'^' ^"^^ ^"'' •■'* '^^''^r belongs

the honour of calling this first Party Political Con-
vention for the whole Dominion. It was a most
cou^geous act on Mr. Uurier's part, and requT^
mnch consideration and careful planning. Both

439

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Macdonald and Mackenzie considered an All-Can-
ada Party Convention too risky and dangerous to
undertake. But Laurier — after careful considera-
tion — took the hazard and won.

A few words about the oriffin of this historical
Convention will be found of interest. Consulting
my correspondence I find that as early as February
19th, 1889 — in answer to a request of the Hon. Mr.
Laurier of date a week earlier — I ventured to make
some suggestions in regard to the approaching Gen-
eral Elections. The two suggestions most strongly
recommended were : ( l ) The holding of a Liberal
Convention comixised of delegates from every Pro-
vince and section of Canada; and (2) the adoption
of a written party platform containing the principles
which the party adopted and proposed to carry out.
The exact words contained in this letter were:
"That before the next elections (say the summer or
fall) there should be held a Dominion Party Con-
vention, and that we should adopt the American
system of agreeing upon a written platform and let-
ting the country know what we propose to do if it
sustains us."

Nothing in this direction was then done. But
when the famous elections of 1896 were approach-
ing, and the recommendation of an All-Canada Con-
vention and a written party i)latform were again
pressed, the answer immediately came back from
the Liberal leader at Ottawa : " The suggestion is a
good one, and will be acted upon." And thus for
the first time in the history of our Canadian Con-
federation, twenty-six years after its birth — the Lib-
436

GREAT LIBERAL CONVENTION

tion ^h" M***''''? ''"' '»* fi"' Dominion Conven-

composed of delegates from every Pro\i,>ce anH
Terntory throughout its vast clom.-^„.s, Th s Md
a...l courageous move not only proved 1,0^30^^

cZhtThrr "^T'"" "^' consoliSatTnrbm
caught the fancy of true Canadians from ocean to
ocean, and doubtler.s helped to brin^ abo.u t^gre ?

ss'eSr^""^'''-^'''---^^-s

J.m?Lfh"??' Liberal Convention assembled on

'on. the .mmense gathering being conspiclusShe"
unusua„y large number of prominent and influenS
Canadians present. The enthusiasm and aoDkuse
vere unbounded when the Honourable Wnfrd
Uuner arose^and, seconded by the Hon Mr
Marchand, Pi?mier of Quebec, submitted "or th*
Convention's choice as Chairman. thT Ze o Sir
Oliver Mowat, Premier of Ontario.

Un taking the chair Sir Oliver (Mi,Th*.A .1
audience by making pleasing rSrnc:^^^;^

after which he proceeded toTu^LeHrgrelrS
before the Convention and pointed out thelirt
ance o losing no time in earnestly applyingTm"
selves to its accomplishment The \^Z 1

to the discharge of their duties ^

TT -0

II.-a8

437

MiaraCOTY MSOIUTION TIST CMAIT

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHAIIT No. 2)

^1^1

1.6

•1PPLIED I^A/^GE Ine

1653 East Moin StrHt

Rochaattr, Nam Yortc 14609 USA

(716) 482 - 0300 - PMon*

(716) 2S8-S9S9 -Fax

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

The Convention quickly completed its organiza-
tion, the principal officers being as follows : Chair-
man, Sir Oliver Mowat; Vice-Chairmen, the Hon-
ourable W. S. Fielding, Premier of Nova Scotia;
the Honourable Henri G. Joly de Lotbiniere, Ex-
Premier, Quebec; Honourable A. G. Blair, Premier
of New Brunswick ; Honourable Fred. Peters, Pre-
mier of Prince Edward Island, and the Honourable
Messrs. Greenway, Sifton, and Watson, for Mani-
toba and the North- West Territories. The Secre-
taries were: Charles S. Hyman, M.P., London; Mr.
F. G. M. Duchesne, M.P.P., L'Islet; Mr. W. D.
Balfour, M.P.P., Essex, and Mr. Andrew Pattullo,
Woodstock.

Much of the work of the Convention was done
by five active committees. The principal one of
these was " On Resolutions." It numbered nearly
one hundred members and comprised many of the
most active and leading Liberals from various parts
of the Dominion. It is unnecessary to enter into
details of this great Convention here, as the names
of b.\i the delegates who registered as being present,
and the eleven resolutions finally adopted as the plat-
form of the Liberal party, with the numerous
speeches made thereupon, were extensively published
and widely circulated at the time.

It may be justly added that the proceedings of
this memorable Convention were conducted through-
out with dignity, ability and harmony. The Resolu-
tion Committee discussed each clause of the party
platform seriatim and with much earnestness and
interest. Several amendments were made in the
438

THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION

Ike prawd.ngs on He «co,rf day mj. . S,

Pomt in our political historj"* ^' ^ '""■"'"«-

hei?a7o.Uwrj':„r,t?,h'.'H' ''"""k?" "'«"' Convention

Association, a, follows: " May T ^ o»L^,"i °"''''*"' R""™
I am to think that tk. o . "'.' m permitted to say how irUH

Convenfontas eJded thrdXen/r"'."'".",-' "■« '«' Refo™
of my conection with he Ridfnf 7*';'''' '«' 'o "-e severing
be associated wi.hC » your rfpresltltf "r*" "" '»"*" "°
be dmded from yoi in oS„" '' ' "" "° '""K" «»

439

CHAPTER XU.

TRAGIC DEATH OF SIR JOHN THOMPSON AT WINDSOR
CASTLE— PUBLIC FUNERAL AT HALIFAX— SIR
MA..KENZIE BO WELL BECOMES PREMIER—
HIS MINISTRY WRECKED BY DISSEN-
SIONS—SIR CHARLES TUPPER RE-
CONSTRUCTS THE CABINET.

The Right Honourable the Earl of Aber-
deen, G.C.M.G., opened the Dominion Parliament
for the first time as Governor-General, on March
15th, 1894. HisExcellency was accompanied by Lady
Aberdeen — a lady of rare ability and accomplish-
ments — and their five years in C-nada made one of
the most useful and popular Viceregal reigns the
Dominion has ever enjoyed.

When the summer came in, the political hosts of
the Province of Ontario again found themselves in
battle array. Mowat and Mer ; had swords
drawn for their last fight at the polls. The result
was rendered somewhat uncertain on account of
the zeal displayed by a new semi-secret organiza-
tion called the Protestant Protective Association —
familiarly known as the P. P. A. — and by the un-
usual activity of the Patrons of Industry, who made
a thorough organization and a very creditable run.
The contest was somewhat unique. But at the close
of the polls on June 25th, the results were given by
the press as follows: Liberals returned, fifty-one;

THOMPSON CONDUCTS SESSION SUCCESSFULLY

majority of ei^ht VnH ^°^''""»«"t a straight
elected "we^ df L£s"sroV°' t*^ ^^'^°"^
practically as strong ase^er " ^°^"* *^*

Eam, of Aeerdjen.

441

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

fully, which helped to continue the growth of a
more hopeful feeling in Conservative circles.

The prospects of the Thompson Administration
in fact seemed to brighten till near the close of the
year. Sir John, who was up to that time our young-
est Prime Minister, proved energetic, able and indus-
trious. He did good work for the Dominion, both
at home and abroad, and for his services to Great
Britain as a Commissioner in the settlement of the
Behring Sea difficulties with the United States, he
was tendered the i distinction of an Imperial Privy
Councillor.

The ceremony of his being sworn into this hon-
ourable position was appointed to take place at
Windsor Castle on December i.-?th. Sir John at-
tended apparently in the best of health and spirits.
He was duly sworn in as a member of the Privy
Council before Her Majesty Queen Victoria when
— sad to relate ! — a few moments afterwards he was
struck down with tragic suddenness by apoplexy,
and quickly passed to that bourne " whence no
traveller returns."

These painful circumstances were learned with
deep regret and sympathy throughout Great Britain
and Canada, and more especially in the Maritime
Provinces. The British and Canadian Governments
vied with each other in honouring his memory. He
was accorded a National funeral. Hi i remains were
conveyed across the Atlantic in the battleship
Blenheim, and the elaborate funeral ceremonies
observed in Halifax — his native city- -fittingly ex-
pressed the sorrow and sympathy felt throughout
442

•lACKENZm BOWELl BECOMES PREMIER

next in succession and a

gentleman of much energy

and experience, whose long

connection with the press

added to his acquirements

for the discharge of the
high duties of Prime Minis-
ter. He was^worn into of-
fice on December 21st, and
made no important changes
in the Cabinet except that

Sir C. Hibbert Tupper be-

came Minister of Justice ^"^ '^■^ckenzie Bowbu.

Su:e^o?crrs'^°^^^^-^---^erofthe

under as favourablelirctLtrncer^a? sT/foT
Abbott and Sir John Thompson Th. "^ "

deaths of these ^wo genTZ wl e 3"^?
couraging, and the difficulties arising from th. r

s.xteen years-were steadily accumulating. This
443

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

was true not only throughout the Dominion but
within the Cabinet itself.

The Government met the House of Commons
with an air of confidence, however, when the session
of 1895 opened on April i8th. But a bitter debate
arose before the Address was voted, and there were
other ominous signs of coming turbulence and
danger. The Honourable Wilfrid Laurier came to
the front at this crisis as he never had done before.
His rapid development as a Parliamentary leader
and orator surprised both friends and opponents.
He skilfully attacked the Administration, and,
zealously backed up by Messrs. Cartwright, Mills,
Davies, Mulock, Edgar, Patterson, Charlton and
other Liberals, gave the Government a hot time in
defending themselves, but on two direct votes of
" want of confidence " their supporters sustained
them by votes averaging from 1 14 to J2.

Whilst Mr. Bowell's Cabinet had a decided major-
ity on a strict patty vote, however, it was well known
that it was hopelessly divided on the Manitoba
School difficulty — which urgently required settle-
ment — whilst several of the Ministers were known
to be personally hostile to <;ach other. The sweets
of oflBce have gr;at power in holding parties and
Governments together. But persons well informed
it politics clearly perceived that the circumstances
connected with the Bowell Administration must
finally lead to its " break-up " and complete over-
throw.

The long-suppressed party dissensions exploded
much sooner than expected. On March 21st, an

444

MANITOBA SCHOOL QUESTION
by Ih. Dominio,, Mmi.ttrs. H,tl, M^L^T^
C«I„Iic S,p.„,. scl,..,, wWch i adlMS"

Sr™h"; '"^a- °' "■■', "■'"■""•">.»':
£iH^ ™'^- - =-:

Remedial Bill-althonal / '*"" proposed

conM n^f k ^ '*'°"S" drawn up and ready—

mens "he Po'"""' *'''°"«'' '''' H°"^« of Com-
sZe nf ^°''^'T^-' was for several days in a
state of crisis and public aflFairs in a j
muddle. '" a dangerous

Mr. Angers resisted all entreaties to withdraw hie

tally ^„u.dri ,o r™,i„ ,„ ,h, c.bto„ .SS
445

PUBLIC MEN iND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

enable it tc close the session without breaking up
into discordant sections.

This crisis left the JJowell Administration almost
in a moribund condition. They had obtained a short
respite, but on the Manitoba School question, to
satisfy both theii^uebec and Ontario supporters
was impossible. The people of the Dominion were
not slow to perceive this, and the Government con-
tinued to lose ground.

Several independent Conserv itives deserved
credi*- for opposing the Governner.i's attempt to
coerce Manitoba. As early as December, the
Honourable Clarke Wallace, the Comptroller o*'
Customs, resigned office rather than countenance
the Remedial Bill, and some of tb-^ most effective
speeches against it were made by Mr. Dalton Mc-
Carthy, Q.C. "ie Liberal leader, f-^o, was much
praised for the courageous stand he took on the
School question, his fearless declaration — although
a French-Canadian — ti.at Manitoba must not be
coeiced, nor its Provincial rights invaded, greatly
enhancing his reputation and popularity.

Thus matters drifted until Parliament was called
to assemble for its last session. The Senate and
House of Commons duly convened on January 2nd,
1896, the Speech was delivered by the Govei.ior-
General, Lord Aberdeen, when, only two days later
— to the surprise of all Canada — and before Parlia-
ment had even considered H' ^.xcellency's speech,
the dissension in the Cabinet came to a head, and
seven members of the Cabinet resigned their port-
folios and left the Council Chamber in a body ! The
446

" A NEST OF TRAITORS "

Ives, .Dicke: and wS Z^;' "=!»''«• M°n'agu,

creditaWf. party embroglio, suffiw it to sav that
substance announced: (i) That six nf ,hl .

^i:trrsi^^trr^^--^

£^^4^\£c£?i^^KJSe?S

Jat Sir l^r"'°"'4^3^ ""'l '^^'' •>"* ""' 'east
that Sir Maclcenzie Bowell would resign th^
Premiersh p at the close nf tt,- ■ F^ '"*

rt,,,i. »n ^ °' *"S session, when Sir

This was hardly peace with honour, but the bar

and^'lL T" " ?"' '■" ^^^ Breton, Nova Sco 2
and though no longer young, led the House of

foS "'"'' '""^'' °^ ''■■^ °'d political eneSand
forcble oratcy. What remained of t^eSn

447

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

!!^,

naturally proved tempestuous. But the haven of
Prorogation was finally reached on April 23rd, and
shortly afterwards the Prime Minister, Sir
Mackenzie Bowell, fulfilled his part of the party
compromise by driving quietly to Government
House and placing his resignation in the hands of
Her Majesty's representative.

The Governor-General then sent for Sir Cham-s
Tupper and entrusted him with the duty of forming
a new Administration. In consequence of the
party feuds over the Manitoba Schools and the
plethora of aspirants for office, he found his task
an exceedingly difficult one. But he finally formed
a Government of eighteen members, composed
chiefly of the former Ministers, with the addition of
three or four new men without portfolios.

The whole Dominion was now beginning to
pulsate with political excitement. The immense
importance of the approaching elections was uni-
versally recognized. The recent quarrels of several
of the new Ministers, as well as current reports
that secret pledges had been given by the new
Government to continue the policy of coercing Mani-
toba on the School question, aroused the electors as
they had seldom been aroused before. The nomina-
tions for the elections were finally fixed for the i6th
June, and the polling for the 23rd, and with the
announcement of this fact the din of preparation
daily rose higher and higher.

Sir Charles Tupper had at last reached what many
believed to be the goal of his ambition — being now
Prime Minister of Canada and Leader of the House
448

' flME FOR A CHANCE "

q»«. .™ig„,i„„ „,';,'» /'5;. ^— ""

ment S / ""'"*^ *"' ''"' Dominion Govem-
Hipper Government carrying the e\e,-tiL.
justly be said to have faded imo obliWo" "'^

449

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

And so when the clock struck five on the evening
of this momentous Dominion election day — the 23rd
June — it was found that the polling had resulted in
the greatest political revolution since the debacle
of 1878 — eighteen years before. But on this
occasion it was not to their opponents, but to the

Hon. Sir Wiluau Mui,ock.

Honourable Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal party,
that the electors of Canada had awarded triumphant
victory.*

* The members returned were at first classified as follows ;
Liberals 119, Conservatives 89, Patrons of Industry 3, and
Independents 2. But after the first session, the majority of the
Laurier Government ranged frnm 44 to 50.

450

I.AURIER POBMS NEW GOVERNMENT

The Governor-General, the Earl r^f ak j
sh^rt,, afterwards sent f;r th: Holul.e W S
took to f- '' "^'^ Excellency's request, unde -
took to form a new Government. He was him Jf

sentaHv The n'amer7L°' "^■" "'^^■"'^'^ ^P-
the Laurier rn *''" gentlemen composing

President of the Council (Premier^ ■ r;„i,.

aSa""' "■'""""^'^^ S'^ «• J- Cartwright,
Q-C^lS "^ •"'""■ ^°"°"^^'"^ R- W. Scot,

^^.nW and Fisheries: Sir L. H. Davies, K.C.
B-^mT' ""^^""^ ^""""^^"'^ ^- W. Borden.

451

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

Agriculture: Honourable S. A. Fisher, B.A.
Public Works: Honourable Israel Tarte
Finance Minister: Honourable W.U.an, S.

'^RailLys and Canals: Honourable A. G. Blair.
Interior: Honourable Clifford Sifton, Q.C.
Customs: Honourable William Patterson.
Inland Revenue: Sir H. G. Joly de Lotbm.ere,

K.C.M.G. „ T^ u 11

Without Portfolio : Honourable R. R. Dobell.
Without Paft/o/io: Honourable C. A. Geoffnon,

Q.C, D.C.L.

4Sa

CHAPTER XLII.

ANNUAL COMMERCE-CANADA
DISCOVERED AT LAST

lation began to rush into h. n ^ • ^' P°P"-
■ ^ 453

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFF, IN CANADA

country's prosperity, and to the new men, new
policy, new enterprises and new methods with which
the young Prime Minister — Sir Wilfrid Laurier —
promptly surrounded himself. It is unn<;cessary
to decide between these contending views. Both
parties have doubtless contributed something to
make good the gracefully eloquent declaration of
Sir Wilfrid Laurier that " The Twentieth Century
belongs to Canada."

What chiefly concerns us is the important fact
that the Dominion at that time undoubtedly entered
upon an advanced and brighter chapter of its polit-
ical existence, and what it may become as a rition
before the present century closes — comprising as it
does nearly one-half of the whole North American
continent — opens up to the vision a field of the
most enchanting and tempting character.

It is a field, however, too extensive and important
to enter into at length in the last chapters of this
volume, which was not expected to extend beyond
the passing of Sir John Macdonald and the ancient
regime. The brilliant career of the Laurier
Administration can only be referred to in a general
way, and our closing observations confined to a
brief reference to the remarkable expansion and
prosperity of Canada since 1896, a parting tribute to
the grand men who brought about Confederation
and composed its first Parliaments, and a few words
as to our future National outlook.

Since the transformation of Canada began —
fifteen years ago — the new discoveries made of its
4S4,

SIR WJLFRJD LAURIER.

ii!

CANADA'S WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT

new and greatcsTlVa't ^^^1^ '^"'''^
—the K-owtli of „:,, I "'^'-*"^°'an prairies

transport the ,2ro.%r' °*''^'-. T"^ of
almost universal s^r u uT '^P'*"'' ="^ the
farms, for^ts lheH« •'^"^ ''^^ ^"«"ded our

P.-n. and com„?. r V^S S'^""^ ^"^''P-
■s doubtful in fact if the H.v . ^ ™mense. It

"f the Do.„i„io^' ^^'^ ';Pn;r'''''"'""'^
ever been excelled bv anv nfh " ^''=" ^as

United Stat,s-dur,^,;Teat;er "^-^^^" '''

^^^^::z!:::!^^z^-^-^^o. in

statements. AccordinT 71 at ! ° '"''^'" these
Chief of the StaSS "lu eaute ^sllT^'' ^'"^•
'" the census of loir shows Ir •^"'•^'^t.ons

to be 7,204,527 This iH '^'■''^"' P°P"'ation

a period of ^ten years-If »""'''" ^'"'^^ '^oi-
■■"crease was onirrg^, /;''''''' "''^''^^^ *he
previous thirty years I* -.rint T'""' """""S^ *he
increased by 30 ogT in th?^ ^'° ""^ P°P"'^*'°"
the number ias^ti^JT ■■'"'' '"'^^'^ ('9ii)
exaggeration to saf iTJhist " ''"''°" "°

-^.^.soon\eiSi-a/rdSr;-

-em aS;" :;Srof°cf r--'^--y develop.
passed and^ew' Se/nSn"tn *'^ '"'^ ■•^^■"-

■•n'«96 could be addurr„iri:;r;£

•Canadian Y«r Book for ,g,„,p,g.,.
4SS

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

growth of our aggregate commerce with other
countries before and after that year. Confining our
comparison to the fifteen years immediately before
1896 with the fifteen years which have since
elapsed, and for brevity taking only the returns
for every third year, the extent and rapidity of the
growth of the commerce of the Dominion during
the last decade am a half may lie seen at a glance.
The Government returns f:)r the two periods con-
trasted were as follows : —

Before 1896—lJtHicr the Xational Policy.

1880 $174,401,205

1883 $230,339,826

1886 $189,675,875

1889 $204,414,098

1892 $241,369,443

189s $224,425,485

After 1896— Under Fielding Tariff.

1896 $239,025,360

1899 $321,661,213

1902 $423,910,444

1905 $470,151,289

1908 $650,793,131

1911 $769,443,905

These ofK':ial statistics clearly prove, first, that
Canadian progress immediately before the great
political upheaval of 1896 was slow and unsteady,
but immediately after that date the Commerce of the
Dominion doubled in ten, and more than trebled
456

INCREASE IN CANADIAN COMMERCE

(increased over »oo ner r»nt ^ i ■

teen years i Th„ ? . *■*' *'"""« 'he last fif.

ere in round numbers as follows: Total

HO.V. W.UIAM SlEveNS FlElDlNG.

^■^'"e of Canadian Commerce for fi,» cc
$6,655,000,000! And it may be added in coniSg

•This period was wh.n .he National Policy „as i„ f„™

457

Ill

PUBMC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

that for the current year (1911-12) it is confidently
estimated that the vohime of our Commerce will
reach $800,000,000!*

The development and prosperi" ,1 the Dominion
ever since the Fieldint; Tariflf was enacted has been
little short of marvellous, and our career as a nation
Is only beginning. Considering the country's im-
mense area, its almost illimitable natural res.)urces,
its unsurpassed means of trans)>ortation by water
and rail, and the indu;try, energy and enterprise of
c'.ir Canadian iieople, a hwse rein may l)e given to
the imajrination without exaggerating the value of
Canadian Commerce before tht middle of the pre-
sent century.

• Large as this prediction api«ared to h« when made, it iias
lieen quite surpassed by the aetual figures. The Dominion Bureau
o' Statistics published another official statement on A iril aij<l
lait. showing thai the total value of the commerce of Canada
for last year— ending on March jist, 191^, and including holh
imports and exports— reached the magnificent total of 1847. ■
.!7-r.738 '

458

CHAPTER XUir.

AWARDS THE HIGHEST HONOUR Fo,

'CARRYmc CONFEDERATION TO
BROWN, CARTIER AND GAIT
-CANADIAN PARLIA-
MENTARY ORATORS

459

1 1".

i-' i

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

had been delegates at the Quebec Conference in 1864.
Many others had experience as Parliamentarians,and
not a few had been Ministers of the Crown in their
respective Provinces. Aside from political differ-
ences, the first Parliament of Canada was a grand
Ircfislative body, and there are many reasons to sus-
tain the claim which has been frequently made, that
for distinguished statesmen and Parliamentary
ability, it has never yet been surpassed by any of
its successors.

As Canadians,' wt an never value too highly the
splendid Constitution which has been bequeathed
to us. With ' .'xception of an antiquated Crown-
nominated £ ;e, with nembersliip for life, and
which glaring lomaly would have been impossible
but for the si su'ar accord of the Honourable
George Brown and Sir John Macdonald on this
particular point, the experience of forty-four years
proves what a valuable Constitution we have in the
British North America Act. The Senate excepted,*
it has worked successfully, and without a single
material amendment since 1867! Except in dire
necessity, therefore, no rude hands — especially no
combination of ambitious politicians or scheming
Provincial Ministries — should ever be .nllowed to
tamper with the noble Charter of our liberties which

' The Liber »1 party has been adversely criticised for not
reforming the Senate after advocating it ever since Confederation,
and reafBtming the demand therefor at the great Liberal Con-
vention of 1893. There is reason to believe that the ex-Premier,
Sir Wilirid Laurier. more than once desired to take action in
the matter. As some evidence of this, see Appendix No. IV.,
cage 480.

460

CANAOUNS "CHIPS OP THE OLD BLOCK"

which they ,«.„erf '^^ ""' '"««''•"«•" through

-rried Confederation T/rCd '^'' ^^"ich
n>m,fK-r^ of ,he first PariL . ^ """y-" °^ ""e
'"•■"' sixWn now s„ v,Ve "T f '^''7, not more
the vario,.., Province 'wh„ '''' ''•^''««*" fr°"'

Conference, onlv on? • , '^"'"Posed the Quebec
«- living! Th"s«nl^"^'' '""^'"'^^ i" «i" amoS
Si^ Charles Spp! ^ M G '"'' ^'"f ' "°"«
"pared to share and reiot ■ T^ '°"S "'^^ he Ix?
•he stalwart young inaZ '"^ '''=^""P'"e"t of
t.. found. '^ """'''"" "'•"0" which he hel,,ed

'lay will be found " ht „f 1 f n'r"''""""' "-
Prov. equal to our i o vhL °''' ^^"'^ " ^nd will
^"ccessful manne f„ '^/"''^"■''hih-ties. The

powers have been so ar.^f T Constitutional

■^ creditable to us ^atol ' Th"' ■"." ""^'^'^^ ''"'

'-^-en some mistakes K J.''*'^^ doubtless have

afflicted in that way B L" ' ''' """-^ °^ '«s

fay that the solidarity and si" "" f^^^&eration to

''y our Canadian F deration h!f^''''''y ^^'^''^^'d
encouraging. eaerat.on has been exceedingly

Sir John^MacI Iw w^s S'l!"^ *^™ ■" °«i-.
until his death in r8g7~a"Z.lT'' '"""' '«78
and the Conservative nam ..''"''""" y«^^-

partj contmue.-! to control

401

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

the Federal Administration up to 1896, making in
all eighteen consecutive years ! Very stable must be
the people and their institutions whose Governments
can hold office so long under free representative
institutions !

The career of Sir Oliver Mowat and the Liberal
party in Ontario was even more remarkable. That
gentleman was Prime Minister of the Province from
1872 to 1896 — twenty-four successive years — and
the continuous reign of the Liberal party extended
from 1871 to 1905, a period of no less than thirty-
four consecutive years ! This was an extraordinary
term of office, and many Ontarians were actually
born, educated, married, voted and died under the
same Provincial Government which existed when
they first saw the light !

Unless an exception can be found in the record
of the Republican party of the United States after
the Southern War, these instances of Canadian
Ijolitical stability are without parallel in the history
of Responsible Government.

Before the Canadian Club and elite of Ottawa, on
the evening of January 20th, igo6. Sir Richard
Cartwright delivered a charming address on " Con-
federation Memories." It was an eloquent deliver-
ance — redolent of those epoch-making days — and
Sir Richard awarded the highest honours for
advocating and carrying Confederation to the
Honourable George Brown, Sir George Cartier and
Sir Alexander Gait.

Mr. Gait was an accomplished statesman, and
deserves the credit of being the first member of the
462

CARTW.,CHTV'C0NPHnERA™NMEM0K,HS"

He was not a neJIiltu^L^^^^ll^-^r, Island,
the proDosed measure TiZ ' ? '''^ "rrying of

S'x R.cn.v«o CA«T„«,c„r, G.C.M.G.

the union of tliesp h„

which made possible the r^v"' P"'""'^^' '^^ders

463

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

fellow-countrymen. No one would seek to decrease
his credit therefor. But for the reasons already given
at some length in Chapter XXXIIL, it is believed
impartial History must award the pre-eminence to
George Brown, whose zealous, powerful and elo-
quent advocacy of Federal Union on the platfonti
and in the press, with the active ; pport of the whole
united Liberal party at his back, did more than
anything else to brine; about the Confederation of
British North Anie i, and make Canada what it
is to-day — the ^most prosperous, powerful and
promising young nation of modern times.

None of our statesmen rendered longer and more
notable services to Canada than Sir John Macdonald
during his clever and successful, though somewhat
chequered, career. As both volumes of this book
are full of references to his distinguished Parlia-
mentary and official career, it is not necessary to say
more, in closing, than that Sir John rendered long
and valuable services to Canada, and that e\en in
old age he retained much of that great natural gift
for politics and party leadership which ena1)le<l him
to capture and hold office so long and so successfully,
and won for him a wide reputation as a statesman
both at home and abroad.

It may be justly claimed, I think, that our Cana-
dian Parliaments — considering the difference in
circumstances — compare not unfavourably with the
British Lords and Commons, and the American
Senate and House of Representatives. All our
Parliaments since the Union have contained many
admirable public speakers and not a few orators
of the highest rank.

464

CANADIAN ORATORQ aiv„n ^

"KArORS AND DEBATERS

Mr. D'Arcy McOiw t

'•"the highest' sense'f he woT/\n^ ^" °^^'-
and sparkling. Mr L S Z°'"^~^"ght, polished

"^.'th this gift of the gods and?.M ^^^" ^^^ ^orn
'-'th his charming rtoon' 1^ '"•^""^'^ *°P'««e
^^^ «lled the siKer-Sn 'ued „ T'"'^ ^°'''^-- He
«:«-' an admirable debater ein'"'- ^'^'- Morion
f '•ench. Cartier was b'u' ^ , '" ^"^'■^'' «■■
fo'-cefnl and effective Mr t',!" ^^S-'^^ive, b„t
"f Parliament in regard to Con,. °"""' "'^ M^"f°r
mentary practice. His sne^ ""°""' ""^ P^'-'-a-
f.'ort. but always model, nff' •^'''^ '""^^'-'aWy
•'■g-ifiedddivery. Mr tv" , An?" ^"^''^"^ ^^^
•encyclopedia of Parliamen ! '' ''"' ^ ^^^Iking

-rable William mZZ^^^' '^""^'^^ge. Hon^
l^ater, generally graced fi t' ^ P°«shed de-
^'oqu-t. The Hono2,;"i ^^^^^'^^^-qnently

-as . accomplished sp at/ Ti?^^"' ^^"^'■°"
fluent m delivery and cnnc ^^ ^^^ -^'ear and

>n the Maritime Jro^;'rerT g", '' '^^"--^
"ards L.eute..ant-Governor of V •^°"'' ^"^'^'■-
Messrs. Smith and Anelin of v t°^^ Scotia).
Mr. David Laird oTpZcJ eT" ^Z?'^''^'^' ^"''
John Thompson proved v ,? "''"'^ ^^'and. Sir
of the foreLstS"'b'e";l ^° '^ ^ 1"^ ^^''^'-
conchatory and con inaW a?'', '""■ '^'^^•^'•'
however, no member of the H ""^^ ^^^t^''.

■■anked higher than Edward mT °^ ^°'^'"°'«
nentary debater, nor ex^rc sed "' " P^-'ha-

h's speeches on the disct.ssTn, ^I'T' '"""^"^ bv
^ Having already rrferrerf"V'^'°°'^P'«'^^- '
'" Mr. Mackenzie' Mr Gau D T"^''"""^ '^"8*h
-nght, and Mr. Bowell if on^v""' "P-^"^' ^^'- ^a-t-
«".^ only remams to add that

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

for decades these distinguished gentlemen were
champions of their respective parties in the House
of Commons and held the leading rank as Parlia-
mentary debaters. Mr. Mackenzie, in particular,
steadily improved whilst Prime Minister, and long

Hox. David -Mills.

before his Administration ended he had become one
of the readiest, ablest and most correct* debaters
which the House contained.

» It was said by some of the official reporters that Mr. Mac-
kenzie was the only member who.e speeches -nuld stand being
reported and published exactly as he uttered
466

HOWE'S GREAT MISTAKE

Ho„„u.aWe Joseph SrofCv"1"f. ^''^ '"^
a I^et as well as an oratAr ^°'^ Scotia. He was

bn)/.a„t oratfons ever de£er "" "' '"^ «-'
°ccas,on. Very sad indeed vT^sh" '" '"*^'-"«t'onaI
He was a great British A^ '^'' "^--'-^ 'J^ath.
venous mistake in opposL ?"'; ';' '"'^ "^^"^ a
"^^■^•- seemed to oblEa te^h^ '^?'''"''"- Time
"•""erous friends and Idn^? '' 'T' "'^">- "^ h-'s
«nseq„ence thereof, the g Tat v '"'^'^ "'•■■'• ■"
of a broken heart. ^^^^ ^"'''^ Scotian die.l

Taken altogether, the first P, r
federation reflected credit ^^''''^'"^''ts after Con-
^"d Puhhc Life of Can ,,r" 7''^ f^"'^''-^ ^ "

--takes, they kept step w?hth:""' """""^ ■'' ^-^•
developments and requirr,ne„. T''^'' '"aterial
fi«nt commercial exjans'on \ ^^'"' "'^ '"agni-
have taken place since 180? "u' '^^°^P">tv which
^"--■•ng from the Ml^'tZu t' ^'-f-'eration
f- dark recesses of " he ?' ^'1^'- '-""^ even
awakening to the thrill of . P''"* ^''"' Land "
'I 's hardly necessary to sav t^T.?^ "■^'''■^^f-".
ast discovered Canada andV '^' ^^"^'^ has a
f'°n to describe it as "rn " "°^" "° «aggera.
S^'-ttering hmeligh '' ^°"^P"^"°"s m the wS fs

467

CHAPTER XLIV.

CANADA'S FUTURE POLITICAL OUTLOOK— A FEW
OBSERVATIONS IN CLOSING.

At Confederation some clouds still darkened our
political sky. But they have all, or nearly all, en-
tirely disappeared, and that we are now launching
our barque ajnong the nations as a part of the
British Empire, and under the aegis of the British
Crown, gilds our future with exceedingly bright
and brilliant colours.

No other young country ever started upon its
career under more favourable circumstances. As we
have already seen, the Dominion possesses the
agricultural, the manufacturing, the maritime, in-
deed, all the resources of a great nation, and with
the splendid Constitution handed down to us by
Macdonald, Mowat, Brown, Cartier, Gait, Tupper.
Macdougall and the other founders of Confedera-
tion, unless as a people we prove unequal to the
occasion, the Canada that is to be must play an
influential part in the future of this continent and
the world.

As a people, Canadians continue proud to be part
of the British Empire, and the Tariff Preference
given by us to British trade, and the almost uni-
versal approval of a Navy to assist in Canada's and
468 ^^

OVER-ZEALOUS IMPEMAUSTS

as already mentioned— it is as extinrt ,» n,

'Ion of prehistoric ages. The las tth n. '^'TT

country could n^,. .1 ^^ ^'"<^'' t^'s

"i.-Ih-ons of people • ^^ '"""^"^ '"' '^^'" '^""'^^ed

atJchedtoO^SteS^C-arr?

-ass of Canadians ,00k with 1 avour on^X
numerous organizations and devices of over-zTabu
oTe 'Sn? o°f r °- ,T'^ '""'^ dominion t:

Ir: „r.P°''l-' t*"- All the great C^ladians
sknown-mcIudingtheHonour-

-30

469

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

able George Brown, Sir John Macdonald* and Sir
Oliver Mowat — considered Imperial Federation " an
idle dream," and that after half a century of agita-
tion none of its zealous advocates has ever been able
to produce a practicable and taking plan, doubtless
arises from the fact that, when attempted to be
formulated, Imperial Federation at its root — in its
very nature — is found to be antagonistic to the
national aspirations of the Canadian people.

This is the only cloud visible, in my humble judg-
ment, in the sky of our Imperial relations, and it
is my earnest hope thait the sagacity of our statesmen
may be able to check the agitation of British and
Canadian jingoes for political changes antagonistic
to Canadian autonomy and prevent it growing into
a serious national danger, which it might very
easily do.

Twenty years hence the population of Canada
may possibly not be far from 25,000,000. This will
increase our res])onsibilities as well as our strength,
but if as Canadians we act with a li'ty spirit of

♦ " The proposal that there should be a Parliamentary Federa-
tion of the Empire I regard as impracticable. I greatly doubt
if England would a— •» that the Parliament which has sat so
many centuries at \\ -linster should be made subsidiary to a
Federal Legislature. i.„,, however that might be. I am quite
sure that Canada would never consent to be taxed by a central
body sitting at London in which she would practically have no
voice, for her proportionate number of members in such an
assembly would amount to little more than an honorary repre-
sentation. That form of Imperial Federation is an idle dream.
So. also, in my opinion, is the proposal to establish a uniform
tariff throughout the Empire. No colony would ever surrender
its right to make its fiscal policy." — Sir John Macdonald, Pope's
Life. Vol. TL. page 215.

470

AN ANGLO-SAXON CONFEDERACY

Anienca needs .IITIZTtT '0:': ^"^'^
'"g- Sleeping giants .V , """'''^ '"' ^^ang-
Peril ma/become ea ar"'^'"'"^- '^''^ bellow
Pacific coasts Tre „! '"J "'°"'="' ^"^' °"^
marauding force exposed to any

energ.es is dearly apparent T. T"""^ '''

needed on our Pacific cS' u ? '"'^ "^ ^P^eially
of Hudson's Bay. north a L '1:°""'^ '''' ^''°^«
and in fact all over the D„ J • '' ' ^''''"' ^'''^^-
'■mportant problem Ire w"v "'""' /'"'"^"^^ «"d «"-
That as a people Z Zt'I'n? ° "" ^^^PP'^d with.
f«"y the grand des i^wWch PrL° T*"' °"' ^"^«-
withm the grasp of o^ v ^'"^"?^"^« has placed
Canadian Confederacy shouM h"^.. *"" "magnificent
and constant effort ^^^Z ^ *''" ^^""""t P^yer

public-spirited cSe„ "^ '''""'°''<= ^^"-dian a'nd

Besides seeking to make r, a
sacredly guarding our Canal, "'^ ^'■"^*' and
a™ of our statesmen should hr.'r-^' '^' "^^ief
strongest link in the cE of f •" Tf ' ^""^^^a the
hinds Great Britain and th /"'"'*''"> ^'"''^h now
^"^ 'f they can S tcr"aS^?^^^^ '°^^*'^-

po-ofB4in.;;:t£dlSSs--

471

PUBLIC MEN AND PUBLIC LIFE IN CANADA

tralia, New Zealand and South Africa, it would be a
master-stroke in promoting the world's peace, in
terminating the brutal savagery and cursed waste of
war, and in uplifting humanity throughout the whole
earth to a higher Christian and civilized plane.

The End.

472

APPENDIX I

(See page 436)

,'"""". 01 love anc
for h,o Her Majesty fr,
Prn «■■"' ■""ropolis. "'""'''" "• we poorer qlarteri

incrl 1,., .u. T> "^

to thn«!'^'" """<'' ""i'd back ,",°' Sl. Pauls, could not

■-■-pa,«n, iaden with the go^spoiU ''"°' ""'"« »f«er °a

any provinces, or

473

APPENDIX I

many kinK<lom>, or with thouiandi of lUve* and priioncn
fetlereil to hii chariot— the triumphant in thii c»m *■* »
woman, a woman no longer in the flower of youth but already
marked by the hand of time, and in her cort«g< w«r« the
men of many land» and of many religion*— men from the
black races of Africa, men from the yellow racef of A»ia,
men from the mixed racci of the West Indiei, Chrntiani.
Mohammedans, Buddhists— but free men all ! Free men all:
some of them wearing the uniform of the British Army and
proudly marching to the strains of England's martial airs.
And when in front of the noble temple, under the canopy of
heaven, the vast throng reverently invoked the blessing of
Almighty God for the aged Sovereign and her vast dominions,
a thrill passed over every one present, and each felt in his
heart the conviction that, as the Roman Empire had been
built up by force and violence, so it had been destroyed by
force and violence; but that the British Empire lived, and
could live ever, upon the eternal laws of freedom and justice.
And as it is for the British Empire as a whole, so it is for
every component part of that Empire. That is the inspiration
which shall ever guide us in the discharge of the duty which
the Canadian people have entrusted to our care, and it is
w^t*- th'- rc^olv-c ih'>t we, on this day, meet the Commons
of Canau.'..— Parliamentary Debates, Vol. I., of 1808, page <».

474

Al'l'KXDIX II

Mv n. V Ottawa. May jSih im-

abicJice fn',n\r?,W"^p?:i^' ,°.', """ -""'^ received, ' u,, '„y
an. wholly npp„«',.,'^/,^.{'; .^/. " ">.y a"«wen„g i, s.^,,,;""
Iirst place, ] think ii nl] i ... <-"miiRrcial Union, In th,

....r «oo.l, woXl,e'a'rry"a 1 • o'/.^'-i'l^r '^^- '' "L """"''°"
«am trouble woul.1 he ex- er c ce \> .. ' '"'^ •■""' "■■""■
;lmies. Such a Union woulf at h ,,''?''/'•' ""' ''"'" "' "'e
'icvitahly lead to a comolete Po ii, , ". r''!"" """■ ""d W"uld
U would lea<l to e«ra^^en enf w '^'' h^'Tf' ";. ^^^''' '< l"""
would he an unprecedented ,,,1*. ' '"""" '-""'"^>- '•

-oSl^-^t^-rttf ;™ Heiri^^j;;;;?^^,-:

«ample of its working We could no'?'?"'''"' ^"'"" " an
ex.stinK relations with Great Mri„i„ vi""" '°,"">i„tain the
■n .mate commercial relati™, „ ,h ^ ^i ''? ""'' ^'"^ "■» •""«
all the Annexation elem»m i„ r ? "^"' "ation. .Already
policy. 1 am bound to do M in'm^n"'' "«" <"' "■""«=*
Un.on with Britain, and if noss«,lT^,'^ "" '° maintain the
arrangement with th " United sltU "" ,'""'^ '"" "< ""
"ffens.ve and defensive. S.,ch alH-,n^ """L"; ="' ""'ance
command general peace and forwnd^h "'°"''' ^^ "» weight
In ^h """''='."°"al justice "" ""<■'•«" of civiliza-

round'th'e Mo'therTknd'and'now L^''"' '^"'""'" clustering
mstead of weakness as hey were'^fZ'J* " """"^ °' '•""«''
'he great Republic sees V m fo" m fn^''"' f^"' ''"''■ """1
everything to bind to. ! eV wha7 Z l""" ' «"/'"' 'loing
speaking nationalities "" '"" Sot of English-

^VZ.)'6 S'tilntn'^nr^erid"':"'- ^^^l"' -"=" " " "?
that guided Britain i, putting down T'«,'' «">» «"timent
East an,l led to paying "i^.Z^Z :';'=a„'c^pI1e';h^^"=nr.r''t

i7S

APPENDIX II

in Jamaica and the other West India Islands, but who w uld
now interpose the objection? Sentiment has much to do -i b
the government of the world and all men are responsible fo;
the conduct of public affairs so far as their influence goe»

I need not say that I am willing to go a long way in Reci-
procal trade, as our abortive Treaty of 1874 will show. Then
we consulted Manufacturers before committing ourselves.
When the scheme was afterwards published many of them
were frightened and declared they could not compete as they
had been making their articles from U. S. Patents. These
comprised stove and implement makers largely. This would
give trouble no doubt, as such articles could not reach the
United States markets.

I am not to-day in trim for writing much, but I may return
to it some other day. In the meantime, I am opposed in any
case to a Commercial or Customs Union.
I anj, my dear Young,

Yours faithfully,

A. Mackenzie.

James Young, Esq., Gait.

476

APPENDIX III

Author of This Book
(See page 397)

'y THg

Imp"riam\e°atf™ist?h?^^^^^^^^^^^ the great object .he

ally approached, the "desirail» ' ""* S°»' '» be gradu-

and Government? As ^.''^ '".^ "'f Dominion ParLment
from Lond„„ their ^occuTatron"a'„d"""e^, '"'''' ^°^""^^
tically be gone, although I sunnnc. ""f"'n«ss would prac-
buildmgs at whose Sic beau^,^" "°We, Parhamentary
gazed with growing lJ^lL„ / *° ""any Canadians havi
utdized as a greaTZatk asy^lum" or^'^""! ^'■''^'- ™'sht "I
the people of Canada ever conTen„H *"* '"r ncurables ! If

>riTriX"£r ^^^^^^^^^ '° '"''°"^-
Sca^^£ls5;=?i:j^HS

mons the Honou?abirEdwarf'^Bfe''i;'l<=. ".""^'^ <>« Com
had passed the turn, if indeed fh" '^'j ■"' '•"'•ers "they
to Imperial Federation " I„ hi, 'r * ^^^ "" been a road
'900, &r Charles Tupper descrih^rf l"°1f'' 'P««h, May ^th

477

I i

APPENDIX III

other prominent Canadians, on the future destiny of Canada.
Sir John's reply contained the following:—

Sir John Macdonald on Federation.

" We are told that we want an Imperial Federation. I will
not trouble you with a disquisition on that subject just now,
but I will tell you Imperial Federation is utterly impracticable.
We would never agree to send a number of men over to
England to sit in Parlian-.ent there and vote away our rights
and principles. I am, as far as the question goes, up to the
handle a Home Ruler. We will govern our own country.
We will put on the taxes ourselves. If we choose to mis-
govern ourselves we will do so, and we do not desire England,
Ireland, or Scotland to tell us we ar» fools. We will say :
• If we are fools we will keep our folly to ourselves. You
will not be the worse for it, and we will not be the worse for
any folly of yours.' "

This statement of Sir John Macdonald, who v/as conspicu-
ously British during his whole career, is exceedingly char-
acteristic and jaunty. His seemingly off-hand worH" how-
ever, are pregnant with meaning, and very clevci c • ress
the feelings of Canadians generally on Imperial I^ in.

He evidently would tolerate no interference with o ,.its

to govern ourselves as we pleased, and that, too. wh^iher v.e
did it wisely or unwisely. I like the manly, independent ring
of Canadianism which permeates this statement of the great
Conservative leader, and if ever Imperial Federationists get
their hobby beyond the nebulous stage, I am persuaded that
the stirring words of Sir John on this question will be re-
echoed by the great body of the Canadian people of every
party and of every class. . . . r<

In closing my remarks I cannot but agree with the Con-
servative and Liberal British statesmen— comprising four-
fifths of all the most eminent Parliamentary leaders— who
consider Mr. Chamberlain's policy daring and dangerous alike
to the Motherland and the colonies. His whole agitation, too
is decidedly un-British. This is true both of his methods and
his measures. John Bull prides himself on broadening his
liberties slowly, " from precedent to precedent." Mr. Cham-
berlain proposes a political and commercial revolution. This
is certainly true of Imperial Federation, and, commercially,
he asks the nation to set aside its historic British policy of
" free trade and colonial freedom," and to don partly or
wholly the tattered garments of American protectionism,
which millions of Americans are now earnestly trying to
throw off.

478

APPENDIX III

Hugh Cecil, M.p a„H nwnv ,„l ^ opposite effect. Lord
U would "smash the Empire "'S'^f /'"' ^""h"; they say
^"i'^'ve much faith Si the stahilftv oTlU ^"^^ respect for,
frchy. Uut that Great Britain IL^ "'= S^and old .VIoii-
the world, could restri.-t it= ' ' ^'■*^' '"^ing nation of

obstructioiis, „,ake'?/il|1,,' ^derrSTo? '^'''P'"* ^^^^
hons by taxing the very food hev ?^? Si°- '" '°'""K ■"'!-
Federation on the colonies wihL I' "'"^ ""P°se Imperial
and the loss of importan , owe , o ' h''^ ""'""^ ''"rdens
gravely imperilling the British P,^- government, without
I'eheve. Indeed, if is mv fi™ E^Pire, I am quite unable to
and revolutionaVy chanKes™f'evr"'T' """ '"'^ retrograde
reproduce the nafional trouble, and At""",^' """'^ 'P^dn,
the early days of George III and rnrnT'^u"''"'^'' "arked
of the American colonies in Vh^ .; u?^ '>°rth, and the loss
repeated before the twStJe"th^'losfl""^""' ""'"^^ """Id ^
Weare"all7mpenalis&i"i™P"'-"^'n and I have done
and Briti,,, co!;nection%'"e*Jrnce?;,ed 'Bufl'rl'^ '," '^'i™'"
"'g that not one Canadian in /. ■ , ' ' '«' safe in sav-
Imperialists, who seem o "eiard^h,'.' "' '"^ ''"8° class '^f
prising one-half of the entirf North A^""^ Dominion-corn'

subvert our'ind^^^d'enf SS^'rir""''' """ »"«"'"
of a peaceful, prosperous NTn^t. Government, and instead
natural destiny seemf l™be wCuW r'T','^"" P°""- ^" our
as directly connected with Z noli^l^o '.'l!' «''^?' Dominion

Old w"'?.'"''^^. ""="■0" and the'^wa s and 1 .""i'V^^^ "™-
Uld World, as if no three thoiL^fi ■? bloodshed of the
beween us. "^^ tnousanrt miles of ocean rolled

479

APPENDIX IV

Correspondence with the Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid
UuRiER IN Regard to Reform of the Senate.

(See page 460)
Prime Minister's Office, Ottawa, Nov. 24th, 1906.
Mv dear Young:-! have your favour of the 21st instant. I
am L?ry to hav^e. to heheye that what you say ,s on y too
true and that the remedy is not easy to find. 1 here is one
S however as to which 1 would like to have further in-
formktion; viu say we should adopt a measure of Senate
refTiTO This is a subject which hLS caused me a good deal
of a^'iety Would you be good enough as o send me a
svnoosis of the Senate reform which you think should be
S^H ? Two aroects of the question have to be considered,
pint Ihe m™de of appointme^nt. Should it be by election
directly by the people or by any other body, or by some other
mode of appointment than the one now listing? Second
Siould the appointment be for life or for a term of years.
The whole dlSculty lies in th-se two questions.

Believe me as ever, my dear Young,

Yours very sincerely,

Wilfrid Laurier.
Honourable James Young, Gait.

Thornhill, Galt, Dec. 1st, 1906.
The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M.G., etc.,

My dear Laurier :-Re Senate reform, I agree that your two
quSons cover the di-ficulties [^quiring solution.
..^^w-s' otriu^rn^XS'gV^uf f:Z ifTest^ion

'"? Shotd the Senat. be abolished? This is popular with
many, but inadvisable and impracticable.

■ absurdity— on a modern, democratic Constitutu .
480

APPENDIX IV

■nasses of th " peSple of a? L''°pP"''!' "'"' "«=
when tried in old Canada ^" «' =. Provmces, and
4. Should appointmmt. h.t,r """"* successful.

not more .han"'t°en'years L f°/ ^eXr'sh*?™. °^^'"" ^O'
no friends. ^ '* membership has few, almost

ce?iaint?'forTo« tnd^thTTlb'/r!^™ "•« Senate soon? Most
teeth to do sof and we a« now i,P"'y "» P''<J8ed to The
fa.rly chargeable witrviolatine ™r ""*^-^ '"f majority-
mere party advantages ^ """^ promises o? Reform for

.uL^o^n;^ttU^Vo;^Vru'rfre%1,7^^ on the Senate

mMiTsh^^t'^ht"^^^^^^^^^^

■nto^harmony with ^^'^'^i^S ^^^S^^Z^

en^gh Vt^ari^orariTec,'-' "i^' ="''- O^d foresight
■n a t'>ht place%nd I also belfeve%h^?'-^^^ K''°''^^ P"' you
you add Reform of the Sena eht"- > '' """* Minister"
great measures of your Admin,-«? P"""'?"' ^""^ *° the othei^
a pane with either B-ownTMacd™=,IH™'''/'^« y°" »"
political triumphs you have already won ' ' '^ '° *•"

I remain, my dear Uurier,

Very truly yours,

James Young.

481