IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V. A // A :/. 1.0 I.I 1.25 ^flllllM ilM ■■ illM f40 M 1.4 ill 1.6 Vi eri(ius attack of illness, when one iliiy I ri.'cuivt^i/ i)\ replied that my w( rds were the honest expression of my views, and that I was not ashamed ol their beir^ known to all whcun they might concern. " The lii.shop then goes (m to say thai he residcl at that lime in Arichat, and did not visit any part of Anligonish county during the campaign that ensued." ' The above quotation, marked as it is by genuine modesty and courtesy, sounds well enough, but as it is very mislead- ing, I have concluded to compile these pages, containing a statement of facts known to very tew ; facts, however, which belong to the political history of our country, and should therefore be known to all, and especially to every one interested in the subject of Mr. Hopkins' biography. How Sir John Tho.mpson's Political Carf.kk Co.mmknced. I cannot better illustrate the manner in which Mr. J. S. I). Thompson began his political career than by giving the following let er from the Hon. James McDonald, now Chie* Justice of Nova Scotia, but in 1877 local leader of the Conservative Party in that Province, Sir Charles Tupper having taken up his residence in Toronto after the defeat of Sir John McDonald's government in 1873 : — IIaiii AN. \.S.. 251)1 Sept., 1877. My Dkar Miii.kk, In view of a local dissoliilinn lliis fall, it i^ very ini|">rtaiil, I lliinU, thai lolin S. 1). Thompson shiiiild have a scat in I he new ildiix-. 'I his I think "Icsirahle fur ninny reasons, hut more e: pecially fur the reason that we sadly need a few men of delerminalioii and ahility there. It is manifest th.it the men now leadini; the Opjxi- silion need to he strenj^lhened to enahle tluiii ti command that pidlic confidiiite wliich will ensure .success. Mr. 'rhom|i>oi), I need not irll joii, would he a valuahlc acijiiisilioii, hut he must he returned hy a C.'alhoiie con^titui-ncy. There are three or foui of these in the eastern part of tin; Province, with all of which )(iu are well ac- quainted, and have larjje inlUience. Can you not manage' in some way to secure Thompson's return ? If there he a local eii'i'li in ihi-- f.dl, I nerd not tell you, it i^. most im|)ortant, if not e.^sential to success ne\t Mimiiur, ih.it we -.hall ^ut a majority of the New House of .\s^eiiihly. Let me hear from you and lihli^c, ^ cHUs iiuiy, (••^Ud) j.\^ .Ml h.i.N \| 1.. To IltiN. W. Mil 1,1 R. I'.S. -'rhi> is written uilhwut Thouip oa\ knowledge 01 enn^eiil. On the receipl ot'lhi- foM'^oiii;.; IcUe-i, I (oik hided to call cm Mishop Cameron, then ie>idin,n at .\ncl)at. and uiihoul shouino lijni Mr. McDonaid'ii cuniimmicalion or saving anyllnnn t'> liiui a't'out it, ol)tain his opinion on tlic snl)je( l to uliic li it rcleiied. I was ph-ase'd tf) find, as I anticipated, tliat his l,ordship was warmly in favor of i^eiting a scat in the House of .Assembly for Mr. I'hoiiip-on. There happeneii at the moment to he a vacant seat in ihe (lallujlic County of .\ntii^onish, caused hy the resignation ot one oi the loc.d members, the late Mr. J. J. McKinnon. I suggested to the liishop that he should use his influence to gel a reiiuisition l(j Mr. Thuinpson to stand for the vacancy. His Lordship ajiproveil of my suggestion, but said he was too sick, (the Uishop was seriously ill at the time) to take an active part in the business himself, hut .eiiuested me to write lO his lYiend, the Rev. R. McDonald, then I'. 1'. of Tictou, m.w iJishop of Harbor Clrace, N.I''., a native of Antigonish, and veiy pojiular there ; ex|jlain to him his Lordship's views, and ask him to go to the shire town of the con- stituency and secure the desired requisition. 1 accordingly wrote Father M( Donald, stating tin- Hisliop's vitw , and urging on t-viiy ground that presented itsdt to niy mind llie wisdom of sci urinu iht- varam scat in Ami,^rJni^h lor Mr. I'hompson. 1 duly received the foHowiny reply from the Rev. .l;(. i.tKinan : — " I'K nu', No\ \ S((iiiA, Oct. r.tli, 1S77. Dkak Sik, I am tlii- moiiuMii in rocvipt nf your (.•Meoiiichnll SDMii ln' himself ajjain. ••««•♦ As to the second 0)1101 of your alile letter, I am, I asstne yon, perfectly at one with yourself. There are few men for whom I have a greater L.ve and esteem than for Mr. I. S. I). Thompson. In iml.lic life he citaiiily \soiild do honor to himself, and rellect credit on the Cathoiirs ,,1 the Dominion. There is no cuniy, need I tell yon, which I should rather have the lion.. r <.f .ueli a representative than our ovm, native county, .Antii^oni^h. The proi)kin to he -,olve.l, it >eems to me, is not how to have him elected for that county, hut how to haw him electe 1 without opp,,Mii.,n. A county which at this moment feel> it>elf f.ir the llr>t lime emancipal. d fr..ni ihe political olii,'archy nf a (juarter of a century inu>l he handled uith mu.ii deiicu). In fad |,, avoid recurr- ence of the Litter jioliiical enmities of the pa>i, ihe lay elemnil must take, or mu^i he convinced thai they are taking, ihe initiative in ihr muter. I'erinit me to suj,'j;esl the scheme by which this can he most easily aicompli>he'I. 1. Kct-piiis; polilus entirely out of sif^ht.Vx Mr ThompM.n he invited to repeat his lecture oiijhe "(urmaii rer>eculi.)n. " in Aniii-onish l.efore the pui)lic and Collcfje. 2. Let a simultaneous meeting (informal) of the c:ollege Hoard he convene.I. 3. After the lecture, let the clergy and leading laymen he .juietly operated on to ofTer Mr. Thomp.son a ref|uisition to stand for the county. r feel confident the lecture will enlist the sympathy of all Catholics in lavor of the ycmng and talented convert. We nMd.l get Father Cerroir, as senior niemher of (he lioar.l, to act as chairman of the lecture a-aiji^l (Unnaiiy. If lather (ierroir take kindly to Mr. Thomps,.n. I helieve he w ill he elected by acclam.ilion. .Something at all events mu-i be a rcpiisition. If this p],,,, .voMnmund itself to Ili> I.or.lship and yourself. I shall attend to///,; if, tails. With sentiments of e>teeiii, 1 have the honor to remain, Sincerely yours, ITON. \A . Miller. 1 This Icltcr was scDt l)y iic to llislvip Cameron, who rcUirntd it with nil cniloisL'inciit in his own lian Iwriling as follows ; — " All ri>;ht. Hr Ca MICRON." On the receipt of Hon. James M. Donald's let'er, I sent him a reply, assuring him of my willingness to do all in my power to priJinote Mr. Thompson's interests, (ht sides (K'alin^^ with othir m:\tters) ; l)tit fretting iM) answer, 1 wrcjle him a little sharply anollier note, relating how far proj-rcss had been tnade in eiili>iing the services of Father Mo l)on:dd, and shoitly alter, I received the fulhwing letter from Mr. Thomps(jn : — IIai.hax, 15th Oclnlicr, 1877. Mv TV.Ak Sir, On Salunl.iy Mr. ^l^•l)llIl,^^^ pl.nccd ymr kllirs in my hands (li>cliisinj; a liltlc cons)iirncy for llii- sulij .;.• ilimi of .Aiitijjonish. I havr lliou^lil alion' llic nialtir ciin - fully sini'L' tluii, aii to oui Iricn 1 ainl co-consjiir.itor in Pirtou my \wumol t!.anl,> for tl'c inlcrc^t you lia\c al! laKiii in a MiallLr of such jjrcal im|iortan<-o lo mi-. Saturday's C/iivnic't' announced liiat .Mr Jos<.'|)h McDonald liail taken the ruid - so one of the plans of the camiiaiyn - an unojiposcil election — must he considered out of the (|ui-'siioa. I'Vom t!ie extract you ^ave I'rom I-'a'.hcr McI)onalii'> letter I see clearly what the dit'ticully would In. in the way of the clerj^y taking the initiative, and the active part of promoting my candidature. I fpiile aj)- preciatc that difficulty, and probably the plan which father McDonald suggested wa.s the only one that coulil be devised for surmounting it. I have a little doubt, how ever, as to the ethcacy of even that arr.angement. • •»••• Considering the dirficulty then which Father McDonald suggests —the absence of any means suimmintiiig it at so short a notice, and the very great disadvantage which a stranger must be at in competing with one krown and living in the country, I would suggest whether it would not be l)etter to let me stand back for this election, and to run somebody else whose return will be safe, and who can be depended on lo opjjose the present wretched Ciovcrnment. Vou will tpiite understand, that one, like myself, naturally ambitious, and whose hopes have been excited by so gratifying a prospect as the nomination which you contemjilated, might be reluctant lo lose this opportun- ity, but I think that under the circumstances it would be ilecidedly best to let it pass. Should you and his lordshiji continue lo hold the view that I should aspire to the scat, I can avail myself very soon of chances to become know n to the people of the 5 c.uinly. IVrhapsynii Mill ,1,, me tlir favur t.. ^blvjsi. nu- a, f. ymir vicwH ..i, these l".ints. ami, if ynii think well, to o.iiiim.iiicatc mine t,. hi> lonKhip. Meantime, with in:iny thanks, I remain, yiirs, etc., (st;(l) Jso. S. I). TiKiMisoN." The Ilnn'l.le W. Milhr. I did not (onmiiiiiicatc this (lis(•oura^inJi letter to iJishop Cameron <.r hither M. I )wnald, hut applied myself to the task as well as I knew how of brin-ing about a chan-e in the writer's views, in whi( h, as the following letter fiom Mr. Thompson will show, I was sik ressfiil : — " IIai II a \, 291 h Oct., 1S77. M\ |)I.\K SIK, \ niir letter ..f the Jjr.l ha> juM been receive.!, nn.l is very Liratifyin^ inJeed. The arj;uments contained in y.nirsof the iSth were .inite convincing', and since my tele ^r.uii, I have nnt n.odilie,! n-y resolution |,. ^m ahead, let the conso|uences be what (hry may. W.iir la-t letter remold all appiehensiuns of defeat, l.il ev.n if defeat were certain, 1 am (|uite rea.ly for the contest, it my friends ,,n,l the party think (.is they do) that I shonl.l j^o ahead. The future iiKnements I leave entirely in the hamls of his ior.lship and yourself, and my other frien.ls. hnldin- myself in le.idii.es, to <'l:ey at any time. If you h.ave any sut'L,'estions to make, I will be yi.id to have them ; until they come, I jiresume, I am t.. remain jMsdve. If this matter should result in my getting into public life, I sincerely h,,pe that I shall he able to prove to Hishop Cameron that his trust ha. nm been misplaced, al- though his ,,pininn of my capacity m.av have been too hi-h. Von .are aware ihat nearly all the difficulties with which Catholirs l,nv.- ha.l to contend in matters of local Iej,rislati..n. (education, for example,) have come from members ,,f ,,ur party. That is the great cause of our being unable to carry sullicient Catholic support to make the -eats in flalifa.x secure. I Halter myself if I obtain a seat in the House I can efTect a C(.n.siderahle change in that respect, and the obligation to d,, m>, I shall regard as more sacred th.an any other. The promises of a candidate do not count for much, but if I gel the opportunity, I will make mine good. With renewed thanks to liishop Cameron ani:ak Sik, IV pluiistil to ^^biicc ovor my letter In Father (lillis. It has been written iiiiild many ilistr.nctions, hut I iliink it cmers []k- ^jnnmil ^iitl'icieiuiy ti> shnsv my atlvncacy (if Thiim|i>i)ii, ami my reasons therefor, N'oiirs faithfully, (sjjcl) f John Camkro.n. P.S, — I hasf li.ul no liinc In take a cnjiy ol ilic klter." It is needless to say the letter, (oi wliicli I did not fail to take a copy,) was clear and to the point, hut it failed to effect the purpose for which it was intended, as the se(iuel will show. A day or two after the ilishop's messenger had called on me, I received the follo.ving letter from the lion. James McDonald : — " IIaiii AX, 23r(| Oct.. 1.S77. Mv lHAU Mil. IKK, I am afraiil I ileserw the scali)inj; ailmiiiislcil in yours of the 17th inst., altlioui^h I (lid not really intend to be disre>|)ectful or neijlij^ent. The truth is I have been running about s ) much lately, and so occupied in Ki^by's absence, that I had for- j^otten I had not wiilien to you, althouijh the subject of lur correspondence was con- stantly present to my mind, The most severe ]>ortion of your letter was the supp(j- sition that conscientious scruples had inl(.'rvened. Let us only secure Thompson's return, and I shall have no ditliculty with my I'resliytcrian conscience. \'ou have managed the whole business admirably, and have thereby imposed another obligation on youf piplitical friends, \\n\t last letter settled any scruples that Thompson may havi.- had and he informed me yestenlay that he had telegraphed you that he was ready whenever you gave the word. I know no one moie atlmirably tilted to manage a mailer of the kind than Father McDonald, and I look to an elec- tion by acclamation, but I think no time should now be lost. Thompson's candi- dature is now talked of openly, and the longer delinite oi>eralions are delayed, the more likely will trouble arise. It is becoming every day more important to have Thompson in the local House this session. * * « \'ours truly. Hon. Senator Miller (Sgd) Jas, McDonald. rpnn rtcciviri); my reply to liis letter of the 6th Oct., I'athcr McDonald proceeded to Anli^otiisli to anaii^o "the details" of a requisition to Thompsoii, l)ut the aiteiiipt prcjvcd a complete failure. The villaj^e "coterie," as he teimed ihc leading; ptjjiticians of the ^hlrt: town, were all adverse to the hrin^inj; in of a stranger to represent the (ounty. Father MiDonald eventually wrote me that he thought it l)elter that Thomp-^on should stand aside till the general election next year. I (onsiderod this would he a fatal mistake, and sent him my views in the f»)llowing commiinicalion : — " .\U|i II \ 1 , Oct. 2(i!ll. |S77, Kl-.V. hl.AU .•^IK, i h<)|ii' ynii will nut wi'ury of my C(iric>i">n for an answer ti> the |lrcl|M>^ililln it contains. I wrutc you till.' (illicr day lliat in a convcr-.ation I lately hail with ilic lii^liop rfspi'Cling Mr. Tlioinpson's camliilatiire in .\nti^;unish, his Lonlsliip was <>{' npinion that our fricnil ^hoiiM contol llie I'rocni vacancy "ssin or lose." Neither I'i^hop Cameron nor Mr. 'rhoiii|i>on will suffer any lo>> of mental peace, or iliniinution of |>rcstii4e, fr )in defeat in a j^ood cau-t come. Such a re-ult woiiM In' the Ite^l pieparation for Cirtain victory iie\t )■ ar. I'esides, it is clear now thai whenever Thi inpioii i^ iirou^ht intii the I'ouniy the local "coterie " will ^ive him oi)|lo^ilioIl, and -if I laii sej into the future with .my accuracy at all the chances of defeatin;j;him asa new man next year will le lielter than at present. If Tiiomii-oii he fr'j^lileneil out of the field now, the " cott-rie ' will be emholileneil liy iheir -.uccess, and will he >iimulateil l>y a sen->e of danyer to yrealei activity m the coming year. With the patronage of two i;overnment> , it their di'-|.o>al (and I need not say that the I'euer.il as well a> the local j;overiiment will N|>are no effort to destroy Thomp>oii politicdly), ,uid with all the means for comliiiiuion and intrigue, which the local wirepuller- -o well ullder^talld iiow t) u^e, in their liamls- if Thompson retire now he will have a more formidaMe task before him a year after this tli.tn he has to-day. I!ut suppose he does retii'', who in the iMeantime will hi- working /',»■ him in the county a> hi- opponents will be workintj tent personal intere-.t in his behalf that "the coterie" and its ramifications will be constantly exertintj, in season and out of st^ason, to destroy his prospects ? No one I No one will make him.self an ag^res.sive chamoion of his interests during the intervening time, who is not willinj^ to make an exertiop to secure his election now, when a short, sharp and earnest struggle will jjui an end to .ill present and/«/«/-^ difficulty. I repeat, froin what you say of the local "coterie,"' a l.ard tight at the outset will be inevitable, but there will he oidy one I» iii,'l>l, it the II (lisaafer to have post " I am sorry therefore, I |'"iie hi- candidature till n certainly would iv wortiiless, if I ,11,1 , 1 cannot ajjrec with ext year, hut niy o] yu, \..S. I now concluded that th Thompson in the ere was only absence of a reciuisit one course open to Mr. ion, and that was t into the county at once ; declare himself is canvass without further delay. Besides I had o come h a candidate, and Iwjldly enter upon Cameron about this t best jiidge as to what Mr. Th ou.t;ht he to show himself anion imc in which his lordship said ■.—'•\ a note irom IJishop ou are the McDunald's lett< ompson ought to be doing, and how soon g his constituents, (sic)." I sent Fath hi s oi)inion of the course I => ■■" — ■■^"•■^'^'"-"i.^, \!^ui. 1 sent father r and my reply to Hon. Jatnes McDonald, and asked !iad an-wer : — resolved U> adont, i'h IS was his " llAi.iiAx, \..s., jothoct., 1S77. INTv ni:\K Mil IKK, I return herewith the letters as .e.piested. I entirely concur with jou as to the c..urse to be pursue.l, and have ,old Thompson so, hut I did not let him know that la.erMcI)on.ald.elt a little faint-hearted. Thompson has finally resolved to he Ku.ded entirely hy his lordship Ili^hop Cameron and yourself, e,ually ready for ,l,h, or retreat as you may advise. - * . Vour.s very truly, ("^K''* jAi McDoNAi.i,. \hn^. W. .Miller. After some delay, Mr. Thompson came to Antigonish, accompanied by h.s mtnmte friend, Mr. J. J. Stewart, editor and proprietor of the /fa/./as Herald, the leading Conservative organ in Nova Scotia This gentlomnn's brother, Mr. Douglas Stewart, afterw.uils became Sir lohn 'I'homi.son's private secretary, and his brother-in-law, the present lucige Sedgewick, his depnly in the ministry of Justice. Mr. Stewart was the ruhng spirit among Sir John Thompson's Hahfax friends mentioned in Mr. Ho|)kins' book, although there is only one fain^ reference made to him at the tail of the hst. Yet in abihty, influence and m.nagcment the quiet and unobtrusive editor was e(iual to ail the others pu'. together, and was so regarded by Sir John. He was in reahty, while by no means for' getting himself.as the public accounts amply show.thc powerful benefactor r)f his kith and kin— some of whom it will be admitted are pretty well "fixj.l." In that list there are the names of some men wl„,' have managed to get themselves into absurd prominence in .onnection with the career of the late Premier. I mention the.e particulars regard- ing .Mr. J. J. Stewart, because his name will appear further on in very confidential relations with Judge 'rhomi)son. On the day of Mr. Thompson's arrival at Antigonish I received the following telegram fro.n him : — .\N I KlOMsli, j|.,| \,,x-., |S-- To Hon. \V. Mm ikr. ArrivL-.l t.-day. S.uv .\Ic( iillivray, MclMar an.l nur frinvN. Mrdillivi iv per- sists Ml runnini; nn,I l,a> .ourcl M^natur..^ ,,C nur part) hcc. IJ., fri.n,|s l,„a.i tluy can dec him a-ain.t all intlucncc. X„ i.,f„rn.ati..n a, to tVdin^ nutsi.Jc, l,ui Nsil' ascertain Letter tii-ni,i;hi. (-U'l) J. >. I). 'r!iM\ii.,,N. The day after the receipt of the foreg.;ing teU„ram, I leceived the following letter frt)m .Mr. Thompson : — .\n I h.i)\|>||, 2l-,t .\m\ ., IS;;. MV 1)1 Ak .SiK, ll'-liue.-, Stewart an,! I arrive.l here tl,i> n,, .ming, an.l t.n.j the h. nation Iwl. .Mc(;illivary\car(lis out a. an in,lepem!ent. TI.e l5i>j,op-s letters hav - imt uia-le liini llinch in liis resolution to run. * « ^ , II :ippears that McC. is very MPint,-, and while w.- are ^hnsyiui^ a 1„,M r„,n!, and ,le- clarint; my intention to run, so as to l.lufl rather than he Muffed, I do not really see Ihe propriety of runninji-incurring ihe loss of time, lal.or an, ney of a conteM without any j;ain either personally or for the party. I fear that the eler-y vmII he aske.l to ,ise their inlhience oji the losing ^de, and th.u «e shall thus |o-e the he-t hoM we have on the county. * ♦ • * , Father C.illis is very kind and r.-,as the situation, l)ut can seen., hope. Of eoiirse, 10 I «ill 'iicls III llic war if ordci'fil, Imt >h()ul(l nnich prefer licin^ ordered to fall liack, aiic telegram. Wlul sliould he llie reply ? (iive your o[iinion at once if possible. I don't see my way. Of course, Mc( liliivray is inlinilely preferable to Joe, and llie ^1 Kindest man in the county. Vours faithfully, (sgd) tj Camkkon. 1 now reali/.ed that we were indeed ni a dangerous crisis; that Thompson wanted to retire ; that the l^ishop as well as Father McDon- ald had become "fainthearted"; and that he evidently feared to run Thompson against IVIcClillivray. If 'I'hompson had known that there was any wavering on the i)art of IJishop ("ameron and Father McDonald, he would have retired from the contest at once : r)ut as the medium of communication between the three gentlemen, I had the ()|)portunity of preventing either from fully knowing the "faint-heartedness" of the others, and thus found it more easy to put hick bone into them all, and keep up their courage for the fight. One adverse word from me then would, in all probability, have relegated young Thompson to p-olitical obscurity forever. II I immediately wrote the Bishop pretty much on the same hnes I bad used in my letter to Father McDonald, and called on him during the day, when we fully discussed the situation. I told his lordship that with Mr. 'I'hompson canvassing the county, there was no way of honor- able retreat, but suggested a way by which victory, I thought, could be easily achieved. I played my last card, which all along I had held in reserve. I advised a change of tactics, and my advice was taken, but not without some hesitation, and even reluctance. Another letter was written to Father C'.illis by his lordship to be read to McCillivray. This communication was in the nature of a personal appeal to the latter to retire from the contest, which I felt sure Mr. Mc(;illivray's amiable dis- position would be unable to resist ; mother words, stones having failed, I pursuaded the bishop, it would be good politics to reverse the fable, and try what viriue there was in grass, 'i'he letter was sent to me l)y the iiishop, unsealed, with a slip of papei containing the following words : — " If you think tlicic is anylliing el>e I (.iiglu to say, let luc know and 1 will add My arguments had not to l)e thrown away on his lordihip ; the letter rccjuired nothing additional, and I felt satisfied it would do its work. A few days afterwards, on the morning of Nomination Day, a telegram came to Bishop Cameron from Father (iillis, saying that he had read his lordship's letter to Mr. McGillivray, who had asked time to consider it. An hour later, another telegram from and to the same parties contained the gratifying intelligence that — " McGillivray has retired from the contest." I felt relieved. My predictions to the Bishop had been realized. \'ic- tory was already won, as the fight with " J( )!<:," the retraining candidate, could hardly be considered a serious affair. When I got the returns on election day which showed Thompson's success with a very large majority (over 500) I called to see Bishop Cameron, and found him in the drawing-room of the Notre Dame Convent surrounded by half a dozen of the ladies of the institution, anxiously awaiting the news from Antigonish. Upon telling them the I 2 result of the election, tht;y were all much pleased. 'I'hcn the l'.ish<)]i. addressing me, said >vith emphasis — "Well, if Thompson Is clecteii he may thank you for it.'' It is highly probahle, that if Thompson had been dtivcn out of Antigonish at that time, he would never afterwards have got a fout-liold in the county ; his chances of election elsewhere then, were more hope- less still ; he would have become disgusted with ])olitics ; and the world would never have known his sul)se(iuent brilliant public career, which owes so much to my fidelity and firmness at that critical moment. 1 have not ([uoted a tithe of the letters which the contest elicited, but only such jiortions of them as I consider unobjectionable ; yet none ot them were marked private (jr confidential. II. .Sir 1<)I1n Thompson' kntkks thk Dominmox Caiunkt, I now come to .Mr. Thompson's (or rather Judge I'hompscm's) second entrance into public life. In 1S82 he had become leader of the local government, and about two months afterwards his parly was defeated at the polls, when he accepted a seat on the Supreme Court liench of Nova Scotia where he remained until the autumn of 1885. In May, 1884, Sir Charles Tupper resigned his seat in the Federal Cabinet to assume the duties of Canadian High Commissioner in London. And here I may reveal "an item of political history" con- cerning myself, not known to many, as it had a vital bearing on Thompson's fviture. I was at the time Speaker of the Senate. 1 had reason to know that Sir Charles was of opinion that my political ser- vices, especially my services and sacrifices in cormection with the Union of the Provinces, as well as my earnest and unwavermg support after the Union, regardless of momentary unpopularity or sectional clamor, of every great measure of public policy, whether to enlarge, unify or strengthen the Dominion antl make Confederation a success (not to speak of my general party ser.ices,) entitled me to a seat in the Cabmel. When I returned to Halifax after the session of 18S4, I was ai)proached by one of Sir Charles' confidential friends, who told me the High Com- missioner was very anxious to see me before he left the Dominion. •3 This gentleman also infuriued me tliat a banciuet was to he {^ivcn to Sir Charles at Amherst before his departure, and that an invitation would be sent to me. if I could promise to attend. I replied that 1 couid not conveniently accept the invitation, hut as I was making preparations to sail in a forinight for ICngland, 1 wuuld see the High Commissioner as soon as I got to London, .\ccordingly, a day or two after my arrival in the great metnipolis, I called on .Sir Charles, who invited tiic to dine with him on the f(jllowing day, adding that he wanted Very miK h to have a talk with me. I, of course, accepted the invitation, and after dinner my host took me to his lihr.iry. We were not long there before Sir Charles ahru[)tly came to the j-omt by asking me the following tiuestion : — " Miller, did Sir John say anything to ycni before you left ( )itawa, about your entering the Cabinet ?" I answered, that he did not '"Well," slid Sir Charles, "I will tell you vhat occurred when I handed the I'reunL-r my resignation, lie asked me whom 1 would recommend a>> my successor, and I had no hesitation in giving your name, and my reason>^ for doing so. He intjuired if I had spoken to m\ colleague, Mr. Mcl.cllan, on t!ie subject, and 1 replied that I had not. lie told me to do so and let him know the result. I sent for Mcl.ellan the same day, and informed him of what had taken place between Sir John an(i myself. I fomul Mi I.ellan e.trongly opposed to my views. I repeated to him the arguments I had used with Sir John McDonald, and reniuested him to think them over, and let me know his decision the next day. Much if) my surprise,' said Sir Charles, " McLellan came back curly on the morning following, and assured me, that upon reflection, he was thoroughly in accord with my views. I communicated the result to the Prime Minister, and when 1 left Ottawa I thought the matter settled." The fact was thaf Mcl.ellan had designedly deceived Sir (Iharles on his second visit to him. 'I'he tricky Minister knew that if he and the veteran statesman should come to a fight over my appointment, while the latter was in the country, the result would not be dtnibtful Mcl.ellan had therefcjre made up his niind to conceal his hostility and wait till Sir Charles left Canada, when he would be master of the situa- tion, with no one to frustrate his wishes — to declare himself opposed to my apijointment, which he no doubt did, and successfully, as Sir John H never mentioned tht' subject to me, nor did I ever speak to him about it, because I preferred my position as Speaker of the Senate, untramel- led by Cabinet cares, and used every argument I could think of to pur- suade the High Commissioner that I was not at that time the right man for the vacancy. However, Sir Charles extracted a promise from me, that if offered a scat in the Cabinet on my return to Canada, I would not refuse it ; but with the understanding that I would make no effort to obtain it. I mentioned: the foregoing circumstances to show that the frustra- tion of what many might consider a not unreasonable amtjiiion on my part, contributed, as I have already intimated, to the making of Thompson's future, for if Sir Charles 'l'u|)per's wishes in regartl to my promotion had been a.'hieved there would have been n(» pi. ice for the Judge in the Cabinet, and the late Premier would never have had an opportunity to act his distinguished rc/e in Dominion politics. In the beginning of the year 18S5, an event transpired which had an important bearing on Judge 'I'hom[)bOn's career. 'I'hat event was the death of Stewart Campbell, County Court Ji jge for the I/istrictof Antigonish, (luysboro' and Inverness. There were several apjjlicants for the vacant judge^hi]), among the number, Mr. H. H. Bligh, who had the active support of Mr. (now Sir) C. H. Tapper, and other influential meiTibers of tiie House of Commons, Parliament being then in session-. Some time before this, I was aware of an attempt to induce judge Thompson to leave the Hench to take Nova Scotia's empty seat m the Cabinet, with the ])ortfolio of Justice. I had been applied to by several Roman Catholic barristers in eastern Nova Scotia, all well (lualified for the posuion, but all opposed to the (lovernment, to use my influence to get them the vacant County Court Judgeship, and I believed one of them ought to get it. I consecpiently called on Sir John McDonald, and gave him my opinion on the subject. I told him that Mr. McKenzie's (Jovernment had given great offence when appointing the seven County Court Judges for Nova Scotia in 1876, because there was no Roman Catholic among the number, although the vacant district, as well as the adjoining district of Cape Breton, contained a majority of Roman Catholics, chiefly Scotch. I urged that it would be good policy, as well as an act of justice, to put a Scotch '5 Catholic in Judge CampbcM's place and siigyested the name of Mr. An^us Mclsaac, M.P., for Antigonish, who, I knew, would take the judgeship, if offered to him. I expressed my belief that the (".overnment could redeem the county of Antigonish, if it were opened under such circum- stances, and, I added, if Judge Thompson should decide to leave the I'.ench for public life, he would have the very constituency at his com- mand that he would desire. .Sir John thanked me warmly for the information I gave him, and said he would not fail to bear it in mind. Immediately after my interview with the Premier, the agitation in favor of Mr. Uligh was dropped significantly. I believe if I had not inter- vened when I did. (in fact, I k>ircc it) Afr. bligh would have got the Judgeship, and Judge Thompson in all probability would never have been induced to try a new constituency to enter the House of Com- mons, in view of the signal defeat of his Covernment in iS,S_- in every Catholic constituency in the province, except .Vntigoni-^i, where he was elected with iMcGillivray as his colleague, but as an oi)ponent of his Government. In the summer of 1885, while travelling from Halifax to Cape Breton, I met the present Prime Minister, Hon. (now Sir) McKenzie Bowell, who with his family was on their way to P. V. I. on a hohday outing; and I took advantage of our meeting to urge on him the wisdom of getting Judge Thompson to join the Administration. Affairs were in this condition when I received the following letter from Mr. J. J. Stewart, already mentioned, who was Mr. Thompson's right hand man in all his Provincial elections in .\ntigonish. " OlIK K 0|- Thf. M(tkmn(, IIkkai ii PkINIIN(; and I'llil |>|(IN,, CdMlwy. IIai iiAX, .\.S., 2J1.1 Aul;., 1SS5. MV I)FAk MlIIKK, Voii aif, as I kr.ow. fully aware of the iK'^Mtiatinns (hat line been i;,.in!4 ..n with the view of iiaving Judge Thompson enter '.he Dominion Covernment a.. Mhiister of Justice, and I am also aware of your hearty concurrence in the proiiosiil-heir:^', a.s I am led to believe, one of. the first to propose such a solution of our dillicullies. At first, as you are aware, our friend the Judge was inclined to refuse the invitation. He even went so far some weeks a<,'o as to write !o .Sir John that he could not enter- lain any ^uch offer if made. Hut of late he has he-un to look upon the matter much i6 niun- fiivor.ilily, and Sir Julin learning of llio cliant;c iii h\> 0|iiiiiiiii>,, wniic him, i;iv- ini; liiin until tlic fir^l \n<>\. U> ili'ci idtimate effects you can apjircciate nnich better than I can. With kindest regards and best hopes lor result, I am, truly yours, (sgdl J.J. SlF.WAKI. " lion. \Vm. Miller, Arichat. .Ahoiit a month after this letter was written, Judge Thompson left the Dench : was sworn of the i'rivy Council ; and became .\lini.ster of Justice, '['he above letter of Mr .Stewart is marked " i)rivate and strictly confidential," and I therefore only give such portions of it as reveal no confidence ; but the document belongs to history, and history shall have it at the proper time ; because it sheds a flood of light on the methods and merits of Sir John Thompson. I leave the reader to say, after a pertisal of the foregoing pages, how far I was a factor, in bringing the late Sir John Thompson into the service of the state, both in the Provincial Legislature and Federal Parliament, and the necessarily larger arena of public life in which his fine talents were displayed. J •7 III. Sir John Ukumi.^ I'kimk.k. On the (k-alh of Sir John M.u Donald, I was one of those who thought Sir John Thompson acted wisely, when askc-d to form a govern merit, in reeommendinn the kite Mr. A[)hott (afterwarris Sir lolm Ab- bott) for the I'remiership, because in so prominent a position as th it of Prime Minister, he was sure to be the object of mucli intolerant and bitter hostility, on account of the change in his religious views : and when the vacancy occurred in the Chief )ustiieship of Canada by the death of Sir William Ritchie, I then thought it would have l)een better for both his party and himself, had he taken the vacant seat on the Bench of the Supreaie Court, tor whw h Ik was so admirably (jualified, I know too that this was his own conviction, but he said he felt it his duty to stand by his i)arty friends so long as they desired him to do so, no matter what personal sacrifice it might entail, lie discussed the ciuestion with me more than once in anything but a cheerful mood and I clearly discerned on one occasion from an expression that droi)ped from him that he feared to leave himself open a second time to the charge of abandoning his party in an emergency for a safe refuge on the Bench. When called on to form a government on the retirement of Sir John Abbott, he asked me for my views on the re-construction of the Cabinet, so far as the Senate was concerned. Terhaps I was the only Senator outside the Ministry to whom he |.aid this com[)liment. Hut I had frequently spoken to him respecting the unfair treatment of the Upper Chamber by Sir John MacDonald, in regard to Cabinet rei)resentation, always pointing out that I could have no personal interest to sul)serve in advocating the rights of the Senate, as Nova Scotia had its full con- tingent in the Administration, and there was therefote, no room for anybody else from that Province. I always urged on Sir John Thomp- son, both on constitutional and party grounds, the justice and wisdom of placing at least three portfolios in the Senate ; that is, one from Ontario ; one from Quebec ; and one from the smaller provinces, either from the east or west, as circumstances might render advisable. After the reconstruction I received from him the following letter : — i8 ( )l I It I Ml I III M|\|-.| I K <>l II >l |( I., < )l I AUA, 12\\< lilll., I.S<»j. M N' I >i Ak Si \ \ I UK, I ic;iil will) ^rcat inti.ri.sl your l;i>t l.llir iiinl ln^,' Im tliank yoii Uit ilic tare with which )iiii (iiscus.siil ihf (|Ui.-^liiiii df rccinislruclicni (rnin the puiiil nf vitw nf the Scnali'. I liavf hccii t;r(Mlly iiiij)rc-.M.'i| \ty what ym have thn> .^talcil, anil liy what yuu hnvf saiil nn the same sul)joct III! (uriiKr nccasiims. What lias liceii dom.- towards inei'lin^ the rejirnacli df neglect ul the Senate seemeil all that was practicalilr at the tinieof ihe re-constnictioii. The matter which remains umli^pdsed of, and, seeniiiit;ly, Inil not really, uncon sidered, is your own |idsiiidii ami the claims which thai |iositioii am! your p.isl ^real services estalilish. i'ar from lieinir iiidifferer.t aiioul ihi-, I feel very dcenly aliout it, and have conferred ahoiii it with my colleagues. I am conscious thai you re^;ard my coming here ami remaining here as having interfered \sith your advancement. If illing olistacle. I came most reluctantly and after olten that I I lave lieen an unw repeated as>urances that I would not interfere with '.he prospects of any one else in jiulilic life -My slaying lure has not been the result of my own choice, or of my own interest. lar fr om It. I ■.'lUerely hope that in lime I may aMe to rem>\e this feeling from your mind — i alher to reimive the c.usc •— whicl 1 wi !1 l)etter. I lliaidc you very lu'.utdy for your coiigr.itulations and g ooii wishes an ill. It wf shall, li)gether, l>e alile to oon to t.dk o\er d other lualter- I remain, dear Senator, Sincerely yours, (^gd) I NO. S. 1). TlloMI'.SO.N. ^ '^^' (I can only explain ihc words in the foregoing letter, viz : — " I ani conscious you regard my coming here and staying here, (Src, (.Vc, eS:c.," by the impression I must have left on Sir John's mind from the earnest manner in which I urged him to accept the Chief Justiceshij), that I regretted having helped to bring him to Ottawa, and wanted to get him out of the way, thoughts that never entered my mind for an instant.) I publish the following notes from among a large number received from Sir John Thompson while he was Minister of Justice, as an illustration of the consideration he extended to me on all occasions, and as further proof of my intimate relations with him. The first was written on the 25th March, iSSi;, and in connection with it I cannot help relatmg an incident, which more than once has forced itself on my recollection. I was breakfasting, a couple of days after the note was written, in the Senate restaurant at a rather late hour, with a gentleman for whom I have always entertained the highest respect, Mr. ('. ( '. Colby, who, some m(>nths afterwards became President of the Privy Council. As the hour of 1 f o'clock drew near, I rose from the table and told Mr. Colby that I must leave him, as Sir John i'homnson iiad made an appointment to meet me (jn business at my room, at that hour. My friend looked incredulously at me, and said : — " Why, we members of the (.'ommons are very well satisfied if we get any interview with a busy Minister after a no longer wait than half an hour in his ante room ; you must indeed be a favorite.' Me really looked as if he believed I was drawing on my imagination, and I never tried to remove the impression from his mind. I»ut if this letter ever meet his eye, that impression will certainly be obliterated: — "OKKICK ok rilK MlM>lKk ()|- IlSIK K, OriAUA, .Monday, 5.30 I'.M. Mv Df.ak Mk. Mii.i.kk, Viiur note has jusl tliis iiiDinunl cniiK- to liaiiil. It hail \iuvu laid k among other papers, and was unoljserved. I would l;o at once to see you, iiut am up to my eyes in work on the JeMiit (|uesiion, for uhich the lemainini; time liefore the debate will hardly suffice. If y:)U will permit me, I will call at your room at the Senate on Wedne.-day forenoon — say at 1 1. \'ours sincerely, (sgd) Jno. .S. F). Thomi'son." The following note was written during the last session of Parliament, with dozens of others of the same kind during the interven- ing years : — ao "OnKF. Of INK MlM^,l| l; ii|- JlsllcF., ()l I AU A, JuiU' 71I1, 1S94. MV I)| AK SKNATOR, Sir Charlis sliowi-il mc ynur letter. \\\- will call over to thi- Senate to sic you alioiit it as soon as we can ^;el a chance to leave the House. \ours >.incerely, (n^iI) |Mi. S. I). TlluMl'SON." IV. 'I'liK Ckimin'ai. ('i)iti:. Mr. Hopkins is enthusiastic in his piaisc of Sir John Thompson in ronnt'ction witli the Criminal Code, and very properly so. It is undoubtedly the greatest legislative a< hievement (A the distinguished jurist's career, and will he so regarded in coming years when the ephemeral questions of political controversy in which he figured are forgotten I was chairnian of the Joint Committee of both Houses of l'arliamt;nt to whom ''the I5ill resjjecting the Criminal Code "was referred, and what surjjrised me most during all our deliberations was tha*. the hard-worked Minister and care-iaden party leader missed only one of the many long sittings ot the Committee, three or four weekly, and generally occupying all the forenoon, in the hot, sweltering, summer months, apparently as if there was nothing else to demand his attention — engage his thoughts — or bother his head. When the Code was in its last stage in the Senate, and out of all danger, I received the following note regarding it from Sir John, which may not be out of |)lace here : — IlnusK OK Commons, Ji'i.Y 4th, 1S92. Mv Dkak Sknatoi^.— I will ask Sir John Abbott to get the papers for nie, so soon as he can do so without detriment to our application. In case I should not have so good an opportunity before you leave, I beg to thank you again most lieartily for your invaluable co-operation in advancing the Criminal Code as you have done. The task of getting it passed seemed almost a forlorn hope at one time, but you have placed success fairly within reach. Believe me Sincerely Vours, (Sgd.) J.NO. S. D. Thomi'SON. M»^ St Whatever may have been the vahie of my friendly offices to Sir John Thomi)son-the extent of which these pages do not fully disdose — they were at any rate disinterested ; nor did I ever ask or receive any favor or benefit at his hands, either before or after he became a i)ower- fiil minisier. I think, h(jwever, it may 1 e interred from his letter of the I2lh of January 189^^, that he was not unmindful of my public services, or forgetful of his personal obligations to me ; and it was his misfortune, not his fault, that the sudden advent of ' the stern decree' compelled him to leave many cherished i)urposes unaccomplished, and some obligations of honor unfulfilled. Airchat C. H. August 15111, 1895.