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 1 tGOg <J^ 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 LORD STRATHCONA AND 
 
 MOUNT ROYAL 
 
 IN 
 
 TWO VOLUMES 
 
 Volume II 
 
(") : 
 
 \!<- 
 
THE LIFH OF 
 
 LORD STRATHCONA 
 
 AND 
 
 MOUNT ROYAL 
 
 G.C.M.G., G.C.V.r. 
 Bv BKCKLES WIclSON 
 
 »UTHO« or "THI CHUT PU« COMPANY " 
 "TMl Lin AND LITTIM OF MMII WOtri," ITC. 
 
 VOLUME II 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 
 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
 
 «t( Wmtiit fait Cambiitgt 
 
 1915 
 
152856 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY HECKLES WILL80N 
 ALL NIGHTS RKSERVED 
 
 t^b '.'shtd Dtcembtr itjij 
 
Let not the seethe of this rude, hasting hour, 
 And the mad moment's futile, petty span 
 Thrust into dull Oblivion's vasty black 
 All memory of this man 
 Who ever stood for Empire's widening dream, 
 
 Whose whole strong, failure-conquering life 
 Was one rebuke, forever calling men 
 From coward despair, effeminate doubts and fears 
 To those firm highways of the great ones gone. 
 
 WiLFBEO Campbell. 
 
XVI 
 
 XVII 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 
 Contents 
 
 The Wintering Partners. 1874-1889 . . . i 
 The St. Paul & Pacific Railway. 1873-1878 . 45 
 The Canadian Pacific Railway Syndicate. 1880- 
 
 1886 g, 
 
 The Manitoba Schools Question. 1886-1896 . 134 
 Governor of the Hudson's Bay Co.wpany. 1889- 
 
 1914 180 
 
 The High Commissionersbip. 1896-1897 . . 213 
 
 The Annus Mirabilis. 1897 250 
 
 The Emigration Movement. 1896-1914 . . . 279 
 "Strathcona's Horse." 1898-1900 .... 316 
 
 The Growing Time. 1900-1909 372 
 
 The Closing Days. 1910-1914 ^22 
 
 Personal Characteristics 467 
 
 Appendix 503 
 
 'NDEX 505 
 
 r\ 
 
 i.Ai'illJ 
 
Illustrations 
 
 James J. Hill . „. , 
 
 Fkologramre Frmlispiece 
 
 12 
 
 Lord Mount Stephen 
 
 From the painting by Frank Holl, A.R.A. 
 
 "c^N^mT^'p^- ^"Z" '""™'' ™^ ^'■■'='' SPIKE ON THE 
 
 Canadian Pacific Railway, November 7, 1885 . ,„ 
 
 Mount Sir Donald IN THE Rocky Mountains . . .,3, 
 Margaret Charlotte, the Present Lady Strathcona 
 
 Daughter of Lord Strathcona . . /"""""*• ^ ^ 
 
 From a photograph taken about 1885 
 
 Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M G 
 
 174 
 
 Sir Donald A. Smith, G.C.M.G 1806 
 
 v'i 
 
 . 'I 
 
 l\ 
 
 
The Life of 
 
 Lord Strathcona and 
 
 Mount Royal 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE WINTERING PARTNERS 
 1874-1889 
 
 Reflecting upon the achievements of what 
 might almost be called the apostolic succession of 
 the fur-trade, one is inclined to agree with the dic- 
 tum that throughout the British Empire Provi- 
 dence raises up men of a special breed to carry on 
 ^eat and special work. In the North-West and 
 Hudson's Bay Company's services, like that of the 
 East India Company (on a largf-r scale), for some 
 two centuries men were needed t e to acquire the 
 habit of command and to develop responsibility 
 Their characters were formed amidst constant 
 familiarity with danger, and they had to face as 
 one of them has said, "the occasional, and some- 
 times frequent, necessity, perhaps under even des- 
 perate circumstances, of rapid exercise of tact 
 and sound judgment in coming to a safe conclusion 
 when life and property were often staked on an 
 immediate decision." 
 
 %.f 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Although Mr. Smith resigned as Chief Com- 
 missioner of the Company's fur-trade, as we have 
 just seen, in 1874, to become Land Commissioner, 
 yet he never ceased to take a deep personal interest 
 in the service in which he had then spent tiiirty-six 
 years of his life. The Company had changed, its 
 political principles of trade had altered almost 
 beyond recognition; but the little loyal, lar-flung 
 legion of fur-traders, of the lineage of the old, still 
 remained. Amongst themselves practical unity was 
 well-nigh impossible; it became more and more, 
 therefore, the policy of the London Board through 
 their instrument (usually, as I have before re- 
 marked, one who knew not ing about the fur- 
 trade), to keep them sundered. Reasons of senti- 
 ment, rather than of commercial profit, kept 
 Donald A. Smith in their ranks, or rather, in the 
 van. More and more, no matter who happened to 
 be in power, they looked to him for leadership. His 
 commercial and industrial interests grew; had he 
 consulted these alone he would, as he said himself, 
 have "bade farewell to the fur-trade." But he 
 would as soon have severed his right arm as cut 
 himself off from the old Company of Adventurers 
 of the North. He had resigned barely six months 
 when we find him writing: — 
 
 To Chief Factor Archibald McDonald 
 
 January, 1875. 
 Without strict economy in every part of the business 
 and retrenchment in outfits, officers, men and posts, 
 in every item to ti:e lowest possible degree, divi- 
 
 3 
 
Strict Economy enjoined 
 
 nec^^P,!, M^!^ happmess; every additional un- 
 bu!k^ oiufi^s I 1 "['" °' ^'"«'"'"8 i" «"ch large 
 
 Amongst the letters of the officer to one another 
 there are many tnbutes to lAr. Smith. One from 
 a veteran who had known hun over thirty yZ 
 I cannot forbear quoting: — ^ 
 
 Inspecting Chief F<utor Hamiltaa to Chief Factor 
 
 MacFarlane 
 
 Caslton House, nth August, 1875 
 
 On reaching Carlton from the Grand Rapids I was 
 
 not a htt e d.sappomted to find taut CouncH had C 
 
 held and the new Chief Commissioner off to Red R.W 
 
 I presume, however, that he had reasons of his own to 
 
 f^on-rtWrhr^lT'' r ^^ ^'"■^*'"« circumstance 
 inf FacMr t ""fl""^'' *° ■"««* with his Inspect- 
 
 llhston I T''' ""' ^"^ *° ^^"^ ^«°'ded on his 
 tombstone when he goes hence. 
 
 ' Orders for merchandise. 
 3 
 
 ?! 
 
 .'I 
 
 I 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 When under the command of Mr. Smith, I knew 
 precisely what duties I had to perform, and my author- 
 ity was well and clearly defined, so that every gentle- 
 man in that section of territory committed to my super- 
 vision was aware that with me and through me only 
 could any business be transacted. 
 
 I had heard so much of Mr. G , during his 
 
 reign at Norway House, that I was fearful I v. luld not 
 be able to serve under him tiiher with c infort to 
 myself or benefit to the Company, but detennined to 
 malce a fair trial and see how matters would get on. 
 The trial has now been made, and has proved so unsat- 
 isfactory that I have made up my mind to leave the 
 old service in which I have spent upwards of thirty 
 years of my life, and have requested permission to 
 retire next first of June. 
 
 For the large dividends we have already received 
 since reorganization, we have to thank a man of a very 
 
 different stamp from Mr. G . I knew at the 
 
 time that we sustained a great loss when Mr. Smith 
 resigned his position as Chief Commissioner of the old 
 Company we have all served in from boyhood, but I 
 did not think that we should feel the effect so soon. 
 Mr. Smith was a gentleman in every sense of the word, 
 respected by his friends and feared by his opponents; 
 for he has wonderful talents. 
 
 I am one of those who believe that a man can be 
 thoroughly strict in all business matters and still hold 
 the respect and esteem of those with whom he is thrown 
 in contact. 
 
 To Mr. Smith the officers were wont to express 
 their opinions with great freedom. 
 
An Officer's Pessimism 
 From Chief Factor W. McMurray 
 
 liu A LA Cioui, 5th May, 1875. 
 You .'ike myself have doubtlew heard the opinion 
 expresaed that the Canadian Government, as far at 
 least a. the North-West Territories are concerned, is 
 a failure. What benefit, protection, or aid do we poor 
 devils in these parts derive from being subjects of the 
 Dominion? If this country had belonged to th ■ Stars 
 and Stripes since 1870, we would not find ourselves 
 to-day in the position we are. As it is, our isolation is 
 only a mild form of banishment. 
 
 With regard to the last year's promotions, it does 
 certainly look as if those who have "to bear the heat 
 and burden of the day " are overlooked, and only those 
 at headquarters and pre ninent places brought on. In 
 saying this I do not for a moment wish to apply the 
 remark to myself. I have got my Chief Factorship, 
 and never expected or aspired to a higher grade in the 
 service. It was not lik.Iy that their Honour, would 
 give an Inspecting Chief Factorship to one who, from 
 the first, never failed, when he had a chance of doing 
 so, of advocating the rights of the officers in the coun- 
 tiy and of stating his opinions, crude as they may have 
 been, in a plain, straightforward manner. 
 
 We get an occasional glimpse of what the diffi- 
 culties of transport were in the "seventies" before 
 the advent of the railways. 
 
 From Chief Trader W. Clark 
 
 Carlton, 1875. 
 The Chief Commissioner, his son, Mr. Archibald 
 McDonald, and Mr. R. Campbell, arrived here on 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 l\ 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 Friday the ninth day from Fort Garry. The roadi 
 beyond Fort ElHce were fearfully bad, one continued 
 iwamp, and flie* were in millions by the way. Their 
 ■econd and third day, they paned bands of freighters, 
 who had been already a month on the way with their 
 loaded teams, and will be a month more before they 
 will reach this far. 
 
 Steam navigation of the rivers, which had been 
 introduced during Mr. Smith's r^ime, offered many 
 diiKculties. 
 
 From Chief Factor Alexander Matheson 
 
 Pas, Cvhbeiland Dktiict, 
 nth January, 1875. 
 
 I have sent you, officially, the whole history of the 
 ne» river steamer. She came back from Carlton all 
 safe, though experiencing much more difficulty coming 
 downstream than in going up. It is a delicate task to 
 steer a huge leviathan like the Northcote in stony, 
 crooked rapids; and it is the opinion of those pretend- 
 ing to have any knowledge of the subject that there 
 can't be certainty of final success until some boulders 
 or other obstacles in the Nepowin and Coal Falls 
 Rapids are removed. The steamer is now in winter 
 quarters at Grand Rapids with the captain watctiing 
 her, and putting up buildings for warehouse purpocas 
 at each end of the portage. 
 
 Notiiing came of either of the proposals touched 
 upon in the following letter: — 
 
Nortii-West Territoriei 
 Chi^ Factor HamUbm to Chiff Factor MacFarlane 
 
 Cailton, July, 187s. 
 
 There is a report current that our old governor, Mr. 
 Smith, is to be appointed first Lieutenant-Governor 
 of the North-West Territories, but I am not prepared 
 to say how much truth there may be in the rumour. 
 One thing I do believe and that is that the Dominion 
 Government would be very glad to get hold of Mr. 
 Smith and I am inclined to think that the position haa 
 already been offered to him. 
 
 You are, I presume, aware that the Dominion Gov- 
 ernment have expressed a desire to get possession of 
 the one-twentieth of the land which the Company are 
 to receive in the fertile belt and it is generally supposed 
 that the Premier, Mr. Mackenzie, is now at home on 
 that business. 
 
 If the Company do come to terms with the Dominion 
 Government, I think it not at all unlikely Mr. Smith 
 will accept the L'jutenant-Governorship of the North- 
 West, but if not, ^e may retain his position as the 
 Company's land r i^resentative. 
 
 'f 
 
 From Chief Factor A- 
 
 ■B- 
 
 Edmokton, J4th December, 1875. 
 The trouble and expense wo have incurred of late 
 years in introducing steam on the Saskatchewan. I 
 wrote you in September, 1874, of the successful trip 
 made by the Northcote. I exulted in the idea that all 
 our trouble was at an end, and that we were on the eve 
 of seeing our business placed on a sure basis. But what 
 benefit have we derived from all our work and great 
 expenditure? It makes me fairiy mad when I think 
 7 
 
 .y^ 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 that, through the blundering stupidity of one man, 
 the work of several years should have been rendered 
 
 fruitless. Mr. G has managed, or rather I 
 
 should say has grossly mismanaged, our business dur- 
 ing the past season, and the Northcote, on her return 
 from Edmonton to the Grand Rapids, had to lie at 
 that place from the 5th August to the 4th September, 
 waiting cargo from Red River. The consequence was 
 that the Northcote could only make one trip to Carlton 
 and is now passing the winter in the vicinity of that 
 post. When a thorough mess of our steamboat busi- 
 ness had been made, Mr. G gave orders for 
 
 sending the western outfits across land by way of 
 Carlton, and four hundred carts had to be at once 
 engaged for that purpose, which cost the Company a 
 pretty sum. This, however, is but one item of the 
 expense and loss which the trade must sustain. For in- 
 stance, the residue of the outfit for the post of Edmon- 
 ton will cost a big amount for freight up from Carlton 
 at this season, as men cannot be induced to travel 
 under double the usual freight price. 
 
 Mr. Hardisty had an examination made last summer 
 of the coun.ry lying between here and the elbow of 
 the Athabasca River, when, I am happy to say, an 
 excellent route for a cart road was discovered. 
 
 When I left Slave Lake, Mr. Young was on the 
 point of starting for the Peace River for the purpose 
 of searching for a cart route through that section. 
 
 Mr. Smith himself could sympathize with the 
 laudator temporis acti spirit amongst the older 
 adventurers. 
 
Former Trading recalled 
 Frcm Chief Factor Robert CampbeU 
 
 FOKT Garry, 7th March, 1876. 
 
 Ido not at all concur with 's opinion tliat the 
 
 Company (m our time) have underpaid the Indians 
 and that a curse is now falling on the Company ^1 
 Indians w.ll never be so well off, comfortable or haDDv 
 as when under the Company's care and trading alone' 
 There never will be again such men and Indians T; 
 ^gour, abUity and ready obedience for ev" n^ du y 
 semce and mstruction in Mackenzie Riv^r and 
 
 such trl^h T '^"^r^ '^^°"' '''' introduction of 
 such trash among them, and the men [servantsl al 
 saved the.r hard earnings for the future'™^ 
 
 tholT ^ !u *° ^ '"^" ^°'^ °" the paLge^n 
 those days. All strong, healthy, and active, and at 
 campmg or meal times, not a tea-kettle wll s^en on 
 the fire but the " Master's." They were ha'piefmore 
 contented, and healthy with their one or two p^Z 
 
 of lea elch'"""'" "" "°" '' '""'^ "^ ^ -'•°'« ^est 
 
 tor^' "T f ^^ ~ *^* °^ "Inspecting Chief Fac- 
 tor — had been introduced: — 
 
 From Chief Factor W. McMurray ' 
 
 Isle a la Crosse, 3d April, 1876. 
 _ You will be surprised to learn that I have not vet 
 signed the covenant and am therefore not virtuaKn 
 Inspectmg Chief Factor. I wrote the Chief Commfs- 
 
 theSexperie^^";,„t™le1,:;--^- »^ot and a^on. 
 
 I 
 
 r^'U 
 
 t\ 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 sioner, both officially and under private cover, thank- 
 ing him and the Honourable Board for their proof of 
 their confidence in me, but at the same time informed 
 the Chief Commissioner that I would sign the cove- 
 nant only after I had met him at Carlton, and received 
 from him the proper explanations regarding several 
 matters connected with the position of Inspecting 
 Chief Factor. 
 
 You who know me are aware that I am not an arro- 
 gant or dictatorial person, nor one likely to make an 
 abuse of any little power that may be gi ;n me; on 
 the other hand, you will, I think, admit that I have 
 enough of self-esteem and manly pride (not vanity) 
 not to allow myself to be placed in a false position. The 
 position of Inspecting Chief Factor may, by some, be 
 considered a great honour, but for me, it never had, and 
 never will have, any attraction, unless the grade gives 
 me some discretionary powers, and thereby enables 
 me to do some good. 
 
 There is a touch of pathos in the following: — 
 
 From Chief Factor Robert Hamilton 
 
 Carlton, 29th May, 1876. 
 A very few days more and my connection with the 
 concern in which the greatest part of my life has been 
 spent will have ceased, but believe me, that whatever 
 my lot may be in future, I shall always feel a deep 
 interest in the Company in which I have spent so 
 many happy days, and in which I leave behind so 
 many esteemed and valued friends. Between you and 
 me there has been no cloud during a friendship of over 
 thirty years. 
 
Fur-Traders' Letters 
 It is pleasant to add that this officer was per- 
 suaded to remain for a few seasons longer In'^e 
 
 To Chi^ Factor WUliam Charles 
 
 »,. , „ . 'Sd August, 1876. 
 
 The following ,s the result of the Company', sale in 
 l<.ndon the other day. Do not let the foxes'sliplrom 
 you and I would give your outposts instructions to 
 that effect, especially at Fraser's Lake and BaWn^ 
 
 c^£:^r~ "''' " """"""^ "''^ ""' -'""°' 
 
 Beavers declined... 
 
 Musquash " 5 percent 
 
 Marten " 'S 
 
 Mink ■• "* 
 
 AndOtter advanced .■.';.' 'I. 
 
 Silver Foxes " '7» 
 
 Foxes Cross " ^° 
 
 25 
 
 Bear and Lynx remained unchanged and 1 1 
 
 those other furs not mentioned. 
 
 ■A 
 
 ■ presume 
 
 .i!:^ 
 
 From K. McDonald 
 
 Rampart House, loth January, 1877. 
 
 abl^tX r* '"""' *° '"'" ' ^'"l *^t I hoped to be 
 on th^V /°" T' ^'^"* '^^ American fur-tradera 
 
 ever and have raised the prices of furs; e.g., 15 M.B.' 
 
 ' Made (i.e., dressed) beaver. 
 
 II 
 
 :,: 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 for a black fox, lo for a cross fox, 3 for a marten, and 
 2 for a beaver. A great deal is given away gratis to the 
 Indians. To the chiefs 100 M.B. is given gratis, and 
 m addition, tea, flour, ammunition, and tobacco. 
 McQuestin had runners among some of the Indians 
 before the snow fell and he himself was out amongst 
 them in the month of November, but the Indians 
 proved staunch to the Hudson's Bay Company and 
 traded none of their furs with him. 
 
 The wintering partners came slowly, but surely, 
 to realize that they had been for a second time used 
 as a cat's-paw for what tl... writer of the next letter 
 calls a "crowd of grasping, howling shareholders." 
 But what could they do? One of the ablest of the 
 Chief Factors, Roderick MacFariane, had come 
 boldly forward with a plan for an equal division of 
 profits with the London capitalists. Alas, it was 
 too late! Besides, still reasoned many ot the veter- 
 ans, what was the good of lands — even in such 
 a centre as Winnipeg? The opinion of such a vet- 
 eran as Chief Factor W. L. Christie is illuminat- 
 ing: — 
 
 From Chief Factor Christie 
 
 Fort Gakry,. 13th January, 1877. 
 The wintering partners have actually had no power 
 since 1872. These lands are wonderful things on paper, 
 I dare say; but I know that the moot valuable part of 
 the Fort Garry reserve has been a loss so far, eating 
 Itself up with taxes. There is a dead set against the 
 Hudson's Bay Company and they will eventually be 
 taxed out of the country. What do you thir': of the 
 

 ir 
 
 
 THt r.t.vi 
 
 S,^^------o..„. 
 
 ■i k 
 
Company's Profits dwindle 
 
 HuH J^ n ^^"^ ^"^ ^^ ''"^e no appeal. The 
 Hudson s Bay Company cannot gain a c^ L th! 
 courts here because the Chief Justi'ce is agZt th^ 
 the resu t >s we support the corporation wif h our a^' 
 
 th, dem^ '"r "PPoltion md oUw ca.S. Z 
 
 =v.S;^fdSSS^*^-..j- 
 
 make .tself felt on the whole business ExS t,^„ 
 are mcreasing enormously, and th^ st^^et a" 
 
 rnl'-r^Sig-rdTake^S^l^^^^^^^^ 
 been wreclced and all hands lost, Leone«^^^lor Tht^f 
 
 ttrra^r r" '^"'"^ °" ^''^ p-TtiXi^ 
 
 taice a rather gloomy view of it all- ctMi n, ■ ^ 
 *ub. ,te 4e old mLj,:,;^,?;;', ItrJi" 
 
 ill! 
 
 .■'fei 
 
 «3 
 
 Hi 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 There certainly was a crisis in the fur-trade and 
 some of the leading officers again threatened to band 
 themselves together to fight the London Company. 
 
 From the Honourable D. A. Smith, M.P. 
 
 FoKT Garry, aitt September, 1877. 
 Try and reduce your expenses, follow up an econom- 
 ical system of trade, and do not buy furs in Athabasca 
 at a higher price than they are realizing in England, 
 or any market in Europe. The price of furs is still fall- 
 ing at home, but I have great hopes that they will rise 
 soon. I expect to be in London to the November meet- 
 ing of the shareholders and will do all I can for my 
 friends in the North. I intend to have a talk and ex- 
 plain matters to the directors. 
 
 U it 
 
 From Chief Factor William Charles 
 
 Victoria. B.C., jut October, 1877. 
 
 I have just heard of the result of the Company's 
 last sales in August. What are we coming to? I do not 
 think the fur-trade can ever go back to what it was a 
 few years since. We cannot go on receiving nothing 
 for our pay year after year. Unless matters mend, it 
 would be as well for us to be either placed on the 
 retired list or leave at once. 
 
 I have such a load of responsibility. However, the 
 old can die, which will make room for those that re- 
 main. 
 
 The best paying branch of our business over here is 
 the steamer Enterprise, plying between Victoria and 
 New Westminster. She has been clearing for some 
 14 
 
He again intervenes 
 
 augment thti tp'i:^'°Sn'^'"n -ho '^ "°' ^-h"" 
 do something to he ptuSelv^ oth" '"n ' '' *" ^°"'' 
 are clamouring for T K^k? f " ^"'- ■^'"^ P^^lic 
 a"d so the matter standi Tu ■ ^""'^^ ^'Pecially. 
 that the Cariboo 4u«rJwilIS^r''-r'^ P°"''"'''y 
 quartz-crushing deve"oS^»„ . "'^ "Rhts.de-up in her 
 
 mg machine^ g^\;":J:'''"«'.''ere as soon as crush' 
 being so sca^eTcLh T. ' T,"^'° *''" P«^P'<=here 
 summer to get the fi^. -i """ ' "''"'^ take all next 
 talk here. &' ^17 '° ''°'''- Q"art^ is all the 
 
 "^0 Chief Factor Rankin 
 
 r po tn P ■ J ""'"''="■. »d January, ,878. 
 
 •i-cely sel^hetrmtr^f'Z^^"'!.^''^ ^"--^ -" 
 doubt, having th^i^llf f .r'^'.'^'"' ^ ''ave no 
 officer at heart wi^ °^ *^ shareholders and 
 
 nientsas wi'lpte Lr^^"' *° "ake such arrange- 
 
 footing in resp'eLt'/ttr: Z" "^°'' "^''^'^^''^ 
 Outfit 1874. """'uments than it has been since 
 
 n 
 
 I 
 
 i^ 
 
 I I 
 
 '5 
 
 A'] 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 From Chief Factor Alexander Matheson 
 
 CiAHD RAriD*, loth January, 1878. 
 The letter advising us of the Board's makeshift 
 scheme for tiding over the crisis temporarily is respect- 
 fully acknowledged, and referred for our answer to our 
 attorneys. Now is the opportunity we have been wait- 
 ing for so long, and it is to be hoped we shall all prove 
 faithful to ourselves. The alarm of the Board indicated 
 by the proposals set forth in the Chief Comi.iissioner's 
 letter of the 1 8th of December shows that we have only 
 to keep together to insure entire success, and I hope 
 all in the North are animated by the same spirit which 
 moves us. 
 
 To Mr. Smith all the wintering partners again 
 turned to negotiate some more satisfactory terms 
 with the London shareholders "calling themselves 
 the Hudson's Bay Company." 
 
 From Chief Factor Campbell 
 
 Caelton House, 7th July, 1878. 
 I wish with all my heart that Governor Goschen, all 
 the Directors and shareholders had gone through the 
 same ordeal in all its parts. It would give them a better 
 idea of the Hudson's Bay Company fur-trade affairs 
 than all that is, or can be, written on the subject. 
 I concur in what you say on the present suppressed 
 state of Hudson's Bay affairs. I wish I could see the 
 remedy, or turn of affairs for the better as cleariy " cer- 
 tain"; as you say, "things can't go on much longer 
 this way." 
 
 16 
 
General Financial Depression 
 
 To Chief Factor MacFarlane 
 
 n . Montreal, »6th December 1878 
 
 way on fonner So„: andTa^",' 'T ""^ '" ""» 
 indebted to you tha I - .1 I ^'"'*'^>' ^ deeply 
 ever possibly'repaj "o/tK^ "°' ''"°* ""^ ' «" 
 I am very ^sible'^onn your k „T„ " ""^^ '""= '"^^ 
 opportunity may occur bvwVK^'^ '"'' "■"«' «» 
 give more exp4L^"o h^^X • """^ ^ ""^^^^ 'o 
 to do. »^™«°n to It than it is now in my power 
 
 Caledonian BanI !Snv7- '"^- ''°*" "'"^ '* ^he 
 •"any of the sha^holde^ o?Sh I" "T^^ ^'^ ™'" 
 affair than anyThat h« 1, ''!"^ ^ more sad 
 
 manyalongday And^-fp T;;1^ '" S™"«"d for 
 a bad failure in^heWestip^ ."^'''"^ ''^^^ ^'^ had 
 Bank, so you lie th^a . .K*'^"'' ^"^ ^"* Wales 
 more, i„dL), ^a„ w^do aVh°'"\'"'^^['"« '"°^^- '^ 
 enough, as the dirdend' on ^h^f "^ *"' " "^^ 
 recently been ereatlv d,",^- • u f ^^""^ ^""^''^ have 
 shares L^ktterlf runT' "^ ^"^ ^""^ ^^'"<= "^ 'he 
 cases, but it ia^?Jal„?" 'r^"^°"«'y m some 
 of Montreal and^oTon o th "' '^".^ ^^^^^^ banks 
 Tl>ere is not one man t t '^""^^ ^.' '^^^' ^^ »fe- 
 in Canada generallv whn" ' ^^*' "^ '" hf'>' here or 
 than eightLn"^'l^;h?°J,r -^ "- 
 
 --sandininvestmeXnX;t:'^?rnS 
 17 
 
 ' 'l 
 
 .;:j 
 
 ■! 1 
 
 liil 
 
 >.' i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 c»nfined to Canada, nor to thii continent, but it com- 
 mon to Europe, and I may lay, every civilized country. 
 Hudson's Bay busineM, of course, tuffen alio, and 
 unless something can be done for its future than 
 merely the prosecution of the fur-trade, I fear not a 
 great deal can be expected from it even when we have, 
 if we are at ail to have, a revival of general business. 
 
 You do me more than justice in expressing your 
 conviction that I would gladly do anything I could for 
 my old friends of the fur-trade; and it is only reason- 
 able to believe that Mr. would also do his part 
 
 in a cause which is that of both shareholder and officer 
 and whose interests must be held to be identical. I am 
 glad to learn that your returns, though not equal fo 
 those of last year, are still a good average, and if good 
 prices could be only obtained the result might be a 
 tolerably fair one after all. 
 
 I saw William L.Hardisty in Winnipeg theotherday. 
 He intends, I believe, settling down at Lachine next 
 spring and will spend the present winter at my place 
 at Silver ileifci s. 
 
 It is my intention to take passage for England either 
 on the 4th or i ith January, if possible the earlier date, 
 returning to Montreal early in February, as I have to 
 be in Ottawa for the Session. 
 
 From Chief Factor K. McDonald 
 
 Rahpai: Hodsb, aad December, 1878. 
 
 The American traders seem determined to carry on 
 the fur-trade on the Yukon, although they must be 
 making very little out of it. They still give very high 
 prices for furs, in fact, just double what is given here. 
 Old Sinati, the Yukon chief, whom you have perhaps 
 18 
 
Obtains Important Concessions 
 
 heard of, i. |„ charge of Fort Yukon «nH • 
 
 McQuestin is up the Yuknn .». 
 Boi, and Gena de. Fou. Con^", "T"""' »'«' Gen. du 
 
 of the price, here aS the ^ronrthe a' '°""'"« "" 
 B'ving for furs it can h»,T u * ^'"''"^"s are 
 
 Vukon Indians' andThe Si. ^ T"^ """ ""= 
 their fur. a. before Ih ^ ^""^ "'"' B've u, 
 
 other thrce^trib^. m ° """■' '"''"''8'^ '» keep the 
 
 this Po.t and tpTTltarrJn T"'^'-^^'^^ 
 bearing animals Tr^hl • ^ """ •'° *«="• f "r- 
 tunately. where there aT,'",* "^ '°""«= ""^ ""'o'" 
 this year as well asTastfi^H-:-'"'''^'^"''' *'"= '"^ians 
 a living »; enable theS to tra„ ™'^"'''''^ '" P'''^'"* 
 ing to the mountaTn? '^' °"""« '° '""^ '^^^ keep- 
 
 In that winter Mr SmiVK ~ • 
 
 -= .■n.po,^,, »„»fr,rrBSrr 
 
 ^o Chief Factor Rankin 
 
 I» • . , MONTllEAl., I6th May, 1870 
 
 not only keep ud buf nn,/ • f ^. ^'^ "'"' P™«^s may 
 markets'^ so fhat the ^0^1"' 'T'°"^ '" '''^ h°'"e 
 better than with the g~"°"v f ."" "^^ '^^ 
 theotherconcession:radXTheBt'' 'X"' -i'" 
 t-ona I had With them. I thinkU'y^u . aluKS- 
 J9 
 
 I 
 
 1 1 
 
 A 
 
 ',«» 
 
 li^': **' <t 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 reasonably be expected under the circumstances, and 
 I trust all the other officers may regard it in the same 
 light, and heartily concur in it. 
 
 His growing railway enterprises, of which we shall 
 shortly hear, made his further tenure of the Land 
 Commissionership impracticable. 
 
 To Chief Factor McMurray 
 
 Montreal, i6th May, 1879. 
 I am now leaving for Fort Garry, to see about the 
 land matters with Mr. Brydges, who, as you know, will 
 soon be assuming the immediate charge of that de- 
 partment, thus relieving me of what it has latterly 
 been impossible fo: me to continue to attend to with 
 even ordinary regard for my own personal interests. 
 We have also now got our St. Paul and Pacific Railway 
 into that shape that it is to be reorganized on the 23d 
 instant, and this makes absolutely necessary my pres- 
 ence at St. Paul on that day. Everything goes well 
 with this road, far exceeding our highest expectations 
 when we took hold of it. I mention this, as I am sure 
 you will be glad to know it. 
 
 A retired officer speaks thus of the growing value 
 of the land since the completion of the St. Paul and 
 Manitoba Railway. 
 
 From Chief Factor Roderick McKenzie 
 
 Melbourne, Que., 14th December, 1879. 
 I am glad to learn that brighter prospects are begin- 
 ning to dawn now after the late years of depression and 
 disappointment. The service is going through such 
 
 30 
 
Difficulties of I„,<,„e„ri„„ 
 
 has bridged over the chasm of m" ^PP°'"'™ent 
 grand dodge for the wi J wolvj tt h""'. '' "^^ ^ 
 gagged the simple-mindL e'rj ^^! '^""^ ='"d 
 '=<^70, tohavesign^^eh-T ?°"'^ °'«<^^^^ °f 
 r-gard to the land fntere ? Th f '''r'"^^"^"'' ■" 
 
 ^o C>'^ Factor MacFarkne 
 
 what reheved from this hulZ^ iV ^""^ ^ ^re- 
 direction will at any a e not t ^^'^'^'^'^ m that 
 fear that any such rTn™.^- """'"''■ Meantime, I 
 the Governnfent wo^W ^ve nT '^ ^°" ^"^S^'^t t° 
 ".issionaries as compared thhThfr^ '""''' ""'^ '''« 
 by you will continue^otr hfwo'iro^rt"'^ """"-^ 
 
 Your approval of the result of ^ ." 
 
 behalf of yourself and vour 'oi, ^ "^^^tiations on 
 ernorand Committjrdurin.Th^^"'' *"'' '''^ ^ov- 
 glad to be informed of ahhn^ the wmter of 1879. I am 
 o( the officers had any rreSde"";"^"' ^^^ '^^ 
 
 verywa^inUtSaralt-te--- 
 21 
 
 
 .J 
 
 4 
 
 •■ if'i 
 
 
 i ^ / 
 
 
 ?! 
 
 !,.^,' 
 '.''5^ 
 
 

 Lord Strathcona 
 
 many years were my confrires, and whose untirinij 
 exertions in the genera] interest I was and am so fully 
 cognizant of. 
 
 There never could have been any intention on the 
 part of *he Committee to miike a victim of any of those 
 who joined in the representations which induced me 
 to act for the officers in London, as I had come fully 
 provided that nothing of the kind could possibly be 
 attempted; and I will on this subject only add that 
 while in future negotiation with the Hudson's Bay 
 Company the officers may and no doubt will find re- 
 presentation infinitely more able, 'hey cannot find one 
 having their best interests more at heart than myself. 
 I was sorry to hear that provisions had been so 
 scarce in your district last winter, which must have 
 brought great suffering to the poor Indians. Let me 
 thank you for your good wishes in respect of the rail- 
 way in which I am interested, and am glad to say it 
 continues to go well. 
 
 It will afford me much pleasure to hear from you as 
 opportunity may offer, and as I am now gradually 
 reducing the amount of personal work to which my 
 attention has been given, I shall be glad to write you 
 from time to time at greater length and always to be 
 of use to you in any way in which I can. 
 
 We get further glimpses of the American "free- 
 traders " in the Far North, in the following letters : — 
 
 From Chief Factor K. McDonald 
 
 Fort Simpson, 5th September, 1880. 
 I am sorry to learn there is opposition in the fur- 
 
 At Rampart 
 
 trade at Athabasca again this year. 
 
 M 
 
 I I 
 
American « Free- Traders" 
 
 beaver 3. foxes i. to "5 b Lekfo"' "'"^"^ ^° 5 M^ 
 'O. One company speaks of Jn7 ^°' ^"'^ ^''^^^ « to 
 establish a post alongside of R^^^"^ o^ ^"^ °"e to 
 mer. and on my retuf^ l' "he faM ffM,"""" '"'^ «"•»- 
 some one close to the fnr. ^""^ ^''Pert to find 
 
 t° the death. How ver 'n'Tw^r' '° ""'''^'^"d -e 
 against me, I think that C:;f;''"*> ''''' °dds 
 -uch. Martens are stills a "ebutt;:°f.""'°""' '° 
 the packs they saw in sorinrh ^ ^ '"'''^"^' f'-"'" 
 be more numerous nexTwK "f h'''' *'!^ """'^ 
 the case, for I am pretty weM'H' ^ ^""^ *'" ^e 
 -araty of furs for tSe I^'t rhlteTrs"''' "'"" ''^^ 
 
 I am sorry that it"" "r ^'""- ^'"'"'--'^o- 
 of the fur-S dol;t:r Th^ "' -- ^° tell you 
 Americans is still kept up L s[r^n°'"^""°" ^"'"' the 
 fonie of the Indians are bLLn°? tl"^'"' ^"'^ "ear 
 't. The excitement pr^d rfi ^ '"™^ t°^ards 
 beneficial effect uponX r^-^^ ""' tend to have a 
 Americans is^ TklL and t"' 'l' '''^ '^^^^ "^ tl: 
 ^e of the Indians a^ S,minT'^/r" ^'-^'^ that 
 Ashonest. As far as I can^w^ In'""* '""^ others 
 pied by the Americans on th. V .' ^" '''^ P°^ts occu- 
 
 to be rapidly degenrtingfrojrhr' ''' '"'^■■^- -«"> 
 enced at home, I s^pp^'^^^^lT'l'^-^'^^xperi. 
 to produce paupers ^""^ ''as a tendency 
 
 "3 
 
 
 H- I 
 
 !, 
 
 r. 
 
 . V I. ! i 
 
 ':, V I .,1-. 
 
 ♦•ilfi 
 

 i:^ \ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 ing the incomparably better trade they could make 
 with the Americans — furs at more than double and 
 goods at half the price. A reason may be found in the 
 fact, that the Indians suspect that if this place be 
 abandoned, they won't be so well off, for the Yankee 
 traders are simple enough to tell them so. Yet we 
 reflect that the Indians were never noted for pro 
 viding for the future. 
 
 Rahpart House, January ist, 1881. 
 
 Jimmy Barber is now a free-trader and he thinks 
 himself quite a bourgeois. He went to the Yukon again 
 in summer and brought a good deal of trading goods 
 given him by McQuestin. He built a small house 
 between this and La Pierre House in fall and intends 
 doing his level best, as the Yankee would say. Half 
 fool as he is, he managed to get a good many furs last 
 winter from the Peel River Indians. He has made 
 nothing of our Indians here yet, but it is possible he 
 may get a skin or two from them this winter. 
 
 A nephew of old Sinati, Yukon chief, is opposing me 
 here. He is staying in a small house on the opposite 
 side of the river. He is a great scamp and worthy of 
 his uncle. I had a talk with him in fall and he promised 
 faithfully to give me what-^ver furs he trapped or 
 traded. Having thus put me off my guard, he traded 
 on the sly and with the furs he set off to the Yukon. 
 On his return, when taxed with his perfidy, he was in 
 no wise abashed, but seemed to think himself a pretty 
 smart fellow. Such conduct annoys one, but I hope 
 he is an exception. 
 
 ' We learn a great deal of a certain Russian Jew 
 trader named Boscowitz, who led the Company's 
 men a pretty dance thirty or forty years since. 
 24 
 
The Splendid Boscowitz 
 
 th JfuttTZ" r at o[ ^""''^"^ '"'' ^° ''-« 
 of fur if he makes it or"^*. ^°"^^ °" """"^ ""'"^^ 
 "ivesin London a»e„dsfhTr'°^''^''™^^'f "°- 
 other sales, and ha! ^rown Co-npany's autumn and 
 
 country. His Lt^ fZ^s hTre i 'a Ge™"; '^^' *"'' 
 common-looking, illiterate Ix^r- K . k ™^" P'^^'"' ^ 
 for us all the same Hphf u ' "' ^^ '= *°° ""ch 
 
 and can afford tTgivfch^n '"f"^ ''""' ' "^^^^ 
 
 that is in the wav of n.^^^^? '° ^''"°«t -^very one 
 
 Lubbe, isaGelan Irrr '"'T '^^^ °">^'-^^"' 
 
 -an; he is baXd'byl tu^Tist'""''"'.^^^"''- 
 secured very few lots in JL ^^Pson.' I have 
 
 nary price^thal have "^^1" o"" °' ^'f, ^^*'^°^^'- 
 devilment. I double mv^^/T °'^^^='°"a"y. for pure 
 
 they go much betterTex iL?1 ' '°' Z '"°' ^"^^ 
 energy i„ this business The"r' '^''. ""^ " ^^^' °f 
 now should be ,.,o p:; h^ndr^X nrblron^^^ 
 
 Alaskan mi'e^tS 'X^: i"''"^"^' ^^^ ^he 
 
 ^r<w Chief Factor K. McDonald 
 
 Fort Simpson, 7th March issr 
 
 pa^rth^;tratJr^'-'^-^°-'--er 
 turescue beaut^^ ^L? Ll^-| '^'ands of pic- 
 
 about 540 miles and I Arrived hel„„.,' '^T"'' '" 
 andhaWng^ademyselfacSS-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 S.r Curt,s U.pso„ wa. no. „„, of the Compa„v 
 
 as 
 
 ?■ 
 
 'II ' 
 
 ( 
 
 
 ^'' \r 
 
 v: ^i 
 
 
li - 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 its surroundings, have been obtaining all the informa- 
 tion possible regarding the trade on Chase Lake and 
 River. There is a very strong opposition up there. 
 Mr. Sylvester is the chief trader in that section of the 
 country, and last year imported about fifty-five tons 
 of goods for the trade. He deals in gold-dust from the 
 miners as well as in furs. His returns in furs alone 
 amount to about twenty-five thousand dollars yearly, 
 and he takes out quite a sum in gold-dust besides. He 
 is a very generous man, an extravagant trader, and is 
 very popular among the whites and Indians, and is, 
 moreover, ^ man of considerable means. I am going 
 in with about twenty-five hundred dollars' worth of 
 goods, and I feel that, with such a formidable oppo- 
 nent, I am in no position to successfully compete with 
 him. He is a wealthy man and can oppose us very 
 strongly and is stubborn enough to do so perhaps for 
 years. He sells the greater part of his furs in Victoria, 
 and it is, I dare say, the best market to-day. At any 
 rate, furs are sold in Victoria at an average of fifteen 
 per cent over what they bring at the London sales and 
 he consequently is in a position to pay higher prices 
 for them than we can. 
 
 He is also a close buyer in goods, going yearly to 
 New York, Montreal, Victoria, and other places to 
 make his purchases. His stock on hand after the year's 
 trade is over is about ten thousand dollars and it is 
 good, saleable goods. I cannot understand why the 
 Company do not put their furs on the market in 
 Victoria; that is, the furs obtained in this quarter. 
 They could sell much higher than they could do in 
 London, and save freight besides. Some people cannot 
 understand how it is that the Company have had to 
 abandon so many posts along this coast and in the 
 
 36 
 
Buying out Sylvester 
 interior. The reason is simple Th^ r 
 en. have their hands tied bv a tariff ^7^^"^ ' ^'^■ 
 by no means the he^ttha. u ^- ^"^ ">« «ales are 
 always means a ^ri£' ?L "■^^-- f°r -" auction 
 vester be bought ouT I aJ^^Z"!:^""*"'' '''^ ^yl- 
 for twelve thoui^d do la" TSt' "°"'l"" -' 
 pany would have his DOS ^?:x ,. ^''^"'' ^^^ Com- 
 of the fur-trade irtha^"''':°"'''~"trol the whole 
 
 Sylvester's post 4"d,t/cXdef°"'' '" "^ «^' 
 •night undertake to oppoL "hi K'"'' ""'^ ^''° 
 that the buying-out prindole ;,T" """^ " '^ ^^'^ 
 ^ an exploded Idea l" w^ al^lr"^ T ^' '"''^ 
 Hudson's Bay Company wa^„'" '"°"^^ ^''^n the 
 out a party, but times hX? ^ P^""°" '" f'-<*==e 
 strongly recommend havtr a ?'"'• ' ^°"'^ ^'«° 
 which could be used theThoU "^'' °' °"'- °-'^". 
 andStickeen. ItTno toot ' uT"^" ? *''^ ^''^"- 
 of thirty tons at a cost of^evPnl^h '^^^''^* ' ^'^^™« 
 be made to pay for heri HnV "'^""^ ''°"''^« ^°"'d 
 the Company are navlnf h **" ''"*"• ^t present 
 With our'^3wn s eame^we .H;"*'' '°' '^^'^ '■"-Kht. 
 the freighting or mLranH r"? " «°°^ P^^t of 
 with them, which i™"u?t; St^^ °''*- the trade 
 
 From Factor D. Laird 
 
 T«K. I ^*"'I-ETOIU>, 8th Julv 1881 
 
 NorSri;?rs''°ThrL^^"' '"''*"*- --he 
 certainly do'Ze J'^'T Zr ^^ °«-^ ^''-'d 
 called my attention to fhe matteH^ . '''°'' ^°"P^ 
 ter and I forwarded his ^!>r^nt' ^ ^"'r " ^^ '''' 
 
 »7 
 
 ,.l! 
 
 ■I r 
 
 •1:1 
 
 ' h 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 

 1 f 
 
 i-: 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 part of it — to the railway syndicate. It was scarcely 
 worth their while to pay so much to one monopoly to 
 get the country if they were goir x to give no much to 
 another to take it off their hancd, but this is almost 
 political, and Lieutenant-Governors have no politics 
 by right. 
 
 I dare say there is much truth in what you say with 
 regard to the Hudson's Bay Company in the extreme 
 North. Probably if they were protected in their trade, 
 and entrusted with the care of the Indians in those 
 parts of the country useful for settlement, it would be 
 best for all parties. But I doubt whether the Canadian 
 Parliament would consent to such an arrangement. 
 But as protection is a policy now somewhat in the 
 ascendant in Ottawa, the Company might succeed on 
 application to have the National Policy extended to 
 the fur-trade. 
 
 From Chief Factor C D 
 
 Stuaki's Lake, 30th September, 1881. 
 The statement of dividends for fifty years shows 
 that we are very much underpaid, and the Board grasp 
 every mortal cent they can. They will sell out some 
 
 fine morning and leave us in the lurch. is going 
 
 to London this coming winter, and will do his best to 
 induce the Board to make the minimum £200 per 
 share, and more in proportion £ts the trade allows. I 
 hope he succeeds. 
 
 Front Chief Factor MacFarlane 
 
 Fort Chipewvan, sd March, 1882. 
 The Board of Directors have graciously undertaken 
 to insure us the continuance of the existing handsome 
 
 38 
 
Officers' Profits 
 
 suppose we oug^ to ^'^^'""'"^ T'"" °"'«' '««'' I 
 all that they havl Z TenTJ" ^^"'"^ "■^" ^^ »^« f°r 
 sioned officers sMce^dlnH'' ''""^ '°^ '''^ =°"""'«- 
 I enumerate J^Zuhe^tLTT"-''""- ^''^" 
 service? First they give us „o»h- ^^"'1^"°" "' °"' 
 floo per share for Outfit ,876 a J. .^"u"^' ''75, 
 cers- own reserve fund mn T'.^^.'° "''"'='• ">e offi- 
 unjust (discondnuedof ^t.^^ •^°°°' ^'"'^ "^eir 
 
 of all the unappropriated itrad?'""" °^ ^'"'^ ^f"''' 
 than made up for all SsereZ ^d TS ^^ ""^^ 
 most if not all that has been .^^ "^''^^^ ^'«'. 
 
 make up the £150 guaranty/ "i"'""'' "^"''■^'1 »" 
 for Outfits iSrS^^dTs^r ' "'7' ^^ **« ^'00 
 
 try^'o^ca^^dtrre^r-'^r^^-^^''--"- 
 
 thelandsaround ande peciw r '" '"*'^^^^' '" 
 and kept up at the expen^of thf f ^^' established 
 that the Winnipeg and th^ M^!!^"^''^^ ^y°" ^°^ 
 tens of thousan"^ oTp^I^df st!S„57 '°'T^ ^°^* 
 compensation has eveMw^n ,!lj !^' '7 '^'''* "° 
 bad business for the co^l"?'^\''^ "^^ a very 
 annual incomes have norcZr™^^ f^^"' ^heh- 
 ended, to much more than halfVr ^'^ '^"^^^^ i-* 
 by their predecessors. Were wl ' 1?°""' '^^''^^d 
 we could not complain, but i^th^f 7"""^™*^^' 
 thousands already secur^^K !l ^"^ °^ "'^ tens of 
 
 the prospect of iirii/itt;'?'"''^"' ^""^ 
 and human nature to evn„7. " '^ ^"''■^'>' to reason 
 
 state of affairs that has so in" °> f"''^'^"^ ^''^ ^ 
 
 pecuniary interest. Lt the DreT°"''^ ^'^^^'^'^ °"^ 
 
 or indeed any impartial pe"? 1*°" °' shareholders, 
 
 of profits realized by he X'. '^"^'^ *''" ''"'^'"^"t 
 "y the officers from 1821 to 1871, 
 
 a9 
 
 if' 
 
 'I ' ^^ 
 
 ]i: 
 
 ■if 
 
 rl 
 I 
 
 li, ''t ♦- - 
 
 
 ,,l 
 
 
''■i 
 
 T>ord Strathcona 
 
 and then to the year 1881, and as men of honour, 
 and integrity, they cannot help admitting that justice 
 calls for a radical redress of our well-grounded griev- 
 ances. 
 
 Whatever doubts might have been entertained as to 
 the right of the fur-trade to participate in the sales of 
 lands in the so-called "fertile belt," I firmly believe 
 that our claim to a share of the 50,000 acres around 
 our establishment was not only, as admitted, morally 
 strong, but legally good, and that this view should 
 have been confirmed had the question been submitted 
 to the decision of a court of law and equity. But all 
 this is useless now you will say. Still under the bright 
 prospect of the future, so far as the shareholders are 
 concerned, the Directors ought to give some effect to 
 t*-ese doubts and facts in favour of those whose 
 services hitherto have been so miserably and inade- 
 quately remunerated. 
 
 Had our Canadian investments been of late years 
 as profitable as formerly, we might not have felt the 
 comparative poverty of our position so very keenly. 
 Many of us have large families, some have served 
 twenty to thirty years and upwards, and for what? — 
 while age is rapidly coming on. Several at least of our 
 number believe that but for our isolation, large sums 
 might have been realized by investment in Winnipeg, 
 as well as in railways, which have proved of immense 
 benefit to those who were fortunately privileged to 
 utilize their means in this manner. I must, however, 
 say no more for fear you should consider me as a 
 grumbler. 
 
 30 
 
Interest in Investments 
 From Chief Factor Roderick McKenzie 
 
 MliBOUiME, Our., mh June, i88j. 
 Our mutual kind and generous-hearted friend, Chief 
 factor Bamston' haa gone the way of all the earth 
 1 here are not many living now who were the guidine 
 .pmts of the Hudson'8 Bay Company when we came 
 to the country first. It is a warning to us. my dear sir. 
 that our time is drawing near. May our Heavenly 
 t ather prepare us for the great change ! 
 
 What sort of weather have you got in the North- 
 West? How changed is that country from the solitude 
 you first saw - thousands of people coming in every 
 week. I often wonder how they can be fed. I am afraid 
 many of them will starve, both from the want of food 
 and the mclemency of the weather, before they get 
 their houses built. 
 
 As an illustration of the financial relations exist- 
 mg between Mr. Smith and the commissioned offi- 
 cers of the Company for many years the following 
 may serve: — 
 
 From the Honourable D. A. Smith 
 
 MONIKBAL, nth December, 1883. 
 You refer to the surprise and disappointment felt by 
 some of our friends in the North-West at "the low 
 rate of interest, five and six per cent, at which some 
 recent investments have been placed." 
 
 I ^ sorry to say that no better rates can be ob- 
 
 tamed here on such undoubted security of the principal 
 
 as we have always endeavoured to procure; and indeed 
 
 It IS even more difficult just now to get these figures 
 
 ' Under whom Mr. Smith served at Tadousac in 1841. 
 
 31 
 
 I 1 
 
 ' , hi 
 
 5) 
 
 'I* » 
 
 
 ! 
 
 .' I I 
 
 &V^\' 
 
 liirf 
 
 I if 
 
ill 
 
 il 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 than it waa lome two or three years back to obtain 
 levcn, eight, and even nine per cent. Nor, in my 
 opinion, is there a prospect o( any great increase in 
 the value of money for some time to come, owing in 
 great measure to the very large amounts of English 
 and French capital seeking investment on this conti- 
 nent for which they are willing to accept less than five 
 per cent. Hereafter, as in the past, we shall always 
 endeavour to do the best for our friends whose money 
 matters we attend to, but you will, I am sure, quite 
 agree with me in believing that it is far better to be 
 contented with a moderate rate, as interest now goes, 
 than to attempt to get more at risk to moneys invested. 
 Perhaps you will make this explanation to any of the 
 gentlemen in your district to whom you may consider 
 it desirable to do so. 
 
 Mr. G informed me in September last that 
 
 you had requested him to draw on me for one thousand 
 dollars for your account, for the purpose of some in- 
 vestment in steamboats in the North-West, to which I 
 demurred, in the first instance, as I had received no 
 intimation from yourself to that effect, but on being 
 
 assured by Mr. G that it was your particular 
 
 wish that he should receive the money, I advised him 
 that, although I considered the transaction far from 
 regular, I would under the circumstances accept his 
 draft on your behalf for the amount; the monpy was 
 in consequence paid to him on the 9th . 1 ■ r. 
 
 May I ask, however, that when it is >,-ii,. ■: I' >i 
 have any further payments made on your account, 
 you will be good enough to advise me of the same 
 direct, as you will see how very inconvenient and 
 against your own interest it might be, were we to make 
 such payments on the ipse dixit of this or that person 
 
 33 
 
Becomes a Director 
 
 S:iS:„?""* '" '^ ' '«"'^'^°» "Pon me on 
 
 Manitol^ for^n^e S.".""^ ""'' "'*=^'«"* '" 
 attention wa. dirt^ rCaTada To T' '"""= 
 -nt of the Land D.^rLe:^^^T»T6^:T 
 Company. The BoarH in i j nuason s Bay 
 
 aentadve to Winn^ t '" ^"''°" *""' "^'^ '^P'^' 
 subject in m^^r^sll The d"' "T °" *''' 
 were unwilling, fn 1^ •'" '^"^tors, however, 
 
 arr'nger^rwhierS 71 "'"^' '^"^"^'^^ '" '^^ 
 Depaft.e„: at^^l'td^^HT^tL^an'nrl 
 n^tmg in London in NovemLr is«r ^ ?' 
 subject was discussed at leltT /.f ^c ^^u" '^^ 
 had been the largest shaJhofdt'prt toT t'7^ 
 
 f^7:^eti2"?S=;-i;-^^^ 
 
 inengiWe and the hst was incomplete. This led to 
 
 LTXthtSttr" ^"^"°- ^"-i ^" 
 
 Dosed ^Z , ! ^ ^^' ^ compromise was pro- 
 ' ^'»»«"«''"» by Mr. William Aimit. 
 
 is 
 
 f I 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 To Chief Factor MacFarlane 
 
 MONTUAL, 8t J? .uary, 1884. 
 You have done a good work in having a steamer 
 built in Athabasca, and I can quite understand the 
 difficulties you have had to contend with, under the 
 circumstances you explain. The ultimate saving of 
 cost in the transport business, and the greater faahties 
 thus given for conducting the business advantageously, 
 will it is to be hoped, tell favourably on the result of 
 trade, both in Athabasca and Mackenzie River dis- 
 trict, and when it may be possible to supplement this 
 by having a steamer on the Mackenzie River, still 
 further reduction may be looked for in the expenses of 
 distributing supplies and sendini, ; t the returns. You 
 have, of course, given your vievs >a!ly on the subject 
 to the Company, through the rur-Trade Commis- 
 sioner, and I feel satisfied that, when submitted in due 
 form by him, they will be carefully considered. 
 
 Having only just returned from England, I am un- 
 able at present to write you as fully as I could wish, 
 but it will be always very pleasing to me to have your 
 views with regard to the business which you have been 
 so long connected with and which you know so inti- 
 mately, and when I can be of use at any time in for- 
 warding your wishes, be assured it would give me 
 pleasure to do so. 
 
 You will no doubt learn by letters and papers, 
 reaching you by the winter express, that some changes 
 have taken place in the personnel of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company. These changes were insisted on by myself, 
 and although personally I did not care to be on the 
 Direction, still, from the part I took in the matter, 
 I felt that it was owing to my friends I should not de- 
 34 
 
Upsetting the Directorate 
 
 of the case. I thoueht wlnt^iZ ■ "'^"'"stances 
 no doubt that the o,ll^ T^^ '° '" P^- ' have 
 will be prepa^ to ^"* "J'"'*" °' the Committee 
 their JZTth^ tuX ' """-T-^ '°^ P"«'"8 
 where they have LT f^^ ." ^ '"'^^^^o^y footing, 
 back. '^ "°* '^" altogether for some time 
 
 This was a dramatic coup, indeed! 
 
 From Chief Factor Fortescue to a brother-cfficer 
 
 far as it rem^„?^ * '^^ """^ "^''* "^ nomination, as 
 hofdl'lL^"''"" ^''""'°" ^d the mass of shar^- 
 
 untrti^trexr^t :°° ^r • ^^^ '"'«^^' 
 
 other hut thl ;'"'i'*"8e one mstrument for an- 
 
 S^nate :i:2fLr''" °' ^^ "^^^^ °^ *« 
 
 by the effortsTl^rrgrrmSn" ^ ^''-^^ 
 35 
 
 
 ^.ffJ 
 
 I 
 
 :il 
 
 i if 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 From Chief Factor Charles to a fellow-officer 
 
 ViCTOau, B.C., 3i»t February, 1885. 
 I heartily sympathize with you in your comments 
 as regards the Hudson's Bay Company. I never be- 
 lieved much in their justice or liberality unless when 
 they were forced to be so or could not help themselves. 
 But at the same time, I always considered it a hopeless 
 case to tilt against a great moneyed corporation with- 
 out the sinews of war. I was not astonished at Mr. 
 Grahame's severance from the Company, as I knew 
 that he was at loggerheads with Donald A. Smith, 
 who is and has been dictator for some time, not only 
 in America, but also in London. This is the age of 
 syndicates and those that have the money win, right 
 or wrong, principally the latter, I am sorry to say. 
 I have been puzzled to find out the true inwardness of 
 things for a long time. 
 
 Donald A. was the champion of the officers years ago, 
 ameliorating the status of the officers, raising their 
 pay etc., etc. But would not such action now on his 
 part be against the interests of the Board, of which he 
 is a Director? 
 
 In the following year, one of the boldest of the 
 fur-traders, allied by blood and marri^e to many 
 of the old North-Westers, addressed an eloquent 
 memorial to the Company. 
 
 From Chief Factor R. MacFarlane 
 
 Sausburv Hotel, London, ist May, 1886. 
 As a Chief Factor and one who has been engaged in 
 the service of the Company for upwards of thirty-hve 
 years, I am intimately acquainted both with the work- 
 36 
 
Memorializing the Board 
 
 Jng of the fur-trade and also personally with the feeling 
 
 and opmions of my fellow commissionedoffice^andS 
 such I now add:^ you on my own and on the^ChllT 
 I am sorry to have to bri-g before you the act that' 
 Z TT", ^ '*^" '^'^'y rapidl/growfng wo^' 
 and hat, although our responsibilities and laZ^ 
 
 ^raL? r'r" '"^ ""^^ °"' "ving expe'si: ha"v^ 
 mcreased, our remuneration has decreaserf an^ „ 
 prospects of imp„,vement hav^ SiS awl ^ 
 
 t^Tltr ^^-hohaveb^ntngllhrseXiL" 
 
 retiri":' atffi " ^'^ '^^ "''^" *^« office^Tt" 
 tnn ^^, f ™*°'"'t competence after a hard life of 
 
 T Ml '^'\u^ ' '^""''^ ^" ^"ention to the fact that 
 
 importance and permanent character which does not 
 prov.de retiring pensions for its office ^d tWs ^n 
 only be explained by the fact that in bygone days 21 
 profits of the officers we,^ sufficient to enaWe them to 
 put by money and that if this had not been the c^ 
 
 TheTr I mert"'°": T'' '°"^ ^^° ''--"^' 
 ine lact 1 mention of the irrpat faii.r,^ „« • 
 
 n^ssiond officers- pn^spects rJeff'S:' ^o yoT 
 The statement of profits I left with you recently sho^ 
 that the profits per share used to be over £w a velT 
 whereas now they are little over £200 a vear Thf. ' 
 attributable to the sale of thTr ^f , " '^ 
 
 riehts to th^r ™,f^'^ °' the Company's chartered 
 nghts to the Canadian Government, to the railroad 
 building and influx of settler., to the heavy^dutS not 
 
 37 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 
 L' 
 
 
 f : < 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^ ;. > i^i 
 
 1 ;',:i'i>i 
 
' ;; 
 
 . 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 ' Several of these reasons, whilst operating most dis- 
 advantageously to us as partners in the fur-trade, are 
 for the great benefit of the shareholders generally, 
 notably the influx of settlers and consequent sales of 
 land by which the capital of the Company is being 
 repaid, whilst we, the officers who originally shared in 
 all the profits of the Company, are now practically 
 limited to that part of the business which suffers most 
 by the very causes which make the prosperity of the 
 other part. 
 
 Under the circumstances I beg that Governor and 
 Directors will take into their earnest considerati -n the 
 necessity of raising the minimum guarantee on each 
 share to at least £250 a year, the lowest sum, I sub- 
 mit, on which the officers can maintain themselves 
 properly and save something; and further that if, at 
 the end of five years, it appears that the sums paid 
 on each share under guarantee and profits have not 
 amounted to £300 a year, then that the deficiency be 
 made up in the fifth year. 
 
 I should point out on this head that if the commer- 
 cial business should prove as profitable as is hoped, this 
 additional guarantee will entail no cost upon the 
 Company. 
 
 You will pardon my apparent insistence on this 
 matter. As one of your oldest officers I have the best 
 interests of the Company and of my fellow-officers at 
 heart, and I feel convinced that it is your desire that 
 we should do our work, not only zealously, but also 
 hopefully, which we cannot do under our present cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 Poor blind Belisarius begging his obelus from 
 Dives, who had taken from him his inheritance! 
 If the future historian desires to turn a strong light 
 38 
 
A Veteran's Avowal 
 
 traders of the remote posts of the Company at this 
 
 ^row a«/ doctor James L. Cotter 
 
 Moose Factory, loth July, 1886. 
 It IS a self-evident fact that nothing can be done 
 without umon. That the discontent you speak of is felt 
 TuT h' r"'!r^*''^~""'^th-'^caXnodoub? 
 but whether all will combine to give forcible utteS 
 V'J ^°"'^" *'''"8- I" '878 the western officer 
 refus«i to join theothe.^; at thesame time thTy^a^ 
 
 Jat time I ll '"' ?*""' ""'"' "^ *''«'' breth^T'S 
 that time I threw m my lot with the majority, and if 
 things had gone against us, God knows wha^' would 
 have become of me, for I had not a sixpence to li^on 
 I am now ,n my thirtieth year of ser^ce, and ^ no 
 prospect of ever being able to retire on anythJCond 
 a mere pittance. My health is delicate, ^d iTouId „ot 
 
 beset with difficulties and anxieties on all hands I 
 
 thl^HfTh ^ "^^^ '° ^°^"" y°" *° '«°* ^'me- 
 
 how M "^ ^"'' *''°'" y°" ''^^^ to deal, and 
 
 how his circumstances must necessarily colour his 
 opinions and give bias to his actions 
 
 fl,.f *'""!^ "^^ ^ ''"'"y t^^^t^l by the Board and 
 rtat an endeavour to get "better terms" should be 
 
 ^nn -f I K ' ~ '""^ ^""^ "^ ""y difficulty, _ I ques- 
 
 and 'butterf'"', ""'' '° ^^^"^^ °" °- "^^^ the bre^d 
 and butter of a large young family. I walk on the 
 
 39 
 
 
 
 

 Lord Strathcona 
 
 brink of a precipice, one false step and the toil and suf- 
 fering of a lifetime are thrown away and those depend- 
 ent on me reduced to poverty. I am too old to pick 
 myself up again if I fall. Of course it is possible that a 
 firm combination of the officers might make success 
 certain; but to that is added the dread that the Board, 
 to avenge their defeat, would proceed to lop off the 
 tallest heads; and the existing Chief Factors would 
 speedily find themselves shelved. If the choice lay 
 between being tolerably well off in the service and just 
 a little less well off out of it, in short if the stake were 
 not so big to me as it is, there would be little difficulty 
 in making up one's mind which course to pursue. But 
 when it is a matter of bread and butter on the one hand 
 and starvation on the other, one may well pause £ind 
 consider the consequences which might accrue should 
 circumstances throw one at the mercy of relentless 
 enemies. If I were a bachelor and misfortune befell 
 myself alone, I could face it; but a lot of helpless chil- 
 dren wanting food, clothing, and education! — I can- 
 not bear the thought of it ; I would rather die than see it. 
 I should only be too glad if we could get the £250. 
 I am, however, thankful for the £200, my only com- 
 plaint about it being that it is not a certainty, but a 
 thing niggardly promised, as it were, from year to year. 
 I say I am thankful, but I am not satisfied. What I 
 want is a sure and certain minimum of £250 and a 
 retiring interest the same as under the old r^ime. 
 That is what I want, and with that I could jog on in 
 some sort of hope. You certainly hit the nail on the 
 head when you spoke of yoir being unable to work 
 hopefully under the present circumstances. We work 
 as if at the pumps of a sinking s'^ip. It is a strained and 
 unhealthy state of mind. 
 
 40 
 
Board and Public Op 
 From Chief Factor 
 
 inion 
 
 I..: 
 
 TU- D J *"■ J"™. '886. 
 
 M«F.ss suss -Ti^rr s r- "'; 
 
 I think the Board will be afraid to give Mr M 
 
 his quietus after that Memorial Th„ ^ J^ 
 
 of articles published irT^r? 7 ^ '^'^ ^ ^^63 
 
 infJuential pa,^ X^Lf th^r"""", ^'"^^ °' °"'«' 
 are as afraW ^ ^P°s'"K their malpractices. Thev 
 
 "atri^tl^s, h',"S r "" " ^'"«^ -^ 
 
 deeds are evil. * ' '"' '*'' '^^" 'hat their 
 
 As he was now a Director Mr c^uu ■ . 
 formally represent th^2°l ■ ^ '^""'^ ""* 
 
 outsider T,^ wintei.ng partners, as an 
 
 SgrWanl'LTord' ^^, T ''^^etically in^^ 
 support °'''' ^"'^ ^'^^y« 'ent them his 
 
 to g.ve up without a ,^ fi/ht. 'sTo^aW stlth fs! 
 41 
 
 
 J 
 
 <,' 
 
 I ■ ; 1 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 I think, obliged to be what the French call an "oppor- 
 tunist," but I have always known he meant well. 
 
 The Board conferred with the shareholders, who 
 finally consented to a measure of justice to the 
 wintering partners. 
 
 From Chief Factor WiUiam Charles 
 
 Victoria, B.C., 14th January, 1887. 
 
 So you see the London shareholders were afraid of 
 too much ventilation on affairs. But I suppose every- 
 thing is fair in war. I am afraid the highly important 
 communication will turn out moonshine. I can see 
 fully what the object of the Company is. It is not dif- 
 ferent now from what it always has been, only now 
 
 Mr. A seems to have acquired Bismarckian 
 
 power over the Board and rules harshly and despoti- 
 cally with a rod of iron. I earnestly hope you will suc- 
 ceed in clipping that upstart's wings. I am told that 
 the new commissioner is nut a very happy man and 
 finds things do not work so smoothly as he at first 
 thought. 
 
 To Chief Factor Peter Mackenzie 
 
 June 9, 18S8. 
 
 I learn you were not so successful in hunting as in 
 former years. It is also deeply to be regretted that the 
 natives [of Ungava] suffered so much from scarcity of 
 food; but this appears to have been the case through- 
 out the country as well as with you; and this last win- 
 ter £%ain we hear there has been great suffering and 
 privation from the same cause. 
 
 I have had a good deal of communication and con- 
 versation with my associates of the Hudson's Bay 
 
Governor of the Company 
 
 Company, and also with the Sepn.to„, j l 
 you will be able to soend annT^ ^' ^ °^ *''"* 
 afterwhich I tr^t wS b^^ttoTnd V" ''"«^"^' 
 congenial work. *"'' '°' y°" ""ore 
 
 So you are back on the east ^Z^T^,"'' ""* 
 again, and at Old rnmL . ^ .^°'''y '^"""'ains 
 
 P-t ;f the H?Ws Bay Co ■ ■* '°V''^ ^^^'^^J 
 Canadians show^ stay at h^rTT^' ^i""* ^^="^''- 
 developtheG^tChtnora^^ri:;" ""^ *° 
 sentatives of those great ^^1." ?°^^™ '^P'^ 
 their ancestors TS^'^*^'? '""•^'' ^"^^ than 
 dispensation, but thTirn7 T "^^ "°' '"'^ 'he new 
 anily and vindictive ^^yl^Tt "^" ^^^^ >» ^-'• 
 and hate honesty as thll'^r^at'trh. ^^■"«='-' 
 
 mighty fur-Sie*f c? h"''' u*' ^^'' '" ^"^^ °"« 
 GoveS;or of Se Hud^s^^^r ^^ ^■^"'- 
 suffrages of his fellow oTrectoS ^,°!?P^"y- ^h^ 
 position, first filled by PrinnP *^ '"™ *° t^" 
 It had latteny lost ifrn ^"'^'■^"^^^J^ine- 
 romanceofthTyXSotSTad "ri''"* *^« 
 at the lowest rune of th.1^; ' '^^'""'"^ 
 achieyed the suZft « ^ ^'^^^'' ^^'^ ^n^'ly 
 he liyed, at ™n S2r^'^" *° ^'^^^^ -^"' 
 
 spon^d^ce of the veterans who^S^t ^ 
 43 
 
 
 4P 
 
 
 
 J I 
 
 i. 
 
 f} 
 
 
 i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 NOTE TO CHAPTER XVI 
 
 I think it has been made abundantly clear that 
 Donald A. Smith was not blind to the potential value 
 of the land in the North-West, nor had he been for 
 some years. The difficulty was to induce the factors 
 generally to accept compensation in the form of land 
 rather than money. Yet as an illustration of how his 
 attitude continues to be misunderstood I find one 
 prominent Chief Factor stating at Lord Strathcona's 
 death: — 
 
 In 1870 Sir Stafford Northcote and Sir Curtis Lampson 
 frankly admitted, as did Secretary W. G. Smith and 
 Assistant-Secretary W. Armit, that the fur-trade had a forty 
 per cent interest in the fifty thousand acres around the posU, 
 and in the posU and establishments themselves. Had this 
 important asset been retained, the service would have been 
 one of the most remunerative in Canada! Mr. Smith's own 
 Labrador and Gulf of St. Lawrence land experience made 
 him all the readier to agree with some of the older partners 
 of 1870, to get a littlp more money at once, rather than wait 
 for further settlemf ievelopments in which like a few they 
 did n't believe. A' .nus we lost terribly. Had Mr. Smith, 
 however, been br u.^ht up in the Northern Department, as 
 was Governor Maotavish, Joseph Wilson, and other Chief 
 Factors and Chief Traders, he would assuredly have been 
 as staunch for all land rights as any one. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE ST. PAUL « PACIFIC RAILWAY 
 «873-l8?8 
 
 mH^f^" "'''"'*? °' '^"^ '«»* «"tury the only 
 SuZn" r'""^*^'*' f^"«P°'-tation between Se 
 Hudson 8 Bay Company's territories in the Cana! 
 
 ft^m W.nn>peg to St. Paul. Minnesota, and fro^ 
 thence down the Mississippi River by steamtoa^ 
 
 s cZ7: °' *^ ^^'^^^' -^'"« '™- ^"rnv" 
 
 By way of experiment a small steamer, caoable 
 so the w.ts said of travelling on a heavy dew. w^ 
 placed upon the Red River. Finding it wl T^ 
 '"!^ ^°: "^^ ^''"^^' *« Company built T UrS? 
 '^ ?V'"^^'^' ^'^ °" the ^6th of S 
 was made. For the ensuing nine years the iZ^. 
 na^u>nal continued on the route from AbercromWe 
 and Georgetown to Winnipeg, carrying goodTto 
 «.d fro for the benefit of the CompanVand th^ 
 
 HilftJ'r^ru" \°^ '■" '^70 Mr. James Jerome 
 n if /?^ the acquaintance of Commissioner 
 S^eti r'™! ?''^ '"^'"^" co„nectI~ 
 
 Sstifvlis h?- ^"'""'"* ^^""^ *° him now to 
 justify his having a steamer of his own. He there- 
 
 45 
 
 iff hi 
 
 1,1, t • 
 
 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 fore built one, the 5«/ib>*. A» a naturalized Ameri- 
 can citizen he enjoyed certain technical 'dvan- 
 tages over the owners of a rival boat. To adjust 
 the situation Mr. Smith, as the chief officer of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company, caused the International 
 forthwith to be transferred to the Company's agent 
 in Si. Paul, Mr. Norman W. Kittson, to be oper- 
 ated as a regular passenger and freight boat in 
 opposition to Hill's Selkirk. The outcome of the 
 competition between these two steamers (the his- 
 tory of which is not without some elements of 
 Mark Twainish humour) was an amalgamation of 
 the interests of Messrs. Kittson and Hill, and the 
 formation of the Red River Transportation Com- 
 pany under Kittson's management. 
 
 Here was a monopoly, and an outcry went up. 
 With the object of lowering rates they deemed 
 excessive, the merchants of Winnipeg, acting with 
 others in Minneapolis, founded an opposition 
 line. Two steamers, the Manitoba and Minnesota, 
 were built to compete with the Hill-Kittson Com- 
 pany. But this Merchants' Line, as it was called, 
 soon succumbed to its more powerful competitor, 
 which eventually purchased the steamers and 
 added them to its fleet, numbering seven vessels 
 in 1878. 
 
 As for the mails, they were carried by stage- 
 coach, which continued to run daily until the 
 opening, many years later, of the Pembina Branch 
 of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 
 
 In the year 1857, the American Congress passed 
 an act making a grant of land to the Territory of 
 46 
 
A Broken-down Railway 
 
 Anthony (MinneaS to r.^',do?' "^ ■^'• 
 on the Red River I „ May 1 h- ""v.gat.on 
 
 .5.«.,s,,f s . XT,:i.\"„"''" ^ 
 
 St. Cloud and St Anf»,„ ^ . ™ Stillwater, wa 
 
 Cloud and Crow w"^J to St V °"^' "^^ ^'• 
 mouth of the PeXX^ BuT'^^' "^" 'i* 
 
 J^^til-Xwhi-i^^^^^ 
 
 "St Pa..i s D ^ ^ ™ ""^ company to the 
 
 ■owing xstof Janua" and t'st c^;^^^^^^^^ f°'- 
 I. 1865. The ten „;„K*-^'°"° by January 
 
 Anthony, the "firsT tL^ •"''? ^'^ P""' ^"^ ^t. 
 way, which now ^veri'"st^' "VT"" °' ^^"- 
 were forthwith buT^ a^l^ °^ Minnesota," 
 visions of the ac? ^^'"'l^"'* with the p„,. 
 
 St.^'paSVpTdfic Ra"." ''' ^* Br^ckenridge the 
 
 and its i^cfin htdr^'r^'^P^^^^ff-'-. 
 
 Company'sTaffic wiSH' "^^ ","'"'"'^ ^^^ 
 each of ihe 4its orJrf l^ unsatisfactory. "On 
 
 47 
 
 f ; 
 
 
 
?. 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 deprecatingly by the other, each in his own charac- 
 teristic way." ' 
 
 The truth is this railway, which had swallowed 
 up vast sums of money, came to a standstill, so far 
 as construction went, for want of funds. It was the 
 victim — a typical case — of railway financiers 
 and construction companies; it was mortgaged and 
 the mortgages were foreclosed and then it was 
 re-mortgaged. Yet throughout these transactions 
 its charter, giving it extensive and valuable land 
 grants, still continued valid and finally tempted a 
 syndicate of Dutch capitalists to intervene. On 
 the strength of these land securities and the great 
 prospects of the line, if completed, they were in- 
 duced to purchase $13,380,000 of its bonds and by 
 completing the road to avert a forfeiture of its 
 land grant. 
 
 This was the situation when Mr. Smith first 
 became acquainted with the enterprise. Evil for- 
 tune continued to haunt it, and in 1873 the St. 
 Paul & Pacific Railway became bankrupt. 
 
 And now, leaving for a moment this bankruptcy 
 of a road which was to exert so vast an influence 
 upon Mr. Smith's fortunes, let us glance at the 
 general railway situation in western Canada at that 
 period. 
 
 ' Memoranium, Sir William Van Home. " The right honourable 
 the First Minister will recollect that when, on the collapse of the 
 Jay Gould projects, in 1872, the St Paul & Pacific Railway being 
 constructed in the State of Minnesota stopped short about one 
 hundred miles from the international boundary, I, with his con- 
 sent, made some enquiries regarding the possibility of continuing 
 the road through to Manitoba. I was thus led to look into the pos. 
 sibilities of that country." (Parliamentary Debates, May 26, 1887.) , 
 
 48 
 
The Mackenzie Programme 
 Manitoba and the West harl !,.«„ u 
 
 ».«rucd„„ e™w L S "S '■;™"''^ "" 
 taxatim. " Tk- J without increas me 
 
 s5t;i?S"--=-^ 
 
 or the foot of n,» D i , , *° t-dmonton 
 
 49 
 
 |i ! 
 
 .1' -H *•-' 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 of land a mile, in alternate blocks, was offered for 
 any portion built and operated as a private enter- 
 prise. 
 
 In the Dominion House of Commons Mr. Smith 
 "deeply regretted that party feeling should have 
 been permitted in any wise to enter into the dis- 
 cussion of an enterprise with which the fortunes 
 of Canada were closely bound up." "Of vast and 
 general importance is this problem" the solution of 
 which must in any case be attended with great 
 difficulty. 
 
 It is an undertaking of such magnitude as to demand 
 the cordial cooperation of the whole country to insure 
 its successful completion, and it ought, therefore, to 
 be regarded wholly outside of party considerations. 
 
 The whole people of Manitoba would be gratified 
 by the assurance — the reassurance on the part of the 
 Government — that they intend to carry through, or 
 rather, that they do not propose to abandon, their 
 intention of constructing an all-rail roau from Lake 
 Superior to Manitoba. For I distinctly understood 
 that their purpose all along has been to complete the 
 road between these two points with all possible des- 
 patch, merely using the water-courses in the mean 
 time during the progress of the work, and not substi- 
 tuting them for any portion of the road. More than 
 this, it would be absurd to demand. 
 
 It was admitted on all hands that we have under- 
 taken an obligation toward British Columbia to build 
 a railway through to the Pacific, and I for one hold 
 that everything that is practicable should be done to 
 carry out this engagement. 
 
 British Columbia, in view of its great natural re- 
 90 
 
The Dawson Route 
 
 sources, abounding as it h~^ • 
 
 - and although less Serl v 1^1°" ^'^ «'"s.-derat!^ 
 and pasturaj capabilidr^^^.^T' '*^ ^cultura" 
 consider that we have ^u^to ^^ °^ ^ ^'^h o'der. I 
 on having added to the d1?„;""*^^*"'«« """elves 
 «"d trust and beheve thaTh" " "^ '^' » P^vinc^ 
 on minor points, the ^ple of R v'l^" "">'« diffe^' 
 vmced by the dete™3:„°'„f "^«h C„,„„y^ con'' 
 
 fulfil ali her obligations to the ut^ ^"^ '^'■"'^""y to 
 "Purees of the Dominion ,!: "^""^ ^«^"t that the 
 ff^le f^m Co„fXX'^™rit-1';^'""^-^-''fo 
 her resources fully develolj^,^"' ^"''"nbia, with 
 mportance and pms^W^^r ! ^^'v add to the 
 the ma.„ question now to be J„ " '^°'"'"'°"' ^^ 
 the resources of Canada wilT ^I'"'^'''^ ■« how far 
 prosecution of this worlc '^^''"' the vigorous 
 
 Daw^to^utt"' ^^ --'-r f°^ Selkirk, the 
 
 ,?p£.::i"hi^ir T^^^r:;-"^ ---, and for 
 
 •ng a reduction of the chaVjZ^rt """^^^ '" ^aus- 
 Panies for the transport of^^^^^ ''>' A'nerican com- 
 the people of Manitoba we^^^STr"'^ ^'^'^'''- «« 
 the earhest possible moment «T ^'°"' '° have at 
 between Pembina andTort r ^^^ "°""»""'cation 
 
 J;:::^-"! hoped shortly to sST- iJ''^ ««-"'v 
 structed from one ocean to t^' ?." ^"■'^'' «>"te con. 
 
 eager to have comiectfoV^itJ P^ ?' ' •* '""^ ^'^ 
 t"^. "^"" Pembma m the mean 
 
 courts' of'"fhe'^S^tw2t°^st'.'"'^"''''^^"' ^«-r- 
 
 ^"^'"^'^---->^-"sttXh:- 
 
 5* 
 
 
 
11 
 
 i 
 
 IJ 
 
 "- Lord Strathcona 
 
 not yet been discovered by those who had travelled 
 over the country. My own impression is that there are 
 some stretches of water there that may properly and 
 soiierly be called magnificent. Lake Winnipeg is cer- 
 tainly no inconsiderable expanse of water itself, and 
 from this lake, with a very little barrier, an entrance 
 is made into the Saskatchewan. From that point there 
 are three hundred miles of uninterrupted water com- 
 munication. At the end of those three hundred miles, 
 it 13 necessary to transport freight for four miles by 
 land, and having again reached the Saskatchewan you 
 can go for nine hundred or one thousand miles into 
 the interior and within seventy or eighty miles of the 
 Rocky Mount£iins.' 
 
 While almost wholly useless as an emigration 
 route, the Dawson route in Mr. Smith's opinion 
 had been of very great advantage in transporting 
 supplies to the North-West. The very fact of its 
 being turned over to a company in 1874 
 
 had the effect of making the people in Minnesota 
 reduce their transportation rates still further. They 
 are shrewd men, and, having very little confidence in 
 their own Government, they thought the competing 
 ^ ^wson route would be more efficiently mans^ed by 
 the contractor than by the Canadian Government. 
 My opinion is the Administration should still be pre- 
 pared to carry emigrants and freight by the Dawson 
 route if any attempt is made by the Americans to 
 enforce higher rates. It should not be given up alto- 
 gether. I understand the Americans will still further 
 reduce their rates this year. It is hardly fair to say it 
 was money thrown away to spend on the railroads 
 > Parliamenlary Dtbales, Houae of Commons, April, 1876. 
 5» 
 
^ Continuous Line demanded 
 
 mdirect.' "^°' ^"^1 the route is not too 
 
 He said on another occasion •- 
 
 bemgmadewiththeraSds 1 ' P-""^--^^ ^^s 
 to see the undertalcing Z. , '^°"''' '^ ^^O' sorry 
 water route. On the 'in^^'^;" -"• this r^', ,„'J 
 w'll be a continuous railro^H ^"^^ ^"'^ """^ there 
 s>ble speed. '^"'°^'' '^ned out with all p^! 
 
 ^f;^;n.in Manitoba he said.- 
 
 Hn.1 r — """anesaid: — 
 
 While I do not want- f„ u 
 
 hundred and eighJv"^;^ ?^'' ''" ^' "-- end by'hn?"*^!"."'^ 
 
 loo-- "On^ h ' h ,J- ""'erams to go wmT 1 , 'Z" 'ra''* for 
 at the Ci„ ■ "''*"« a hundred and iS. ^, '" '™'" ^tisfac- 
 
 (See Ocean u, Oc^„, ^^ *-/ '-of ra.,way 
 
 i f. 
 
 

 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Branch and the railroad here, I know it is a great deal 
 easier to construct the road as they are doing and far 
 cheaper. I believe it is being pushed forward as fast 
 as the finances of the country will allow, and I agree 
 that the Pembina Branch ought not to delay the con- 
 struction of the main line. At the same time I do not 
 believe that the building of this road to Pembina will 
 stand in the way. 
 
 On another occasion, Mr. Donald Smith told 
 his constituents: — 
 
 We looked confidently forward to the construction of 
 the Pembina Branch ; and great was our disappointment 
 when the American railway' connecting on the other 
 side of the boundary line became disorganized. It was 
 stopped sixty miles before reaching the boundary, bar- 
 ring us as completely from outer communication as if 
 the rails had not been laid beyond Breckenridge. Ef- 
 forts were made by the Minnesota Government to take 
 up the railway again, but the surrounding circum- 
 stances were such that no one could be induced to 
 have anything to do with it. 
 
 He then went on to say: — 
 
 It happens that I had friends in London and Mon- 
 treal who were interested in this country. But when 
 these gentlemen were consulted with in reference to a 
 railroad to Manitoba, one might just as well have sug- 
 gested to them a road to the North Pole. So little was 
 known of this part of Canada that capitaliste could 
 not be induced to embark their wealth in the enter- 
 prise and I desisted — jm a time. 
 
 » The St. Paul & Pacific. 
 54 
 
Financial Depression 
 
 Mr. Smith point JoSr^e,«"?" ^'^^^"'^«'. 
 depression which just then e^te" -'"^ '"^""^ 
 
 £-nrrrS r t:;r;&" ''^'' ^" '^-n 
 
 contend. It was a period n^« 1^ Government had to 
 fined to the Domini^?^^ i.^nw"''"^'"^"' "°' «>"- 
 States, England, and the cL? "« "^^^ "^e United 
 Pri- had been ..atlJ^^'i^X "ilf ^^"-'^ -*- 
 
 accoLSlCj'^^.^"'^ °P^^^^^^ that if it is to be 
 eniment, and not tiroS th^ 'T''^ ^^ '^' Gov- 
 company as was at one tim. '"^"■"'"^"tality of a 
 fellow-member spoke ^ft^e" "'T"^'' When a 
 way Company of'T873 Is havwt'" '''''''' R-'" 
 most honourable men weS,^^" '^°"'Posed of 
 ""sgreatundertakinfr ;„!,1^"^'"'^^ '° "^O' out 
 Plished it had they ^n'ot ;I''°.^°"''^h^^eaccom- 
 o"tsideinfl„ences,■-VrSm?t;;S:'- ' "'^ "y 
 
 ^ioutetToTthe hi^r^ '"« -Pany were 
 
 of them possessed gtJ^ilT/^''"^^^^ 
 the nght honourable genSkS f T''^''"^^^«ked 
 had been i„ his place to-Stif^i; ^'"«''°"'' '' he 
 S- Hugh Allan, who presfdS over tt' ""' '"'«''*• 
 ea over the company, had 
 S"-JohnA.Macdonald. 
 55 
 
 . i 
 
 :^i 
 
 \i 
 
 ■I'l 
 
 mr 
 

 1 1 If 
 
 J f I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 not, before leaving this country, misgivings as to the 
 success of the mission he was about to undertalce I 
 will not ask his honourable friend from Cumberland ' 
 and the other members of the late Government who 
 sit near him, whether within eight days after the 
 deputation reached London, those gentlemen were not 
 convmced that it was impossible to procure the money 
 required on the terms proposed, and in fact that nothing 
 short of a guarantee from the Canadian Government 
 of interest to some extent on the whole amount of the 
 bonds could induce capitalists to embark on the enter- 
 pnse. This, it must be borne in mind, was before any 
 party mfluence had been brought to play, if indeed 
 such had been at all employed, which I am not inclined 
 to believe, to thwart the scheme. I had been in Eng- 
 land about that time, and had learned, on what I 
 believed to be the best authority, that the capitalists 
 with whom the company wished to negotiate would 
 not touch the proposition on any other terms than a 
 Government guarantee, as I have just stated.* 
 
 Finally, the Mackenzie Government pressed for- 
 ward the road. The survey across Manitoba was 
 made, when much to the general disappointment 
 and disgust of Mr. Smith's constituents, the plans 
 showed that it avoided Winnipeg altogether, taking 
 a course much farther north. Here was a bitter 
 pill to swallow! With Mr. Fleming the member for 
 Selkirk was on terms of great intimacy. He sought 
 him and earnestly besought him to demonstrate 
 the reasons for the northerly route. 
 
 "If this is persisted in, Mr. Fleming," he ex- 
 ' The Honourable Charles Tupper. 
 • Parliamenlary DtbaUi, April, 1876. 
 56 
 
Sandford Fleming 
 
 ^ey went over the nio ^""""""s. " " 
 
 As the action of the r^ 
 Canadian Pacific RaLv^h "'^"'" '■" '°catin. the 
 Government must blinV I "^'^J' '^ey are and ' 
 
 "ved at this decision Lff:'"^^-"^>•neer had ar- 
 ^"fficient data. ^^ *°° «P>dly and without 
 
 thatenSStf • '"""'"^ '^ "- to be borne • • 
 aid them A Provided with stafff.f ■ '" """^ 
 
 I It 
 
 '•it •■ 
 
 ill 11 
 
1 
 
 \ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 urged that the Canadian Pacific Railway should be 
 run by the southern and not by the northern route. 
 On every possible occasion I have urged this on the 
 Government, and I have used every effort to secure 
 railroad communication through the Province. I have 
 not only taken an active part myself, but I have in- 
 duced others to do so. 
 
 To us this comes as a great disappointment. It is 
 almost unendurable that the railway, instead of pass- 
 ing through the centre of the Province, is to go a con- 
 siderable distance to the north, touching it only at one 
 point. The Minister of Public Works gives as a reason 
 for this that there would be a saving of thirty miles. 
 That certainly is a very great consideration from a 
 Dominion point of view. If this principle is to be main- 
 tained throughout the whole line, we can hardly look 
 for an exception in favour of Manitoba, no matter 
 how much we may regret the fact. A deputation from 
 Manitoba has had an interview with the Minister of 
 Public Works, and but little hope is held out of a 
 change in the route. However, as we cannot have this, 
 I am glad to find an indication of willingness on the 
 part of the Government to assist the people of Mani- 
 toba in building another line south of Lake Manitoba 
 and running westward and southward — such assist- 
 ance to be in the shape of grants of land. I earnestly 
 trust that this disposition will be borne out by fact, 
 and that such assistance will be given as will give our 
 people the means of sending their produce out of the 
 Province to a favourable market. 
 
 Mr. Smith had in view a road running from Fort 
 Garry westward toward the south branch of the 
 Saskatchewan, for a distance of from one hundred 
 
^i:il 
 
 "It must not be!" 
 
 ^^M,' ^."k''"1 '"*? *'" '""•=» ^'t^'" the Province 
 of Manitoba. It might extend, however, for six or 
 •even hundred miU farther to that por ion o the 
 
 south of the and country stretching to a consider 
 
 North wStTn*^! 't ^"'''' P°--onrofth 
 worth-West. It had been said that the desire was 
 
 me^rf*^^'' "^"^ '°° '"' ^"^ '° ""t the equ'e 
 bee He^! ^Z"' ^^^! "^^ P^'P''^ °f the Prov- 
 ed S^lt th" ^" '^"' *"' '^^ ^^". and de- 
 w^ 1^ !i^ requirements of the greater number 
 
 wou d S 'ii:,?""'""' !"'°" '^^ Govemmen 
 would be asked for any assistance. 
 
 not^L^T "f'^' ^l ^""'^"^ submission, he did 
 not abandon hope that the course of the railway 
 
 u^ on ma^v'! ^^ P"?- -•'■<=h he afte^ards 
 iZ^ Z T^ ?.*^' "^^^'""^ <""^ "°tably to Sir 
 John Macdonald, when the latter was a^ain in 
 power. "// must not Ae/"-so nowT T Jl 
 repeatedly to the Premier. " "enTou' Mrl£ 
 kenzie. it must not be. it really mJt m be" 
 
 ^TJ^"^' ^""^"^ happened and "if- so 
 
 greatly d-precated- was not. « " so 
 
 We will now return to the St. Paul & Pacific Rail 
 
 way Company, over whose lines traffic betwtn S 
 
 b^me bankrupt in 1873. It was partially co^ 
 Pleted. in poor physical condition -and laden S 
 a heavy burden of bonds ownp, m^^^i iT c 
 ciers in Holland. On ^eUer hanTiLL^nd 
 Brant that might be valuable later o^ if ft coulS 
 
 ■ The nul. were of iron, not .teel, ««1 fas, ru.tinK. 
 59 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 •avcd, terminal facilitie* in St. Paul of considerable 
 present and great potential value, and it was the 
 predestined continuous railroad roufe to Winnipeg 
 by its authorized line down tlie Red River Valley 
 to the international boundary, some sections of 
 which had been built and were lying there in the 
 general demoralization. When Mr. Smith saw that 
 construction had stopped and that those in control 
 of the property were not likely to complete it, he 
 began to consider if there were any other means to 
 that end. 
 
 He discussed the matter with Mr. Norman Kitt- 
 son, and he also found that Mr. Hill had the same 
 idea; both believed thoroughly in the country, and 
 its possibilities, and in the value of the property 
 if it could be secured, rehabilitated, and extended. 
 Every year, from 1873 on, Mr.Smith passed through 
 St. Paul frequently, and the three men in their con- 
 versations came to have a practical idea of what 
 would have to be done, and finally to regard a pur- 
 chase of the defaulted railway bonds as something 
 that might be attempted. 
 
 By 1876, the time appeared to be ripe for action. 
 The prospects of the property and the country were 
 improving. Legislation had been passed making it 
 possible to reorganize a railroad company under 
 foreclosure, allowing the bondholders to buy in 
 the property and reorganize without forfeiting the 
 privileges belonging to the former company. So in 
 March of that year Mr. Hill, being in Ottawa, met 
 Mr. Smith at his house there, and they decided 
 that the opportune time had come and that a prac- 
 
■•"HD MOUNT 
 
 STKPHtx 
 
 . /•,.!! 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 'i V 
 
 Ml 
 
 Ji 
 
 «. 
 
 !■!'' 
 
 ■ ll'i fit 
 
 %W^s'\ 
 
 
 ■I .1 
 
 ■ j rt 
 
r 
 fi 
 tl 
 tl 
 fu 
 
 be 
 oo 
 hel 
 for 
 con 
 nee 
 the 
 Stej 
 Moi 
 
 up til 
 
 Mani 
 
 in the 
 
 much 
 
 have 
 
 wish 
 
 titiued 
 
 which 
 
 pnjfit, 
 
 '6, m 
 ' u, 
 
/"f^r Mr. George Stephen 
 
 tical effort should now be m»^ . 
 
 the bonds could be taught ' " "^ "' '"''' P"« 
 
 dent of the Bank of Montreal F "''!"' '^"^ P"^^' 
 
 endeavour! to interest Mr |L^"''". ^''f ^^' ^^ had 
 
 latter, who was not at ««["&'" '" ***" P'*"- The 
 
 or the property, for a £ bSv^- ''"'" '^' '^°"«n' 
 
 and perhaps not dSe^'^rS P-ticabiZ 
 
 representations finally induced M™ f ' ~"tmued 
 
 favou^bly; and in the "pri^of T8r°,T">''^'""°'^ 
 the others in the on^. • ' *77. he joined with 
 
 ti>rough mone;i'rn7„Ton^' '''!,^''°'^ '° ^^ 
 
 became"blnl;jpt SL! sSm-^'""',':^^ ^"""P^V 
 occurred to Mr. Smithed MfSnUht^K^^^^^' '' 
 help the transportation HJffilu ^^^ they might 
 for themselve3™°"J',^^"''y; -"d do somethLg 
 control somehow of the bX„T "" *""' ''>' 8«tin| 
 needed, first of all. a finander " h'^ """^"^^ ^'"^^V 
 the subject to the attent on , u^'" ^™''' brought 
 Stephen (now Ur7M:;n7stlh".'°""'"' ^"^^ 
 Montreal merchant and Te Sd2 ^^ -~ 
 
 Memornndum of f T h.]. . . ' 
 
 »" oi J. J. Hill to the author. 
 
 6l 
 
 ' 1 !ii 
 
 H^ip' 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 of Montreal, who at first scouted the idea But 
 Mr. Smith was, as always, persistent, and he gave Mr. 
 Stephen no rest. 
 
 Just then occurred a serious failure of a steel com- 
 pany m Illinois which involved the Chicago agency of 
 the Bank of Montreal in a heavy loss, and Mr. Stephen 
 with Mr. Richard B. Angus, the general manager of 
 the Bank, hastened to Chicago to do what they could. 
 After some days the proceedings of the law courts 
 gave them a week of idleness and they tossed a coin to 
 determine whether to use it in a visit to St. Paul or 
 St. Louis. Fortunately for them, it fell to St Paul 
 and Stephen said, " I am rather glad of that, for it wili 
 give us an opportunity to see the railroad Smith has 
 talked about so much." They had heard of Mr Hill 
 through Mr. Smith, and on reaching St. Paul they 
 kKjked him up. He arranged for a special train to 
 Breckenndge and they ran out one day and returned 
 at night. 
 
 Mr. Stephen had never before seen a prairie and 
 was much impressed by its beauties and possibilities 
 although at the time the plague of locusts which had 
 devastated all that region for nearly two years, and 
 which continued more than a year afterwards had 
 given the country a bleak and barren look and had 
 compelled neariy all the settlers to abandon their 
 homes. Mr. Stephen knew that such plagues had 
 visited many parts of the worid many times since his- 
 tory began, knew that they were frequent, but knew 
 that they never continued long, and he gave the locusts 
 no senous thought. He knew the Americans and knew 
 that the settlers would quickly return to their lands 
 when the locusts should go, and that these settlers 
 would prosper and be followed by many more 
 
Then cal!' "^"''^ ^^-^d^oldcrs 
 Dutch"bondTolde'rwhl!^^ ^"^P'^sentatives of the 
 Mr Stephen ur^ed theTCS"" '°"^ '" ''^fault 
 
 ""oney, they were tired^j^: ^^^^ ^^ 'ost much 
 « S\hTh; rrr--'^-?^ tLrMrtteT^ 
 
 we w,l, give you an option! ."^"^ ''''^ Dutchmen, 
 our l^nds for eight months t r°"""^' ^'"°'"« °n 
 accrued mter^st on them." A„d sf^K ''^^ '"^ ^"^ 
 with the option.' ^"'^ Stephen came away 
 
 This was in 1875 4 
 
 atelyfonned, consisting of ^t't T '"■"-d'- 
 . M ^ Stephen, Donald 
 
 capital in amou'Tuffi '• '' *^ '"""" imSl^ '"""■^*" »-^« 
 w^n made disfr„.,( 1 u ." ""' '"m arwith ,1, "^""^e men ,„ 3 
 
 investments "ThT'to^Vu ""'"«"™ ofothe. Am ""'^ ^""^ ''^^ 
 could make; but fu«h ^ ?"' **»«' '«" for tL h "" "'''^'«'' 
 
 -dAWma„vrS.^r^-'™'''''J--rHi.rGro;ette;^^^^^^^ 
 63 
 
 . 4 
 ^ 
 
 :i . I 
 
 >«' ;*i 
 
 !VV;*^ 
 
 I; 
 
 III f 
 
 ' i 
 
 '/M' i) 
 
ii; 
 
 ii'fi' 
 
 ■1' 
 
 ^ I 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 A. Smith, James J. Hill, Richard B. Angus, John 
 S. Kennedy, and Norman W. Kittson. The compara- 
 tively small amouni required for preliminary expenses 
 was provided between them, the reorganization plan 
 was carried out, the necessary legislation hurried 
 through at St. Paul by Mr. Hill, and the St. Paul, 
 Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Company (now 
 called the Great Northern) was bom.' New bonds 
 were created for putting the old railway in order, for 
 new equipment and for the extension northward. 
 Enough of these bonds were quickly ma/ketcd to pay 
 off the Dutch bondholders. Then more were sold and 
 active operations began; and then early in July, 1877, 
 the locusts disappeared. Immediately the settlers 
 who had left the country returned and the suspended 
 movement of people to the western lands A'as resumed 
 at an enormously increased rate. 
 
 " From that time to this the history of the company 
 has been one of enterprise, energy, and boundless suc- 
 cess. The railway built up the country and the for- 
 tunes of its promoters grew a pace. The names of these 
 men are held almost in-n^verence throughout the vast 
 region served by the many thousands of miles of rail- 
 ways they have made, and among these names not the 
 least is that of Donald A. Smith (Lord Strathcona). 
 The great corporation created by these men, unlike 
 some of the earlier American railway coroorations, 
 has never been smirched by charges of stock-jobbing, 
 money-grabbing, or questionable practices of any 
 kind. The vast rewards which have come to it repre- 
 sent merely a fair participation in the wealth its found- 
 ers created for the c-ountry at large." ' 
 
 * Memorandum by James J. Hill. 
 
 • Sir William Van Home. 
 
Acquisition of the Railway 
 Turmng to Mr. Hill's narrative, he says:- 
 The old bonds were tiirn„^ • 
 
 which, though mo,. orULw'L'' ""'^■"^ """^^^ 
 their market value at he dme P ' "^"^ '""" ^^^^ 
 made within six months of 2 f^^?"^"' *^« '° ^^ 
 under foreclosure eX "n Sd"^'' °^ 5''^ P'-^f^^'^^ 
 gold bonds of the nlT ^ °' '" '''^' mortgage 
 the associates U^tH tle^r' *° "^ °'^^"'- ' 5 
 the purchase price and fh.'^ ""'''' '" ^^^ '"^^^^t on 
 a" the expcns^s^'^i '^^;f 7^d a„ ^"^ "'^^ -"^ 
 
 stipulated under b^d thi fh T*'"' ""^^- '' ^as 
 Vincent as quickl/as ' , k "'^ ''"'"''' "^""d to St. 
 two years from date T^d "l' ,!" "°' '° '^'^'^^ 
 world to car^y through^^'La nf ,'" "'^^''"^ '" '''- 
 regarded as a probable fatre ' '^^■^'^^ '"-" 
 
 wel bu-roZatiL'^tr r'^'^.- ^'•^ "- "- 
 were favouraE'Slercam: o"'*"''- '"" ^^«'- 
 try developed, the buslne^ ^f T""!!^ '"' ""^ <^°""- 
 Mav 23, ,879, these four ^en toL?h """^ P^' °" 
 sontative of the bankin^K together with a repre- 
 
 Company, of 4w Yo "k r ""^ °^-f°''" ^^ Kennedy & 
 Minneapolis A mI^ toba RaT""'^ ""^ ^t. Pa'ut 
 parent company of the Grr^^ ^^^""'P^"''' ^^e 
 from that time onward th?hT ""'''"' °' ^°-d^y- 
 which Donald A. Smith had t?^ °' '^' ^"^^^.rise in 
 
 -ceasing growth and1„^i4^XXr°-°^ 
 
 the tdln^eat-rd ftt ^"0^''^^;'°- -''"■■-'' 
 tilt next step was to nh* f ^^"^^lan boundary 
 
 way which hSrb'Str/''^''"'^"^-'^- 
 
 "'" "^y t''^ Government from 
 65 
 
 iri 
 
 
 r\% 
 
 • i 1' ! 
 
 
 
;i ! 
 
 ,r'8 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 Winnipeg to Pembina in order to link it there with 
 the St. Paul & Pacific. 
 
 In every country there is a set of men so jealous 
 of capital and suspicious of enterprise likely to 
 create wealth for others than themselves that, 
 should a political ant^onism also exist, they will 
 spare no effort to defeat a project destined for the 
 public good. It was so in this case and will be 
 so in other instances hereafter. One records with 
 regret that Sir John Macdonald opposed the grant- 
 ing of the lease, chiefly because he was advised that 
 the Government of the day intended to grant it 
 and he was in opposition, but partly also because 
 he had not yet forgiven Mr. Smith for his failure 
 to support him at the crisis of 1873. Forces were 
 brought to bear to defeat the measure, but in vain. 
 
 A great deal was said at the time about the exist- 
 ence of a railway monopoly, which would grind 
 down the farmers and producers of the North-West. 
 
 It is important [stated Mr. Smith] for the Govern- 
 ment to have connection made with advant^e to the 
 railway; but the Government has secured the people 
 against extortion or excess of charges. If I say any- 
 thing on behalf of the St. Paul & Pacific promoters, It 
 is that our first proposition submitted to the Govern- 
 ment was so moderate in their own interests and bene- 
 ficial to this Province that the Government did not 
 consider that anything fairer could be asked for. What 
 were the terms? That we might have the power to 
 run the road for five years which term might be ex- 
 tended for another five on a mutual agreement, and 
 that the rates should be reasonable. Well, how were 
 
Rail vs. River TarifFs 
 
 point him. This was thp „ff S J^ °' Caxi^a. to ap- 
 
 anything bemorehberal? VVheri' til. ^°" ~ ~"''' 
 the road is entirely contmlkHt ^^ " ''°" ^"'^''^'- t^at 
 whilenomenweremoreh^ " ''L^^"^dians - though 
 of the United sTaTetTaSrvh^^^^ 
 our own people and prefei^^ t„ ^^ .t ^ ''^"'"« ^°' 
 own hands, when it wZTZ. I T '^^'^°'''' '" '^eir 
 ■•talists. I aslced if thiy Zl tt'i^' o C,„,j,.3„ 
 extortion and excessive ^1^1^™ '^ '"'^ ^'"^ ^«='"''' 
 
 :" the spring of ,878, Mr Smifh H J"""; ^'"■' 
 mteresting particular he ha" obtr-f /"'"^ 
 
 transportation rates then cLrgibvdff °' ^''^ 
 panics in the North-West to !k ''y,^'''f<^''ent com- 
 
 rates and great exto!^!^ T ^''^^ ^^^ heavy 
 
 rest wholiy^iTRTdli^T' °' ''' "°^ 
 Company ^'^'^'^ Transportation 
 
 ^''^•^■■^■HiU to D.A.Smith 
 
 class passalefrom St Pa^rvv"'-" '"*^" '^''^ ^'^t- 
 
 ' To Iea« the Perabina Branch *^ 
 
 67 
 
 
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 K:) 
 
 t' 
 
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 fii 
 
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 m 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 lesB than $I0 for carrying passengers 344 miles to 
 Glyndon, which is made within twelve hours. From 
 that point to Fisher's Landing, or rather Crookston, 
 the other portion of the line belonging to the Red River 
 Transportation Company, a distance of 70 miles, $2.50 
 is charged. There remains the transit by the Red 
 River Transportation Company, for a distance of 380 
 miles, occupying two or three days, on the river, for 
 which $7.50 is charged. Thus for transportation over 
 344 miles, the Northern Pacific obtains $10, that for 
 70 miles $2.50 was exacted, and that for 380 miles, 
 extending over two or three days, only $7.50 is paid. 
 For second-class passage, $12 is paid for the whole dis- 
 tance, of which $6 was taken by the Northern Pacific 
 for 244 miles, while the Red River Transportation 
 Company obtains an amount in the same proportion 
 as I have given for the first-class passengers. So much 
 for the so-called "extortion" of the Red River Trans- 
 portation Company. ' 
 
 On August 3, 1878, a lease was granted to Mr. 
 Stephen giving to the St. Paul & Pacific Railway 
 running powers for ten years over the Pembina 
 Branch. 
 
 I will not dwell upon the protracted trials of these 
 gentlemen in their efforts to secure rail communica- 
 tion and their frequent failures, which only nerved 
 them to try again; and within three months those 
 present will see that they had at last succeeded. Within 
 that space of time the cars will be running up from St. 
 Boniface to St. Paul, and within a short period after, 
 the iron horse will be on the rails on this side of the 
 river. I feel gratified on receiving a telegram from my 
 .friend Mr. George Stephen, a most enterprising mer- 
 
'87Tand't?;eXpTe' 7' '" ^« «"'"'"- of 
 ""^. and aJong the St'^Sc^' T^ '° •'^''^''^^'^ Land 
 
 ^pressing his confidence th.. """^ ^ ^"P«ch 
 Wmn.peg in October ' ^ ''■^'" *-°"lcI be S 
 
 takinrthTw'^i^"""' ''''■'' «'nfide„ce if h„ 
 
 capitalists, thesp nr^ • '^^'^'y to be oDcnpH tu 
 
 P-'-'nent n,en. .,.. l^up^;- 
 
 09 
 
 
 
 ^ » 
 
 ' ft 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 home as sober, serious citizens, but when they returned 
 from the West, they were almost beside themselves, and 
 advised every one they met to "go West." And some 
 of these gentlemen were able to infuse the enthusiasm 
 they contained into others who knew little previously 
 of the North-Wcst. They were helped, and helped con- 
 siderably, by the magnificent speech of Lord Dufferin 
 in which he declared that Manitoba was not only use- 
 ful to the rest of Canada, but was the " bull's eye of the 
 Dominion." 
 
 It is hardly within the prescribed scope of these 
 pages to do more than refer to certain vexatious 
 litigation which attended the transfer of the inter- 
 ests of the St. Paul & Pacific Railway Company to 
 Mr. Smith and his associates. But inasmuch as the 
 transaction has been the subject of such gross mis- 
 conception, a summary of it may be considered 
 called for in this place. 
 
 When, in 1873, the railway went into bankruptcy, 
 one James J. Farley, a person with an indifferent 
 reputation, was appointed official receiver. The 
 interests of the Dutch bondholders were in the 
 hands of Mr. J. S. Kennedy, of New York. In or- 
 der to obtain financial control and rehabilitate the 
 railway, it was necessary to deal with Farley. 
 
 Farley claimed to have 
 
 knowledge, not possessed by any of the other parties, 
 as to the whereabouts of the bonds, the rated value 
 thereof by holders, and the mode whereby these could 
 be procured; also in respect to the situation, amount, 
 character, and value of the lines of railroad and .irop- 
 erty mortgaged to secure said bonds and in respect to 
 70 
 
Farley's Charges 
 
 to all of «ud matte "IIdli°'iP''"«"f '" """^ 
 «-n«ble to the .ucc«. oJiw^ririr. ""'"= '"'«- 
 
 He gave thi. information to Messrs K",.. 
 Hill m the first instance and .T ^ ""*•" *"'* 
 tet«l into a secret ?„,!!' ^"""^ '° have en- 
 
 certain proLT^TSS"' "* ^^™ '° «»>-- 
 
 prit^-Ton'Sn. '"sSthT'-™'' -•"' '"<' 
 Geonge Stephen, to JZt^ " fonjunction with 
 
 funds necessary opur^h^h/r"'' ""? =^^''"«= 
 said enterprise, and i D^nt^ff ^^"r ^'"^ '^"^' °« 
 lieved. the said deLdantn fson 'h °""^ """" '^ 
 consent of the defendant hTV'' ""^ '^'"' ^^e 
 knowledge or consent of the pSiff "" r'"""' "■<= 
 oaheunde^tandingan^i^rn 1^"^ '" ^'"''''ion 
 agreed with Smith and S.^^ !u '^'""^ ""'ntioned. 
 have and hold for Setf^"' ^'' '^' '-"e' should 
 fifths or sixty p^r It inte^. "'*•!"'' »»''«'«». three 
 enterprise. Su^uenttTm rh'^"l"c"'*''^^'""8 ^^ 
 by Hill, KittsoH^d Znriff ^ «nd Stephen, aided 
 gotiations (betw^ris,, J o '^"^ ^ court of ne- 
 -id bonds tTraS^^SS '"^'".^""-h-of 
 and Stephen purchL^ahol » "^gotiation. Smith 
 in amount, of the Ss • "'^ '"'"'■°" ^olla.^, 
 
 ".•ii'byl;rKe^:;^^t^^;s 
 
 of any of the mor^aZ .^^ .^ °' '^^ ''"'^ers 
 
 interest in the^o ect fl 1 """'^ °^ ^^'"'^y'^ 
 tne project for purchasing said bonds. 
 
 71 
 
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 (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No, 2) 
 
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 ^B (716) *8Z - 0300 - PHon* 
 
 SS (716) 28S- 9989 - r<i' 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Nor did Kennedy even suspect at any time that 
 Farley ever claimed to have any such interest, as 
 receiver of the railway, then covered by a fifteen- 
 million-dollar mortgage. Moreover, how could Far- 
 ley lawfully make any such agreement, or engage 
 in the enterprise of purchasing the bonds? The 
 mere making of such an agreement and the em- 
 barking in such an enterprise by him would have 
 been ' ' a breach of trust on his part as such receiver, 
 and a fraud on the holders of the bonds, and a fraud 
 on the court, whose receiver he was." 
 
 On the other hand, as general manager of the 
 trustees, Farley occupied a situation of confidence 
 toward his employers; by making any such agree- 
 ment as he alleged and by engaging hi the enterprise 
 of purchasing the bonds and said mortgaged prop- 
 erty, he would have been guilty of a breach of trust 
 toward, and a fraud upon, the trustees and the 
 bondholders. 
 
 But while privately stigmatizing Farley's mfa- 
 mous charge of conspiracy, the St. Paul, Minne- 
 apolis & Manitoba Company (as it was now) were 
 advised, as the speediest method of disposmg of 
 the case, to ignore the issue raised altogether, and 
 simply to put forward the plea that, by reason of 
 the fiduciary position occupied by the plaintiff, he 
 was not entitled to the aid of a court of equity to 
 enforce any of the agreements mentioned or any of 
 the rights claimed by him. 
 
 Therefore these defendants do plead, whether they 
 should be compelled to make further answer to the said 
 bill, and pray to be hence dismissed, with their reason- 
 7» 
 
A Monstrous Charge dismissed 
 
 able costs and charges in this behalf most wrongfully 
 sustained. 
 
 In rendering his decision the Federal judge treated 
 Farley's plea with merited severity. He said:— 
 
 This is a strange demand to present to a court of 
 equity. To what extent the alleged confederates are 
 blameworthy or culpable, if at all, can be made to 
 appear only after necessary and full proofs. The court, 
 however, must dispoce of the case as now presented! 
 Surely no principle of equity, morals, or law could 
 countenance such a demand, and no court worthy of 
 its trust would lend its aid to further a scheme so ab- 
 horrent to all recognized rules of right and justice.' 
 
 The plea of the defendants was sustained and the 
 suit against them dismissed with costs. 
 
 The whole case aroused widespread interest, and 
 an attempt was made in some quarters to create 
 another "railway scandal," of a too-familiar type, 
 out of it. But the attempt miserably failed. To a 
 plain man knowing Farley's character and the char- 
 acter of the defendants, and appraising the charges 
 as presented in court, no possible doubt could 
 exist that the promoters of the railway had acted 
 throughout as honourable men, and that the plans 
 of a simple blackmailer had happily miscarried. 
 
 The determination of the Government that the 
 main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway was not 
 to pass through Winnipeg continued to be a source 
 of deep dissatisfaction. But Mr. Smith was not dis- 
 couraged. He told his constituents: — 
 ' Federal Reporter, vol. xiv. 
 73 
 
 \ ! 
 
 i 
 
 111, 
 
 
 
 
 
 ): 
 
 
 ^t'l, 
 
 }.. IM 
 
 
?!■■ 
 
 m 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Our next step, after securing the road to St. Boni- 
 face, should be a railway through the country now 
 becoming so thickly settled. I see no reason why it 
 should not be built; 't should already be running. 
 Three or four years ago a charter was obtained for a 
 road running south-west from Winnipeg; the scheme 
 was shown the Government, which seemed inclined 
 toward it. I introduced a gentleman well known here, 
 Mr. John Ross, to the Premier, and in conversation in 
 regard to the railway, Mr. Mackenzie expressed him- 
 self most favourably, and so did the then Minister of 
 Interior, indeed so far as to speak of the necessary 
 grant of land and the arrangements for commencing 
 the work within a short time. Some gentlemen here, 
 however, stepped in and thwarted the scheme, which 
 was hardlv to be expected from those in the Province, 
 even if the line did not run within a few yards of their 
 lands. The scheme, however, was only postponed, and 
 I believe that within eighteen months a railway west 
 will be commenced. We need not then care whether 
 the proposed Canadian Pacific Railway was built to 
 the north or south of Lake Manitoba, or whether it 
 was built at all, so long as we would have, for all prac- 
 tical purposes, and for the wants of the country, a well- 
 built road to take in supplies to the hundreds, soon to 
 be thousands, who will make their homes in the North- 
 West, and who will enrich Manitoba and Winnipeg. 
 I know that Manitoba is a small spot, — on the map 
 it looked little enough, — but in a shore time it will 
 have extended its limits. The boundary difficulty 
 between Ontario and the North-West was the only 
 difficulty in the way, and that now being dispelled, 
 our boundaries to the eastward and to the westward 
 will be extended, through Manitoba to the Little Sas- 
 
 74 
 
Disheartening Indecision 
 
 katchewan I trust, and circumstances warrant n, • 
 believing a railwav will k^ • . "'^"^^"t me in 
 
 time. ^ '^'" '^ '■"""■"B i" a very short 
 
 Soon it appeared that the Macken^iV r^ 
 
 This he wrote in 1876. A year later, he said: - 
 7S 
 
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 -ii 
 
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 ■i'^i 
 
 I I 
 
 1! 
 
 'I' 1 4(3 
 
 ft.*. 
 
I 
 
 t 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 In so far as the facilities given for bringing in the 
 supplies and sending out their products is concerned, 
 it matters little how the people of Manitoba get it, so 
 long as they get it. 
 
 How characteristic of him it was, that up to the 
 debate of 1878, Mr. Smith had not considered it 
 either desirable or necessary to confirm or deny the 
 reports concerning his personal connection with the 
 St. Paul & Minnesota Railway.' His reason for 
 silence was to avoid bringing down upon his head 
 the very charges of illicit interest and political cor- 
 ruption which Sir John Macdonald, then leader of 
 the Opposition, launched at him and from which 
 he defended himself. 
 
 The honourable gentleman [observed Sir John with 
 unnecessary heat] admitted he was a partner in this 
 concern, and Jie House should know something 
 about it. 
 
 I beg the right honourable gentleman's pardon 
 [replied Mr. Smith]. I admitted no such thing! The 
 honourable gentlem<m, I hope, is not my father con- 
 fessor. 
 
 The honourable gentleman [retorted the leader of 
 tlie Opposition] has not demed it, and there is no doubt 
 that, if he could have done so, he would. A little while 
 ago, he denied positively that he had any interest in 
 
 ' The Si. Paul Pioneer Press first stated editorially on March 7, 
 1878, that the purchasers of the bonds of the St. Paul & Pacific 
 Railway were Messrs. Hill and Kittson, associated with Mr. Stephen 
 of the Bank of Montreal, and Donald A. Smith. It asserted that, 
 through the influence of the latter, the support and cooperation of 
 the Dominion Government have been obtained in the adjustment 
 of their connections with the railway system in Manitoba. 
 
 76 
 
Replies to Opposition Leader 
 
 able gentleman's curiosity. ^ ^°"°'""- 
 
 that others could do LS f„ S'" T '"""'^ 
 better railway facilitiesInH ^ -"^^^ °' «<^"'n8 
 
 connections i^ Euoba ? ^rS^'f '"« "'^ '^'^^-^ 
 from the Province did nfi . ^^"'^^ ^' ^ Member 
 said on anoth^o^i' .TtrHou': f l'"^*" ^^ ' 
 years back I have l^boZl^^ltZr",''' 
 connection with some friends ^d L I"'' '" 
 
 become possible to get that tht^h """"'^ '^''^ ■' 
 quir«l- indeed an fbLl>.ft • ''^ "" ""<=h «" 
 
 - than the holTbfele" CStl f'^ T'^^ 
 every obstacle in the way ofTtXC • T"^' P"* 
 comes to this House and say^ th^t "he'r "'' °"'- "^ 
 actuated by unworthy motK 1 ^7^"""="* •'« 
 running arrangements wkh the sHT^/" ""^^ 
 Company over the Pemh n, n ^ '^^"' * Padfic 
 their intention to ™^'"" ^'^"*' ^"^^ ^^at it was 
 vile adherence to t'e^.^'C TiT. '"'' '">' - 
 honourable gentleman f^.^- ^ ''''^ *° ask the 
 
 donaldlandany mTmbe °of £T°" f^'"" J°''" ^ac- 
 occasion they Lnd a dislshiSr"''"''"'' '■'°" ^">' 
 or receive any favour fromThe S^v ""^ ""'^ *° ^'^ 
 myself or for that corpora^;*nll?T?'"^"*' ^'"'er for 
 spoken of, and ^hTch^ZTh^'tlT '"" "^ '""'^'' 
 
 o^P-Hcmoney.orot^^lIilS-Sr: 
 77 
 
 I 
 
 I , 
 
 ^rr 
 
 
 liH 
 
 i:f.,ii 
 
 i'i, i iv ■ 
 
 ;?^ ui: ^^: 
 
m< 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 any other person connected with me, and if at this 
 moment there is one single person related to myself 
 who receives one sixpence of the public money. 
 
 There could be but one answer to this question. 
 Throughout his political career Donald A. Smith 
 never asked for either place or favour. As a mem- 
 ber of Parliament he drew no sedary. As a Govern- 
 ment Commissioner he accepted neither salary nor 
 indemnity, even paying his own expenses. When 
 in the course of time he became Canada's represen- 
 tative abroad, he forewent the emoluments of that 
 office. 
 
 One passes hastily over the conclusion of this 
 debate in Parliament, as one draws a veil over fea- 
 tures dear to us, but so distorted as to provoke in 
 the spectator a sentiment of pain. A scene occurred 
 
 — "the most disgraceful," wrote George Brown, 
 "in the annalsof tJie Canadian House of Commons" 
 
 — when Sir John Macdonald lost his temper, and 
 together with his lieutenant, Sir Charles Tupper, 
 indulged in vituperative language for which he was 
 afterwards sincerely ashamed. Physical violence 
 on both sides was narrowly prevented, and in such 
 manner was the Session of 1878 brought to an un- 
 dignified if dramatic close. 
 
 In the succeeding election Mr. Smith was again 
 a candidate for Selkirk. On the hustings he dis- 
 claimed the title of "Mackenzieite" which his 
 opponent foisted upon him. He denied that he had 
 ever been a slavish supporter of either the present 
 or the previous Administration. Throughout his 
 parliamentary career he had been absolutely inde- 
 78 
 
Hij Political Independence 
 
 agam and again during the (^vaLlhZTtl 
 
 ence to the fulle t'eSn The ho^n'^^Kr ""^ '"""' 
 might speak sUghtSy of Ihe h°".°"'^''> ^f"*'^'"^" 
 
 Hudson's BaycUpat-foS^iThTh/d? °^^^ 
 those knowing the Hudw. d V? ^^ '^°"^' *>"* 
 
 itrankedamo^nSS^"lL'v r''""^''"^"'''^' 
 ligence. busine^ abhs 1^^^ °''"f*.^ '"'"'^ ■««!- 
 honour as were to t f„!" h J '."•''^^''■*y «"d 
 
 TheGovernor^L°er^,l°""^.:"y*'^^^« " *''^ ^°^'^- 
 in this city, hadSn'h- teTdT^it'tr 
 5S:rt' ^' '''' -- ^ testi.onyT:h"h^S 
 
 Disraeli and a Gladstone in Engli -1.^1^ 
 
 ■ty. power, and pe.uas.Ve elo^uf.!::' I„ Z IZ 
 
 79 
 
 t x 
 
 i 
 
 • ■■I 
 
 '■•,! I ■ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 :.4' 
 
 , I 
 
 
 
 
U i '' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 we have a Blake and a Sir John Mnodonald — men 
 ranking high as orators. But no doubt my honourable 
 friend will show that these men have iwindled into 
 inaigrificanct — that in comparison with hia, their 
 powers of persuasion are vastly inferior and their skill 
 in argument not to be mentioned in the same breath.' 
 
 The Mackenzie Government did not receive at 
 the polls throughout the Dominion generally the 
 support expected. At a meeting, the evening pre- 
 vious to the polling, Mr. Smith had told t^e elec- 
 tors that he h.-d given an independent support to 
 Mr. Mackenzie's Government, and he would con- 
 sider it his bounden duty, when elected, to sustain 
 any Government in passing such measures as were 
 in the interests of the people of Manitoba and the 
 North-West. All measures introduced into Parlia- 
 ment with that end in view, he would sustain and 
 advance to the best of his ability. 
 
 As to the defeat of the present Administration, one 
 reason above all others which brought this about was 
 the idea which got into the minds of many people 
 of th>. country, and, indeed, had been industriously 
 instilled into them — that the great and widespread 
 depression prevailing was the fault of the Government. 
 That had more to do with their defeat, apparently, 
 than everything else put together. Throughout his 
 
 * A further example of hts platform satire may be cited: — 
 "I was not in pul"c life at the time of Confederation and conse- 
 quently was not aware until this memorable evening that to my 
 friend [his opponent Mr. Morris], and a particular friend of his, were 
 we indebted for the great work. It is well to know these thiniis, so 
 that credit can be given to whom credit is due. I admit that I night 
 have been skeptical, but now, hearing it dv ^ct from my honourable 
 friend's lips, I must accept it." (Speech, <tugust 21, 1878.) 
 
 80 
 
"•e he had never been > "u- 
 
 *°"ld express hi, Si" J*"'-*^'«'>er Wend," and 
 
 attention : - ^'" ^'"^ attracted marlced 
 
 the^a^^SntSttSroTtir l!"^^^-"""' ■" 
 ng amongst them l„d al W the™ f '^ """ ""^' «««- 
 the platform of party f^Z I„rf •'° '"'P '^°^" f«»n 
 fon to the r^al position of^hf^^'"' *""^ ^"""'^^ra- 
 contest. Let us loolc af ^ . "'"""^ '" the present 
 In the fi„t plac:,XX^S "•'"^'^ ^^^">""-^ 
 communication with ^I^ ^"f""" ''• '^"h "«• railway 
 bo-d to be at a standJtif;'; mltrV"'"'^'' ^ «- 
 John may seem to favour us ""x,"?*""!: ''°^ "uch Sir 
 one that we will have to d^t J " '!""= P'* " to any 
 'et/or the next thrryLaSll? *'"' ''"''"'-•'" °"t- 
 qu.ckly Sir John may pu"h li Th; ""' ^ '"""'"^ '«''- 
 Penor, he cannot comnw" •" ^''f ."«'' to Lake Su- 
 
 JohnA.MacdonaldTtll ' rf "..'i'^' *-- st 
 to >vork hand in hand w^trLonl'^^f^ '° '^f»'» 
 *ay matter, espedal.yrLlat^S^ f,"""' ■" '•^'- 
 " very great influence in that ,^1 f '''^"■an wields 
 ;^^ Sir Mn cannot. ?1^r^-^«n. 
 
 f-^^Satir?hnt^-,cance,the 
 how much better off are weV Th ^^ * ^^"'^•^' 
 hfs sufficient influence to LIl '^"^'^ ^^P^ny 
 
 ^onhen. Pacific by which thTrii„rrdSJ,,t 
 
 I' ' 
 
 
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 )^ 
 
 
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I? 
 
 
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 f 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 profits of a higher tariff of rates to the boundary line 
 which the people of this country will be compelled to 
 pay for the next three or four years, and this, in addi- 
 tion to an increase in the customs duties, will consti- 
 tute a very serious burden on the people of Manitoba. 
 Even when the road to Lake Superior is finished we 
 will have but a summer route for another long period 
 during which we will be at the mercy of American 
 roads in winter. It is well known that no direct road 
 can be built between Lake Superior and Winnipeg that 
 will not take years and a large amount of money to 
 construct. Sir John, therefore, in the interest of this 
 Province, and in the interest of any schemes he may 
 wish to advance for the opening-up of this vast coun- 
 try is not going to quarrel with Donald A. Smith in any 
 railway matters merely to satisfy a personal grudge. 
 If he did, could we blame Mr. Smith if he resented it? 
 And then between Sir John A. Macdonald and Donald 
 A. we in Manitoba would find ourselves in a nice pickle 
 of fish. It is all nonsense to suppose that the North- 
 em Pacific will launch capital to build a road, when 
 they are so much in need of money to push on their 
 main line, so long as they can make a satisfactory 
 arrangement with the St. Paul & Pacific for the trade 
 of this city. This is the business way to look at it. 
 
 Now, suppose we reject Donald A. Smith as a 
 friend; is it to be supposed that he will take any par- 
 ticular pains to advance our interests? He has become 
 a responsible party for millions, and it is very likely, 
 indeed, that he will, when under ties of friendship for 
 us, make what he can out of the investment without 
 much regard for us in the matter. How is Sir John to 
 prevent this, I would like to know? He may cancel 
 the lease of the Pembina Branch, but is he, or will he 
 
 83 
 
Charges of Corruption 
 
 the people of IhiXfiCutit '"' ""^.'" '"« 
 expenditure of money to bu.M ^ ' '^'■•"'°" ">» 
 Sir John A woulT^^ ^ "P Amcira,. railways 
 
 of the law had boor,^ ■ "/^'^•'"'^al violation 
 
 annu.n,e„t.1n £ o~Str ''""'"''' ^ 
 shown that refresh, „^°VT^ ''"''"''■>■ ''^a* 
 served to certai^tii: tf ■.^""'"'^i'^'^ '"^" 
 and other malpractfcesTnrf, fL ''"^^ "'■'S*'*^" ' 
 innocent of th'^ms^^;'"^ '^f '"' ".'"^''' 'h°"«h 
 ence an individual" v:e ^!.'\h""""f I '"""■ 
 corruption, open or secret .T m ^"'^ '"''^'^ °'- 
 the successfurcandilTr' u ^""«*^ against 
 andu„rea«,nable -Selr ''T '° ^ ""J"« 
 B^toumay, vho after ? r,?" ^^°'^ °"^ J"^?e 
 dence dismissed' ththa^s""' '"""^ ^^ ' ' 
 
 res^tSVuS LTfS^ -"^ r ""--"V 
 before sought to obtLv^? "*' ""^^ ^'"^ ^^^rs 
 
 "lu residence "Silv.,u • •. , 
 
 «meah„„^^„,^^_^^_fdme„a„^ 
 83 
 
 ,.lf . 
 
 i, ":V 
 
 ' I 1'.^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ':>: i\. Hn^ 
 
t; 
 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 thousand dollars. He had applied to Mr. Smith's 
 agent in Winnipeg, who had advanced him four 
 thousand dollars on a mortgage. As Mr. Smith 
 afterwards publicly stated: — 
 
 His agent had acted in this case, as in every other 
 with which he had been connected in Manitoba, sim- 
 ply as his agent to invest money, and in most cases he 
 did not know the parties dealt with or sums handled. 
 The particular transactions spoken of in this instance 
 took place in August, 1874, when his agent, Mr. 
 Blanchard, a barrister of Winnipeg, was put in charge 
 of his [Mr. Smith's] personal affairs in Manitoba, and 
 who had invested for him to a considerable >;xtent, on 
 his belief that the security given was ample. Since 
 that time he had no knowledge whatever of the trans- 
 action. 
 
 Yet when, as a newspaper sensation, the circum- 
 stance of the mortgage was revealed such a clamour 
 arose that in May, 1879, Mr. Smith felt it was his 
 duty to make a personal explanation to the House 
 of Commons. After a simple narration of the facts 
 he concluded by saying: — 
 
 He disliked very much to come before the House on 
 any personal matter, and for his own sake would not 
 have spoken. He had shown he had cared very little 
 for what might have been said against him in the pub- 
 lic press; but, when they knew that the reputation of 
 a judge depended so much on the estimation in which 
 he was held by the people, he believed that it was his 
 duty to come forward and vindicate the judge reflected 
 
 upon.' 
 
 • Parliamentary Debates, May, 1879. 
 
 84 
 
New Election ordered 
 Nevertheless, the matter was unscrupulously 
 
 don o*;d?^'™" "" ^^^^^"'^ ^"'^ ^ "- ^'- 
 
 tion* ^'^*^ ^^ ^^'^^^ "°* *° °"'"' ^'""^^^ ^°^ ^«^'«:- 
 
 7o W. F. Luxton 
 
 , . , , July 3d. 1880. 
 
 standing the des.re you mention, on the part of your 
 from other quarters, that I should again offer mysd 
 Um Mo^^ Z '"' -P--«atio„ of Selkirk wTh 
 1 am mformed, the certainty of reelection, while ereatlv 
 appreaatmg this proof of your continu d confiS'^ 
 I am unable to comply with your wish ' 
 
 ,„rh!.T,^^^"l!"'' ^°' *'*^ ^"""n« ^nd autumn are 
 const, uents, has trenched so heavUy on thi Le .3 
 
 S'esTntst^trriX'-r '^'""^' "^^^ 
 from CanadT """' ^ ^"^ '^"*' 
 
 over'ten'verri"^T.*' "°""« ^ connection extending 
 
 over ten years as the representative in the House of 
 
 Commons for the County of Selkirk, indudln? Wfani- 
 
 85 
 
 
 ! ' 1 
 
 
 ;fit 
 
 
 i<l 
 
 jfj . 
 
I'll 
 
 If 
 
 ■■'\> 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 peg, which from a small village has, during that period, 
 grown to be an important city with a population of 
 upwards of ten thousand, let me say to you that I am 
 very sensible of all the kindness and consideration ex- 
 perienced at the hands of those friends who supported 
 me, whether on political grounds or from sentiments of 
 personal friendship to myself; that I shall always look 
 back with much satisfaction to the very pleasant char- 
 acter of our relations toward each other, and that they 
 and the Province of Manitoba, with whose interests 
 I have been so intimately connected ever since it be- 
 came a portion of the Dominion, have my best wishes 
 for their happiness and prosperity. 
 
 Afterwards, yielding to the earnest representa- 
 tions of his many friends of both political parties, 
 he consented to become a candidate for reelection. 
 "Liberals and Liberal-Conservatives alike will re- 
 joice at this happy solution of the political problem. 
 The cordial and spontaneous promises of support 
 which have reached Mr. Smith from all quarters of 
 the riding, and from all sections of the community, 
 must have been as gratifying to himself personally 
 as they are significant of the ultimate result of the 
 contest." ' 
 
 At the first joint meeting of the rival candidates 
 Captain Scott said he found an honourable oppon- 
 ent in Mr. Smith. After referring to the lateness of 
 Mr. Smith's acceptance of the candidature, he went 
 on to say that Mr. Donald A. Smith was one who 
 " was held — and justly so — in the highest respect 
 by the people of Kildonan. He had not said and 
 
 ' Free Press, July 13, 1880. 
 86 
 
Defeated for Selkirk 
 
 would not say one word against him, further than 
 
 what affected his political career. Mr. Smith who 
 
 had represented Selkirk for the past seven or eight 
 
 years, had represented the county well; but unfor- 
 
 tunately he had so many irons in the fire that it was 
 
 .mpass.ble to look after his own interests and S 
 
 of the Provmce and do both justice " 
 
 At the close of the meeting Mr. Smith indulged 
 
 A i'." f P'^^^^nt-T at the expense of the Captain 
 
 and h.s "honourable and learned young advocate " 
 
 ^^ Jl^J! ^°""""- "'^ P'^yf"' ^^r'^-^'H^." ob- 
 served the reporter present, " kept those two gentle- 
 
 I^n?, T^r^^^^"* '" '^"^^ ^^^t« ^ ««tlessly as 
 though they had been sitting on carpet tacks, while 
 tlie audience, appreciating the situation to the full 
 were kept m a high state of enjoyment. Mr. Smith 
 also spoke briefly in French, after which the meet- 
 mg broke up with the usual cheers." ' 
 
 But so great was the popularity of Sir John Mac- 
 donald and so zealous his friends to humiliate one 
 who had had the misfortune to incur his displeasure, 
 that the bye-election in September, 1880, could 
 hardly fail to result in Mr. Smith's disfavour — 
 Laptam Scott had a majority of 158 votes. 
 
 In the Parliamentary Session of 1880, a great stir 
 was attempted in respect of Mr. Smith's connec- 
 tion with "an American railway which was keeping 
 British immigrants out of the North-West by ad- 
 vertising the superior attractions of the lands be- 
 longing to that railway." 
 "I am really disturbed about this," he wrote, 
 ' The Manitoba Free Press, September a, 1880 
 87 
 
 \>i 
 
 I 
 
 i^'ll 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 • >" 1 ■ r 
 
 1 C i 
 
 '' 1 
 
 .,i? 
 
 I'll' 
 
11 
 
 '' i i 
 
 r ' 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 "especially after incurring the serious displeasure 
 of one or two of my fellow-directors, that I was not 
 sufficiently CEiger to sell our Minnesota lands." 
 To the House of Commons he said : — 
 
 It is true that I have an interest in the St. Paul, 
 Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway, perhaps three mil- 
 lion acres of the lands in Minnesota. But I hope that 
 does not make me less a Canadian than I would be 
 otherwise. I have been in this country now for upwards 
 of forty years, and can therefore claim to be as much a 
 Canadian as most of the honourable gentlemen in this 
 House. I regret that the honourable member for Mon- 
 treal West is not in his place in the House, because 
 I can recollect when he and the Honourable Peter 
 Mitchell — who wrote those very pleasing and inter- 
 esting letters, which have engaged the attention of 
 honourable gentlemen, and in which he spcctks in high 
 terms of the lands in Minnesota — heard other testi- 
 mony. 
 
 I can recollect that five members of this House and 
 myself were on the train between Winnipeg and St. 
 Paul together, on our return from Manitoba. We met 
 the emigration agent of the Dominion Government, 
 and that ofRcial, whom I then saw for the first time, 
 on being asked, "Are any efforts made by the officials 
 of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway 
 to keep back emigrants on their way to M nitoba?" 
 replied, "Certainly not; on the contrary, every possi- 
 ble assistance and facilities are afforded these emi- 
 grants for going through to their destination." He did 
 say that some other American railway companies acted 
 differently, but that had nothing to do with the road 
 referred to. That such is the conduct followed by the 
 88 
 
 Iji 
 
North-West Immigrants 
 
 people of the St Paul * lu • . 
 fully -bstantiated by oth^r;'°^.?"'"^y "^ 1^" 
 Canadian railway comS wto L"^ '"^ ^^"'« °' 
 cha^eof pa„ie.ore.i^ra^',:''^i--^one up i„ 
 
 try tfiat the St. Paul R^f, '^"rtunate for this coun- 
 
 'ands in Minnesota lerferntrSnr^ ''"' ^- 
 were so friendly to Canad^ i '' ^^ *°^ ^^o 
 every reasonable facility for '^!!? ^"^'°"' 'o give 
 the North-West of S DoS„'"^ ^""'^--^-'^ '"to 
 
 sho° W ttSXpTa^f ?^ -^ '"- - attempt 
 to Manitoba, but on th. ^^ '^"P'^ °" tJ'eir way 
 themasfaraspoIibZ nd rirvr ^'^ -d ass,^? 
 t'ons are honestly car;i^ o„t 't^ " ^''^^ instruc- 
 the Government LdTXayL?',*"'^'^' ^'^ on 
 & Manitoba Road are nri^ • ,, ^'°"^ the St. Paul 
 consin Illinoi, m:M,TZl''T'' f™- Wi^ 
 who, having sold theirfa^s th. ' ^^'''"^ States, 
 up wheat lands i„ Minne™ V''!'^/' ««"? P"'<^«. take 
 of capital ranging from oT;^ "^ '^^^' '" Po^'^ssion 
 haps fifty thousand dXrc^i^r""^ "^""a" to per- 
 building up the counut Th"'"''"*^^ """>«iiateirto 
 naturally prefer their own h^Z,^ ^""'"'^'^^ who 
 remam under their own ^"e™ ""°"' '° ■°""' ="d «> 
 gentlemen must be aZr^tb^T"'' ^'^ ''°"°"rable 
 Canadians proceeding beyond Lp ^r^^^^J^ritX of 
 to and remain in MaS=, !!" ''"'' ^''° ^° "°t go 
 Territory of Dakota ,^' '^"""'' ^ttlers in the 
 P-l & Manifoba°Sm^i";' °" '''^ '^"^^ °^ '-" st 
 Wo one can say that T hi 
 
 89 
 
 ! ^ I 
 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 ence to Manitoba and the North-West Territory. 
 Quite otherwise; and when recently in England, on 
 the question of resources and development of Canada 
 being brought forward at a meeting of the Royal 
 Colonial Institute, I took occasion there to speak in 
 the most marked terms of the advantage Canada had 
 over the United States in this respect, and in this 
 superiority I firmly and faithfully believe. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 I880-I886 
 
 trails whTcKn"ht' ^'^'^"''^ *°- --^le 
 friends. evenTmonrt V " ^ '*^""'='' '^^^'"^ 
 John Macdo^r falht'S^'!,'"''^^^^ Sir 
 in his resentments H.f m "^'^ *° inveteracy 
 himself. "Sera SLTI "^''"'"^^ ^^ '""'^h 
 once I donT^LVto gTve himTh' "^^ ^" -« '-« 
 do so twice " He utf . .^^ °PPortunity to 
 
 disposition to 2S a ° L'e " k' '''^'°'''' ^'""^ 
 tributinK it to H- f,*'™*^^^^ - humorously at- 
 
 addingXwe ^r^^tSl •*^"" '" '"'^ '"-d- 
 I ^all die at iace 5il^r " ^."^! '^''«-« 
 period of years ^r t1 u ^ ^"emies." For a 
 
 Smith haJ S^n ;iit°of r 'l'""'^"^ *^* ^r. 
 support him on a crSocnr?'*-'^ '" ^^'""^ ^o 
 fused to credit 1"X ofMrT -i'^'- "^ ^^■ 
 To a friend who undert«>k .J^^"""^' ">°tives. 
 the member for Selfavr^, X '^r""'*'^*^ ^^t 
 himself, although obltr:;? " '°y?' ^^mirer of 
 policy to vote aeatltt- \ T^^'°'' °^ P"blic 
 believe it I'he wa, ^"^',^u ^""'^^^^' "' don't 
 deserted me.". ^^' '"^^^ ^^ ^o"'d not have 
 
 'K^^pZ''^I:^::'ZZ^" -impeachable authority, 
 erue such a type of mind aVfatL to m . ' *" """' "> -^hamc: 
 he admits that the "«,„ »metTn' . "^ '".* P"''''<^ ">>"■" Vet 
 0' DoMd A. Smith "irapr^X hS'S'u"?"'"*'''' '" ^^ "^ 
 91 
 
 ;tl'l 
 
 i ' ■ » I 
 
 Jl" I I ■ . ' ! 
 
 , :, '.::'::ift 
 
 I 'i^'ll:!''^ 
 
 it' 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 But this was not the real Sir John Macdonald. 
 A long career in politics — a familiarity with poli- 
 ticians and place-hunters, many dealings with cor- 
 rupt interests — had made him cynical; but it did 
 not destroy his belief in private honour or public 
 morality. He knew, and as years rolled on he con- 
 fessed, the mistake he had made with regard to 
 Mr. Smith. But for a long time his pride kept him 
 silent. 
 
 On resuming power in 1878, Sir John's first care, 
 after his cherished National Policy, which reversed 
 the Free-crade tendencies of his predecessor, was to 
 carry out the great transcontinental railway pro- 
 ject to which the country had so long been pledged. 
 Some tentative railway-building in the West, un- 
 dertaken by his ATinister of Railways, Sir Charles 
 Tupper, only confirmed him in his belief that the 
 day for haphazard and piecemeal construction was 
 over. 
 
 i 
 
 We must meet the difficulty [he had said] imposed 
 on Canada by the reckless arrangements of the late 
 Government with reference to the Pacific Railway, 
 under which they pledged the land and resources of 
 this country to the commencement of that gigantic 
 work in July, 1873, and to its completion by July, 
 1881. 
 
 That contract has already been broken; over a mil- 
 lion dollars has now been spent in surveys, and no par- 
 ticular line has yet been located. The bargain is, as 
 we always said, incapable of literal fulfilment. We 
 must make arrangements with British Columbia for 
 such a relaxation of the terms as will give time for the 
 9a 
 
Macdonald's Policy 
 completion of the surveys anH k. 
 t.on of the work, with sufh s^"",^"^"' P"^^' 
 the country will pennit, and SuH "'^'^"'^'' of 
 
 acoss the continent muTj^^^'J communication 
 Government's policy to unitren^' '' '^°"''' "^ "-e 
 magmficent water »mmun"catir T "'^'^''^^ "^ 
 '^1' to the Rocky Moum^f °^' '^"^ '''"^'' "' rail- 
 present, the construction oTth;,^ r°"''"«' '"^ 'he 
 ™'way, costing from s°xtv t„ "T '"'"'^'^ ""''« of 
 'an>. and rendering the^J^ ''*''*5' ""'"'O'"' of dol- 
 aMe for the pC'„?;„ Zm''^ T."'^ ^^^^ 
 endeavour to make these IrT. ,' ""^ ""^'^ should 
 promotion of immigratlonTL'^^' 'V'"''-0'to the 
 to the settlement ^d devZmenTVT ^^=''=' ^"^ 
 fertile territories on whiclour hn 1 '^°^ "'^^ ^"d 
 Canada are so largely S"' ''°'^'' ^°' ^^e future of 
 
 mifC2;er"?S\^r? '' ''^ '^'^P"-' °- 
 that grant to arrange fori ""^^ "°* ^'''^ ^''h 
 the rapid constSS„ o t^/ T"''*' '^''^'"^ ^°^ 
 Ministers again met the H '^^^^ ^" '88°. the 
 
 m good faith the ohi.v T ' "*™e'y. to take up 
 them through the acfor^' ^'' ""'^"'^^ "PO" 
 .though the/had not LlSSPfr^--- AI- 
 ■ng on the work by the G«vi ^^^" °'<^^">'- 
 
 the work as they found ?"'""'*' "^'^ *°°k up 
 
 ^■•^r^atarert^lVST^-'^- - 
 to-y. It was now dear th" '^ ^ ""^^tisfac- 
 
 -tbefoundwhow;^dti;eXlr^S 
 93 
 
 N 'ti 
 
 )■ 
 
 I h 
 
 i,.i/ 
 
 ! i' 
 
 if -I; 
 
 S.I, !.. 
 
 II" 
 
 4 ilM'€'li 
 
Uh 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 off the shoulders of the Government. Were there 
 any such? It soon appeared that there were. To 
 some sanguine spirits, at any rate, the great 
 scheme was infinitely more attractive in 1880 than 
 it had been two years before. 
 
 In June, 1880, Sir John told his followers assem- 
 bled at a political rally: — 
 
 I can say this, and the Minister of Finance, who is 
 on the platform, can corroborate my statement, if 
 necessary, that there are capitalists at this moment, 
 who, Icnowing that there is a certain fortune to be 
 made out of the construction of the railway, are asking 
 that the work be handed over to them. They hav? 
 said, "We will relieve you of all anxiety and the people 
 of all apprehension of being taxed. We will take the 
 railway in hand, build it, and make fortunes out of it." 
 The Government, at this moment, has the offer? 30 
 made under consideration, so that there is no danger 
 regarding the road. 
 
 And at the close of that year. Sir Charles Tup- 
 per frankly stated to the House of Commons: — 
 
 One of the causes which led to the great change in 
 the public sentiment in relation to the value of land 
 in the North-West, and of railway enterprise in the 
 North- West, was the marked and wonderful success 
 that was published to the world as having resulted 
 from the syndicate who had purchased the St. Paul, 
 Minneapolis, & Manitoba Railway, and become the 
 proprietors of that line. The statements they were 
 enabled to publish showed not only the rapidity with 
 which the railway construction in private hands could 
 be carried on, but it showed the value of the prairie 
 94 
 
Sir John's Animosity 
 •■nds in the North- West an,! .1. 
 made valuable for ff,;,"?''^,''*™/ ''>«y «>"« be 
 
 attracted the attentnT^.". ?„"'* ,""'"• '' 
 enterprises of that kind to "{"'""»-■'" elation to 
 
 markod i„flue„»;u„doubt°ed,y r^„'t "m" "'^ 
 in relation to this ouentior '^ ,^ P"blicmind 
 
 ce<l, that when wed JriZ^^u.^ nothing to con- 
 tc ask intendtrconTrtlSlr'" •'?"''''' '- "• 
 tem. they woufd comXelTtakT"""''! °" '^''« 
 the Canadian Pacific R^LTy ^' ril"' "^ °' 
 m communication with^ Te' pTrtfi . """"'^ 
 any reason to suppose would h^v ^''° "^^ ''^ 
 
 twitted Mr. Donald Smith w'i'L'- "" ^°^" ^ad 
 cemed with the S P^u & P ^'"r.'"^'^ '=°''- 
 that Mr. Smith had SuJto7u^^^'y' ^"^ 
 •nation on this point S tLT.™ ^"'' '"^°^- 
 
 common proper?. aSld S^^John wast ^ ""^"^ 
 averse to any neeotiation. ; l? ^ ^"^"^"ce 
 for Selkirk wouK a ° 1^^ t"^ *^« '"^'nb^'- 
 toward events of i873!wShaS''"?T: *^^ ""- 
 power, induced him to t^.H ^ ^"""'^^ '"'" ^''O'" 
 ways of railway ^alel ^""*'°"«'y ^e devious 
 
 Jn the summer of ,880. he paid a visit to Eng- 
 
 o^trtrtrste^Jth^T--^^'--' 
 -demood to be pn,visrr',^jtr.i:::;;t 
 
 f! 
 
 r 
 
 ' ..if :i 
 
 .1 
 
 i ]■ '• 
 
 ; ! 
 
 , j, 
 
 
 Ifelr 
 
I'll 
 
 m 
 
 I ! 
 
 1/ 
 
 t 
 
 ^ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 oeived a iccond oifer, and the Government came to 
 the conclusion, cipecially aa we had an indirect intim- 
 ation, verbally, that an offer would probably be made 
 from New York and San Franciico, that we could not 
 pouibly settle the matter here. '.Ve decided to inform 
 all the parties that we would attend to the reception of 
 any applications, tenders, or offers, in London. There- 
 upon, the first party who made this provisional offer 
 withdrew it and would not hold to it. The second party 
 did not do so — this was an offer from England, and 
 the party subsequently dropped their application. The 
 communications that were made in England were 
 principally, if not altogether, verbal. Gentlemen came 
 over again and again from Paris and sat with us in the 
 discussion of these matters. The first offer was with- 
 drawn. The second one it would be unfair to disc'- ■); 
 as the honourable gentlemen opposite will see there 
 were persons in it, bankers and others of considerable 
 commercial standing, who were connected with that 
 offer. They found they were not strong enough to 
 press it. Their offer was made, of course, with the de- 
 sire of coming in if they could, and being engaged in 
 the construction of the rsad, and it would be hardly- 
 fair to them to use their names and to state that these 
 persons failed in being strong enough to undertake the 
 work. It would affect their position. The present offer 
 is the most favourable offer, both as to money and land, 
 that the Government or delegates received. Arrange- 
 ments were made; we sat de die in diem as a little com- 
 mittee, meeting different gentlemen again and again. 
 They were all desirous o' making an arrangement, 
 money being plenty and enterprise ripe on the con- 
 tinent of Europe, especially in France and England. 
 They were all anxious to connect themselves with such 
 
 ..X; 
 
 ',1;^ 
 
The Syndicate .ubmit, Term, 
 
 •ponsibility; and on7 ITrTiu^ '^^ ''^'''''"''' "=• 
 attempt, to be conco™,^ w ,h"he ',*'""'"''^ '""" 
 P-^ont partic, wo metThrei;^^- ^ '° '"«= 
 
 dian capital undertake an?"^^^' ""'^ ^ana- 
 
 t^altSSthS ■" "•''^'^ '° --' ">.•, eon. 
 -d hope for. .7 ^ h 5^^^ - "" ^esin., cxpec, 
 
 wrongest body of capitalist, th». 'S".'"'" *'"' "-e 
 would have had, thefiLl" *'°" ''^^« h^d? We 
 with extravaga^'t idea^^LSl'^r ^"'"^ '"«'"- 
 and the construction of ra«lav. ^^^ "' ""= *»''' 
 try. and we would haveTad at 1^-^'' '""'' " <»""- 
 matter what theirre^.u,^,^':^"" ''"'«« day - „„ 
 m their hands, and, wo^\hS',^-«P-rf'-ct .lure 
 had discredit brought uoon thl ' *'°" ^°"'d have 
 
 of the parties Mh^ the country in coraequence 
 
 their investment. ^ *'«'>' J "«ly expected from 
 
 varbufUtiL^STe ^"''^"'' ^''''■■^ --« 
 t-ously alluded to Z^'^;^''"'' *''- -"V- 
 negotiations a synd cat! „ '*'"" °^ ^e* 
 
 the terms upon wS ft L, "'^"'^ ^"»'""'«ed 
 Canadian Pacific S;!:!'^^.^'-^^ ^ build the 
 
 name of Donald A. SmiU^iiVotlS'^lVt!:^ 
 97 
 
 Ir 
 
 ! . /^ 
 
 ?'M 
 
 i ,'' II 
 
 4'. 
 
 
 a 
 
 ii.ji 
 
 ■', i'''.'; 
 
J: |l 
 
 li'i 
 
 1 
 
 jf1 
 
 1" 
 
 
 i : , 
 
 i- 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 ally, its head was Mr. George Stephen, of Mon- 
 treal; it was he who made the formal overtures to 
 the Government. 
 
 Mr. Smith wrote to Mr. Stephen: — 
 
 I must not and do not complain of Sir John Mac- 
 donald's prejudice against me, which I trust time will 
 tend to abate; but I shall not the less on that account 
 exert myself to the utmost consistent with the condi- 
 tions which that prejudice imposes.* 
 
 On the 1st of December, 1880, it was announced 
 that a provisional contract had been made with a 
 syndicate composed of George Stephen and Dun- 
 can Mclntyre, of Montreal; John S. Kennedy, of 
 New York, banker; Morton, Rose & Co., of Lon- 
 don, England, merchants; Kohn, Reinach & Co., 
 Paris, bankers; and Richard B. Angus and J. J. 
 Hill, of St. Paul, who were subsequently incor- 
 porated as the Canadian Pacific Railway Com- 
 pany.' 
 
 Briefly, the syndicate agie-jd to finish the rail- 
 way through from Montreal to the Pacific and 
 operate it for ten years in consideration of a cash 
 grant of $25,000,000, a land grant of 25,000,000 
 acres, and the portion of the railway already com- 
 
 ' January 9, 1881. 
 
 ' "It may be told that the owners of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & 
 Manitoba Railway are members of this syndicate: and, Sir, I am 
 glad to know that that is the fact: and for this reason, I say that, 
 standing outside of this association, they were in a position of antag- 
 onism to Canada, because they were the owners of a line of railway 
 to the south of our great North-West, and of large tracts of fertile 
 land contiguous to that railway." (Sir John Macdonald, Parliamen- 
 tary Debates, 1880.) 
 
 98 
 
^ H°wl of Execration 
 Pieted upon which thf r^ 
 
 in rou.-,d figures, $28 ^ c^™'"'"* ^^^ «P«nded 
 
 ^was roundly declared tSal*''°P''°="'°"- 
 been sold. The bargain ^s^ '°""*^y had 
 conscionable robbery on V^' denounced as un- 
 cus acquiescence on the oZ h""* and perfidi- 
 pointed out that the emineS "°"' ^'- ^^^^^ 
 ford Flensing, had Sited thatT' ^'■- ^^"d- 
 
 ent.re cost of buiWing"^^' ^ ^f >" '^e syndicate the 
 526,000,000 addition! The svnw" *^ '°"^ ^"^ 
 fore a profit on the building of ,."?*" ''^^^' 'h^re- 
 •^ad of &6,5oo,ooo. We Z 1 "' P°«'°n "^ the 
 entire road is finished. VW.aTL,!!! T"""^ ^^at the 
 hen? It hands to the sy„d cStt' ^^5™""="' do, 
 the latter, and on which ti^ f- ^'^""' built by 
 •"ade a profit of i^Ts^Zu't'rl' ''^ ^''"^dy 
 over also the enti« m^Tilt 'bv T r?' " ''""''^ 
 The syndicate get ^6,500 oooIh .■ <^°^ernment. 
 Pacfic Railv^ay, estimf^T "''^«"' 'h*^ "Entire 
 
 hoodof $80,^^ '^«^ to cost m the neighbour- 
 
 get this on condition th^ the1S'5°°'°°°'" ^"^ '^ey 
 accept it and deposit $1 o«, ^'" ^ «°^d ^"°"gh to 
 n-ng the road. But theG<CrnfHt^'""'y f°^ "'"- 
 The road and its equipmenird 2 '*• "*?' '*°P ^^ere. 
 -Pany were fo.ve^r exe^S'?^";:^;^ of the 
 
 99 
 
 i 
 
 
 
iH 
 
 1? 
 
 ■li 
 
 'i< 
 
 I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 Said the Toronto Globe: — 
 
 Under the bargain as it stands, it would appear that 
 the company might shut up the unproductive parts of 
 the road while still retaining the sections which still 
 paid a profit. But supposing the Government could 
 force them to relinquish the whole line in case of 
 $3,000,000 default, the syndicate would care little for 
 the surrender of $5,000,000 of large bonds, if they had 
 made $26,500,000 and were able to escape the task of 
 operating the road north of Lake Superior through the 
 "sea of mountains" of British Columbia. 
 
 It is a fact that under this bargain the syndicate may 
 goon to build the road, raising all the money needed for 
 the work of construction and over $20,000,000 besides, 
 and after their work is done, at the end of the ten 
 years, coolly decide whether it will be most to their 
 advantage to run the road or to throw it on the shoul- 
 ders of the people of Canada. The net result of the 
 whole scheme is that the Government is to pay $75,- 
 000,000 for the construction of part of a road which 
 will cost $48,500,000; and if at the end of ten years 
 money is to be made by running the road, the Govern- 
 ment will be free from further exactions, and the com- 
 pany will be placed in full possession of a line which 
 will have cost $80,000,000 to build and for which they 
 will have received at least $110,000,000, but if the 
 road will not pay, an unknown but certainly large sum 
 will be called for to provide the materials for a traffic 
 large enough to be remunerative, and a further amount 
 to pay working expenses. 
 
 Another objection was that the $26,000,000 
 might be spent to no purpose. There was no secur- 
 ity, except the reputation of the members of the 
 
The Bargain ratified 
 ing to Mr. Blake: — ^ Accord- 
 
 security for thp m»;„; ^'>'"^'°°° of those bonds as 
 "'iiy lor tne maintenance of the roaH Ti,.„ *l 
 
 n.ng expenses will amount ij Jo^^ ^hJ-To^ r 
 
 re;K:iTetrpa;'%r *'^ '"™^^"' -^^^ 
 
 are asked fo ^ ^^ °' ^^^ '"™ *'>''^h the people 
 or^II^ut^rlZihr""°"T'^^'"«''™^yd'e 
 
 be duly carried out h^Jh^r^ ^ ''^'^^'" "''°"M 
 
 order to secu^poHii^f "^^^r^^ °""P^'^^ 'I"- « 
 
 It would be tedious to recount tl,» , 
 cation of the Government's bargain with Mr 
 
 SsTTh^r T'" ^^' ^°™^"y ^^tified early i„ 
 ated Ind ^""'^" P^"fi^ Company was incorpo" 
 
 lOI 
 
 1 
 
 
 ' i: 
 
 <,>' 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Of the littie band of men who had accepted the 
 task it can now be said with certainty that they 
 were never, as Mr. Smith said, from the first to 
 the last day of those memorable five years, ani- 
 mated by any mere spirit of gain. 
 
 The First Minister will bear me out, when I say 
 that Sir George Stephen and the other members of the 
 syndicate did not approach the Government with 
 regard to the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway 
 until the Government had tried, in Europe and else- 
 where, to get others to take it up, capable of carrving 
 it through, but had not succeeded in this. 
 
 / say distinctly that the gentlemen who undertook the 
 charter, althoi';h at first unwilling to assume the responsi- 
 bility, ultimately consented, more with a view of assisting 
 to open up the country than from any expectation of gain 
 to be derived from it.'- 
 
 By the terms of the contract the line was to be 
 finished in 1 891. The policy agreed upon by Presi- 
 dent Stephen and his fellow-directors in building 
 the line was to press forward construction, so that, 
 if possible, the line could be completed in five 
 instead of the stipulated ten years. Contracts 
 were given out, and in a few weeks thousands of 
 workmen were straining every muscle to carry 
 out the work. Meanwhile the existing road had to 
 be operated and a population induced to take up 
 lands in the sections through which it ran. The 
 expenses were enormous — millions disappeared as 
 into the maw of a vast monster, and more millions 
 
 » The Honourable D. A. Smith, 
 May 26, 1887. 
 
 103 
 
 M.P., Parliamenlary Debates, 
 
 iM 
 
William Cornelius Van Horne 
 
 The Government's Chief Engineer' said in hi. 
 report of September, 1883: - "*' '" ^" 
 
 the'VS Zvafr'^''""" '° •" ^"^ ^° «t-'e that 
 
 road is bein^l'nraSAunt'lre'iar^'^ 
 
 Mr. Collingwood Schreiber C B «,!,„ 1, j 
 Fleming, was the Chief Enrinwroffh^'r ^"^ succeeded Mr. 
 
 was also designated bv thf r!^ Government Railways, and 
 
 Canadian Pacific l^il^a^'L^'^rh']!".^'""' f'r^'"' *' 
 of the two sections of ra.W ^i'h tJ^ "'"f ^" "' '^^ ^"'Pletion 
 company; he also had cw7of a, e„^ ° '"""* °''" "> «>« 
 -eentheGover„.entandTh:'ct:Srilc''S;S^t-„^- 
 103 
 
 '' ■ 
 
 
 
 >)0|j 
 

 
 I !. 
 
 1 
 
 ' 
 
 I 
 
 It 
 
 i^ord Strathcona 
 
 personnel of the Canadian Pacific Railway. To 
 Mr. Hill there was then known Mr. William Corne- 
 lius Van Home, the general superintendent of thi • 
 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. This 
 official, still in his "thirties," was notable even 
 amongst the many notable figures which the vast 
 system of American transportation had called into 
 being. He was a scion of ancient Dutch stock, long 
 settled in New York, whose name is so often men- 
 tioned in the pages of Washington Irving. In the 
 words of Mr. Hill: "There was no one on the whole 
 continent who would have served our purpose so 
 well as Mr. Van Home. He had brains, skill, expe- 
 rience, and energy, and W£is, besides, a born leader 
 of men." 
 
 The provision of a three per cent dividend for 
 the holders of the $65,000,000 of shares was ar- 
 ranged in the summer of 1883. It amounted to a 
 purchase of an annuity of three per cent on these 
 shares for ten years, based on the deposit of cash 
 and securities with the Government by the com- 
 pany, which would, by actuarial calculation, at 
 four per cent, yield in ten years the amount re- 
 quired. 
 
 This arrangement had hardly been completed 
 and the deposit made when the failure of the 
 Northern Pacific Railway, in the autumn of 1883, 
 brought about a financial crash which defeated the 
 object of the arrangement and resulted in the lock- 
 ing-up of all the cash and valuable resources of 
 the company beyond recall. The situation was a 
 desperate one, and was the cause of the visit of 
 104 
 
Thirty Millions wanted 
 
 necessityofi..ira:LU°veT.e„T:s?r'"'"*^ 
 he was asked to makeVinl^T u ' '^""'^"d 
 
 feo.ooo.oooto be naidnvJ u° '^^ ^°'"Panyof 
 and to be secured by Lfi-^H"^' '^' T^ ^"^^^"^^d- 
 of the company Sir roh; T!! ^' *''^ P^P^^ies 
 lutely im«e - that !? "'' "^^^ '' ^''^ ^^so- 
 be done. He was „.* !'^* "°^''"'? "^ the kind could 
 
 his friends haTtoieavf '"' ^J' ''^P*-- -^ 
 despair. The™/ ^ ! empty-handed and in 
 
 quarters in S,T<Scl'° ^°'" "^"^ ^^P^'" 
 that had occuLd Mr p"""*^' ""^ *°'d '""^ all 
 the fate of thrCons^L^r T^'^'^'^^ '^^ ^^at 
 in the matter and "Tt^^T- ^^"^ ^"^ '"^°'ved 
 
 he proceed at 'ott ^ .'Er T: ?''^"'«''*- 
 Stephen and his nartv J ?\™schfre,- asking 
 
 he came batk XuTt^: Xck TnTmo^^" 
 he merely said, "Well, he will do it " °™'"^' 
 
 money t'lZ^'o^T V"' Government for 
 sidered. ^ "^ *^^ *°'''' *^« favourably con- 
 
 From George Stephen to the Honourable 
 i>tr Charles Tupper 
 
 Th» . -. , Montreal, 24th October, ,883. 
 
 issued. '°'"''"^'' ^55.000,000 have already been 
 
 los 
 
 
 
 )■ 
 
 '' I 
 
 
 
 if ■ 
 
I[ 
 
 m 
 
 ! . i 
 
 '. I, 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 It now requires a further amount of money to 
 enable it to prosecute the work of construction and 
 equipment at the same rate of progress as heretofore, 
 and in accordance with its policy and in justice to 
 its present shareholders, such amount should be ob- 
 tained by means of the remaining stock of the com- 
 pany. 
 
 But in the present state of the market and of public 
 feeling as to stocks generally, it would be impossible 
 to dispose in the ordinary way of any further amount 
 of stock at a reasonable rate, if at all, and the company 
 is desirous of adopting the following plan as a mode of 
 procuring the amount required: — 
 
 The company to deposit with the Government 
 money and securities constituting a fund sufficient to 
 pay semi-annual dividends for ten years on the entire 
 stock of the company, at the rate of three per cent per 
 annum. The amount required for this purpose has 
 been ascertained to be $24,527,145. 
 
 This project would require the assistance of the 
 Government, but merely as a depository of the fund to 
 be created, and it would impose no responsibility or 
 liability upon the Government beyond the periodical 
 repayment of instalments of the amount deposited, 
 with interest added at the rate mentioned. 
 
 I have, therefore, to request the favour of the coop- 
 eration of the Government in carrying out the sug- 
 gested plan, and as I purpose leaving for England 
 shortly, I should be greatly obliged if this matter could 
 be disposed of at an early date. 
 
 Mi'. Collingwood Schreiber, the Government's 
 Chief Engineer, wrote to the Ministry: "This 
 proposition commends itself favourably to me and 
 106 
 
Arrangements with Government 
 as the Government would in m„ „ • ■ 
 no risk in entertaining itl'Z^^ "P'"'""' '"'"' 
 adoption." ' °^ '° recommend its 
 
 going arrangeLn':^^a4ry1£h: °' "^^ '"''''■ 
 three per cent for ten vearTfL Payment of 
 
 000 of stock only nn u """°f*^5.ooo. 
 
 proposed to d^yJ-roT^ ^^t T'''"^ °"'^ 
 fme, in such amounts as mavf^ *""^ *° 
 
 the demands of consLcTon' "^"^^"^ *° •"-' 
 
 The company oflered to deoosit ti,« 
 l35.ooo.ooo of stock with fLr ""emaining 
 
 at three per cent to Zl m ^^^^'"^nt, interest 
 as. from d^e to t ° e J^"', °" ''""^/l P-* thereof 
 ernment. Thecompanylt^'^ Pf *° *.^ G°- 
 arrangement into effect IhrH? l" '^"^'"« *'"'« 
 three per cent for ten y^ o„Tj'''"''^"*'""« 
 reduced to such a sum as^ouM f °°'°°°'°«' ^e 
 Purity in the hands of thrr ^^^^ '"'^^■^"t 
 the thr^e per cent for tel yelSZ^T"' *° P'^V 
 Two or three vear, Zf ef ^ ^^S.ooo.ooo. 
 
 had stated it'afr oSr„ t'X^'" "'■^'"'"^ 
 road from Lake Ninissi„° f! !'u ^ ^^^n^nuous 
 through Canadian SZt.' ^^"^^ ^''^'^ 
 Penseswhenthr4mmT'!Z. ; ^^^ "^""""8 «- 
 in the North-wTt " '^'''" '''^" ''^^^ ^ttled 
 
 CatdiarSy:-f '"'^^-'^ ^- '*-'^. the 
 ■V ski,, of'if mat^^t'Sd r ^ ^^'°"'^''- 
 Pen^s almost from th'e Cn^ ''^ ™""'"« - 
 
 St.Il.n„,honsof dollars were„4iedfor construe- 
 107 
 
 , .Hfl 
 
 
 «.'! ' 
 
'■[ 
 
 s 
 
 M 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 tion.' The hour momentarily threatened to »trike 
 when the millions were no longer forthcoming. For 
 a time it seemed as if the daily demands could not 
 be met, and the road was doomed to failure and the 
 company to bankruptcy. Looking back on this 
 phase now, it seems almost incredible tliat it should 
 have been so. But the opinion of contemporaries 
 upon the railway was not that universally enter- 
 tained to-day. There were many who were ready 
 to condole with Messrs. Stephen and Smith for 
 their hardihood — there were many who freely pre- 
 dicted disaster, because they had embarked their 
 own and others' millions in an enterprise which 
 would not be able to return a profit until they had 
 been many years in their graves. 
 
 The demands must be met, money must be pro- 
 cured, and consequently the company were driven 
 to apply to Parliament for a loan. It was the signal 
 for another explosion from the Opposition. What 
 had become of the money already advanced by the 
 Government? Where was the produce of the sales 
 of land and land bonds? There must be sometiiing 
 wrong somewhere. If it were not corruption, it 
 must be prodigality. 
 
 The Deputy Minister of Inland Revenue was 
 asked by the Government to go to Montreal in 
 
 I In April, 1885, the company had outstanding about $7,000,000 
 o( notes maturing in two month., and no money was available to pay 
 them. There was grave danger that all work »^uld have to ce^^ 
 TheGovernment nowmadea short-term loan of $5,000,000. In I8«0 
 the company made provision for the extinction of these loans, partly 
 in cash and partly by =1 surrender of a portion of its land grant. »""" 
 was taken over by theGovemment at $1 .50 per acre. (S. J . McLean.) 
 
 108 
 
Canadian Pacific Accounts 
 
 connection with Mr. Schreil«r. the Chief Engineer 
 
 lu ^^J""^ °' "''''''"8 "uch investigation of 
 the books and statements of the company as would 
 assure beyond all question the a«uracy of it. 
 statements of expenditure. 
 
 From Sir Charles Tupper to Messrs. Miall 
 and Schreiber 
 
 Ottawa, 38th January, 1884 
 
 ,n«.H '°J^'"'^t'/''^' y"" *'"• '^'■'h =" convenient 
 nTthe'^f^T* to Montreal, with a view to investiga"! 
 
 Railway Company so far as such examination may be 
 necessary to enable you to verify certain statrmenS 
 of revenue and expenditure which have been \mZ 
 fore my colleagues and myself by that corporS„ 
 
 I am aware that an exhaustive and detailed audit 
 would entad the labour of weeks, if not of mo«h 
 Th.s .s not expected. But you are required tTmake 
 such exammation as a prudent business ma^wouW 
 desire to make before lending capital to. or enten'ng 
 into terms of copartnership with, a resp;ctabre C 
 herTw'Ih ""' """"'"^'^ ^*"^-'^ irtransmit^S 
 
 The two gentlemen went, they examined the 
 books and thus reported: — 
 
 As the result of our investigations, however, we 
 have no hesitation whatever in submitting our opinion 
 that the statements furnished by the President C 
 placed in our hands for verificatU represm ^uTh 
 
 ^^ ''IT"'! '""'''^'°" °f '"« company'aff^rst 
 portrayed by the books of the company. 
 
 109 
 
 1 !. 
 
 \) M 
 
 II 
 
 %- 
 
 I 
 
 )' 
 
 <,i 
 
 
 I- 
 
 : 'f^^'i 
 
W 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 f J; 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 It Roon appeared that ulterior causes were at 
 work to damage the credit of the company. Com- 
 binations were formed against the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway by interested roads; the Grand Trunk 
 Railway Company and certain American rivals 
 strove to obstruct its progress, and the result of 
 their combinations and machinations had been to 
 prevent the Canadian Pacific Railway Company 
 from disposing of its stock at a fair market value, — 
 at such value as they had fair reason to expect to 
 realize in order to apply the proceeds to the com- 
 pletion of their great work. But this was not all. 
 
 A great depreciation had taken place in the value of 
 American railway securities, not merely in the New 
 York market, but also in the other great money mar- 
 kets of the world — in Amsterdam, Paris, and London; 
 and this depreciation occurred at the very time when 
 the Canadian Pacific Railway nc. i d the jjioceids 
 which they expected to obtain from the sale of their 
 stock. To meet this difficulty, the company ap- 
 proached the Canadian Government and deposited 
 with it a sum of money and securities sufficient to pro- 
 vide for the payment of three per cent of the five per 
 cent promised by the railway company on a capital 
 stock of $65,000,000. It was supposed that this pro- 
 vision for a limited amount of the interest promi; -■d by 
 the Canadian Pacific Railway would have the t/iect, 
 not merely of steadying the stock in the American, 
 English, and French markets, but also of giving in- 
 creased value to the stock, and that thereby money 
 would be realized from the sale applicable to the prose- 
 cution of the work. Through a combination of circum- 
 stances this result has not been achieved, and the com- 
 
 IIO 
 
 i'. !i 
 
The Country "given away" 
 
 Zk ^Th "°' '^" '"• '" "»•«=• f""" the ««Ie of their 
 .tock. the «„ou„t they „.ight fairly have „[ 
 
 Mr. Donald Smith and his colleagues bore the 
 vo ley of criticism and abuse directed toward them 
 patiently, and sometimes with humour ' 
 
 They say [Mr. Smith wrote to Mr Hilll w„ = 
 thorized to build the flimsiest kinH^f' T "'.*"• 
 
 o( «*.n, ,1,1 be JS ""• """ """ 
 
 And again: — 
 
 A long and heated debate followed - one of the 
 longest and most acrimonious in the histo^ o Z 
 Canadian Parliament. The railway was auackS 
 .^ good aith was called in question. twl 
 
 S7uids"°^'""'^^-"--^---^ 
 
 What [asked Mr. Charlton M P 1 ^w /- j 
 
 tract to pay for under thisrip-^M if SLuo 
 
 pay or a road from Nipissing to Montreal Tt d d no ° 
 
 and .t was unnecessary for the syndicate to secure such 
 
 ' Parliamtnlary Debates, February 19, ,884. 
 
 Ill 
 
 A 
 
 ,.lf 
 
 .» 
 
 I ..• 
 
 ■1 ,'i.l 
 
 
:i1 
 
 i 
 
 'i 
 
 rl 
 
 It 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 a road until they required an outlet. Any road run- 
 nine in that direction would have been glad to have 
 made terms with the Canadian Pacific Railway to 
 carry their trade. It would have been an easy matter, 
 in the case of the Canada Central, to have made a con- 
 solidation, and to have taken that road m as part of 
 the Canadian Pacific Railway system, after the Cana- 
 dian Pacific Railway was constructed. It was prema- 
 ture to purchase the road in advance of the time when 
 the Canadian Pacific Railway required an outlet. Uid 
 we contract for a road to Portland in the State of 
 Maine? We did not, and it was unnecessary for the 
 syndicate to have acquired such a road. Did we con- 
 tract with the syndicate for a road to BrockviUe? We 
 did not. Did we contract with them for a road from 
 Ottawa to Detroit? We did not. Did we contract with 
 the syndicate for a road from Toronto to Owen Sound? 
 We did not. Did we contract with the syndicate that 
 we should back them up in making war upon the 
 Grand Trunk and become a party to that conflict? 
 We did not. Did we contract with the syndicate to 
 establish a railway monopoly east of Lake Superior 
 as perfect and galling as the monopoly existing under 
 that contract west of Lake Superior? No; that was 
 not a part of the contract. Did we contract with the 
 syndicate to build a place for its president, and endow 
 its members with millions of dollars for investment in 
 stocks in England and other enterprises? We did not. 
 Did we contract to stand sponsors for the ambitious 
 and far-reaching designs of railway kings, to make the 
 whole Dominion subsidiary and tributary to them.' 
 No, we did not. We are not parties to any such con- 
 tract- but it is to carry out a contract of that charac- 
 ter, to aid them to realize their designs, that they come 
 
 113 
 
Opposition Anger 
 
 and ask Parliament for an additional subvention to the 
 amount of $28,500,000.' 
 
 No; in the o; ■••lion of tl,. Opposition there was 
 no excuse for t ,i. company - no reason why they 
 should be comi .'led to con e to the House seeking 
 help to bridge over their difficulties. Their re- 
 sources were ample and abundant. They had mil- 
 lions upon millions in excess of the sum required to 
 enable them to discharge the contract which they 
 had made with the Dominion of Canada. They 
 had made their bed, and though it were Damien's 
 bed of steel, they must lie on it.' 
 
 Naturally the Opposition did not scruple to hint 
 that the Government were receiving bribes from 
 the company. Why this secrecy? Why this inde- 
 
 ,' ^^'■''<"^t'<"y Debala. February 19, 1884 
 The hostility of tlie Grand Trunk exercised an adverse effect 
 upon the credit of the Canadian Pacific. In the numerouslm^ 
 ets of the t.me, which, if not inspired by the Grand TrZ weTe'^at" 
 ea^t .ssu«i by parusans of that enterprise, the idea was spr^Id tha 
 t^iure tI^^Z ", r," r-^" ^P«"l"ive enterprise doomed to 
 allure. The value of Us lands was depreciated. It was stated that 
 
 rLl rour" Th" fV" '•'"•"^'* ^f •" ^" '«•'-""''. snow.*" 
 ered route. The feeling existing in the minds of the unfortunate 
 investors of the Grand Trunk that they had been unfa?r"y treatrf 
 
 as the LcdonEconomul. which cited the chartering of the rival en 
 terprise, which apparently threatened the existence of the G and 
 J:rL^ =" »»mP^ of unfairness. The Canadian Padfic stSks 
 
 h^^ i J J ''f depression in 1884, which was the outcome of 
 
 88,'^r h ™ '''™'°PT"u' "' '^^^' ^"-^ thedefident harv™" 
 1883 further aggravated the evil credit not only of the Canad an 
 Pacific, but of Jhe Grand Trunk as well. In a period of six mon hs 
 WcLea^o' "'"" depreciated by $38,000,000. (S.j! 
 
 113 
 
 IV 
 
 
 ;l I 
 
 1 1 
 
 ( :J 
 
 ■I' 
 
 m 
 
hi 
 
 ^m 
 
 III 
 
 r 
 
 1/ 
 
 ' <■ i] 
 
 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 cent haste? There was something that Mr. Blake 
 and the Opposition members did not understand. 
 
 How is it that this syndicate exercises such un- 
 bounded power over this Government? How is it that 
 the syndicate issues its dictates and the Government 
 seems bound to obey? Does the syndicate possess 
 some secret which, if breathed to the public, would 
 blast the reputation and blacken the characters of its 
 servants who are pushing this scheme through at its 
 diccation.' 
 
 But of course the real question was, Was the 
 country receiving, and likely to continue to re- 
 ceive, value for the money it had pledged, and 
 was the security adequate? The reply of one 
 member, Mr. Dawson (of Dawson Route fame), 
 was conclusive: — 
 
 The sccuri'y is ample and sufficient. That it is 
 ample there can be no doubt. They offer to make over 
 to the Government every mile of the railway, the roll- 
 ing-stock, and everything they possess, and surely 
 such ample security as that ought to be sufficient. 
 But, sir, there is a further security, which of itself is 
 ample, and that is that not a dollar of this $22,500,000 
 is to be handed over to them except as the work pro- 
 ceeds. It will only be paid for work done. The money 
 is not given to them to spend on any other project, but 
 as the engineer reports a certain amount of work done, 
 this money is to be handed over. Surely that of itself 
 is a security which ought to satisfy the House. 
 
 Ultimately, the money was voted and the com- 
 pany were enabled to pay off the contractors and 
 > Parliamentary Debates, February 19, 1884. 
 114 
 
 w 
 
A Straightforward Transaction 
 
 But it was 
 
 were granted a brief breatliing spell 
 very brief. 
 
 From D. A. Smith, M.P. 
 
 V .„ . ■'^P"' 9th, 1884. 
 
 You will see by the enclosed that Mr. Van Home « 
 
 pushmg forward construction unflinchingly "X^; 
 
 which you m\\ gather that our resources are 1 mitleS 
 
 and that we have not a care in the world. I f ar such 
 
 s too rosy a view of the situation. Our shoulders have 
 
 ToptreS^t-f"' ^'"'-^^ °- -ngth^sn 
 
 As the great work proceeded, they were subiect 
 to anxieties and fleeting misgivings of which few 
 If any, i„ the outside world, were aware. Said mT 
 Smi^^sonie monthsafter success had crowned theiV 
 
 went before Parliament and that we 2 1^' ^^^ ^^ 
 and again. It is true we ^iS^orTLTnT '^^"' 
 but we did not go as paupere Wp ^If ? '"""^y- 
 a penny that w^ ^Jr^^rn^mZX^^^Xc^^^l 
 
 whether it be «,o or «,r'!"'' ^""^^ ^" ^'""""t- 
 
 jtbacictotutn^ttwThS; sns.rr"''^- 
 
 ^th— ;i-s^-|£sri 
 
 115 
 
 
 
 in-.' 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 1; ^fM'lJi'^ 
 
 .Wit 
 
::h 
 
 iii! 
 
 I 
 
 \k 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 pay the money back to the last penny, and is there 
 any man who can say to-day that the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway Company has not paid the Government back 
 to the last cent? We are clear with regard to that. 
 The loan was undoubtedly a great benefit to us and a 
 great benefit to the country, while at the same time the 
 country has not lost one single sixpence by the trans- 
 action. It has been said that myself and colleagues 
 made money out of the railway. As a matter of fact, 
 up to the present we have lost money, and we can never 
 reap any benefits out of it other than what the share- 
 holders receive. ' 
 
 Mr. Smith's precision of language was second 
 nature. Onr >,-, in the days of doubt and darkness, 
 when the fate of the Canadian Pacific Railway was 
 trembling in the balance, there was a directors' 
 meeting in Montreal and the prospects of failure 
 for lack of funds were long and painfully canvassed. 
 At last the President brought down his palm forci- 
 bly upon the table and exclaimed, "Gentlemen, it 
 looks as if we had to burst!" 
 
 Mr. Smith glanced deprecatingly at the speaker, 
 and scratching the green baize cloth with his fore- 
 finger, said mildly, " It may be that we must — 
 succumb, but that must not be," he added, raising 
 his voice and gazing round the company, "as long 
 js we individually have a dollar." 
 
 Once again in June, T885, circumstances com- 
 pelled them to go before Parliament for a loan. 
 This time their enemies were alert and numerous. 
 It remained to be seen what was the strength of 
 ' Parliamenia'.y Debates, February 19, 1884. 
 116 
 
Undertaking imperilled 
 
 Said the Honourable I H p • • 
 
 the question of a fresh loan: -"^ '" '"'''^""-S 
 
 assists, te^potiSr ttrcTt':; r^'^^ "^^^ '^ 
 
 ample security {orren.J,^T°^'^'°°°' '*''"' 
 cancel stock of «« ^^ Lh^"'^ ^l*^ ""°^^'l *" 
 to pay the loan^nZ^X Ih? "a^th '" "'^^ 
 money to be given for the comple Jon of ;h J ' " "° 
 — not one farthine — th»,,T ""■■ """"tract 
 
 uning — they do not ask fnr .v -ri. 
 arrangement is to be made if at ;,1I nl • ,. • ^^^ 
 alone of the company but ; th^ r T '"u^"" '"'"^^t 
 shall be, in all respect; sunerit.T '^' ""^ '^' '"^^ 
 
 "7 
 
 I I 
 
 
 
 I :< 
 
 :¥ 
 
 

 Lord Strathcona 
 
 in first-class style — far above the standard con- 
 tracted for, and as security, we take the whole 21,000- 
 000 acres. I think no honourable gentleman will say 
 that the security we take is not ample, and does not 
 secure us fully.' 
 
 Just then Parliament and the Ministry were 
 absorbed elsewhere. 
 
 The mutterings of the Rial Rebellion were 
 already heard, and the Government was full of 
 anxiety. The loan to the company could not be 
 obtained, although an ad v . ce of one million dol- 
 lars was paid, a mere drop in the bucket of the 
 company's indebtedness. The Government's guar- 
 antee of its bonds was not forthcoming. The op- 
 position to the measure was at first rather fierce, 
 but the very important assistance the company was 
 able to render the Government in the way of mov- 
 ing troops to the North-West for the suppression of 
 the rebellion, while Parliament was yet in session, 
 pulled the teeth of the Opposition and consolidated 
 the Government's support. Nevertheless the pas- 
 
 ' Mr. Dawson. "The Chief Engineer of the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway and the Deputy Minister of Inland Revenue were sent 
 down to investigate the boolcs of the company, and what do they 
 report? They report that these boolcs were admirably Icept, and 
 that the statements before the House truthfully show the condition 
 of matters as exhibited in these books. Sir, I prefer to take state- 
 ments of that kind, verified by men in high positions, whose honour 
 has never been impugned; I prefer them to the vague and wild state- 
 ments which we have heard on every side for the last few days in thia 
 House. In a work so great as this there must always be something to 
 cavil at. In a work which embraces a line of railway extending from 
 ocean to ocean, and, with all its branches, has a length of over 
 thirty-three hundred miles, it is surprising that there is so little to 
 cavil at, instead of ao much." {^Parliamentary Debates.) 
 
 118 
 
Confronted by Ruin 
 
 Government i;s7sted on . " ^"'^ ^^'^'^^ the 
 
 the mean time 4e c;mlv^°V'r ' '^'^"'"^ '-• '" 
 piling up. and ,?s ' ShL i^^''°"'''^'^f^" 
 desperate. ItwasaSw. '^'^""'^ «tremelv 
 crisis at once. andTiX ^r/s?^ '".'^"^^ *^^ 
 accompanied by Mr fX™ '^ i-^' ^'■- Stephen, 
 the solicitor of the co^l ""^^ ^" J°''n) Abbott 
 to learn the de^fsion oTs"' Tu'"^ *° ^"--a 
 Government. ThX we' . ^^'^'^""-id's 
 
 Chamber, where^ ^ "TaH *° ""^ ^""""^ 
 hats hanging i„ the outrhartr"': '^ '^^ 
 council was in session, and in th^ ^ "imisterial 
 awaited the momentous result 7^''°°'" "^^^ 
 of books locked in the offiH.1 L7 '^ '^^"'^ "-"ws 
 newspapers and Wuebo^Js'lj^S^^^.^ -"d a few 
 heart to glance at. TW L!. ^"^ ^^ "°t the 
 versation : but sat here •„.. ''^!" "° ""'' ^°"- con- 
 afternoon, patie^iTi^rS J^^^ °' ^ J"'>' 
 and the Ministers to file Z V!^l'^°°' *° "P^" 
 the Council departed unob Ji^ i^l*''^ '"*"'f^" of 
 and hours later Xr hi? i* ^y another door, 
 last degree Mr o^f^hless and dispirited to the 
 
 House.Ttfe coXhr'^l'' *° ^^ ^"^^'" 
 friend accosted him Ster ! T^ *"*° " **^'^- A 
 with his gaze fa^ en^ o^ V^To '' 'V^* ^^^^' 
 how he felt. ^ ^°°''' and enquired 
 
 wards flowed so h -gl! ^ '" ^ *"''^ ^hich after- 
 119 
 
 y 
 
 
 :> 'i 
 
 <,.f 
 
 
 1 1 
 i -.1 
 
 ;l.a'l 
 
 
M 
 
 if 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 ' f. ■[ 
 
 h \> 
 
 i! ij 
 
 i« 
 
 y 
 
 H 
 
 ,Vt 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Largely through the friendly intervention of an 
 influential Toronto supporter, Sir Frank Smith 
 the Government finally agreed to allow the issue of 
 $35,000,000 of stock, of which it was to guarantee 
 $20,000,000, leaving $15,000,000 to be issued by 
 Mr. Stephen, Mr. Donald A. Smith, and their fel- 
 low-directors. Such a proposition was hardly tempt- 
 ing. The question was. Would the great European 
 bankers consider it favourably? It was agreed that 
 Mr. Stephen should journey to London to inter- 
 view the Barings, of which famous banking firm 
 Lord Revelstoke was the head. His surprise was 
 great, when, before he had completed his lengthy 
 explanation of the situation, Lord Revelstoke in- 
 terrupted him, saying: "We have been looking 
 into this question carefully, and if agreeable to you, 
 we are prepared to take over the whole issue of 
 £3,000,000 of stock at 91}." 
 
 Mr. Stephen could hardly credit such good news. 
 Nevertheless he asked with admirable self-posses- 
 sion, "How soon will the money be available?" 
 
 Whereupon Lord Revelstoke explained that it 
 would require some months to arrange the details of 
 the issue. Meanwhile, they offered to issue their own 
 certificates for £750,000 at once, and three further 
 sums of £750,000 at intervals during the month. 
 
 The question of solvency of the company was 
 forever settled. Mr. Stephen instantly cabled out 
 to Canada the good news.' 
 
 * In Montreal, when Mr. Stephen's cable arrived, two of his fel- 
 low-directors tore the message open. " In the tumult of our feelings 
 we began capering about like school-boys, even to bestowing sundry 
 kicks on the furniture of the board-room." 
 130 
 
Lord Revdstoke's Action 
 
 the name of Revelstokp if ^^ " '*^" 
 
 portant event Lthe fiLn!-- ,T'"''"°''^**^ ^" ™- 
 
 but they contit^Soiran"/"' "°"-''' 
 the company until ,890 f^^lt vir ^''"'t °^ 
 were approached for Tfresh loan ?h ^ '"^'".'''"^ 
 The directors wpr» \ • ? "' ^^^V declined. 
 
 stoke saT-TheZ^S'f'''- .'"^ ^^^^ ^-^1- 
 '■•eve the time has ^m wh rnXt"''.'"' "^ «- 
 Ra.-lway Company o^o se^l its'" '" ^'"^' 
 over its own counter A./ °™ ^^^urities 
 
 makeah-beralSrUt"" °""'^^^' ^ -" 
 
 found gratitude. pTj.fZTl V''^ " P^"' 
 of Baring Brothers anticSteJ"^„*^^,'''^'°"^ fi™ 
 culties in the Argentine Ren^ M- ^."^""'^' ^'ffi- 
 end for them in ufterXster S. ^''"^'^ ""''' »° 
 to involve the great Cal?H' f^ "^^'^ ''^'"^'a"* 
 As Lord StraKa^dT/^T'^^^'^f-"- 
 was most enigmatical t^ 5 ^f^rwards: "It 
 
 Barings. Untirour 1° ' ~*''^* ^"''"^^ °^ the 
 many misgivSgs" '''"" ^^"* "^ '* ^-"«ed us 
 
 At last on the 7th November, 1885, upwards of 
 
 131 
 
 . If 
 ( 
 1." 
 
 ;:1 
 
 : J 
 
 .14 
 
 • i 
 
 :^'kl 
 
 
 '11'. 
 

 I 
 
 ;:1 
 
 I 
 if 
 
 AM 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 five years before the expiry of the time allowed by 
 the terms of the contract, the railway was finished. 
 It has been picturesquely written: — 
 
 If an inquisitive eagle, soaring above the lonely 
 crags of the Rocky Mountains on November 7, 1885, 
 had looked down upon a certain spot near the Colum- 
 bia River and about three hundred and fifty miles 
 from Vancouver, it would have seen a very unusual 
 sight. A railway train had come to a standstill at this 
 spot to allow a number of gentlemen to alight, and 
 these, surrounded by a great concourse of working- 
 men, had gathered together to see one among them per- 
 form an action apparently simple and uninteresting. 
 ,» t the side of one 01' the shining rails was an iron plate 
 v-ih a hole in it, and through this hole a spike had to 
 be driven which would fasten it firmly to the wooden 
 sleeper. 
 
 Surely it was not necessary, you will say, for all 
 these gentlemen to come from a distance to do what 
 any one of the stalwart workmen could have done with 
 the greatest ease! Ah, but it was a very special spike, 
 the last of millions that had been driven in the course 
 of constructing a railway which was to join the town 
 of Montreal with the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 No bright flags waved in that lonely valley; 
 there were no trumpets to sound a fanfare of tri- 
 umph. Yet the consummation of a gigantic un- 
 dertaking was being celebrated. As the vigorous 
 blows from the hammer rang out, it did not seem 
 an exaggeration to say that they echoed through 
 the British Empire. As some one picturesquely 
 wrote at the time: — 
 
 133 
 

 
 I .:,• 
 
 ir'l'^ 
 
 m 
 
i'> 
 
Last Spike driven 
 
 The .hippcr. of Victoria. Briti.h Columbia heard 
 ««m ar.d knew that they me«.t an inc^o,^^ t'he c^ 
 mge of^erch«.di«^ through their town to Ld fmm 
 Japan, becauK the railway would Icuen thJIr. 
 
 away. ncarU them, too, and Icnew that thcv mranf ., 
 larger marlcct for their com and fruit ,„hT 1 ' 
 
 In Mr. Smith's own words: — 
 
 The last rail of the Pacific Railroad was about to be 
 lad^ the last sp.ke was about to be driven It was a 
 d,sma^, dreary day in the first w^ek of Ko.cnir but 
 we soon got out nto the open country, and pr-Ltb. 
 .t was one of those bright, pleaa«t, brTcing day S 
 autumn summer. There were some gentlomrn , and 
 
 try. One of them touched me on the shoulder and said 
 
 '" cattle on a thousand hills." 
 Ue soon got from the mountains to the prairie sec- 
 
 To the station adjacent to the spot was given the 
 of Mr. Smith s ancestors on both sides of the family 
 
 ' Sir William Van Home writM- "Tk. •• , .„ 
 .- bac. .0 the i'^«.^^JT^.^^Z:'J-^fS-J^, 
 
 "3 
 
 
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 t 1 
 
 I •:» 
 
 I 
 
 ti i 
 
 I i m 
 
liii 
 
 rf 
 
 ' 'if 
 
 IM 
 
 i' ' 
 
 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 On the return journey of the partv which had 
 assisted at the foregoing interesting ceremony, Mr. 
 Smith announced his intention of giving an enter- 
 tainment in honour of the event at "Silver Heights." 
 As his residence was several miles distant from 
 Winnipeg, Mr. Van Home had previously con- 
 ceived the happy idea of giving Mr. Smith a sur- 
 prise by having a short branch line constructed 
 from thence to the town. The work offered no 
 great difficulty; there were a large number of light 
 rails and sleepers, left over from the work, close at 
 hand. He gave the necessary orders and in a week 
 or so it was completed. 
 
 On the morning in question [writes one who was 
 present], our train (containing the party, including IV r. 
 Sandford Fleming) approached Winnipeg. We were ai' 
 engaged in conversation, and Mr. Smith apparently 
 did not notice that the engine driver had reversed the 
 engine. At last he looked out of the window. 
 
 "Why, we are backing up," he said ; and then, " Now, 
 there's a very neat place. I don't remember seeing 
 that farm before. And those cattle — why, who is it 
 that has Aberdeen cattle like that? I thought I was 
 
 bers of the syndicate wrote Mr. Stephen, pointing out they were all 
 now fortunately situated and in going into the Canadian Pacific 
 enterprise they might be only courting trouble for their old age, and 
 urging that they ought to think twice before committing themselves 
 irrevocably. To this Stephen answered in one word, 'Craigellachie' 
 — which appealed to the patriotism of his associates, and not another 
 doubt was expressed. It was a reference to the familiar lines, 'Not 
 until Craigellachie shall move from his firm l)a8e, etc' I heard of 
 this when I first became connected with the company, and was much 
 impressed by it, and determined that if I were still with the company 
 when the last rail should be laid, the spot should be marlced by a 
 station to be named 'Craigellachie.' " 
 124 
 
 »! m 
 
The First Through Train 
 
 the only one. This is really very strange." Suddenly 
 the house came mto view. ■ .Vhy, gentlemen, I must 
 be gomg crazy. IVe lived here many year; and I 
 Heights •" ^°'''" •''^'^ "" "'^"'y like 'Silver 
 "Silver Heights," called the conductor. The car 
 stopped and some of us began to betray our enjoyment 
 of the joke. After another glance outside he began to 
 laugh too. I never saw him so delighted. 
 
 Before nightfall a telegram arrived from the 
 Queen, through the Governor-General, Lord Lans- 
 downe, graciously congratulating the Canadian 
 people on the national achievement, which Her 
 Majesty was well advised in regarding as "of great 
 importance to the whole British Empire." 
 
 On the 28th of June, 1886, the first through train 
 over the completed Pacific Railway left Dalhousie 
 Square Station, Montreal, on its long pilgrimage 
 of 2905 miles through the meadows, primeval 
 wlderness, fertile prairies, and the lofty mountains 
 of the broad Dominion to Port Moody on the west- 
 ern coast. The event was too important for the 
 city of Montreal for her citizens to permit it to go 
 unnoticed. At eight o'clock on this summer night 
 the ten cars and engine, which comprised the first 
 through train, started on its journey amidst loud 
 cheers and the booming of the guns of the field 
 battery which fired a parting salute as the historic 
 train departed from the densely thronged station. 
 This great national work, the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway [declared Sir Donald Smith], has consolidated 
 125 
 
 •IS', ,; 
 
 ' 1 
 
 ; \ 
 
 ■J'ttfl 
 
 Jl:! ffi, 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 the union of the Dominion; it has stimulated trade in 
 the East, it has opened up the West; it has brought the 
 rich agricultural lands of the prairies and the mineral 
 wealth of the Pacific Slope within the reach of all; it 
 has given Canada outlets both on the Atlantic and 
 the Pacific, and has provided a new Imperial highway 
 from the United Kingdom to Australasia and China 
 and Japan. 
 
 The departure of this first train marked the con- 
 summation of that union of the British Dominions 
 on this continent which was inaugurated on the 
 1st of July, 1867, and is second only in importance 
 to the confederation of the four provinces that that 
 day joined their interests and fate in a bond not tc 
 be dissolved while Great Britain maintains her su- 
 premacy over the northern portion of the new world. 
 
 Said the Montreal Gazette: — 
 
 The Pacific Railway is truly called a nation at work. 
 The people of Canada gave freely of their wealth to 
 secure its construction; they watched its progress 
 through all the vicissitudes that befell it, under the 
 care of three Governments, and lastly in the hands of 
 the company whose courage and energy have carried 
 it through to completion. They have just right to 
 be proud of their achievement. For it is peculiarly a 
 Canadian work. Canadians conceived it, designed it, 
 built it, and almost unaided provided the money to 
 defray its cost, and they will now, it is hoped, enter 
 upon the enjoyment of the fruits of their courage and 
 hopefulness. But the road is more than national; the 
 future is big with promise that it will soon be known as 
 a great Imperial trade route, serving to bind together 
 136 
 
The Queen's Interest 
 
 d^r for mutual benefit, the interests of the Mother 
 Country, not alone with Canada, but as well with 
 hose far-off antipodean colonists who are buTd 1^5 
 n Australia as we are in North America, young na^ 
 
 t onL' H^": Zf" 'u' '"'"' °f ^"^^'P"- and'^conftitu- 
 t.onaI hberty that has made England the first among 
 the commercial powers of the world. 
 
 ,ni!-h°"^°^ *^ '**' ^''' ^'^"'P''^ Chapleau's 
 speeches, during a critical time in the railway's 
 history, there is an eloquent passage which well 
 
 Hr^f^om^morir'-"^-''^^^ ---"«> 
 
 Sir, the calumnies of those who want to vilify the 
 Government, and who desire to destroy the credit of 
 the country, of those who want to destroy th™! 
 work of the Canadian Pacific Railway, wHI te S^o 
 miL They will be like loose winds, b.owTng ^^d and 
 ™oke and carrying dark things with thfm. T^r 
 dark Ideas and their dark thoughts, everything that 
 B dark in their hearts, which is bIo;n and breathed 
 
 a«amst us and against this enterprise, will not dTmore 
 than those winds which cannot destroy the mon^ 
 ment, of the old world. They may give a d^kerXde 
 the granite and the marble, but the solidity of the 
 pyramids and of the great monuments of Euro,^ w^U 
 
 If these winds had not passed over it. 
 
 Front the Marquess of Lome 
 
 The Queen has been most deeply interested in th» 
 
 account which I have given her of^L bu'S o "oSr 
 
 mt railway, the difficulties which it -^HZd 
 
 >a7 
 
 I »^ 
 
 ■I 
 
 
 '■.lit., 
 
 ♦if* ' 
 
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 L 
 
ii ;' 
 
 ;. ill' 
 
 'Pt|; 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 which have been so wonderfully surmounted. Not one 
 Englishman in a thousand realizes what those difficul- 
 ties were ; but now that the great Dominion has been 
 penetrated by this indestructible artery of steel, the 
 thoughts and purposes of her people, as well as her 
 commerce, will flow in an increasing current, to and 
 fro, sending a healthful glow to all the members. The 
 Princess and I are looking forward to a journey one 
 day to the far and fair Pacific. 
 
 Already the Queen had signified her sense of the 
 great Imperial service rendered by the promoters 
 of the railway. Upon the president was bestowed 
 the dignity of a baronetcy and later, on May 26, 
 1886, Mr. Smith was nominated a Knight Com- 
 mander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. 
 
 To Miss Mactavish 
 
 1 157 DOKCHESTER St., MoNTKEjO, 
 
 4th March, 1886. 
 
 You will, of course, have seen that Mr. Stephen has 
 been made a baronet, and he is well deserving of any 
 honour he would care to accept, although, perhaps, 
 hereditary honours are out of place in Canada; but 
 then he is at least as much an English resident as 
 Canadian. 
 
 There has, indeed, been a great upturning in political 
 circles since I last saw you and the uncertainty is evi- 
 dently as great as ever. Gladstone and some of his 
 friends appear, however, to be ready to make any con- 
 cession, so long as he may thereby retain place and 
 power. 
 
 128 
 
First Japanese Cargo 
 
 Empire going hL^dT^'" from every part of the 
 industry and irveT^^'"^ *^' '^""'^'^ ^^ich by 
 NWst. E:X SradeTthf" '"^"^ 
 
 the -^Pem-n^t^^X" Vi^Kra^t^^ '■ ^^^ 
 so prepared that no invidio!f,?!f ■ ^^^ ""«^''* "^ 
 sibly be made to ^e deWme^tTtT'r ""'' '"^ 
 mention, as one instant n^f '■*''"'^>'- ' ""ay 
 
 to in th; future from ?hp^^"'""y'°°'^^°'^^d 
 
 ti^versed by the rXav thri'T""!."/ *''^ ^""t'y 
 president, Mr. V^ fc ^f ' u"^*^ ^^""^ '''^ v'«- 
 had left o; wi aSuf Xve Y^l'? ''"' ^-''^ ^ ^"'P 
 of teas for Vancouver a^dthlr^K^ '""' ^ '=^'«° 
 carried over the Canadi^^pIdfi'S '''' "^ '° "^ 
 er«l not only in Montre^. 0«awa^ndT ""'^ 'f "' 
 m St. Paul, Chicago. New York I^ f^ J"™"'"' ^"' 
 States. This shipment loSdkT , '* ^"^'="'' 
 
 hundr^carloadsLdtXta'teTsuiS °"^ 
 .en™ of the trade whic* we 7x^2^^^; 
 
 f-tisrco^rritj ^r "hTr ^-^^ '-- 
 
 not be so prosDem,,« =^?v,- ' ^ '^'"'^ '"'««ess may 
 it to be s't nTeX'i7°7^"t as we would wish 
 
 business of MontrTa, aTd j r'T"T'' *''^* '^' 
 'a^e, and that ™the 2,. ffi^- ^ ^'" '''^'^'^y «" 
 
 139 
 
 '' I 
 
 t ^ " 
 
 if 
 
 !j f >■% 
 
 m 
 
 '■if ' 
 
 I ', ' Him' 
 
 m^ 
 
 ■ m 
 
I 
 
 li:!^ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 Before the meeting closed Mr. Crawford said: - 
 I believe I voice the sentiments of the shareholders 
 present in tendering our sincere congratulations to the 
 vice-president of the bank. Sir Donald A. Smith, for 
 the mark of distinction which Her Gracious Majesty 
 has been pleased to confer upon him. an honour which 
 I trust he may long be spared to enjoy, and also to 
 adorn. It is a fitting complement to the distinction 
 conferred upon his colle£«ue, Sir George Stephen. 
 
 Less than twenty years later' Lord Strathcona, 
 in opening the new and palatial London offices 
 of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, took 
 occasion to tell the distinguished audience then 
 assembled: — 
 
 Thirty-five years ago there were not. perhaps, five 
 people in Canada who thought there could ever be a 
 railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in the Domin- 
 ion, round the north of Lake Superior. However, the 
 Government were determined, and entered into a con- 
 tract with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. 
 That was in 1880 and the Company had ten years to 
 complete the line, but it was generally considered that 
 quite another ten years would be required. The road, 
 however was completed on November 7, 1885, and in 
 1886 was opened for through traffic. The resulting 
 benefits to Canada have been very great. Previously 
 there had been no means of going to North-W^3t Can- 
 ada except by the United States, but now it was possi- 
 ble to travel from Montreal to Winnipeg m tw ^ys 
 and to British Columbia - that was to Vancouver - 
 in four and a half days - a very great change, mdeed! 
 ' January, IQO*- 
 130 
 
Sir Charles Tuppcr's Tribute 
 
 the wheels of the SL^L^s"^- To If^^ "^"''^ '°' 
 
 SUC.SS. No,on.,didrir.£t„^ rsfjXS 
 the Pacific, but in connection with it the Emp/ess Hn^ 
 
 Australia. In good tiL'^oSc^t alu'rCr 
 When the railwa/wls W.^ ^h ^° °" '"'^'^^''"8- 
 
 stsro?rj„r.°" "■°- *"- - -d^e<i 
 
 unnL^'^* ^*^P''^" ""^^ *^ ^'^t"^ head of the 
 
 £ ^ -^^ c^ P'^y*^- At the same time few 
 ^.butes pa.d to Sir Donald Smith were morjusr 
 
 who^ presaence foresaw and whose strong hand 
 
 above all o.here'- hewelfkn^^^Lh/J 'J'^'^" ''™ "«^- S"'i«l') 
 
 accepting a oresentation ;i I ^ ■ ""*™ ""•" ''a* d"e. In 
 •hesewofds: 'ST^n™ Wo"""." '" Np^-^ber, .907. he useS 
 
 '0 have carried it thro«h hZ ^ '""''<',^ave been impossible 
 (Sir William Pete™>™ ) ^'^^ ** "'^ *" '" I*''"' acc""!-' " 
 
 131 
 
 •' 1 
 
 ; f 
 
 / ' 
 
 [•'\ 
 
 id 
 I , . n i, . 
 
pf 
 
 r 
 
 u 
 
 1 
 
 ,(', 
 
 'i; 
 
 5 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 educed and promoted this great national project, 
 than that uttered by Sir Charles Tupper in 1897 : — 
 
 The Canadian Pacific Railway would have no exist- 
 ence to-day. notwithstanding all that the Government 
 did to support that undertaking, had it not been for 
 the indomitable pluck and ener^' and determination, 
 I oth financially and in every other respect, of Sir 
 Donald Smith. 
 
 Amongst those snow-capped mountains two lofty 
 summits bear the names of these two Morayshire 
 kinsmen. As long as the earth's surface remains 
 unaltered and our language and traditions survive, 
 Mount Stephen, on the one hand, and Mount Sir 
 Donald on the other, will rear their heights heaven- 
 ward, to commemorate one of the greatest achieve- 
 ments of patriotism, industry, and engineering since 
 the days of the Roman Caesars.' 
 
 NOTE TO CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 Alluding to the increased prosperity of Canada in 
 fifteen years, Sir Richard Cartwright, late Minister of 
 Trade and Commerce, stated that in 1896 Canadian Pa- 
 cific Railway stock, "which is now near $300 per share, 
 
 ^ "The conception of a transcontinental railway was a magnificent 
 act of faitfl on the part of the Canadian Dominion. The Dominion 
 contains a population of under five millions of people, and its area 
 consists of nearly three and a half millions of square miles. Such a 
 population, inhabiting so vast a territory, has manifested so profound 
 a faith in its own future that it has conceived and executed within a 
 few years a work which, a generation ago, might well have appalled 
 the wealthiest and most powerful of nations. It is a material mani- 
 festation of the growing solidity of the Empire, and a proof of the 
 invincible energy of the Canadian subjects of the British Crown." 
 {Canada and the Canadian Pacific Raiimiy.) 
 
 13a 
 
i\ 
 
 i t t 
 
 
 14 
 
 »';i 
 
 ^IihI^ 
 
 jf /(I 
 
Canada's Development 
 
 WM selling at $50." In other words, the whole common 
 stock of the Canadian Pacific Railway was woi th at 
 current market price $33,000,000 in 1896. It is now 
 worth over $500,000,000. The total number of home- 
 stead entries in the North-West was in that year 
 1300 as against an average for the last few years of 
 30,000 and 40,000. Take the volume of trade and com- 
 merce for the Dominion. In 1874 this had touched 
 $217,000,000. In 1896, with an increased population 
 of 1,000,000, it was barely $239,000,000, being a con- 
 siderable reduction per capita, and a total growth in 
 twenty-two years of just $1,000,000 a year; and in 
 1911-13 it was over $650,000,000. 
 
 
 '■i,'!] 
 
 
 .in 
 
 
 
 l^h 
 

 'kfl 
 
 I 'i 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THB MANITOBA SCHOOLS QUESTIOH 
 1886-1896 
 
 For five years Sir Donald had ceased to be a 
 member of Parliament. His prestige throughout 
 the country following the triumphant completion 
 of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and his reconcil- 
 iation with Sir John Macdonald, made it highly 
 probable that before the next general election, he 
 would be offered a nomination in some constitu- 
 ency. The long-wished-for reconciliation with Sir 
 John had been brought about in the simplest 
 and most natural manner. Mr. George Stephen, 
 calling upon Sir John at his hotel in London, was 
 accompanied by Mr. Smith. The visit was un- 
 premeditated. They sliook hands cordially; there 
 was no embarrassment, no allusion, tacit or overt, 
 to what had passed — the conversation was pur- 
 sued aa naturally as if they had met but yesterday 
 and a schism had not yawned between them for 
 more than a decade. The healing of the brrach 
 between the two statesmen was complete, and I 
 have the high authority of Sir Joseph Pope for 
 stating that never thereafter, in public or private, 
 by word, look, or gesture, did Sir John reveal any 
 but the frankest and most unclouded cordiality for 
 the former member for Selkirk.' 
 
 • I am indebted to a friend for the following interesting incident 
 134 
 
A Winnipeg Deputation 
 .Vinnipcg waa not long in expressing a desire for 
 Mr. Smith's parliamentary services. A deputation 
 from that city waited upon him in Montreal toward 
 the close of 1886 wud besought him in the most 
 flattering terms to become the candidate. 
 
 I told them that while fully alive to the compliment 
 they paid me, and much as I felt drawn to a constitu- 
 ency full for me of pleasant associations, I was not 
 eager to return to political life and that, as the matter 
 had taken me by surprise, I must have time for consid- 
 eration. 
 
 It was then that a close friend and neighbor, Mr. 
 James A. Cantlie,' observed: — 
 
 If you really again contemplate Parliament, why go 
 so far afield as Winnipeg for a seat? There will shortly 
 
 illintrating the relationship between the two men. A private bill, 
 inimical to -lie Canadian Pacific Railway, waa impending. Acfim- 
 panicH jyoneof his colleaguet, Mr. Smith, late one evening, wasduly 
 ush'.red into Sir John's study. There was a small desk in one corner 
 tdfore which the Prime Minister, after a dignified greeting, seated 
 himself. Mr. Smith recapitulated the situation, then rising he began 
 to approach the front or back of the desk, facing Sir John, uttering 
 a pregnant sentence with each step forward. "You see. Sir John, 
 this thing cannot be. It must not be. Sir John. It must not, it reoU)! 
 must not be." Raising his voice, he reached the desk and leaned over 
 it, shaking an ominous forefinger, while the Prime Minister shrank 
 back, "I tell you. Sir John, it MUST NOT BE !" 
 
 Sir John's expression relaxed. "Come, come, Mr. Smith," he said 
 with a smile, "I never said it would, could, or should be. Pray sit 
 down." He then explained that the Government had no intention of 
 giving any unfair advantage to a rival road, and after having fur- 
 nished the fullest assurances on this head, shook hands with his 
 visitors and accompanied them, good-humour«ily, in the "wee, sma' 
 hours," to the door. 
 
 ' One of I lie most respected citizens of Montreal, and brother-in- 
 law to Lord Mount Stephen. 
 
 135 
 
 
 ' It 
 
 \ 1 
 
 '' 1 
 
 I : i 
 
 i 1? 
 
 ;^1n 
 
 rl»f 'ii* 
 ' ■ i I ■, 
 
 k 
 
}'k 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 •i 
 
 be a vacancy in Montreal West - I can assure you of 
 a triumphant return. 
 
 No decision had been reached when Sir Donald 
 left for England, but it scarcely came as a surprise 
 when in London, at the close of 1886, a cablegram 
 reached him from the chairman of the local Con- 
 servative Association, advising him of such nomi- 
 nation. He instantly replied: — 
 
 I appreciate the honour of nomination and accept it, 
 if electors are satisfied with my assurance that as an 
 independent member, uninfluenced by any other con- 
 siderations than those having in view the best mterests 
 of our common country, I will, if elected, use every 
 effort to further the material progress of the Domm- 
 ion, and to promote the prosperity of the City of Mon- 
 treal. 
 
 To Miss Mactavish 
 
 Brown's Hotel, London, 
 3d January, 1887. 
 
 Although there is nothing much the matter with mc, 
 I have not been able to be out of the hotel for more 
 than three hours altogether since my arrival here on 
 Sunday of last week. Sir Andrew Clark, however, tells 
 me there is nothing organic and that I may expect to 
 be "all right" again very soon. 
 
 Lord Randolph Churchill's escapade has, mdeed, 
 the appearance of an extraordinary freak, and yet, of 
 course, we do not know all the particulars as they affect 
 both sides. Still, to have abandoned his colleagues at 
 such a moment hardly appears capable of being justi- 
 fied. Let us hope the accession to the Ministry of Mr. 
 Goschen will make up for the loss of the other. 
 136 
 
 J? .;i| 
 
Accepts Montreal Nomination 
 
 Although I do not go out, Sir George Stephen and 
 some other friends occasionally spend part of the even- 
 ing with me: so that I am not left absolutely alone. 
 
 Afterwards in February, addressing the electors 
 in Montreal, he told them he did not intend to make 
 any explicit statement of his political principles: — 
 
 I was an active politician of the time when the good 
 old custom — if it were a good old custom — was in 
 vogue of verbal nominations, when each candidate 
 spoke about the other, and sometimes when he did not 
 spare his opponent's feelings. But since you have been 
 so very good to meet here on this occasion to reaffirm 
 your approval i)f my nomination as your candidate for 
 the Western division of Montreal, I must tell you that 
 it is very gratifying to me, indeed, and that I value 
 very highly the good opinions of the gentlemen whom 
 1 see before me, as well as of many others who, I am 
 informed, look favourably on my nomination. 
 
 I am disposed to judge of measures more than of 
 men. At the same time, if a Government may have 
 made some blunders, I am not disposed to oppose them 
 because of this. We know that success depends not on 
 absolute perfection, but that with individuals as with 
 governments, to make fewest mistakes is the criterion 
 of success. I will not be disposed to denounce the whole 
 policy of a Government because of this measure or of 
 that measure, provided it be not one of principle and 
 one calculated to be injurious to the community and 
 the Dominion at large. I come forward as an inde- 
 pendent candidate, prepared to give my support to 
 what I believe is in the interests of my constituents 
 and of vital interest to the Dominion. 
 
 There was, however [he continued], one great ques- 
 137 
 
 t I'. lit, I 
 
 
 \i 
 
If 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 tion affecting the country upon which he hoped senti- 
 ment was united. 
 
 I shall do everything in my power that may be re- 
 quired in forwarding the interests of the Dominion in 
 respect to what is known as the National Policy and I 
 shall encourage that due and proper protection which 
 is necessary for the industries of a new country. 
 
 We are not usually given to boasting in Canada. 
 We know, and we are not ashamed to own, that we are 
 a smaller and poorer people at this very moment than 
 those on the other side of the line. While they maintain 
 high protective tariffs, if we allowed everything to 
 come in here just as they should like, we all know what 
 would very soon become of Canada. We must judge 
 facts by the circumstances of the moment, and of the 
 place; while free trade may be very good for England, 
 and while I might support it there with certain modifi- 
 cations, I should be very sorry to see it introduced in 
 this country and would oppose its adoption. I do not 
 mean that duties should become so onerous as to mili- 
 tate against the material interests of one class or the 
 other. The National Policy is for the benefit of all. 
 We know that if you have not manufactories and if 
 you have not the means of giving work to the people 
 of the country, you cannot have prosperity and prog- 
 ress. While we may have articles at a low price, yet, 
 if wages were also very low, the workman would lack 
 the means of purchasing them. Simply to be able to 
 purchase at a low price, with wages also exceptionally 
 low, would be no advantage to the people. But we 
 know, on the contrary, that the effect of protection 
 has been materially to increase the demand for labour 
 and raise the wages of the workman, without adding 
 to the costs of the necessaries of life. If you have not 
 
 138 
 
Advocates Technical Education 
 yourmdustries "in full blast." you can have no pros- 
 He had become an earnest advocate of technical 
 education, a field of effort which he afterward left to 
 his friend, Sir William Macdonald. 
 
 There is one reform which I think should be intro- 
 
 ul '"'^ 't'^"''' "' "= *° ^"^•''^ °"' employerf^ 
 abour and those whom they employ to compete with 
 the other p^ple of other countries. I think we should 
 all -manufacturers and workmen alike -put our 
 shoulder to the wheel and endeavour to have estab- 
 hshed technical and trade schools, which wou td^ S 
 immense advantage to the great mass of the people. We 
 all know that occasionally there is a slightTuspicb^ 
 thrown on the sincerity of promises made during^ 
 
 make too many promises, but this I believe to be a 
 benefit to the country, upon which men o all sha^^ 
 of politics can join. snaaes 
 
 I am proud to find gentlemen who have met to- 
 ge her not because they belong strictly to one sMe of 
 politics or to the other, but that notwithstanding they 
 haveviewson certain matters different fn,m each other 
 
 shall be my first effort always to show that their confi! 
 dencehasnotbeen misplaced, and if returned to P^Ha- 
 ment by your suffrages, I shall, as long as I represent 
 you, do my utmost to promote your interests 
 
 On another occasion he said: — 
 
 In connection with the condition of working-men I 
 
 Posal, at the public cost, as would enable them by 
 139 
 
 i ( 
 
 ■A 
 
 'ill t 
 
 
 m 
 
 mi 
 
 ■r'k 
 
 !-; L 
 
I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 technical education to become the most skilled arti- 
 sans. This is not a new idea of mine. I have for years 
 past advocated technical education in Canada, to en- 
 able our working-men to compete with those of other 
 countries where the system is in operation. France was 
 the first to introduce it, and soon the working-men of 
 France became more skilful in artistic work than those 
 of England, and England had to follow the example of 
 the French. Would it not be a grand thing for us to 
 say of any artistic piece of workmanship, "That was 
 made in Canada"? 
 
 Sir Donald went on to touch on the subject of 
 " temperance " which was even then " a vital and 
 burning question." He was no bigot himself, and 
 discouraged it in others. 
 
 I am not afraid to speak on the subject of tem- 
 perance here or anywhere. I have been temperate 
 throughout all my life. I have taken a glass of cham- 
 pagne, or a glass of some other wine; but I have never 
 taken too much. I may even have enjoyed a glass of 
 liquor, but I always allow my friends who think other- 
 wise to do according to their will. I respect no man 
 better whether he abstain altogether or whether he 
 drink in strict moderation. I shall always be in favour 
 of laws that can advanc- the cause of true temperance 
 in the country. 
 
 As the campaign proceeded he addressed many 
 meetings. Thus, early in February, he dealt with 
 the tariff question : — 
 
 We are all fighting in a good cause — the industries 
 of this country of ours. The question is not a party 
 matter, but one which men of all parties can join 
 140 
 
Protection vs. Free-Trade 
 
 heartily in, which they cannot do if the issue be 
 narrowed down to a mere party question. It cannot 
 be denied that a new country cannot hold its own 
 against a rich and powerful neighbour, fully equipped 
 with the best methods, appliances, and machinery, and 
 a hundredfold more wealthy, unless that new country 
 protects its industries and thus protects itself. It is 
 entirely different in England and Europe, which for 
 hundreds of years have controlled the commerce and 
 markets of the world, and have been so long estab- 
 lished that they fear no competition. England had 
 established "free trade" and for years had maintained 
 it against the nations of the world, but even in Eng- 
 land they are beginning to realize that it is not 
 perfect. The other nations did not come to meet them, 
 and to-day there is a strong feeling throughout the 
 land that " fair trade " would be more equitable to the 
 whole people. As a nation, Canada does not want 
 undue protection, but on such goods as can be pro- 
 duced in the country the duty should lie. As regards 
 luxuries, he was of the opinion that taxation on them 
 was highly justifiable. He spoke of the excellent native 
 wines produced in this country, and thought if we had 
 to pay a heavier duty upon imported champagnes, we 
 might, perhaps, produce these native wines of a better 
 quality. Many persons may be found who would say 
 that increased duties mean an increase in price, but 
 this was erroneous. It had been proved, and most con- 
 clusively proved that the very opposite is the case 
 when properly protected native industry can supply 
 what is required more cheaply than outsiders. As a 
 matter of vital interest to farmers, he instanced the 
 article of land plaster, which a few years ago was 
 entirely imported, and to-day it was manufactured in 
 
 141 
 
 . ■■I. 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 
 il'' 
 
 
 Hi''' 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 li: 
 
 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Canada and sold cheaper now than ever before. While 
 the farmers got the article cheaper, the workmen now 
 received from $1.40 per day, whileunderthe Mackenzie 
 regime they worked for 90 cents and Si. With clear 
 consciences the electors of this great Dominion might 
 all use their best efforts and work together to "let well 
 enoagh alone." 
 
 It must be, of course, understood that the present 
 Government are progressive enough to introduce any 
 measure that will tend to the improvement and ad- 
 vancement of the country. We are all agreed as to the 
 necessity that exists for protection, and that those en- 
 gaged in our industries should be put in a position to 
 compete successfully with the manufacturers of other 
 countries. To do this, mechanics and others should 
 receive the advantages of all available technical knowl- 
 edge, not merely the "three R's," but a thorough 
 practical knowledge which will fit them to take the best 
 places in their sphere of life. It is the workman of 
 to-day who is being fitted to become the employer of 
 the future. If elected I will do all in my power to put 
 within his reach all such knowledge as would assist 
 him in being worthy the confidence of the people. 
 
 Coming down to the city of Montreal, there are sub- 
 jects of the deepest and gravest importance, notably 
 the deepening of the harbour. It remains with our- 
 selves, the citizens, to make Montreal not only the 
 second to no city in Canada, but second to none on the 
 Continent. Such works as these are not of merely mu- 
 nicipal character, but are of benefit to all other places 
 in the Dominion, and as a city we now have a right to 
 insist that the expense shall no longer be borne by 
 us, but shall be taken up by the Dominion, as the 
 Dominion at large thereby benefits. 
 
 143 
 
The "National Policy" 
 
 He had to dwell frequently upon the so-called 
 National Policy":— 
 
 We all know that for some eight years back, we have 
 had a measure of prosperity in Canada which was ab- 
 sent for many years before. We know and we appre- 
 date that this in a very great measure is owing to the 
 proper protection which has been given to the indus- 
 tries of Canada by the Conservative Government. 
 This protection was necessary to make Canada a great 
 nation. If we had not the National Policy, Canada 
 would have been swamped by the importation of goods 
 from the United States and elsewhere, and we would 
 neither have manufacturers in the country nor employ- 
 ment for our people. Therefore it is that I believe we 
 should maintain the position which we now hold and 
 which I shall endeavour to do so far as it lies in my 
 power. I feel that in voting for the supporters of the 
 National Policy you will be supporting your own inter- 
 ests. 
 
 In one of his speeches he told how, when return- 
 ing on the steamer to New York, he met an Ameri- 
 can gentleman. The talk turned on the National 
 Policy in Canada, and his acquaintance, being 
 an extensive manufacturer, took some interest in 
 the question, holding that, before the National 
 Policy was introduced in Canada, he was doing a 
 fine trade, but since Canadians learned to make 
 their own goods for their own markets, and to pro- 
 tect their native industries, he could not sell in 
 Canada at all. 
 
 ^ The question for working-men and manufacturers is, 
 
 "Do you want to return to lower wages and to lower 
 
 143 
 
 I I 
 
 r • * 
 
 
 j 
 
 I 
 
 f I . 
 
 .,ri 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 prices for the necessaries of life?" as was the case dur- 
 ing the Liberal Administration, or, "Do you wish to 
 remain happy and prosperous and progressive as you 
 are at present?" The course for the constituencies is 
 to support the National Policy candidates, to keep 
 things as they are, and to make them as much better 
 as we can. One of the largest woollen manufactories 
 in the Dominion wrote me how the National Policy 
 affectetl their factory in Sherbrooke. Before the intro- 
 duction of the National Policy, the wages paid to em- 
 ployees were $80,000, and for the seven years since, 
 the wages were more than fifty per cent beyond this. 
 During the se^ n years of the National Policy they 
 had paid $240,000 more to those employed in their 
 factories than they did before there was protection for 
 the industry. As is the case with one factory, so it is 
 all over Canada, and as our population and industries 
 grow, the necessity for this policy on the part of the 
 Government will become all the more impeiative if our 
 country is to prosper. I have no doubt that you, the 
 electors, will see the necessity for sustaining the Gov- 
 ernment in this policy, and that you wUl give a hearty 
 and generous support to the candidates who are pledged 
 to advocate it. 
 
 On previous occasions, as now, I have stood before 
 many French Canadians, and am proud to say I always 
 have had their support. I have, indeed, had m the past 
 a very warm support from my French Canadian coun- 
 trymen, and I believe I will have their support, too, in 
 the present contest. It is not my own battle I am 
 fighting, because there is nothing that can benefit me 
 that will not benefit you, and if elected, as I have every 
 confidence I shall be, I will do all in my power to for- 
 waril *he interests of my constituents. 
 
 144 
 
 II: 
 
Returned for Montreal 
 
 Speaking of the customs regulations, Sir Donald 
 remarked : — 
 
 Unquestionably it is absolutely necessary that the 
 customs laws should be enforced with as little incon- 
 venience as possible to the merchants, having regard 
 to the due collection of the duties. There can be no 
 necessity or excuse for a friction between merchants 
 and importers with the law properly laid down, and 
 no difficulty should arise with officers who know and 
 discharge their duties faithfully, and at the same time 
 with civility and courteousness to merchants. I con- 
 sider it the duty of a representative of an important 
 commercial community like this to see that the laws 
 are satisfactorily enforced, and I shall certainly make 
 it my duty to see to this when, as I believe, you will 
 elect me as your member. 
 
 On the 23d of February the election took place, 
 and he was triumphantly returned. In the course 
 of a speech on that day, he said: — 
 
 The employer and the employee, both alike, were 
 bent upon protecting the great interests of this great 
 country. Having honoured him with their confidence, 
 he trusted that he would be able to prove to them that 
 that confidence was not misplaced. It was the duty of 
 all to work together to support the National Policy. 
 It was that policy which made Canada what she is, 
 and the people of Montreal had declared that there 
 should be no retrograding, no going back to an era of 
 depression and soup kitchens. For himself he would 
 prefer to have a little leisure, but there are times when 
 tor the public good a man must not study his own 
 convenience. Anything he could do in the interests of 
 domestic manufactures and of the country at large 
 145 
 
 'hi ' 
 
 r; 
 
 
 :0i\:i' 
 
hi 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 should be cheerfully done. If we did not take care of 
 ourselves, no one else would. Canada shall be no 
 "slaughter market" for the United State., and while 
 we are all prepared to go in heartily for Reaprocity, 
 we want no one-sided arrangement. 
 
 A banquet was given in honour of the new mem- 
 ber in the following month. Replying to the toast 
 of his health, he said: — 
 
 Having spent fifty years of my life in Canada, I also 
 can claim to be a Canadian. And while calling your- 
 selves Canadians you can also rejoice in the rejoicing 
 of the Mother Country, and that you will have this 
 year an opportunity of celebrating the Jubilee of Her 
 Majesty. We have cause to be satisfied that we have 
 been under the beneficent reign of that Queen and that 
 no part of the world has progressed more dunng those 
 fiftyyears than Canada. With all the facilities we at 
 presentenjoy forcoming together, with the railway, the 
 telegraph, and the telephone facilities, where those two 
 thousand miles away are brought nearer together thai. 
 was Montreal and Ottawa thirty years ago, what will 
 this country be thirty years hence, if we are true to 
 ourselves? 
 
 Jointly with his cousin, Lord Mount Stephen, he 
 set apart one million dollars to erect a great 
 hospital in Montreal to commemorate the Queen s 
 Jubilee. Later, when the building had been erected 
 on the side of Mount Royal, they gave equally in 
 the sum of $800,000 to endow the institution. 
 There could be no finer site for a hospital, over- 
 looking, as it does, the whole city of Montreal and 
 the valley of the St. Lawrence. Behind rises the 
 1^ 
 
Royal Victoria College 
 mountain, terraced with sylvan retreats; beiorc lie 
 the squares and steeples, and the glittering river; 
 and beyond that, on the south shore, the open 
 country, with here and there a domed mountain. 
 At intervals a town or village is visible or the mttal- 
 cased steeple of a parish church that flashes like a 
 poniard in the sun. 
 
 This hospital, the Royal Victoria, is one of the 
 best equipped institutions on the continent. Mod- 
 ern science was drawn upon to furnish it ade- 
 quately, and by reason of its large endowment it 
 has since kept pace with the newest discoveries and 
 inventions. 
 
 But this was not the only institution which was 
 to bear the name of Victoria. He had long ere this 
 had his thoughts directed toward educational plans 
 and problems and was a liberal patron of McGill 
 University. In October, 1886, an endowment was 
 created in aid of the higher education of women, 
 amounting to $120,000, which sum was to be de- 
 voted to provide a collegiate education for women 
 in the manner and form and for the time being as 
 declared in the deed evidencing such endowment. 
 By that deed it was also provided that in the event 
 of the donor, by himself or in conjunction with 
 others, taking further steps for extending the en- 
 dowment and obtaining an act of incorporation 
 for a college for the purpose named, the donation 
 should be transferred to the college. A year or two 
 later Sir Donald communicated his intention to 
 found an endowment for a college, with a pre- 
 paratory school or branch to be established in 
 147 
 
 ■■•a I , 
 
 til, 
 I 
 
 '* . I 
 
1,1 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Winnipeg or "at such other point or point* in the 
 Province of Manitoba or the North-We»t Terri- 
 tories, or in British Columbia, as shall hereafter be 
 determined." An act of incorporation was obtained 
 from Parliament, of the Royal Victoria Collcgf. 
 The completion of this scheme was, as we shall see, 
 deferred for some years. 
 
 In February, 1888, his only daughter, Margaret 
 Charlotte, married Mr. Robert Jared Bliss Howard, 
 of Montreal, son of the Dean of the Faculty of 
 Medicine at McGill University. Three years later 
 Sir Donald's first grandson, Donald Sterling 
 Palmer, the present heir to the barony, was born.' 
 
 On November i, 1889, Sir Donald was in- 
 augurated Chancellor of McGill. The ceremony 
 took place in the William Molson Hall, and the 
 room was crowded with influential citizens and 
 students of both sexes. The Governors and the 
 faculty entered the room attired in their robes, and 
 were loudly cheered by the students, who rose in a 
 body to receive them. Sir Donald followed in his 
 black gown, with red hood, cap in hand, walking 
 slowly past the rows of cheering students. 
 
 The chairman introduced the new Chancellor. 
 Having alluded to the fact that Sir Donald's ex- 
 alted position, and the interest he took in the 
 cause of education, entitled him to a high place in 
 their regard, he said that in selecting Sir Donald 
 
 ' A daughter, Frances Margaret Palmer (now the Honourable 
 Mrs. Kitson), had been bom in 1889. A second grandson, Lieutenant 
 the Honourable Robert Henry Palmer Howard, bom in 1893, was 
 killed in action in May, 1915. The other children are Edith, born m 
 189;, and Arthur, born in 1896. 
 
 148 
 
MAR.^AKKr CHARLOHE. THK ..KKSKM' ,..M.V MKAn.CONV 
 
 t i 
 
 ' »■ 
 
 • 'I 
 
 i : i 
 
 'I 
 
 '(; 
 
 ri f 
 
 
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'*-' (Sj 
 
 Sn 
 we 
 
 Mi 
 
 th€ 
 
 hit) 
 
 mij 
 
 uni 
 
 ing 
 
 lie 
 
 Doi 
 
 tini 
 
 nun 
 
 Chs 
 
 I 
 
 poss 
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 were 
 forn 
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 but ; 
 teach 
 whicl 
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 aelvei 
 obser 
 great 
 facilit 
 ' Ht 
 
 moderr 
 
Chancellor of McGill 
 
 Smith as Chancellor they felt that the honour was 
 well bestowed. 
 
 The senior member of the Board of Governors, 
 Mr. Peter Redpath, then conducted Sir Donald to 
 the chair amid cheers. Mr. Redpath congratulated 
 him upon his election to an office of which any man 
 might be proud, which was the highest honour the 
 university could bestow. The Governors, in choos- 
 ing their Chancellor, had not disappointed pub- 
 he expectation, and he believed that under Sir 
 Donald s administration the university would con- 
 tmue to enjoy the prosperity which had for a 
 number of years attended it. In response the 
 Chancellor said: — 
 
 I thank you as earnestly and as sincerely as it is 
 possible for me to do for the greeting you have given 
 me. This university cannot boast of great antiquity, 
 but as Pans, Oxford, and Cambridge are the oldest in 
 
 f,"^?!?' f"'' "^^ '' ^'"^ °^^^^ i" America, so is 
 McGill the oldest in Canada. Of the great men who 
 were trained in the European schools, it is unnecessary 
 for me to speak, as it would be impossible for me to say 
 anything you do not already know regarding them- 
 but you must premise as the outcome of Harvard's' 
 teaching the standard of intellect and education ■ 
 which IS impressed on the people of Boston and New 
 England generally. Is it not also the case with our- 
 selves? Is not the desire for elegance and good taste 
 observable m our surroundings in the city owing to the 
 great intelligence which has resulted from the larger 
 facilities offered in late years for higher education; 
 'He wa. once Mked what in his opinion was the finest product of 
 modern c.vU«afon. His reply was "a well-educated American." 
 149 
 
 
 'I 
 
 iVl 
 
 If) 
 
 
 U 
 
; •( 
 
 If 
 
 1 1 
 
 !/ 
 
 V 
 
 if n 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 and that especially by McGill? Regarding those who 
 have filled the chair before me, — humbly following 
 their example, — I will endeavour to act to the best of 
 my ability, whilst it may be permitted me to fill this 
 honourable position. 
 
 We must not only continue the prosperity of the 
 university, but raise it to a higher and yet higher posi- 
 tion among schools of learning. We must still progress. 
 We have many tangible proofs of the interest taken in 
 the prosperity of the university. The liberality of the 
 friends of the institution, as we all know, has been vcr> 
 great, and the issue has been in every way satisfactory 
 in the large number of educated men and women sent 
 forth from the university. But to enable it to continue 
 and render more efficient the means for this great work, 
 the Governors are now desirous of further endow- 
 ments. Let us all do our best to provide for, if possi- 
 ble, making the college more efficient than in the past. 
 It has much to contend with at the present moment. 
 We know that we are a comparatively small minority 
 of English-speaking people in this Province, and ve 
 know that whilst McGill and its faculty of law had 
 up to quite recently the field for itself entirely, things 
 are now altogether different. Now there is another 
 faculty of law in another university. We wish them 
 God-speed ; but at the same time we do not wish that 
 McGill in this respect should take other than a fore- 
 most place. We desire that it should in no sense be 
 second to any other law school or faculty in the Domin- 
 ion. The Civil Code of Quebec is entirely different to 
 that of the other Provinces of the Dominion. There is 
 not that indufirment to those outside of Montreal or 
 this Province to come here to be instructed by thi- 
 faculty of lanr; so that it is most essential, indeed, that 
 
 ISO 
 
 nil 
 
Chancellor's Address 
 
 the auzens should give that support to the school 
 without which it cannot possibly ^ve tha^vhS 
 wh.ch .t shouW have to be in every way efficien O^ 
 this the members of the Board are so fully convinced 
 
 ha they are endeavouring to provide an endZ^ 
 for the faculty of at least one chair to begin w^TTd 
 
 hey hope to have one or two additionalXi^ Th^e 
 is also the faculty of medicine, which holds i^s heL 
 
 of Europe^nd m v.ew of the great advances made in 
 science, medicme, and surgery within the last quart " 
 of a century, I am sur* you wish th. . McGill should 
 hold ,ts own; but this will be impossible w^^out te 
 hberal a.d of those of the community 
 
 We do not mean that all is to be done to-day or to- 
 ThT; ^1' ,"•'' ^^" "^ ^•'""''l •'-'^P them fn vilw 
 ^ssible. There ,s also required, as soon as it can be 
 had an addition to the general funds of the unive^itv 
 apphcable to all professorship endowments Td for 
 college purposes. Something is also required to be 
 done for the department- for women. Some ^ us had 
 hoped that by this time there would have been such a 
 college m existence, but from certain causes it ha^not 
 been brought about. However I thinlr w , J 
 
 ^ured that before the .ad^nd^'irs XS 
 
 I hS rr"^ *° '^T. ''' •^"■'^^ they wiS Va " 
 2h„ • 13 *■ °'^"- ^^^ P^°8'^^ ^hi-^h has been 
 made m education, in the arts and sciences, Idl" 
 
 r;ve:;XS''-^^-'''''---^stirourse.ver 
 
 graduates. Uonalda, the cantatnce, was one of the 
 
 iSi 
 
 
 v!( 
 
 
 'it 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 We see how another university here, that of Laval, 
 is strengthening itself in every way. We find no fault 
 with that. There is a union of certain schools here, and 
 union we know is strength, and it is well that .11 a good 
 cause there should be union and that there should be 
 strength. But whilst we desire that they should go on 
 and prosper, we must not forget that it is our first duty 
 to look to ourselves, and it is to be hoped that each 
 of us will do his part to the best of his ability to see 
 and secure that McGill shall hold its place among the 
 schools not only of this Province, but of the Dominion 
 as one which will be able to send forth men and women 
 who will be a credit to their Alma Mater and will take 
 thiir part efficiently to advance the best interests of 
 the whole community. 
 
 On the 6th June, 1891, Sir John Macdonald 
 passed away. 
 
 i 
 
 / 
 
 -i :< 
 
 i 
 
 To the Marquess of Lome 
 
 Junegth, 1801. 
 The death of Sir John Macdonald not only removes 
 the greatest man in Canada but for whom the confed- 
 eration of these Provinces might never have been 
 achieved, but it takes away the source of patriotic 
 inspiration of our best men. I was late in entering 
 political life, but I at once, as if I had been a much 
 younger man, enrolled myself under his banner and 
 regret nothing so much as the temporary estrangement 
 which circumstances unhappily brought about. Not- 
 withstanding this, I never once ceased to hold him in 
 regard and was truly rejoiced when it became possible 
 for me to return openly to my allegiance. 
 152 
 
A Ministerial Crisis 
 As Governor-General Lord Stanley of Preston 
 
 To Sir William Butler 
 
 voured by Providence in tlie matter 1^"^"^ '^■ 
 Hpnoral T^.u: . V matter ot Oovernors- 
 
 Oeneral In tins case the fact of Lord Aberdeen's beine 
 a great favounte with Mr. Gladstone will not predU 
 pose many m his favour; but I believe he is ear^estatd 
 mdustnous and a Scotsman of rank and HneagTwhS 
 m .tself s-gnifies a great deal. Then, as I ne^ hlrdlv 
 remmd you, there is her ladyship! "^«1 hardly 
 
 In the Canadian political world affairs were 
 ^owjng troublous. Sir John Thompson's death It 
 
 tives. Both the party and the country were restive 
 under the Premiership of Sir Mackenzie Bow^ 
 andjn January, 1896, an embarrassing upheaval 
 
 Sir^M"!!^'""*^ '^""^''' '" '^'''' resignations to 
 S r Mackenzie Bowell. The truth is, the Prime 
 Mm.ster was hardly able to cope with the situation 
 and th.re was a general demand that Sir Charles 
 Tupper, who then filled the position of High Com- 
 missioner m London,be summoned back to lead the 
 .oarty. Parliament met on the 7th of the month 
 
 «hentheHonou«bleGeorgeE.FosterexpIainedtte 
 
 reasons which had induced him and his colleagues 
 
 to resign. It was "from no feeling of personal dis! 
 
 153 
 
 n' 
 
 ' t 
 
 ) ■' 
 
 VI' 
 
 ; \ 
 
 I ,' 
 
 u 
 
 
J 
 
 ! PiAU 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 like or personal ambition, but has been solely dic- 
 tated by our wish to sink all minor consideration 
 and conserve the party and the country." 
 
 In other words, the wholesale resignations were 
 to pave the way for the prorogation of a Govern- 
 ment whose Premier could not command the con- 
 fidence of all his colleagues. 
 
 Under the circumstances and there being in truth 
 no Government, none were surprised to learn of 
 Sir Mackenzie Bowell's decision to resign. It was 
 then that a new difficulty appeared — Lord Aber- 
 deen, the Governor-General, refused to accept the 
 Premier's resignation. No consideration had been 
 given to the Speech from the Throne, and affairs of 
 administration were generally in such a state as to 
 demand a further effort to reconstruct the Ministrv-. 
 The effort was made, and on Sir Charles Tupper 
 consenting to enter the Cabinet as President of the 
 Privy Council the recalcitrant Ministers returned. 
 
 Thus ended a nine days' wonder. Its chief inter- 
 est for us now is in the narrowness by which Sir 
 Donald Smith escaped being drawn into the arena. 
 An influential section of the party desired that he 
 assume the leadership of the party. 
 
 "There is one man, and one man alone," said a 
 member,' "who can save the Liberal-Conservative 
 Party from falling to pieces, and also who can com- 
 mand the respect and confidence of the whole 
 country, and that is Sir Donald A. Smith." 
 
 The member for Montreal West was sounded. 
 He shrank from the proposal. " I have no claim," 
 ' Colonel Hughes, M.P. 
 154 
 
Manitoba Schools Question 
 
 he wrote, "while such a statesman as Sir Charles 
 Tupper is alive and active, and prepared to assume 
 the burden should the latter prove too great for Sir 
 Mackenzie Bowell." 
 
 No sooner was the internal division healed than 
 an affair of magnitude came to put the statesman- 
 ship of the Government to a severe test. The seem- 
 ingly eternal question of race and religion had 
 reached an acute stage in Manitoba. In an empire 
 such as ours it is always present; it is the problem 
 of good citizenship to see that it never engenders 
 bitterness and animosity dangerous to the State.' 
 
 The French Roman Catholic population of Man- 
 itoba demanded separate schools where their chil- 
 dren should be taught their own language and 
 religion. The Manitoba Legislature opposed this 
 demand and passed an act abolishing denomina- 
 tional schools. 
 
 In May, 1894, the cardinals, archbishops, and 
 bishops of the Roman Catholic Church petitioned 
 the Governor-General in Council to disallow the 
 Manitoba School Act of 1894. By Order in Council 
 of 26th July, 1894, the Privy Council recommended 
 that the petition should be transmitted to the 
 Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, and expressed 
 'Sir Donald once said to Mr. Wilson-Smith, K.C. ; " f.!y own view 
 IS that the less said about race and religion in Canada the better. In 
 Montreal public opinion is always in a highly combustible state and 
 any chance firebrand may set ua all in a blaze. The French-Cana- 
 dians are very sensitive and if we cannot praise them, we at least 
 must be blind to their occasional shortcomings. It is all very artifi- 
 cial, but it is only by means of such a mcdus mmdi that harmony 
 can be secured at all." 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 the hope that the Legislature of that Province 
 should take steps to remove the grievances com- 
 plained of in the petition. 
 
 Again, by Order in Council of July 27, 1895, the 
 Dominion Government invited the Manitoba Goy- 
 ernii .t to enter into friendly negotiations in 
 on.f to ascertain how far the latter were prepared 
 tc 1 o in meeting the wishes of the minority, so that 
 the Dominion might, if possible, be relieved from 
 the duty of intervening. The Provincial authorities 
 paid no attention to the invitation, and it was 
 publicly and triumphantly declared that they had 
 no intention of helping the Federal Government 
 out of a difficulty. 
 
 Instantly, the Provincial authorities, led by the 
 Honourable Thomas Greenway, the Premier, were 
 up in arms and flouted the Order in Council. The 
 Remedial Bill was introduced soon after Pariia- 
 ment met. It sought to restore to the Roman 
 Catholic minority in Manitoba the rights and privi- 
 leges in regard to the education of their children, 
 of which they were deprived by the Provincial leg- 
 islation of 1890, and which the judgment of the 
 Judicial Committee of the Imperial Privy Council 
 declared Pariiament had the power to restore. It 
 professed, also, to interfere as little as possible with 
 the functions of the Legislature and Government 
 of Manitoba. The nature of the measure was such, 
 however, that almost every clause of it dealt with 
 acts that the constitutional law meant to be per- 
 formed under authority of Provincial legislation, 
 that are, therefore, best so performed, and that 
 156 
 
The Remedial Bill 
 
 would continue to be performed in Manitoba if the 
 religious majority in that Province had held the 
 spirit of the Constitution in the same respect as it 
 had been held by the religious majorities of Quebec 
 and Ontario. The task of the Government was 
 additionally unpleasant, in that the bill, if passed 
 into an Act of Parliament, would probably fail to 
 effect its purpose. It had to count on the good-will 
 of the pei^i>le and Legislature of Manitoba for so 
 much, that, if the good-will were withheld, the 
 Roman Catholic minority would not enjoy the full 
 benefits of the provision Parliament, when it estab- 
 lished the Province, destined them to enjoy. The 
 financial side bristled with difficulties. The bill 
 provided that the municipal authorities should 
 collect and pay to the trustees of the separate 
 schools, to be established, all local school taxes 
 levied upon consenting Roman Catholic rate- 
 payers. In 1894 the total of such taxes in Manitoba 
 amounted to $354,963. They were supplemented 
 by grants by the Legislature of the Province to the 
 extent of $101,013. Nearly a third of the school 
 revenue from taxation, therefore, came out of the 
 Provincial Treasury. 
 
 A Remedial Bill, following the lines of the 
 Imperial Privy Council decision, declared that 
 the religious minority should have a right to 
 share in this; but it was clearly impossible for Par- 
 liament to dictate to the Legislature of a Province 
 how or to whom it shall distribute its revCi iie. If 
 t!ie Legislature of Manitoba declined to pay any 
 heed to the provisions of the Remedial Bill in this 
 157 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 particular, the Roman Catholics would have to 
 depend on the local asseMments alone for means to 
 keep their schools in operation. In poor localities, 
 and sparsely settled localities where the Roman 
 Catholics were a small element in the general popu- 
 lation, this virtually meant that there would be 
 no separate schools. In other words, that would 
 happen in Manitoba which has since happened in 
 the Province of Quebec with regard to Protestant 
 schools. The religious majority would inevitably 
 crush the minority out of existence. Both sides 
 assumed an uncompromising attitude. Naturally 
 the clergy and clerical party of Quebec flew to 
 the succour of their co-religious in Manitoba. The 
 Orangemen of Ontario responded by snatching up 
 the cudgels against Rome and Papal machinations. 
 The air rang with vituperation, and for several 
 weeks it wanted but little to precipitate a danger- 
 ous conflict. 
 
 Meanwhile, the citizens at large and a Govern- 
 ment by no means agreed amongst themselves, 
 seeing no satisfactory solution of the difficulty, 
 prayed for the advent of a pacificator. And again a 
 pacificator appeared. Many considerations tended 
 to make Sir Donald Smith's assumption of the role 
 the niost appropriate that could be found — his 
 patriarchal age, his freedom from the bonds of 
 party, his well-known benevolence, but chiefly the 
 remembrance of his famous mission of conciliation 
 to the North-West a quarter of a century before. 
 Albeit, in this instance, he was his own monitor. 
 
 This time circumstances seemed to make it highly 
 158 
 
Privately consults Lord Aberdeen 
 
 imprudent for the Government to despatch him on 
 a mission of conciliation. He would go in a private 
 capacity: what he would lose in official status, he 
 would make up for by his character and reputation. 
 
 There was a question, indeed, whether what he 
 proposed was politically desirable. It would not do 
 to compromise the Ministry, or to excite either the 
 alarm or the enmity of the Opposition. He resolved 
 to consult the Governor-General, Lord Aberdeen, 
 not as a politician or a member of Parliament, but 
 as a private citizen, anxious to perform a signal and 
 special act of good citizenship. Advantage was 
 taken of an invitation to luncheon at Ridcau Hall, 
 at which both Lord Aberdeen and his indefatigable 
 consort listened to Sir Donald's plan of mediation. 
 Both were enthusiastic in their approval. 
 
 He explained afterwards: — 
 
 If'' 
 
 I wish to say very distinctly that I did not go at the 
 instance of the Government. It is true that I had 
 the privilege of communicating with His Excellency 
 the Governor-General, not so much as Her Majesty's 
 representative here, but as one, who, as we all know, 
 has taken a very warm and deep interest in everything 
 that is for the benefit of Canada. Having incidentally 
 had an opportunity of speaking of this very important 
 matter of the Manitoba School Question, His Excel- 
 lency was good enough to express to me his very great 
 desire that it should be satisfactorily settled in one way 
 or the other, so as to be agreeable, not only to the 
 people of that Province, but also to the people of the 
 Dominion as a whole, desiring it should be disposed of 
 outside altogether of party politics, for we know that 
 159 
 
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MICROCOPY lESOUniON TIST OlAtT 
 
 (ANSI and <50 TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
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 (716) *B2 - 0300 - Pnon« 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 the Governor-General never allows himself to become 
 a partisan, and that he is here as the representative 
 of Her Majesty, to look equally at all sides, and to 
 discriminate against none. I myself was greatly im- 
 pressed with the view, that were it possible to dispose 
 of this matter outside of Parliament, it would be for 
 the general good; and I consequently determined to go 
 to Manitoba with the view of seeing Mr. Greenway and 
 some of his colleagues, and of endeavouring to ascer- 
 tain if there could not be found a satisfactory way out 
 of the difficulty. I may mention that had it not been 
 for the fact that, owing to serious illness, I was unable 
 to leave my house for three or four months, I certainly 
 would have visited Manitoba some time before; but it 
 is never too late to attempt to do what ought to be 
 done. ' 
 
 He was at that time far from well. The weather 
 was bitterly cold and tempestuous and his physi- 
 cian. Dr. Roddick, had ordered him to repair at once 
 to the milder climate of Florida. On the 15th of 
 February his servant packed his luggage, he bade 
 his wife farewell, and not until the following day 
 did she or any of his friends learn that instead of 
 the sub-tropics he had departed for the sub-arctic. 
 He arrived in Winnipeg on the 1 8th, and although 
 he was careful to disclose nothing to the newspa- 
 per representatives concerning his mission, it was 
 immediately telegraphed all over the Dominion 
 that he was in Winnipeg for a definite political 
 purpose. 
 
 Commenting on this the Montreal Gazette ob- 
 served: — 
 
 ' ParliamerUary Dtbales, March, 1896. 
 160 
 
Departs for Winnipeg 
 
 The statement has been repeated so frequently, and 
 no denial given, that there can really be no doubt of 
 its accuracy. And besides. Sir Donald, beyond receiv- 
 ing his scores of old personal and political friends, and 
 attending to the little social amenities consequent 
 upon a visit to his former home, is said to have done 
 httle else but interview the men who have it in their 
 power to make any settlement of the case. He is 
 known to have spent hours with Premier Greenway 
 and His Grace the Archbishop of St. Boniface,' but 
 whether there will be any practical result therefrom, 
 time must be left to develop. That Sir Donald is acting 
 smcerely and is really desirous of performing a service 
 to the State by snatching from the arena of public dis- 
 cussion a brand which, if left where it is, may result 
 in disaster to Confederation, can be pretty generally 
 taken for granted by all who know him and understand 
 his character and motives. 
 
 It went on to say: — 
 
 That he woi ^ like, incidentally, to assist his party, 
 may perhaps be true, but it is better to credit him 
 with the higher motive. However much all Canadians 
 would like to see the question settled, it is difficult to 
 see how Mr. Greenway can make any concessions that 
 would satisfy the Ministry. With a fresh mandate 
 from the people to stand by the National School Sys- 
 tem, no one would surely be bold enough to expect 
 that he would commit political suicide by sacrificing 
 the schools. The Government has all along professed 
 to be most anxious to administer the School Act in the 
 most liberal manner, so as to meet the wishes of the 
 mmority as far as possible, providing no great princi- 
 ' The late Mgr. Langevin. 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 pies were sacrificed, but further than that it is difficult 
 to see how they can go. 
 
 This was perfectly true; it was, as Mr. Greenway 
 told his distinguished visitor, difficult to see how 
 they could go further. Yet it was not enough to 
 restore peace or to carry out the pledge tacitly 
 made in 1870. Sir Donald told the House of 
 Commons on his return a few weeks later: — 
 
 The great difficulty in which Canada is at this time, 
 and England as well, should be another inducement for 
 us to do justice to the minority in Manitoba. There 
 has been a promise made, made, it is true, to a few 
 thousands of people, who have been spoken of here as 
 poor half-breeds, but who, on the whole, I can assure 
 you, are very intelligent men. 
 
 He pointed out that in 1870 the schools were 
 voluntary, the Roman Catholics had their own 
 and the Protestants had theirs, and there were 
 certain grants of money given to each. 
 
 The Hudson's Bay Company, then the governing 
 body, made a grant to the Roman Catholic Bishop, 
 the late lamented and reverend Archbishop Tach6. 
 There was a grant given to the one and to the other — 
 a money grant as well as a grant of land — for school 
 purposes. It is true that not much was said about 
 schools at that time, but it was distinctly understood 
 by the people there, and the promise was made to 
 those people, that they would have every privilege, on 
 joining Canada, which they possessed at that time. 
 And such pn mise I gave as a special commissioner 
 from the Dominion of Canada. That was supple- 
 mented by Canada. 
 
 163 
 
French-Canadian Simplicity 
 If the Convention did not enter minutely and par- 
 ticularly into the description of the separate sch<!X. 
 It was because they thought it altogether unnecessary 
 Any convention about separate schools was never 
 '"r^"* °^ ^y them. They were a "simple-minded peo- 
 ple. To show that they were really so, and that they 
 went very much on good faith, I may mention how 
 properties were conveyed from one to another. There 
 were no long or written contracts; all that was neces- 
 sap: was that the parties interested should go to the 
 official of the Hudson's Bay Company, who kept the 
 land register, and mention verbally to him that it was 
 desired to make over such and such property to a 
 particular person and the transaction was concluded 
 
 That showed, I think, that they were "simple-minded " 
 and that they had an idea, a belief, that when their 
 word was pledged, it was as good as all the deeds that 
 could be written. So it was with regand to the prom- 
 ises that were nade to them at that time. Theyk' 7 
 that they had their schools, and they believed tha, e 
 promises would be well and faithfully kept, and thev 
 did not deem it necessary to have anything of a more 
 binding character with regaid to them » 
 
 This is apparent I think, from what took place in 
 he Legislature of Manitoba in 1871, when the School 
 Law was passed. It may not be known to a great 
 many of the members here that many of those who 
 composed the Legislature of that time were members 
 of this very Convention, and in deciding that there 
 should be separate schools, they were looking to what 
 had passed m this Convention; they had it fresh in their 
 
 R^ P- Z°'"-u """"^"'y ^'""^ *at the people of 
 Red River, then the majority, now the minority, are 
 
 • Parliammtary Debates, Hou« of Commons, March, 1896 
 163 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 entitled to all the privileges that are given to the major- 
 ity at the present day. I think that in one way or an- 
 other we should insist that they have full justice, and 
 that whether in the form of separate schools, or m some 
 other way, still, that justice shall be done, and that 
 faith shall be kept with those people. 
 
 Sir Donald returned to Ottawa during the last 
 days of February. He was by this time so hardened 
 to the amenities of political life — to havmg base 
 motives imputed to his most straightforward ac- 
 tions — that he was hardly surprised when one 
 or two journals hinted that in his self-appointed 
 mission to Manitoba, he L- d not been altogether 
 disinterested. 
 
 It has been insinuated that, if I did go to Mani- 
 toba, ostensibly for the purpose of aiding m settling 
 this vexed question, it was no phiknthropic idea I had 
 in my head, but that it was for the advantage of a cer- 
 tain corporation with which I happeneH to be con- 
 nected, namely, the Canadian Pacinc Railway Com- 
 pany It was said that there was a question coming 
 up of a demand on the Government, a request to the 
 Government, concerning the sale of a certam portion 
 of the company's lands. I believe it is said that the 
 sum was twenty or twenty-four millions — it really 
 does not signify for a few millions nowadays — a few 
 millions, a dozen millions, more or less, does not mat- 
 ter So it was said that the Canadian Pacific Railway 
 had approached the Government with a view of selling 
 to them their lands. The Canadian Pacific Railway 
 company have not approached and have no thought ot 
 approaching the Government with any idea of seUmg 
 any of their lands, and the rumour is entirely without 
 164 
 
Government's Awkward Predicament 
 
 foundation in truth. But that consideration will per- 
 haps influence the conduct of those who circulate such 
 aspersions. 
 
 A few days after he had left Winnipeg one result 
 of his mission was announced. Mr. Clifford Sifton, 
 the Attorney-General, moved in the Provincial 
 Legislature, on February 25 — 
 
 that a committee of the whole House should consider 
 a resolution protesting against Federal intenorence, 
 inviting an enquiry and protesting that coercive legis- 
 lation would not accomplish the relief of the minority, 
 but would prove disappointing, and should be resisted. 
 The motion proceeded as follows: In amending the 
 School Law from time to time, and in administering 
 the school system, it has been our earnest desire to 
 remedy any well-founded grievance, and remove any 
 appearance of inequality or injustice brought to our 
 notice, and to consider any complaint in a spirit of fair- 
 ness and conciliation. 
 
 Sir Donald consulted with the Prime Minister 
 and Sir Charles Tapper as to the conduct of the 
 Remedial Bill. It was agreed that the Government 
 was in an awkward predicament. Having estab- 
 lished personal relations with Mr. Greenway and 
 his colleagues, could not Sir Donald induce them to 
 come to Ottawa? No time was to be lost, and 
 the member for Montreal West prepared a lengthy 
 telegram, in which he appealed to the Liberal 
 leaders in Manitoba to cast politics to the winds 
 and come to Ottawa in the character of patriots. 
 
 To this appeal a brief reply was forthcoming: — 
 J65 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 To Sir D. A. Smith 
 
 WiMHirEO, H March, 1896. 
 Your telegram has received the most careful consid- 
 eration of myself and colleagues. While fully appre- 
 dating all you say, it is quite clear to us that we can 
 only proceed to Ottawa for the purpose of holding a 
 conference upon the official invitation of the Dominion 
 Government. I fully appreciate your kind offices in this 
 matter. _ 
 
 Greenway. 
 
 But the Bowell Ministry were not inclined to 
 commit themselves. The Opposition, led by Mr. 
 Wilfrid Laurier, were pressing them hard and the 
 sentiment of the country was showing plainly 
 against them. 
 
 The debate began and was continued with much 
 heat for many days. On the 19th of March, Sir 
 Donald arose to speak. 
 
 A journalist at the time wrote: — 
 
 The feature of the afternoon's debates was the 
 speech of Sir Donald Smith. The House, jaded after 
 Its long vigil, was wearily waiting for six o'clock in the 
 hope of a short adjournment. It appeared that nothing 
 could animate it except dinner Who might or might 
 not speak next had ceased to be a matter of interest 
 Even the eloquence of a Laurier or a Foster could 
 scarcely have filled the vacant seats and thrilled the 
 tired members. 
 
 But as Disraeli says: "The unexpected always hap- 
 pens." When the gallant Comptroller of Inland Rev- 
 enue resumed his seat, an unanticipated form -ose in 
 Its place to address the House. It was the venerable 
 166 
 
Speech in Parliament 
 
 figure of the member for Montreal West that fiv™ *u 
 
 It had been a subject of much speculation whTtW 
 S.r Donald would take part in the debate WsttJ 
 mate association with the events which le^ up to the 
 adm^on o Manitoba in the Canadian CbnM racy 
 
 theS nrRelrR'^"""^' ^^^'" *° n<*otia7e wUh 
 te^S n " ^ * pacificator, were guaran- 
 
 quicker filled the vacant benches, and as the voice nf 
 the patnarchal member gained in power with thi 
 wammg of the speal-.er to the subject of his s^ch^ 
 
 ri:er''""°'^'-^«°-'^°--S:: 
 
 The incident was felt to be historical. Sir Donald 
 rarely addressed the House. On this occasion he s^ke 
 as a yo.ce from the past as he detailed in sfmple'^l 
 quent language the events of ,870, in which he hln 
 
 the pohfcs of the present, and appealed to fll parties 
 of the country to pay homage to the Golden Rufe and 
 
 rrb.?:i^:ct:^"™^*'°" °^ '^^ ^^°-- ^"«- 
 167 
 
 
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 Lord Sirathcona 
 
 From every quarter of the Chamber came long ap- 
 plause, as the white-haired bearer of the olive branch 
 resumed his seat, ^n appropriate conclusion to a 
 unique and long-to-be-remembered Parliamentary 
 episode.' 
 
 It is impossible to do more here than to indicate 
 the outlines of a lengthy speech, several extracts 
 from which have already been given. Referring to 
 his visit to Winnipeg he said : — 
 
 I was met by Mr. Greenway and his colleagues in a 
 manner that led me to believe that they had an honest 
 desire to do what was right in the matter. It is only 
 justice to those gentlemen to say that they to me ap- 
 peared to be most anxious to have the matter settled 
 80 as to do substantial justice to the minority, as well 
 as to the majority. I was permitted confidentially to 
 represent this to the Government here, and I feel sure 
 that it is their earnest desire to exhaust all means 
 within their power to have justice done in the way in 
 which I believe it can bef t be done, and that is through 
 the local Government. True, it is within the power of 
 this Parliament to pass a Remedial Bill, and if there is 
 no other way of attaining the end which we are all of 
 opinion ought to be accomplished, that of having equal 
 justice done to the minority and to the majority, if 
 after every means of obtaining that, from what I may 
 be permitted to .all the legitimat .•'■'Urce, is exhausted, 
 and it is found impossible to get jusvice for the minor- 
 ity, then I consider that the responsibility rests with 
 this Parliament, and that this Parliament ought to 
 apply a remedy. I trust, I have every confid' x, 
 honourable gentlemen opposite will all feel that it is 
 • Manitoba Free Press, March 20, 1896. 
 168 
 
The Golden Rule 
 
 their duty, as w^" a« the duty of those on this tide o< 
 the House, to a .ist in every poi ibin way to bring 
 about a settlement. I cannot see myself that there is 
 any necessity for a commission to enquire into well- 
 known facts and circumstances, but I do trust a^d 
 desire that there may be, at any rate, a personal rat-- 
 frochtment of the two Governments, that there shall 
 be a conference. ) am afraid, while I am sure many 
 efforts in the right direction have been made by the 
 Ministry to effect »/hat they believe would be a satis- 
 factory solution of this matter, they have not person- 
 ally come together in such a way as to be able to ex- 
 change one another's views, wishes, and ideas, and so 
 have an opportunity of deciding in that way what can 
 best be done under the circumstances. I will say to 
 the leader of the Opposition, and to honourable gentle- 
 men on both sides of this House, that I trust they will 
 join heartily and cordially together, and that each will, 
 if possible, endeavour to outdo the other in his desire 
 and in his determination to do justice to all classes in 
 Manitoba, and to do it in the best way. This question 
 must be taken out altogether from the arena of party 
 politics. Let us all look only to the best interests of 
 the country. If in the end it is found that justice — a 
 proper measure of justice — cannot be obtained from 
 the Province of Manitoba, it will then be the right and 
 ought to be the duty of this House to intervene. 
 
 I heard a much-respected prelate of the Episcopal 
 Church, one of the highest authorities in that Church, 
 say, that, while his own people w.'e, perhaps, in fa^ our 
 of separate schools, still, he did not desire to see these 
 schools administered by a dual government, and he 
 would desire and wish, above all things, that such ar- 
 rangements were made that th: schools of the Catholics 
 
 169 
 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 and of the Protettantt should be under the juriidic- 
 tion of the local Government. It is my earnest wish 
 and solicitude that there shall be no religious feuds in 
 this country, that neighbours shall be neighbours, 
 indeed, and that they will do to others that which 
 they desire should be done to themselves. That is 
 the Golden Rule. 
 
 He closed his speech by urging the House to pass 
 the Government's Remedial Bill: — 
 
 Once more I would express the earnest hope that 
 this school question may be settled, and settled to the 
 satisfaction, not only of this House, but of the whole 
 country. 1 should like, sir, to see this Remedial Bill 
 pass to its second reading by acclamation. But by vot- 
 ing for the second reading of the Bill ^entlemen are not 
 necessarily committed to vote for the third reading of 
 the Bill. If there should be a conference in the mean 
 time — and I trust that there may be one — I am so 
 hopeful of the result of that conference that I do trust 
 that there will be no Remedial Bill required from this 
 House. 
 
 It was, of course, not to be expected that the 
 disclosure of a preliminary interview with the 
 Governor-General would be overlooked by mem- 
 bers of the Opposition. Accordingly the member 
 for North Simcoe (Mr. McCarthy) asked the 
 Government the question: — 
 
 Wa J Sir Donald Smith authorized on behalf of the 
 Government to negotiate with the Premier or Admin- 
 istration of the Province of Manitoba in reference to 
 or on the subject of the School law of that Province? 
 170 
 
official Action Criticized 
 
 To which Sir Charles Tupper replied instantly in 
 the negative. 
 
 On receiving this answer, Mr. Joseph Martir. 
 whose subsequent political career was so chequered, 
 leapt to his feet. 
 
 Why [he exclaimed] was it necessary for Hif Excel- 
 lency the Governor-General to call in another adviser? 
 We have got seventetn or eighteen Ministers of the 
 Crown, and none of them appeared to have taken this 
 matter in hand, and they advised ' is Excellency to 
 apply to the honourable member tor Montreal West, 
 who was credited with possessing diplomatic qualities, 
 and a talent for negotiation, and who had contributed 
 very largely to settle a previous trouble in Manitoba, 
 many years ago. So the Government applied ir this 
 emergency for the help of the honourable memi for 
 Montreal West. He went to Winnipeg. More than 
 that, it was announced in all the newspapers that the 
 honourable gentleman had gone there for the purpose 
 of holding a conference with the Manitoban Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Surely [continued this speaker] it was most unfor- 
 tunate that any public act of the Government should 
 be communicated to this House, not by His Excel- 
 lency's advisers who are responsible to this House for 
 the public acts of the Government, but by a private 
 member of the House. Surely that shows what little 
 appreciation the Government has had of their respon- 
 sibility in this connection, that they should allow a 
 public act of Government, for which now they assume, 
 after being practically forced to assume after the dis- 
 cussion in this House, full responsibility, to be so 
 brought forward.' 
 
 * Parliammlary DAala, March 31, 1896. 
 171 
 
 
 v: 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 But the future British Columbian Premier and 
 British member of Parliament and his friends got 
 scant sympathy from either the House or the 
 country. The press generally was agreed that Sir 
 Donald had performed a highly patriotic action. 
 In the House of Commons one member said: ' — 
 
 We all appreciate the motive which induced him to 
 assist the Government in this very difficult question; 
 we all appreciate the care with which he has conducted 
 a series of very delicate negotiations. 
 
 Another (Mr. Weldon) stated: — 
 
 I thank the member for Montreal West for his 
 action. He has acted the part o' a patrioc. 
 
 Concerning the action of Lord Aberdeen, there 
 was much approval of the opinion expressed by 
 Mr. Nicholas Flood Davin, M.P., who said: — 
 
 Sir, I do not take the view of the position in our con- 
 stitution of Her Majesty the Queen or her representa- 
 tive in Canada, the Governor-General, taken by some 
 honourable members in this House. If such view were 
 correct the Governor-General would be reduced to a 
 position of almost an automaton, even in his private 
 life. Sir, there is nothing to prohibit a Governor- 
 General, who takes a deep interest in Canadian affairs, 
 from conversing with any member of this House. I 
 remember that Lord Dufferin was accustomed to meet 
 in his office members of both parties and discuss politi- 
 cal questions with them. How would it be possible for 
 a man in his august position fully to discharge his du- 
 ties unless, by conversation with eminent men, he made 
 himself familiar with the events of the day? And what 
 ' Mr. Flint 
 17a 
 
A Commission appointed 
 
 would be the object of such communications unless 
 he were free, not to suggest policies or advise schemes 
 of political action, but to express his opinion on the 
 events of the day, and on great questions such as this? 
 Why, sir, you limit greatly the usefulness of those 
 eminent men who, from time to time, come here as 
 Governors-General if you take any such miserable 
 view of their position as has been taken by some hon- 
 ourable gentlemen of this House. 
 
 In a few days the Cabinet met and resolved that 
 if the mountain Manitoba would not come to 
 Mahomet, then Mahomet should travel to Manitoba. 
 Sir Donald's suggestion of a private conference was 
 adopted and a commission was issued to the 
 Honourable Mr. Dickey, Minister of Justice, Senator 
 Desjardins, Minister of Militia, and Sir Donald 
 Smith, to proceed to Winnipeg to negotiate with 
 the Manitoba Government with a view to a com- 
 promise. In the interval Parliament continued the 
 consideration of the Bill restoring denominational 
 schools to the Catholics of Manitoba. 
 
 The political situation derived an additional 
 piquancy from the fact that the Canadian Liberal 
 Opposition was already inclined to support the 
 action of the Libetcd Government of Manitoba. 
 The leader of the Canadian Opposition was a 
 French-Canadian, the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier. 
 Apart from its religious tendencies, one of the 
 cardinal principles of Liberalism, as of Democracy 
 in America, is tjie sacredness of Provincial rights — 
 of local autonomy. Here French-Canadian Liberals 
 ran counter to the Roman Catholic hierarchy 
 >73 
 
 .K 
 
 , 1 
 
 m ' 
 
 ■ '■ 1 
 
 n 
 
 » ; 
 
 
 . nit-: ,1 
 
 J! Ik 
 
 ^W 
 
 l'-:tl 
 
f, 
 
 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 In vain the Church thundered its anathemas 
 from a thousand puplits — in vain Mr. Laurier was 
 warned that he would alienate the majority in 
 Quebec from his party. He was unmoved by either 
 threats or predictions of political disaster. It was 
 alleged that his own personal lukewarmness in the 
 matter of religion assisted to render him compla- 
 cent, while " thousands of his race and speech were 
 slowly being morally strangled in Manitoba." 
 
 An old friend of Sir Donald Smith's in the 
 North-West, the ^ed Father Lacombe, wrote to 
 him: — 
 
 I and all of us await the result of your patriotic 
 efforts with anxiety. I have resolved to address a letter 
 to Mr. Laurier. I enclose a copy of it. Please look it 
 over, both the French and the translation, and let mc 
 know if in your opinion any expression might be al- 
 tered for the better.' 
 
 ' The letter o{ this celebrated priest-missionary was as fol- 
 lows: — 
 My dear Sir: — ,,.».,. e i. , 
 
 In this critical time for the question of the Manitoba Schools, 
 permit an aged missionary, to-day representing the bishops of our 
 country in this cause, which concerns us all, permit me to say, an 
 appeal to your spirit of justice, to entreat you to accede to our re- 
 quest. It is in tiie name of our bishops, of tiie hierarchy and of 
 Canadian Catholics, that we ask your party, of which you are the 
 so-worthy chief, to assist us in settling this famous question, and to 
 do so by voting with the Government on the Remedial Bill. We do 
 not ask you to vote for the Government, but for the Bill, which will 
 render us our rights; which Bill will be presented to the House in a 
 few cl&vs* 
 
 I consider, or rather we all consider, that such an act of courage, 
 good-will, and sincerity on your part, and from those who follow 
 your policy, will be greatiy in the interests of your party, especially 
 in the general elections. I must tell you that we cannot accept your 
 
 174 
 
SIR WILKRfD I.AURIKR, <',.CM.( 
 
 
 
 • lire • , 
 
 
 
 if^,(! 1*1 
 
 Si' m 
 
 ; i.iiil jKiH 
 
Suggestions for Settlement 
 It may be asked: What proposal had Sir Donald 
 
 bmith, now arrived in Winnipeg with his fellow- 
 
 commissioners, to make to Mr. Greenway and his 
 
 colleagues? 
 
 Drafted in Sir Donald's hand, the "Suggestions 
 
 for Settlement of Manitoba Schools Question" run 
 
 mainly thus: — 
 
 Legislation shall be passed at the present session of 
 the Manitoba Legislature to provide that in townsand 
 villages where there are resident, say twenty-five 
 Roman Catholic children of school age, and in cities 
 where there are, say fifty of such children, the board of 
 trustees shall arrange that such children shall have a 
 school-house or room for their own use; where they 
 may be taught by a Roman Catholic teacher, and 
 Roman Catholic parents or guardians, say ten in num- 
 ber, may appeal to the Department of Education from 
 any decision or neglect of the board in respect of its 
 duties under this clause, and the board shall observe 
 
 commisdon of enquiry for any reawn and we will do the best to 
 
 If , which may God not grant, you do not believe it to be your dutv 
 to accede to our just demands, and that the Gownim^t which U 
 
 SCpinTC ^^"'"ir'.'r' *" "^'^ -rov;nh™wn" 
 
 r»™t fh^r^ ■ 1^ °' *' »'™««'=' I "'""n V"" with 
 
 regret that the epuKopacy like one man, united to the clentv will 
 nse to support those who may have fallen to defend us ^' 
 "ease pardon my frankness which leads me to speak thus Thouirh 
 
 good terms. Always I deem you a gentleman, a respectable citizen 
 and a nwn well able to be at the head of a politiSi pTm- Mav 
 Dmne Providence keep up your courage and you^nS^forX 
 good of our common country >="'=n!y lor tne 
 
 hu!nSe™^d de"rei''s:;l„r'^'"""" '""'""^'"^ "^^ """ ■""' 
 
 A. Lacohbe. 
 '75 
 
 
 if'i. 
 
 -^ ii 
 
 >l 
 
 1 
 
 -If 
 
 *'■ 'J, iir,i'f'-'H 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 and carry out all decisions and directions of the De- 
 partment on any such appeal. 
 
 Provision shall be made by this legislation that 
 schools wherein the majority of children are Catholics 
 should be exempt from the requirements of the regu- 
 lations as to religious exercises. 
 
 That textbooks be permitted in Catholic schools 
 such as will not offend the religious views of the minor- 
 ity, and which, from an educational standpoint, shall 
 be satisfactory to the advisory board. 
 
 Catholics to have representation on the advisory 
 board; Catholics to have representation on the board 
 of examiners appointed to examine teachers for certi- 
 ficates. 
 
 It is also claimed that Catholics should have assist- 
 ance in the maintenance of a normal school for the edu- 
 cation of their teachers. 
 
 The existing system of permits to non-qualified 
 teachers in Catholic schools to be continued for, say, 
 two years, to enable them to qualify, and th';n to be 
 entirely discontinued. 
 
 In all other respects the schools at which Catholics 
 attend to be public schools and subject to every pro- 
 vision of the Education Acts for the time being in force 
 in Manitoba. 
 
 A written agreement having been arrived at, and the 
 necessary legislation passed, the Remedial Bill now 
 before Parliament is to be withdrawn, and any rights 
 and privileges which might be claimed by the minority , 
 in view of the decision of the Judicial Committee of 
 the Privy Council, shall, during the due observance of 
 such agreement, remain in abeyance, and be not fur- 
 ther insisted upon. 
 
 March 28th, 1896. 
 
 176 
 
The Remedial Bill dropped 
 In a subsequent communication in reply to one 
 from the Manitoba Government, the Commission- 
 ers observed: — 
 
 We must further draw your attention to the flagrant 
 injustice of the present system, which compels Roman 
 Catholics to contribute to schools to which they can- 
 not conscientiously send their children, and we beg to 
 submit that this fact deserves due weight and consid- 
 eration. It is to be further noted that the Roman 
 Catholics earnestly desire a complete system of sepa- 
 rate schools, on which only their own money would be 
 expended, a state of matters which would meet the 
 observation under consideration, but which you decline 
 to grant. Our suggestion was to -elieve you from the 
 necessity of going as far as this. It is, perhaps, impos- 
 sible to devise a system that would be entirely unob- 
 jectionable theoretically and in the abstract. We had 
 great hope that what we suggested would commend 
 itself to your judgment as a practical scheme doing 
 reasonably substantial justice to all classes, and secur- 
 ing that harmony and tranquillity which are, perhaps 
 more than anything else, to be desired in a young and 
 growing community, such as is now engaged in the 
 task of developing the resources of Manitoba. 
 
 The Remedial Bill as a practical measure was 
 doomed. It was impossible for the existing Federal 
 regime to settle the question. Only the advent of 
 Mr. Laurier to power paved the way for a settle- 
 ment in the following year. 
 
 The arrangement then made was carried in the 
 teeth of the Roman Catholic hierarchy who ful- 
 minated bitterly against Mr. Laurier and threat- 
 ened to invoke the interference of the Pope. 
 »77 
 
 • i.. 
 
 I -' i I ,, 
 
 !■ 
 
 :i.' 
 
 \:!H '1 
 
 , • ^ 
 
 .I] 
 
m 
 
 w 
 
 If) 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Nine months later, when he had become High 
 Commissioner, Sir Donald met the Canadian 
 Solicitor-General, himself a Roman Catholic, in 
 London and undertook to assist the further nego- 
 tiations. 
 
 To the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, 6th January, 1897. 
 
 Mr. Fitzpatrick explained to me his mission in re- 
 spect "f the Manitoba School Question, and I at once 
 communicated with Mr. Chamberlain regarding an 
 Interview on the subject, after explaining to him very 
 fully the position of the case and its gravity as regards 
 the well-being and best interests of Ca.iada, and assur- 
 ing him that the settlement come to was the best that 
 under the circumstances could be arrived at, meeting 
 the approval of the great body of the English-speaking 
 people both Catholic and Protestant, and the greater 
 part of those of French origin. 
 
 I asked Mr. Chamberlain if he would be good enough 
 to extend to Mr. Fitzpatrick official recognition on the 
 part of the British Government at the Vatican. Mr. 
 Chamberlain regretted his inability to do so, as the 
 English Government has no direct relations with the 
 Papal Government, but expressed entire sympathy 
 with the object in view, and said he would gladly give 
 the Solicitor-General a letter of introduction to the 
 Duke of Norfolk, who is understood to be the one 
 British subject having great influence with the Pope. 
 He at the same time suggested securing the active aid 
 of Cardinal Vaughan. 
 
 On the same evening of the same day, I introduced 
 Mr. Fitzpatrick to the Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies. Mr. Fitzpatrick presented his case with 
 178 
 
Archbishop Langevin's Unwisdom 
 
 deamess and much ability, Mr. Chamberiiin handing 
 him an introduction to His Grace of Norfollc and re- 
 peating the assurance he had given me that he would 
 gladly aid in the matter as far as he could. 
 
 Later in the evening, Mr. Fiupatrick and I dined 
 with the Lord Chief Justice (Lord Russell of Killowen), 
 an old fnend of mine, meeting at this table Judge 
 Matthews and other Catholic gentlemen eminent in 
 legal circles, a' well as Mr. Edward Blake, M.P., who 
 were unanimous in opinion that every proper effort 
 should be made to insure that the Roman Catholic 
 bishops and clergy of Quebec accept the settlement 
 come tc by your Government on the School Question. 
 
 I shall only add that if in any way I can aid toward 
 a satisfactory solution of this vexed question, you may 
 count on my best efforts. 
 
 And c^ain (February 20) he wrote: — 
 
 1 trust the result of Mr. Fitzpatrick's efforts both 
 here and in Rome may be all that could be wished 
 for in solving the awkward Manitoba question. Any 
 assistance from me in his mission was most willingly 
 given. It cannot be but that Archbishop Langevin will 
 soon come to recognize that his present course of ac- 
 tion is a most unwise one, disapproved of as it is by 
 all men of moderate views. 
 
 V 
 
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 ia 
 
 f. ' 
 
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 V 
 
 
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 mM 
 
 1. i^ii 
 
 (V 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 GOVEKNOR OF THS HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY 
 I889-I914 
 
 We will now resume the thread of Sir Donald's 
 connection with the affairs of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company. Although, as the largest individual 
 shareholder, he had been elected Governor in 1889, 
 he soon came to realize his powerlcssness to stay 
 the rapacity of the shareholders in the mass. Their 
 relations with the wintering partners threatened 
 the very life of the fur trade. 
 
 Chief Fa.'or W. J. Christie to a fellow-officer 
 
 Brockvuxb, Out., 15th April. I89»- 
 The end of the Hudson's Bay Company cannot be 
 far off. Sir Donald Smith told Chief Factor Camsell 
 that two years more and the Hudson's Bay Company 
 would be a thing of the past. I am sorry for the officers 
 who gave a life service to the Hudson's Bay Company 
 and have not been able to save enough for their old age. 
 
 The personnel of the service had lamentably de- 
 teriorated. 
 
 From Factor D. C. Mactavish 
 
 Chaplbau, 13th August, 1890. 
 The trouble is, we can't get good men who under- 
 stand our business, and take an interest in it. A 
 young man has no inducement to reraain in the service, 
 180 
 
The Company's Decline 
 
 and a valuable man ii paid no better than a sleepy, 
 ■low fellow. I have seen new blood sent out from 
 England, and get higher wages than I the first year, 
 and three of them could not do my work. 
 
 1 have done all that I can to protect the Bay trade, 
 but if I get abused for my trouble I shall not assist 
 others who are mi competent to manage the charge 
 they have. Four Moose Indians came up this summer 
 along with the opposition. I got them away from the 
 opposition and sent them back to Moose. They were 
 all down on who never could manage Indians. 
 
 From Factor Ferdinand Mackenzie 
 
 Sioa«t's Lake, Febniary iSth, 1893. 
 Some of the gentlemen in this district will very likely 
 be .'eaving shortly owing to the scanty allowance given 
 
 them to live upon. Mr. intends leaving next 
 
 summer and there is some talk of a brother of Mr. 
 coming to take charge of Fort George. 
 
 Another repeats the same complaint: — 
 
 From Factor W. H. Adams 
 
 There is no inducement to young men to remain 
 with the Company when they can see their way to 
 better futures elsewhere. There are now so many 
 opportunities for men of ability to obtain remunera- 
 tion such as the Company will never pay. During the 
 whole of my service I could not fail to observe that 
 the suggestions of their experienced officers were 
 systematically ignored by the Governor and Commit- 
 tee, and I know that their action in this connection, 
 in many instances, conduced to a petty rather tl • 
 181 
 
 I Ii 1 
 
 U ^^:t 
 
 ' i 
 
 ; \ 
 
 ( ' 
 
 < ,i.' 
 
 Ill 
 
 ,, I V 1-^ 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 •n increaied energy in the intemtt of the Company'i 
 ■ffaira, rcMilting, In my opinion, mott detrimentally 
 to the latter. 
 
 Old officers who had lerved the Company for 
 teveral years were allowed to die unprovided for. 
 
 Factor J. H. Laivson to a feUow-officer 
 
 WiNNino, Jinuary 23d, iSqi. 
 . . . Poor Chief Factor Cotter's family are left in 
 very poor circumstances, and without deriving any 
 benefit from the Pension Fund. I do not quite under- 
 stand the working of that fund, but we will no doubt 
 receive light on the subject later on, but if Cotter's 
 family are penniless I do not see why they should not 
 get something from the Reserve Fund. 
 
 You will have heard of the coming change in the 
 Commissionership. We are all wondering who will be 
 the next to fill the position. It will not be easy, and 
 for the good of all concerned I sincerely hope a good 
 •nd competent man will get the appointment. 
 
 Mr. Wrigley has certainly worked hard and done 
 his best to carry out the views of the Board, and it is 
 to be regretted that his reign has not resulted in im- 
 proved dividends, either to the commissioned ofHcers 
 or shareholders. We will see in time if a change will 
 be to our benefit. 
 
 From Chief Factor Roderick McKmsie 
 
 Melbouini, Qck., 6th April, 1891. 
 Em'tluments are dwindling down to a pretty low 
 figure. Of course the expense in purchasing and se- 
 Hi 
 
New Turn of the Screw 
 
 curing the fun are more than in former yean. The 
 graaprng London rtockholder. wwthat and .ecured 
 to thcmaelve. the millions of money paid by Govern- 
 
 ^?f",r.°^'*° '^',°"* " **" " one-twentieth 
 part of the landa on the fertile belt of the Hudton". 
 Bay lemtonea. 
 
 M?i'' :^'" ^f'"^"' ?■*"'•«« the late William 
 MactavUh. or hi. brother, that the interest, of the 
 fur-trade partner, would be protected in the con- 
 templated change, but the senior, of 1869-70 over- 
 looked their own intercto. 
 
 In 1891. the need of larger dividends on an enor- 
 mously swollen capital had suggested a further 
 pressure of the screw upon the unfortunate winter- 
 mg partners. The fund set aside for their benefit 
 was now m danger. As one wrote: — 
 
 For Outfit 1889. there is a dividend of only 6/6 per 
 •hare from all sources (land included), and even tW« 
 makes it necesrary to encroach on the undivided 
 profits of previou. year.. It must have been a dis- 
 agreeable ordeal for Sir Donald to meet the rfiare- 
 nolders with .uch a report. 
 
 From Chief Factot W C 
 
 39th May, 1891, 
 We all think this new Commissioner business is a 
 most foolish action of the Board. It i. an insult to us 
 all, and I don't wonder that many are very anerv 
 about It. But as for myself I shall do nothing at 
 present. It would never do for me to stir up j^rife 
 More the new man comes. I promiwd I would try 
 183 
 
 It .il 
 
 V. 
 
 
 ''!K' 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
 
 1: I t" 
 
 fi /. 
 
 
 M I. 
 
 l\m\ 
 
 C ', I: 
 
 fl I 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 to conduct the business until Mr. 
 
 • s successor 
 
 arrived and I intend to keep my promise faithfully. 
 
 I Of course, land and not fur was the Company's 
 objective. The officials sent out by the London 
 Board knew nothing of the fur-trade, which after 
 all was according to the traditional policy of the 
 Board. Nor were they of the calibre of Sir George 
 Simpson. We read: — 
 
 The Montreal Department showed a loss of thirty- 
 one thousand dollars, and of this actually sixteen 
 thousand dollars fell to Sir Donald's old post of 
 
 Bersimis. Poor J M was hustled off to 
 
 Oxford House and C S installed in his 
 
 place. Truly the Commissioner makes some curious 
 
 moves! C goes to Bersimis with eight or nine 
 
 helpless children and a Swampy woman as nurse. A few 
 more nicely balanced "experts" to be saddled on to 
 that broken-down section! 
 
 Even the Labrador traffic in salmon, so valuable 
 in Sir Donald's day, could not yield a profit. 
 
 From Chief Factor P. W. Bell 
 
 RiGOLET, June J8th, 1891. 
 You have heard, of course, of the outcome of our 
 salmon sales in London. The whole fine and unusual 
 collection of salmon was fairly sacrificed — no market 
 at all. They realized 53 per cent less than the previous 
 year. You can fancy the outcome, when the 95 tierce 
 only shipped the Outfit previous realized within a 
 fraction almost as much as the 361 tierces I shipped 
 from this place alone. I am sick at heart and entirely 
 184 
 
Factors lose Heart 
 
 disgusted with the entire business, and thank goodness 
 a few more months will se3 the end of my reign in this 
 country. 
 
 For the past few years, the cry from the Secretary 
 has been, "Salmon, salmon." For the first time the 
 Erik has a full load, so much so that the people at 
 home did not know what to do with it. I can meet 
 them all with a fearless Tace, without cavil or cringing, 
 as I have faithfully done my duty since 1852. 
 
 We have again passed a miserable, disastrous winter. 
 These two past winters are certainly something to be 
 remembered by all residents. Gales and snowstorms, 
 month after month, week after week, and day after 
 day; hunting and trapping was out of the question. 
 The poor Husky suffered most of all, as he could not 
 prosecute his favourite seal-hunting. We could not 
 possibly carry on the necessary outdoor work this 
 spring, as there was no abatement of the cold, frosty 
 nights until a week ago. 
 
 We have, in spite of fate and weather, secured a fair 
 share of foxes. They have done well in that line north 
 of this, and I only hope they will realize something 
 when they reach the market. 
 
 From Chief Factor J. Ogden Grahame 
 
 Revelstoke, B.C., May 21st, 1891. 
 I have waited so long for promotion, and have 
 worked so hard to make and keep affairs prosperous, 
 that I have lost heart and do not care what is done. I 
 will, until I can see something better to do, endeavour 
 to do my best for the concern and still do my utmost 
 for that end. 
 As regards the officers, what can we do? If kicking 
 185 
 
 
 m m 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 is the order of the day, we shall simply receive a year's 
 notice, be suspended, and probably lose the six years' 
 half-pay which, after all, is only at the pleasure of the 
 Board. 
 
 The Deed Poll says we are to have a Council yearly. 
 This is not done; it also states that ofhcers shall be 
 
 judged by officers; neither S nor C were. 
 
 I am afraid that nothing can be done that any good 
 would be derived from. 
 
 Of one of Sir Donald's successors we are told that 
 "he acted a mean, selfish part; was looked down 
 upon by the fur-traders and did his best to please 
 only the Board. He had to leave; and Sir Donald 
 would hardly speak to him. The Council was a 
 farce; he could not do or say anything; he should 
 have remained at home. Our refusing to dine with 
 him last year was partly what killed him, although 
 we did not mean it that way at the time. No 
 dinners this year; not even at Sir Donald's. He had 
 just returned from England and was bothered about 
 elections £dl the time." 
 
 Roderick Ross to a brother-factor 
 
 Vanco(JVBK, B.C., 20th December, 1891. 
 
 There is no mistake about it, the^ has gone forth 
 and Attila is to ravage and destroy the handiwork 
 of the "Company of Adventurers," that ancient guild 
 that has reigned in the land for two long centuries and 
 more. The Philistines, or rather the Jews, are now at 
 last upon us in reality, and there must be a dividend if 
 the heavens should fall. 
 
 's mission is to wind up the old concern, to 
 
 186 
 
"Sauve qui peuti" 
 
 cremate the old goTOmment on which the new patch 
 of 1872 was tacked only to make the rent worse as 
 tme has proved. Many of us foresaw this, and some 
 of us fought against it to the death, but the inevitable 
 has come to pass so that the cry of " Jo«w <p«>„// - is 
 heard as the signal of total rout. "Exit Hudson's Bay 
 Company ; enter Hudson's Bay Lands and Coloniza- 
 tion Company, Limited. Do you think that all this 
 talk at late Hudson's Bay annual meetings and the 
 shortcomings of -ale in this country really mean the 
 beginning of the ^nd of the fur-trade? If so, I will make 
 only one other remark on this subject, and that is that 
 this IS a very favourable moment in which to consider 
 the possibility of the Hudson's Bay officers stepping 
 forward m their own interests to grasp a business, even 
 yet of great promise for them for many years to come. 
 Would the Company oppose such a movement now? 
 I think not, and it might be to their advantage to 
 manage it. You can see all this better than / can, and 
 perhaps you have still enough "go" in you to set the 
 
 ball rolling. I sounded the other day, on this 
 
 subject, but he haiped on the old slur of the impossi- 
 bility of united action on our part. 
 
 I have enrolled as a pensioner, gettin? £200 per 
 annum, which I am politely requested b joy for six 
 years on condition that I do not engage in the fur- 
 trade, or directly or indirectly go into any commercial 
 business of any kind in which the Company is con- 
 cerned! ! So there is a fine predicament to be in at my 
 tune of life. Is our whole life, and everything we hold 
 most dear to us, to be really sacrificed to the Company 
 when once we doff their uniform? What do I know 
 about anything except the business the Company is 
 engaged in? v r " 
 
 187 
 
 'l i 
 
 • 1} ' 
 
 If" it" '-yH' : 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 I saw Sir Donald Smith over here in September. He 
 was as kind and considerate as ever, but I asked him 
 for no favours. The gloom and despair of a prematurely 
 dying man has now succeeded the hopeful confidence 
 of the bread-winner who has a sacred duty to perform 
 for those dependent on him. We are all well, and 
 although unavoidably scattered apart by mountains, 
 plains, and forests, .Tiy hope being that if God spares 
 my life this state of things will soon Le remedied. 
 
 From Sir Donald A. Smith 
 
 I Lime Stdeet, Lokdon, 
 8th January, 1893. 
 
 I have for some ten days been laid up from the 
 effects of a severe cold, and it is only quite recently 
 that I am able to give attention to correspondence 
 again. I cannot think how my letters to Mr. Abbott, 
 covering yours to me of the nth November, failed to 
 reach him. It was certainly posted from my office, 
 copies of both being kept there, and having the follow- 
 ing day met Mr. Abbott at dinner in Montreal I told 
 him it had been sent to his address at Ottawa. I am 
 very glad with him for the letters of December, copies 
 of which you have been good enough to send me. It is 
 not easy to move the Dominion Government to dis- 
 pense money for the relief of Indians, so long as they 
 think there is any possibility of fathering the expense 
 on the Hudson's Bay Company, but Mr. Abbott led 
 me to infer that they would be disposed to authorize 
 the Hudson's Bay Company to make advances at their 
 own discretion for which they would ifimburse the 
 Company. On my return to Canada I shall urge that 
 the Government pay the outlay already incurred in 
 188 
 
Mrs. Stephen's Health 
 
 this way, and make a further appropriation for the 
 same purpose. 
 
 Political influence always avails more or less, and 
 doubtless other claimants without a tittle of right will 
 endeavour to procure for themselves a part of what 
 ought to go to you, but I trust this may be prevented, 
 and I shall do anything I can in that direction. 
 
 I am glad you, Mr. Mackenzie, and Mr. and Mrs. 
 Parson had an enjoyable evening at the St. Andrew's 
 Ball, and that it proved to be a success. Business has 
 brought me to England so much in the autumn for 
 a long time that I have not been able to be at the 
 Mr-treal St. Andrew's Ball for quite a number of 
 years. My wife appears lo have had a somewhat severe 
 attack of influenza which confined her to the house for 
 upwards of three weeks, but I am glad to find she has 
 quite recovered from it. We have been anxious for 
 three or four days back about old Mrs. Stephen,' of 
 Montreal, who has been dangerously ill with the same 
 disease, with pneumonia superadded, but notwith- 
 standing her great age, eighty-six or eighty-seven, I 
 earnestly trust she may get well over it. 
 
 Again very many thanks for all you so kindly say 
 and for your kind interest so thoughtfully shown in my 
 welfare. I assure you I greatly appreciate all you say 
 and feci in this, and you do me only justice in believing 
 that the best interests of my old colleagues in the 
 Hudson's Bay Company are very close to my heart, 
 and I would gladly advance them as far as I possibly 
 can. 
 
 ' His first cousin, mother of Lord Mount Stephen. 
 
 189 
 
 It :H 
 
 ,:n' 
 
 
 ', u 
 
 : « 
 
 ■; fr. '"■ i¥ ' , J 
 
 Mi In 
 ■■* .' ■ I' '■' ' 1 'I 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 From Chief Factor S. K. Parsons 
 
 London, 19th April, 189}. 
 
 I had a most unsatisfactory interview with the 
 Board and found the Deputy Governor, Lord Lichfield, 
 most overbearing; in fact, he would listen to nothing 
 except his own views. After stating what he thought 
 of the affairs in the South, he said that they intended 
 that I should go down and put things straight. 
 
 I replied that when I consented to go for one year 
 I assumed that my right to retire, upon giving twelve 
 months' notice according to the Deed Poll, would be 
 respected. I pointed out that out of thirty-one years 
 in the service, I had passed nineteen in Hudson's Bay, 
 and that as an old officer, I considered I had not been 
 treated with the consideration I thought myself en- 
 titled to exper' . He sneered at this, and suggested 
 that I should consider my resignation as having been 
 given in on ist June, 1891, which suggestion I promptly 
 acceded to, and the affair is so settled. I assume that I 
 shall get Outfit 1892, being one of the men who re- 
 ceived no compensation under the old Deed Poll. 
 Everyone (Armit included) considers that I have done 
 right. The whole business has been bungled, or else it 
 is a deliberate conspiracy to drive me from the service. 
 The Board do not know i'j first thing about our business: 
 vie need none of us expect the smallest consideration from 
 the Board. I am ;> free man now. 
 
 I must say that I am sorry at leaving the service 
 after so long being in it, and however bitter I may feel 
 against the Company, I hope to retain my old brother 
 officers among my warmest friends. 
 
 190 
 
An Old Officer resigns 
 From Chief Factor Horace Belanger 
 
 NoiiWAV House, jd May, 1893 
 I /" 7"P'f"<* '^th the conditions of the Deed Poll 
 L^r "" °™ ''°" """ '' ^ "y intention Tr^!^ 
 S hi' '*^'' °" ''* J""^' '«93, on which d^te^ 
 
 ?omn, f ^" '^^^'^ ^"^ ^^ Hudson's Bay 
 Company for a period of forty years. During ttot 
 tune I have served in the following grades: - 
 
 19 years as Clerk; 
 I year as Chief Trader; 
 12 years as Factor; and 
 8 years as Chief Factor; 
 
 and in whatever capacity I was employed it has always 
 been my earnest endeavour to do my duty to the tet 
 of my ab.hty and to promote the interest of the Co^ 
 panyw every way in my rower. I sincerely t^st ^ 
 the Board as well as yourself will regard my cb ms on 
 the,r cons^erat on favourably, and see fit to concede 
 me the full retiring shares. Lunceae 
 
 My reason for leaving is entirely of a private nature, 
 VIZ., the welfare of my family, from whom I am at 
 present obliged to be separated. At my time of We tt 
 chZ '^'° ""^^ ' '"^'' •'°— Humb e, o my 
 that ThTv^T'''^'"' ■* " ^"^ ^•''^ -object in view 
 that I have brought myself, with much regretful 
 f^ mg, to^ver my active connection with t^ Com^ 
 pany m wnose service I spent so many happy thoZ 
 sometimes hard, years, and in whose prosS Y 3 
 ever contmue to take a deep interest 
 
 "God knows," writes Belanger in a letter to a 
 brother factor, "I will have soon enough to paddle 
 191 
 
 Vi ,i 
 
 
 : i 
 
 .ML 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 my own canoe. Next first of June, I will have 
 served the Hudson's Bay Company forty years." ' 
 
 Poor Belanger, he did not survive many weeks. 
 He was accidentally drowned in a river, his death 
 being regretted by all who knew his staunch and 
 cheery character. 
 
 The growing resentment of the fur-traders is thus 
 illustrated: — 
 
 Cfoe/ Factor A. B. to Factor M. F. 
 
 3d November, 1892. 
 
 I have just seen a letter from Tapper's ex-secretary, 
 who has been pitchforked into the position of Chief 
 Conmiissioner (ye gods!) of the fur-trade. In it he 
 says: " I was present at the distribution of prizes at St. 
 
 Jolin's College last night. A. M 's boy carried 
 
 off the Governor-General's prize and the medal pre- 
 sented by the Bishop of Rupert's Land. Hurrah for 
 the Hudson's Bay Company I" 
 
 Can you conceive of such cool effrontery! Daring to 
 
 claim this fine young scion of old A M 
 
 for those cold-hearted Lime Street scoundrels! 
 
 We are told that "New blood — new blood!" 
 was the cry at meetings of the London Board. 
 
 > The Factor at Oxford House wrote (November 5th, 1892); 
 " My neighbour of Norway House, Mr. Belanger, severs his connec- 
 tion with us next first of June, after forty years of business. V\'e may 
 all well exclaim with Shakespeare, 'We ne'er shall look upon his like 
 again.' " 
 
 193 
 
Board's New Policy 
 
 From Factor W. K. Broughton 
 
 Moose Factory, nth February, 1893. 
 
 I Kubmit that the pension should have been made a 
 vested interest, payable to one's representatives in the 
 event of death occurring before the expiration of the 
 six years. No matter what Sir Donald attempts to do 
 for us, past experience has, I think, plainly shown us 
 that the Board always take their own course in spite 
 of him. It was so at the time of the " Round Robin." 
 You will remember we held out for a minimum guar- 
 antee of £200 and the Board offered £150, and carried 
 their point, too. True, we got the £200 afterwards, 
 but they established their point in the first instance. 
 But to resume: I cannot say that I am not glad of the 
 six years' pension even under existing circumstances, 
 and I feel sure that it will enable many to make homes 
 for themselves (at any rate, in this country) and sever 
 their connection with the Company much sooner than 
 they could otherwise have done, and this, I think, is 
 what is desired by the Directorate. 
 
 "New blood — new blood!" is the cry, and I would 
 take a pretty heavy bet with any one that no new 
 commissions will ever again be given; those holding 
 commissions at present will be promoted from time to 
 time if it is thought advisable to retain their services, 
 but after this I fancy the places of those commissioned 
 officers retiring will be taken by clerks who will be 
 ^'aried according to capacity, or I should rather say, 
 "ability," and the amount of responsibility they 
 assume. 
 . . . Surely they will do something for poor old 
 
 P • It will be simply disgraceful if they don't 
 
 give him a pension ; he has been told they have nothing 
 t93 
 
 '^ 
 
 It ; 
 1 1 ., 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 for him to do, and I fancy the fact of B- 
 
 i 
 
 IHlii 
 
 i 
 
 iHl 
 
 
 ^H 
 
 - not 
 
 having yet been appointed to any charge points in 
 the same direction. 
 
 Slowly, Sir Donald's contemporaries disappeared, 
 one by one, from the scene. 
 
 From Chief Factor Alexander Munro 
 
 VicTOUA, B.C., 8th June, 1893. 
 
 . . . Naturally you refer to the many changes by death 
 and otherwise that have taken place in the service 
 since 1887, that memorable year. The number of them 
 in so short a lime is remarkable as well as most affect- 
 ing. I often think of those few days and nights of our 
 meeting in Winnipeg and of those of our number since 
 departed. Poor Belanger's fate was indeed very sad. 
 It is remarkable, too, that so many of his family 
 should have perished by drowning. 
 
 You mav well exclaim that the old days and pros- 
 pects of the officer are gone forever. I am greatly 
 pleased, however, to learn that you think the pension 
 scheme is likely to be bettered for them by a definite 
 arrangement this summer, and sincerely hope for all 
 your sakes that it may be so. The Winnipeg Council 
 of '87 adjourned for five years, did n't it? The time has 
 expired. Will there ever be such another gathering! 
 
 From Chief Factor Bell to R. MacFarlane 
 
 Kingston, June loth, 1893. 
 Matters in regard to myself and appointment are in 
 abeyance at present. My furlough expired on the 15th 
 ultimo. The climax is to be adjudicated at the meeting 
 194 
 
Commissioned Officers to go 
 
 matte™ inlonSntlth"''' "~" "'>"^"- ""d 
 Company's "^7«^",r^i°"' own position in the 
 
 an eJriy date ^ Th«c tt. ? "" ""'' '"'P°«^ "' "' 
 ' """=. mere the matter rests. 
 
 ~. , »Jth December, 1893. 
 
 »t?ma~hetnltT ^1"''^' "°'"-'~' 
 Board are doubtler uTki!f. t" "'''': f '^""''^- '^'«= 
 trenchment: «du^aJI ^7. '^"'' '^^ "^^ °' '^- 
 Wth carrying on tlt^e If th" ""*"'' "^°""''*^"' 
 and serd clerics tVd^WS ^XL''"' "^' 
 
 remam clerics all their life? ^ ^°°*^ '° 
 
 Deeply grieved was Sir Donald when he hearrf 
 the senousnews from his old district of Ungava a„d 
 took .mmed.ate steps to imp„>ve matters ^ere 
 
 From Chief Factor Bell 
 
 _, Chmstiias Day, 1893. 
 
 The news from Ungava is distressing in the extreme- 
 
 mmms 
 
 195 
 
 M.I' 
 
 ui:^ 
 
 I I I 
 
 %iM 
 
 'I 
 
 r . 
 
T-r , 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 migratory •nlmali leein to have taken another course 
 for their u»ual old haunU. No trace of their route 
 could be found, coniequently thii lad loM of life. 
 
 I never heard of such calamity in my life, no such 
 wholesale slaughtering having transpired since the 
 advent of the old tried North-Wcst Company. 
 
 It appears that only ten families reached the post, 
 where they had to be fed all winter. What think you 
 would have been the consequence if fifty or sixty 
 families could have dragged themselves out? They 
 simply would have eaten Matheson out of house and 
 home; provisions were at a very low ebb and assuredly 
 the whole post would simply have starved todcath. May 
 the kind fates never bring them tosnch a brink again. 
 Mr. Matheson writes that it only leaves about a 
 hundred all told of the Inland Indians. The residue 
 of the hunters are all trash. I cannot see what under 
 the circumstances, wHl keep Ungava up. The salmon 
 and oil will never do, as the prices are so fluctuating 
 and altogether unreliable. The district losing the fur- 
 trade loses the last chance of remuneration. Say what- 
 ever you like, the pickled salmon has seen its best days 
 and will soon be a thing of the past. 
 
 From Chief Factor A— B— 
 
 Kingston, September 8th, iS93- 
 I have no idea what they purpose doing, but this I 
 know, that my patience is all but at an end. I cannot 
 endure this forced idleness, and what is more to the 
 point, I cannot afford it. I will have to wait now until 
 Sir Donald comes out. It must be finally settled then, 
 am I to remain in the service or not? There must be 
 no more daiy-dallying in the matter. Ever smce my 
 196 
 
The Lonely Fur-Tradcr$ 
 
 arrival latt autumn, no one could have received more 
 kindnen and consideration than I have from Sir 
 Donald. What i< the use of all this, if you are to be 
 kicked in the end by the Board? 
 
 If Mr. C was as anxious as he professes to be, 
 
 he would doubtless have found a suitable place for me. 
 Sir Donald will soon be out now. 
 
 In an address in April, 1897, Lord Strathcona 
 thus referred to the life of the lonely fur-traders: — 
 
 Thousands of miles separated the more distant posts 
 from those which may be termed the shipping ports. 
 The life of many of the offices of the Company can 
 readily be imagined. They saw few people of their own 
 kith and kin, or of their own race, except at long inter- 
 vals. There were occasional councils and gatherings 
 at central places, but their visits to civilization were 
 few and far between. In fact, they were more or less 
 out of the worid. Letters only reached them in many 
 places once a year. Newspapers and magazinta were 
 many months old when received, and the most impor- 
 tant events happened without their knowing anything 
 of them for long afterwards. They lived well, and had 
 plenty of time for reading and meditation; but the life 
 must have had its attractions, for the officers were 
 devoted to their posts and to their work. The great 
 event of the year was the arrival of the stores and the 
 mail:,. The canoes or dog trains which took in the 
 supplies carried away the proceeds of the year's trading. 
 Most of the Company's exports to Europe were then 
 carried in their own vessels by way of Hudson's Bay.' 
 
 ' In February, 1897, Sir Wilfrid Laurier wrote Lord Strathcona 
 that Mr. (now Senator) L. O. David was desirous of undertaking the 
 history of the fur-trade. To this Lord Strathcona replied :" I quite 
 agree with you in the opinion that it is most desirable we should have 
 
 »97 
 
 
 if .. 
 
 f^. ^ 
 
 '■ 'V 
 
 ..i' 
 
 
 \4^ 
 
 I 
 
 M^ 
 
m 
 I 
 
 MM 
 
 ami 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 At the Company's annual meeting in July, 1904, 
 Lord Strathcona noted that more than 130,000 
 immigrants had gone into Manitoba and the 
 North-West Territories the previous year, of whom 
 at least one third were from neighbouring districts 
 of the United States. 
 
 " Inasmuch as the Hudson's Bay Company owns 
 one twentieth of the prairie acreage and is most in- 
 timately concerned with the retail business of the 
 country, it is obvious that this immigration must 
 bring much benefit to it." Indeed, in the year 1903- 
 04 the Company realized £1 5s. 3d. per acre for 
 land sold as against £1 3s. 3d. in the previous year. 
 
 In October, 1904, owing to the vast profits which 
 the Hudson's Bay Company were making out of 
 the sale of lands. Lord Strathcona induced the 
 Board to grant a more liberal pension scheme for 
 the men who had grown old in their service. But 
 this scheme did not comprehend those officers who 
 had retired prior to that year, the true heirs and 
 successors of the Rupert's Land pioneers. 
 
 Chief Factor MacFarlane to a Director 
 
 7th October, 1907. 
 I have before stated that these "old officers" had 
 given due thanks for the yearly grant of two fifths of 
 
 a good history of the fur-trade in North America, and in so far as 
 I can help Mr. L. O. David with material for it, or in any other way, 
 I shall most gladly do so. This can be arranged personally when we 
 meet." Mr. David having relinquished his plan, the task, at Sir 
 Wilfrid's instance, fell to my pen. The Company's archives were 
 generously placed at my disposal and the Governor supplied the 
 introduction to the work, which was published in 1900. 
 198 
 
An Appeal to the Board 
 
 the amount of pension guarantee.^ to i..,any ,/. their 
 ^rv.ce contemporaries, while the,, no douL,; 5 
 
 faithful connection with the Comp^iy .c. -•-eri simi 
 ar recogmtion. Had your fellow-director'taken ™e 
 Rouble o carefully considering the subject o the com! 
 pkined-of letters and papers which he says LoTd 
 Strathcona had. from time to time, reported the our 
 port of to the Board. I believe he wouTd have Luer 
 understood their hnport. and would at leLt have 
 refrained from taxing the officer, with ingratTtude 
 
 Should all of the referred-to documents be still in 
 ex^ence. and you desire to peruse and ;o^de 'L" 
 them at your leisure, they would certainly enlighten 
 you on many points regarding the history Ld /on^e" 
 tatus of the wintering partners of the CompanSce 
 
 in I82I. You would also. I opine, more readilv rt=.n 
 
 anyofyourcolleagues(theGovern;ralwy:S«pS 
 comprehend the raison d'itre of my long Wend^ ^^J 
 truly oyal contention with them in favour of "better 
 
 years and lives to, and in zealously and faithfnilv 
 
 ma.ntain.ng,therightsandinterestsof^heCompan:of 
 Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Ba/ 
 
 The Board of Directors evidently believe that thev 
 have treated the old officers very'^HbemHy I hive 
 however, shown that this is not the case, and we there' 
 fore sincere y hope that the youngest and o^^t tZ 
 
 otherslftv ^''^'^"t'^^^" ""ite in disabusing the 
 others of this erroneous idea, which seems to savour o^ 
 much of the ancient Medo-Persian policy Mav I n^ 
 further appeal to you as an Engli* gentleman -a 
 lover of justice and fair play, in all matters - to do 
 199 
 
 iK 
 
 .' ii f 
 
 ( 1 
 
 t ' ! I 
 
 rM|ri 
 
 ,3 1; 11! "I'l 
 
't;! 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 your utmost in removing the complained-of griev- 
 ance. 
 
 For obvious reasons, apart from those herem stated, 
 it is to be earnestly hoped that the Governor and 
 Committee will now reconsider the case of the "old 
 officers," and at once find that they really merit the 
 granting to them as from 1st June, 1904, the whole 
 amount of their respective rank "time limited" 
 pensions, and thus place them on a basis more nearly 
 approaching that of their later brethren. This gener- 
 ous and retroactive course would be not only warmly 
 welcomed, but also come as a perfect "Godsend" to 
 Mrs. Lillie, Mrs. Camsell (Chief Factor Camsell died 
 in January, 1907), as well as to nearly all of those who 
 would benefit thereunder, and its adoption would 
 undoubtedly elicit their profound gratitude. 
 
 In the mean time, the Governor will be able to 
 explain to you all about the fur-trade partnership, 
 and the surrender in 1893 of certain Deed Poll rights, 
 which have since wholly provided the Servants' Pen- 
 sion Fund of £50,000 steriing. The shareholders have 
 practically contributed nothing thereto. 
 
 There was really no just or valid reason for the 
 very unfair discrimination exercised by the Board 
 in dealing with their "old officers" who retired 
 from the service prior to ist June, 1904. The 
 surrender of the Deed Poll fur-trade rights in 1893, 
 without any compensation whatever, adversely af- 
 fected the old officers, while, on the other hand, 
 this valuable acquisition has not only given the 
 Board the means of repaying to the shareholders 
 every penny advanced by them in the way of 
 making up former guarantees, but furnished them 
 
 200 
 
A " Historical Concern" only 
 
 with the whole amount of the Company's actual 
 Pension Fund of £50,000. 
 
 The shareholders of the Hudson's Bay Company 
 had at length acquired, without any actual outlay, 
 the entire two dhh rights and interests of their former 
 fur-trade partners. This fact was scarcely appreci- 
 ated by the majority within the service, while out- 
 side citizens of the great Dominion of Canada are 
 still in utter ignorance of it. 
 
 The Board of Directors maintained then and 
 still maintain that their fur-trade partners have, on 
 the whole, been fairly treated ; also that the past is 
 a closed book. "No question," vainly protested one 
 trader, " is ever settled until it is rightly settled." 
 
 I would once more ask you [wrote Chief Factor 
 MacFarlane again in 1908] to do your utmost to aid 
 in doing the right thing by those in whose behalf I 
 have taken much trouble for many years past, men, 
 nearly all of whom, as the Governor well knows from 
 his own personal experience in the service, have 
 suffered many hardships, and endured many priva- 
 tions in the performance of their onerous duties in 
 the interior. 
 
 In reply one of the Directors wrote: — 
 
 It is really quite useless to reopen a case long since 
 settled or to trouble the Board further with papers and 
 correspondpnce relating to a period with which the 
 existing Hudson's Bay Company have only an histori- 
 cal concern. 
 
 This "historical concern" was the possession 
 of millions of acres of lands which the wintering 
 
 301 
 
 
 ^\ II I 
 
 . .., 1 
 
 .. .,1 
 
 I ' 1 
 
 : ^ 
 
 < ,11 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 partners had discovered, explored, and held for 
 the Empire, and which the London shareholders 
 were now disposing of at a rate which was making 
 wealthy men out of many who had formerly been 
 as poor as the Rupert's Land pioneers. 
 
 From R. Pauling 
 
 Hull, January 7th, 1907. 
 I don't hear of anything being done to settle the 
 claims of o'd Hudson's Bay servants for th; land they 
 are legally entitled to. 
 
 Factor W. H. Adams to a fellow-officer 
 
 13th June, 1907. 
 
 The announcement of a dividend of £4 5s. od. per 
 share on the Hudson's Bay stock was followed by 
 a decline of some points in the market quotation, 
 attributed, according to the Daily Telegraph, to dis- 
 appointment in the amount of the dividend declared. 
 The grounds for this I fail to see, for 40^ per cent on 
 par value should be sufficiently satisfying. But some 
 people are never satisfied, and in spite of the mal- 
 contents, if they exist, I expect to see an advance in 
 the price ol stock at no very distant date. 
 
 Yet even these dividends did not lead to any 
 greater consideration for the men who had made 
 their prosperity. In one instance, a capable officer 
 died because the medical officer had been with- 
 drawn from a district as part of the policy of 
 "retrenchment." 
 
Company's Swollen Dividends 
 From Factor W. H. Adams 
 
 15th May, 1908. 
 You win be grieved to hear of the death of my old 
 brother officer, Tom Anderson, whom I had learned to 
 like much. Had adequate advice been available he 
 might have been spared to many more years of useful 
 service with the Hudson's Bay Company. It always 
 seemed to me that the Company, in default of the 
 Government s employing efficient medical aid in the 
 Northern latitudes, should have provided a medical 
 officer both m Athabasca and Mackenzie River dis- 
 tncts, If even they had withdrawn one from Winnipeg 
 The expense would not have made any appreciable 
 difference m the dividends. 
 
 Many instances might be given of Lord Strath- 
 cona s tenderness for old officers of the service, who 
 had erred or been overtaken by afBiction. In one 
 letter he wrote to the widow of a clerk who had been 
 only five years with the Company: — 
 
 I have mentioned the matter to the Board; but I am 
 afraid It IS one which they do not feel inclined to deal 
 with at present. In the mean tune [how characteristic 
 was the phrase -how careful of the reputation for 
 generosity of the Board!] I beg to enclose my personal 
 cheque for £,00 which I trust may be of use to you. 
 
 On one occasion an old servant had been sum- 
 marily dismissed for a fault. The Board washed its 
 hands of the matter. A friend appealed to the 
 
 203 
 
 ri ill 
 
 lA 
 
 
 mh 
 
 ' ri 
 
 I A 
 
 I If .1''. i'l 
 
 '*: 
 
 I 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Factor D. H. MacDowall to a friend 
 
 PxmcB AisEET, April 24th, 1891. 
 
 The day I left Ottawa, Sir Donald told me that 
 
 E> would be allowed his retiring interest, and 
 
 that he would do what he could for him if there was 
 any position to which he could recommend him. 
 
 Sir Donald Smith thought that a season on the Mac- 
 kenzie might hav 3 recouped the Company and saved 
 
 him, as D undoubtedly had usefulness when he 
 
 had an interest to serve or a strong hand over him, 
 without the extreme measure of throwing him on the 
 world with an unfortunate reputation. ... I only feel 
 sorry for his wife and children. 
 
 Chief Factor P. W. Bell to a fellow-officer 
 
 RiooLET, Labrador, July 12th, 1891. 
 
 I have written fully to Sir Donald explaining the 
 whole matter, telling him that after forty years' hard, 
 honourable, faithful service, I will be no man's tool. 
 I simply made a just application for my well-deserved 
 furlough and gave the Company a year to choose my 
 successor. 
 
 They can and will, no doubt, make me give in my 
 resignation. This I will do if required, sending the 
 notice by mail and follow my letter by the next steamer. 
 
 The Governor to Chief Factor Bell 
 
 I should be very sorry if any such untoward events 
 were to occasion the loss to the Company of one of 
 their best officers. It shall not be if I can prevent it. 
 204 
 
Fall in Prices of Furs 
 
 It only remains to add that this officer was 
 granted a lengthy furlough and was subsequently 
 given a post in the more salubrious climate of 
 British Columbia. 
 
 To Chief Factor Peter Mackenzie 
 
 23 March, 1901. 
 
 You will already have heard of the sad downcome of 
 prices obtained at the March sales this year, when 
 compared with 1900, a fifty per cent decline in all the 
 most important items. This is a sad disappointment, 
 as we were rather led to expect that furs latterly had 
 been looking up in the market. But perhaps — and let 
 us hope it may be so — by the time next year's collec- 
 tions come in, there will be an improvement. The 
 better salmon fishing at Ungava this last season will be 
 a good help to the next year's outfit. 
 
 You certainly want all the good men you can have 
 as managers and post-masters in the district lying near 
 to civilization and I am sorry to find from you that we 
 have not many such at present. 
 
 19th September, 190J. 
 
 What you have to say about Mr. (or, as it may be, 
 Count) D'Aigneau's proceedings, gives cause for con- 
 cern, and I hope that not only at Moose Factory, but 
 at all the other posts we have, those in charge can meet 
 the situation ... in which case there need be less cause 
 for apprehension as regards the trade. 
 
 6th March, 1903. 
 Thank you very much for the information you give 
 about the Revillon FrJres' operations in James's Bay, . 
 005 
 
 1'' \v 
 
 II' 'C \ 
 
 , w, 
 
 'II' 
 
 iji I 
 it 1 
 
 ii 
 
 i V 
 
 
 II 
 
 
 |i'f 
 
 . flit i If ■ 5 ..J 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 and along the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. They may 
 do some harm, but it is far from likely that it will be of 
 any profit to themselves, as, no doubt, our people will 
 be on the alert to make the best of the situation. 
 ^ I am glad the pheasants reached you in good comli- 
 tion (he writes on another occasion to Mr. Mackenzie], 
 and if you happen to be over here, which I hope may 
 be the case some time soon, you must come to Kneb- 
 worth and shoot some for yourself. The sport, they 
 tell me, is good; although personally I do not care 
 about it, as it is hardly equal to what we have been 
 accustomed in the Canadian woods. 
 
 Later, in spite of much criticism, he insisted that 
 this old officer, whose health had given way, should 
 not be deposed, and his duties were performed for a 
 long period by deputy, until his death. 
 
 Factor Adams to C. F. MacFarlane 
 
 15th May, 1908. 
 ^ I hear that so long as Mr. Peter Mackenzie is alive, 
 his successor in the Montreal Department is not likely 
 to be appointed. Whilst sympathizing with Mr. 
 Mackenzie, as all must do in his serious physical con- 
 dition, it appears to me that his retirement would 
 be not only just to himself, but also to the staff of the 
 service, and I know of no precedent for the existing 
 arrangement. 
 
 To the close of his life he kept in touch with the 
 survivors amongst his old friends in the service, so 
 few of whom, alas, now remain. 
 
 sto6 
 
Correspondence with Factors 
 
 From Governor Sir Donald Smith 
 
 January 35th, 1891. 
 I was very sorry to hear of Mr. Clarke's death. It 
 is very sad to see what blanks have of ncent years 
 been made in our service from deaths alone. Dear 
 me, there are very few alive now of the officers of 
 twenty years ago! 
 
 Years later he heard from his successor at Rigo- 
 let, in Esquimaux Bay. 
 
 July 1st, 1900. 
 
 The old Labrador is carried on in the same old ratio, 
 fairly plenty — dire starvation the next. The trade in 
 that great solitude is very unsatisfactory. I cannot for 
 the life of me understand why the Company keep it up. 
 
 Ungava, depending more upon the migratory foxi 
 has been going down hill for the past two outfits. The 
 salmon and oil fisheries have proved all but a failure 
 for the past two seasons. The unfortunate post has 
 never been able to pull up from the Slough of Despond. 
 
 To Ex-Chief Factor Colin Rankin 
 
 MoNTKEAL, 22d October, 1900. 
 
 With one or two friends who dined with me yester- 
 day I had an opportunity of testing the partridges you 
 so kindly and thoughtfully sent me, and we all pro- 
 nounced them to be delicious, and besides they remind 
 me of old friends and old times. Please accept my sin- 
 cere thanks. 
 
 Mr. Selous was fortunate in placing himself in your 
 hands when he determined to go on a hunting expedi- 
 tion. He is known as a great Nimrod, and will return 
 
 807 
 
 ll A 
 •i 1 1 
 
 k'.; 
 
 >> 
 
 » ■ 
 
 «'« 
 
 n 
 
 Ml 
 
 I :[ I 
 
 I"' 
 
 m 
 
 \ :)■:: 
 
 L;Jr 
 
u 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 to his friends in England with a goodly appreciation 
 of the sport which is to be had in Canada. His success 
 will no doubt, induce others of our English friends to 
 follow his example. Should he be in Montreal while I 
 am still in Canada I shall be very glad to sec him. 
 
 My wife was very anxious to take the trip with me, 
 but although she is stronger and in better health than 
 she has been for some time back, at the time I left she 
 had a slight cold, and the doctors thought it safer that 
 she should not undertake the journey at this season of 
 the year. We hope, however, to be back in Canada 
 soon, and for a longer stay, which will enable us, we 
 trust, to see yourself and many of our old friends again 
 
 aa in the past. 
 
 aid February, 19^,2. 
 
 Mr. Donald McTa%'ish, wi.o has done so well at 
 Rupert's House, will no doubt give a good account of 
 his stewardship at Norway House as well, as he is 
 both painstaking and energetic. It is to be regretted 
 that Mr. James McDougall's health makes it necessary 
 for him to retire from the service, as we all know 
 what an efficient officer he has been for the Company. 
 
 nth June, 1902. 
 
 We shall also be happy to see our friends Mr. and 
 Mrs. William Clark, who, ' believe, are expected here 
 about the 17th instant. He has been fortunate in many 
 ways as an officer, and we all know how devoted he has 
 been to his duties, and how well he has discharged 
 them. 
 
 To Ex-Chief Factor MacFarlane 
 
 17th May, 1903. 
 I now have much pleasure in informing you that the 
 Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty have, after care- 
 ao8 
 
Mr. Colin Rankin 
 
 ful looking into the circumstances of the case, decided 
 to award you the decoration in recognition of your 
 valuable services, now a good many years ago. The 
 medal is forwarded herewith, and I am informed that 
 it is of the same pattern as those issued in 1859 to such 
 of the crew of the Fox discovery ship who had not 
 already received it. No other naval medal was awarded 
 for Arctic service until 1876. 
 
 June nth, 190}. 
 
 I have just heard that His Grace of Rupert's Land 
 arrived in London yesterday, and I shall take great 
 pleasure in going to sec him, and of being of use to him 
 in any way I can. 
 
 Thank you very much for sending me the number of 
 the Manitoba Historical Society's Transactions con- 
 taining an obituary notice by yourself of our friend, the 
 late Peter Warren Bell. Poor Bell was a good and staunch 
 friend, and no one deplored his sad death more than L' 
 
 To Mr. Rankin, a survivor amongst his old 
 associates, he wrote not long before his death: — 
 
 Grosvenok Square, London, 15th July, 1913. 
 Your name brings back many pleasant recollections 
 of a long while ago, when we saw so much of each other, 
 and it would be a great gratification to me that we 
 should come together again and have a long chat about 
 Hudson's Bay matters and other things in which we 
 are mutually interested. 
 
 I hope you may be visiting England before long, and 
 pray feel assured that you will have a cordial welcome 
 from my wife, Mrs. Howard, and myself, and all the 
 members of our family circle. 
 
 ' He was drowned in British Columbia. 
 309 
 
 , Ik. 
 
 k: 
 
 ■/|.'!1 
 
 
 
 
 « In 
 
 :i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 To sum up, as an entity possessing any real con- 
 nection with the past, the old Company had been 
 moribund for years, and its life flickered out alto- 
 gether when Lord Strathcona died. For him the 
 fiction was kept up: the old forms were maintained. 
 But he knew it was all pretence. Behind the stately 
 mask were the pert and simpering features of a 
 Kensington draper. To show to what base uses the 
 ancient coat of arms, the boast of many generations 
 of proud and sturdy wilderness adventurers, could 
 be put, the following advertisement, one amongst 
 thousands, will suffice. I reproduce it literally on 
 the page opposite. 
 
 This to-day is the Hudson's Bay Company — 
 
 Mrs. B and Miss M , with their 
 
 "powers of design" and their "shirt-waists," and 
 the London shareholders, with their two hundred 
 per cent, from the land won by those stem and 
 rugged God-fearing pioneers, who laboured and 
 suffered and won this heritage, whose descendants 
 are, many of them, to-day dwelling in privation and 
 penury.' 
 
 " A Timon youl Nay, nay, (or shame I 
 It looks too arrogant a jest — 
 The fierce old man — to take his name. 
 You bandbox. Off, and let him rest. 
 
 The old Timon, with his noble heart 
 That strongly loathing, greatly broke." ' 
 
 ' In his will Lord Strathcona bequeathed fifty pounds a year as 
 an addition to the peniiona of certain of his old colleagues in the fur- 
 trade. 
 
 ' Tennyson. 
 
 310 
 
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY 
 Incorporated 1670 
 
 '•.e »- 1 
 
 mm 
 
 •hi \ 
 
 A FEW WORDS 
 ON MILLINERY 
 
 M™. B , who has been with the Company for the 
 
 past SIX years, still retains charge of the Department The 
 Company has secured the services of one of the best trim- 
 
 mers m the country, and a combination of Mrs B "s 
 
 power of design, and Miss M 's ability in carrying the 
 
 same mto effect, will enable them, as usual, to uffer for in- 
 spection a selection of the bfest up-to-date Millinery. The 
 openmg will take pla 
 
 TUESDA,-, • a.:. . -.H MARCH 
 and following days. 
 
 Small hats and Turbans, prettily trimmed with flowers, 
 will have the lead for early spring vet r. 
 
 As long as shirt-waists are worn. Sailor Hats will accom- 
 pany them, and we have never before been able to offer the 
 same variety m price and style. 
 
 Ml' 
 
 % i 
 
 
 ^UM»; 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 NOTE TO CHAPTER XX 
 
 From the Coalition in 1821 to 1905, when the last 
 fur-trade commission was issued, the number of com- 
 missions issued by the Hudson's Bay Company was: — 
 
 5 Inspecting Chief Factonhips. 
 103 Chief Factorships. 
 
 38 Factors. 
 308 Chief Ttadera. 
 
 6a Junior Traders. 
 
 416 Total. 
 
 During this period 262 received (so far as can be 
 ascertained) promotion in the service. A calculation 
 of the "Imperial relationship" yields the following 
 interesting result: — 
 
 55 of the wintering partners were of English birth or extraction. 
 
 16" " " ■ 
 
 :i " " " " 
 
 no 
 
 70' 
 
 363 Total. 
 
 Irish birth or extraction. 
 
 French-Canadian birth or ex- 
 traction. 
 
 Highland and Canadian Scot- 
 tish birth or extraction. 
 
 Orcadian and Lowland Scot- 
 tish birth or extraction. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP 
 1896-1897 
 
 Whatever the issue might be, Sir Donald 
 Smith had vastly enhanced his already high posi- 
 tion in the country. It has already been shown in 
 a previous chapter that the Bowell Administra- 
 tion was in ^-rious difficulties. Parliament would 
 expire by eiflu ion of time in June and a great 
 effort must be made by the Conservative Party in 
 die ensuing elections. A call had therefore been is- 
 sued to the veteran Sir Charles Tupper to come 
 over to help them. He had responded with alacrity. 
 Should he or should he not resign the High Com- 
 missionership was the question. A decision was 
 soon taken. If his party won at the polls, Sir 
 Charles would certainly enter office as Prime Min- 
 ister, if he did not do so before; if his party lost, it 
 was incredible that he would be continued in office 
 as High Commissioner by the Liberals. Whom to 
 appoint as his successor was a more difficult prob- 
 lem. Various names were canvassed: meanwhile, 
 Sir Charles, before leaving England, had been in- 
 formed that the member for Montreal West would 
 accept the post. 
 
 "When I heard Sir Donald Smith's name men- 
 tioned for the High Commissionership," states 
 ai3 
 
 
 , »'i' 
 
 ;h.: ,-t! 
 
 ti' 
 
 '' il 
 
 9 i'jl 
 
 idli iii: 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Sir Mackenzie Bowell, "I confess I was surprised. 
 'He won't take it,' I immediately said. However, I 
 made the offer and it was accepted." 
 
 There were, indeed, some grounds for the then 
 Prime Minister's surprise and incredulity. Sir 
 Donald Smith was in his seventy-sixth year. He 
 had led an unusually arduous life, frequently over- 
 taxing his strength; he had acquired vast wealth, 
 and was naturally credited with a desire for rest and 
 ease in retirement. No man then living in Canada 
 could look back on a more notable and successful 
 career. Truly, the ways of destiny are inscrutable. 
 For Donald Alexander Smith, at the age when 
 decrepitude has overtaken the generality of man- 
 kind, a fresh and more splendid career was dawn- 
 ing. All that he had done hitherto would be eclipsed 
 — all that he had been hitherto would be taken 
 vaguely on trust. His world-wide fame and that 
 great and prolonged service which was to make 
 Canada his everlasting debtor, were both shrouded 
 in the mists of futurity. 
 
 To him a close personal friend had written in 
 April: — 
 
 It is rumoured that you have been offered the High 
 Commissionership in London. I hope it is not true 
 that you have accepted the post. It would, in my 
 opinion, be a fatal mistake — fatal to your peace of 
 mind, to your health, and also to your fame and hap- 
 piness. Moreover, it will prove to be but an empty 
 honour and your enforced retirement in a few months 
 will surely follow. Mackenzie Bowell cannot possibly 
 carry on and Laurier will come in. If you accept, you 
 214 
 
Appointed High Commissioner 
 
 are laying up a fresh sorrow for your old age. But of 
 course, you have thought of all that. 
 
 Sir Donald was sworn in as High Commissioner 
 and a Privy Councillor on April 24, 1896. 
 
 The appointment drew forth the high commend- 
 ation of both political parties. He was admittedly 
 Canada s foremost citizen, and in his new sphere 
 was expected to do much to assist in bringing 
 the Colonies into closer touch with the Mother 
 Country. His reputation and position in finance 
 made him additionally persona grata in commercial 
 circles. His acceptance of the High Commissioner- 
 ship would not, he found it necessary to announce, 
 affect his position as President of the Bank of Mon- 
 treal and Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. 
 
 Sir Donald Smith [commented the well-informed 
 London Chronicle] will make an almost ideal Canadian 
 High Commissioner. He is the most large-hearted of 
 Canadians, and though a nominal supporter of the 
 Government now in power at Ottawa, he cares very 
 ittle for party distinctions, and has probably as many 
 fnends among the Liberals as among the Conserva- 
 tives. He has abundant wealth, reaped in such enter- 
 pnses as the railways which have opened up the West- 
 ern States and the prairie regions of the Canadian 
 North-West. Most tourists in Canada know with 
 what a lavish hand he dispenses hospitality at his 
 Montreal mansion in Dorchester Street and his once 
 famous Winnipeg residence, "Silver Heights." Last 
 year Sir Donald became a host in this country, for he is 
 now the proud possessor of the historic pass of Glencoe. 
 ais 
 
 ^ I 
 
 i<^L i 
 
 -1 I 
 
i,n 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Other newspapers spoke in the same strain when 
 welcoming the new Canadian representative, and 
 he received numerous letters exhibiting the esteem 
 in which he was held by many English friends. 
 Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that to the 
 masses in Britain Sir Donald Smith in 1896 was not 
 even a name. Canada herself was on the threshold 
 of that Imperial celebrity and material success 
 which was soon to surround her. 
 
 "Who is this Sir David Smith who is to replace 
 our friend Tupper?" wrote a usually well-informed 
 ex-Cabinet INTi'.iister to the Honourable Edward 
 Blake, who he ' now transterred himself to an Irish 
 constituency. 
 
 To the varied illustrations of romance in the 
 careers of notable men, this other might be sug- 
 gested — to begin climbing the highest ladder of 
 fame at the age of seventy-five. 
 
 What, it may be asked, was the precise nature 
 of the office to which Sir Donald had just been 
 appointed? Previous to 1880 Canada had been 
 represented in the United Kingdom by a simple 
 agent. Sir John Rose. E^rly in that year. Sir John 
 Macdonald resolved to put the office of agent for 
 Canada in London on a more satisfactory footing. 
 
 An act was, therefore, passed constituting the 
 office of High Commissioner. In appointing Sir 
 Alexander Gait to the post certain definite instruc- 
 tions were formulated and approved by the Gov- 
 ernor-General. He was also appointed chief emi- 
 gration agent for Canada, and he was informed that 
 it was the Government's intention to transfer the 
 ai6 
 
Salary of the Post 
 entire management of the public debt and corre- 
 spondence relating to the finances of the Doninion 
 in London to the High Commissioner. 
 
 After a brief tenure of office, Sir Alexander Gait 
 was succeeded by Sir Charles Tupper in 1884. 
 With all Sir Charles's qualities of manner and 
 knowledge which made him so capital a represent- 
 ative of the country abroad, he was, it must be 
 avowed, far too keen a politician and followed far 
 too ardently his instincts of combat to be quite 
 acceptable to both political parties in Canada. 
 Moreover, he continued, while holding the High 
 Commissionership, to be a member of the Con- 
 servative Ministry, and was therefore a fair target 
 for the shafts of the Opposition. One instance of 
 this criticism will suffice. There was a proposal in 
 1 89 1 to raise the emolument of the High Commis- 
 sioner to the modest figure of $10,000. "Why," 
 asked one member, "should the High Commissioner, 
 who lives in England, and who, however you may 
 attempt to surround the fact with verbiage, holds 
 a sinecure very largely, have a salary larger than 
 that of the hard-worked head of the Department? 
 What practical duties has the High Commissioner 
 discharged during the last eight or ten years?" 
 
 Another member actually proposed abolition of 
 the office; while yet another ironically declared: — 
 
 The Minister of Finance has sought to justify the 
 continuance of the office of High Commissioner on the 
 ground that he has performed great service in respect 
 to the egg and poultry trade. The honourable gentle- 
 man has, however, undertaken a larger contract than 
 «i7 
 
 '?< it .:: 
 
 '' ll 
 
 ^ ' I 
 
 
K 1 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 even he is capable of performing, if he seeks to convince 
 the House that the spasmodic efforts of the High Com- 
 missioner with respect to the egg and poultry trade of 
 this Dominion would justify the payment of $18,000 ' 
 a year for the continuance of the ofhce. The egg and 
 poultry trade is a very important one, and its impor- 
 tance has always been recognized by the Opposition. 
 
 It is interesting to note the part Sir Donald 
 Smith took in the debate. He said: — 
 
 The honourable gentleman has compared the emolu- 
 ments of the High Commissioner with those of the 
 Honourable First Minister and the other Ministers of 
 the Crown. The honourable gentleman does not re- 
 quire to be informed that many representatives of 
 European nations, those in Austria, in France, in Rus- 
 sia, in England, get much higher salaries than the 
 Prime Minister in any of those countries; and that is 
 undoubtedly consistent with their position, represent- 
 ing, as they do, their Sovereign, as the High Commis- 
 sioner for Canada represents the Dominion. 
 
 While [he characteristically continued] I have a 
 proper idea of economy, I think that instead of putting 
 it at $10,000 or $12,000, $20,000 would be by no means 
 too much to pay — I am not speaking of an individual, 
 but for the position of the representative of Canada in 
 London. There are many demands made on any gen- 
 tleman in that position, that I think it would be only 
 showing a proper regard to the dignity and the posi- 
 tion of Canada to make a worthy allowance for the 
 High Commissioner. 
 
 * Inclusive of the cost of an official residence in Cromwell Road. 
 One of Sir Donald's first acts was to dispose of this house, which had 
 meanwtiile greatly deteriorated in value. 
 3l8 
 
Opposed to Parsimony 
 
 I think that it would be really in our own interests 
 that the position of High Commissioner of Canada (I 
 say again, I am not speaking of the individual) should 
 be made such as to enable him to entertain, to some 
 extent, out of the proceeds of his salary, as is done by 
 almost all other representatives. 
 
 At the very time he thus spoke there was a 
 notice on the motion paper from him in respect to 
 an increase in the salaries of Canada's judges. 
 
 I trust [he urged] this will be taken into considera- 
 tion by the Government, because I think we owe it to 
 ourselves that the salaries of our judges should be in- 
 creased While I hope I am actuated by a proper 
 desire for economy as much as the honourable gentle- 
 man or any other member of this House, I should 
 certamly not be opposed to seeing the emoluments of 
 the Ministers of the Crown as well as the judges in- 
 creased. At the same time, we ought to exercise every 
 care in introducing into every portion of the Civil 
 Service those only who are fit to do the work to be 
 assigned to them. If such care be observed, we should 
 be able to pay well all those who are capable of doing, 
 and who do, good work for the Dominion. 
 
 The suggestion of 520,000 a year in addition to a 
 residence rudely shocked the Opposition. As one 
 member declared: — 
 
 Before the >nourable gentleman startles us with 
 such an extrat.ainary suggestion, he must be prepared 
 to show that our condition in Canada is so essentially 
 prosperous that we should be justified in moving in the 
 direction of increasing the salaries of our hard-worked 
 officials, before we increase those of persons holding 
 smecures. 
 
 319 
 
 ^ il 
 
 mi 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Another member declared that he had examined 
 the authorities to ascertain what the United States 
 of America paid their Ambassadors and Ministers 
 abroad. While Canada "virtually" paid the High 
 Commissioner $i8,ooo a year, the amount of sal- 
 aries paid to the Ambassadoi s of the United States 
 to France, Great Britain, Germany, and Russia 
 was only $17,500. America only paid $12,000 a 
 year to her Ministers to Austria, Brazil, China, 
 Italy, Japan, Spain; to Turkey, Chili, Argentine 
 Republic, United States of Colombia, and Peru, 
 $10,000; and to Persia, Portugal, and other smaller 
 countries, $5000. " So," it was added triumphantly, 
 "our High Commissioner receives a larger salary 
 than any of the Ambassadors of the United States 
 to foreign countries." 
 
 Events and changes were to move rapidly for- 
 ward to the time, twelve brief years later, when 
 one of these very important American Ambassa- 
 dors — no less important than Mr. Whitelaw Raid 
 — was to say publicly to an English audience: — 
 
 I sometimes think that my office is magnified by 
 your kindness into a greater than it would be otherwise, 
 and my duties, more numerous here from the same 
 cause, would sometimes overwhelm me if my spirit of 
 emulation were not aroused by the constant spectacle 
 of a rival. He, too, is an Ambassador of an English- 
 speaking Transatlantic country, in extent equalling my 
 own and advancing by rapid strides to wealth and im- 
 portance second only to ourselves in the whole Western 
 world. Wherever I go there is he, and to a great many 
 functions I do not go, he does. Yet, great as is the 
 
 320 
 
Pacific Cable Conference 
 
 country he represents, the Ambassador of the Domin- 
 ion of Canada magnifies his office. Beside his inde- 
 fatigable exertions, my own office is a sinecure. 
 
 It is only just to say that Canadian industrial and 
 monetary conditions were at a comparatively low 
 ebb in the early nineties, and were the representa- 
 tive ever so persuasive or diligent, the attractions 
 then offered by his country were dubious and few. 
 Some there were even amongst those in high places 
 who despaired of the future. How different was the 
 temper of Sir Donald Smith! One of his earliest 
 utterances as High Commissioner was at a ban- 
 quet in connection with a Pacific Cable Conference 
 in London to which he was, with Sir Mackenzie 
 Bowell, a delegate. 
 
 Responding to a toast of "Canada," he said:— 
 
 Sir Alexander Wilson has told you that it was a 
 band of merchants who gave to England and the Em- 
 pire the vast and good country of India. That was a 
 band of merchant adventurers trading into Hudson's 
 Bay. These men, two years after the East India Com- 
 pany was chartered, also obtained a charter. The 
 whole of the eastern portion of Canada then belonged 
 to the Crown of France. These merchant adventurers 
 first entered Hudson's Bay. Then they spread them- 
 selves over the more northern portion of the continent. 
 And what is the country now? It is a very important 
 part of the Dominion of Canada, and in years to come 
 will be of still greater consequence to the Dominion 
 and to the Empire. 
 
 It is in that country within the last year that a small 
 number of farmers have produced no less than thirty 
 
 031 
 
 M 
 
 ^1 
 
 J ! 
 
 Wi 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 million bushels of wheat, and when that country be- 
 comes what it will in a very few years become, with the 
 assistance which we are sure to have from those whom 
 we see here to-night and those who have come as 
 delegates from all parts of Great Britain and the 
 Empire, then that vast North- West of Canada will be 
 settled by hundreds of thousands and even millions of 
 British subjects. 
 
 Looking to the vast area of the wheat-fields in that 
 great North- West, and considering what has already 
 been done in the way of wheat growth, we may look 
 forward with assurance, and that in a short time, to 
 the day when it will produce and send to England all 
 the grain she may require. There are in Canada those 
 who have as loyal hearts to Great Britain and the 
 Empire as we find here at home. 
 
 A reference to the Right Honourable Joseph 
 Chamberlain was received with loud cheers: — 
 
 We in Canada have the greatest satisfaction in know- 
 ing that there is at the present moment at the head of 
 the Colonial Department one who has given his heart 
 thoroughly to the work of making a great Empire, and 
 knitting together every part of the Empire so that 
 " Imperialism" shall be not merely a "movement," — 
 not simply a flash in the pan, — but that wc shall 
 continue steadily growing as i . Empire of Englishmen 
 with the aspirations and determination of all to do 
 their part in keeping their heritage intact and perpetu- 
 ating its glories for all time. I may say for Canada that 
 its Government and people will be foremost to come to 
 the right honourable gentleman and ask him to take 
 steps that there may be a gathering of the different 
 parts of the Empire in England to devise some means 
 
Speech in England 
 
 of »ati8fying every portion of the Queen's dominion* in 
 respect of commerce and the intercourse between all 
 parts of the Empire. We shall be only too glad to knit 
 the bonds still closer with the great Elmpire of which 
 we are proud. 
 
 People had asked him [he said] upon what he baaed 
 his opinion of Canada's coming greatness. What is 
 this Dominion? It is a country of three and a half 
 million square miles— about half of North America. 
 It is true that at the present moment we have not a 
 very large population, for I think we are outnumbered 
 by the population of London and its suburbs, but we 
 have at least five millions of people, all of whom are as 
 loyal to our Queen and to the Empire as any to be 
 found in the heart of the Empire. Canada has at pres- 
 ent a revenue of $334,000,000. It has railways extend- 
 ins; over 16,000 miles. It has a shipping tonnage of 
 " 000, being in that respect fifth among the nations. 
 
 ,t only so, but it produces wheat in very large quan- 
 lities and of the very best quality. In the North-West 
 they last year produced no less than 33,000,000 bushels 
 of wheat and upwards of 30,000,000 bushels of other 
 grains. But this is not all. We have a country which in 
 many of the eastern parts is rich in minerals, but when 
 you cross the mountains, you find in British Columbia 
 abundance of both gold and silver, as well as of the 
 baser metals. We have in the prairies what is of the 
 greatest use to the settler — coal in unlimited quanti- 
 ties. At one time it was supposed th?t there could be 
 no large centres of population in the North-West be- 
 cause there was so little fuel — so little timber; but it 
 has since been found that throughout the whole of that 
 great district coal exists in the greatest abundance. 
 Thus, having gold and silver, iron and copper, and the 
 
 033 
 
 
 ft*" 
 
 y 
 
 
 fi 
 
 'U' mi 
 
 [1 li'i'' ! si 
 h Ij. 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 greatest abundance of fuel, we can look forward to a 
 great future for that country. 
 
 While (he iaid] Canada ttill loolci to England for ai«' 
 in her difficulties, we feel that we ought to have indt- 
 pendence to help ourselves to the utmost, and that in 
 helping ourselves we shall also be doint a great and 
 good work for the Mother Country, and for the knitting 
 together of all the Colonies and the Mother Land into 
 one great Empire, and the creation of a power which 
 will command, that I igland and the Empire shall be 
 still more and mor'i respected by all nations. In no 
 part of tl > Em .ire is there more affection for the Old 
 Country than in Canada, or a greater willingness to do 
 our part in the work of consolidation. And I think I 
 should add that this is the case, not only with the Eng- 
 lish-speaking people of Canada, but equally with our 
 fellrnv-countrymen who speak French. As was said 
 many years ago by a citizen of that country, a French- 
 Canadian is an EnglishmiMi to the core, who speaks 
 French. Another statesman declared that the last shot 
 fired on the North American continent for the British 
 Empire and for England would be fired by a French- 
 Canadian. It will be, we hope and believe, years, gen- 
 erations, centuries, before there is any possibility of 
 it being necessary to fire this last shot, for we believe 
 that there is a feeling in Canada, and in the whole 
 Empire, which will conserve that country to England 
 as surely as the different parts of the United Kingdom 
 are concerned. 
 
 But a more notable public appearance occurred 
 in the early days of June at the Congress of Cham- 
 bers of Commerce of the Empire, to which he was 
 a delegate. Here he sounded for the first time that 
 
 034 
 
Imperial Chambers of Commerce 
 
 note of practical Imperialism which Joseph Cham- 
 berlam emitted with his latest breath. Sir Donald 
 ardently hoped for preferential trade within the 
 Empire, but political considerations soon made his 
 championship of the proposal incompatible with 
 his tenure of a non-political office. 
 
 The Toronto Board of Trade had offered a rcso- 
 lution, to which Sir Donald proposed the followine 
 amendment: — 
 
 Whereas, the stability and progress of the British 
 Empire can be best assured by drawing continually 
 closer the bonds that unite the Colonies with the 
 Mother Country, and by the continuous growth of a 
 practical sympathy and cooperation in all that per- 
 tains to the common welfare; and whereas, this coop- 
 eration and unity can in no way be more effectually 
 promoted than by the cultivation and extension of the 
 mutual and profitable interchange of their products: 
 therefore, resolved. That this Congress records its 
 belief in the advisability and practicability of a customs 
 arrangement between Great Britain and her Colonies 
 and India on the basis of preferential treatment, and 
 recommends that steps should be taken by Her Ma- 
 jesty's Government to bring about an interchange of 
 opinions on the subject between the Mother Country 
 and the other Governments of the Empire. 
 
 In the course of his speech Sir Donald remarked 
 that in moving his amendment he did so in no 
 spirit of opposition to the previous proposal of the 
 Toronto delegation. 
 
 I am, indeed, acting in unison with my friends from 
 loronto and other Canadian representatives. My 
 
 MS 
 
 ■ 1 I 
 
 ;^ i ! . 
 
 m 
 
 < if 
 
 r 
 
 Wr 
 
 : ♦ 
 
 tl liif ( 
 
III! ' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 object is to place before this Congress a resolution 
 which represents, I hope, the views of all the Canadian 
 delegates and will receive their support, and thus ren- 
 der more or less unnecessary the discussion of the other 
 resolutions of a similar nature which are on the paper. 
 We hope also that the terms of the amendment are 
 such as will commend themselves to our friends from 
 Australasia, from South Africa, and the other Colonies, 
 and we are not without hope that it may commend 
 itself to the representatives of the commercial interests 
 of the United Kingdom who are present to-day. What 
 we are striving for here is not the discussion of the de- 
 tails of a commercial arrangement between the Mother 
 Country and the other Colonies. That must be left to 
 the Government of the different parts of the Empire 
 to formulate and arrange. What we want to do is to 
 secure the acceptance by this Congress of the principle 
 that has been in one way and another so ably advo- 
 cated. It has also been discussed by the Canadian Par- 
 liament, by Boards of Trade and Chambere of Com- 
 merce in Canada, in South Africa and Australasia, and 
 also in other Colonies. But the third paragraph of the 
 Amendment takes us a step further, and the principle 
 being conceded, Her Majesty's Government are to be 
 requested to approach the other Governments of the 
 Empire with a view to the interchange of opinions on 
 this important subject, which is very closely connected 
 with the future development of the trade and com- 
 merce of this great Empire. 
 
 If Her Majesty's Government will grasp the matter 
 boldly and invite an expression of opinion from the 
 Governments of the Colonies, we are not without hope 
 that it may lead to the calling together of another great 
 Conference in London, where the details of a measure 
 
 3S6 
 
Practical Imperialism 
 
 satisfactory to the Colonies and the United Kingdom 
 might be discussed and arranged. 
 
 Lord Salisbury had said that in the closer union 
 between the Mother Country and the Colonies was 
 mvolved nothing more or less than the future of the 
 British Empire. Mr. Goschen had said that he thought 
 It possible that the advantages of the commercial con- 
 solidation of the Empire might be so great that in cer- 
 tain circumstances no objection would be raised to it. 
 Lord Rosebery, in one of his speeches declared: "It 
 IS, as I believe, impossible for you to maintain in the 
 long run your present loose and imperfect relatior< to 
 your Colonies." You know the extent and importance 
 of the Colonial trade at present: and you must have an 
 Idea of the extent to which it is bound to develop in the 
 future. We have immense British territories all over 
 the worid, and their progress is only just commencing. 
 I think these facts are an argument in themselves for 
 the formulation of closer and more intimate commer- 
 cial arrangements between the different parts of the 
 Empire than exist at present. 
 
 We all, here and overseas, have a common origin, 
 a common history, a common language, a common lit- 
 erature, a common love of liberty and law, common 
 principles to assert, and common interests to maintain. 
 And, gentlemen, we have all a common love for and 
 loyalty to the British Crown and the British connec- 
 tion. Why, therefore, cannot we have some arrange- 
 ment of the nature sketched in outline in the amend- 
 ment I am now proposing? Why should every part of 
 the Empire in matters of commerce treat every other 
 part of the Empire as they do foreign countries? 
 Gentlemen, union is strength. We have competitors 
 everywhere, and if we hope to compete with them not 
 
 art 
 
 
 i )•: II 
 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 ill > 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 only within but without the Empire, we must look 
 after what we conceive to be our common interests. 
 
 I think it will be generally admitted that they look 
 after theirs. I have already said that we do not want 
 to enter into details. We do not wish to get into a dis- 
 cussion on abstract free trade or protection. We have 
 other and higher objects to attain, — the closer com- 
 mercial unity of this great Empire, - - and those who 
 run may read, not only the issues that are at stake at 
 the present time, but the very much greater issues that 
 must make themselves apparent in the near future. 
 I do not think there is anything in a moderate scheme 
 of preferential treatment which need shock any rea- 
 sonable economic theories, neither is it likely to lead 
 to retaliation. We have as much right to treat trade 
 within the Empire on a preferential basis as the 
 various foreign countries with colonies have to give 
 to and receive from their colonies preferential treat- 
 ment. 
 
 Germany cannot reasonably object to such a propo- 
 sition; neither can the United States, because they 
 have adopted it already themselves; and the same 
 remark applies to Norway and Sweden. Therefore, 
 gentlemen, I commend this amendment very heartily 
 and cordially to your acceptance. I am sure its adop- 
 tion would cause much gratification in the Colonies, 
 and I believe among no inconsiderable part of the pop- 
 ulation of the United Kingdom. It would also encour- 
 age Her Majesty's Government to take steps to secure 
 a modification of those unlucky treaties with Belgium 
 and Germany which in their present form block the 
 way to any inter-Imperial arrangement. After looking 
 into the matter, I do not think there would be any 
 great difficulty in bringing about the modification we 
 
For Closer Union 
 
 desire. I will only say, in conclusion, that the tenns 
 of the amendment are very elastic in their nature. 
 What we are striving for is some plan which may the 
 least upset the fiscal system in force in the United 
 Kingdom and in the Colonies, and I believe that such 
 a scheme could readily be arranged. It would certainly 
 mean great things for the Empire — a closer sentimen- 
 tal and fiscal union than at present, and the retention 
 of the Colonial markets for British goods for all time. 
 It would stimulate the development of the Colonies, 
 provide larger markets for British products, and insure 
 larger supplies of food products from British territories. 
 These are only a few of the consequences that would 
 inevitably follow the closer union of the different parts 
 of the Empire, and they are surely worthy of some sac- 
 rifices on both sides. The Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies has said that there is on one side free trade, 
 and protection on the other, but he has pointed out 
 another way, and I think in that direction we may 
 come together. To do so it is necessary that there 
 should not only be discussion, but that either the 
 Colonies should approach the Home Government or 
 that the Mother Country should approach the Col- 
 onies, to ascertain how far each is willing and prepared 
 to go in the way of a Zollverein, that there may be one 
 feeling and one action throughout. While proud to be 
 a native of the United Kingdom, I am still more proud 
 to be a Canadian, and that is, I may say, the feeling 
 of the vast majority of the Canadian people. There 
 is every desire to bring us closer and closer to the 
 Mother Land, and that we shall in the end — and we 
 trust it may be in a very short time— feel that 
 we are one people, Britons, throughout the British 
 Ejnpire. 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 This speech created an ineffaceable impression.' 
 Mr. Chamberlain was amongst the first to con- 
 gratulate the High Commissioner. They met fre- 
 quently, both in public and privately, and a warm 
 friendship sprang up between them. 
 
 Sir Donald went to Gla^ow in the middle of 
 June to take part in the celebration of his friend 
 Lord Kelvin's jubilee. Canada had taken so promi- 
 nent a part in the progress of ocean telegraphy that 
 it was most fitting for her High Commissioner to 
 do honour to the William Thompson whose in- 
 vestigations made possible the first Atlantic cable 
 of 1858. 
 
 Look [he said] at the telegraphic map of to-day, and 
 you realize how vital is Canadian cooperation in the 
 telegraphic connections of the Old World and the New. 
 The day will soon come when these Atlantic lines will 
 be but the first link in truly Imperial lines which will 
 make Canada the halfway house of the telegraphs of 
 the Empire. In doing honour to Lord Kelvin, Cana- 
 dians do not, moreover, forget that he was the fir-t 
 in conjunction with the late Sir William Siemens, to 
 suggest the conversion of the energy of Niagara into 
 electric power. That Niagara conversion is but the 
 beginning of a widespread harnessing of water-power 
 in Canada, as well as in all North America. 
 
 • Amongst those who lUtened to the speech was the late W. T. 
 Stead, who wrote : " In the vigour, the youthful freshness, the massive 
 head crowne<l hy the glistening snows, I seemed to see the great 
 Dominion of Canada incarnate, and in his language I heard the 
 Canadian creed of hope, self-confidence, and loyalty." It was Mr. 
 A. G. Gardiner, editor of the Daily Nn/s, who afterwards wrote ol 
 Lord Strathcona as "Canada in a swallow-tail coat." 
 
 330 
 
 J 
 
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 The New Premier 
 
 On the afternoon of Dominion Day their first 
 reception Weis given by the High Commissioner for 
 Canada, and Lady Smith, in celebration of the day 
 at the Imperial Institute. The guests numbered 
 between five and six hundred, and a feature of the 
 occasion, then as afterwards, was that the music 
 was supplied by Canadian musicians studying in 
 Europe, to whom he was ever a patron. 
 
 The elections in Canada were by this time tak- 
 ing place. Sir Mackenzie Bowell had previously 
 yielded the Premiership to Sir Charles Tupper, who 
 fought valiantly on the hustings to retain it. But 
 the verdict of the country was against him, and 
 after eighteen years' exclusion the Liberals returned 
 to power. 
 
 There was much speculation as to what effect 
 this would have on Sir Donald's retention of his 
 office. 
 
 If [commented the World] Mr. Laurier has the in- 
 terests of his country at heart he will make no change 
 in the British High Commissionership. That office 
 is now filled by a gentleman who, of all Canadians, is 
 best qualified for the position. Sir Donald A. Smith 
 is probably the best-known Colonial in London. He is 
 in touch with all great movements in which Canada 
 is interested. Furthermore, he is a man of wealth, and 
 is thereby enabled to create an impression on the 
 British public which Einother representative might not 
 be able to effect. 
 
 But the new Canadian Prime Minister needed no 
 prompting of this kind. He wrote at once to Sir 
 Donald expressing his hope that the result of the 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 elections would make no difference in the former's 
 retention of the post. 
 
 BiowN's HoTBL, Dovm Srwocr, London, 
 i;th July, 1896. 
 My dear Mr. Laitrier: — 
 
 Your most kind letter of tlie 3d July I had the 
 pleasure of receiving to-day, only in time to send a 
 line in acknowledgment by this morning's mail and 
 to thank you, which I do very heartily for it. 
 
 Although a Liberal-Conservative, an independent 
 one in the fullest sense of the word, it affords me much 
 gratification, as one who was happy to count you a 
 personal friend, to congratulate ypu on the result of 
 the elections, as I had the most complete confidence 
 that the best interests of your country would in every 
 way be safe in your hands. 
 
 I have a very pleasant and grateful recollection of 
 the assurance you were good enough to give me in 
 March, that of your utmost aid in disposing satisfac- 
 torily of the vexed questions of Manitoba Schools, 
 which had it been properly handled was capable of 
 settlement long ago. You may feel assured that if in 
 any way I can assist in arriving at a result so much to 
 be wished for, my best services will always be at your 
 command. 
 
 I write in much haste, but believe me to be, etc., 
 Donald A. Smith. 
 
 The same day, on being summoned to Windsor 
 Castle to a private investiture, he received the 
 order of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of 
 St. Michael and St. George, of which order he had 
 been a member for ten years. Sir Donald, on the 
 1 8th July, sailed for Canada in company with Sir 
 
 11 
 
SIR DONALD A. SMITH, G.C.M.U., 1896 
 
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Royal Victoria College 
 
 Mackenzie Bowell, his late colleague in the Pacific 
 Cable Conference. 
 
 Before leaving for London in May he had added 
 another to the magnificent series of benefactions 
 which he had already conferred upon Montreal, in 
 the building of the Royal Victoria College for 
 the Higher Educatioa of Women. The establish- 
 ment of this institution introduced a new feature 
 into Montreal university life — a feature which has 
 very great attractions for the majority of students, 
 and which has long been looked upon as a desidera- 
 tum by a large proportion of university men. The 
 Victoria College would be essentially a residential 
 institution, as are the colleges of the British uni- 
 versities, having only subsidiary arrangements for 
 teaching apart from those which its students would 
 enjoy as members of the university. 
 
 It is looked upon by many [said the Witness news- 
 paper] as only the beginning of the residential system 
 carried out under the wise direction of the greatest 
 friend of higher education that Canada has known. 
 
 Great care was exercised to have the interior 
 appointments of Victoria College as nearly perfect 
 as possible. The building was six stories in height, 
 and included, in addition to the convocation hall, 
 classrooms and residential quarters, a gymnasium* 
 reading-room and library for the "Donaldas" (as 
 the female students on the Donald A. Smith 
 Foundation were already known). It was expected 
 that tlie building would be ready at the begin- 
 ning of the autumn session of the following year. 
 »33 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 Queen Victoria accorded her sanction to the title 
 and the college was under her patronage. 
 
 The visit to Canada was brief. Sir Donald was 
 back in London on August 8, to resume his duties 
 as High Commissioner, having in the intervening 
 three weeks twice crossed the Atlantic and trans- 
 acted important business at Ottawa and Montreal. 
 Soon after his arrival he left to pass four or five 
 days at his new country-seat in Scotland, after 
 which his duties as lecturer and interpreter of 
 Canada in Great Britain began in earnest.' 
 
 If the statistics into which he was prone to launch 
 seem trite now, to some of us, let it be remembered 
 that they were not so then. Vast audiences, com- 
 prising intelligent and well-informed men and 
 women, listened spellbound to his recital of the 
 advantages Canada offered to the immigrant. To- 
 day we may smile — Europe knows the story well, 
 — but how fresh and attractive it seemed in 1896! 
 
 In no country in the world has an enterprising man 
 a greater chance of making a success in life than in the 
 Dominion, if he possesses the necessary qualities; and 
 in Canada those qualities have always the chance of 
 making their influence felt. There is no Established 
 Church, and many other questions which in England 
 are still the subject of controversy have settled them- 
 selves long ago in Canada. 
 
 He pursued his policy of public instruction on 
 the resources of Canada whenever an opportunity 
 
 ' " Canada in breeches" wa» the phraae applied to him by Mr. La- 
 bouchere, which is reminiscent of Sidney Smith's remark concerning 
 Daniel Webatcr. 
 
 AM 
 
Canada's Great Need 
 
 occurred. No opportunity was too small — and 
 the need was great. One of his first addresses was 
 at Newcastle. 
 
 Not only in Canada [he said], but in all the other 
 Colonies, the feeling prevails that too little is known 
 in the United Kingdom — the heart of the Empire — 
 of its outlying portions, and we are all trying in every 
 way to bring about a different state of things. It is no 
 selfish object which has prompted us in our endeavours. 
 We want to bring the Colonies intocloser relations with 
 the Mother Country. We wish to develop trade be- 
 tween the different parts of the Empire, as well as with 
 other countries, and we much appreciate the great 
 services of Mr. Chamberlain in directing public atten- 
 tion prominently to the matter. In the Colonics there 
 are millions upon millions of acres of land only wait- 
 ing to be cultivated to produce everything that man 
 requires, and we want to attract to those lands the 
 surplus capital and muscle of the United Kingdom. 
 The increase of the population of the Colonies must 
 add to their wealth and strength, and also to their 
 productive and consuming capacities. Such results 
 must necessarily tend to make the British Empire, of 
 which we all are so proud, a greater factor in the prog- 
 ress of the worid than it is even at the present time. 
 
 Although next year will be the fourth centenary 
 of the landing of the Cabots in what is now Canada, 
 and a part of the country is well advanced in the third 
 century of its actual occupation, the positive, actual 
 life of the Dominion, with all its potentialities brought 
 within reach of the people, commenced a little more 
 than ten years ago. Even now, although the popula- 
 tion exceeds five million, only a fringe of the territory 
 available for cultivation is inhabited. There are no 
 •U 
 
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 ^^'^ 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 very large citlei In Canada, in the senae in which the 
 term is undcntood in the United Kingdom and clie- 
 where, and over forty-five per cent of the population 
 find their mcani of subsistence and their opportunities 
 for the accumulation of wealth in agriculture. Canada 
 is proud of its sturdy yeoman farmers. Large holdings 
 arc exceptions and not the rule, and the policy of the 
 Dominion and Provincial f , emmcnts is to encourage 
 the immigration and settl. 'ent of small farmers. The 
 holdings may be said to average from one hundred to 
 three hundred acres. 
 
 The annual feast of the Master Cutlers' Com- 
 pany of Sheffield is an historic affair. Represen- 
 tatives of English diplomacy, statesmanship, lit- 
 erature, military, and naval science crowded the 
 Cutlers' Hall on the feast-day in Otober to do 
 honour to the great industry of Sheffield, and some 
 very notable speeches were delivered. 
 
 The toast of "The Colonies" fell to Sir Howard 
 Vincent, one of the members of Parliament for the 
 city. In the course of his speech he said: — 
 
 God be thanked that the coming year 1897 bids fair 
 to be an epoch in Ejiglish history. It will not only be 
 most notable in the annals of British Monarchy, but 
 will also be, I hope, a witness to the efforts of the Brit- 
 ish Government and statesmen to make our Empire 
 proof against shot and shell — not alone by the armour 
 plates of Sheffield, but by the golden chains of mutual 
 commerce. Greet to-night the pioneer of England's 
 glorious work, the vast Dominion of Canada, ever in 
 the van of public duty. I present to your acclamation 
 great Canada's High Commissioner, Sir Donald Smith, 
 who has borne a foremost part in binding, with the rails 
 336 
 
First Move should be England's 
 
 of Sheffield, the stomiy billows of the Atlantic with 
 the boundU-M track* of the far Pacific. Over the iron 
 way ii coming to our millloni, ai to our contempo- 
 rarily afRiciL-d brothers of the Far East, the unrivalled 
 British com of the Far West. Over the Empire — 
 west by east and north by south — waves the banner 
 of freedom, the cross of St. George, St. David, St. 
 Andrew, and St. Patrick, — our Union Jack. I give 
 you the toast of your Colonies — the Colonies of tht 
 British Empire, coupled with the name of the Hon- 
 ourable Sir Donald Smith. 
 
 Warmly received was Sir Donald on rising to 
 respond. He said ; — 
 
 Sixty and more years ago, I became personally as- 
 sociated with Sheffield, by possessing a pocket knife 
 bearing the name of your city. Thousands had come 
 to know Sheffield in the same way, not only through- 
 out the Kingdom, but throughout the world. And on 
 finding myself in possession of that part of the wares 
 of Sheffield, I was filled with pride and satisfaction, 
 because, beholding the name "Sheffield," I knew that 
 no better knife — no better tool for a good workman 
 — could be found anywhere on the planet. 
 
 It has been said that the Colonies should come be- 
 fore the Mother Country and express their desire for 
 a closer union. But it seems to me a matter of such 
 great importance to the whole Empire, it would cer- 
 tainly not be unbecoming that Great Britain should 
 approach the Colonies. We, in Canada, are proud of 
 our Mother Country because we believe in it. We have 
 there everything which has made the United States, 
 and it is no doubt the same thing with the other 
 Colonies — with Australia and South Africa. I can 
 «37 
 
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 III 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 only say on behalf of Canada, and, I think, equally on 
 behalf of all the Colonies, that there are no more 
 loyal subjects of the Queen than her subjects in those 
 divisions of the Empire — not even in Sheffield, or in 
 any part of this United Kingdom. 
 
 For years the burden of a hundred speeches and 
 addresses was Canada's great need for more people. 
 
 There is a large emigration from the United King- 
 dom, a good deal of which goes outside the Ejnpire, for 
 want of proper direction. Yet in no country can more 
 advantages be obtained by settlers of the right classes 
 than in Canada. 
 
 In a new country there must necessarily be more 
 openings for the young and energetic than in the 
 older one, but ;t must be borne in mind that the same 
 qualities are necessary for success there as elsewhere. 
 A capacity for hard work, energy, and enterprise will 
 make themselves felt anywhere, but nowhere so rap- 
 idly and with such great results as in a country like 
 the Dominion. 
 
 People are sometimes sent to the Colonies for their 
 country's good — some of them to do well, but many 
 of th?m fail; and their want of success is not always 
 attributed to themselves. Thatisnot the class we want. 
 Canada is a good place to live in, and offers abundant 
 advantages to people of the right stamp who will 
 come over and throw in their lot with ug. 
 
 Certainly the great crj'ing need of Canada was 
 more people. "Without people," he wrote, "we 
 can do nothing. All our resources are lying fallow 
 — all our talents are hidden under a bushel." 
 "Get population," Mr. Chamberlain told the 
 Canadians, "and all else shall be added unto you." 
 238 
 
 U;l^ 
 
 
I u 
 
 Canada under-peopled 
 
 Into this truly Herculean task of filling up the 
 Canadian North-West, Lord Strathcona flung 
 himself with a passion extraordinary in one of his 
 years. The apathy of the British people must be 
 destroyed ; the tendency of emigrants to travel to 
 America must be counteracted. And so, as we shall 
 see, he went up and down the country preaching 
 indefatigably the gospel of what has been called 
 the "ameliorating re-distribution of the British 
 peoples." His success in this task is the measure of 
 the debt owed him to-day by the Canadian nation, 
 and especially the North-West. Of Canada he said 
 it was a " field within the limits of the Empire where 
 the capital, skill, and energy of those able to emi- 
 grate, may be preserved to the British Crown." 
 
 "The development of this countrj'," wrote Sir 
 John Macdonald as far back as 1880, "if left to 
 Canadian resources alone, must necessarily be ex- 
 tremely slow. It is manifestly beyond the means 
 of such a limited population as Canada now 
 possesses, either themselves to furnish the popu- 
 lation required to fill up the North-West or the 
 capital necessary for its development. Emigration 
 on a large scale, and precisely of that character 
 which is most likely to take place from the United 
 Kingdom, is essential; and it may be urged with 
 much reason that the transference of a large body 
 of the suffering people of Great Britain and Ireland 
 to the wheat-fields of Manitoba and the North- 
 West will directly benefit the United Kingdom 
 much more than the settled Provinces of the Con- 
 federation, and will indirectly prove of still further 
 239 
 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 advantage by creating a new class of customers for 
 goods, the products of whose industry are precisely 
 those which are most essential for the independence 
 of the United Kingdom for her food supplies." 
 
 In that year the Ottawa Government was actu- 
 ally prepared to consider a plan of systematic 
 emigration, whereby Canada on her side would 
 assume the entire charge for the civil government 
 of the country and the maintenance of law and 
 order, furnishing free land for the incoming popu- 
 lation, and asking from the Imperial Government 
 only its assumption of a reasonable proportion of 
 the cost of the railway, and of the advances which 
 would be required in assisting emigration on a 
 large scale. Advances could be secured upon the 
 lands reserved for sale by the Government in aid 
 of the cost of construction of the Pacific Railway 
 or upon the farms occupied by the emigrants or 
 upon both, and the Imperial assistemce to the rail- 
 way might be defined and limited to its satisfaction. 
 
 But all this was a thing of the past. It shows, how- 
 ever, to what It^ngths the Canadian Government, 
 with what Mr. Goldwin Smith had called a "white 
 elephant on its hands," was then prepared to go. 
 Now, the Canadian Pacific Railway had been built 
 a decade ago and the agricultural potentialities of 
 the country had been tried and found to be great 
 even beyond the early expectations. Yet still the 
 tide of emigration was to the south of thf British 
 line; still the intending British efwtcraiit persisted 
 in regarding Canada as a land of snow and ice and 
 outside the range of his choice of a future home 
 240 
 
The Country's Fertility 
 
 Lord Strathcona recalled the enormous emigration 
 to Canada of the thirties and forties. 
 
 " I am astonished," he said, "when I think of the 
 conditions prevailing, that so many should have 
 emigrated then and so few now." In a letter, 
 written in 1896, he wrote that the Canadian Gov- 
 ernment attached the greatest possible importance 
 to the resources and capabilities of the Dominion 
 becoming better known and understood in the 
 United Kingdom than they are at present, and a 
 similar feeling prevails among the five million of 
 her Majesty's subjects who form the population of 
 its different provinces. 
 
 A considerable emigration [Sir Donald went on to 
 say] takes place every year from the United Kingdom, 
 some of which goes to Canada, some to the other Col- 
 onies, and the larger proportion apparently to for- 
 eign countries. Canadians would like to see a much 
 greater part of this movement going to Canada, which 
 offers advantages to immigrants not excelled by any 
 other part of the world. The various Provinces — 
 Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, 
 Quebec, Manitoba, the North-West Territories, and 
 British Columbia — stretch from the Atlantic to the 
 Pacific Ocean, and offer a wide variety of climate to 
 suit all comers, and a fertile soil which has been highly 
 spoken of by the tensmt-farmer delegations which have 
 visited the country in recent years. Only a fringe of 
 the territory is at present inhabited, and there are 
 countless millions of acres of fertile soil, ready, with 
 cultivation, to grow all the products of the temperate 
 zone. 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 To the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 14th October, 1896. 
 
 One of the leading obstacles in the way of promotion 
 of our interests, from an emigration standpoint, lies in 
 the apathy of the New York lines, arising largely from 
 the higher rates in operation from American ports to 
 our North-West, as compared with those from Cana- 
 dian ports. It applies not only to British emigration, 
 but to Continental emigration; and we must make 
 endeavours to get on better terms with the great com- 
 panies, which do not help us in the matter of emigra- 
 tion at all at present. 
 
 To take an instance, the fare from New York to 
 Winnipeg is £3 15s. od. From Quebec to Montreal it is 
 £2 gj. 4ii., a difference of £1 5i. 8(i. The Canadian 
 Pacific Railway are not willing to equalize matters 
 themselves, because, if they did, and had to pay £1 
 I05. lod., as they do now, upon every passenger trav- 
 elling by way of New York, it would leave them only 
 laj. 6d. for their share of the haul. Perhaps the officers 
 of the Government and the Canadian Pacific Railway 
 might be requested to look into the matter, to see 
 whether something cannot be done. If it were possible 
 it would certainly tend to increase our emigration, for 
 we would then have all the agents of the New York- 
 lines working for us. It would also materially increase 
 our passenger traffic over the American lines with 
 which the Canadian Pacific Railway is in connection. 
 It might be worth the while of both the Canadian 
 Government and the Canadian Pacific Railway Com- 
 pany to cooperate toward bringing about such a result, 
 in view of the great advantage it would have for 
 Canada. It is of no use trying to do anything with the 
 043 
 
His English Addresses 
 British and Continental New York lines until the 
 inequahty is removed. In this connection it must be 
 borne m mmd as a principle that if the New York line 
 agents are not working for us, their influence is either 
 opposed to us, or is negative. 
 
 All of his emigration addresses were of an emi- 
 nently practical character, conveying exactly the 
 kind of mformation that a farmer or workingman 
 would find useful if he harboured any thought of 
 em.gratmg overseas. He spoke of the immense 
 acreage awaiting cultivation, and of the crops that 
 could be grown upon it. He told of the climate ; of 
 the remarkable development of our railways and 
 canals; of our excellent banking system; of our 
 great mdustrial enierprises; of our mines and min- 
 erals, second to none in the worid; of the cosmo- 
 politan character of our population; of our supe- 
 rior educational institutions: and of our desire 
 to develop trade with the United Kingdom and 
 to draw more closely the bonds of affection that 
 attach us to the Empire. Not even the hundreds 
 of varieties of wild flowers that so modestly " trans- 
 form many parts of the prairies into huge flower 
 gardens" were overiooked. His public addresses 
 were those of a Canadian proud of his country 
 hopeful of its future, and anxious to do it service. 
 Eariy in January he had the pleasure to be pres- 
 ent at a banquet tendered to his friend Sir Charles 
 I upper, who in the course of his speech uttered that 
 panegyric of his successor in office to which allusion 
 has already been made. 
 
 *43 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 Canada now has the good fortune to have as my 
 successor in the High Commissionership, Sir Donald 
 Smith, a gentleman who possesses to an infinitely 
 greater degree than either of his predecessors the con- 
 fidence — (No, no] — yes — I say it advisedly — he 
 possesses, and deservedly possesses, the confidence of 
 both parties in Canada to an extent to which I could 
 never make the slightest claim. And you will readily 
 understand why, when, without mentioning his other 
 great claims to public confidence, I say that the mag- 
 num opus of Canada, the Canadian Pacific Railway, 
 would have no existence to-day, notwithstanding 
 all that the Government did to support that under- 
 taking, had it not been for the indomitable pluck and 
 energy and determination, both financiaUy and in every 
 other respect, of Sir Donald Smith. 
 
 Lord Strathcona used to say that no tribute that 
 had ever been paid him gave him greater pleasure 
 than this from his former travelling companion 
 over the desolate, snow-clad prairies to Fort Garry 
 a generation before. 
 
 Naturally the project of a line of steamers run- 
 ning from Britain to a port in Hudson's Bay, and 
 there connecting with a railway serving the North- 
 West, had much personal interest for Sir Donald. 
 His dictum on the subject deserves to be quoted : — 
 
 At first blush I should say its commercial practica- 
 bility was not possible! But if my long life and experi- 
 ence have taught me anything, it is this: everything is 
 possible. What man has done, man can do. There is 
 no project so fantastic — there is no scheme of trans- 
 portation so extravagant, — at which I would now 
 
Hudson's Bay Route 
 
 laugh — or which I am not disposed to believe, in ca- 
 pable hands, possible and even highly successful. 
 
 Which suggests that on one occasion Lady 
 Strathcona exclaimed: "Really — I could no more 
 do such a thing than I could fly." 
 
 "But, my dear," observed her husband quietly, 
 "we can cUl fly now if we choose." 
 
 An application, made by the promoter of the 
 Hudson's Bay route to the British Government for 
 its cooperation in investigating the possibilities of 
 the scheme, had been rejected. Sir Donald wrote 
 again to Mr. Goschen urging him to reconsider his 
 decision. 
 
 
 To the Right Honourable G. J. Goschen, M.P. 
 
 i8th February, 1897. 
 
 It is a fact that the previous expeditions are not 
 regarded as conclusive by many in Canada, and 
 especially by a large number of the inhabitants of 
 Manitoba and the North-West Territories, who are 
 fully impressed with the belief that navigation is 
 practicable for at least several months of the year in 
 Hudson's Bay and Straits. 
 
 You will readily understand, therefore, the desire 
 that exists that the question should be investigated in 
 a very thorough manner, in order that the practicabil- 
 ity of the new route, or otherwise, may be satisfactorily 
 demonstrated. This result is more likely to be achieved 
 with the cottperation of Her Majesty's Government 
 than without it. 
 
 If the route, even with specially constructed steam- 
 ers, should prove to be practicable for a sufficient time 
 »45 
 
 I ■:! 
 
 
 II! 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 each year to encourage commercial enterprise, it would 
 be of importance to Manitoba and the North-West 
 Territories and also to the exporters and importers 
 of the United Kingdom, The North- West Territories 
 and Manitoba promise to afford a large market for 
 British produce, and their capacity is great for raising 
 food supplies of various kinru (vhich are so largely 
 imported into Great Britain, 
 
 Therefore, in view of all tit' ae circumstances, I hope 
 you will be so kind as to reconsider the question, and I 
 trust, after consultation with your colleagues, some 
 means may be found of cooperating with the Canadian 
 Government in the proposed investigation, not only 
 by deputing an officer to accompany the expedition, 
 but by sharing in the expenses that will necessarily 
 have to be incurred. 
 
 But the British Government again declined, and 
 ultimately the investigation was made by Canada. 
 The result was the commencement of the Hudson's 
 Bay railway. 
 
 One of the matters which on the threshold of 
 the Jubilee Year gave him great concern was the 
 fate of the Imperial Institute, which with a mighty 
 blaze of trumpets had promised to accomplish such 
 a great work for the Imperial idea. The splendid 
 building had been open only four or five years and 
 now already appeared to be threatened with bank- 
 ruptcy. The amount derived from the endowment 
 fund just sufficed to pay the rates and taxes and 
 the interest on the debt. For the rest the Institute 
 had only its modest subscription list as an assured 
 income; and the balance of its working expenses 
 had to be made out of Colonial contributions and 
 846 
 
 ih 
 
The Imperial Institute 
 
 what it c»uld raise by catering for the general public 
 as a place of recreation and amusement. 
 
 You will see [wrote Lord Strathcona to Sir Wilfrid 
 Laurier in March, 1897] that Mr. Labouchere says 
 that "the history of the Institute is a monument of 
 reckless extravagance, purposeless effort, and incom- 
 petent administration." It is a great pity, because I 
 believe it could still in other hands fulfil its purpose. 
 
 He reverted to the subject in Ottawa, whither 
 he proceeded at the end of March to consult the 
 Government. 
 
 ;n;,: 
 
 !*' 
 
 To the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 Ottawa. 13 April, 1897. 
 
 So far as Canada is concerned, we are not getting 
 from the Institute the results which we ought to expect. 
 This iuises a good deal from the lukewarm interest 
 that appears to be taken in the matter in Canada. 
 
 Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, and perhaps Brit- 
 ish Columbia, have a fair collection of products, but 
 nothing !ike what might be sent if the effort was 
 made. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island take 
 no part in the Institute at all; they have no collection 
 and hitherto have refused to pay any money. 
 
 The North-West Territories have hitherto paid 
 their share of the bills, but have sent over no exhibits. 
 The same remark applies very much to Nova Scotia. 
 The exhibits could be made of much more use if the 
 whole expenditure was provided by the Canadian 
 Government, and the Canadian Court managed from 
 the High Commissioner's office. 
 
 What we have to consider before doing anything on 
 a47 
 
 i 
 
 M'f 1 
 
 a. 
 
 1 
 
 III. 
 
 
 ''I 
 
 i i 
 
 
 111 
 
 i' ''" 
 
1 ! 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 the lines suggeated is what u going to be the future of 
 the Institute? It is very evident, unless the finances 
 are placed in a more satisfactory condition, the Insti- 
 tute must collapse. 
 
 With Lord Herschel (who is Chairman of the Insti- 
 tute) I had some conversation on the subject just be- 
 fore I left England, and he appeared to think that, if 
 the present difficulties could be tided over for a few 
 years, the Institute would come into an annual sum 
 from the Commission of the Exhibition of 185 1, which 
 would put it on a solid basis. Meantime, however, its 
 condition is far from being satisfactory. 
 
 Interesting is it to learn now that he at one time 
 entertained the notion of buying the Imperial 
 Institute outright and reorganizing it on a new 
 basis. He was not deterred by the expense, but by 
 a doubt whether the expenditure would be justified 
 by its usefulness. 
 
 On the loth of March, Sir Donald departed on 
 the Teutonic on another brief visit to Canada to 
 consult with Dominion Mi' iters, and especially with 
 the Honourable Clifford bifton, the new Minister 
 of the Interior, on the all-important subject of 
 the immigration policy of the Administration. 
 
 The sensational gold discoveries in the Klon- 
 dyke were rapidly proving the long-desired magnet 
 for immigrants. On every hand one heard of the 
 "rush to the Klondyke," and the stirring incidents 
 of the great California mining boom of 1849 were 
 about to be refinacted. 
 
 The world [he wrote in March, 1897] has taken a 
 long time to find out the mineral wealth of the Yukon 
 •48 
 
 'r 
 
Gold in the Klondyke 
 
 district. I recall many 'old Hudton's Bay pioneera 
 telling of the gold there nearly half a century ago, and 
 it waa reported to the Company longer ago than that, 
 but it waa not then considered to be " in their line." 
 
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 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE ANNUS MIRABILIS 
 
 To the Students of British political history, the 
 year 1897 will ever mark an era in the relations of 
 the United Kingdom and the Oversea Dominions. 
 A decade before there had been celebrated by the 
 British people the Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. 
 Albeit in the short space of ten years, the whole 
 Imperial outlook changed. Conditions at home and 
 abroad were not the same. Whosoever takes the 
 pains to explore the annals of that decade will be 
 struck by the new mood of Imperial sentiment 
 which now swept over the whole Empire. Repre- 
 sentatives of the Colonies had visited England in 
 1 887 : but they came unofficially, and for the temper, 
 the spirit, and the knowledge with which they 
 were received, one glance at the newspaijers of the 
 period, recording the well-meant but patronizing 
 speeches delivered on many notable occasions, will 
 suffice.' 
 
 The Jubilee celebration of 1897 [wrote the Speaker 
 of the Canadian House of Commons], has either 
 
 * "A few years ago people from Canada and the Colonies were 
 regarded in Englandasmerely those to whom it was well to be civil — 
 very worthy backwoods people, but hardly worth while crossing the 
 sea to recognize. We know that our neighbours of the United States 
 were thought highly of and seen everywhere in society: but was it so 
 of ourselves from Canada?" (Lord Strathcona, Speech in Toronto. 
 November, 1900.) 
 
 250 
 
Canada's Oversea Hegemony 
 
 caused or elicited an Imperial sentiment, the strength 
 of which was never before displayed or suspected. 
 Was it a little thing that, as a pledge of kinship and 
 love, the greatest of all commercial powers denounced 
 two of her most important commercial treaties, in 
 order to help Canada to draw nearer to her? Assuredly 
 a new epoch has at last come in the world's history, 
 when the discovery has been made that a parent nation 
 can bind a Colony closer to her by striking off all its 
 fetters, and can win its enduring loyalty by a gift of 
 the broadest freedom.' 
 
 The Colonies [said Sir Donald Smith] are taking a 
 prominent position in the United Kingdom this year. 
 Their status in the Empire has at last been recognized. 
 They have been invited for the first time to partici- 
 pate in a national celebration. They will share in the 
 rejoicings of the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of 
 Her Majesty's reign. Their military and police forces 
 will be represented in the royal procession, and their 
 Prime Ministers will be the guests of the Imperial 
 Government. Let us hope that their great gatherings 
 may lead to a closer union among the family nations, 
 — all under one flag and owning allegiance to one 
 Sovereign, — which make up the British Empire. 
 
 In ten years the British Empire had, indeed, 
 moved notably and the most marked progress had 
 been made by Canada. Canada was the acknowl- 
 edged leader amongst the dominions overseas. We 
 have noted several causes contributing to enhance 
 her prestige. We have seen, after a period of stag- 
 nation, an enfeebled Government overthrown and 
 a new Administration, at the head of which was a 
 ' The Honourable J. D. Edgar, Canodo and its Capital. 
 251 
 
 .n;,! 
 
 111 
 
 ;H. 
 
 
 'r'H 
 
 
 :;K;r 
 
 I in: M 
 
 'I I 
 m il 
 
I, 
 
 n 
 
 II 
 
 hJ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 French-Canadian of great pfsonal distinction and 
 eloquence, of whom as yet little was known and 
 everything was hoped, enter upon the scene. 
 
 It was in the spring of this year that the question 
 of the fiscal relations between Canada and the 
 United Kingdom came almost dramatically to the 
 forefront in Imperial politics. In April there came 
 the Fielding Tariff Law by which preferential treat- 
 ment was accorded to Great Britain, uncondition- 
 ally. Thus a great and momentous step was taken 
 toward that Imperial union which had been 
 preached so long and preached in vain. It lent the 
 British advocates of tariff reform a practical basis 
 from which to launch their policy; although in 
 Canada it was rather a step toward the free trade 
 long promised by the Liberal Party — 
 
 But before the preference could go into effect the 
 treaties with Germany and Belgium had to be de- 
 nounced by Great Britain and this was later agreed 
 to.' The announcement of the Fielding Tariff, 
 according preference to British goods and denounc- 
 ing the existing treaty with Germany, thrilled the 
 whole Empire, evoking from Mr. Kipling, then at 
 the very height of his renown, the lines, — 
 
 " Daughter in my mother's house. 
 But mistress in mine own," 
 
 ' "The abrogation of the treaties left the commercial relations 
 between the United Kingdom and Belgium and Germany in an un- 
 stable position; a new treaty was later negotiated with Belgium, but 
 the enjoyment of most-favoured-nation treatment in Germany has 
 since rested only on an annual resolution of the Bundesrath. It was, 
 however, primarily against Canada, as will be seen later, that Ger- 
 man res' .itment was directed." (O. D. Skelton, Canada and it! 
 Provinces,) 
 
 252 
 
i [ 
 
 f 
 
 Citizens of the Empire 
 
 in which Canada proclaimed her fiscal and com- 
 mercial independence. 
 
 The High Commissioner returned to his post in 
 the second week in May, and a few days later took 
 part in a great banquet, presided over by his friend 
 the Marquess of Lome. 
 
 Sir Donald Smith [said Lord Lome] has just come 
 back from a journey to Canada, where his presence was 
 so often sought that his countrymen must find it 
 difficult to persuade themselves to send him over here 
 to represent them, he is so necessary both in Europe 
 and in Canada. It is the opinion of one and all who 
 have had anything to do with the Canadian Office 
 that no better High Commissioner from the great 
 Dominion of Canada could possibly have been chosen, 
 and we hope he may be continued in that office in 
 good health and strength for many years to come. 
 
 Replying to the toast of " Her Majesty's Colo- 
 nies," Sir Donald said 
 
 that the subject of the toast was one ol great and 
 noble proportions. It is one which comes home to the 
 heart of every colonist who is proud that his particular 
 Colony is a part and that he is himself a citizen of that 
 great Empire on which the sun never sets. He feels that 
 in England he is every bit as fully an Englishman as 
 any of you. He has all the sentiment and reminiscences 
 of an Englishman, and having them he is all the better 
 citizen of the Colony in which he lives. Looking back 
 to the commencement of the reign of the Queen, what 
 do we find? In Canada we had what was called a 
 rebellion. An important portion of the people were in 
 arms, because they thought those rights to which they 
 253 
 
 J II I 
 
 \%v 
 
 ) , 
 
 I l! 
 
 n 
 
 
 1. '■^: 
 
 :i; ii 
 
V' |\l 
 
 I ! 
 
 'N 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 were entitled as Englishmen were not given to them at 
 that time. What have we there now? Are these very 
 same people — that French-speaking people — any 
 less loyal than the English-speaking people? There is 
 a large proportion of English-speaking people in 
 Canada, and they have chosen for their Premier a 
 French-speaking statesmiij. We know for a certainty 
 that there could be no more devoted subjects of the 
 Queen. It has been said that Canadians have been 
 looking toward Washington. Let me say that there is 
 not one iota of truth in any such suggestion. If 
 Canada were polled, not one man in a hundred — not 
 one man in a thousand — would be found who did not 
 wish to live and die ui. -er the British flag. Sixty years 
 ago the Colonies were little known over here, but this 
 has altered, and everybody now knows Australia and 
 Africa almost as well as his own country. That is a good 
 thing, thedrawing together of the Colonics. I have the 
 honout of representing eight colonies, now happily one; 
 and I hope we shall shortly be able to say the same of 
 the great Colonies in Austrrlia i,nd Africa. Every 
 colonist looks upon this sixtieth year of the Queen's 
 reign with as great an interest as you do, for the 
 Queen is to them, as to you, not only a model Sover- 
 eign, but a model woman. Even among our neigh- 
 bours in the United States, no sovereign could be looked 
 up to with more regard than is our beloved Queen. 
 
 There was a curious protest in certain quarters 
 against the term "Our Lady of the Snows," as ap- 
 plied to Canada. This Lord Strathcona did not share. 
 
 I really do not see why we should be ashamed of our 
 snow. It seems to me that I have heard this same 
 snow praised a great deal by a great many poets and 
 
 aS4 
 
Lord NorthclifFe 
 
 certainly about Christmas-time I am told that the 
 most popular )ictures are those depicting snow-clad 
 scenery. Our beautiful Canadian snow used to be 
 considered a great asset instead of a drawback. Per- 
 sonally I think snow, besides being very beautiful, is a 
 wonderful convenience to the people of the Canadian 
 countryside which England lacks, and to it, besides, is 
 due much of the special fertility of our soil. 
 
 It is not too much to say that F.igland's inter- 
 est in the visit of the Premiers largely centred upon 
 the picturesque figure of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. This 
 interest now began to be warmly stimulated by the 
 newspapers. Into London journalism had recently 
 leapt a new force; the lethargic, the oracular, and 
 the dull had been forced to make way in popular 
 esteem to the sprightliness, vigour, and brilliancy 
 of youth. 
 
 The career of Mr. Alfred Harmsworth, after- 
 wards Lord NorthcliflFe, will offer a curious study 
 to future historians and philosophers. For a long 
 time his volatility merely entertained the serious- 
 minded. It is now recognized that his influence 
 has been profound and. far-reaching. We cannot 
 yet fairly estimate his contribution to the poli- 
 tics and national habits of thought and action in 
 England for the last twenty years. Nevertheless, 
 a shrewd American observer, the late John Hay, 
 once gave it as his opinion that modern British 
 Imperialism, "as a popular force, was largely the 
 joint production of four men," Joseph Chamber- 
 lain, Lord Strathcona, Rudyard Kipling, and Lord 
 Northcliffe. 
 
 255 
 
 ^; 
 
 . .^' 
 
 T 
 
 I f 
 
 
 1 
 
 ' 
 
 M 
 
m 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 My own intimate connection with the then Mr. 
 Hannsworth dates from the beginning of 1895, 
 before he had yet ventured either into politics or 
 daily journalism. In the spring of 1896 he founded 
 the Daily Mail, with which I became editorially 
 associated. 
 
 As a Canadian, dwelling at the heart of the Em- 
 pire, and not unresponsive to Canadian activities 
 and aspirations, I naturally endeavoured to secure 
 Mr. Harmsworth's interest in anything which 
 would be an advantage in making Canada and 
 her affairs figure a little more prominently in the 
 public eye. It is entertaining enough to look back 
 over that brief intervening span of yeai-s and mark 
 how different is the popular knowledge of and in- 
 terest in the Dominion now compared to what it 
 was then.' 
 
 From the first, Sir Donald, with whom I had 
 many conversations on the subject, agreed with me 
 in thinking that one cause of the little knowledge 
 concerning Canada possessed by the average Eng- 
 
 ' At the risk of seeming to obtrude myself unduly I may mention 
 that when I introduced Mr. Harmsworth to the High Commissioner, 
 I proposed to the former that I should tour the Dominion from ocean 
 to ocean, and endeavour to set forth our resources in an attractive 
 light for the enormous public his newspaper already commanded. 
 This was arranged, greatly to Sir Donald Smith's satisfaction, and 
 the fruits of a protracted journey from Newfoundland to the Pacific 
 continued to appear, under the title of "Our Western Empire" in 
 the Daily Mail, well on into the spring of 1897. Sir Donald very 
 kindly wrote me that these articles had "popularized Canada to a 
 most gratifying extent." On my return to Londr!i, I was happily 
 enabled to act as a sort of unofficial apanl-courii to the Honour- 
 able Mr. Laurier, the new and then personally unknown Prime 
 Minister of the Dominion. 
 
 056 
 
Advertising Canada 
 
 lishman, was the paucity of Canadian news in the 
 British press. Canada was a " land of snow," and 
 Montreal was rarely mentioned, save in connec- 
 tion with her annual ice-palace. Sir Donald put it 
 in this way in a confidential letter to Mr. Laurier:— 
 
 To the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 30th August, 1896. 
 
 You are aware, I think, that very little Canadian 
 news finds its way into English newspapers. This 
 arises largely from competition having ceased between 
 Reuter's and Dalziel's agencies. The latter is practi- 
 cally non-existent, and the former for some years past 
 seem to have been restricting their expenditure, so far 
 as Canadian news is concerned. Then, again, none of 
 the papers, with the exception of the Times, have any 
 correspondents i.i Canada who send telegraphic infor- 
 mation. In fact, the Times is the only paper in which 
 Canadian news appears at all regularly. In the other 
 papers it is only telegrams about things of a startling 
 or morbid nature which appear to obtain publicity, 
 and it is to matters of that kind that Reuter's agents 
 seem largely to devote their attention. 
 
 The Times, as you know, has a comparatively limited 
 circulation, and does not reach the middle class. Con- 
 sequently very little information relating to the com- 
 mercial or industrial progress of the country reaches 
 the larger public, and a valuable medium for educating 
 the people of the United Kingdom about the resources 
 and capabilities of Canada is lacking. Canadians who 
 visit England are struck by the lack of Canadian news 
 and you will see it frequently commented upc n in press 
 interviews on their return. 
 
 «57 
 
 a ! 
 
 'f 
 
 ,f' 
 
 I ■ • ' Tl) 
 
 ! I ■,; I,;, 
 
 li it 
 
I"' II (ll 
 
 Lo.d Strathcona 
 
 Naturally, I look upon the matter largely from the 
 advertisement point of vicv. To have Canadt. and 
 Canadian nev s of a desirable nature appcanng fre- 
 quently in the English papers would be of great use to 
 us. It would help emigration, it would help the exten- 
 sion of trade, and would be beneficial from every point 
 of view. As the news agencies are apparently not 
 prepared to incur any expense in the matter, and the 
 newspapers do not appoint their own agents in the 
 Dominion, the question is, How is the difficulty to 
 which I have referred to be got over? 
 
 It occurs to me that it would be most useful to me, 
 as High Commissioner for Canada, and as the repre- 
 sentative of the Dominion in this country, to receive 
 from you once or twice a week, or even a lit'.le more 
 frequently, should it be necessary or desirable, tele- 
 grams informing me of anything that may be happen- 
 ing in the Dominion of an interesting nature and illus- 
 trating the progress of the country. For instance, 
 particulars about the revenue and expenditure, imports 
 and exports, the experimental farms, the crops in the 
 different district!., and mining and industrial develop- 
 ment, would be most valuable ; the same remark applies 
 to anything which would serve to draw the attention 
 of the people to the Dominion and interest them in its 
 progress and welfare. 
 
 I commend the matter to your consideration, and 
 shall be glad if you will let me know what you think of 
 my proposal at your conv -nience. 
 
 There are many episodes of that Annus mirabilis 
 which are far less significant than the one I am 
 about to relate. 
 
 Hearing that a little private entertainment of the 
 as8 
 
 lit)/ 
 
 I 
 
I I 
 
 A Welcome to Mr. Laurier 
 
 visiting First Ministers of the Colonies had been 
 planned, M. Harmsworth, ft my suggestion, re- 
 solved upon giving a large ptrty at his town resi- 
 dence in Berkeley Square. 
 
 His newspapers, meanwhile, led the way by giv- 
 ing prominence to the personality and everj cir- 
 cumstance connected with the approaching visit of 
 the oversea nC-abilities. 
 
 N. 
 
 The Author to Sir Donald A. Smith 
 
 sd June, 1897. 
 
 I hasten to acknowledge your kind note of yesterday. 
 Mr. Harmsworth and myself need no assurance of your 
 warm cooperation. This is to be a great Colonial year 
 — it will not be our fault if it is not also a great 
 Canadian year. 
 
 Mr. Laurier sails to-day by the Lucania. He will, A 
 course, take precedence amongst the overseas Premier, 
 not only by reason of Canada's status, but because ol 
 his own personality. Ought not we Canadians to give 
 him an especially cordial welcome, not only in London, 
 but on his arrival in Liverpool? I suggested to Mr. 
 Archer Baker that a party of us travel down and meet 
 the Lucania in Liverpool Harbour next Wednesday. 
 He approved heartily of this, but thought it essential 
 you should head the party. 
 
 Please let me know your opinion of this little plan. 
 
 Unluckily, on the very fV ,y this letter was written 
 Sir Donald was attacked by one of those violent 
 colds to which Yk?. was constitutionally subjecr and 
 a verbal message came to me that he was confined to 
 his bed. Under the circumstances it was thought 
 »59 
 
 hi \ 
 
 P\ 
 
m 
 
 .\m 
 
 I II 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 wise not to press him to accompany the party of 
 Canadians from London. Arrangements were made 
 for a steam tug and a small brass band of five musi- 
 cians to meet the Lucania at the entrance of Liver- 
 pool Harbour, on the loth. But alas, difficulties 
 arose — the weather threatened and there was 
 grave doubt of the exact time of the steamer's 
 arrival; it might be midnight — the tug might loi- 
 ter about the harbour for twenty-four hours. The 
 threatened ordeal was not too severe for Youns; 
 Imperialism, but it was unacceptable to the musi- 
 cians and also to the master of the vessel, who im- 
 posed conditions which could, we thought, not 
 prudently be fulfilled. Wherefore, reluctantly, the 
 welcome by water was abando led. 
 On June 7, I wrote to Sir Donald: — 
 For the reception on the 21st to the Premiers, we 
 have engaged Melba, Paderewski, and Miss Crosslcy. 
 It is sincerely to be hoped that nothing else will hap- 
 pen on that evening — such, for example, as a dinner- 
 party at Windsor! Judging from a conversation I had 
 yesterday at the Colonial Office with Mr. Baillie- 
 Harailton, I should say that anything they can do to 
 discourage us they will do. The permanent staff would 
 prefer everything this year should be strictly official. 
 On the same day I received the following; — 
 
 From Sir Donald Smith 
 
 53 Cadogan Square. S.W., 
 
 Whitmonday, 7th June, 1897. 
 
 Ever since the receipt of your note of the 2d, I have 
 been practically laid up from the effects of a severe 
 360 
 
I (' 
 
 Colonial Premiers arrive 
 
 cold which still hangs over me; but if you can make it 
 convenient to call at my office, 17 Victoria Stri , l)c- 
 twccn eleven and twelve to-morrow morning, I shall be 
 very glad of the opportunity of talking over with you 
 the matter referred to by you, of a special and cordial 
 welcome to the Honourable Mr. Laurier, < jr Dominion 
 Premier. 
 
 I, and let me add that all Canadianj, will greatly 
 appreciate the warm interest 'aken by Mr. Harms- 
 worth and yourself in this; a..u with best regards for 
 you and him, believe me, etc. 
 
 When I duly explained to the High Commissioner 
 that the Liverpool scheme had been aban ioned, he 
 seemed disappointed. "I had been thi ;ing," he 
 said, " what a splendid surprise it would _..- and had 
 made up my mind that the little sea-trip would do 
 me good. However I suppose you are right." 
 
 Of the welcome given by London to Canada's 
 Premier, Mr. Laurier had no reason to complain. It 
 was a personal triumph. The First Ministers of 
 the other Colonies arriving took up their quarters 
 in the Hotel Cecil as royal guests, where they were 
 waited on by servants in the royal livery, whilfi 
 royal carriages were at their bidding. No wonder 
 that some of these Colonial dignitaries were a little 
 dazzled by the brilliancy of their welcome. For the 
 first time in their lives, they felt the full force of 
 being representative: for their personalities and 
 achievements alike were unknown. Their carriages 
 wound their way hither and thither, the news- 
 papers chronicled the most trifling actions of the 
 Colonial notabilities. British ofHcialdom called and 
 a6i 
 
 ?(^ 
 
 . < 
 
 i ;i ; 
 
ill 
 
 Lord Ctrathcona 
 
 left their cards. But until the 21st of June, the 
 Prime Ministers were socially nomina et prcBterea 
 nihil. London society held aloof from any practical 
 demonstration. To invite to their drawing-rooms 
 and dinner-tables colonists of whom nothing per- 
 sonally was known was too revolutionary of eti- 
 quette. They would smile benignly, they would 
 even condescend to wave the fluttering cambric, 
 but not yet would Mayfair open wide the portals 
 of its houses. 
 
 Such being Mr. Harmsworth's opportunity, he 
 took full advantage of it. Fifteen hundred invita- 
 tions were issued to thi leaders of London society, 
 ambassadors, prominent members of Parliament, to 
 those at the bar and on the st^e, to this reception, 
 "to meet the Colonial Premiers." 
 
 The long regime of "Mr. Mother Country," 
 humorously prefigured by J. K. Stephen, was rap- 
 idly drawing to a close. But the discredited auto- 
 crat could still aim a blow at "pushfulness." 
 
 Certain Colonial Office officials, regarding the 
 proceeding as very irregular and even impertinent, 
 took prompt, but, as they thought, effectual means 
 for turning it into a fiasco. For the reception, of 
 which all London was now talking, " to meet the 
 Premiers," would be absurd without the presence 
 of the Premiers themselves. Before it was possible 
 for us to change the date it was announced that 
 Her Majesty the Queen had commanded the 
 Premiers to a reception that evening at Bucking- 
 ham Palace! 
 
 a6a 
 
A Threatened Contretemps 
 
 From Sir DonaJd Smith 
 
 I sympathize with you most unfeignedly, but I really 
 do not see what remedy there can be. It is most un- 
 fortunate, but you may rest assured that Mr. Cham- 
 berlain was not concerned in the matter, which is 
 entirely out of his control. 
 
 Sir Donald then shared our suspicions, but we 
 had no proof until some time afterwards of their 
 correctness, that this was a deliberate attempt to 
 frustrate the Harmsworth party, by way of admin- 
 istering a rebuke to what was called Mr. Harms- 
 worth's "pushful Imperialism." I remember Sir 
 Donald's quiet laugh as he said, " I am afraid I also 
 am laying myself open to the charge of pushful 
 Imperialism." 
 
 The original date for the Royal Reception was 
 June 20. It is needless to say that the Queen was 
 wholly ignorant of these graceless machinations. 
 
 In this emergency I sought Mr. Laurier, who was 
 quite as much chagrined over our threatened pre- 
 dicament as we were. 
 
 "If," I urged, "this function at Buckingham 
 Palace does not last till midnight, will you come to 
 Berkeley Square on the 21st?" 
 
 "Certainly," he replied promptly; "I will come 
 if it lasts till past midnight " ; adding, generously, 
 "moreover, I will endeavour to induce my fellow- 
 Premiers to come the moment we can get away 
 without inf.inging etiquette." 
 
 The evening arrived, the mansion in Berkeley 
 Square was crowded with one of those brilliant 
 B63 
 
 i I. 
 
 ■> I 
 
 \ ■ If i 
 
 ■« ■ i 
 
 ■ !■ 
 
 h' 
 
 if' i 
 
 ' 'I J 
 
 1 ■« 
 
 him 
 
 
I 
 
 .'< 11 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 assemblages which illustrate a London "season." 
 Soon after ten o'clock the royal carriages began to 
 arrive in quick succession and a series of individuals, 
 resplendent in new laced coats, knee-breeches, and 
 cocked hats, and each wearing a sword, crossed the 
 threshold. The circumstance of the Windsor uni- 
 form, which would otherwise have been impossible, 
 added much to the eclat of the occasion. Sir Don- 
 ald afterwards spoke to me of the general sensa- 
 tion produced by the arrival and announcement 
 of "The Honourable Mr. Wilfrid Laurier, Prime 
 Minister of Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada." 
 
 Such was the popular debut in London of a states- 
 man who became as familiar and welcome a figure 
 at Imperial reunions as any in the galaxy of states- 
 men from overseas.' 
 
 The evening was not to pass without a further 
 episode. By special messenger from Sir Donald, I 
 received a copy of the London Gazette, damp from 
 the press. The company was first to learn her 
 Majesty's gracious intentions: — 
 
 To be a Baron of the United Kingdom, Sir Donald 
 Alexander Smith, K.C.M.G. 
 
 Hardly less gratifying was the announcement: — 
 
 To be a Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael 
 and St. George, Honourable Wilfrid Laurier. 
 
 ' The ignorance of the Colonies, rife in what is called "Society," 
 will at this time to many seem incredible. One lady, inviting the 
 Colonial representative to a garden party, addressed a special request 
 to Sir Wilfrid Laurier that he and his fellow-guests from overseas 
 would "kindly appear in their native costumes." The letter has 
 been preserved as a curiosity. 
 
 264 
 
Raised to the Peerage 
 
 To Canada's Prime Minister I turned with the 
 Gazette in my hands, proud to offer my congratula- 
 tions, and to be the first to address him as "Sir 
 Wilfrid." 
 
 From Sir Donald A. Smith 
 
 You are indeed very kind to write in the manner you 
 have done concerning the high honour Her Majesty 
 has been pleased to bestow upon my unworthy self. 
 I regard it as one, not so much paid to me as to 
 Canada, and I think it will generally and properly be so 
 regarded. 
 
 There later ensued some difficulty in the choice 
 of a title for the new peer. Having purchased the 
 interesting Scottish estate of Glencoe, he had at 
 first contemplated that of Baron Glencoe, but a 
 sentimental local opposition developed with which 
 he himself rather sympathized. The title of Mon- 
 treal had been conceded to Earl Amherst. A com- 
 promise was effected. Glencoe — the glen or valley 
 of Conan — has its approximate Gaelic equivalent 
 in Strathcona. Not until August, on the eve of his 
 departure for Canada, was the High Commissioner 
 gazetted "A Baron of the United Kingdom by the 
 name, style, and title of Baron Strathcona and 
 Mount Royal, of Glencoe, in the County of Argyll, 
 and of Mount Royal, in the Province of Quebec and 
 Dominion of Canada." ' Like Lord Mountstephen, 
 Sir Donald Smith thus effected in his new title a 
 
 ' " I have consulted the proper authorities," he wrote (October 
 20), " and find that it is not necessary, when signing my name on 
 ordinary occasions, to use the whole of my title. So I shall hereafter 
 confine myself to 'Strathcona' only." 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 happy blending of Scottish and Canadian associa- 
 tions. 
 
 On his first visit to Glencoe after being raised to 
 
 the peerage a great ovation awaited him, and he 
 
 was presented with an illuminated address from his 
 
 tenants, servants, and others on the Glencoe estate. 
 
 Said the Montreal Star: — 
 
 That Canada's new peer has chosen "Mount 
 Royal" as one of his titles will rejoice all Canadians 
 who live under the shadow of the Mount itself. Now 
 that he has selected it, that title seems marvellously 
 appropriate. Mount Royal looks down on many a 
 memento of the Baron's long kindness and practi- 
 cal philanthropy. The Royal Hospital, which was the 
 gift to the city of her two peers, lies just at its foot ; and 
 a little to the right are the grounds of McGill, which 
 no one can visit without being reminded of the generos- 
 ity of "Sir Donald," — for as "Sir Donald" Montreal 
 learned to love him, — and hard it will be to think of 
 him under a new name. 
 
 At the annual Dominion Day Banquet on July i, 
 at which Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the guest of hon- 
 our, the new peer led the way in a Jubilee rendering 
 of the loyal toasts, and it was pleasant to hear the 
 burst of enthusiasm with which they were received. 
 He himself was greeted with exceptional warmth, 
 of which the Marquess of Lome supplied the ex- 
 planation when he declared his chief difficulty to 
 be, how to address their chairman. "He has not 
 yet confided in me by what title to address him. 
 I shall, however, make no mistake if I call him and 
 congratulate him as Lord High Commissioner for 
 366 
 
"Lord High Commissioner" 
 
 Canada" — a happy reference most happily re- 
 ceived. 
 
 Next came the "Dominion of Canada," proposed 
 by Sir Donald, the toastmaster having previously 
 given the injunction "Fill your bumpers to the brim, 
 if you please, gentlemen." "Canada," Sir Donald 
 said with patriotic fervour, "has all the possibilities 
 of becoming a country equal to that of their friends 
 on the south of the boundary line." And as he 
 went on to pave the way for the Premier by a 
 sketch of the steps leading up to the position which 
 Confederated Canada holds to-day, "We in Can- 
 ada," he said, "are a contented people and we are 
 proud to feel that we are members, and not unim- 
 portant members, of th.s great Empire. We hope 
 the day may be near when other Colonies will take 
 a leaf out of our Federation book. How could the 
 unity and devotion of Canada to the Empire be 
 better shown than by the presence here this even- 
 ing of one who, though not an Englishman, is as 
 thoroughly English as any other? V/e may not," 
 added Sir Donald, "have seen eye to eye on politi- 
 cal matters; still I never was a very great partisan. 
 I look perhaps more to measures than to men, and 
 feel, as every one here must feel, that, no matter 
 whether Liberal or Tory be in power, Canadians 
 will exhibit the same devot-on and loyalty." 
 
 Nearly seventeen years of work and achieve- 
 ment lay before him; yet, when he sailed for Can- 
 ada, a peer of the realm, he was supposed in many 
 quarters to be on the point of retirement from the 
 High Commissionership. Frequent were the refer- 
 267 
 
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 ^ 
 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 ences to gentlemen who were prepared to succeed 
 him. A proposal was even put forward that upon 
 the conclusion of the Earl of Aberdeen's term as 
 Governor-General, Lord Strathcona should be ap- 
 pointed his successor. 
 
 One leading Canadian journal strongly advo- 
 cated the appointment. "Canadians, irrespective 
 of party, taking pride in his character and career, 
 would like to see him at Rideau Hall. His claims 
 were, it reasoned, of an exceptional character, and 
 he would take rank with the most distinguished sub- 
 jects of Her Majesty's who have filled the position. 
 
 But Lord Strathcona would not hear of such a 
 proposal. In his opinion it would "wholly subvert 
 the happy arrangement which had existed and 
 ought always to exist between the central political 
 authority and the outlying parts. The Governor- 
 Generalship, having always been held by a non- 
 Canadian, was a material factor i'l cementing the 
 relations between the Dominion and the Mother 
 Country." 
 
 He even disapproved strongly of the appoint- 
 ment of Lieutenant-Governors from the same Prov- 
 ince. When I once mentioned to him that a certain 
 politician had been appointed to the gubernato- 
 rial chair in his own Province, he said, "A good 
 man, but a great pity. If they had sent him West 
 he could better have done justice to himself. His 
 local antecedents will hamper him." 
 
 That aspect of his peerage which pleased him 
 most was his thus becoming a member of the Im- 
 perial Pariiament. He liked to think of himself as 
 068 
 
Colonial Representation 
 
 a pioneer of the future band of Canadian representa- 
 tives at Westminster. Yet he recognized the diffi- 
 culties in the way. 
 
 The idea of Colonial representation in the councils of 
 uie Empire is a pleasing one to the Englishmen, and any 
 feasible scheme will be eagerly welcomed. There are, 
 of course, many difficulties with which to contend. 
 There is the question of taxation. Taxation without 
 representation is objectionable; but representation 
 without taxation is hardly possible; and it is difficult to 
 say how far the people of the Colonies would be willing 
 to contribute to an Imperial fund. 
 
 One result of the new Canadian tariff and of Sir 
 Wilfrid's utterances, however, is to direct British at- 
 tention very strongly to our country, and we may 
 expect not only a large increase in our trade with 
 Britain, but also that the British investor and capitalist 
 will be more willing than before to put money in legiti- 
 mate enterprises in Canada. They think a great deal 
 of the Colonies in England just now, and will gladly 
 assist in strengthening the ties which bind them to the 
 Mother Country. 
 
 He recognized that there was much useful 
 "spade-work" to be done. The Mother Country 
 and Canada must be drawn together gradually by 
 the force of common interests, they must achieve a 
 unity which would make them mutually necessary. 
 The constitutional changes would come simply and 
 easily. 
 
 On his return to England in September he plunged 
 newly into his official duties. Each day these grew 
 in magnitude. Besides the ordinary routine, in- 
 369 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 volving the despatch of hundreds of letters and 
 giving personal interviews to callers, there were 
 several large schemes which he had much at heart. 
 At this time the chief amongst these was the long- 
 canvassed plan of a "fast Atlantic service" by 
 which steamers would make the voyage from the 
 British Isles to a Canadian port in five or six days. 
 For many years past, the lines running to Canadian 
 ports, and carrying both mails and passengers, had 
 had imminent over their heads the threat of a fast 
 and heavily subsidized mail service of which they 
 might or might not be the providers. 
 
 It is impossible [complained one of them] to imagine 
 anything more paralyzing or repressive of enterprise 
 than the policy which the Canadian authorities have 
 followed. While larger and faster steamers have been 
 provided for the New York passenger service, the 
 steamship lines to Canada have been practically com- 
 pelled to mark time, not knowing what was to be done. 
 
 There were difficulties about making terms with 
 the Messrs. Allan, or with the Dominion or Beaver 
 lines. But the prospect that the British Govern- 
 ment would also assist with a large subsidy tempted 
 an enterprising contractor named Peterson to come 
 forward with an offer to operate such a steamship 
 system. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, 6th October, 1897. 
 As shown by my official letters of to-day and cable 
 message to your address of the 25th and aSth Septem- 
 870 
 
 iM 
 
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 A Fast Atlantic Service 
 
 ber, I havij not been idle since my ret-im from Canada 
 in the matter of the "fast Atlantic service." 
 
 My cable m>>ssage of to-day advises you that Peter- 
 son, Tate & Co. have paid into the Bank of Montreal 
 here £10,000, the cash guarantee required of them in 
 connection with their contract. 
 
 Mr. Peterson has been with me to-day, and on my 
 pointing out to him that securities for a further sura 
 of £10,000 must be lodged, he assured me that this 
 would be forthcoming within the next few days and I 
 thinlt we may count on this being carried out. There 
 appears to be every reasonable expectation that he will 
 t • able to form a company with the required capital, 
 but it will take some time yet before he can compler.e his 
 arangements, and until he has secured five directors 
 to whom no objection can be taken and until the whole 
 of the capital wanted has actually been underwritten 
 by men or firms of undoubted financial standing, I 
 cannot recommend that your Government should be 
 directly represented on ihe board, nor until then would 
 it be wise in my opinion to approach Mr. Chamberlain 
 on the subject, wich the view of having a director 
 representing the Imperial Government. Mr. Chamber- 
 lain is at present in Switzerland, but is expected back 
 soon. 
 
 You may feel assured that there will be every effort 
 on my part to push the matter on to a satisfactory con- 
 clusion, but to insure success we must see that every 
 step taken is in the right direction, and it is a decided 
 gain that Peterson is to complete his deposit without 
 availing himself of the sixty days before doing so. 
 
 To-day I had an opportunity of explaining the posi- 
 tion to Mr. Fielding, and I think he is satisfied that we 
 are doing all that is possible to expedite matters. 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 With regard to the subject the Finance Minister has 
 more immediately before him, that of the proposed loan, 
 I think there is every prospect that it will be entirely 
 satisfactory. 
 
 But it soon appeared that Mr. Peterson desired 
 more definite backing from the Government and 
 from Lord Strathcona himself. 
 
 F'om Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 Ottawa, 9th November, 1897. 
 
 The matter of the fast Atlantic service, we think, has 
 reached a point at which some definite conclusion, one 
 way or the other, must be taken. 
 
 Mr. Peterson has been asking us recently to agree 
 to two different things: First, that Milford Haven 
 should be the terminus, and second, that you should 
 be V, the board of directors of the company. 
 
 With regard to the first demand concerning Mil- 
 ford Haven, this is a point which must be left for 
 further consideration, when everything else has been 
 settled. As to your going on the board, this is a matter 
 which has to be very carefully considered. It seems 
 that unless something is done to help him, Peterson 
 is now powerless and cannot carry out his contract. 
 It also looks as if, unless you undertake yourself to 
 pull him through, the matte, must fail. The question 
 is now whether it would be too great an undertaking 
 to ask you practically to organize the company and 
 make it a success. If it were to be a failure ultimately, 
 would you not think that the investors would hold the 
 Government responsible for having allowed the com- 
 pany to have the encouragement of the presence on the 
 board of the High Commissioner? In other words, we 
 47a 
 
Fast Line postponed 
 
 think that it would not be advisable for you to accept 
 a position on the board, unless your judgment is clear 
 that the whole scheme is to turn out well financially, 
 not only for thr Government of Canada, but for the 
 investors also. Unless you are satisfied of that, we think 
 it better to press the matter to a conclusion and let 
 the contract < i rop. There has been too much procrasti- 
 nation alrea.ly. We have lost one season. It is time 
 that we should be prepared to put the matter in such 
 a shape as not to lose another. 
 
 The jubilation over the fast line was premature. 
 It became clear that the projector could not carry 
 out his contract. As the High Commissioner wrote: 
 
 The position is an awkward one, but I am not with- 
 out good hopes that a fast Atlantic service can still 
 be^ arranged for on reasonable terms, and I shall cer- 
 tainly be glad to aid in ever%- possible way in accom- 
 plishing this. 
 
 For the present, then, the fast line was shelved. 
 Lord Strathcona expressed the utmost sympathy 
 for Mr. Peterson, whom he regarded as an honour- 
 able man, who did his utmost to supplement his 
 promise. 
 
 It was too much for him, but this does not mean 
 that it would be too much for every man. I received 
 a letter, shortly before I left England, from one of the 
 partners in a large shipbuilding firm, who has no 
 interest one way or the other in the Canadian service, 
 and who said that Canada should never consent to 
 anything but a fast service, seeing that with the 
 recent development the speed of the great Atlantic 
 liners would be increased. Twenty knots wa.« t'- -st 
 273 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 that the country .hould accept w» the opinion of thi. 
 gentleman. My own per«>nal "P'".'"" '« '^*' ^X^; 
 Should .ecure the very (a.te.t .erv.ce '»' •"'•) 'ub.^ 
 a. .he can afford to give. To accept anything le« 
 "out be unfair to tho« «>n.panie. which -al-J 
 in the bu.ineM, and which .upply an ordinary .peed. 
 Sf course 1 do not .pealc °[<^y^'-?^^TZi^'^^;, 
 ment. I mean the contract for the fa.t •e^'"- ™» 
 Zuld be modem in every «=n«>. and the fa.te t 
 which could be obtained. No permanent .ub..dy 
 rhoufd ^given foracomparatively Mow^rv.^^^^^^^^ 
 would enter into competition with that which we 
 already poMess. 
 
 He had serious thoughts of taking the whole pro- 
 ject on hi- own shoulders and carrying it through 
 From this he was eventually dissuaded, but it had 
 long an attraction for him. Befot* many years had 
 passed the Canadian Pacific Railway Company en- 
 ttred the Atlantic steamship field, with vessels of 
 
 a superior class. ... . • 
 
 Meanwhile, Lord Strathcona had been making 
 numerous speeches throughout the Kingdom 
 Replying at a dinner of the Walsall Chamber of 
 Commerce, on October 21, to the toast To the 
 Colonies," he expressed the earnest hope that be- 
 fore long the Australian Colonies would not be dis- 
 tinct or separate, but united in a commonwealth 
 embracing the whole of thei- vast territories He 
 hoped also to see a similar Federation in Africa, 
 and another in the West Inilian Islands. 
 
 There was [he continued] a short time back adenun- 
 ciation of certain treaties which had a very great in- 
 •74 
 
No Separate Nationality 
 
 fluence in keeping the Colonies from that cloicr com- 
 mercial union with the Mother Country which they 
 were all detirous to have. He thought it was not too 
 much to lay that to Canada it was in some measure 
 owing that the denunciation of these treaties had come 
 at the present moment. Canada was desirous of show- 
 ing that she would be heart and hand with the Mother 
 Country in everything that was in the best interest of 
 both, and offered to England a preference in commer- 
 cial matters which she would not give to the other 
 nations, if that preference had not been carried out in 
 its entirety, it was not the fault of Canada. It was 
 because, of treaty requirements with Belgium, Ger- 
 many, and other countries. There had, too, been the 
 difiirulty about the rate of duty which would be 
 imposed by the United States on goods imported 
 through Canada. That, however, he was glad to say, 
 had been disposed of happily for Canada, and by July 
 next the treaties would be got rid of, and there would 
 be a clear gain of twenty-five per cent for England, 
 upon the goods affected. 
 
 They would welcome all who were willing to work 
 and determined to take a part in making Canada not 
 only what she must become, a very great nation, not 
 a separate nation, but one in the closest comity with 
 the English nation. Such a toast as that he had the 
 honour of responding to would not have been possible 
 a few years ago, but it was rising to importance, and 
 would continue to grow. The progress of to-day would 
 be as nothing to that, not of fifty years hence, — for 
 that was a lifetime, — but of five and twenty years 
 hence. 
 
 He retui'ned to the same thought at <-he Master 
 Cutlers' Feast at Sheffield in the following month. 
 »75 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 It is only a few years that we have to look back 
 when it would have been one of our very last hopes, 
 that this great corporation, or any English corporation, 
 would have brought forward as a distinct or separate 
 toast that of "The Colonies." True, it was coupled 
 in former days with shipping and commerce, but, 
 happily, there is now a better order of things with 
 regard to all portions of the Empire, and I think the 
 toast of "The Colonies" may very well and properly 
 now find place amongst those that are offered on such 
 occasions as this. What do the Colonies consist of? 
 Or what is the difference between now and sixty years 
 ago? The population of the whole Empire was about 
 127,000,000; now it is 383,000,000. The area now is 
 1 1 ,500,000 of square miles, something like one fifth the 
 area of the world. Canada alone, the Colony of which 
 I know most, has about 3,500,000, or about one third 
 of the whole of those 11,500,000. So that it is meet 
 "The Colonies" should appear. It has been most 
 gratifying to Colonists, this sixtieth ye-x of Her 
 Majesty's reign, to find that they have been received 
 amongst you as brothers, as fellow-Englishmen — and 
 I will say for Canada that we appreciate most highly 
 and that we are grateful for the way in which our Prime 
 Minister and those detachments which came from 
 Canada were received into the hearts of Englishmen. 
 And it was a great object lesson, that he who repre- 
 sents Canada, elected to that position by the whole 
 of the people of the Dominion, by far the majority of 
 whom are themselves English and English-speaking, 
 was himself of French descent. Nothing I think could 
 show more the solidarity and the unity of Canada than 
 this fact, which demonstrates to our friends in Great 
 Britain, and also I think to the nations, that no 
 
 976 
 
« Lest we forget I " 
 
 matter what the mother tongue of the individual in 
 the Colonies, they are one and all loyal and devoted 
 to their Queen. 
 
 Speaking at a reception at the Canadian Camp at 
 Bisley in this memorable summer, the High Com- 
 missioner said that while he had hoped that the 
 Canadian Team would again carry off the coveted 
 Queen's Prize, "as subjects of a common Sovereign, 
 Victoria, they could all rejoice in the victory of the 
 Victorians." 
 
 During the Jubilee proceedings the visiting sol- 
 diers of the Queen had been the recipients of marked 
 attention. "Indeed," he went on to say, "it could 
 not be otherwise, for although they come from 
 various countries, widely separated, they were all 
 one people as subjects of the Queen." Speaking 
 for Canada, and he was sure he equally echoed the 
 sentiment of the other Colonies, he could repeat a 
 declaration of loyalty and devotion to the Queen 
 and to the Empire which was one with the feelings 
 of their fellow-subjects in the United Kingdom. 
 While much had been said about the loyalty of the 
 Colonies, it really was not one whit more necessary 
 to declare it than it was on the part of their friends 
 and relations of the Mother Country. All consid- 
 ered themselves equally Englishmen, and were nat- 
 urally and equally devoted to the maintenance of 
 the British Empire in its entirety. 
 
 It had been a great and distinguished year — 
 
 this of the Diamond Jubilee — the year in which, it 
 
 may truly be said, the British Empire found itself. 
 
 No longer were the "wretched Colonies" "mill- 
 
 277 
 
 
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 in 
 
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 iMl 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 stones" about the neck of the Mother Country: 
 but stalwart and loving children gathered in amity 
 at her knee. To the old apathy and distrust there 
 would be no return. No wonder if the jubilation 
 was a little unbalancing for the moment — that 
 enthusiasts for a united Empire should rush to 
 Utopian extremes. But the sober sense of the 
 nation recovered itsoU at a word spoken in season. 
 In the Times one morning appeared five stanzas 
 entitled " Recessional." These, Lord Strathcona, in 
 common, doubtless, with thousands of others, had 
 cut out and committed to memory. A few days 
 later I found them lying before him on his desk 
 and he spoke of them. "They should,"hesaid, "find 
 a place in the hymnal of every Church." It was 
 the very voice and lyre of David of Israel: — 
 
 "The tumult and the shouting dies — 
 The Captains and the Kings depart — 
 Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, 
 An humble and a contrite heart. 
 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, 
 I^est we forget — lest we forget! " 
 
,1 I 
 
 1. ': 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE EMIGRATION MOVEMENT 
 
 1896-1914 
 
 Our gi it need is people — men and women. They 
 are required for the millions of acres of land that are 
 given away and are only waiting to be occupied and 
 cultivated to provide happy homes for any number 
 of people. They are wanted also to develop more 
 rapidly the great wealth of the country, its agricul- 
 ture, its fisheries, its forests, its mines, and its manu- 
 factures. Increase of population cannot fail to add to 
 the wealth and strength of the Empire. You will be 
 doing good service to your country if you will help to 
 make Canada better known whenever you may have an 
 opportunity of doing so. Sometimes it is the custom 
 to sneer at emigration, and at the work of those who 
 promote it ; but I think this a great error. We possess 
 a fair proportion of the unoccupipH parts of the earth 
 most suitable for the settlemer f Europeans. The 
 opening-up of the resources of Canada, for instance, 
 not only means a greater and cheaper food supply for 
 those that are at home, but a sure and steadily in- 
 creasing market for those manufactures which are 
 exported in such quantities from the Mother Land, 
 and upon which its prosperity so much depends. In 
 fact, emigration is good for those who go, and good 
 for those who remain behind, and certainly for those 
 families which have an inducement to emigrate, in 
 view of the fact that it enables them to make better 
 279 
 
 
 
 I I 
 
 .■ ' I it'll l"T 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 provision for their children — a desire which is para- 
 mount in the minds of most people.' 
 
 I propose in this chapter to glance at one or two 
 aspects of the remarkable Canadian emigration 
 propaganda, chiefly on the continent of Europe, 
 whose history dates from 1896. No such propa- 
 ganda, so vast, so ingenious, so insistent and dra- 
 matic had ever been attempted in history, even 
 by the United States of America. The era of what 
 Sir Wilfrid Laurier once so happily called Canada's 
 "spectacular development" (1896-1913) coincides 
 so exactly with the term of Lord Strathcona's High 
 Commissionership, and is, moreover, so intimately 
 connected with tie policy of emigration which he 
 fostered, that it is little surprising that an eminent 
 Canadian public man should already refer to it as 
 the "Strathcona period."* 
 
 Speaking for myself [wrote Lord Strathcona, in the 
 early stages of this campaign], I would prefer to fill up 
 our enormous tract of vacant lands with settlers from 
 the British Isles. But the returning prosperity of 
 British agriculture makes this increasingly difficult, 
 and our lands only allow for people who may become 
 loyal and prosperous British subjects. 
 
 In Britain and Ireland, Canada was free to make 
 propaganda, to reach the emigrating class in any 
 way she chose. There were no restrictions of any 
 
 ■ Lord Strathcona, Address at Birmingham, November, 1899. 
 
 ■ " Hereafter our development i^ likely to be slower and on more 
 normal lines than those which the future historians may call the 
 'Strathcona period.' " (Sir George Ross, February, 1914) 
 
 a8o 
 
Prohibitions and Restrictions 
 kind from Government or from the police. On the 
 Continent, however, active hostility was evinced 
 toward emigration from the various Governments; 
 there was a police system which was hourly in- 
 truded into the daily lives of the people, and a whole 
 series of laws which absolutely prohibited emigra- 
 tion propaganda and surrounded the mere sale of 
 tickets to would-be emigrants with restrictions and 
 regulations which "did not simply harass, but 
 paralyzed." 
 
 Were not the existence of this condition notorious, 
 it would be easy to enumerate these prohibitions and 
 restrictions to a wearisome extent. They come, how- 
 ever, well within your own knowledge and experience, 
 and it will be obvious to you that special expenditure 
 and special lines of effort are necessitated by such 
 conditions, even to the payment of Continental rail- 
 way fare to port of embarkation and of the Canadian 
 railway fare to destination in the North-West.' 
 
 Thereafter began a long struggle against the dis- 
 abilities under which Canada has been placed by 
 certain European authorities. In its propaganda' 
 Canada was served by a force of emigration agents 
 who were paid a bonus of so much per capita. The 
 difficulties which the Canadian Government alone 
 could aid these agents to evade successfully were 
 tiiose difficulties eloquently indicated by the emi- 
 gration laws of the various countries. Every emi- 
 grant who was induced to leave Germany, Austria, 
 or Russia was so induced by an evasion of the 
 
 ' Letter to the Honourable Cliflord Sifton. 
 38l 
 
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Lord Strathcona 
 
 emigration laws prevailing in such countries, and 
 he could, generally speaking, be secured in no other 
 way. A Hamburg agent, for example, not only held 
 a concession from the Hamburg Government, but 
 also from each German State, all of which have 
 separate regulations. He is liable at any moment 
 to be fined by any of these States for a supposed 
 breach of their varying regulations, such as sending 
 a map of Canada to a man who did not actually ask 
 for it, or who thought it prudent to deny having 
 asked for it. These fines are frequent and range 
 from five pounds upwards, and they naturally con- 
 stitute a somewhat substantial "disability." Any 
 action tending to increase the revenue of these 
 agents made the fines more easy to support, and 
 consequently Lord Strathcona was urged to in- 
 crease the bonus paid to the agents. 
 
 Another suggestion was that the Government 
 should seek to promote a movement from the Con- 
 tinent by paying the railway fares of emigrants 
 to the port of embarkation. This would vary from 
 seven to thirty shillings per head, according to dis- 
 tance, ihere was also the creation of a fund by 
 which the Canadian railway fare from the port of 
 debarkation to the destination on the North-West 
 might also, and in select cases, be in part or alto- 
 gether defrayed. 
 
 On the whole, it was clear that Canada must oi- 
 fer more advantages to the emigrants and to the 
 agents, in view of what was being done to promote 
 emigration from the Continent to Brazil, to the 
 Argentine Republic, and to Chili. These embraced 
 eSa 
 
Evading Emigration Laws 
 
 free passages, free grants of land, and money ad- 
 vanced with which to start farming.^ 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 8th October, 1896. 
 We must be careful what we do in the direction of 
 encouraging any direct evasion of the laws in the 
 different countries. The fact that this has been done 
 in the past led to a rescript on the part of the Govern- 
 ment of Hanover (through the activity of a railway 
 agent), forbidding steamship ^ents to book passen- 
 gers to Manitoba. The payment of the railway fares 
 on the Continent to the ports of embarkation, and in 
 Canada from the ports of debarkation to destination, 
 would involve an expenditure which Parliament might 
 hesitate to appro\e of, and the same remark applies 
 
 1 It is interesting to note that in 1896, in the case of Chili, they 
 were as follows: — 
 
 Payment of the passage from Liverpool to Chili. 
 
 Free railway transportation from port of landing to destination. 
 
 Daily advance of sixpence for every adult and threepence for every 
 child from the day of landing to the day of arrival on land. 
 
 Provision to colonist of pair of oxen, gear for field and road, plough, 
 wooden cart, 150 planks, and 60 pounds of nails. 
 
 Free land grant of 170 acres to the colonist and 74 acres for every 
 son above twelve years of age. 
 
 An advance of thirty shillings per month during first year of instal- 
 lation. 
 
 The supply of uprooting machinery when necessary. 
 
 Free medical assistance and medicine for first two years. 
 
 The full amount to be repaid without interest, in fifths of the 
 total amount, such repayments to begin after the expiration of three 
 years. 
 
 These conditions were more liberal than those offered by Brazil, 
 and perhaps by the Argentine, but even the Brazilian Government 
 o^ered free passages and special advantages in regard to land and 
 advances. 
 
 283 
 
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l\l 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 to the advancing of money to emigrants for other 
 purposes. It would be difficult to restrict the classes of 
 people and countries to which such concessions were 
 given, and not only would it be open to considerable 
 abuse, in view of the contiguity of Canada and the 
 United States, but it might also lead to our getting 
 into difficulties with some of the Continental Govern- 
 ments. This applies to the use of cars also, especially 
 in Germany, Austria, and Russia. 
 
 What was urgently needed, in the High Com- 
 missioner's opinion, was: — 
 
 More advertising, better pamphlets, a system of 
 carefully selected returned men; the continuance of the 
 agent's bonus, the appointment of a travelling Govern- 
 ment agent, closer relations with the great Continental 
 lines and their agents, and the equalization of the rates 
 to our North-West from American and Canadian ports. 
 
 With regard to pamphlets: — 
 
 We ought to have three distinct leaflets in German, 
 in Swedish, in Norwegian, and in Czech and Finnish, 
 the general matter to deal largely with the German or 
 Scandinavian colonies in Canada, as the case may 
 be, with letters from German, Swedish, Norwegian, or 
 Danish settlers respectively for the pamphlet intended 
 to be circulated in the respective countries. This 
 leaflet should be from 24 to 36 pages, but not larger. 
 We should want about 70,000 leaflets — 30.000 in 
 German, 20,000 Swedish, and 20,000 Norwegian, and 
 a few in the other languages. 
 
 A Scandinavian had recently visited the North- 
 West under the auspices of the Department of the 
 884 
 
 J H 
 
Distributing Literature 
 
 Interior, and had written a report of its advantages. 
 Lord Strathcona urged that this brochure should 
 be printed in Norwegian and Swedish, and about 
 25,000 to 30,000 in each language. In addition he 
 wrote: — 
 
 About 40,000 handbooks similar to those at pres- 
 ent in use, but improved, would be needed — 20,000 
 German, 10,000 Norwegian, and 10,000 Swedish. We 
 want some good photographs of German and Scandi- 
 navian farms in the North-West for illustrating the 
 pamphlets. This is important. What, however, is even 
 more important is a number of letters written by 
 German and Scandinavian settlers, stating the places 
 on the Continent from which they came when they 
 arrived in Canada, their experiences and their progress, 
 over their names and addresses in Canada. 
 
 There are free libraries in many places on the Conti- 
 nent the same as in England, and a quantity of the 
 literature in question could be usefully distributed 
 through such channels as well as through the school- 
 masters. 
 
 Of course, we labour under a disadvantage on the 
 Continent. Both Scandinavian and German emigra- 
 tion has been proceeding to the United States for the 
 last fifty years. Most of the people in the different 
 parts of the United States have friends on the Conti- 
 nent, with whom they are no doubt in frequent com- 
 munication, and it is a well-known fact that the largest 
 proportion of the Continental emigrants go out to 
 join their friends. The remainder, what may be called 
 free emigration, is comparatively small, but it is, not 
 unnaturally, influenced by the direction in which their 
 friends and acquaintances may go. Within the last 
 285 
 
 N ; 
 
 
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I 
 
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 i 
 
 I, 
 
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 i 
 iji 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 ten years wc have had aeveral thousands of emigrants 
 coming within the latter description, and, in the 
 course of time, a satisfactory nucleus will no doubt 
 be formed, which will attract automatically further 
 immigration. But in the mean time we must go on 
 working, spending money in encouraging agents, m 
 advertising, and in printing, so as to Iteep Canada 
 before the people. . , , ■ 
 
 I may add that, on the Continent, particularly in 
 Scandinavia, emigrants seem to prefer to travel by the 
 fastest lines, and the newest steamers — conditions 
 which, coupled with other circumstances, tend to re- 
 strict the direct movement to Canada. 
 
 One of the German agents expresses grave doubts 
 as to the wisdom of our distributing pamphlets. He 
 claims it is much better to carry on the work personally. 
 He adds that while many of the people cannot or will 
 not read the pamphlets, they do get into the hands 
 of the authorities when sent through the post and 
 thus they are informed of our endeavours to promote 
 emigration. 
 
 There is no doubt that we must keep up the pam- 
 phlets, but they must be improved, a matter to be re- 
 ferred to later on. It stands to reason that if we hope 
 to get more emigration it must be by means of educa- 
 tion, and that can only be effected by advertisements 
 and pamphlets of an attractive nature, written in 
 moderate language, so as not to lay ourselves open to 
 the charge of exaggeration, and circulated with dis- 
 cretion. Many of the agents, in giving me suggestions 
 about the improvement in our methods, have an eye, 
 no doubt, on the main chance, and hope to get some- 
 thing more out of it than they do at present. 
 There is little or no emigration from Holland, and 
 
 a86 
 
Obstacles in the Way 
 
 what there is goes to South Africa. We get a certain 
 amount of emigration from Belgium; but it might be 
 increased if we advertised more there and dissemi- 
 nated information to a greater extent than we do now. 
 In France we have been getting more emigrants 
 during the last two or three years, but by the laws and 
 regulations in force, emigration is not allowe<l except- 
 ing by vessels sailing from French ports. Therefore, in 
 the past, except occasionally, when vessels have left 
 France direct for Canada, our chance of getting emi- 
 grants has been comparatively small. They may go 
 by way of New York and to Eastern Canada, as these 
 rates compare favourably with those from Montreal, 
 but to the West, as you will be aware, we labour under 
 a disadvantage. We ought to endeavour to open up 
 communication with the Compagnie Gin^rale Tran»- 
 atlantique. 
 
 On another occasion he writes: — 
 
 With reference to the obstacles put in the way of 
 emigration to Canada, I have many proofs that the 
 Austrian Government, by often declining passports 
 to intending emigrants, hinder them from leaving the 
 country. In addition the German lines have given a 
 guarantee to the Russian Government for all passen- 
 gers arriving from Austria and Russia. This hinders 
 the passage of such people across the frontiers, and 
 through Prussia, unless they book with them, and 
 as there is little connection between Germany and 
 Canada, the agents at the frontier stations induce 
 passengers with some success to go to other countries, 
 for instance, the United States, South America, or 
 South Africa, with which they have direct steam 
 communication. 
 
 387 
 
 N ; 
 
 I'' , ^ 
 
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 ,!<^V! 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 In Ruuia the tituation U very »imilar, while in 
 Germany it i» difficult for a certain claw ol emigrants 
 to leave the country, namely, (or young men between 
 seventeen and forty-five, who in many ca«e» cannot 
 get a military passport, especially if the authorities 
 think there is some chance of the men leaving Ger- 
 many forever. How dangerous it is for unlicensed 
 agents to do business you will perhaps have heard of 
 before, but it is even more dangerous for licensed 
 agents when found to have persuaded any one to go out. 
 An arrangement has been made with the German 
 lines in consideration of their withdrawing their com- 
 petition with the British lines in Scandinavia and 
 Finland. As a consequence the British lines arc not 
 allowed to carry more than sue per cent of the emigra- 
 tion from the Continent (except as before mentioned), 
 the other ninety-four per cent being retained by the 
 German lines. If the British carry more th;>T' six per 
 cent of the traffic, they have to make a certain payment 
 per head to the Continental lines; and on the other 
 hand, if they do not get six per cent, they receive a 
 certain payment per head (at present rates it is three 
 pounds per adult) on the number required to make 
 up that proportion. This is the arrangement effected 
 by the North Atlantic Conference which includes the 
 Canadian lines. You will readily understand, there- 
 fore, that it is not in the interests of the British lines 
 to encourage emigration from the Continent. Their 
 agents, however, usually represent the German lines 
 as well. As most of the vessels of the latter sail to New 
 York, the agreement to which I have referred must 
 operate injuriously upon emigration to Manitoba and 
 the North-West from the Continent. It emphasizes 
 what was mentioned in my previous letter — that we 
 
 a88 
 
Russian Hostility 
 
 can never hope to tecure a large emigration from the 
 Continent until we manage in iome way or other to 
 •ecure the cooperation of the two great German linn, 
 the North-German Lloyd, and the Hamburg-American 
 Steamship Company. The arrangement does not ma- 
 terially affect emigration to the United States, but 
 it does operate prejudicially so far as Canada is con- 
 cerned, in view of the higher inland rates from Ameri- 
 can ports to our North-West. 
 
 Of course this active propaganda instantly at- 
 tracted the attention of foreign Governments. As 
 early as the summer of 1896, the Russian Minister 
 of the Interior, M. Yermoleff, notified several of the 
 Provincial Governors that "signs of the coming 
 revival of the pernicious activity of emigration 
 agents are becoming manifest." 
 
 Inasmuch as the facts set forth denote the possi- 
 bility of wholesale emigration which undermines the 
 regular development of domestic economy, and is ruin- 
 ous for the population, the Minister of the Interior 
 requests the General Governor to take suitable meas- 
 ures for the suppression of the movement. 
 
 I request you, on the smallest manifestation of an 
 emigration movement, to personally, as well as through 
 the medium of the police organization under you, 
 point out to the population the real position, as well as 
 the illegality, of their leaving the Mother Country of 
 their own accord, and especially to draw their atten- 
 tion to the fact that over and above irreparable 
 material damage, criminal responsibility is set on them 
 for deserting the Mother Country and secretly crossing 
 the border. 
 
 M 
 
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 ''I '» • 
 
I ■.I I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Explanations and denials of false reports on emigra- 
 tion must be given with particular care in order not to 
 give place to a wrong supposition that they are given 
 in the interest of the landowners who are afraid of los- 
 ing cheap labor. 
 
 It is further recommendable to carefully keep a 
 lookout on any movement which may arise in favour 
 of emigration and in case of a party setting out to 
 arrest those interested and convey them back to their 
 former place of abode. 
 
 As a preventative against the carrying-on of emigra- 
 tion by means of passes, certificates stating that there 
 is no impediment to foreign travel should only be 
 issued to taxpayers (by which every one, with the ex- 
 ception of the nobility and merchants, is meant) with 
 the greatest discretion. 
 
 From a point of view proven by experience, the 
 emigration movement is not only evoked by the agi- 
 tation of foreign emigration companies, who, with 
 the aid and assistance of local agents, issue proclama- 
 tions with promises of sure subsistence and other 
 ind ucements, but also through the participation in this 
 propaganda of a certain class of individuals who specu- 
 late on easily acquiring the hastily and rashly disposed 
 of property of the emigrants. I, therefore, request 
 you to use all means in your power to ascertain the 
 whereabouts of emigration agents and their abettors, 
 supporting in any way this illegal traffic, and in ac- 
 cordance with paragraph 328 of the law, bring same 
 to justice. 
 
 In case of a judicial pursuit being impossible, en- 
 deavour must be made in accordance with the rules of 
 increased protection (Exceptional Law) and the results 
 reported to me to enable me to bring about an admin- 
 
 ago 
 
 n 
 
 j: ' 
 
German Official Disfavour 
 
 '?Oi)le from the respect- 
 
 istrative expulsion of the .;;J. 
 ive district. 
 
 Close watch is to be k pt on tho.* ndividuals who 
 have proven their untruu.vr.rthi^ess through various 
 dishonourable actions, they forming the class desirous 
 of enriching themselves at their neighbours' cost and 
 are always ready to place themselves at the dispo- 
 sition of those people engaged with the enlistment 
 of emigrants. A special outlook should, therefore, be 
 kept on such persons, and, on the faintest signs of an 
 emigration movement, the Exceptional Law be brought 
 to bear on them. 
 
 Further I request all sheriffs to make enquiries into 
 the present sentiments of the population on emigration 
 examine the source of all rumours, take the necessarv) 
 measures, and inform me without delay on any note- 
 worthy features and developments.' 
 
 Similarly all over the Continent the High Com- 
 missioner's emigration propaganda met with severe 
 official disfavour. 
 
 In Germany and Austria, emigration could not be 
 directly forbidden in consequence of the free con- 
 stitution and free movement law, but for want of a 
 uniform emigration law, police instructions were 
 issued, whereby a concession from the States must 
 be obtained before transportation orders could be 
 issued, and the State was empowered — if it was 
 thought fit — to refuse the concession or with- 
 draw a concession already granted without stating 
 reasons. Should a concession be granted a clause 
 was inserted whereby the holder was forbidden 
 ' Confidential circular addressed to sheriffs and police officers 
 from tlie office of the Governor, Secret Department, m^. JuTy 3 
 391 
 
 M 
 
 .1 : 
 
 
Ifl- 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 " to incite to emigration through publicity or distri- 
 bution of printed matter, through correspondence 
 or by oral communication with the population m 
 any way." Information and transportation orders 
 might be issued only on the application of persons 
 who had decided to emigrate. Violation of these 
 instructions was punished with a fine or imprison- 
 ment. Non-concession agents issuing transpor- 
 tation orders or information were punished with 
 imprisonment. 
 
 In Austria efforts are being made to form an Emi- 
 gration Law. For the present, however, an Austro- 
 Hungarian Colonization Company has been established 
 after the style of the German Colonization Company, 
 and this institution has the improvement of emigra- 
 tion ways and means in view and the abolishment of 
 agents as far as possible; to this effect they have been 
 furnished by the Government with far-reaching power. 
 We have been in touch with the leading directors of 
 the said concern and believe in the course of time to 
 have great influence on the working of the company. 
 The emigration question is : To which part the stream 
 of emigration will turn. In Austria, as in Germany, 
 Brazil is the centre of attraction, which country has for 
 several years been making the utmost exertions to 
 encour^e immigration. The inconveniences which 
 are sUU in the way of emigration to Brazil, particularly 
 the want of organization and attendance which meet 
 the new arrivers, it is hoped will be overcome by the 
 Brazilian or the Provincial Government. 
 
 We consider it hazardous if in view of the present 
 political state of matters in this continent, the Cana- 
 dian Government should endeavour to prop^ate 
 «9« 
 
A Delicate Enterprise 
 
 emigration direct, by the distribution of pamphlets, 
 etc., from abroad. It might, however, be taken into 
 consideration whether it might not be advantageous 
 to endeavour to get permission to establish in Ger- 
 many and Austria an information bureau. The latter 
 would, of course, only be carried on in accordance with 
 the legal proclamation and would have the task of 
 awaking interest with influential parties for Canada 
 and further to dispel prejudices which may still exist 
 in general against emigration to Canada. 
 
 There was another side to the business. Canada 
 was dangling her bait in the deep waters of Europe: 
 a dangerous game for the "predominant partner" 
 as well. 
 
 Lord Salisbury to Mr. Chamberlain 
 
 Foreign Office. [August, 1898.) 
 I should be the last to discourage the efforts of the 
 Dominion of Canada to increase her population by 
 every legitimate means; but you will understand the 
 necessity for proceeding with the utmost caution and 
 with reference to the emigration ordinances of the 
 several countries concerned, otherwise it is clear that 
 the cares and responsibilities of the Foreign Office will 
 be vastly increased.' 
 
 In 1898 the German Minister for the Interior, 
 Count Von Posadowsky Welmer, complained to 
 
 ' " About^the action of the German Government in connection 
 with my visit —Count Hatzfeldt did mention it to Lord Salisbury and 
 Mr. Chamberlain communicated the conversation to me. I explained 
 the nature of my visit to the Continent which had more to do with 
 general questions and with the steamship companies than with 
 German emigration in particular. My explanation was regarded as 
 entirely satisfactory." (Lord Strathcona to Sir Wilfrid Laurier.) 
 
 «93 
 
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 111 
 
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 ii 
 
 s . 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Sir Frank Lascelles that the Canadian propaganda 
 was giving great offence to the Emperor and those 
 subjects who had the interests of Germany at heart, 
 and that it would be better for the good under- 
 standing between the two countries if means were 
 found to check it. "Germany had need of all her 
 present population, but if it were considered advis- 
 able for any classes or even groups to emigrate, the 
 German Government desired to exercise an influence 
 as to the choice of countries of their destination." 
 The inference was plain — Canada was non grata 
 to official Germany, however popular and attrac- 
 tive she was becoming amongst the masses of im- 
 poverished peasants. 
 
 Said a leading German newspaper, the Ham- 
 burger Nachrichten: — 
 
 The arrogance of the Canadian, Lord Strathcona, 
 and the utter disrespect shown by him for the laws 
 of the Empire in publicly conducting his emigration 
 propaganda on German soil and in the very teeth of 
 the authorities, demand that vigorous representations 
 should be made at once to the British Government, 
 which is, we presume, still responsible for this Colony. 
 While apart from the weakening of the Fatheriand 
 which the success of such propaganda entails, the 
 attempt to lure our fellow-countrymen to this deso- 
 late, sub-arctic region is, upon humane grounds alone, 
 to be denounced as criminal. 
 
 A glimpse into the practical working of the prop- 
 aganda in Austria is furnished in one of Lord 
 Strathcona's letters: — 
 
 394 
 
Galician Emigrants 
 
 To the Honourable Clifford Sifton 
 
 23d March, 1898. 
 
 All the agents claim that they have been active in 
 organizing the movement from Galicia. They say they 
 have obtained from the people who have already 
 emigrated, and in other ways, an immense number of 
 addresses in the country, and that they have been in 
 correspondence with these people for months past, 
 sending them letters and pamphlets. They have also 
 agents working surreptitiously for them. 
 
 Of course the law will not permit anything in the 
 direction of encouraging emigration, and these sub- 
 agents are generally pedlars, hawkers, and others, who 
 are moving about the country. In that way they dis- 
 seminate quietly, but effectively, quantities of litera- 
 ture. They have also spent considerable sums in adver- 
 tising, such as the law permits. Although it is quite 
 possible they may exaggerate their efforts, and their 
 expenditure, there is no doubt in my rr.ind that they 
 have been spending both time and money in the 
 endeavour to increase the business from Galicia. They 
 claim in many cases that they have done more work 
 than Professor Oleskow' has, and the tendency seemed 
 to be to underestimate the position of that gentleman, 
 although one or two of the agents admitted that he had 
 some influence, and was able to secure an amount of 
 publicity for Canada which they could not do. At the 
 same time, it is only right for me to add that they all 
 appear to have been in communication with Professor 
 Oleskow, and to have pecuniary consideration in the 
 event of his working through their particular agencies. 
 Of course none of them know of our arrangement with 
 ^ A subsidized agent for the Canadian Government. 
 295 
 
 
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 fi 
 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 him, but in any case, in order to retain thieir business, 
 they would not hesitate to minimize his eJforts. 
 
 The greater part of the Continental business — 
 except Scandinavian — was controlled by the North- 
 German Lloyd Company of Bremen and the Ham- 
 burg-American Company of Hamburg. The latter 
 company owned and controlled the Hansa line of 
 steamers. 
 
 It stands to reason [wrote Lord Strathcona] that if 
 both these great lines were working in Canadian inter- 
 ests, we should have very powerful friends at Berlin. 
 As they would be interested strongly in emigration to 
 Canada, they would take care as far as possible that 
 nothing was done adverse to their interests — which 
 in this case would be ourselves. 
 
 In February, 1898, Lord Strathcona visited 
 Bremen and Hamburg to see what could be done in 
 those centrer,. He saw the directors of the North- 
 German Lloyd Company. 
 
 I discussed [he writes] the matter very fully with 
 them, and asked if they would tell me, freely and 
 frankly, why it was we had not the benefit of their 
 cooperation in this matter. The reply was that they 
 only ran their steamers to New York, and that the 
 railway rates to Manitoba and the West being higher 
 than from Quebec and Montreal, they could not com- 
 pete, and consequently left the question of emigration 
 to the North-West severely alone. Not only was this 
 the case, but they told me distinctly that if the people 
 came to them or their agents and wanted information 
 about the North-West, they did their best to persuade 
 B96 
 
Herr Albert BalHn 
 
 them to go elsewhere. So that, as I have pointed out 
 on many occasions, the influence of this great company 
 is really exercised against Canadian interests. I asked 
 them, if it were possible to equalize the rates, whether 
 they would then pursue a different policy. Their reply 
 was in the affirmati\ o. 
 
 In 1896 a correspondence had taken plrxe be- 
 tween Herr Albert Ballin and the German Minis- 
 ter of the Interior, which became so acrimonious 
 that the former did not hesitate to appeal to the 
 Kaiser. 
 
 If [he wrote] Your Majesty agrees that the efforts of 
 the Hamburg-American Company in the direction of a 
 German mercantile marine are worthy of Imperial 
 support, it is intolerable that we should be met at every 
 hand, in our policy of securing profitable traffic, by 
 petty official obstacles of which Your Majesty, I am 
 convinced, has no cognizance. Thousands of licensed 
 German and Polish emigrants are now forced to pro- 
 ceed from Dutch and English ports, who otherwise 
 would embark by the steamers of this company. 
 
 In reply the Prime Minister stated that a uni- 
 form emigration law for the Empire was being pre- 
 pared, making emigration increasingly difficult, and 
 that the steamship companies' agents must restrict 
 their propaganda exclusively to such districts as 
 the Government indicated. "With regard to the 
 transportation of German subjects to such British 
 Colonies as Canada, the Ministry would not en- 
 courage it until the completion of enquiries concern- 
 ing the future of such emigrants in relation to their 
 German citizenship and the future homogeneity of 
 897 
 
 
 • ■■■ 
 
 
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II 
 
 If 
 
 V 
 
 I 
 
 t \'l 
 
 ^ii 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 the Empire. Meanwhile, the company had a great 
 field to draw upon in Russia and Austria and every 
 facility would be given to make Hamburg and 
 Bremen the great European entrepdts for Continen- 
 tal emigrants of non-German nationality." 
 
 In the annual report of tie Hamburg-American 
 Company it was stated that "in order to give an 
 impulsion to business the cultivation of emigration 
 is an absolute necessity." Russia was designated as 
 the "most adaptable land for the enlistment of 
 emigrants." Such emigrants were met at the Prus- 
 sian frontier stations by the agents of the steamship 
 company and transported direct to Hamburg. 
 
 Herr Ballin, the head of the Hamburg-American 
 Steamship Company, was a man already of note 
 and destined to be one of the most powerful forces 
 in modern Germany. 
 
 I^rd Strathcona to the Honourable Clifford Sifton 
 
 I had a most interesting conversation with Herr 
 Ballin. I asked him whether there were any suggestions 
 he had to make by which the position of Canada on 
 the Continent could be improved. In his reply, he 
 referred to the following matter. 
 
 Herr Ballin strongly urged that we should arrange 
 for an agricultural delegation to be sent out from Ger- 
 many to Canada. He mentioned that the Society of 
 St. Raphael (a Catholic organization) has ramifications 
 over the whole of Europe, and that its principal object 
 is the dissemination of reliable information among 
 emigrants and their welfare in the land of their adop- 
 tion. What he proposes is, that the Society should U 
 298 
 
Herr Ballin's Proposals 
 
 invited to send out to Canada a commission of say 
 four persons, two to be Catholics and two to be Prot- 
 estants, who could spend a couple of months in the 
 different Provinces of Canada, and prepare a report for 
 the Society. He states that this report would receive 
 wide publicity all ove Germany, in the newspapers 
 which are under the control of the Society, and he 
 added that it might also be published in pamphlet 
 form. As regards the expenses, the Ham burg- Ameri- 
 can Company will gladly provide passages out and 
 home for the delegates, and there is no doubt also that 
 the Canadian Pacific and other railways would do their 
 share. Therefore, there is only the question of the liv- 
 ing expenses of the delegates, and while they would be 
 men whose opinion would carry weight, they would 
 not, he thought, be extravagant in the matter of 
 expenses, and probably about $1000 or $1500 would 
 cover everything, so far as the Govemmtnt is con- 
 cerned. I told him the proposal appeared to me a 
 good one, and that I would commend it to your con- 
 sideration, although a similar proposal has been rec- 
 ommended to your predecessors on more than one 
 occasion, and I think it 1., an opportunity of gaining 
 publicity for the Dominion which we ought not to miss. 
 Herr Ballin some years ago suggested that the 
 Government should have an agent at Hamburg; one 
 who might be nominally a commercial agent, but 
 would also keep a watch on emigration matters so far 
 as the Dominion is concerned. Herr Ballin recom- 
 mends that a German should be appointed, one who 
 is in a good position and well known in official quarters, 
 and that before taking up his duties he should have 
 an opportunity of paying a visit to different parts of 
 Canada. Your predecessor did not feel able to accept 
 
 299 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 this suggestion and the matter fell through. Herr 
 Ballin still thinks that a Canadian agent should be 
 appointed, but he now favors Berlin as the location 
 instead of Hamburg, for the reason that, under the 
 new Emigration Law, all the administrative work in 
 connection with emigration will emanate from Berlin, 
 instead of from the different States of the German 
 Empire. Besides Berlin is a central place, and the 
 different parts of Germany can readily be reached from 
 it. Herr Ballin thinks that the British Ambassador 
 and the German Departments should be consulted in 
 the matter. We think that this would lead to the 
 selection of some officials on the retired list, who 
 would have access to all the Departments, and might 
 thus be instrumental in sn:-x)thing over difficulties 
 affecting .nada, make our work in regard to emigra- 
 tion casiei than it is at present, and keep us informed 
 of what is going on. Herr Ballin considers that such 
 an officer need not have an office, and that his expen- 
 diture would be confined to salary and travelling ex- 
 penses, which might not exceed from £500 to £600 a 
 year. 
 
 Herr Ballin also gave me some information about 
 the new German law in regard to emigration. It is to 
 come into force, as you know, on the 1st of April next. 
 Its provisions, on the face of it, do not appear to be 
 much inore stringent than those of the old Act, but its 
 administration is expected to be much more severe. 
 The regulations are not yet is-^ued, and both the 
 companies and the agents appear to be in a state of 
 much uncertainty as to what their powers are to be 
 in the future. 
 
 They seem to think, however, that more difficulties 
 will be placed in their hands than hitherto. Herr 
 
 300 
 
The Bonus on Emigrants 
 
 Ballin is a member of the Commission for the working 
 of the Act. While the Bill was passing through Parlia- 
 ment, he stated that there appeared to be a feeling in 
 favour of prohibiting altogether emigration to Can,--.da. 
 He docs not think, however, that this is likely to be 
 done, and I am of his opinion, especially in view of the 
 fact that if such a regulation was passed, the business 
 of the Hansa line of steamers, which is practically the 
 Hamburg-American Company, would be done away 
 with. That steamship company is one of the powerful 
 operations in Germany, and I hardly think that any- 
 thing so contrary to their interests would easily be 
 carried out. 
 
 It would not be wise in the interests of Canada, Herr 
 Ballin thought, to reduce the bonus, either on Galicians 
 or other emigrants to Canada, at that juncture. He 
 strongly advised that any reduction to be made should 
 take effect from the close of the actual season, say 
 from the 1st of September or the 1st of October, and 
 was of the opinion that, in order to secure the con- 
 tinued interest of the agents, it would not be well to 
 make too great a reduction. 
 
 I pointed out to the agents that we did not want 
 paupers or persons without means, and that they must 
 endeavour to send only persons who will have some 
 money in hand after their arrival. They claimed that 
 this had always been their policy and none would 
 accept the responsibility of having sent out persons of 
 the poorer classes. It was clearly stated by me that 
 any departure from this rule might prejudice the con- 
 tinuance of the arrangement, and this matter should 
 be referred to in any circular we may send out to the 
 agents as the result of my recommendations in this 
 letter. 
 
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 il'i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 While in Berlin I had a general convereation with the 
 British Ambassador (Sir Frank Lascelles] on the sub- 
 ject of emigration; but the matter is not one in which 
 Her Majesty's representatives abroad take much in- 
 terest. This you can readily understand, as it is a 
 delicate matter, and the laws are so restrictive. At the 
 same time, however. Sir Frank Lascelles promised to 
 keep an eye on the matter, and to communicate with 
 me if anything c ime under his notice prejudicial to the 
 Dominion and its interests. 
 
 At Vienna I also had an interview with the British 
 Ambassador, Sir Horace Rumbold, who did not seem 
 to know much about the work in Galicia. I discussed 
 the matter with him, with very much the same result 
 as happened at Berlin. 
 
 In his discussion with the steamship agents at 
 Hamburg Lx)rd Strathcona impressed upon them 
 that the Canadian Government was sensible of the 
 efforts they had been making to promote emigra- 
 tion to Canada, and that while a reduction in the 
 rate of bonus then paid was being considered, there 
 was no desire to do anything which might appear 
 harsh or illiberal. 
 
 In fact, I tentatively mentioned that while perhaps 
 the Government, although I could not speak with cer- 
 tainty, might decide to reduce the commission in the 
 case of Galicians shortly, any general reduction on 
 emigrants from other countries would probably not 
 take effect until the end of the present season, say the 
 1st October. The agents, however, while not question- 
 ing the right of the Government to make any change, 
 thought that it would hardly be fair to do so at the 
 present time, just at the beginning of the season, when 
 30» 
 
Fewer German Emigrants 
 
 the results of their winter's work and expenditure be- 
 gin to appear. 
 
 Emigration from Germany had m 1898 fallen 
 from a quarter of a million to less than fifty thou- 
 sand for the year. This was attribiitoti partly to 
 the reports from the United States, and partly to 
 the increased prosperity of Germany, workmen be- 
 ing in greater demand, and at higher wages, than 
 they had been. 
 
 We cannot, therefore (he reported], in view of the 
 restrictions, and from other causes, ho|H' to get many 
 emigrants from Germany proper at present, but we 
 must continue our bonuses there, and eno .urage the 
 steamship agents, as much as possible, to work for 
 Canada. Now that the British lines have withdrawn 
 from emigration work on the Continent, the business 
 is entirely in the hands of the great Continental com- 
 panies, like the North-German Lloyd and the Ham- 
 burg-American Company, and we must endeavour to 
 arrange so as to be in much closer communication and 
 cooperation with them than we have been in the past. 
 
 ¥1 t«. ...... . . 
 
 I >■ 
 
 i 
 
 ''i with this matter at some length in my 
 lef .1 ■ I in j'lP ibject of the equalization of rates from 
 t^ucLit.: ;ijiu irom New York to the North-West. 
 
 While there may not be much to expect from Ger- 
 many, there is likely to be a considerable movement 
 from Austria ami from Southern Russia, and from the 
 latter place particularly we shall have several hundreds 
 of people of the Mennonite class during the coming 
 season. I heard of the work Mr. Klaas I'eters is do- 
 ing there, and trust that the result will be to increase 
 our immigration. 
 
 In connection with emigration from Scandinavia, 
 303 
 
 I I 
 
 m 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 we have, however, much to gain from the British New 
 York lines by the equalization of the rates. In Norway, 
 Sweden, and Denmark, the White Star, Cunard, and 
 American lines hold a far better position than the 
 Canadian lines, and in Scandinavia there are few 
 agents who represent more than one line, ?nd we 
 should certainly gain by a removal of the present 
 hostility of the agents of the New York lines, which is 
 mainly the result of the difference in the railway rates. 
 The effect of this want of interest on the part of the 
 New York agents has been the principal factor which 
 has prevented a proper share of Scandinavian emigra- 
 tion going to Canada, notwithstanding our efforts to 
 awaken an interest in the Dominion. Not only have 
 they failed to help us, but wherever they could do so 
 they have tried to influence people £«ainst Canada, 
 and this state of things is well within the knowledge of 
 your department. 
 
 The question of a direct and continuous trans- 
 portation was a vital one. 
 
 I earnestly trust you will give it your consideration, 
 and see whether something cannot be done to remove 
 what, in my judgment, is a great obstacle to emigra- 
 tion from all parts of the Continent to Canada, and it 
 affects our interests in the United Kingdom also, but 
 to a more limited extent. What I should like to see 
 would be some arrangements between the American 
 lines and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, by 
 which passengers could travel from New York, Boston, 
 or Philadelphia to the nearest point on the Canadian 
 Pacific Railway and thence to the West by our own 
 transcontinental line. It may be that an additional 
 payment of some kind might be involved, but I venture 
 304 
 
Farm Labourers from Britain 
 
 to th'nk that some means might be .' und of arranging 
 thi r. atter as between the Government and the rail- 
 way, in view of its importance. 
 
 In a letter to the Ministry, written in June, 1899, 
 he stated: — 
 
 I am glad to say that foreign immigration to Canada 
 is growing. According to all accounts the Galicians are 
 doing well, and will eventually make excellent settlers. 
 The Doukhobors also create an excellent impression, 
 and their work in Southern Russia, under great dis- 
 advantages, indicates that they possess the quali- 
 ties which are necessary to success in the Canadian 
 North- West. We have not had so many Germans and 
 Scandinavians as we would like. This arises from the 
 fact that the Governments of the countries in ques- 
 tion are opposed to emigration, which makes it as 
 difficult as possible, apart from the fact that the 
 people of those countries are enjoying an era of pros- 
 perity at the present time. The success of the Conti- 
 nental settlers in the different parts of Canada is sure 
 to have its effect. 
 
 So much for the Continental emigration. In the 
 United ICingdom his zeal was even greater. 
 
 The efforts of Sir Donald Smith [wrote a leading 
 Canadian journal] to enlighten the public on the other 
 side as to the class of immigrants desired in Canada 
 are bearing fruit. Instead of stunted, pale-faced 
 creatures, the products of the streets of large cities, 
 who never saw a tree or cow in their lives, of whom 
 we have had far too many samples in the past, most of 
 the immigrants this season, so far, are splendid speci- 
 mens of the farm-labourer class. There is also notice- 
 able a considerable sprinkling of the better class of 
 305 
 
 '4 
 
 ( 
 
 k!' 
 
 (,ii^^ 
 
 .,'<!: 
 
 !i ' 
 
 J 
 
 *^f 
 
 n 
 
 Mi' 
 
 II 
 
 jlliiii 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 farmers, men with means to invest; but chiefly there is 
 knowledge of the conditions which await them, and 
 fitness for meeting them. The Canadian Pacific Rail- 
 way Company has always been labouring in this 
 direction, and it is to the credit of the societies in 
 England that they have latterly made the most rigid 
 investigation into the capabilities and character of the 
 intending emigrants before they have sanctioned their 
 coming out. The magic-lantern exhibitions which were 
 got up by Sir Donald Smith, showing the Dominion 
 as an agricultural country, which needed chiefly brawn 
 and muscle and the knowledge of crops and cattle, 
 brought home to the people in a vivid and effectual 
 way the situation which had to be confronted. There 
 was everything encouraging in this, particularly when 
 the pictures were supplemented with the exhibition 
 of the cereals and roots indigenous to the several 
 Provinces. It is noticeable in the bodies of emigrants 
 thus far landed and distributed this season that a 
 considerable proportion were destined for British 
 Columbia. Such persons are to be distinguished from 
 the labouring class. They are persons with small 
 means, who, having heard of the wonderful wealth 
 of this comparatively new Province, have pulled up 
 stakes in the hope of making sudden fortune. Whether 
 such — disappointed, for the most part, as must be 
 the inevitable experience — will settle down to sober 
 pursuits, of which the reward will be slow, but prob- 
 ably sure in the end, remains to be seen. At any rate, 
 the British, though they have been slow to waken up, 
 are evidently not going to let the Americans get all 
 the precious metal out of the mines which are springing 
 up, mushroom-like, in all directions.' 
 
 ■ Montreal WUness, May 5, 1897. 
 306 
 
Room for a Billion 
 
 On another occasion, addressing an audience at 
 the Imperial Institute, Lord Strathcona said: — 
 
 There are one or two thoughts I wish to submit to 
 you as likely to have an important bearing on the com- 
 mercial relations between Canada and the Mother 
 Country. As already mentioned, Canada has a popu- 
 lation of about 5,500,000 at the present time. There is 
 no reason to doubt that, without over-crowding, there 
 is room for 50,000,000 to 1,000,000,000. People have 
 been going in more rapidly recently than in some of 
 the preceding years. While we welcome every one who 
 is prepared to adapt himself to the country, it h pe 
 haps a matter of regret to us that our fellow-subjects 
 in Great Britain do not come in larger numbers. A 
 coiiEiderable area of our free-grant land is being taken 
 up by settlers from the different countries of Europe. 
 Perhaps it is that those at home are more prosperous 
 than those who come to us from the Continent. No 
 doubt that children of the latter, in the second and 
 third generations, will become as good and loyal 
 British subjects as any of us; but we know that there 
 are many people in these isles who would much benefit 
 themselves and their families by going to Canada, and 
 we cannot understand why it is that they do not avail 
 themselves of the opportunity. As I have already 
 pointed out, this is a matter of as much importance to 
 you cis to us, for the more people we have the larger 
 will be the market for your products and manufactures, 
 and the increase in the population also means an 
 increase in the wealth and strength of the British 
 Empire. 
 
 This question of emigration does not receive nearly 
 the attention its importance deserves. It means so 
 much from whatever point of view it is regarded, and 
 307 
 
 '! II 
 
 4\ 
 
 11 1/ 
 
ii Hi 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 it has an important bearing on Imperial commercial 
 relations.' 
 
 He recommended the revival of the Canadian 
 "exhibition cars" which, after a brief trial, had 
 been discontinued. These soon became a feature of 
 the British countryside. 
 
 Anything that tends to popularize Canada, and to 
 familiarize the public with the country and its products 
 is worthy of support. This particular system of adver- 
 tising might be continued and extended. If at any 
 time it was thought by the Government that the vans 
 might with advantage visit particular localities it 
 could, of course, easily be arranged. 
 
 At the present time [he reported] we are in corre- 
 spondence with two to three thousand schoolmasters. 
 Several thousands of our large maps of Canada are 
 hung upon the walls of the schools. These maps are 
 used in connection with the lessons. A large number 
 of our pamphlets are also being used as ordinary 
 readers in the schools, and as the children take 
 the books home, Canada is thus introduced into 
 many homes in which it might not otherwise become 
 known. I find that many schoolmasters have a 
 practical as well as theoretical knowledge of Canada, 
 and our lantern slides on Canadian scenery are much 
 asked for by such pe^-sons. 
 
 About fifteen hundred lectures on Canada were 
 delivered during the autumn, winter, and spring. 
 The Canadian Pacific Railway had initiated a series 
 of animated photographs of Canada, its scenery, 
 and its industries. 
 
 ' Address, November 30. '899- 
 308 
 
An Audacious Scheme 
 
 In referring to the limited field in the United 
 Kingdom from which to draw emigrants, Lord 
 Strathcona observed: — 
 
 We only encourage persons with capital, farmers, 
 farm labourers, and domestic servants. I have ex- 
 plained the difficulties that tend to prevent immigra- 
 tion of this class on as large a scale as we would 
 like, and a good deal of our effort is now directed to 
 preventing undesirable immigration. Although our 
 enquiry is very large, both personally and by corre- 
 spondence, the greater portion of it comes from people 
 who have no means to emigrate. Capitalists and 
 farmers are slow to emigrate in any case, and the 
 other classes are doing better than at any previous 
 time, and, except among some of the younger members 
 of the families, there is not enough enterprise and that 
 disposition to look ahead which so often leads to emi- 
 gration. Still, we are getting good results from our 
 work, and I am very hopeful that our immigration will 
 continue to grow in the future. 
 
 Of the innumerable plans and projects, so often 
 fantastic, suggested by immigration agents and 
 officials during these early years of his High Com- 
 missionership, there was one of which I once heard 
 him say that its audacity took his breath away. 
 The originator postulated that Scandinavian emi- 
 gration to Canada was eminently desirable. A 
 fleet of vessels was to be chartered, each equipped 
 and provisioned for a long voyage, having on board 
 a vigorous lecturer (of the "revivalist" pattern) 
 and a brass band. On a suitable date — a Sunday 
 — the ships were each to put into different Scan- 
 309 
 
 
 
 ^'} 
 
 ■1. 
 
 \4 
 
 itiil ill 
 
 Nil 
 
 $k 
 
r'> 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 dinavian ports on some pretext or other. The popu- 
 lace was to be summoned, the band was to play 
 "The Maple Leaf Forever," and other inspiring 
 melodies, the lecturer was to harangue the crowd 
 on the attractions of the Canadian North-West, 
 and finally to deliver an impassioned exhortation 
 to the following effect: — 
 
 Men and women! material salvation awaits you. 
 Canada, the land of promise, opens its arms to receive 
 you! Your fellow-Norwegians, already there basking 
 in prosperity and happiness, call across the Atlantic 
 to you! Delay is fatal. Now is the accepted time. 
 Yonder good ship sails to-morrow. Passage money is 
 not needed — come forward and enroll your names and 
 sail with us to Canada and fortune. 
 
 The ingenious author of this happy scheme — 
 whose methods were partly borrowed from the 
 Salvation Army and the recruiting sergeant— was 
 greatly discomfited when Lord Strathcona declined 
 to consider it seriously. 
 
 "You are," it was bitterly complained, "throw- 
 ing away the chance of getting ten thousand able- 
 bodied Norwegians on the spot." 
 
 No mention was made of the probable attitude 
 of the Norwegian Government. " I have no doubt 
 he designed that the Norwegian Government should 
 follow the entire Norwegian population to Canada, 
 too," was Lord Strathcona's comment. 
 
 At a later stage, in 1905-06, came the exploits of 
 the notorious North-Atlantic Trading Company, 
 which entered into a contract with the Canadian 
 .310 
 
North Atlantic Trading Company 
 
 Government to supply emigrants to Canada at a 
 fixed bonus per capita. The class of emigrants se- 
 cured through this channel showed distinct dete- 
 rioration, being recruited from amongst the least 
 desirable of European races. What Lord Strath- 
 cona himself thought of the new arrangement may 
 be gathered from a letter to the Prime Minister in 
 which he reviews the work of the preceding years. 
 Previously he had written to Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 in reference to a statement in the Globe newspaper, 
 disclaiming having opened negotiations with the 
 North-Atlantic Trading Company, and "stating 
 that its suggestions never commended themselves 
 to my better judgment." He had yielded and had 
 given such assistance as he could, because the 
 Department of the Interior strongly favoured the 
 plan. In view of the fears he had entertained, he 
 had the matter submitted to counsel for an opinion. 
 "I had no connection at all," wrote Lord Strath- 
 cona, "with the negotiations, the Department of 
 the Interior having placed itself in direct commu- 
 nication with the company. While personally op- 
 posed, however, I desired to carry out the policy 
 of the Department." 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 I2th May. 1906. 
 From the time of my appointment as High Com- 
 missioner I was, as you are aware, very much impressed 
 with the necessity for an active emigration propa- 
 ganda, both on the Continent and in the United 
 Kingdom, as my frequent despatches and many 
 311 
 
 I I*" 
 
 ^ I 
 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 recommendations to the Minister of the Interior will 
 show. 
 
 In the interests of the work, I visited Hamburg, 
 Bremen, Berlin, Vienna, and Paris. It was very evident 
 to me, at that time, as the result of my enquiries, that 
 our preparations, and the cooperation we were receiv- 
 ing on the Continent, would inevitably result, in the 
 near future, in a large emigration to the North-West. 
 
 My principal reason for not favouring a hard-and- 
 fast contract with any body of individuals, like the 
 North-Atlantic Trading Company, was the fear that 
 it might land us in difficulties with some of the Govern- 
 ments concerned. There was also the consideration 
 that they would obtain the advantage, without any 
 great expense or effort to themselves, of the move- 
 ment which was bound shortly to take place, as the 
 result of our continuous educational work with the 
 various agencies on the Continent. My idea was that 
 the agents who had been vorking on our behalf should 
 themselves participate in the bonuses; and that we 
 should endeavour also to secure the cooperation of the 
 large Continental steamship companies, which it would 
 not have been difficult to arrange, judging from my 
 interviews with the North-German Lloyd directors and 
 Herr Ballin, of the Hamburg-American line, — gentle- 
 men of great influence on the Continent, — as reported 
 in my letters before referred to. Of course it would 
 have been possible to gradually lessen the bonus pay- 
 ments as the emigration increased — the increase being 
 the natural consequence of the work that was being 
 done, and of the successful settlement of the people 
 who were going out from year to year. 
 
 I do not wish to minimize in any way the energy 
 shown by the Department of the Interior in the pro- 
 
 31a 
 
 f 
 
!( 
 
 Unsound Methods deprecated 
 
 motion of emigration. They have certainly been alive 
 to the importance of the question within tlie last seven 
 or eight years, and have not hesitated to incur in- 
 creased expenditure on the worlc, which I may say was 
 recommended for many years before it was adopted. 
 They are, therefore, entitled to credit for the increase 
 in the emigration that has taken place; but it must 
 not be forgotten that the continuous and effective 
 work which had been going on for some years, in 
 adverse circumstances, both here and on the Conti- 
 nent, had prepared the way for the larger movement 
 that set in when the proper time arrived. 
 
 Briefly, therefore, I will conclude by saying that I 
 am and always have been in favour of a vigorous emi- 
 gration policy on the Continent, in the United King- 
 dom, and in the United States. At the same time, 
 however, I did not view the arrangement with the 
 North-Atlantic Trading Company with any personal 
 favour for the reasons stated above; and I am inclined 
 to the opinion that the emigration which has taken 
 place would have been at least as large in ordinary 
 circumstances, under the arrangements in force prior 
 to 1899. 
 
 I am sure you will understand that, in writing this 
 letter, I only wish to make my own position cl(.ar, and 
 that I have no desire whatever to reflect in any way, 
 either upon the Department of the Interior or its 
 officers, in connection with the arrangements made 
 lietween the Government and the company.' 
 
 ' "The Government agreed to pay the company £1 for each man, 
 woman, and child of the agricultural class brought to Canada and 
 (or each girl of eighteen years of age or over of the domestic service 
 class. It was provided that in no one year should the Government be 
 (ailed upon to pay a bonus on more than five thousand Poles, Ga- 
 licians, and Bukowinians. The Government gave special aid to 
 
 313 
 
 4' 
 
 Mil §1 
 
 •fs ■;; 
 
\ 
 
 ii 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 All through his eighteen years of office we find 
 Lord Strathcona going up and down the land 
 preaching from the same text, and posterity will 
 bear witness that he was not heard in vain.' 
 
 The disadvantages we suffer from at the present 
 time are a superabundance of land and a compara- 
 tively small population. Both of these are only tem- 
 porary. When we get the people the territory can 
 accommodate, and the millions and millions of acres 
 of vacant land are occupied and utiliied, Canada will 
 be a country which my powers of imagination do not 
 permit me to picture. Just fancy a territory nearly as 
 large as Europe, with a population no greater than that 
 of London! That is the position just now. 
 
 Naturally, the latter circumstance limits our capac- 
 
 encourage the operations in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The 
 company carried on their work acUvely. In 1906, how ver, the 
 Mintater of the Interior claimed that the company wa» J- mg too 
 much attention to the Southern and Ea.tem countne.. a • 00 little 
 to the Northern countries. This, he held was m vio imoI the 
 agreement, and the Government gave notice termmai..ig the con- 
 tract. This U the only case in which the Government has f^med 
 out," BO to speak, its Immigration propaganda. (W. U. Sco", 
 Canada and its Provinces.) ■ . • .■ 
 
 « " In the whole period from 1897 to 19", the total immigration 
 was over two and a quarter millions: the British Isles sent 9(>i.™«>. 
 the United States 784,000, and the rest of the world 594.ooo. i he 
 toul increase in population in this period was marked; between 
 itol and I -I population grew from 4,833,239 to 5.371.315, and 'n 
 the toUowi decade to y.M^fiiS. practically double the population 
 of forty years before. The number of British imnigranta rose from 
 an average of 10,000 in the last years of the nineteenth centunf to 
 S0,ooo in 1904, and 138.000 in 1912. At the end of this pen"d Can- 
 ada had become the chief destination of emigrants from the United 
 Kingdom, far surpasring the United States, though Australia^ .™- 
 tating the CanadUn policy of publicity and offering liberal reduced 
 or advanced passages, was again becoming a close rival, lu. u 
 Skelton, Canada and Us Prorinas.) 
 3U 
 
His Inspiring Prophecy 
 
 ity as 1 consuming population; but at the same time 
 in conjunction with the area of the country, it serves 
 to give an indication of the extent of the marlcet that 
 awaits the British manufacturer if the Mother Coun- 
 try will only help us in the endeavour we are malc- 
 mg to attract population to till our lands, and to de- 
 velop the great resources with which Providence has 
 endowed us. 
 
 Tliey say [he wrote to Mr. Chamberlain in June, 
 1899] that we are draining Great Britain of her best 
 blood m order to build up and strengthen the Colonies. 
 But I venture to express my conviction that the 
 strength of the Colonies is Great Britain's strength 
 and that if ever the need should arise, these same 
 young men will return with their patriotism increased 
 and invigorated rather than weakened, to give their 
 help to the Mother Country. 
 
 Whether this prophecy be true or false let a 
 dozen bloodstained battlefields in France and Bel- 
 gium make answer. 
 
 "From Sydney to Esquimault, from the Ukes to Hudson 
 Bay; 
 
 Men who never saw you. Mother, those that left you yes- 
 terday; ' 
 
 From the prairies and the backwoods, be the struggle brief 
 or long. 
 
 We are coming. Mother England, two hundred thousand 
 strong!" 
 
 ' 11 
 
 
 
 |%'| 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
1 V ^ 
 
 ii'iF 
 
 Ih 
 
 \\ 
 
 ! ! 
 
 CHAPTER »■ V 
 
 "STBATn<-ON\'s horse" 
 
 1898-1900 
 Lord Strathcona's primal effort as a legisla- 
 tor in the House of Lords awakened much interest 
 K.h in Britain and in Canada. In deference to 
 the wishes of many leading colonists in London, the 
 High Commissioner undertook to bring forward 
 the Bill for legalizing in the United Kingdom 
 marriages in the Colonies with a deceased wifes 
 
 sister. . 
 
 It is hardly surprising to learn now, on the au- 
 thority of the late Duke of Argyll, that this incur- 
 sion into ecclesiastical law and ordinance did not 
 meet with the approval of Queen Victoria. Her 
 Majesty is said to have remarked bluntly that she 
 thought "his Labrador lordship should be the last 
 to meddle in these matters." The royal innuendo 
 merely illustrated the persistence of the legend con- 
 cerning Lord Strathcona's own marriage, whose 
 falsity and injustice both the Duke and Mr. Cham- 
 berlain had already endeavoured to expose. Some- 
 thing shrewder was the Queen's further remark 
 that she was sure Lord Strathcona had not con- 
 sulted Lady Strathcona in his choice of a subject 
 for debate. 
 
 316 
 
Colonial Marriages Bill 
 From Lord Strathcona 
 
 7th April, i89t. 
 
 My deah Sir Wilfrid Lackier: — 
 
 As you are no doubt aware, the question of legalizing 
 marriages with a deceased wife's sister is a matter that 
 is brought every year before the Imperial Parliament. 
 So far, while the measure has on one or two occasions 
 passed the House of Lords, it has not become law. 
 
 Within the last few years an endeavour has also 
 tieen made to legalize in this country marriages of this 
 kind which have been contracted in the Colonies under 
 local legislation; but no Act dealing with this part of 
 the question has yet been passed. 
 
 The matter as regards the Colonial marriages is now 
 up again for consideration, and I have been asked by 
 the Marriage Law Reform Association to introduce a 
 Bill on the subject into the House of Lords. The matter 
 is, I believe, generally approved of in the other Colo- 
 nies, but having regard to my position as High Com- 
 missioner, I rather hesitate to comply with the request 
 that has been made to me without first submitting it 
 to you and knowing your views. If you see no objection 
 to my doing so, I shall be quite preparM to introduce 
 such a Bill; but if you think it would be better for me 
 not to do so, I shall merely confine myself to supporting 
 such a measure in the House in a general way, and by 
 voting in favour of it. 
 
 Kindly write me on the subject at your early con- 
 venience, and believe me, etc., 
 
 Strathcona. 
 
 It was reported at the time that Sir Wilfrid 
 Laurier, dreading clerical criticjsm, strongly depre- 
 cated the intention of the High Commissioner. How 
 3«7 
 
 J ,1 
 
 I t 
 
 (:< 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 much truth there was in the report may be gleaned 
 from the following cable message, despatched on the 
 day the Premier received the foregoing letter. 
 
 To Lord Strathcona 
 
 Ottawa, 23d April, 1898. 
 Your letter received about Colonial Marriages Bill. 
 There is no objection to your presenting it. On the 
 contrary, I think it quite proper for you to do so. 
 
 Laurier. 
 
 The presence of the Prince of Wales and the 
 Duke of York,' both of whom had taken the keen- 
 est interest in the question of marriage law reform, 
 gave special interest to the sitting of the House of 
 Lords on July 8, when Lord Strathcona moved the 
 second reading of the Colonial Marriages Bill. The 
 object was stated to be "to make valid, in the 
 United Ki-gdom, marriages legally contracted with 
 a deceased wife's sister by domiciled residents m 
 the British Colonies, and in dependencies, under 
 legal enactments sanctioned by the Crown." 
 
 The case which Lord Strathcona presented to the 
 House of Lords seemed an almost overwhelming 
 one. The bill, it may be said in passing, was con- 
 fined to the legalization of marriages with the de- 
 ceased wife's sister. Marriages with a brother's 
 widow or wife's niece were left untouched, and the 
 Bill concerned itself alone with that of the de- 
 bated question — marriage with the deceased wife s 
 sister — upon which both Houses of the Imperial 
 » King George V. 
 318 
 
First Speech as Peer 
 
 Parliament had expressed favourable verdicts. In 
 the House of Lords in 1896 the majority in favour 
 of the Bill was 38, and the opposition might now be 
 said to be confined to the extreme ritualistic clergy, 
 though it was clearly an anomaly and an injustice 
 that even in marriages made valid in Colonies 
 whose legislation had been revised and sanctioned 
 by the law officers of the Crown in Britain, a Colo- 
 nial married lady should, on landing at Liverpool, 
 become a mistress, and be under the ban of society. 
 Here it may be noticed that by inadvertence the 
 Bill was framed in broader terms than was intended. 
 As drawn, marriages solemnizi 1 between persons 
 temporarily visiting a Colony would come within 
 the provisions of the bill. As the remedy provided 
 by the Bill was sought only on behalf of domiciled 
 Colonists, Lord Strathcona consented to the inser- 
 tion of words which would limit the operation of the 
 Bill to marriages effected by such persons. 
 
 He had very great diffidence [he began], in ad- 
 dressing their Lordships. 
 
 This is the first occasion on which I have had the 
 honour and privilege of being present as a member of 
 your Lordship's House. I am confident, however, that 
 your Lordships will extend to me that indulgence which 
 is always given to a new member. 
 
 The Bill which I have to introduce has for its object 
 the legalizing in the United Kingdom of marriages law- 
 fully contracted between a man and his deceased wife's 
 sister in any of the British Colonies. It is intended to 
 deal only with the marriages of legally domiciled resi- 
 dents, and, in order to remove any doubts there might 
 319 
 
 ! . :■ I '-■ 
 
 III 
 
 i^ 
 
 U'J- 
 
 t''7 
 
 '■'. 
 
 itii 
 
I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 be on that point, amendments would be moved in 
 Committee, if the Bill is read a second time, to make 
 that absolutely clear. The Bill is also provided with 
 other safeguards to prevent its provisions from being 
 abused Marriages with a deceased wife's sister have 
 been legalized in the Colonies with the active consent 
 of the Crown and with the tacit approval of the Gov- 
 ernment and of the Imperial Parliament, but, m spite 
 of that fact, the children of such legal Colonial mar- 
 riages were regarded in the United Kingdom as illegiti- 
 mate, and could not succeed to real property in this 
 country. It is believed, too, that they might be liable 
 to other disabilities, and it was to remove this stain 
 from the children who had been born in wedlock ren- 
 dered lawful by laws passed by the Colonial Legislature 
 and approved by the responsible advisers of the Crown 
 that the Bill had been introduced. 
 
 Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is not legal in 
 the United Kingdom, and the question does not, there- 
 fore, arise in the same way; but such marriages are 
 legal in the Colonies. Why should the children of such 
 marriages, when they come home to the Mother Coun- 
 try, bear the mark of illegitimacy? Such a Bill as this, 
 if it were passed, would be an act of justice to many 
 and would be an injustice to no one. 
 
 Representing the Colonies, and speaking with a 
 knowledge of what I say, every man in the Colonies 
 looks upon himself as an Englishman just as much as it 
 he had been bom in the United Kingdom; he glories in 
 the name of Englishman, and he has all the aspirations 
 of one and the same loyalty and devotion toour Empire- 
 As the Colonists feel that they are equally members o 
 the great Empire to which all Englishmen belong, 1 
 hope your Lordships will send a message of good-will to 
 
 3X> 
 
Marriages Bill shelved 
 
 those for whom I plead, a message which will be appre- 
 ciated throughout the Colonies; and show them that 
 your Lordships have as much consideration for those 
 in the Colonies, for whom I speak, as for those in the 
 Mother Country; that you desire to do justice to all. 
 
 Notwithstanding that the bill was carried by a 
 majority of 129 to 46, the Government refused to 
 take it up in the House of Commons. Some years 
 were destined to elapse before the measure became 
 law. 
 
 Meanwhile, many other affairs claimed the High 
 Commissioner's attention. In the summer of 1898 
 a Joint Conference between Britain and America 
 to decide outstanding disputes was decided upon 
 and there was much difficulty about the choice of 
 delegates. But before the matter was settled Can- 
 ada's thirty-first birthday came and went. Rarely, 
 if ever, had there been such a gathering of in- 
 fluential Canadians and friends of the Dominion 
 as assembled to dinner at the Imperial Institute. 
 Amongst those who supported Lord Strathcona was 
 the Duke of Norfolk, British Postmaster-General, 
 whose valuable assistance as the head of the Eng- 
 lish Roman Catholics had been invoked in the 
 Manitoba Schools settlement. 
 
 In proposing the toast of the evening. Lord 
 Strathcona said: — 
 
 I think all Canadians will agree with me that we 
 nave one day we can call our own, one on which we can 
 gather together and show that while true Britons and 
 devoted subjects of Her Majesty, we are none the less 
 citizens of the Dominion. We are not a foreign nation, 
 3»i 
 
 II 
 
 ', ( 
 
 -i ' 
 
 i ': * 
 
 i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 :} 1 
 
 -but a kindred nation with Bntam -members of 
 the great Empire, as are those ^«thm the Umt«l 
 Kingdom. The advance of Canada withm the last 
 Ly years, and especially since Confederation has 
 been great, both in the development and extent of her 
 r^urces and in her financial position. We have 
 cause to be proud of it. 
 
 Lord Strathcona congiatulated the Australian 
 Colonies on bt-ng within measurable distance of 
 federal union, knowing what great benefits federa- 
 tion had brought to Canada He had s>«'l^ h°pes 
 for South Africa, and trusted that the West Indies 
 themselves might in future become a Bntidi com- 
 monwealth. In the past few years Canada had 
 been able to secure the denunciation of commercial 
 treaties which stood in the way of a closer alliance 
 between the Colonies. He could not see why any 
 foreign nation should take exception to this piece of 
 domestic legislation. One foreign country proposed 
 to exempt Canada on this account from most- 
 favoured-nation treatment Canada, with such 
 support as she could always reckon on. would be 
 able to protect her own interests, for she would 
 always act with moderation. 
 
 It is also very pleasant to find better relations be- 
 tween the United States and Canada. We pray very 
 fervently, all of us, that the newly appomted High 
 Commission will give full satisfaction to each and all 
 of us in the difficulties they are gomg to deal with. 
 You will all be glad to find that we have amongst us 
 this evening Lord Herschell. With such repre^""" 
 tives as Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Mr. Charlton, and Lord 
 
American Friendship 
 
 Herschell, we may have confidence that the proper 
 interests of Great Britain and of Canada will be well 
 looked after. 
 
 We do not wish to stand at arm's length with our 
 neighbours. We desire to be on the most friendly 
 terms possible with them, and it would appear that 
 that desire is heartily reciprocated. Still, we wish to 
 continue as one people with the Mother Country, and 
 do our part in that great Empire of which we are all 
 so proud. 
 
 On this occasion the Chairman's health was pro- 
 posed by the veteran Canadian statesman, Sir 
 Charles Tapper. 
 
 After Confederation took place [said Sir Charles] a 
 great impassable desert separated Ottawa from the 
 great North-West, and it was impossible to reach one 
 from the other except by traversing foreign soil. All 
 this had now been changed, and that it had been so, 
 was largely due to the great financial qualities of Lord 
 Strathcona. To his energy, ability, and indomitable 
 perseverance the bringing together of the isolated 
 Provinces was in no small measure due. Montreal to- 
 day possessed admirably equipped hospitals, due to 
 the princely generosity of Lord Strathcona and Lord 
 Mount Stephen. No man in Canada possessed to-day 
 the confidence of all classes to such an extent. 
 
 On the 25th, Mr. Chamberlain wrote Lord 
 Strathcona that the Queen had approved the ap- 
 pointment of the Earl of Minto to succeed Lord 
 Aberdeen. 
 
 I feel sure that Lord Minto will receive from you that 
 loyal support always given to the representative of the 
 323 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Queen, and I am convinced that the new Governor- 
 General will carry to Canada the most anxious desire 
 to do everything in bis power for the welfare of the 
 Dominion. 
 
 On cabling the news to the Premier Lord Strath- 
 cona received the following reply: — 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 26th July, 1898. 
 Minto's appointment will be well received, especially 
 as he has already served in this country. Personally it 
 will be a pleasure for me to give him every assistance. 
 You can assure Mr. Chamberlain of this. 
 
 At the launching at Wallsend of the Mount 
 Royal, so named out of compliment to Lady Strath- 
 cona who performed the ceremony, the High Com- 
 missioner said: — 
 
 I do not care to speak any longer of Canada, and the 
 other countries constituting the Empire, as Colonies. 
 They are constituents of an Empire one and indivisible. 
 They are English quite as much as is Great Britain, 
 and to remain so to all time is the desire of Canada 
 and all the other possessions of the Empire. Though 
 we have in Canada a portion of the population who 
 had not originally come from Great Britain, I can say 
 without hesitation that they are just as good and loyal 
 British subjects as ourselves. They are Englishmen 
 only with one difference, — that they speak French 
 as well as English. That circumstance is a source of 
 safety in Canada, and one which contributes to the 
 safety of the whole Empire. 
 324 
 
Bristol Celebrations 
 
 A long-deferred memorial to the sixteenth-cen- 
 tury discoverers, John and Sebastian Cabot, was 
 unveiled at Bristol in September, in which the 
 Marquess of Dufferin took a prominent part. 
 
 The people of Canada [Lord Strathcona assured his 
 hearers] are entirely with those of Bristol in doing 
 honour to that great navigator who was the first to 
 place foot on Newfoundland and on the northern por- 
 tion of the Western Hemisphere, and thereby made it 
 possible that there should be colonization of America 
 by Englishmen. 
 
 How much has since happened, how much has been 
 done even within the period of the reign of Her Most 
 Gracious Majesty, by the citizens of Bristol in bringing 
 nearer our two countries. It is just sixty years ago that 
 the citizens of Bristol sent out the first steamer to cross 
 the Atlantic, the Great Western. That marks an era in 
 steamboat navigation, which has grown since then, 
 until we have in the present day those floating palaces 
 in which discomfort has all but disappeared from the 
 sea. We must not forget that the people of Bristol were 
 the pioneers of this great work — that at a time when 
 scientific men, and among them that man who was one 
 of the foremost in science at that time. Dr. Lardner, 
 said that it was an impossibility for a steamer to cross 
 the Atlantic, to carry coal and to carry passengers at 
 the same time; you showed the road and since then it 
 has been well followed. 
 
 The message from the citizens of Halifax shows what 
 is thought of Lord Dufferin throughout the whole 
 Dominion of Canada. His great services there were 
 appreciated, I can assure you; in Lord and Lady Duf- 
 ferin we had in Canada those who were respected as 
 highly as any Governor-General and his consort could 
 325 
 
 !.'■ 
 
 ;M 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 be. It gives me great pleasure to join in the vote of 
 thanlcs to Lord Dufferin for his services in laying the 
 foundation stone of this fine tower, placed in a position 
 commanding the whole of Bristol, and of which the 
 people of Bristol may well be proud. 
 
 In November, 1898, Lord Strathcona himself 
 again crossed the Atlantic for Ottawa, to discuss 
 with the Government the questions of immigra- 
 tion, the Pacific cable, the fast steamship service, 
 and other kindred matters. While there on one 
 occasion he said: - - 
 
 The Hispano-American war has given occasion for 
 an expression of the feeling existing for America in 
 British hearts, and the sympathy and friendship which 
 the British Government and people have shown toward 
 the American cause may be taken as a strong under- 
 lying and lasting feeling of the people of the same 
 blood. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 MoKtEEAi., loth DeMOiber, 1898. 
 Immediately on my return to Montreal, I called on 
 Sir William Van Home and explained to him your 
 views with regard to the bonding privilege question. 
 
 He appears to be entirely opposed to an Interna- 
 tional Commission for dealing with the matter. Mr. 
 Shaughnessy is equally opposed to such a commission, 
 although to me it appeared, when the proposition was 
 discussed when I met yourself and your colleagues at 
 the Joint Commission at Washington, that it was one 
 which might be expected to work equitably and fairly 
 for both parties. In this I must, however, defer to the 
 336 
 
Canadian Securities 
 
 opinion of those who, like the President and Vice- 
 President of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, 
 have had great experience in the working of arbitra- 
 tion boards, and they are evidently concerned at the 
 prospect of having any such International Court. 
 
 The Anglo-American Commission sat both at 
 Quebec and Washington; but it soon became clear 
 that no decision could be arrived at just then con- 
 cerning the chief matters in dispute. 
 
 !.'• 
 
 Lord Strathcona to Sir Wilfrid Lauricr 
 
 April isth, 1899. 
 
 When discussing with Mr. Chamberlain, some little 
 time back, the question of placing Canadian Govern- 
 ment securities on the same footing as those of the 
 United Kingdom in respect of trust investments, he 
 suggested the possibility of an arrangement being come 
 to between the two Governments by which, on the con- 
 version of the Canadian loans, they might in a sense be 
 "taken over" by England, that is, that the new issue 
 should be guaranteed by the Imperial Government. 
 With this guarantee the money could, of course, be 
 obtained on much more favourable terms, the saving 
 on interest being not less than from one half to three 
 quarters per cent. His idea was that in consideration 
 of this, Canada would devote a portion of the saving 
 to Imperial purposes. He was very particular in im- 
 pressing upon me that this was partly a personal idea 
 of his own, wholly deprived of anything of an official 
 character, and it was in that sense I told him I would 
 bring the matter confidentially to your notice. 
 
 Of course, it is one of those things which, if thought 
 3»7 
 
 i 'I 
 
 ih " 
 
 >ti 
 
 I *' 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 worthy of further notice at all, would demand the 
 gravest consideration both in Canada and here, and 
 perhaps you will kindly at your convenience let me 
 know if you think it worth while discuwing the matter 
 further. 
 
 You appear to be having long speeches from Sir 
 Charles Tupper and his friends in the House, but let 
 us hope that this is not an indication of a long session. 
 
 Lord Strathcona's sojourn in Montreal was ren- 
 dered memorable not only by his further munifi- 
 cence to McGill University, but also by a brilliant 
 social function in honour of the new Governor- 
 General. 
 
 It had five years previously fallen to Lord Strath- 
 cona to afford Lord and Lady Aberdeen their first 
 formal introduction to Montreal society. By a happy 
 coincidence the same duty was again discharged in 
 the case of Lord and Lady Minto. The dinner and 
 reception given by the High Commissioner and 
 Lady Strathcona at their Montreal mansion in 
 honour of the new Governor-General was a most 
 successful and brilliant function. 
 
 We have entered upon a course of prosperity which, 
 I believe, will bear us on for many years, and it is well 
 that we should know and feel that this is not dependent 
 on one pwlitical party or another, but that it results in 
 great measure from the good government we receive 
 from any party which may be in power. As to the 
 needs of the hour: We have been looking for some time 
 for a faster Atlantic service. We hoped to have had it 
 by this time. But our efforts have not been in vain. 
 Preparations have been made for it, and I myself have 
 3*8 
 
Kruger and Riel 
 
 every confidence that it is a comparatively short time 
 when we shall have much better communication across 
 the Atlantic. As to the West Indies, it is gratifying 
 that greater facilities had been provided for direct 
 intercourse with the [>ominion not only by steamers, 
 but also by cable; while as to the Pacific Cable, I hope 
 it will not be long before this is an accomplished fact. 
 We are looking, too, with great expectations and every 
 hope that we shall be able in a very short time to con- 
 gratulate our fellow-colonists in the South on becoming 
 a Dominion, and that they will, as a nation, attain to 
 wen greater prosperity. 
 
 Early in the summer of 1 899 there began to loom 
 up in the distance the shadow of serious trouble in 
 South Africa. From the first, Lord Strathcona took 
 the deepest interest in the question. Once he said 
 to Mr. Chamberlain: — 
 
 There is a curious resemblance in many respects to 
 the events of 1869. Kruger, like Riel, has ii complete 
 misunderstanding of his position. I believ- that if there 
 was any one in South Africa that both parties and 
 races could trust, war might be averted. 
 
 While the negotiations between Mr. Chamber- 
 lain, Lord Milner, and President Kruger were in 
 proRress and the question, raised by the Uitlanders, 
 of the Parliamentary representation of rapidly in- 
 creasing populations was being agitated, in Canada 
 the Laurier Ministry brought in a fresh Redistri- 
 bution Bill. Promptly the accusation of "gerry- 
 mandering" was launched against them. As the 
 charge obtained much currency in the English press, 
 Lord Strathcona sent for Miss Flora Shaw (Lady 
 329 
 
 Ik: 
 
 ijr 
 
 
 ^ 'i ^r 
 
 ''liJ 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Lueard) then Colonial editor of the Times, in 
 oSto explain to her the character of and the 
 ^2eX for the Act. Canada, like the Transvaal, 
 Wa2^to face with a difficulty common to all new 
 
 :;itTe.. namely, that i«>.Po;;^"V",'^T "" 
 at any moment spring up m d=*f^t P'f **",„.. „ 
 TO- difficulty was one with which the Canadian 
 state ..en who carried through the work of federa- 
 Sn .oresaw that Canada as a Domm.on would 
 have to deal. Consequently, provision was under 
 JheTr nspiration. made for meeting it m the Con- 
 St on accorded by the British North American 
 A tTthe federated Provinces. But i" actmg up..n 
 S,e provision, each successive Canadian Govern- 
 * n'Tnece;sity exposes itself to the accusa - 
 of "gerrymandering" the constituencies m order 
 to acqu^e for its own supporters the largest pos- 
 
 La indignantly rebutted the a-u^r"- ^^^t, 
 principal platform utterances. «°« *^,'^''"^Jd 
 L C-servative Rejstnbuuo^ Acu^^^^^^ 
 
 to constituencies shamelessly "gerrymandered b, 
 previous Governments. 
 
 There is nothing upon which it ^^ «°^ '^^ 
 fonn a just opinion at a dUtance than the operatic 
 330 
 
A Canadian Resolution 
 
 cffctt of a Parliamentary Rediatribution Bill. The 
 claim of Sir Wilfrid Laurier'a Government, that in 
 introducing the present measure they do but redeem 
 their reiterated election pledges, is one which can, 
 however, be verified by a reference to t !.■ party pro- 
 gramme which has been before the Cjuatfy since the 
 meeting of the Liberal Convention at i 'u-iw.i in '.,Uj,\, 
 and the unconscious admission of tii • 'Mturo of ihc 
 Conservative Redistribution Acts v.iiirh v 's ria w by 
 Sir Charles Tupper, when, in the coui.^i; oi a tjcch 
 attacking the present measure, hu argurd that if tnc 
 Bill of 1882 had not been passed in ihc forn i-i wMch it 
 was passed, Canada would have lost some of Jie n,)st 
 valuable developments of Conservativi p il.ry by 
 which the country has benefited since that date, goes, 
 it must be confessed, some way toward proving that, 
 from the point of view of local politics, there was 
 justification for the pledges of the Liberal leaders to 
 carry through a scheme of readjustment whenever the 
 power to do so should be theirs.' 
 
 A few days earlier (July 14) Mr. Chamberlain 
 wrote to Lord Strathcona that he had just been in- 
 formed by Lord Windsor that a mutual friend had 
 had an interview with Sir Wilfrid Laurier at Ottawa. 
 
 Sir Wilfrid has authorized him to say that he will 
 at once introduce into the Dominion Parliament a 
 resolution supporting the maintenance of Imperial 
 supremacy throughout South Africa, provided I in- 
 timate through you that such a resolution would be 
 welcomed.! 
 
 If Sir Wilfrid Laurier is correctly reported, I hasten 
 to say that such a resolution of sympathy and support 
 ' Tit Times, July 19, 1899. 
 331 
 
 I'll. 
 
 •!i 
 
i ! 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 as he suggests would be most cordially welcomed by 
 Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 ' The High Commissioner cabled instantly to the 
 Premier, but for some reason or other no reply came 
 until the 24th. 
 
 From Sir WUJrid Laurier 
 
 34th July. 1899. 
 I have your favour of the 15th instant, repeating 
 your telegram of the same day about the resolution of 
 sympathy which we were asked to move on the Uit- 
 landers question. Mr. Allan had no authority from me 
 to wire as he did, though we are considermg at this 
 moment if it would be advisable for us to mtroduce 
 such a resolution in the House of Commons. 
 
 In the interval Mr. Chamber:" had been grow- 
 ing anxious. A stage in the correspondence with 
 President Kruger had been reached when Canada s 
 expression would be of signal value An mterview 
 with Lord Strathcona on the 26tn of July was fol- 
 lowed by a letter next day, the date of the sending 
 by the Colonial Secretary of an ultimatum to 
 President Kruger. 
 
 C0LON.AL Office, 27th July, 1899- 
 
 Dear Lord Stfathcona:— .„ , . , 
 
 Although I fully appreciate the difficulties of your 
 Premier's position. I hope he will not find them msup- 
 
 ^"how greatly it would strengthen the hands of Her 
 
 Majesty's Govermnent at this critical time 'f Canada s 
 
 moral support for our policy were announced, I need 
 
 33a 
 
The South African War 
 
 not urge to you. An unspoken declaration might go 
 far to alter the situation. The opinion of a great self- 
 governing Dominion, such as yours, whose leader is not 
 of British origin, could hardly fail to impress powerfully 
 the gentlemen of the Volksraad and persuade them to 
 adopt a more reasonable view of their position and 
 ours. It might have the further useful effect of check- 
 ing some of that sympathy and encouragement which 
 the Boers are receiving from many in the United 
 States, who are, I gather, wretchedly informed as to 
 the merits of the present dispute. 
 
 I shall hope to hear the moment intelligence reaches 
 you. Believe me, 
 
 Yours most sincerely, 
 
 J. Chamberlain. 
 
 Intelligence of a favourable character reached 
 the High Commissioner in a few days, which he 
 immediately conveyed to Mr. Chamberlain. 
 
 if. 
 
 From Mr. Chamberlain 
 
 I did not receive your private letter of the 30th July 
 till my return from the House last night. 
 
 I am very much obliged to you for your action in 
 the matter, and see the result in the papers this morn- 
 ing with the greatest possible satisfaction. I consider 
 that the action of the Dominion marks a distinct stage 
 in the history of Imperial relations. 
 
 With deep anxiety did Lord Strathcona watch 
 
 the events — by no means favourable for British 
 
 arms — which marked the beginning of the war in 
 
 South Africa. Much as he desired to see Canada's 
 
 333 
 
 I I ! i 
 
if. 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 active participation in the struggle, he felt that it 
 would be in the highest degree improper for hm to 
 attempt, by word or act, to force the Canadian 
 Prime Minister's hand. He realized that this war 
 was different in strategic character from most of 
 those which had gone before - that the Boers re- 
 sembled Red Indians in their slyness, ruthlessness, 
 and fondness for ambuscade, and cons«,uently 
 that fighters of the type of the Mounted Police of 
 the Canadian Prairies would be more of a match 
 for them than the sedulously drilled infantrymen o 
 the English pattern. The idea grew upon him and 
 was fostered by the letters and public utterances 
 of several Canadian friends, who had great faith 
 in the peculiar merit of Colonial troops. Chie 
 amongst these was Colonel Samuel Hughes, M.P., 
 an Ontarian militia officer, who took his military 
 duties seriously and who strove on all occasions to 
 imbue his comrades-in-arms and his colleagues in 
 the House of Commons witii his own ardent Im- 
 perialism. _. T-J J 
 
 Meanwhile, eariy in November, Sir Edward 
 Grey's retirement from tiie contest for the Lord 
 Rectorship of Aberdeen left tiie way free for ^rd 
 Strathcona's unanimous election to the office. 
 After the nomination the students had a proces- 
 sion, which came into contact with the police, who 
 drew tiieir batons. To his deep concern several 
 students were inj-red and some arrests were made. 
 
 > Lord Strathcona uiwi to enjoy hugely Colonel Hughes, allegi-d 
 reason for dropping the "uel" fromhis bapfsmal name: I (ot -; 
 rirM o( exDlawinn that I wa» an Orangeron and ik)1 a I ^- ' ., 
 S^t^ W /loyalist) by descen, -hat i lecided to cut .t out. 
 
Lord Rector of Aberdeen 
 
 In the course of a. leading article, the Daily News 
 observed : — 
 
 The new Lord Rector of Aberdeen may fairly be 
 called the Grand Old Man of the Colonies. Lord 
 Strathcona is seventy-nine, but he is still High Com- 
 missioner for Canada, Governor of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, President of the Bank of Montreal, and a 
 Director of the Canadian Pacific Railway. No man is 
 better able to trace the history of the Dominion, now 
 more than thirty years old, and to explain the rather 
 complicated system of Federalism which has been 
 carried out there with conspicuous success. He may 
 remember the beautiful Horatian motto which Lord 
 Derby, Prime Minister in 1867, proposed for the new 
 State. It was not adopted, but it was as appropriate 
 as it was classical. " Juventas et patrius vigor " it ran 
 (Youth acid inherited force). 
 
 Lord Strathcona was a very young man when Lord 
 Durham went out to redress grievances and restore 
 order. The loyalty of the French-Canadians and the 
 readiness of many among them to serve in South 
 .\frica are striking and impressive facts of which no- 
 body then dreamed. 
 
 For by this time the Canadian Ministry had de- 
 cided to send a contingent of troops to the theatre 
 of war. The High Commissioner wrote to Sir 
 Wilfrid Laurier: — 
 
 I fully appreciate the difficulties you had to meet 
 in determining to send a contingent to South Africa. 
 Happily, the people here were so favourably impressed 
 with the unmistakable and enthusiastic loyalty of the 
 people of the Dominion as a whole that the strictures 
 of one or two Quebec newspapers were hardly noticed. 
 335 
 
 I 
 
 \\m 
 
 V I' 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 ;,:Z«- 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 Albeit, the momentary indecision about sending 
 the troops made him secretly indignant. Even dur- 
 ing his brief visit to Birmingham at the close of the 
 black month of November, he was contemplatmg 
 some plan by which he could personally assist in 
 the cause of his fellow-countrymen in South Africa. 
 Another political uneasiness lay on his mind in 
 reference to the much-vaunted Preferential Tariff. 
 To Sir Wilfrid he wrote: — 
 I share your disappointment that while there has 
 been such a substantial increase in Canadian exports, 
 the imports under the Preferential Tariff have so 
 far, fallen short of what might reasonably have been 
 expected from the change. 
 
 It appears as if [he said to Mr. Chamberlam] we had 
 abnost been pluming ourselves upon a fiscal sacrifice 
 which has not yet been made. This will make our 
 sacrifices of another kind all the easier. 
 
 As a matter of fact Imperial Preference, to work 
 satisfactorily, could not possibly continue to be 
 one-sided. He told his audience in Birmingham, 
 speaking on die commercial relations of Canada 
 with Great Britain: — 
 
 It is an encouraging sign of the times that these 
 matters of inter-Imperial trade are now receiving, from 
 the business community of the United Kingdom, he 
 consideration their importance merits. This, doubt- 
 less, arises from the great strides that have been made 
 in the development of the resources of the outlying 
 portions of the Empire within comparatively recent 
 wars, and from the fact that Canada and the Colon.es 
 seem to offer the most promising markets of the future 
 336 
 
No One-sided Preference 
 
 for the products and manufactures of Great Britain. 
 Whatever opinion may be held as to the fiscal policy 
 of the Colonies, it is certain that their tariffs were im- 
 posed chiefly for revenue, and not for the purpose of 
 restricting importations from Great Britain, which is 
 avowedly the case in many other quarters. Moreover, 
 statistics snow indisputably that the trade of the 
 Colonies is largely controlled by the United Kingdom, 
 although it must be admitted that other nations are 
 doing their utmost, and with some measure of success, 
 to obtain a share of it - - a matter which has not, per- 
 haps, attracted so much notice as it merits. 
 
 Mr. Chamberliiin has shown a readiness to look upon 
 the question from its commercial aspect. Indeed, 
 nearly all those who have studied the problem admit 
 the value of the sentiment which must necessarily 
 aorround it ; but, at the same time, it is equally gener- 
 ally recognized that the commercial element cannot, 
 and must not, be ignored. What the United Kingdom 
 looks for is a predominance in the martets of the 
 Empire; what the Colonies desire is the market of the 
 Mother Country for their products, which they hope 
 to see favourably regarded, all other things, such as 
 price and quality, being equal. So far as I have been 
 able to judge, events appear to be marching in the 
 direction of the fulfilment of these desirable objects; 
 but progress in such matters is necessarily very slow. 
 Still, I think the public mind is Iwginning to see the 
 advantage, to put it mildly, of the relation between 
 the different parts of the Empire boing so arranged 
 as to place Imperial trade on a friendly, or shall I say 
 on a family, footing. Such a policy could not fail 
 to be lieneficial to the Empire, and I cannot see any 
 international reason to militate against our regarding 
 
 337 
 
 
 I- 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 from a more favourable point of view our mtemal 
 trade as distinct from the external - or. let me say, 
 our "domestic trade" from "foreign trade. 
 
 During the following month matters, so far from 
 improving al the seat of war, became worse. A sec- 
 ond contingent from Canada was announced as 
 forthcoming. On the i8th Sir Wilfrid cabled: - 
 
 It is important that the commander of Second 
 Canadian Contingent be a Canadian officer as in Hrst 
 Contingent. Intimate this privately to Lord Lans- 
 downe so that nothing may interfere with this plan. 
 
 Lord Strathcona wrote: — 
 
 I at once went to see Lord Lansdowne, and, after 
 one or two fruitless attempts, managed to get an inter- 
 view with him yesterday afternoon. 
 
 His Lordship stated that in all probability the 
 Canadian force might have to be divided, but he quite 
 understood the importance of the matter from your 
 point of view, and I left him with the understanding 
 ^at he would look into it, and see that nothmg was 
 doneto interfere with your suggestion being carried out. 
 He is also to advise me further. 
 
 Nevertheless there were from the beginning, un- 
 satisfactory features about the whole arrangement 
 
 • "We have," wrote the Prime Mimster, "organUed our cmtin. 
 gen, on basis laid down by Colonial Office d«P«''-,';f^ "' ''■;J 
 Srtober which provided for the payment of our men after the> reach 
 W^a^ Efforts'a,. being made to ind..ce us to pay our ow" ",- 
 For Imperial and local n^asons my opinion >s very f ™"K y^''^^ ™ 
 questiorshould not be pressed now, bu J^-ed for ^"tu^ act,o- 
 m as to maintain un form action by all the Colonies. But we w 
 "ke"o supplement the pay of our men «, as to make it amount to that 
 paid them when serving here." Gan^^y 19th, 1900.) 
 338 
 
 11; .1 
 
A Force of Rough-Riders 
 between the Canadian Government and the War 
 Office. These need not be referred to here: they 
 must be familiar to any who have perused the his- 
 tory of the painfully protracted war which brought 
 about the downfall of the two Boer Republics. 
 
 Shortly after Christmas the form which his pri- 
 vate a.ssistance to the Empire should take had 
 been resoJved. He mentioned it first privately to 
 Mr. Chamberlain, who heartily applauded, and 
 then formally, on December 31, to Lord Lans- 
 downe, as Secretary for War. Briefly, and in his 
 own words: — 
 
 My proposal is that four hundred men should be 
 recruited m Manitoba, the North-West, and British 
 Columbia, unmarried and expert marksmen, at home 
 in the saddle, and thoroughly efficient as rough-riders 
 and scouts. The force will be armed, equipped, and 
 conveyed to South Africa at my expense. 
 
 Not until the 13th of January did the War Office 
 accept his offer. Lord Strathcona cabled General 
 Edward Hutton, then Commander-in-Chief of the 
 Canadian Militia (or as he himself preferred to term 
 it " the Canadian Army ") : — 
 
 Have presented mounted regiment to Imperial Gov- 
 ernment for service in South Africa. Request you 
 kindly raise same, mount same, equip same in Canada. 
 Please draw on my account, Bank of Montreal 
 £150,000. My friend Sir Edward Clouston will pro- 
 vide all .hat is necessary. 
 
 It is no longer a secret that Lord Strathcona 
 would have desired that his friend Colonel Hughes 
 339 
 
 \': 
 
 \i M 
 
 fl 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 should have commanded thU little force, but he re- 
 solved to leave all the arrangements m the hands 
 of the Canadian authorities. Meanwhile, much as 
 he regretted the publicity, the fact of his offer had 
 reached Canada, and on the 13th he cabled the 
 Premier. 
 
 Mur!. concerned that matter hau been allowed to 
 becot,,. public prematurely thix^ugh the medium o( 
 Ottawa press telegrams, as I wished without my name, 
 but secrecy is no longer possible. Her Majesty s Gov- 
 ernment has now accepted my proposition and .t may 
 be announced. Horses preferred from North-VVest to 
 be purchased by McEachran in consultation with 
 General Hutton; men to be engaged on same terms as 
 and equipped like Canadian contingents; all ofticm 
 and men to be passed medically under arrangements 
 to be made with approval of Dr. James Stewart, ot 
 Montreal, and General Hutton. Impenal Govern- 
 ment takes over force on arrival, like Colonial contin- 
 gents, returning men to Canada after campaign, but 
 retaining horses, arms, and equipment except clothing 
 and necessaries. 
 
 He explained further: — 
 
 The matter, of course, is to be entirely non-politiral, 
 only qualification being thorough fitness and suitabil- 
 ity of officers and men for services required. Grat.-ful 
 to you for use Militia Department, which will assure 
 every economy compatible with fullest efficiency and 
 thorough equipment of force. Will greatly appreciate 
 « ^ havebenefit of experience of General Hutton . 
 the selection of men and purchase of horses, arms, and 
 equipment. Officers to be nominated by hmi and 
 340 
 
Strengthening the Bond 
 
 names and particulars submitted my approval. All 
 accounts connected with the force till its embarkation 
 endorsed by General Hutton, will be paid by Edward 
 S. Clouston, General Manager Bank of Montreal. Any 
 stores or equipment not obtainable in Canada will 
 purchase here as done for contingents. Am enquiring 
 about transport and will cable further. Please tele- 
 graph meantime how soon force likely to start. 
 
 His generous uad unprecedented offer aroused 
 the utmost enthusiasm in Canada and was warmly 
 praised in Britain. The Times, in referring to it 
 remarked : — 
 
 How immense is the reserve of strength on which 
 England, in a just cause, can draw, is strikingly re- 
 vealed m the munificent offer we have the gratification 
 of recording to-day. It comes from one who is at once 
 a Canadian citizen and a British peer — Lord Strath- 
 cona and Mount Royal, the Agent-General for Ihe 
 Dommion. The estimated cost of this munificence is 
 said to be a million dollars, or £200,000. There are 
 not many countries in the world where individual 
 citizens are to be found able and ready to prove their 
 patriotism on so splendid a scale. Such an offering to 
 the common cause of the Empire would have been 
 welcome from any quarter. It U doubly welcome from 
 the representative of our greatest self-governing Col- 
 ony- It is a proof how this war and these misfor- 
 tunes, which, in the eyes of superficial Continental 
 cntics mark the beginning of our downfall, are in truth 
 knitting us all together as we never were knit before. 
 Blood and iron are doing their work.' 
 •Read fifteen year, later what added rignificance have the« 
 
 341 
 
 .-it 
 
 I' 
 
 1 1 '• 
 
I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 It was the opinion of many military critics that 
 no more efficient rough-riders and scouts could be 
 desired than these men of the saddle and rifle from 
 the prairie. It would have been easy to raise in 
 Canada ten times the number: and the hope was 
 expressed that when he had them Lord Roberts 
 would accord them the fullest opportunities at the 
 front. This fresh illustration of the Canadian 
 spirit was received in a far less aloof and conde- 
 scending spirit than was the case when the first 
 Canadian contingent was offered and accepted. 
 The Canadian GauUe declared: — 
 It is for want of just such men as these Canadian 
 mounted riflemen, and the scouting and irregular work 
 they can do so well, that our amy has suffered severely 
 in South Africa in face of a mounted enemy, \\hat 
 four hundred of the Canadians and Australians did at 
 Modder River under Colonel Pilcher is what might 
 have been done at the outset of the campaign with the 
 greatest advantage. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 53CADOOAN Sqoam. S.W., 19* January. 19" 
 I now take the opportunity of writing to confirm 
 the varioi-s cablegrams that have passed between us 
 respecting the organization of my little force for South 
 Africa, and at the same time to thank you most cor- 
 dially for the time and trouble you are devoting to 
 the matter. .,,. 
 
 I was very grateful, indeed, to you for your willing- 
 ness to place the organuation of the M.l.tia Depart- 
 ment at my disposal, for the raising of the force, the 
 34» 
 
Explains his Objects 
 
 purchase of the hones, arm*, and equipment, and the 
 conveyance of the corpa to South Africa. 
 
 In the first place, my impression was, that as the 
 force is to be a personal one, it might be desirable to 
 deal with it as far as possible in that manner, so that 
 it should be considered not as being in any sense of an 
 official character. I recognized naturally that it would 
 be difficult to carry out the arrangements without the 
 help of the Government and Militia Department, but 
 I thought the object I had in view would be better 
 achieved if arrangements could be made for General 
 Hutton to act practically as my representative in the 
 matter, and to have charge of the detailed arrange- 
 ments, of course, in connection with the Minister of 
 Militia, and not in any sense independent of Dr. 
 Borden. 
 
 You will, I know, believe that, in mentioning my 
 desire that the matter should be regarded entirely as 
 non-political, I had no idea of making any reflection 
 upon the organization of the First and Second Con- 
 tingents. The expression was merely an incidental one, 
 on the line of my idea that the force should not be 
 official in any way in its character. Had I not been 
 convinced thoroughly that no considerations of a 
 political nature had been allowed to intervene in con- 
 nection with the Government contingents, I should 
 hardly have been disposed to move in the matter at all. 
 
 You will understand, I am sure, that the principal 
 concern I have is that the force to be raised should be 
 thoroughly efficient in every way, that the men and 
 the officers should be the most suitable that can be 
 obtained for the services for which they are likely to 
 be required. And further, that the equipment and 
 armament should be as perfect as possible, and I am 
 
 343 
 
 
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 ^ 
 
 Miiii , ',' 
 
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 Lord Strathcona 
 
 sure that this could not be done on better lines than 
 tho^c that have been adopted with the Government 
 contingents. 
 
 With regard to the officers, I should like, of course, 
 to ha^.■ the names of those who are nominated sub- 
 mitted to me for approval, with any particulars about 
 them that mav be available, and there will be no delay 
 on my part in reply to any communications 1 may 
 receive on this branch of the subject. 
 
 As I mentioned in one of my telegrams, I am quite 
 willing that the force should be increased to four 
 hundred and fifty or five hundred men, if this is found 
 to be practicable, and if a suitable ship can be obtained 
 to convey the number of men that may be selected 
 within these limits, and the necessary horses. I am 
 strongly of opinion that the men and horses should go 
 
 in one ship. , , ... , 
 
 It will be understood, of course, that the men will be 
 paid at the same rates as the men forming the Govern- 
 ment contingents. While I shall be responsible to that 
 extent, and for the expenses connected with the pur- 
 chase of the arms, horses, equipment, and of the trans- 
 port no other responsibility will attach to me, as the 
 force will be taken over, like the Government contin- 
 gents, by the Imperial Government, on its arrival in 
 South Africa. 
 
 Unhappily, Lord Strathcona had not been in- 
 formed of the strained relations which existed be- 
 tween General Hutton and the Laurier Ministry, 
 which were now at all but the breaking-point. 
 Moreover, General Hutton's rather too-frank ex- 
 pression of his opinion of the merits of the Colonia 
 mihtia, as compared with British regulars, had 
 344 
 
>,-^? 
 
 ')»<: 
 
 Colonel Sam Hughes 
 angered several of the leading militia officers 
 amongst them, Colonel Hughes. The latter, in pro- 
 test, had addressed an 0[x;n letter to the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief, which General Hution considered 
 '■unpardonable." Yet there were many passages 
 in this production of manifest truth and force 
 and even of eloquence. The upshot was that its 
 writer found himself unable to obtain employment 
 with the First- or Second Contingents. 
 
 It was finally through Lord Strathcona's medi- 
 ation, when General Hutton shortly afterwards 
 arrived in England, that Colonel Hughes was per- 
 suaded to take a step toward a formal reconcilia- 
 tion which resulted in his being given imployment 
 m South Africa. His disappointment was keen that 
 he was not to command the Strathcona Horse. 
 An offer of a captaincy in that troop he had thought 
 it proper to decline. 
 
 Colonel Hughes to General Ilutton 
 
 I desire to make full and ample apology to you for 
 certain letters written by me to you during recent 
 months, letters written under excitement caused by the 
 belief that I was to be debarred from participating in 
 the deeds of a Canadian contingent in the Imperial 
 serv-ice, should one be sent to the Transvaal, a project 
 which I, as the proposer for many years, felt deeply at 
 heart. I especially regret one reflecting, in a sense, 
 upf>:i the system, but the remarks I deemed a provo- 
 cation — as I construed them — were a reflection upon 
 Canadians; two or three incidents occurring practically 
 on one day which I, from the viewpoint of one more 
 345 
 
'i' 
 
 ilF 
 
 r ■! <i 
 
 i 
 
 ' I 
 
 1/ i 
 
 ;4 
 
 
 iJIU 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 familiar wiih constitutional law rather than of British 
 military practice, believed to bear upon my honour and 
 rights as a riti/cn, caused me to express sentiments that 
 are foreign to my belief in the form in which they seem. 
 I most respectfully wish to retract all letters written 
 in what, to your military instinct, may seem insubor- 
 dination, but which were not so meant by mc. 
 
 Meanwhile, an excellent officer for the force had 
 been found, another Ontarian, Colonel S. B. Stock-, 
 who had already distinguished himself in the 
 Mounted Police. He writes: — 
 
 Two months after the First Canadian Contingent had 
 sailed for South Africa I heard that it was likely that :i 
 mounted corps would be sent to the war. I went to 
 Halifax, and had been there only two days when Sir 
 Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia, telegraphed for 
 me to return to Ottawa and raise and command a corps 
 of mounted riflemen for Lord Strathcona, who was 
 sending a regiment to South Africa at his own expense. 
 I was to be allowed to take with me any officers and 
 men of the Mounted Police who had volunteered for 
 the service and could be spared from their duties, and I 
 could have the service of the remainder to recruit the 
 corps. 
 
 One squadron was to be raised in Manitoba, another 
 in the North-West Territory, and the third in British 
 Columbia; the whole of the saddlery, clothing, trans- 
 port wagons, and many other articles of equipment had 
 to be manufactured. The horses had to be purchased 
 at the very worst time of the year and were to be cow- 
 horses, tl at is, animals trained in round-up and all 
 range work. Recruits were not wanting; one could 
 have got thousands of the best men in Canada. I had 
 346 
 
Colonel Steele in Command 
 
 an offer from six hundred firsNclass Arizona stock men 
 1 hey were prepared to supply their own aruis, pay for 
 any class of r.lie that I desired, furnish their own 
 horses, spare and riding, if I would take them for 
 Strathconas Horse. I had, of course, to decline, but 
 t was clear proof of what the Empire can expect in 
 t.mc of trouble One could have had the assistance 
 Stales of the finest horsemen in the Inited 
 
 The recruiting was completed on February 8 and 
 was most satisfactory. On the 14th, we reached Ot- 
 tawa, and were quartered in Lansdowne I'ark E.xhib- 
 lUon Ground. The regiment was cheered at every 
 station .„ rout.: March 6, I paraded the regiment 
 for mspccfon of the Governor-General. Our space 
 was limited, and the snow, being above the horses' 
 knees, prevented me from doing more than march past 
 in sections of fr,urs, but the corps looked well 
 
 The corps was at last complete and re- to move 
 at a moment's notice, all the result of i ,e month's 
 work. During these strenuous days I had much en- 
 couragement from Lord Strathcona, who wrote me 
 several kmdly letters, impressing upon me that I was 
 to spare no expense in providing for the comfort of the 
 men an.l the efficiency of the regiment. I couhl say 
 that in every respect I had carried out his wishes to the 
 ullcst extent and with due regard to economv, and 
 thanks to his liberality and the active assistance I 
 received from all concerned, I am sure it would have 
 been^impossible to find a better equipped corps in the 
 
 On March 17, the Strathcona Horse embarked 
 upon the Monterey at Halifax, numbering 28 offi- 
 t^trs, 512 other ranks, and 599 horses. 
 
 347 
 
 I I 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 I 
 
Lord Stra.hcona 
 
 Tlic following cable message was received from 
 Lord Stratlicona, which, when published on boaril, 
 was received with hearty cheers in every part of the 
 ship: — 
 
 Very sorry I cannot see my force embark. Have 
 transmitted Dr. Borden giacious message I have 
 receised from Her Majesty, which he will publicly 
 convey to you and the men under your command. 
 Ha\'e also asked him to express my Iiest wishes to you 
 all, and that you have a pleasant voyage, e\ery suc- 
 cess, and a safe return. Appointments of all officers 
 gazetted; they will recei\e their commissions from the 
 Queen. Hope to forward them to reai h you at Cape- 
 town, where you will find a letter on your arrival. 
 Report yourself to the Generf! Officer Coremanding, 
 Capetown Stratiicona. 
 
 Excellent as were the arrangements on board for 
 the comfort of all ranks, the voyage was not a 
 pleasant one. 
 
 No sooner [writes Colonel Steele] did we got out into 
 the open sea than, in spite of the fact that it could not 
 be called rough, the vessel rolled heii\i!y, a motion 
 which she kept up on the slightest excuse for the 
 greater part of the trip. After a few days one of the 
 horses developed pneumonia, and from day to day 
 many went to feed the sharks. The greatest care was 
 taken, but it was of little avail, the disease had to run 
 its course, and it was a pitiful sight to see so many 
 exceptionally fine animals thrown overboard. 
 
 On April loth the Monterey arrived and an- 
 chored in Table Bay and the commander found 
 letters from Lord Strathcona, "all containing use- 
 348 
 
Hutton and Borden Qiiarrcl 
 ful advice. He sent out 150 ficld-Klasscs and wire- 
 cutters, wliilst money was placed lo my credit to 
 purcliasc lassoes, extra tea, and tobacco." 
 
 Colonel Steel, describes lunv, while the Stra'h- 
 eona Horse were on the march. Sir Redvers Buller 
 rode up with his staff, and passed in and out 
 through the column of troops, expressing liimself 
 very much pleased. He said: — 
 
 I knew Lord Strathcona very well, when I was in 
 Winnipeg on the Red River Expedition of 1870 It 
 was arranged with him that I should go .est to dis- 
 nbute the Queen's proclamation; hut it turned out 
 that I was required with my regiment, and Hutler 
 went instead a \ery good thing too; for he wrote a very 
 good book describing his journey, which i couki not 
 have done. 
 
 This is somewhat in advance of our narrative 
 Ihe quarrel between General Hutton and Dr 
 later Sir Frederick) Borden, led to a demand for 
 
 the formers recall. Mr. Chamb<.rlain had in vain 
 
 endeavoured to heal the breach. 
 
 From Mr. Joseph Chamberlain 
 
 p. , '3th Fcbruar}-. 11)00. 
 
 UEAR Lord Str.\thcona: 
 
 Thanks for your letter of the loth instant, telling „.e 
 \V-If ,r'''^^" :^hich you have received from Sir 
 Uilfnd Laurier about General Hutton. I can onlv say 
 that I deeply regret that after my promise to endea^•- 
 our to settle the matter to the satisfaction of the 
 Uominion Government, they should have thought it 
 349 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 , hi' ! 
 
 
 necessary to send an official application for General 
 H ."•! recall. Their action -'H ncce.s.tato my 
 'en lin« an official reply, going into the whole h.=tory 
 'of he relations between the officers appomted by the 
 llnperial (ios .rnment and the Dominion Ministers. 
 
 "What is the matter with your Ministers of 
 Militia in Canada?" asked the Coionuil Secrc- 
 tai • Is there no one of our Imperial officers with 
 whom lliey can work harmoniously? I confess 
 frankly I am disappointed. I thought Hutton and 
 Dr Borden would get along well together. 
 
 Alas, four years later, as we shall see, there was 
 to be a further rupture with another Brifshcoui- 
 manding officer. On that occasion Lord St ad - 
 cona prisately deplored the part polif.r had al- 
 ways plavcd in militia affairs in Canada. 1 m 
 afrkl it'will take years or some great national 
 danger to put our military service on a plane above 
 party interests," he said. 
 
 From Lord Strathcona 
 
 February 17th, igoo- 
 
 My i>ear Sir Wilfrid:— , ,, ,. 
 
 ' The position with regard to General Hutton a, 
 shown in your confidential letters ^ "- /"^^ ami 
 receixed yesterday, is a most regrettable one an. 
 g":^ much concern both to Mr. Chamf,eHa.n and 
 Lord Lansdowne. 
 
 The experience with the generals sent out to com 
 
 maml the militia has been anything l^t a ^Ushctory 
 
 one, and ever since the retiremc-iit of ^■■- S^» Y S"^^, ^^ 
 
 five in succession, including General Hutton, h-c 
 
 350 
 
General Hutton recalled 
 
 boon rccallod, as being for one reason or anoilur 
 unai loptablo to the Canadian Government. 
 
 On getting your confidential telegrams I comnmni- 
 cated on the .sul)ject witli Mr. Cliainlierlain, who made 
 a suggestion to the War Office of appoliiling Ilutton 
 for service in South Africa. It may bo impossible at 
 the moment to find an officer in o\ery way <|ualilied 
 to be h's successor. 
 
 He assured me that not a moment was being un- 
 necessarily lost in can ying out your \'iews concerning 
 the transfer of the General for service elsewhiTe. 1 
 communicated to him your suggestion about Lake. 
 
 I called on him yesterday, and he then said that 
 they would not bo able to send Colonel I,c';e to replace 
 General Ilutton, who I presume will soon bo here on 
 his way to South Africa. 
 
 That same day the High Commissioner received 
 a cable from Sir Wilfrid; — 
 
 l6th February-, 1900. 
 
 Concerning the official despatch for the recall of 
 General Hutton, wc would have been all along willing 
 to have a confidential communication. The demand 
 for official communication did not come from us. That 
 communication when recei\ed may be kept in abey- 
 ance to be withdrawn, unless General Hutton force - 
 whole question before Parliament. 
 
 In the following year the whole question was un- 
 ha[)pily forced upon the Canadian Parliament, 
 when it was conclusively shown that the Govern- 
 ment could hardly have overlooked the indiscre- 
 tions of the Commander-in-Chief, in certain pub- 
 lic speeches reported in the newspapers, without 
 351 
 
 I I 
 
! 1/ 
 
 ''I I 
 
 MM 
 
 ir" i 
 
 ! . 
 
 ^r'l*^' 
 
 
 Lord StratLcona 
 
 sacrificing its iliKiiity or impairing tlic prerogative 
 
 i){ the Minister of Militia. 
 
 The surrender of th Boer General Cronje al 
 
 PaanleiKTiJ caused much satisfaction in Canada. 
 
 Lord Strathcoiia cabled the news instantly to Sir 
 
 Wilfrid Laurier: — 
 
 February J7th. 1900. 
 
 Lord Roberts reports that at 3 a.m. to-day a most 
 dashing ad\ani:e made by Canadian regiment and 
 some engineers, supported by I'irst Gordon Highland- 
 ers and Second Shropshire, resulted in our gaining a 
 point some si.v hundred yards nearer the enemy and 
 within eighty yards of his trenches, when' our men 
 entrenched themselves and maintained their position 
 till morning. A gallant deed worthy of our Colonial 
 comrades and which I am glad to sa;. was attendid 
 with comparatively slight loss. Ihis apparently 
 clinched matters, for at daylight to-day a letter signed 
 by Cronje, in which he stated that he surrendered 
 unconditionally, was brought to our outpost under a 
 flag 01 truce. Lord Roberts's despatch was read in 
 House of Commons and House of Lords to-day and the 
 reference to the gallantry of Canadian regiment was 
 loudly cheered. 
 
 The Paardeberg success apparently sugKCsted 
 to Mr. Cecil Rhodes that another Canadian bat- 
 talion might be emjjloycd in Rhodesia, and he com- 
 municated the suggestion to Mr. CI imberlain. 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 March 9th, Kjoo. 
 The Colonial Secretary proposes recruiting in West- 
 ern Canada for special service in Rhodesia: this force 
 352 
 
Rhodes asks for Canadians 
 
 to Ik. rais,.,| at a special rate »f pay, an.l as we un.ler- 
 stand from an aseni ,■ prartically f„r ser\ire of the 
 hartere.1 ( unipany. If anythins of tl ■ k,„,| was to 
 H- .lone ,t w,ll he necessary to have an om,-,;i| despatch 
 from ( olonul S,rretary nuking inuni^takal.U distinc- 
 tion betwen proposed force and those already sent 
 to South Afruan War. If such distinction is clearly 
 marked and the purpose of force state.l in express 
 terras at the tunc of rec. siting, then there wouM he no 
 ohjection to course proposed. Without such clear dis- 
 tinction:., ohject of recr.iiting might he misconceived 
 and create serious emharrassinent. See Colonial Secre- 
 tary, discuss subject, and advise us. 
 
 Lord Strathcoiia wrcte: — 
 
 I at once communicated this message personally 
 to Mr Chamberlain I understood your suggestion 
 would be adopted if the matter were proceeded with 
 hut owing to difficulties the subject would prohabk' 
 be dropped. ' 
 
 The Colonial Office have since serf me, for my con- 
 fidential information, a copy of a telegram which was 
 addressed to the Governor-General on the 2,1 inst to 
 the effect that Her Majesty's Government did not 
 propose to proceed with the proposal. 
 
 He much desired that his friend Sir Charles 
 Tuppcr the leader of the Opposition ir. Canada, 
 should be present at the departure f.om Halifax of 
 the otrathcona Horse. This prove- impracticable 
 but he was much gratified at receiving the follow- 
 ing letter: — 
 
 353 
 
H 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 'r; I 
 
 t.) 
 
 If • h 
 
 
 From Sir Charles Tupt>cr 
 
 Ottawa, M.inh i«th, lo"" 
 
 My di:ak Lord Stkatiicona: — 
 
 Yi.ur kind .able of ihe 9th inst. Kiuc nic a Knat deal 
 of pliasiiru as far at it referred to mvself, l)Ul I wa,- 
 vcry sorry to hear that you had l>een so ill. 1 wouM 
 have been very nl^d lo eoniiily with your wishes that 
 1 should see the Strathcona Horst' oft' at Halifax, but 
 I l.arni-d that lionlen was piiiig, and it was very 
 .liftieult for me to leave the House at such a rritual 
 period of the Session. I had the pleasure of expressing 
 the feeling of the people of Canada uiion your munili- 
 cent act, which has done so much for our l)om|mon. 
 duriiiK the Debate on the .-VUlress, and of siieakinK t" 
 your contingent on the grounds at their .|uarters, an<l 
 at I'arliament S<|uarc, where they were reviewed b> 
 the' «>vernor-General. ^ 
 
 If you will accept it, 1 have no doubt to the joy ol 
 all fanadians, you will l)e the successor of His Excel- 
 lency nor <lo 1 tloubt the British Government will 
 mark your valuable services to the Crown by making 
 your Peerage descend to your daughter and her son. 
 We are, I think, on the eve of a general election, the 
 result of whith I feel confident will be our return to 
 power I will not say more than to beg you on no 
 condition to vacate the High Commissionership be[...> 
 a general election takes place. 
 
 Do not fail to take care of your health, upon which 
 the whole country is so anxious. 
 
 With kindest regards to I.ady Strathcona and your- 
 self, 1 L.n, always, 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Charles Tupper. 
 
 354 
 
Tuppcr's Suggestion 
 
 On the same day Sir Churlus als„ wrote; — 
 
 To Mr. Joseph ChamhcrUiin 
 
 On.\HA. March ISlh. \iyao 
 MV DKAR Mr. (PIAMriKRl.AIN: 
 
 I a.n sure. y,,u „i|| ,,, ,a,i:,,i„| I ..kuI. no n,i,, .kc 
 '■■tlHT from a t an .,lia„ or an hnporial s.an,lp„i,„ ,^ 
 ■■I.KK-S that a p....,aK.. shoul.l k- .■o„f..rrc.,l t,,,,,,, Sir 
 lonaMSn.uh a„.l.f....U.mainthat .u wil ...n .^ 
 nu. for .sayn,« that all Canadians will r., .„.■.. if his. r... 
 -rvux. to tho Crown at an important crisis an ro - 
 
 >.' hi. on y ch, ,1, tho f[o„ot,ra!.l.. Mrs. Ilowar.l. She 
 
 who took the fellowship of the Koval CoMe* 
 Surgeons. H,s father was the most en.lnent physioi.n 
 m Mon real, and a professor in the McGill fnivU^ity 
 Mrs. rI.Hvard wonld grace any position, and ' he; 
 nnly of sons and daughter,, are bright and inter.' ^ 
 m- \'m can imagine what it would be for lord 
 Strathcona, like myself so near the close of if^ to " 
 that h,s grandson, Donald Howard, would one lay 
 -■ar h,s ftle. h is right you should know that no 
 -son ,v.ng knows . have made this suggestion ^o 
 
 -S il trr ;r ^"" ^''" '^■''' '"'^'^^-'--^-p- 
 
 Vou, beyond all your predecessors, hoN-e established 
 >■ pnncple that serv-iee to the Crown shall re'^'^e 
 h. same recognition in the outlying portions of the 
 t-">I.Te as in the Mother Country 
 
 the 5th at Boston, m favour of the Patriotic Fund 
 
 355 
 
 '^r^£rii 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 : in 
 
 'i ' 
 
 I! 'ill 
 
 a reference to yourself and your policy on the Transvaal 
 was received with the wildest enthusiasm. 
 With best wishes, I remain, 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 Charles Tupper. 
 
 It had been Lord Strathcona's ardent wish, al- 
 thouKh Providence had denied him a son that he 
 should be the founder of a family bearing his name 
 and continuing in the path he had marked out and 
 so long had trod. 
 
 Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Charles Tupper 
 
 Colonial Office, jist March, 1900. 
 
 Dear Sir Charles Tupper:— ,^ „. , 
 
 I have to thank you for your letter of the i8th, and 
 the suggestion which you made in it. No one appre- 
 ciates more than I do the character and sen-.ces of 
 Lord Strathcona, and I shall be delighted if I can for- 
 ward his wishes in any way. As a matter of fact, how- 
 ever, when the peerage was conferred, the subject o 
 its continuance to a daughter was considered and it 
 was found that there were great difficulties in the Nxa> 
 of such an unusual grant. It is possible that these <l,^ 
 ficulties may ultimately be surmounted, and you ma> 
 count on my seizing any opportunity of securing the 
 desired result.' 
 I am, etc.. 
 
 Yours very faithfully, 
 
 J, Chamberlain. 
 
 Nothing could exceed his pleasure at the pros- 
 pect held out that certain obstacles, which he 
 1 The new royal patent was granted a few months later. 
 356 
 
JLI j^ 
 
 His Gratitude to Tupper 
 
 knew were founded upon error, but which he was 
 too proud himself to point out, might, through the 
 unsolicited exertions of his friends, be removed. 
 
 To Sir Charles Tupper 
 
 53 Cadocan Sqi-are, S.VV., 
 Mv DEAR Sir Charles:- '^'^^ ^"■' '^-• 
 
 Vour letter of the 22d April, having under co^■er 
 
 '.t^^'fu^^f^", ^'■°'" ^""'''^'f '° •^''■- Chamberlain, of 
 the I8th March, and of his reply of the 31st of that 
 month, has this moment reached me, and I must send 
 you a word of grateful thanks for all your great kind- 
 ness to me and mine, to catch to-day's mail. 
 
 The kindness which actuated you in writing to Mr 
 ^ hamberlain as you did, I appreciate infinitely more 
 than I would the fulfilment of the object you had in 
 view in doing so, and I need only say that I am truly 
 grateful to you. My wife and daughter will be not less 
 so; but let me say that I would never have mo\ed a 
 finger, or said one word in furtherance of that object 
 however much I might desire it for my daughter and 
 her children. 
 
 It is true that when a peerage was offered me, a word 
 was said on the subject, but the thought was then dis- 
 missed from my mind, r.-.id in anything I may have said 
 or done has not recurred to me since. 
 
 In a letter you most kindly wrote to me, bearing on 
 the reception in Ottawa and Montreal to my little 
 corps of mounted men, you brought up the subject in 
 the kindest terms, but I had no expectation you would 
 ha%c gone further, and what is said in your present 
 letter is therefore, with its contents, its enclosures, a 
 pleasant surprise, tha- in one quarter at least on this 
 357 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 side there is an appreciation of what little I may have 
 endeavoured to do for the benefit of Canada. 
 
 Again I thanlc you. I am not sure I have yet ex- 
 pressed to you how sensible 1 am of all you d.d m the 
 send-off of my little battalion from Ottawa, but 1 hope 
 you know how deeply I feel all the kindness and at- 
 tention shown to them by yourself and other fnends. 
 
 We were much grieved to hear of the serious acci- 
 dent to Lady Tupper, and we earnestly trust she is 
 now quite recovered. 
 
 With our kindest regards for her and yourself, and 
 
 in much haste, I am, 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 Strathcona. 
 
 A fortnight before he had written: — 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, 21st April, 1900. 
 It was a great regret to me not to have undertaken 
 my intended visit to Canada this past winter, but as 
 I had a sharp attack of pleurisy the doctors thought 
 it more prudent I should not venture crossuiR llie 
 Atlantic till later on; but I still look forward to being 
 in Canada early in the summer, as I have quite re- 
 gained my accustomed health. 
 
 The very valuable service of Archbishop Bruchosi 
 and Principal Peterson, in their efforts to heal the 
 breach so unfortunately caused by some of the McGiU 
 students in their over-zeal and enthusiasm in connec- 
 tion with the war in South Africa, to which you rclcr, 
 cannot be too highly appreciated by all who have the 
 true interests of our country at heart. 
 358 
 

 A Bi-cameral Advocate 
 
 Both His Grace and the Principal have been good 
 enough to write me on the subject, the letters of the 
 former having only just come to hand. To Ur. Peter- 
 son I had already written, and I shall not fail to write 
 to the Archbishop expressing my deep sense of the 
 obligation we owe him for having so successfully helped 
 to avert a racial cleavage, than which I am entirely 
 of opinion with you nothing could be more deplorable 
 as affecting the future of the Dominion. 
 
 I need not say to you how your own efforts in the 
 cause of the unity of the Empire are appreciated both 
 here and throughout the Queen's Dominions. 
 
 During April the delegates from the Australian 
 Colonies to the Imperial Parliament, seeking na- 
 tionhood under the British flag, arrived in England. 
 At a banquet in their honour Lord Strathcona, 
 who responded to the toast of "The Home and 
 Colonial Legislatures," told his hearers — 
 that they would do well, instead of speaking of the 
 Home and Colonial Legislatures, to speak of the 
 Legislatures of the Empire. But they all looked to 
 the Home Legislature, to our Lords and Commons. 
 In all the countries to which Englishmen had gone, 
 they thought of that Mother of Parliaments, the Par- 
 liament of Great Britain, and they had also thought 
 of and loved that cradle of liberty, their Mother 
 Country. They had, he believed, in almost every 
 country, decided that it was a wise thing that there 
 should be two branches of the Legislature ~ one a 
 check upon the other. When there was only one 
 there might be some hasty legislation which might 
 cause regret in the future. When there was a second, 
 the opportunity was given for revising what had been 
 359 
 
"/ 
 
 »ll 
 
 ni 
 
 
 I! 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 t <i ' 
 
 ^si'iM 
 
 ! 4 
 
 'i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 done In the Legislatures of the outlying portions of 
 the Empire there were altogether some fifty distmct 
 and separate Governments having their distinct Leg- 
 islatures. tJl these he thought there were some eleven 
 having responsible government. If they counted the 
 Dominion of Canada as one of the nations equally 
 with Scotland, Ireland, Wales, which all contributed 
 to the prosperity of the United Kingdom, if they 
 counted the seven or eight Provinces of Canada, 
 they would have, instead of eleven responsible gov- 
 ernments, something like eighteen or twenty. We 
 were now about to have another commonwealth or 
 nation. They were all prou i and pleased to be there 
 that evening to join in receiving and doing honour to 
 the delegates who came for that great and momentous 
 purpose of forming a new nation. But while it would 
 be a new nation, it would not be, less than Canada, 
 one in the most complete union with the Mother 
 Country. They had with very great care and very 
 great consideration come to the determination that 
 instead of being isolated, - if he might so speak o 
 the Colonies, - they should be one people for all 
 purposes of legislation; and they came to the Mother 
 Country with the full assurance that the Imperial 
 Parliament would be only too happy to help them to 
 carry out that which they believed was a measure the 
 best that could be devised for the purpose of the ad- 
 ministration of their country. 
 
 Speaking elsewhere Lord Strathcona said: — 
 
 Australians had a good example in Canada, but they 
 have not followed us in any detail, having looked 
 rather to the United States of America in rega/d to 
 the relations of the Provinces to the Federal Power. 
 360 
 
 
ms:^sMsiL;^^mLmt^w.. 
 
 «« General" Strathcona 
 
 He was, besides, all for the retention of the ap- 
 peal to tlie Imperial Privy Council, which the Com- 
 monwealth Bill disallowed. The clause was, owing 
 to Mr. Chamberlain's opposition, deleted before the 
 Act was passed by Parliament. 
 
 During the Borr War Lord Strathcona was in 
 constant receipt of extraordinary letters, many of 
 them anonymous, giving him advice and informa- 
 tion as to events connected with liostilitics Some 
 of his correspondents, especially those in remote 
 parts of the Empire, even in Canada, laboured 
 under a curious delusion as to his own personal 
 status. Letters addressed to "General" or "Colo- 
 nel" Lord Strathcona were not infrequent. One 
 which greatly entertained him spoke of his "well 
 known bravery and skill on the battlefield of which 
 the newspapers are now full." This he for^varded 
 to Colonel Steele, marking it, "wrongly addressed." 
 Another was hardly so complimentary. It was 
 from an old Hudson's Bay employee, who wrote: — 
 
 I have been reading your doings in South Africa 
 with great surprise. Little did I think in the old days 
 that you would ever make a soldier. Peace, I thought, 
 was more in your line. 
 
 I hope " Strathcona's Horse" [wrote another un- 
 known correspondent with more enthusiasm] will plant 
 the Union Jack on the Court-House of Pretoria, and 
 that the Canadians will be the first to reach Mafeking, 
 and the God who made a way for his ransomed people 
 to cross the Red Sea, closed the lion's jaws for Daniel, 
 tempered the flames for Shadrach, Mcshach, and 
 361 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Abednego, and the host whom Elijah prayed the Lord 
 to open the eyes of his servant to see, — may that 
 same host encompass our soldiers and be a cloud by 
 day and a light by night until they come home again. 
 And may God always bless our Empire, keep our men 
 true to her, always remembering the knightly hero 
 St. George, their patron saint, r.nd right worthy is 
 Strathcona to carry the Standard of St. George. 
 Never forget that you belong to Canada and Canada 
 to you! 
 
 One letter was so singular that the High Com- 
 missioner forwarded a copy of it to the Prime 
 
 Minister: — 
 
 St. Cathebise, Ontario, 
 April 5th, I9<x). 
 
 As you are a statesman that we trust, give tins 
 matter your closest attention at once. Certain Yankees 
 are secretly encouraging the Fenians, furnishing them 
 with firearms and giving them advice, the principal 
 one just now being to blow up part of the V/'elland 
 Canal, thus diverting trade from Montreal and way 
 ports to New York. I am telling you facts; it is fully 
 discussed in the States. Forewarned is forcanned! 
 They have an opii.ion they could take Canada in 
 twenty-four hours if they wanted to. 
 
 Having read and smiled at this letter, which was 
 filled with extravagances. Lord Strathcona picked 
 up the Times, therein to read that an attempt had 
 actually been made on theWelland Canal. 
 
 Lord Strathcona in responding, at the Press 
 Club annual dinner, to the toast, "The Imperial 
 Forces," in April, 1900, said: — 
 362 
 
 :mF^^ ^m 
 
Canada's Simple Duty 
 
 Had the toast been submitted in its old stereotyped 
 form it would have been very little appropriate for 
 him to have responded to it. It was formerly of so 
 local a character that those who came from the out- 
 lying portions of the Queen's dominions could hardly 
 have bee . expected to answer to such a toast other- 
 wise than by expressing the fullest sympathy with the 
 Mother Country. Now, however, the toast, instead of 
 being "The Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Korces," was 
 given in what he considered the improved form of "The 
 Imperial Forces." It showed that there was an Empire, 
 and that Great Britain alone could not form that 
 Empire; that without her Colonies there could be no 
 Empire in reality. The Colonies recognized this, too, 
 but they considered that their fealtv their duty, their 
 homage, was owing to the mother who sent thetn forth. 
 A few years ago they had the example of one of the 
 Australasian Colonies coming to the aid of the Mother 
 Country; now every outlying portion of the Empire 
 where Englishmen were to be found not only came to 
 the aid of the Mother Country, but fought the battles 
 of the Empire and of her who was Queen and Empress of 
 the whole of our great dominions. The men from Aus- 
 tralasia had done well, the men from Canada had also 
 done well, but they had not done more tha.n the great 
 and true men of the Imperial Army, and he was sure 
 that they themseKes would be the last to assume that 
 they had done anything more than their simple duty. 
 War was a dreadful thing, but war had its lessons, 
 and, if it rjsclosed weaknesses and imperfections oc- 
 casionalh , it also gave an opportunity for remed>ing 
 them, r.nd that opportunity would not be lost on the 
 nation. Nothing could have shown the unity of the 
 Empire as this war had done, and in that respect it had 
 
 363 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 been a good rather than an evil. It had been an object 
 ,es.on for the world; one which the "f 0"«^™"''' 
 doubtless take to heart. The un.ty of ^e Bnt.sh 
 Empire was no longer an ideal, it was a fact. Noth.nK 
 could contribute more to that un.ty than the fac 
 that the sons of the Empire were fightmg together and 
 nobly and willingly giving their blood for >ts weal. 
 Citizens of the Empire looked to the Army and the 
 Navy and to the Imperial forces -and he was sure 
 they would never look in vain - to mamtam th. 
 dignity, the honour, and the solidarity of the Empire. 
 
 Said the Duke of Argyll, at a public meeting in 
 April : — 
 
 I cannot avoid referring to the patriotic efforts of 
 Lord Strathcona in raising the regiment which has 
 borne his name, and sustaining it in the field for so 
 long a time in Africa. " Strathcona's Horse is a 
 remarkable force, and its composition epitomizes the 
 opinion which Canada has deliberately formed as to 
 the rights and wrongs of the war that is, unfortunately, 
 still proceeding. The people of the Dominion were not 
 blinded by any of the party feelings in which some 
 may indulge at home; and, looking across the «a., 
 they see, as they thought, that the cause of Britain ,» 
 the cause of right, freedom, and justice. They ha%c 
 acted upon that opinion, and have come forNvard 
 ready to serve in South Africa in such great mmil.rr, 
 that many excellent men have, of necessity, to be left 
 at home. Such an experience is without parallel, and 
 none can recollect a similar case, where one prnate 
 individual has come forward and equipped so maRniii- 
 cent a body of men. That is not, however, the only act 
 for which we ought to be grateful to Lord Strathcona. 
 364 
 
Invitation to the Prince 
 
 He has lately been the means of inducing the Canadian 
 Government to offer medals in the schools if Britain 
 for proficiency in knowledge concerning Canada. 
 Over one thousand such medals ha\e already been 
 distributed; they are being most eagerly sought, and 
 I am sure that the action of the Canadian Government 
 will be attended by most excellent results. 
 
 \t the Colonial Institute Dinner in May, 1900, 
 Lord Strathcona suggested that the Prince of 
 Wales should again visit Canada: — 
 
 There were many ^ he amongst them — who looked 
 back wit. the most pleasurable feelings to the visit of 
 the Prince of Wales to Canada some forty jears ago. 
 Canada, .-it that time, was not a federation, not a 
 Dominion, not a nation, as it is to-day, and he was 
 sure that, should His Royal Highness go there in the 
 near future, he would find a people not less loyal than 
 they were nearly half a century ago. 
 
 It was true [he continued], that in Canada some 
 si,\ty years ago there was what was called an insur- 
 rection ; but the condition of the Colonies in those days 
 was very different from what it is now. The Colonial 
 Office is very different to-day from what it was then, 
 when they imagined they knew a great deal more 
 about what was good for those outlandish places called 
 Colonies than the Colonies themselves. Now the Col- 
 onies felc that in the Mother Country they had a 
 strong friend, while at the head of the Colonial Office 
 was a statesman most anxious at all times to do every- 
 thing that was in the best interests of the Colonies. 
 He could only state that nowhere in the United King- 
 dom could they surpass the loyal reception which would 
 be given to the Prince of Wales or any other member 
 36s 
 
H 
 
 |l ' 
 
 \^h 
 
 if I'! 
 
 mA 
 
 < , 
 
 if I' 
 ■i m 
 
 M ill ' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 „( the Royal Family should ihoy visit the Dominion. 
 1 ot us hope that this suggestion, which is as yet m the 
 air." will come to pass, and that we shall have a v.s>t. 
 Hearty cheers Kreeted Lord Strathcona's con- 
 dudiuK expression of the joy all ha<l felt at the 
 escape of the Trince from the hand of an assassin 
 The visit of the Heir Apparent (now (,eorge V) 
 took place in the following year. 
 
 Referring elsewhere to Canada's rontnliulion to 
 theSjulh African Army, Senator Drummond said: 
 ■n. ourselves it is a source of pride that among them 
 is a corps of mounted infantry consisting of 5«9 men, 
 e<iuippe<l. armed, and carried to the «f "f «;;1^ 
 through the princely liberality of the president of this 
 bank Heavy as is the price exacted in war for any 
 benefits - not in treasure alone, for that is secondary, 
 but in blood - - Canadians now occupy a place amon« 
 the nations not hitherto accorded to them, an<l can 
 realise a-, never before that their country is part an.l 
 parcel of the Empire, while the more .hstant shore 
 where our flag flies is but a portion of our heritage. 
 
 That summer, in South Africa, the ■■Strathcona's 
 Horse" performed much useful service When, in 
 October, Lord Dundonald parted from them on his 
 return to England he addressed them thus: - 
 
 I have never served with a nobler, braver, or more 
 serviceable body of men. It shall be my priviegc 
 when I meet my friend Lord Strathcona, to tell hmi 
 what a magnificent body of men bear his name. 
 
 Later, as they entrained for Pretoria, Lo"-d Dun- 
 donald stated that he was very proud of Strath- 
 366 
 
 ) >«' 
 
Strathcona's Horse praised 
 
 cona's Horse." Fri)m th(> timo tlir n).;imrnt joIiimI 
 the brigade umler his comniand il hail covered a 
 (jreat deal of ground and had iimhrlaken and suc- 
 cessfully carried out many dangerous duties. 
 
 Major-C.eneral Barton also wrote their com- 
 mander in November: — 
 
 I cannot speak ti" ii(;hly of the practical and cfTec- 
 tivemannerinwhli 1 i he duty assigned In your splendid 
 ■-nrpf was carried out by yourself and all un<ler your 
 roiniiiand yesterday, and I have 9p<( iaily mentioned 
 this in my report to the Kield Marshal ConimandinK- 
 in-("hi(f. I only regret that circumstances pievented 
 my supjiortinK yoiir movements by advancing further 
 with the main body. 
 
 Lord Kitchen'^r, Commander-in-Chii'f in South 
 Africa, bidding farewell to the regiment on Jan- 
 uary 15, 1901. publicly thanked them for their 
 services and stated that they had marched through 
 nearly every part of the Trrnsvaal and Orange 
 River Colony, that he had never heard anything 
 but good of the corps, and that they would be 
 Rreatly pleased if he told thorn of the numljer of 
 letters he had received from general officers all over 
 the country asking for "Strathcona's Horse." ' 
 
 The regiment sailed from Cape Town on Jan- 
 uary 21. All hands had been refitted with new 
 clothing from head to foot and new^ hats sent <jut 
 b>- Lord Strathcona, who, on their arrival in the 
 Thames, sent them a telegram of welcome. 
 
 Subsequently, His Majesty King Edward re- 
 
 ' Major-General S. B. Steele, Reminiscences. 
 367 
 
m 
 
 Mi 
 
 '\ I 'i 
 
 J 'iitt. 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 vicwod "Strathcona's Horse," thus addressing 
 them: — 
 
 Cnlnncl Stele, officers, non-commissioned officers, 
 an.l privates, I welc.me you to these shores on your 
 return from active service in South Afr.ca. 1 know . 
 woCld have lK.en the anient wish of '"V « '>"; 
 mother, our revered Queen, to have welconud y « 
 also, l,ut that was not to be, but be' assured sl». 
 deeply appreciated the ser^•ices you have rendered, a. 
 
 ' 'u has given me great satisfaction to inspect you 
 to-lay, and to have presented you w.th your war 
 medals, and also with the King's colours 
 
 B, assure,! that neither I nor the Brit.sh nat.on w.ll 
 cver'forget the valuable service you have rendered u. 
 Sorth Africa. 
 
 Lord Strathcona gave a "magnificent banquet, 
 modestly called a luncheon." to the whole corps. 
 Many loading persons were present, includmg the 
 Earls of Derby ai.d Aberdeen (ex-Governors-Gen- 
 cral of Canada), the Earl of Dundonald, Majc;.- 
 General Laurie, M.P.. Major-General Hutton and 
 many other officers of the army, promment Colo- 
 nial statesmen and gentlemen interested m the 
 Dominion and other oversea portiotis of the Km- 
 nire. Lord Strathcona, surrounded by his guests 
 received each officer and private at the entrance ot 
 the banqueting-hall, and after^-ards proposed the 
 health of the regiment. The occasion ol h,s own 
 toast U-ing drunk produced the w<' ■'^^t «nthus - 
 asm, the officers and men spnngmg to their ItU 
 and making the roof echo with their ardent chctr- 
 368 
 
War Office Alacrity 
 ing. The names of Sir Redvers Duller ami Ix)rd 
 Oundonald, who, In the absence of Lord Roberts, 
 took his place on Lord Strathcoiia's left, were also 
 heartily received, the whole ccjrps rising to honour 
 them. 
 
 Before their return to Canada, Lord Stralhcona 
 pave a further banquet to the officers of the regi- 
 ment. He received all the guests in the great draw- 
 ing-room of the Savoy Hotel. Colonel Steele had 
 llie place of honour on his right, Earl Roberts, the 
 Lord .Ma>or of London. Lord Lansdowne, Secre- 
 tary of State for Foreign .Affairs, Mr. Joseph Cham- 
 l)t'r! • :, Sir Redvers Uuller, Lord William Seymour, 
 Sir James Ferguson, and atout thirty others were 
 present. 
 
 Colonel Steele mentions a typical incident. He 
 and other otificers were returning to the Govern- 
 ment for further service. 
 
 He [Lord Strathcona] went with us to obtain pas- 
 sages from the War Office, where it was somewhat 
 difficult to get the officers *o understami that, as wc 
 were commissioned officers of a force wliich was paid 
 liy the liritish Government and were going out to 
 the War, we were entitled fo our passages by military 
 transports. From the War Office back and fori h to the 
 Colonial Office we went; but Lord Strathcona event- 
 ually put matters right, and it was arranged lliat we 
 should sail on the transport Makool, the same ship 
 which had taken Strathcona's Horse to Kosi Bay. 
 
 So delighted was Lord Strathcona with the ex- 
 ploits of the Canadians that he cabled out the bulk 
 369 
 
;ll 
 
 i i 
 
 !y (M 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 of the leading article in the nm« to Sir Wilfrid 
 
 Laurier: — 
 
 All classes of our troops, in success as in defeat, have 
 
 that he was beaten. 
 
 Lord Strathcona added that the military arti- 
 cle in the same journal also stated: 
 
 draw closer the bonds which unite our Emp.re. 
 
 Nevertheless, he was much concerned over the 
 circumstance of the shortenlistment o the Cana 
 dian contingents, -a smgle y^^^J^'^^ ^^^^ 
 
 atte:ti:.n to tl.e incident. He contented hurf 
 3/0 
 
 is. im 
 
 'PI 
 
Imperial Defence 
 
 with explaining the matter to the Commander-in- 
 Chief: — 
 
 To Field Marshal Earl Roberts 
 
 February loth, 1901. 
 We in Canada have been so long isolated and ab- 
 sorbed in our own material development that it will 
 take us some time to recognize fully the gravity of 
 Imperial defence outside our own borders, But the 
 temper of the Canadian people is elastic and will be 
 found to fit the situation should it ever arise in the 
 future. They will only need to be impressed by its 
 gravity to come forward to meet it. This war, if only 
 a beginning, has, I trust, proved that. 
 
itili 
 
 : 
 
 
 . U I 
 
 1- 
 
 >"i^ 
 
 i,i I 
 
 ' 'i 
 
 ' ii. 
 
 ll 
 
 -:'l 
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 THE GROWING TIME 
 19OO-1909 
 
 Lord Strathcona may well have felt embar- 
 rassed b> the overwhelming .haracter of h,s recep- 
 tion when he visited Montreal in the summer o 
 ,900. On his arrival at the station he was greeted 
 by a deputation of prominent citizens and twelve 
 hundred students of McGiU University, whose ex- 
 uberance was no whit dampened by a steady down- 
 pour of rain. The interval of waitmg for the Chan- 
 Slor was employed in pulling down tradesmen s 
 signs, upon which the magic name Strati cona^^ 
 was then chalked. A baker's cart was held up 
 and deprived of its load of loaves, which, soon ren- 
 dered ^dden by the rain, made excellent missiles 
 for those whose enthusiasm seemed to require a 
 stimulus. When at last the tram ^^eamed into th 
 station, the deputation, headed by Sir J^^ '^"^^ -^ 
 Home, boarded the car and welcomed Lord Strath 
 cona at his homecoming. " Canada does not forget 
 such lifelong services as Lord Strathcona has - 
 dered " That inscribed on a banner was the note 
 of the occasion. The McGill students s^iou.in, 
 and cheering, waving their hats, called for thrc 
 Cheers for L;rd Strathcona, and thousands tooU 
 up the chorus, "For he's a jolly good fe Uow^ 
 
 When the object of their demonstration d 
 
 scended the steps of the station a mighty roar went 
 
 372 
 
Reception in Montreal 
 
 up, and it was with difficulty he made his way to 
 his carriage, from which the horses had been with- 
 drawn and to which ropes were attached by the 
 students. Torrents were descending, but the wel- 
 coming multitude, wet and covered with mud, with 
 broken umbrellas, and boots and trousers past 
 recognition, evinced no diminution of ardour. 
 They emitted the college \ell; again and again they 
 called for chc. s for Strathcona and Strathcona's 
 Horse, and while the bells of St. George's Church 
 loudly pealed a welcome, the carriage was drawn 
 along to Lord Strathcona's residence in Dorchester 
 Street. 
 
 Arrived at his residence, and touched at such 
 evidences of a popularity his prime had never 
 known, Lord Strathcona addressed the students: — 
 I feel deeply [he said] the kindness of your recep- 
 tion and its heartiness, and I hope that I shall have the 
 opportunity of meeting you all during my short stay 
 here. The reception which you have given me to-day 
 will remain vividly imprinted on my memory during 
 the remainder of my life, however lonj - short that 
 may be. I cannot in reason expect th, . many more 
 years remain to me. 
 
 At this point a crowd of students interrupted his 
 remarks by giving him three cheers, and before the 
 sound of this had died away, .some one in the crowd 
 asked, "What's the matter with Strathcona's 
 Horse?" to which the whole crowd duly responded. 
 Lord Strathcona then said : — 
 
 ^'es, gentlemen, they are "all right." They have 
 done, and will do, their duty like all the soldiers of 
 373 
 
.:*jiL^:4.''-JafV 
 
 ;! ' 
 
 I 1 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 the Oueen, no matter from what part of the Ein^re 
 they are gathered, and in the same sp.nt McG.U w.ll 
 do its duty. , ,. 
 
 Loud cheers greeted the conclusion of th.s 
 
 speech. 
 
 He later told the Men trealers: - 
 
 Imperialism is not confined to any one class in Eng- 
 land now; it pervades the whole nation. It .s no 
 onger a sentiment of any one district. I" f^ P^^^" 
 the country where the labouring classes toil, there you 
 find the feeling very, very strong. ,,:„ister 
 
 Mr Chamberlain is essentially a Colonial Minister. 
 He has done more for the Colonies, I think, than any 
 Snister preceding him in the Colonial Office. He is a 
 Lan of wonderful energy and vigour, '^etcrmined to 
 Sreng hen the connection between the Mother Coun- 
 ty and her Colonies. The policy of a closer union ha. 
 beeome astonishingly popular on the "'^'--f-. J^ ^ 
 nnt now momentary or evanescent. The war in South 
 Africa ha^TirredThe people in a wondcrfu manner^ 
 The country has seized every opportumty o showing 
 SlterestTor, and sympathy with, the outlying mem- 
 
 ' ™; fedin"^ predicted] was sure to t. lasting, 
 Jpt fecauL it was entirely voluntary U is a re 
 government in Canada as in England. ." ^anad.a .^ 
 Wl felt that they were compelled to aid England m 
 the re nt struggle, some of them might possibly have 
 
 SrSosed^l rebel. The as^^--^^- o 
 the Empire was not cor.ipulsory ; no such fetlings w rt 
 en Jndered What is tl is seeking after a closer bond 
 ^t::?^: L Colonies and the Mother C«. a - 
 all? Is it not a common necessity The M°the Lan 
 U necessary to the Colonies and the Colonics are 
 374 
 
 m 
 
Federation not to be forced 
 
 necessary to the Mother Country. A close bond of 
 Union is our strength — it is her strength! Thinli of 
 its effect on the other nations! It is a course with 
 mutual advantages to the Colonies and to England. 
 
 As to the desire for closer union leading to some 
 formal arrangement by which the Colonies would be 
 represented in the Imperial Councils, I do not think 
 this question should be forced. Should the trend of 
 feeling eventually run in that way, means will be 
 found to de\-ise a working arrangement. At present I 
 ■■ luld not urge it. A common impulse is now felt in all 
 ,)Hrts of the Empire. When the Empire is engaged in 
 war, all the component parts feel that they, too, are 
 concerned. There is a oneness of feeling which could 
 not have been dreamt of before the Transvaal War. 
 I would not be in a hurry to force this sentiment into 
 legal or binding shape. Canada has gained greatly by 
 her action in seni.ing out the contingents. She is known 
 now in England in a way which would have been 
 simply impossible some years ago. It is felt by people 
 in England that they may invest their capital in 
 Canada with as- much security as they can at home. 
 Canada has come to be regarded as an integral part 
 of the Empire, sharing in the Imperial thought. 
 
 Speaking of the conduct of Strathcona's Horse, 
 Lord Strathcona said: — 
 
 There is another thing of which I am very proud, 
 and thai is the fine stand our Canadian horses took in 
 the hardships of the contest. I have it on excellent au- 
 thority and from many sources that the horses which 
 were shipped from the Canadian North-West to South 
 Africa have proved themselves to be the finest class of 
 horses used there by the British Army. 
 375 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 
 i y-H 
 
 ij :i 
 
 Everv-where he went and even' day of his brief 
 sojourn in Canada, the heartiness of his reception 
 
 was the same. ... » 
 
 The Toronto Board of Trade gave him a banquet 
 at which four hundred representative persons of 
 the Province of Ontario were present. . .1e gatner- 
 ing " commented the Globe, "was a great cnbute to 
 the philanthropic nobleman who had done so mucli 
 for Canada and the Empire." 
 
 We are told that, on his rising to speak, the 
 euests and spectators in the galleries cheered for 
 several minutes, the band pla>ing " Rule Bntann.a. 
 The principal theme of his speech was the bond of 
 union between the Mother Land and her Colonies, 
 now cemented by the blood their sons shed together 
 on the so, of South Africa. 
 
 When we speak of a united Empire, we speak of the 
 Dominion and the other Colonies coming closer to- 
 gether May we not express a hope, too, that in our 
 Dominion there may be less provincialism amongst 
 us^ Whether in Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime Pro\-- 
 inces the Prairie Provinces, or in that great Western 
 country which was once called a sea of mountains, and 
 which they now -now to be a rich sea of mountain? 
 they ought to feel in all their legislation they desired 
 to come together in everything that was good lor tlie 
 Dominion at large. ^ , , ^u 
 
 A few years ago people from Canada and the 
 Colonics were regarded in England as merely those to 
 whom it was well to be civil - very worthy back- 
 woods people, but hardly worth while crossing t ho 
 sea to recognize. We know that our neighbours ol the 
 376 
 
 !ii(i 
 
 m 
 
 !: -Mm 
 
"Worthy Backwoods People" 
 
 United States were thought highly of, and scon every- 
 where in society, but was it so of ourselves from 
 Canada and the other Colonies, as we had a right to 
 expect? How is it to-day? To be a Canadian citizen 
 or a citizen of any other Colony is to have the warm- 
 est good wishes of all the best people of the Mother 
 Country. 
 
 The feeling that has gone forth toward the Colonics 
 is not, I feel assured, an evanescent one. While we are 
 the first among the nations within the Empire, we are 
 glad to know that there is another true-born nation 
 which is to take its place alongside of (^anada in a very 
 few weeks. The grandson of Her Gracious Majesty the 
 Queen goes there to assist in opening the new Parlia- 
 ment, and I trust that the occasion will not be lost of 
 having that same member of the Royal Family, as 
 representing Her Majesty, come also amongst us on 
 his return. 
 
 We should now be ref,arded as one people, one great 
 Empire of Englishmen, no matter what our mother 
 tongue may be. There is one agency which I trust 
 within a very short time we shall see as an estab- 
 lished fact, and which I believe will be a factor in that 
 direction. I feel we may be confident that we f hall, at 
 the close of 1902, have cable communication direct 
 from Canada to Australia. While we have but little 
 business connection with the Southern Federation, 
 doubtless it will go on increasing to great proportions, 
 as there is much in each country that the other 
 needs. 
 
 To the Warden of Victoria College he had pre- 
 viously written: — 
 
 377 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 To Miss Hilda Oakeley 
 
 5th May, 1900. 
 It is a great satUfaction to me to learn from you 
 of the excellent progress being made in the Royal 
 Victoria College for Women, and perhaps .t .s an 
 advantage that for the first year there should be only 
 a few resident students. 
 
 You correctly interpret my wishes with regard to 
 the College when you say that I had mainly in view in 
 establishing it, "that the more studious sluaents who 
 are taking the strict University course should work 
 under the happy conditions of home life with those who 
 share their ideals and interests." Our object ought 
 certainly to be to induce as many of the Canai lan 
 young women as can be properly accommodatt-<l to 
 take the entire course as under-graduates, while at 
 the same time finding room, as far as practicable, 
 for those who arc only occasional students. 
 
 It was a great regret to me that I was unable to 
 visit Canada this last winter and to be present during 
 your session, but the doctors interposed their veto .m 
 rny going out while I was not altogether strong and m 
 the best of health. I am still very hopeful of being in 
 Canada sometime early in the summer, and look l.-r- 
 ward as well to be there again in the autumn or early 
 winter during your second session. 
 
 It was during this visit that he formally opened 
 i„ November, the College he had founded. Lord 
 and Lady Minto were present, as well as hun- 
 dreds of Montreal citizens and many students 
 McGill University, at a reception which exceeded 
 378 
 
Victoria College Opening 
 
 in size and maRnificence any private entertainment 
 previously given in Montreal, and even surpassed 
 that given by Lord and Lady Strathcona at the 
 Imperial In;;titute, London, in the summer of 1H97, 
 at which ail the Canadians then in the English 
 metropolis were invited guests. On this occasion 
 Lady Minto unveiled the statue of the Queen, exe- 
 cuted by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, at the 
 entrance to the college. Miss Oakeley, as Warden 
 of the college, then presented Her Excellency with 
 an immense bouquet of roses, tied with the college 
 ribbon. 
 
 In the year following. Lord Strathcona wrote to 
 Miss Oakeley: — 
 
 May 2,sth, it)<n. 
 
 The account you arc able to give of the Royal 
 X'ictoria College and those who have the good fortune 
 to be under your care in it, shows indeed a satisfactory 
 record for the Session which has just closed, and I have 
 no doubt that as time goes on, the College will be in- 
 creasingly useful to the people of Montreal and Canada 
 in training up well-educated gentlewomen. 
 
 October 28th. 1901. 
 It is only now, too, I am able to send a reply to the 
 kind letter of the "Delta Sigma" Society, asking if I 
 would give an address - - the annual lecture — before 
 their literary society, a request which at their sugges- 
 tion is enforced in your note. Any such effort on my 
 part would, I fear, be a sad disappointment, as I cannot 
 hope to do justice to what ought to be the standard of 
 such an occasion, but entirely apart from this, fearing 
 greatly, owing to my engagements, I could not name 
 379 
 
^.MiiJ4Wv:v' 
 
 I ord Strathcona 
 
 an cvcnii.3 when I could be present for the purpose. 
 This pray l^'Uevc me, is a sincere regret to me, and 
 let me add how proud 1 am to have my name, U)th 
 Christian and surname, so pleasantly associated with 
 the Delta Sigma Society. 
 
 In another speech to the citizens of Montreal, 
 Lord Strathcona foreshadowed his return to Canada 
 " ui)on the completion of important works in which 
 he had been much interested," which were taken 
 to mean the Pacific cable and the establishment 
 of a fast Atlantic service. Once again he reminded 
 his hearers that " the action of the Colonies in send- 
 ing troops to South Africa was not merely a matter 
 of patriotism, for the Colonies," he said, "are a-^ 
 necessary to Britain as Britain is to the Colonies.' 
 One of the first of his duties on his return to 
 England was to take part in the national wclconu' 
 of the war-worn body of Canadian troops returnins 
 from South Africa under Colonel Otter's comman<l. 
 A great reception was given at the Imperial Insti- 
 tute in their honour. Addressing the assembled 
 company, he said: — 
 
 The citizen soldiers of Canada had been received as 
 brothers not only by the Queen's soldiers of the 
 United Kingdom, but by the whole of London, repre- 
 senting admirably the people of Great Britain. It vva- 
 needless to speak of the different battles in which thtso 
 cili7en soldiers had been engaged, for their record was 
 well known. Ml the Queen's soldiers had done th.-ir 
 duty gallantly and well, those from Canada and the 
 other Colonies side by side with the rest. This had 
 been expected of them by all Canadians, and they 
 380 
 
Queen Victoria's Death 
 
 had not been disappointed. Colonul Otter and Ids 
 officers and men, and indeed the whole Canadian 
 Contingent, would he the last to say they had done 
 better than others; but they only claimed to ha\e done 
 what tliey could to conserve the honour, the dinniiy, 
 and the integrity of the Knipire. What the>e troops 
 have done in the past they would be equally ready to 
 do in the future, if the neeil of the fCmpire should arise. 
 
 The illness and death, on January 21, of the 
 universally beloved and revered ^Jueen \ictoria 
 had profoundly affected him. He and L.idy 
 Strathcona were present in St. George's Clia|)el, 
 Windsor, at the funeral service, where he was heard 
 to remark several times to acquaintances, "Think 
 ol it — think of it — Queen Victoria is dead!" 
 To him the event meant more than to most. His 
 memory could travel back to tlie London of the first 
 year of Victoria's accession, when as a fresh-faced 
 youth, with all his career before him, he had lin- 
 gered in the streets hoping to be "rewarded by 
 the spectacle of Her Majesty." 
 
 At a special court of the Governors of the Royal 
 Scottish Corporation, held in order to pass a reso- 
 lution of sorrow on the Queen's death, of sympathy 
 with the Royal Family on their berea\enient, and 
 congratulation to His Majesty King Edward V'lF 
 on his accession to the Throne, Lord Strathcona 
 attended with Lord Rosebery. Canada's High 
 Commissioner seconded the resolution, which was 
 proixjsed by the ex-Prime Minister. He said: — 
 
 But little is ever required from one who seconds 
 Lord Rosebery. It might, however, coming as he did 
 381 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 from an outlying portion of the Empire bo perm!ttc<l 
 to him to say a word as to the feeling of the Colon.es 
 on that most sad occasion. 
 
 If they went back to the commencement of the rcign 
 of her late Majesty, they would find in Canada symp- 
 to„,s ,.f .lisloyalty, of race hatreds, and net ewrywhere 
 ,lu- wani.est possible homage to her nan e. They had 
 dilTerent peoples there - there were the "afves there 
 wcT.. the I'reneh, and there was not any.vhere at thai 
 time that feeling of love for the Mothe- C ountt^ that 
 was now so conspicuous a feature m our Rreat W est.rn 
 nonunion. l!ut it was felt for the first tune under tb,. 
 l,..„etk-ent rei^n of Her Majesty that ;ust.ce would he 
 Kiven to all. In his Colony, when her sons v.site<l tlie 
 Mother Country, they must see th, Uueen. He ha. 
 had a very touching instance of this .,u.te recently. .\ 
 poor man had come to him, statins that he had come 
 homefrom Canada for the express purposeof seeing the 
 ■■great, go.xl mother," and when he had accomn'.sh.l 
 that he would go back again. He was enable<l ... 
 secure for this poor man the privilege of seeing the 
 Queen in one of her drives. After that this Canadiim 
 returned home at once, and sai.l the wish of his life 
 had been accomplished. 
 
 At that moment. Canada, as well as the other nut- 
 lying portions of the Empire, joine.l in the sorrows o 
 theNIolher Country. And, likewise, in the I nited 
 States of America it was felt that a great Fnghsh 
 sovereign had passed away, whose life was full of years 
 and honours, and who had provi.led so bright an ex- 
 ample to alt. It was not alone in Canada that gnef 
 was felt, but throughout the whole of that great l^e- 
 public which was its neightour As to His Maj-s y 
 King Edward \U. the people of C anada, like all his 
 
 382 
 
Glcncoe's Associations 
 
 subjects, heartily congratulated him, and hoped that 
 he nii^ht 1k' spared (or many long years to follow in the 
 steps of his [iredecessor. They in Canada had a pro- 
 found and pleasant recollection of his visit when I'rince 
 of Wales, forty years before. 
 
 In April, before a dislinRuished audience at the 
 Im|KTial Institute, he read a paiK-r on "Canada 
 and the Kmpirc." The Duke of Argyll in his hap- 
 piest vein introduced the lecturer. Ever>bi)d>', he 
 said, knew what I^rd Strathcona had d(jnt', and 
 tiie Duke, being a Scotsman himself, maintained 
 that only a Scotsman c ould have done what Lord 
 Strathcona had done; and only a Scotsman who had 
 had a long residence in Canada, benefited by her 
 air, her institutions, and by the e.\[x'rience actiuircd 
 on her soil. The Duke was particularly grateful to 
 Lord Strathcona in that he had become an Argyll- 
 shire man, anfi had brightened with his presence a 
 place which formerly had rather dism.il association;,. 
 CiKiicoe was associated with the great cruelties 
 prai tised upon some of those who were not up to 
 what might be called the " Imperial" ideal of their 
 time. The Duke pointed out how matters had 
 changed, and the locality was now a centre of light 
 and leading in the Imperial feelings of the day. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Lauricr 
 
 London. 2\\ M.iy, i<)ol. 
 The other day Mr. Chamberlain asked me to see him 
 about some matters which could be better explained 
 vorlially than in writing. 
 
 383 
 
i*i 
 
 I ; 
 
 f \ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 First, he referred to the National Monument to 
 Queen Victoria. It was evident from what he said 
 that it would be very gratifying to the King and to 
 the Government here that Canada should show an 
 interest in the matter, by contributing to the fund 
 being raised for it, the amount of the contribution bcmg 
 of much less consequence than the assurance that the 
 Dominion entered cordially into the idea of there bemg 
 one grand memorial in London, joined in by every part 
 of the Empire. I am sure that your cooperation in this 
 will be regarded with the greatest appreciation here. 
 
 The other matter suggested is that a certain moder- 
 ate sum should be placed at the disposal of the Gov- 
 ernor-General to enable him adequately to entertain 
 the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on their visit t) 
 Canada. Indeed, I believe that Lord Minto has given 
 Mr Chamberlain to understand that his personal 
 means do not permit of his doing what he could wish 
 
 in this way. , ■ • u 
 
 About these somewhat delicate matters to deal with, 
 I write you frankly, as I know you will not mis- 
 understand the spirit in which I bring them to y. ur 
 notice, and I also feel sure you would like to have 
 placed before you what is passing in the minds of the 
 people here on such subjects. 
 
 While I have the pen in hand, let me say that just 
 before the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall left fur 
 Australia their reception in Canada happened to c..nu- 
 up in conversation with Mr. Chamberlain, on which 1 
 said that if quite agreeable to the King, and of course 
 also to your Government, I should be glad to assist 
 in the welcome of the royal party in Montreal, to whu h 
 the response was that anything I might do in thut 
 respect would be acceptable. 
 
 384 
 
 if il!, 
 
The St. Lawrence Route 
 
 Please understand that I do rr v-jVh unnecessarily 
 to put myself forward, but ' you enuroh ;oncur, I 
 shall be pleased to go to Mon -ea: in Scpte.'.oer to aid 
 as best I can either by accom:; -Jation an. entertain- 
 ment, or otherwise in my house. 
 
 To C. R. Devlin, M.P. 
 
 5th August, 1901. 
 It is quite unnecessary to take any notice of Mr. 
 Henri Bourassa's statement, a sufficient answer to it 
 being that on his resolution in condemnation of the 
 course of the Government in connection with the 
 South African War, he had only three supporters in a 
 full House. As regards the action of the Contingent 
 from Canada, their deeds speak fully for the admirable 
 way in which they conducted themselves, along with 
 their fellow-soldiers from the Mother Country and 
 other parts of the Empire. 
 
 All of this year, as of preceding ones, he had been 
 agitating the scheme of a fast Atlantic steamship 
 ser\'ice. As for that other matter of the Pacific 
 cable, it had happily reached finality. The cable 
 was bemg rapidly laid and would soon be one of 
 the Empire's assets. But the line of twenty-five- 
 knot steamers was still as far away as ever. Lord 
 Strathcona said: — 
 
 The Canadian Government realizes fully that the 
 St. Lawrence route should be made as safe as human 
 foresight can make it. The insurance rate for Canada 
 IS from seven and one half to eight guineas, as against 
 three to New York, Boston, and other United States 
 ports. Thus we are heavily handicapped, and the 
 385 
 
 I i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 Government should, and I am convinced will, do all in 
 its power to improve the route if this is possible and if 
 such drawbacks exist. There is no sentiment in this 
 question of insurance; it is purely a business matter. 
 Competition is too keen nowadays for any sentiment 
 to intervene, and if it were safe to take lower rates, you 
 may be sure there would be plenty of offers. 
 
 If the Government sees its way to grant a subsidy 
 which would meet the views of Sir Christopher Fur- 
 ness I have no doubt he would be willing to tender 
 for the sen-ice. He is firmly convinced that only a 
 first-class service will be of any use; a fast ser%-ice - a 
 service that can compete with the United States lines. 
 On the question of a Canadian tenninal I cannot 
 but think that the port must be the one giving the 
 shortest sea passage from land to land, and I should 
 think some point in Cape lireton is the place, if it 
 affords good harbour accommodation, and where pas- 
 sengers, perishable and certain other kinds of freight, 
 can be taken on board. That is the only way we can 
 ever secure a thoroughly good, efficient, and up-to-date 
 
 service. . ^ • »i,- 
 
 I have always taken a very great mterest in thi» 
 question; I have been working at it for years, and 1 
 have always maintained that it was a necessary adjunct 
 wherewith to maintain the reputation of our trans- 
 continental route to the east. The Canadian Par.lic 
 are taking steps to accelerate the speed of their Pacihc 
 steamers, and we must have a fast service on the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 Highly did he appreciate the distinction when in 
 October, 1902, the honorary degree of D.C.L. was 
 conferred on him by the University of Oxford, on 
 the occasion of the Bodley Tercentenary. 
 386 
 
The Tariff Reform Movement 
 
 The launching by Mr. Chamberlain of his great 
 scheme of tariff reform for the United Kingdom 
 caused Lord Strathcona the greatest satisfaction 
 "Although," he told the Colonial Secretary, " I can- 
 not from my [wsition publicly support you, nor 
 even hint in public here at my sentiments, you know 
 what those sentiments are." 
 
 He held the view strongly that free trade in 
 England was building up the prosperity of Ger- 
 many and other nations and retarding, and perhaps 
 forever preventing, the commercial unity, and 
 therefore the real unity, of the British Empire. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 May i6th, itjoj, 
 
 !\Tr. Chamberlain made a remarkable speech at 
 Birmingham and the report of it, as given in the Times 
 this mornmg, I enclose with this, also a report of Mr. 
 Balfour's reply to a deputation which waited on him 
 yesterday on the question of the corn and flour duties. 
 
 It is very evident that the people of the United 
 Kingdom are not yet quite ripe for any measure of 
 protection, but there is certainly a strong and growing 
 feehng that there ought to be a preference to the 
 Colonies. 
 
 A fortnight later he wrote: — 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 May 30th, 1903. 
 Mr. Chamberlain assured me that should pressure 
 to impose duty on flour be irresistible, he will insist on 
 drawback for Canada. 
 
 387 
 
Ill I 
 
 I' I 
 
 '^•hj 
 
 
 'iln/ 
 
 ,1 i| 
 
 ■1 i ^ 
 
 i' 
 
 ■ J i 
 
 
 1 i' 
 
 f] 
 
 
 h 
 
 i|i! '" 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 He thought it just possible that th. Chancellorof the 
 Exchequer might have to give way to the .ns.stenco 
 for a duty on flour, but he very decidedly sa.d that if 
 so Canada must be exempt. 
 
 I have since had some conversation with h.m on 
 .. the new departure," and I have sent you the text o 
 his speeches and all pamphlets on the subject which 
 hav: appeared in the principal London P^P-^' - "^f 
 no here trouble you as to anything further about it, 
 thin to say that Mr. Chamberlain has evidently com 
 o regard he position from your point of view, that t 
 L tht wish of the Imperial r.overnment to formulate 
 Us own policy and then to approach the Colonies on 
 the subject. 
 
 At the annual Dominion Day Banquet, he 
 said : — 
 
 In a very short time Canada would be able to pro- 
 vide every pound of breadstuffs required in this coun- 
 ty and with a strong nav, the Mother Country would 
 be proof against the pinch of necessity. Whilst Cana.U 
 tasbeengfadtogiveapreferencetotheMotherCountry 
 
 there was at present a good deal in the air reganhng 
 preferential relations within the Empire. Many ^.ho 
 had been working in the past for that end now saw 
 a gleam of sunshine before them, and he hoped such a 
 result would be obtained without depriving themselves 
 of their trade with foreign countries, ^^'^^^^^^l 
 reason why in their domestic affairs they should no 
 be one gre'at 'amily throughout the British Empire 
 Surely it was only reasonable that the different parts f 
 that Empire should exhibit a P-ferentia feeling - 
 ward each other. They were all proud of that grc^ 
 statesman who had done so much for the Colonics 
 388 
 
American Resentment questioned 
 
 he had the courage of his convictions. Was it proposed 
 that they should stumble at once into something very 
 different from what they had now? Was it not asked 
 that they should consider the situation carefully, and 
 then do what was thought best for the whole of the 
 King's dominions? In Canada tii^y had no fear of the 
 outcome of the enquiry, but whatever happened the 
 loyalty of the Dominion would remain undisturbed. 
 
 In conclusion, the Chairman mentioned that 
 during the last ten months 104,000 jx^ople had 
 entered Canada, "a considerable proportion of 
 them being good citizens of the United Slates, 
 who had now gone to help build up the Empire, and 
 be as loyal subjects of the King as any others." 
 
 When some one suggested to him that there 
 might be some resentment in America at any pref- 
 erential treatment of Canada — especiallv if Ameri- 
 can industries suffered thereby, he asked : — • 
 
 Why should there be any resentment? Americans 
 are business men. Between their own States there 
 exists an ^arrangement for the most complete mutual 
 benefit, while they interpose a tariff against the out- 
 side world. Why should they resent the establishment 
 between the States of Greater Britain of a mutually 
 benefiting arrangement." Or why should they resent 
 tlie withdrawal on the part of Great Britain of advan- 
 tages which she has voluntarily given them if she does 
 60 in pursuit of a policy of advantage to the constitu- 
 ent parts of her Empire? We do not resent any part of 
 the domestic policy of the United States. Why should 
 her citizens, as buainess men, resent any change in our 
 domestic policy? 
 
 389 
 
im 
 
 v/> 
 
 f"? 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Was not Canada herself apprehensive of the results 
 of a change from her present conditions? Did not the 
 Government believe, for instance, that the disturbance 
 of fiscal relations with the United States might result in 
 the aggravation of friction in questions of policy, such, 
 for example, as the Alaskan Boundary Question? In 
 short, was there not a feeling in Canada that any 
 change might be a change for the worse, and that it 
 would be better to leave matters alone? 
 
 To thepe questions Lord Strathcona replied that 
 he did not believe in that expression as the feel- 
 ing of Canada. "I do believe that throughout 
 the Dominion there exists, on the other hand, the 
 greatest confidence in the statesman who is now at 
 the Colonial Office. And I think that Canada 
 believes in him, and trusts to his judgment and 
 
 ability." 
 
 During Lord Strathcona's annual absence m 
 September of this year Sir Walter Peace, Agent- 
 General for Natal, suggested that the representa- 
 tives of the self-governing Colonies should unite in 
 tendering Mr. Chamberlain an official banquet on 
 his retirement. In this he wished Canada to take 
 the initial steps. If Canada approved. Sir Wilfrid 
 Laurier would be asked to cable the various 
 Colonies to instruct their representatives to co- 
 operate. 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 The Canadian Government continues firm in the 
 conviction that preferential trade on the lines laid 
 down at the Colonial Conference last year is the best 
 390 
 
 'H 
 
Mr. Chamberlain's Retirement 
 
 policy in the interest of the British Empire and we 
 warmly recognize and appreciate ^Tr. Chamberlain's 
 services as Colonial Secretary, especially his endorse- 
 ment of that policy. At the same time we are strongly 
 of opinion that the proposed demonstration would be 
 ignoring His Majesty's advisers at this moment as 
 appearing to take sides in what has unfortunately be- 
 come a party ciucstion in England and a crisis which is 
 now submitted to the judgment of the British elector- 
 ate. 
 
 This seemed sound doctrine and practice. Never- 
 theless, Lord Strathcona did not fail to avail him- 
 self of this and every opportunity to express pub- 
 licly his appreciation of the services of the retiring 
 minister. 
 
 It was no disparagement to his predecessors to say 
 that he had done more than any man to promote 
 Imperial unity and the development of the Empire. 
 During the term of his office many events of impor- 
 tance bearing upon the Colonies and the Empire had 
 taken place. I would refer to the Conferences of 1897 
 and 1902, and it is gratifying to learn that such gather- 
 ings were likely to be held in the future. 
 
 I would also point to the Federation of Australia, 
 the introduction of preferential tariffs in Canada and 
 South Africa in favour of British imports, denuncia- 
 tion of the German and Belgian treaties, the laying of 
 the Pacific cable, the establishment of penny postage 
 within the greater portion of the Empire, the abolition 
 of the sugar bounties, the inclusion of Colonial stock 
 among trustees' securities, and the visit to South 
 Africa — a precedent which we hoped W( jld be 
 widely followed in the future. All these constituted 
 391 
 
M I 
 
 Ml i 
 
 ' 1. 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 a record of which he and the Government mifiht well 
 be proud. He has always been most considerate and 
 most appreciative in regard to all matters affectmg 
 our Dominion of Canada. 
 
 He repeated these sentiments on several other 
 occasions, notably in February, 1904. when he de- 
 clared : — 
 
 Mr Joseph Chamberlain is a great man and a great 
 statesman. The Colonies look upon Mr. Chamlx-rlaii. 
 as their very best friend and one who, in the high posi- 
 tion he has held, has done more for the Colonies, and is 
 doing more for the Colonies, for the Mother Country, 
 for the Empire, and for the general good, than any 
 other man. But what have British political parties 
 done for the Colonies? Other countries have been 
 seeking to be connected closely with them, even more 
 so, perhaps, than the Mother Country, for the time- 
 was not far past when some of their statesmen con- 
 sidered that it would be to the benefit of the rmtcd 
 Kingdom if the Colonies were gently allowed to go 
 their own way. Where would their Empire be if 
 England were alone? Was it not better that they 
 should be brought together, for then they would ha\e 
 an Empire of which they might well be proud? During 
 the South African War the Colonies had come to the 
 assistance of the Mother Land because they felt that it 
 was only by being united that there could be real and 
 true strength within the Empire. 
 
 As they did in the past, so would they do in the 
 
 future. Therefore, it will be wisdom on their part 
 
 to endeavour to draw closer and still more closer 
 
 to the Colonies than is at present the case, making 
 
 392 
 
 111 
 
 hh 
 
Correct Official Behaviour 
 
 sjch arraiiKcmonts in a commercial sense as will 
 enable them to liave within tlie domestic circle of 
 the p:nii)ire the coo[»ration and union and recii)roc- 
 ity that would make one great family. 
 
 He was not to go withiut ci'ticism, and he took 
 an early op[x)rtunity to nply to the attack made 
 on him in the Canadian House of Commons. By 
 one member he was accused of exceeding his rights 
 as Canadian High Commissioner, by practically al- 
 lying himself with one of the British politicalpar- 
 ties and campaigning with Mr. Chamberlain. If 
 the charge were true, and if he h.id been guilty of 
 allymg himself with Mr. Chamberlain, it is only fair 
 to say that in so doing he would iiave acted cx- 
 acdy as the vast majority of his fellow-Canadians 
 would have been proud to have him act. But the 
 truth is, he was always very careful to remember 
 his semi-diplomatic position in London, and to keep 
 himself clear of British party politics. 
 
 He retorted that while a ver>- great admirer of 
 Mr. Chamberlain, he had i, \er in any way been 
 connected with that statesman's fiscal crusade, and 
 that in his position as representative of Canada, 
 he knew no politics, British or Canadian. 
 
 This [declared a leading Montreal journal] is an 
 entirely satisfactory reply to the criticism in question. 
 No attitude could be more proper. Canadians would 
 generally not want him to conceal his personal belief 
 in Mr. Chamberlain's pro-Canadian policy; but they 
 Mill agree with him that his delicate and highly impor- 
 tant work in London can best be done from a'position 
 of party neutrality. 
 
 393 
 
I h 
 
 t':L 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 His visit to Canada that year, if not marked by 
 such scenes of tumultuous enthus.asm, was aRa.n 
 vor^ pleasant, and awoke many happy nu-mor-es. 
 He said in the course of a public speech: ^- 
 
 To me it appears looking back as a dream. It dis- 
 
 „,. ,„ r„b mv eves sometimes and feul it 1 am 
 
 'TvTwake trc uld have thought fifty years ago 
 
 of 1 e t ansfon^ation which has taken place. Sce.n, 
 
 Lindsoftheirchil<lren,andthechildrenagam,Jthe.. 
 That there is an inheritance which is theirs, anc that ;t 
 would be a humiliation to all of them not to do their 
 utmost to sustain it, and to still press forward. 
 
 Evn sixty years ago I was an optimist. I'ess.mism 
 is not a good thing to live upon. You may go upon it 
 or a while if you will, but for a country or a per,, n, 
 depend upon ilyou will make more out of anything by 
 tWnkTng good of it than by holding it in .11 favour. 
 And tha. is how it will be with Canadians. 
 
 From time to time rumours of his approaching 
 retirement appeared in the n«=-^P^tx;rs- I". * 
 autumn of 1903 these rumours brought forth an 
 official denial from the Honourable Mr^F.tk 
 ing in the Canadian House of Commons. Gene 
 cheers greeted the Minister's statement, and there 
 'vS^ in England many an echo of congratulation 
 The burden of eighty-three years now rested u,x,n 
 394 
 
 i'l 
 
Lord Dundonald 
 
 his shoulders, yet he had no sooner returned to 
 England than he at once plunged into the heart of 
 things Canadian, especially the scheme, not yet 
 realized, for a fast Atlantic line. 
 
 Of the many admirers of the Earl of Dundonald, 
 who had gone out to Canada to fill the post formerly 
 held by General (now Sir Edward) Hutton, he was 
 not the least. He deplored the political partisan- 
 ship which, in the Dominion, too often ruled in the 
 appointment of militia officers. Of Dundonald, 
 Colonel Hughes, .M.P., said in the Canadian House 
 of Commons: — 
 
 One of his ancestors wis the famous admiral who 
 commanded the Uritish frigate, Navarion; another fell 
 at the capture of Louisburg in the eighteenth century; 
 and the General himself is distinguished in every part 
 of the world where he has ser\'ed. The Strathcona 
 Horse and other Canadian corps followed him again 
 and again to victory in South .Africa, and I can readily 
 U'-.(krstand the annoyance that an officer of his stand- 
 ing should feel, on coming out here, with the best 
 interests of the Empire at heart, — with the best 
 interests of Canada at heart, because the interests of 
 Canada are the interests of the Empire, — at having 
 to put up with this thing from week to week, and 
 finally becoming so exasperated, as at a banquet, 
 determined that come what might he would for all 
 time to come put a stop to such petty meddling as 
 has beer, indulged in.' 
 
 None the less, it was clear, as the facts came 
 out, that Lord Dundonald had been imprudent — 
 
 ' Parliamentary Debates, June lo. 1904. 
 395 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 indeed, in his protest aKainst what he coneeived to 
 l.e an e\ il, that he had cast prudence to the winds 
 The result was an Order-in-Council reheving Lord 
 Dundonald of his duties. 
 
 1 M 
 
 I L 
 
 :| i 
 
 <' il 
 
 r ; ;i 
 
 
 Front Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 Ottawa, loth August. 1904. 
 
 My DicAR Lord STftATiicoNAi — 
 
 His i:xccllcncy, the Governor-General, has f(.r- 
 wanlcd, by this mail, to the Secr.-taryof State for tir 
 Colonics, copy of an Order-in-Council concerning th,- 
 actions of the Earl of Dundonaltl, whilst he was acting 
 as General Officer Commanding the Canadian Mihlia. 
 I enclose herewith copy of the same Order-.n-( ouncil. 
 for your lordships information. I deem it expe.Uem 
 that you sht.uld be in possi^ssion of all the fac s con- 
 necte.1 with this unfortunate affair, so as 'o be in a 
 position to discuss it in all its aspects with ^l^ l-yt- 
 telton, and also, if need be, with Mr. Amold-Ior.t r 
 
 Up to this present time I di.l not deem it a.lvis.M. 
 to trouble your lordship with this case, otherwise than 
 to sentl you copy of the Order-in-Counc.l relieving tl,. 
 E.rl of Uundonald from his command, and to ask >ou 
 to communicate it to Mr. Lyttelton, 
 
 The .locument which 1 now enclose shows that, n, 
 the exercise of his functions as General Officer ton - 
 man ling the Canadian Militia, the Earl of Uunt c.na M 
 Tave direct orders to his subordinates to conceal from 
 the Minister of Militia certain information which lu 
 was bound to place before him. This J'"^""^""'^'!"; ' 
 a flood of light on the manner >" ^^^f f [; 
 of Dundonald understood and practised his du . 
 towanl the Minister, under whom he had accepted to 
 396 
 
Diindonald's Dismissal 
 
 stnT, and, imlri'd. it is im|»>Hsil)l(' to cxpl.iiri hou an 
 honourable man, holdiiiK the rank and iKisition ol the 
 Karl of IJundonald, could justify such an a( tion. The 
 least that can be said of it is that it was an act of dis- 
 luyalty to his chief, and it may K've the cue to other 
 acts of his violation of the King's rcKulalions, which 
 eventually forced the Canadian Government to take 
 the only coursi' with which such dclil)orate insul>ordi- 
 nation can lie treated. 
 
 I abstain from further comments, but I would he 
 obliged if you would interview, first, Mr. Lyttelton, 
 and then Mr. .Xrnold-Forsler, and assure lioth of them 
 that we regret as muih as they do themseKes that 
 the action of the Earl of I )undonaUl left us no alterna- 
 tive, and that the course whlrli we took w.i-, dictated 
 by ti.e necessity of maint.iining the tiisiipline of the 
 force and of vindicating the authority of the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 In reply Lord Strathcona wrote in September 
 from Glencoe: — 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Lnuricr 
 
 , 'I i-, iji^en much delay in carrying out the in- 
 st' C' . yed to nie in your letter, but this was 
 
 unavoidable as both Secretary Lyttelton and Mr. 
 .Arnold-P'orster had left London before its receipt, the 
 former for Scotland and the latter for the Continent. 
 
 Xeither of these gentlemen intends being in London 
 until October, and it was not without some diliticulty 
 1 at length succeeded in seeing both of them in 
 Scotland. 
 
 .'\s to the substance of the conversation I had with 
 Mr. Lyttelton and Mr. Amold-Forster w ith regard to 
 397 
 
-) I' 
 
 ■ I IP ' 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 the Lord Dundonald incident, I discussed the matter 
 rJost fuUy with both. The former considers that he 
 Tct on of the Commandant, as shown m report of the 
 Pri^ Council of August 4. was most reprehensible 
 LdTould not recommend hi. havmg -Y P-^^™-^ 
 
 Er:^^r:ssi:t:ifn?:ss- 
 
 his rase bv dismissing him. 
 
 We may, I think, feel assured that they greatly d.s- 
 approvTo'f the action of Lord Dundonald and there .s 
 II iL that anything will be done either by the V\ar 
 Office authorities or'the Colonial Secretary in gwing 
 preferment or employment to the ate Commandant 
 of the Canadian Militia for some time to come. Mr. 
 Ar^o d Forster informed me that he has called upon 
 L^d Dundonald for an explanation of his conduct. 
 
 Lord Strathcona's friend. Colonel Hughes, how- 
 ever, championed the cause of Lord Dundonald a 
 vigorously as he had denounced General Hutton 
 Zr years before. In the course of a letter Colonel 
 Hughes asserted: — 
 
 The dismissal of Lord Dundonald by Sir Wilfrid 
 Laurier's Government and the appoin ment of a 
 Canadian Major-General of the military forces of the 
 Somtion. if 'resented by the Imperial Governmen , 
 ^^y sund;r the tie that binds Canada to the Empire. 
 
 Happily, the Imperial Government did not re- 
 sent either.' 
 
 398 
 
 t% 
 
 i 
 
Earl Grey's Appointment 
 
 It was fortunate that the Imperial tie shouIJ be 
 strengthened rather than weakened hy the arrival 
 that ' xr of so strong, ardent, and intelligent an 
 Imperialist as Earl Grey, who came to take up 
 the Governor-Generalship, which Lord Minto had, 
 after six notable years, relinquished for the great 
 post of Viceroy of India. 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 Ottawa, September 13th, 1904. 
 
 I enclose a letter to Lord Grey, our new Governor- 
 General, which 1 would respectfully ask you to deliver 
 to him personally. I desire that you would at the 
 = me time express to Lord Grey that his selection by 
 liis Majesty for this most important position has been 
 received by all classes in the country with very great 
 satisfaction. 
 
 I have suggested to Lord Grey that it would be 
 extremely desirable that there should be the shortest 
 possible intcrreign between Lord Minto's departure 
 and his arrival in Canada. 
 
 incident, it will not be without benefit to the country, if, in the future, 
 it will load to the withdrawal of partisan interference in the appoint- 
 ment of officers of the militia, whether that interference may come 
 from the Government now in power or may be sought to be applied 
 by an)' Government which n;ay come into power in the future. We 
 do not want political interference in military matters in Canada. 
 The people pay a considerable amount for the military service of this 
 cnuntr>'; they are willing to pay that amount for an efficient mili- 
 tary .service; but wc do not want that service to deteriorate or be- 
 come inefficient by reason of party politics entering into it in any 
 way. We have had this afternoon a confession which indicates that 
 party politics has been entering into it for some time past, on the 
 part nt the Minister of Agriculture at any rate." {Parliamentary 
 Debates, June 10, 1904.) 
 
 399 
 
Mi I 
 
 M 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 Lord Minto intends to sail on the 2ist of October, 
 but that date is not fully determined. But whenever 
 Lord Minto sails for England, my opm.on is very 
 strong that Lord Grey should also forthwith sail for 
 Canada I urge this pomt, because, after the depar- 
 ture of Lord Minto, until the arrival of his successor 
 matters of routine alone could be attended to, all 
 important questions would have to be deferred, and 
 sometimes great prejudice might arise. 
 
 With Mr. Chamberlain's successor at the Colo- 
 nial Office, the Honourable Alfred Lyttelton, the 
 High Commissioner was on the most cordial terms. 
 During his term the long-desired boon of penny 
 nostage to Canada was established, and at a Canada 
 Club dinner, in 1905, Lord Strathcona expressed 
 the earnest hope that before long the Imperial 
 Government would extend the same preference to 
 the postage of newspapers sent from the United 
 Kingdom to Canada. 
 
 It would be very greatly appreciated, indeed if they 
 could have their newspapers sent at a preferential 
 rate a rate lower than that which had been given to 
 foreign countries. He regarded that as a matter of 
 some importance; for they had coming to them from 
 their neighbours, cousins, and happily, he could also 
 say their warm friends in the United States, the pa- 
 pers of that country by thousands. They were g ad 
 to see the telegrams and news in these papers, but 
 they would prefer to have their own papers from the 
 Mother Country to tell them everything that was of 
 interest to that country, and also to them as member. 
 of the same Empire. He trusted that before long they 
 would have that privilege. 
 
 400 
 
 !!J 
 
English Newspaper Postage 
 This boon was at last granted in 1908 and has 
 been of incalculable advantage to British sentiment 
 and a knowledge of things British in Canada, al- 
 though it is to be feared that it has not yet exerted 
 a due effect upon the tone of our native newspapers, 
 which, as a prominent Canadian complained to 
 Lord Strathcona, " technically and literately are 
 mferior to those of any other part of the Empire." 
 
 Lord Lansdowne to Lord Strathcona 
 
 November 23d, 1504. 
 
 Owing to the death of a near relative, I find myself 
 with great regret prevented at the last moment from 
 enjoymg the hospitality of the Canada Club. 
 
 It would have been delightful for me to join in doing 
 honour to a Governor-General-elect, who, as an old 
 friend, I regarded with sincere affection, and for whom, 
 as a public man, I entertain feelings of the greatest 
 respect. Twenty-one years ago I was just arriving in 
 Canada at the commencement of a term of office 
 which I have never ceased to look back upon as one of 
 the happiest and most instructive periods of my life. 
 I recall with pleasure the circumstance that in those 
 days Lord Grey, who was amongst our visitors, al- 
 ready showed keen interest in the Dominion and its 
 affairs. He is, in my opinion, greatly to be envied, and, 
 if 1 may be allowed to say so, I think the Dominion is 
 to be congratulated on the appointment of one who 
 stands so high in the esteem of all who know him. 
 
 Year after year Lord Strathcona sounded at 
 Dominion Day banquets, at which he always pre- 
 sided, the same note, of which neither he nor his 
 401 
 
r : 'lii 
 
 Ml 
 
 mW' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 hearers ever tired, the note of jubilation at Canada's 
 material triumphs and confidence in her future 
 prosperity. 
 
 The progress of Canada since Confederation has been 
 [he said in 1906] miraculous. In every respect, through- 
 out the reign of Queen Victoria it has progressed. The 
 transcontinental railway, for which many prophesied 
 disaster at the time of its construction, is soon to be 
 supplemented by at least one other similar road. In 
 agriculture, trade, industry, and mining, the country 
 has gone ahead by leaps and bounds. 
 
 It was indeed a "growing" time for the once- 
 neglected Dominion. 
 
 It seems only a few years since, by a liberal sub- 
 sidy Canada obtained a railway across the contment. 
 There had been a prevalent opinion that the enterprise 
 would be most disastrous for those who took it in hand. 
 Last year the gross income of the Canadian 1 ac.fic 
 Railway reached £12,000,000 sterling. We now fed 
 assured that there will be abundant work not only 
 (or the Canadian Pacific, but for two and perhap. 
 three other transcontinental railways. In a i'^J V^-'!^ \ 
 hope there will be steamers crossing from the Lnitcd 
 Kingdom to Canada in three and a half or four da>^. 
 so that travellers from this country can reach the 
 Pacific Ocean in eight days, going on thence to Japan 
 and other Asiatic regions, with which Canada xva» 
 coming into close connection commercially. 
 
 Touching the latter project, Lord Strathcona 
 never hid his own confident belief in the commer- 
 cial success of a twenty-five-knot service between 
 Britain and Canada, devoted to passengers alone, 
 402 
 
 r-"^;:^«^ 
 
The "All-Red Route" 
 and his dissatisfaction with anything falling short 
 of that standard. In other words, the most experi- 
 enced, and, one might add, the most cautious, of 
 Canadians never wavered in his confidence that 
 Canada would not be satisfied with a service in 
 any respect inferior to the best that is provided 
 on the New York route. He even expressed his 
 readiness to subscribe himself £roo,ooo toward 
 such a service from any British or Irish port that 
 could be justified as the best jwrt for the service 
 and provided that it were under thoroughly capable 
 and experienced management. In February, 1007 
 he said : — j z, ,, 
 
 I should be very glad if there were a faster service. 
 The present services are very good, and are doing 
 ver>. wen, but we want it faster yet. The faster we 
 can go the more we will come together on both sides 
 There is a real need for a faster service. The numbers 
 of Canadians who come to this country seem to justify 
 the demand. In July last I saw at one time and in 
 one place m London no fewer than twelve hundred 
 Canadians. When we see so many people crossing 
 from the Dominion, we are naturally desirous of 
 securing the best facilities for their transit across the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 The "All-Red Route" was a phrase adopted for 
 the sake of brevity to describe a notable scheme 
 of ■mproved inter-Imperial communications which 
 Mr Wilfrid Laurier proposed at the Conference 
 in 1907, and which the Imperial Government ac- 
 cepted.' 
 
 ' "That in the opinion of this Conference the interests of the 
 403 
 

 ^ II' 
 
 (I 
 
 M 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 !f [said Sir Wilfrid Laurier] we had on the Atlan- 
 tic Ocean between Canada and Great Britain a ma.l 
 service equal in speed and character to the serv.ce now 
 I^^Lence between England and New York, there .. 
 no doubt, and there can be no doubt at all, that «t 
 should save in the journey at least two days, or about 
 two days, inasmuch as we have an advantage in our 
 favour in distance of nearly nine hundred miles. 
 
 The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Lloyd 
 George) was equally emphatic on this point. In 
 his speech to the Conference (May 6) he said: - 
 
 The problem that has been suggested to us by 
 Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Wilfrid Laurier and other 
 speakers is to reduce, as far as possible, the natura 
 disadvantage of distance under which we ^^(^^'.-J^^ 
 prompt and the cheap delivery of foods, perishable 
 articles, and raw materials is a very big factor to the 
 consumer and manufacturer, and it is these commodi- 
 tics which are so largely produced in the Colonies and 
 so largely required in this country. The development 
 and acceleration of inter-Imperial communication for 
 business purposes would undoubtedly be a movemen 
 in which all parts of the Empire would share for thtir 
 mutual benefit. It would result not only in increased 
 facilities for the marketing of goods and for_ stimulat- 
 ing the development of trade, but in giving important 
 17 ■ „ ^■.n,-.nrt that in 50 far as practicable, its different portions 
 fhouW he connected Cth" b-.t poUie tneans of ntail contnt.n.ca. 
 
 '";to:hu'::d"TrIdwIable that Great Britain should be 
 connec?dwth Canada, and through Canada with Austra ha a d 
 New Z^^and, by the best service available w.th.n reasonabk .^, 
 ■Vnd for the purpose of carrying the »bo™ project mtoCx 
 suclffinanll sup'^.Tas may be neces^ry shotdd ^e con.r.bu -w 
 Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Z^'and in equ >,. 
 proportions." (Resoludons of the Impenal Conference, .907.) 
 404 
 
Advantages of the Scheme 
 
 opportunities to the movement of individuals fron\ one 
 part of the Empire to another. By bringing the dis- 
 tant parts of the Empire nearer to the centre it would 
 make the Empire more compact. All that is an es- 
 sential element in trade. 
 
 He himself had thus explained its advantages: 
 
 The All-Red project would be a great thing, not only 
 for Canada, but also for all parts of the Empire; and I 
 earnestly hope to live to see it an accomplished fact. 
 The establishment of an eight-day service between 
 Liverpool and Vancouver, which would be a result of 
 it, would cause large quantities of foreign capital to 
 flow into the countrj'. Many people who are now 
 deterred, by the length of time necessary for the jour- 
 ney, from going so far west as the coast, would, with 
 the establishment of the new service, be led to do 
 so, and the sight of the great resources of the prairie 
 regions would lead them to invest their capital in 
 Canada rather than in foreign countries. It is merely a 
 matter of cost. Tliere Is no reason why the thing could 
 not be done if the money were forthcoming. And I 
 think it is a thing worth spending money to accom- 
 plish. We spend a great deal on mere local improve- 
 ments, and here is something that would be a great 
 benefit not only to Canada, but to the whole Empire 
 as well. I think that in such a case we should be very 
 much more willing to disburse the necessary funds. I 
 feel quite confident of its ultimate success. A definite 
 offer has been made by a steamship company to un- 
 dertake the fast service on the Atlantic, as a part of 
 the project, for a subsidy of £500,000 a year, and the 
 Canadian Government are prepared to bear half of 
 this subsidy, £250,000 a year. 
 405 
 
 i i 
 
 I I 
 
 W^ 
 
,! 
 
 bU , 
 
 ^^ \xm 
 
 •'««■' ■< In 
 
 ■ 'J, 
 
 I 1 r 
 
 I I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, 26th April, 1907. 
 I have thought a good deal upon the subject of a 
 new mail sen ice between England and Canada, and 
 connected with it, a service between Canada and the 
 Orient. This is one of the most important matters that 
 we have had to deal with in many years, and I would 
 attach much importance to your active cooperation 
 in the same. I am strongly of the opinion that if you 
 were to interest yourself with this service it would be 
 made a complete success. 
 
 Replying to this Lord Strathcona wrote: — 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 29th April, 1907. 
 
 It is a great gratification to me to know that you 
 have under favourable consideration a more expedi- 
 tious mail service between England and Canada, and 
 also between Canada and the Orient. 
 
 Let me say that so fully convinced am I that such a 
 fast mail and passenger service would be one of the 
 most potent factors in the prosperity of the Dominion 
 that I shall most cordially, to the best of my ability, 
 second your efforts in bringing it about. 
 
 The "All-Red Route" occupied his attention to 
 the close of his life. He even enjoyed the jest of the 
 eminent surgeon called in to examine his heart and 
 arteries, who tapped him significantly in the cardiac 
 region and remarked, "We must attend to the 
 All-Red Route, my Lord." 
 406 
 
The «« All- Red Route" 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 15th February, 1908. 
 
 the All-Red Route m the press here, but it is under- 
 stood that the Government continue to be as well 
 disposed toward it as they were at the time of the 
 Conference. 
 
 Immediately on receiving your letters regarding the 
 extension for two years of the subsidy to the Canadian 
 Pacific Railway Company for their steamers from 
 \ ancouver to Japan and China, I communicated with 
 the Government, but am yet without their answer I 
 am, however, to have an interview with Lord Elgin on 
 Monday next, and hope then to learn from him some- 
 thing of a definite character with regard to the views 
 01 himself and his colleagues in the matter.' 
 
 It was in the autumn of 1906 that there occurred 
 the truly remarkable Aberdeen University cente- 
 nary celebration. As Chancellor, Lord Strathcona 
 was the foremost figure. On the first day he led 
 a great procession through the streets of Aber- 
 deen to the temporary hall erected at his expense. 
 1 here he received the congratulatory addresses 
 handed in by representatives of many universities 
 
 d!an p!^?fi'^ / d<^spatch«l from this county' by theCana- 
 
 So h'iT^uL'" ""^ ''"''' 'W was estimated at i-,^^To 
 th,s should be added a sum of about £,,000 received for the convey" 
 
 £Ao,^r,^t .?'"'">' Company was £6o,«x, of which 
 ernCt The lul"-?^ '"r^"™"' T'^ ^^^''^ ''V *o British Go ' 
 
 407 
 
 ' '! 
 
n 
 
 ^r'! 1 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 and learned bodies. There again he entertained at 
 dinner the same representatives and all the gradu- 
 ates of the University who returned for the cele- 
 brations, and representatives of the undergraduate 
 body. 
 
 It is easy (writes Miss Hurlbatt] for me to recall the 
 persistent voice that succeeded in penetrating to the 
 recesses of that great hall, and to call up again the 
 scene as with quiet dignity he presided over that 
 colossal dinner party. It was my good fortune to be 
 one of only two ladies at the group of high tables 
 (there were, of course, women at the graduate tables, 
 for the University opened its doors to women in 1892) 
 and from a near vantage-point to watch the face o{ 
 our host. 
 
 It was he who received King Edward in the great 
 courtyard of Marischal College, when the ! 'ter 
 came to declare open the new buildings th." .ad 
 been erected as the gift of Lord Strathcona 1 i. iself. 
 
 Before Lord Strathcona became Chancellor [wroti- 
 Sir William Robertson Nicoll], the Chancellorship was 
 a mere name. The Chancellor of my time took no 
 interest in the University, and did nothing save to 
 meddle once in a foolish way with the Rectorial 
 election. Iird Strathcona's liberality has been un- 
 bounded, a he has taken the keenest interest alike in 
 the erection and equipment of the new buildings and 
 in the ceremonies of their opening. He built for the 
 occasion a wooden hall which accommodates between 
 four thousand and five thousand people. There was 
 genuine and wise kindness in this action. For one 
 thing, it enabled many to have a share in the celcbra- 
 408 
 
 r 
 
.MM . 4r^.jrifln 
 
 "A Powerful Old Fellow" 
 
 tions who could not otherwise have buen present. For 
 another, it gave Lord Strathcona an opportunity of 
 entertaining some twenty-five hundred guests. If it 
 had not been for this, no satisfactory provisions could 
 have been made for the multitudes who had a real 
 claim to share in the festivities. Lord Strathcona is 
 mdeed a wonder. Though he bears the burden of 
 eighty-six years, he is as erect as ever, as keen, as 
 alert, as eager as the youngest. He speaks with great 
 fluency, but his voice was scarcely strong enough to 
 carry over the immense buildings in which he had 
 to use it. Nevertheless, his speeches, when read, are 
 seen tr be graceful in style, and full of wis<l,)ni. A 
 famous Irish delegate said to me after the Music Hall 
 gathering: "I was most interested in Strathcona; he 
 is a powerful old fellow." 
 
 To us here (says the Principal of Aberdeen Tniver- 
 sityj what Lord Strathcona did for our University 
 comes most directly home. First, as Lord Rector 
 chosen by students, then as Chancellor, elected by 
 graduates, he gave ungrudgingly his time, thought, 
 and substance — wise words treasured in our memo- 
 ries and our chronicles, generous gifts enshrined in our 
 academic hi.story. His name will ever be associated 
 with those of the elder and younger Mitchells as one 
 of the noble trio whose outstanding munificence and 
 stimulatmg sympathy enabled the heads of our city 
 and I niversity to bring our Marischal College exten- 
 sion to successful consummation, while in more re- 
 cent days his endowment of the Chair of Agriculture 
 has supplemented eflectively the bounty of the great 
 Carnegie Trust. At our quarter-centenary in 1906, our 
 Chancellor's keen interest and active participation 
 
 409 
 
 i"'jm 
 
'•It 
 
 'Mr 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 from first to last in the celebrations evoked universal 
 admiration. And when his bold proposal to gather 
 students, graduates, officials, delegates - membra qua- 
 libet - into a vast social assembly. J. the emlK)dm.ent 
 of academic unity and brotherho.Kl, when that Ijold 
 proposal at first met villi the response that no hall 
 in our city could uccoranodatc so enormous a throng 
 we recall how the maker of the Pacific Railway snuled 
 away the mountain of obstacle. "Who art thou, oh 
 Mountain? Before Zcrubbabel a plain." 
 
 ,\ithin three weeks we were commemorating our 
 uuarter-centenary in the great Strathcona Hall. 
 
 Less imposing to the carnal eye, but invested wit . 
 a pathos yet more impressive, was our aged C hancil- 
 lor's memorable visit at the graduation of 190.J, when 
 our late lamented Principal lay on that sick-bed over 
 which the angel of death was alread> hovering. Our 
 grand old man, scorning all risk to health, and with a 
 fine chivalry toward the stricken Principal and the 
 expect int graduates, travelled overnight at, for him, 
 a most busy time to fulfil the Vice-Chancellor's duties, 
 to crown the proud alumni and alumnic with the cap 
 of academic imprimatur, and to address, amid rever- 
 ent and unwont( d stillness, his never-to-be-forgotten 
 words of encouragement and counsel. 
 
 It was on this occasion that Lord Strathcona Rave 
 one of the most elaborate feasts of modern time? 
 and at the time the British press gave a detailed 
 account of the whole affair. There was no caterer 
 in Scotland capable of undertaking such a large 
 contract as a dinner to the whole University, so 
 it was let to a London caterer, who made truly 
 Gargantuan preparations in his own establiAmcnt 
 410 
 
 J't^- 
 
n^^.fj^j^'^ 
 
 A Gargantuan Feast 
 
 in London ami then moved his outfit by s,K,,ial 
 tram to Aberdc^c-n - waiters, food, dishes and 
 cver>thmK ready to spr, uj on the tables The 
 «^rvnK.staflF numbered six hundred and fifty, and 
 betwec-n them they had to supply a mile of tables 
 There were twentyfive thousand plates of one 
 des,gn m use. twelve thousand glasses, and the 
 enfre service was of silver. A feature of the menu 
 was the turtle soup. The dinner cost Lord Strath" 
 cona about eight thousand pounds, this inclu.ling 
 about three thousand pounds as the cost of the 
 tenux^rary hall m which it was hel<l. The platform 
 a one accommodated one thousand guests, and 
 altogether there were present as his guests two 
 thousand four hundred and forty people 
 
 In the autumn of 1907 the unfortunate anti- 
 Japanese riots, which broke out in Vancouver 
 caused Lord Strathcona to have several consulta- 
 tions with the Foreign and Colonial Offices. Lord 
 Grey sent the following despatch to the Mayor of 
 Vancouver: — 
 
 His Excellency the Governor-General has learned 
 «-ith the deepest regret the indignities and cruelties 
 of which certain subjects of the Emperor of Japan, a 
 fnend and ally of His Majesty the King, have been 
 the victims, and he hopes that peace will be promptlv 
 restored and all offenders punished. 
 
 Although the troubles subsided. Lord Strath- 
 cona saw that all was not well in this direction He 
 was much interested in the statement and pro- 
 posals which reached him from one of his corre- 
 411 
 
I Irt I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 spondents, who had studied the whole question 
 and this remarkable letter he forwarded to S.r 
 Wilfrid Laurier. 
 
 While it is futile [the author of the letter wrote] to 
 exaggerate the mob riots with Japanese at Vancouver 
 th^e can be little doubt that a repetition of hem 
 on a larger scale would jeopardize the status of the 
 present Government of Canada, and England s present 
 alliance with Japan. But racial strife in British Co um- 
 bia, or indeed in any part of the Dominion, would of 
 necessity, by estranging capital and '^h^'^^ing the ad- 
 vent of immigrants, become most serious in ai rest- 
 ing the development of Canada. 
 
 The fact that Canada has no army or navy of its 
 own, while Japan in its armaments ranks as a first- 
 rJte power, might be counterbalanced by the inBuence 
 and power of England but for two things, first, he 
 actual alliance of England with Japan, which enabled 
 England to denude the Pacific of her battleships, - 
 i e the indispensable in maritime war, - and next, 
 England's determination not to interfere with the in- 
 ternal affairs of her Colonies, and to retain only a 
 nominal suzerainty. . , ^ j t„ 
 
 This non-interference should enable Canada to 
 make (with England's knowledge) a commercial treaty 
 with Japan to the benefit of both countries, and an 
 essential part of such treaty would be the regulation 
 and restriction of Japanese immigrants, both as to 
 number and system of supervision. 
 
 White men refuse to compete with Asiatic labour, 
 
 and their present c6ndition of life and habits freely 
 
 justify them if, indeed, they are right in saying, I his 
 
 is the white man's country and we mean to keep it so. 
 
 412 
 
Canadian-Japanese Question 
 
 The Japanese retort, "You forced your way into our 
 country, now we only assert our rights to do likewise." 
 
 To reconcile interests and to find a modus vivendi 
 both for Canadians and Japanese, I would foster 
 manufactures (where coal permits) in the first instance, 
 and so give employment and profit to Japanese, who 
 might othurwise work in the lumber trade and fisheries 
 as they do to-day. But the white man should alone 
 own and work the soil, unless, in the course of time, 
 the Canadian Government is willing conditionally to 
 permit the Japanese to become British subjects and 
 make their allegiance to the British Empire. They 
 would then, of cou.se, have votes. 
 
 Furthermore, to lemove prejudice and racial feel- 
 ing, I would establish a Canadian-Japanese College for 
 general and technical knowledge, where all boys would 
 be on the same footing. 
 
 Ever most tenacious was Lord Strathcona of the 
 dignity and attributes of the office of High Com- 
 missioner. He disliked intensely the prospect of 
 Canada's representation at the seat of Empire 
 being frittered away into subordinate cliques. Yet 
 he was made constantly aware of the desire on the 
 part of the Agents-General of the different Prov- 
 inces to raise their status and consequence, which, 
 of course, could only be at the expense of the higher 
 office. Some years ago. Sir Richard McBride, the 
 Premier of British Columbia, intervened on behalf 
 of his Agent-General, the Honourable J. H. Turner, 
 whose personal claims were, in addition, regarded as 
 somewhat more favourable, in that he had formerly 
 himself held the office of Premier of the Province. 
 
 413 
 
 IQli 
 
ill 
 
 ij 
 
 II 
 
 w 
 
 to] 
 
 i| 'J I 
 
 i:r 
 
 i. ! 
 
 ■A: 
 
 f( 
 
 I -H 
 
 i 
 I I 
 
 (1 li L I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 From the Honourable Richard McBride 
 
 Victoria, B.C., January 4th, 1908. 
 
 As you are no doubt aware, through conversation 
 with Mr. J. H. Turner, he has felt that it would be 
 advisable were the office of the Agent-General to 
 receive official recognition from the Imperial Govern- 
 ment, as it would be of assistance in his work were 
 such the case. I discussed the matter fully with him 
 while he was here last autunm, and we both felt that 
 such recognition would be beneficial in his position and 
 would meet with your approval. 
 
 Consequently the Executive Council to-day passed 
 an Order-in-Council requesting the Dominion Gov- 
 ernment to bring the matter to the attention of the 
 Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a view of 
 securing the desired official recognition of the Im- 
 perial Government. I would be pleased if you would 
 kindly use your good offices to assist. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Lord Strathcona wrote, 
 deploring any such action : — 
 
 I cannot but think that any such action as that 
 recommended by Mr. McBride would be a retrograde 
 movement and opposed to the spirit of the federation 
 of the Provinces of the Dominion; and one which, if 
 acceded to, might readily tend to confusion and even 
 to embarrassment. 
 
 And in this view he was upheld by the Dominion 
 Government. 
 
 414 
 
 m 
 
 S,..'lfe'Si 
 
 W^^^^- 
 
 mmmm'dki- 
 
Provincial Agents-General 
 
 To the Honourable Richard McBride 
 
 March 8th, 1907. 
 
 Let me say at once that I have always been most 
 willing and desirous, both officially and personally, to 
 further the interests of British Columbia in common 
 with the other Provinces of the Dominion, by every 
 means in my power; but if Mr. Turner was under the 
 impression that I had ever given expression to views 
 favourable to an extension of the powers of the Pro- 
 vincial representatives in London, he was certainly 
 under a misapprehension. 
 
 As you are weP aware, under the terms of the British 
 North America Act, there is no provision for such repre- 
 sentation as is sought, and, in my view, any extension 
 of the present principle could only operate unfavourably. 
 
 DouttlLSs you have given much attention to the 
 matter, and will be well aware of the constitutional 
 difference between the States of Australia and that 
 of the Provinces of Canada. However attractive the 
 status of the representatives in London of the several 
 Australian Governments may appear to be, in prac- 
 tice it can hardly be said to have worked satisfactorily 
 or smoothly, and in this matter Australia is confronted 
 by an awkward problem, as yet unsolved, but un- 
 doubtedly one which might be productive of great 
 embarrassment; and I do not think the interests of 
 Canada would be promoted by retrograding to the 
 condition of affairs which our Australian friends have 
 to contend with and which they regard with anything 
 but equanimity. 
 
 I have delayed answering your letter, but think it 
 well now to write to you thus frankly. Of course 
 the matter is one for the Government of Sir Wilfrid 
 415 
 
 wm^kKy^im^w '^ns^'^'smi^iL 
 
..^1 
 
 I! 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 fu 
 
 ,!■ 
 
 1- 
 
 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Laurier to decide, and we shall doubtless be made 
 
 aware, in due time, of the course it may be determmed 
 
 to follow. 
 
 What that decision was, may be gathered from 
 
 the following passage in Sir Wilfrid's subsequent 
 
 letter: — 
 
 Let me say at once that I altogether approve of 
 
 your attitude in this matter a.;d I absolutely share 
 
 the views you have expressed to Mr. McBnde. 
 
 When the pro-ent King, then Prince of Wales, 
 visited Quebec in 1908 on the occasion of the 
 Tercentenary celebration, there was some anxiety 
 lest the visit should be marred by any untoward 
 incident. More than ordinary precautions were 
 deemed necessary. Police officers were sent to 
 Quebec more than three weeks ahead of the Prince, 
 so that they might have time to pick up any avail- 
 able information. 
 
 From Sir Edward Henry 
 
 May sist, 1908. 
 Under ordinary conditions no one would be apprc- 
 he sive of an outrage taking place on Canadian soil, 
 but as Quebec is within comparatively easy distance 
 of certain centres in America where the Clan-na-Gatl 
 flourishes, an organization very embittered against all 
 British institutions, we must not overlook the possi- 
 bility of the prince's visit being deemed a suitable 
 opportunity for some form of hostile demonstration 
 by some of its members. 
 This is the view we have independently formed, and 
 416 
 
His Visit to Winnipeg 
 
 as the same view is held by our Consulate General in 
 New York, it is one that cannot be lightly put to one 
 side. We think it highly advisable, therefore, that all 
 police officers should be on the alert so as to be in- 
 formed of the arrival of American emissaries, with the 
 object of keeping them under really effective super- 
 vision, thereby frustrating the execution of any plan 
 they may have formed. 
 
 Luckily, nothing happened; but Lord Strath- 
 cona himself, on his visit to Quebec, could not help 
 being reminded of former occasions when fear 
 of the Fenians was uppermost in the minds of 
 Canadians. 
 
 In the summer of 1909 Lord Strathcona made an 
 extended tour of Canada with two of his grand- 
 children, Mr. Donald Howard, who is heir to his 
 mother, now Baroness Strathcona, and Miss How- 
 ard, now Mrs. Kitson. They travelled from coast 
 to coast, and made many side expeditions. In Win- 
 nipeg it was arranged that he should act the host 
 while the British Association for the Advance- 
 ment of Science held its meeting there in old Fort 
 Garry, the scene of so many years of his labour. 
 Rarely in history has a populous city paid so 
 enthusiastic a tribute, even to one of its sons, as 
 was paid to Lord Strathcona by Winnipeg, on the 
 occasion of this visit. Something, of course, must 
 be allowed for the natural exuberance of the youth- 
 ful West, but when all is conceded, it was still a 
 unique manifestation of personal regard. 
 
 On the evening of his arrival the streets in the 
 vicinity of the station were choked with humanity; 
 417 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 his carriage had a military and musical escort, and 
 along the route, two miles long, from the station to 
 Government House, lit up by electr.c.ty, were 
 cheering multitudes. For several days the popula- 
 tion was enfhe in his honour. Welcommg banners 
 hung across the leading thoroughfares -thousands 
 daily wanted to catch merely a ghmpse of the white 
 hair and benignant features of the object of their 
 adoration. Bevies of maidens waited on him with 
 flowers. At the banquets and public receptions his 
 appearance was hailed by deafening cheers fo lowed 
 by a wonderful silence when he opened his lips to 
 soeak His lightest word was received as sanctified 
 incense. Every movement - nay. almost every 
 gesture of the patriarchal figure was chronicled m 
 the newspapers. Day succeeded day, and still the 
 populace of Winnipeg did not tire of acclaiming 
 
 "Strathcona!" , ,- ^ <- 
 
 Forty years before he had entered Fort Garry 
 almost furtively to become the prisoner of Louis 
 Riel On the site of Fort Garry there is now up- 
 reared a noble building, ten stories high, bearing 
 its name, with corridors of marble and replete with 
 beautiful furniture and every luxury. How great 
 the contrast a night's lodging here to the wretched 
 accommodation, which, in 1869, was the lot ot 
 Donald Smith! 
 
 Leaving Winnipeg, several visits were made to 
 points in the West, including British Columbia, 
 where his uncles, John and Robert Stuart, had 
 long adventured. During one of these expeditions 
 in the Okanagan Valley, he incurred what might 
 418 
 
A Narrow Escape 
 
 easily have been a serious or fatal accident to one 
 of his eighty-eight years. A wagonette and a pair 
 of horses overturned down a hill, and literally shot 
 the four or five occupants, including Lord Strath- 
 cona, out on to the bank and field. The driver had 
 both legs broken. Lord Strathcona was quite un- 
 hurt, excepting for a cut and strain of the hand 
 and arm, which he carried in a sling for some weeks 
 afterwards. 
 
 Lord Strathcona had been Canada's High Com- 
 missioner in the United Kingdom for a full decade, 
 with mfinite advantage to Canada and the Empire. 
 
 The Duke of Argyll to the Author 
 
 Kensington Palace. 
 [2i5t April, 1906.1 
 It was a happy thought of yours to mark Lord 
 Strathcona's decade as High Commissioner by a testi- 
 monial from Canadians living in London and I hope 
 It will be taken up. He has done so much for others 
 that It will be a change for others to do a little some- 
 thing for him. 
 
 Having canvassed the Anglo-Canadian commu- 
 nity, the idea was duly " taken up." But it was not 
 until the autumn of the following year that the 
 Duke of Argyll, acting on behalf of the sub- 
 scribers, presented to his lordship a beautifully 
 executed centre-piece illustrative of the various 
 phases of his career. It was on that occasion 
 recalled with interest that the Duke first met Lord 
 Strathcona thirty years before, when the Mr. 
 Donald Smith of that day was strenuously engaged 
 419 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 !n building the foundation of trade and commerce 
 
 and civil administration in what was then the 
 
 untamed wilderness of Manitoba, of whose first 
 
 Provincial Legislature he was a promment mernber. 
 
 It was in this year that he made a splendid gift 
 
 for the benefit of the young people of the Dominion. 
 
 The announcement was made in Parliament by 
 
 Sir Frederick Borden, the Minister of Mihtia, that 
 
 Lord Strathcona would contribute $250,000 to 
 
 create a fund of $10,000 a year for the encourage- 
 
 ment of physical and military training in the public 
 
 schools of the Do anion. Applause greeted the 
 
 announcement from both sides of the House and 
 
 by unanimous resolution the thanks of Parliament 
 
 and the people of Canada were tendered to the 
 
 donor. 
 
 In conveying the gift, he wrote: — 
 
 To Sir Frederick Borden 
 While I attach the highest importance to the advan- 
 tages of physical training and elementary drill for al 
 children of both sexes, I am partH:ularly anxious that 
 the especial value of military drill, including na- 
 shooting for boys capable A using rifles, should b 
 constantly borne in mind. My objec is not only to 
 help to improve the physical and mtellectual capabili- 
 ties of the children by including habits of a lertnes. 
 orderli. 3S, and prompt obedience but f° to ^nng 
 up the boys to patriotism, and to the realization h 
 the first duty of a free citizen is to be P^epa ed t« 
 defend his country. The Dominion at the present time 
 and for ma.0' years to come, can hardly hope to be 
 420 
 
The Strathcona Trust 
 
 able to give so long a period of training to her military 
 forces as by itself would suffice to make them efficient 
 soldiers, but if all boys had acquired a fair acquaint- 
 ance while at school with simple drill and rifle-shooting, 
 the degree of efficiency which could be reached in the 
 otherwise short period which can be devoted to the 
 military training of the Dominion forces would, in my 
 opinion, be enormously enhanced.' 
 
 Of Sir Robert Baden-Powell's Boy Scout Move- 
 ment, he said it was "one of the finest plans for 
 the betterment of the race that has been evolved 
 in our time." 
 
 ' He himself was four times a colonel. In i8q8. he was appointed 
 honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Victoria Rilles, Montreal, a 
 tribute to the interest he had taken in the military movement' in 
 Canada. In 1902. he became honorary colonel of the Eighth Volun- 
 teer Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment. In 1901), he 
 was honoured by being made honorary colonel of the Fifteenth 
 Light Horse, and in 1910, he received the honorary colonelcy of 
 the Seventy-ninth Highlanders. 
 
 €1M- 
 
 ^|C- 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 li 
 
 I 
 
 r. 
 
 
 V,' 
 
 m 
 
 W 
 
 THE CLOSING DAYS 
 
 1910-1914 
 
 It was not altogether unnatural, nor indeed 
 unexpected, that after enjoying so long a term of 
 public favour as the most popular of the Colonies, 
 a reaction should supervene in some quarters, and 
 that Canada should suffer occasional detraction. 
 Lord Strathcona was so jealous of Canada's good 
 name that every such attack filled him with indig- 
 nation. "I don't care what they say of myself," 
 he once told Mr. Alfred Lyttelton. " I am accus- 
 tomed to abuse and to having my character as- 
 sailed, although I get less and less of this as I 
 grow older. But they must not abuse Canada 
 while I am alive to defend her." 
 
 To him, so long had he been sounding the 
 praises of the vast Dominion, of her mountains 
 and prairies, her railways, her wheat-fields, her 
 institutions and the loyalty of her people, that 
 he grew to believe, in every line of every stanza, 
 all that he sang. The praises of Canada on a 
 stranger's lips gave him as much pleasure as if ui 
 himself or of his own family circle. This high 
 ideal of patriotism he exacted from others. 
 
 :/' 
 
 433 
 
iJiML^ 
 
 His Resentment at Calumny 
 
 To N. F. Damn, M.P. 
 I do not think Mr. - 
 
 -, if he had reflected on the 
 effect of his words, would have uttered them at this 
 time. However, one may be tempted by pi(|ue or a 
 sense of neglect, it is far better to be silent than to 
 asperse one's own country amongst strangers. 
 
 Once a London journal published an unu-ually 
 viol. lit attack, of which the following is an extract: 
 
 Canada is at this moment making every endeavour 
 to entice young able-bodied Englishmen to her do- 
 minions; her agents are scouring the country with 
 specious promises and glowing reports, which are 
 attracting young men by the thousands to try their 
 luck in her western regions, which are nothing more or 
 less than death-traps for all but those who go out well 
 provided for. Train-loads of raw lads, with from £10 
 to £100 in their pockets as their sole possession, and 
 the barest of ordinary outfits, are being dumped into 
 her western towns. In these towns they are compelled 
 to stop until the snow and slush hav^ disappeared, 
 perhaps for a month or six weeks, or I inger, the cost of 
 living alone being six shillings a day. The majority get 
 to the end of their resources before they can be moved 
 to the particular claim district to which they are bound. 
 Once on the spot, their condition is pitiable in the 
 extreme. I'.nniless, and without the means to move 
 their small belongings, they have to scour a vast dis- 
 trict in semi-starvation in search of work or for a likely 
 claim. They are useless for skilled work, and so most 
 homesteads pass them by. 
 
 At first Lord Strathcona was so angry as to con- 
 template taking legal action at once. Afterwards 
 423 
 
il 
 
 ill 
 
 I 
 
 If* 
 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 he thought of visiting the office of the paper and 
 insisting upon an immediate disavowal of the libel. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 i6ih December, 1910. 
 The article is an instance of journalistic cUpravity 
 much to Ih.- deplored, yet, so far, at any rate, 1 can 
 come to no other conclusion in regard to the matter 
 than u to take any official action would simply serve 
 the Is of the proprietors of the journal without any 
 correspon<ling benefit to Canada, and would only 
 encourage them to proceed still further in their libel- 
 lous course. , ■ i- 
 
 I am bound to add, however, that a feeling of indig- 
 nation in regard to the articles has been aroused in 
 Canadian circles, and should you, while concurring 
 generally in my view, think that some action ought to 
 be taken, I shall be glad to hear from you by cable. 
 
 The trouble is that Mr. of course knows well 
 
 that a nation cannot be libelled in the legal sense, and 
 that we arc thus debarred from taking the only meas- 
 ures to which a gentleman would be amenable. 
 
 He himself was constantly, as we have seen, be- 
 ing dragged into the arena of party politics and 
 more than once was obliged to issue a denial of 
 views attributed to him in the newspapers. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, i6th December, igog. 
 I find by press reports that my name is used in refer- 
 ence to the present political contest in the Unitid 
 Kingdom. It is well known in this country that I am 
 414 
 
 ^}^m 
 
/;M 
 
 hmi. '^AflPV^ftiBr J 
 
 Tenders his Resignation 
 
 never inteniewed. I have not in this instanre departed 
 from this rule and have had no interview with any line. 
 If I had any opinion to express on the present contest 
 I would claim the privilege of doing it in my own 
 words, but I would consider it absolutely out of place 
 for mc to say or do anything w hich might 1h' considered 
 ever so remotely as an interference in ai : | Mitv contest 
 now Ix'fore the electors of Great Bri;, ni ;uid Ireland. 
 Please cause this to be published it! ulI' nianiu ;in 
 you think best. 
 
 For some time — ever since t ". nic.io.aljl.. anl 
 triumphal progress through the West - ho had 
 been far from enjoying his usii^il iieal'li. T!ie injury 
 to his right arm caused by the aicid.nt :il V rnon 
 prevented him from writing. " I am shI! vc-y deaf," 
 he tells Sir Wilfrid, toward the clo.~,i' r;f tlio year, 
 "from the effects of a concussion caused by the 
 report of a cannon fired at a short distance from 
 my ear some months back." He decided that the 
 time had at last come for him to resign the High 
 Commissionership and he wrote to this effect to the 
 Prime Minister. In reply Sir Wilfrid earnestly 
 begged him to reconsider his decision. 
 
 -(W 
 
 ^K 
 
 From Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 15th March, 1910. 
 I am in receipt of your favour of the 5th instant 
 wherein you express the desire to be relieved as High 
 Commissioner for Canada, on the 1st of July next. I 
 keep this letter to myself and will not communicate it 
 to anybody until I hear again from you that it is your 
 absolute and settled determination. 
 4*5 
 
ii!^ 
 
 I hi 
 
 Si I in 
 
 r* 
 
 i( 
 
 'Mir 
 
 
 
 I'l .% 
 
 r' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 In the mean time let me express the hope that you 
 will reconsider the question. I make due allowance 
 for the fact that you may desire at your time of life to 
 be disconnected with the duties of the office. Permit 
 me to observe, however, that your resignation will be 
 the cause in Canada of universal regret, and I still hope 
 that you may defer this determination. 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 London, 8th .\pril, 1910. 
 For your most kind letter of the 1 5th, in acknowledg- 
 ment of mine of the 5th March last, I thank you very 
 much, and very cordially do I appreciate the terms in 
 which you refer to my desire to be relieved as High 
 Commissioner for Canada, on the 1st of July next. 
 
 I have felt it the more desirable that the date of 
 demitting my present charge should not be left alto- 
 gether indefinite, as I am still inconvenienced and 
 suffering somewhat from the 1 ts of the accident 
 to my right arm at Vernon, in aeptcmber last, and 
 of a subsequent slighter injury to the other arm from 
 a motor collision here. 
 
 It is, however, needless for mi to say that I am 
 truly grateful for your consideration and kindness to 
 me n .,• as on all occasions, and in deference to your 
 wish that I will reconsider the question, I would sug- 
 gest that instead of the 1st of July, my resignation 
 should take cffec;t at the end of l.ie fiscal year, 31st 
 March, 191 1, or with the close of the present calendar 
 yi;ar 31st December, as may be most ccn\enient for 
 you in appointing my successor. 
 
 A few weeks later King Edward died. "The 
 loss," he wrote on the day of the King's dcatli, 
 426 
 
 i"i 
 
«' Dear Old Uncle Donald " 
 
 "sustained by the Empire by the death of His 
 Majesty would have been heavy in any circum- 
 stances, but, coming as it does at this juncture of 
 affairs, it is indeed a great calamity." 
 
 For Edward VII Lord Strathcona had always 
 a great personal regard, and this was reciprocated 
 by the Sovereign, who had long been deeply inter- 
 ested in the career of "dear old Uncle Donald," as 
 he affectionately spoke of him. " Here comes Uncle 
 Donald," His Majesty once exclaimed, seeing the 
 High Commissioner approach at a garden party, 
 but without his wife, "but where is 'Our Lady of 
 the Snows'.'" 
 
 Between Queen Alexandra and Lord Strathcona 
 the bond of personal affection and of veneration, on 
 ihe one hand, and of a chivalrous loyalty, on the 
 other, was very noticeable. 
 
 For some years, owing to the " tariff war," fol- 
 lowing on the denunciation in 1897, at Canada's 
 instance, of the existing commercial treaty, rela- 
 tions between Germany and Canada had not been 
 friendly. This era seemed now over, and in Octo- 
 ber, 1910, Lord Stratlicona again visited Germany 
 to take part in the Berlin celebrations which marked 
 the centenary of the leading university of Germany. 
 E\cry university of mark throughout the world 
 sent its representative; to few, if any, was more 
 honour paid than to the nonagenarian who com- 
 bined the Chancellorships of McGill and Aberdeen 
 with th^ High Commissioncrship for Canada in 
 Eurojw. Lord Strathcona was the bearer of cordial 
 greetings from the Canadian university to the seat 
 427 
 
m 
 
 M 
 
 4 i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 of learning which began its career when the Prus- 
 sian capital was in the occupation of French troops. 
 As the Chancellor of Aberdeen University, Lord 
 Strathcona had also had the pleasing task of laying 
 a memorial wreath sent by that university upon 
 the statue in the Wilhelmsplatz of Field Marshal 
 James Keith, one of FVederick the Great's officers, 
 a Scotsman, who, from 1711 to 1715, was a college 
 student at Aberdeen. 
 
 Being, moreover, the senior representative pres- 
 ent, he was selected as the spokesman for the uni- 
 versities of the United Kingdom and the Empire 
 as a whole, and on their behalf conveyed to the 
 Berlin authorities a message of cordial greetings 
 and congratulations. 
 
 He could not but be aware, while in Berlin, of the 
 striking prepossession of the governing classes for 
 war, even in the midst of profound European 
 peace; but expressed the hope, in one of his letters, 
 that the military skill and resources of the German 
 people would never be put to the test. While he 
 had confidence in the power and wish of the 
 Emperor for peace, he thought that after him any 
 danger there was lay with the Junker party, led by 
 the Crown Prince. But these hot-headed younp 
 men would grow mature, and after all it was " so 
 obvious that Germany's best interests now would 
 be served by peace and industrial activity'." 
 
 On a wintry day at the beginning of Januar>-, 
 
 191 1, he jourm'yefi down to Westerham, in Kent, 
 
 in defiance of i,— doctor's ord<r~, u< participate in 
 
 the ceremony of the unveiling, by Lord Roberts, oi 
 
 428 
 
 r ■ , !' 
 
 k^',"^--^^ 
 
KJSL. 
 
 The Taft-Fielding Agreement 
 
 the statue to General Wolfe.' For an hour he stood 
 bareheaded in the open air on a platform, occa- 
 sionally swept by slcct, and afterwards six)ke at a 
 public luncheon, proposing Lord Roberts's health. 
 To-day we have Canada before us all in this memo- 
 rial of the services rendered by Wolfe one hundred and 
 fifty years ago. It is, perhaps, somewhat humiliating 
 to us that those ser\ices have not been so recognized 
 earlier, as they ought to have been, for did not Wolfe's 
 victory give to Great Britain the Dominion of Canada 
 as the first nation witliin the Empire? Lord Roberts 
 [he added] was himself one of those great captains who 
 have given us an Empire within an Empire in India — 
 and the name of Lord Roberts will ever continue to be 
 with us a household word. 
 
 Deeply did he regret the fatal step taken by the 
 Laurier Ministry, early in 1911, in connection with 
 commercial reciprocity with America. He saw in- 
 stantly that, regarded as Canada's national policy, 
 the step was a backward one. Yet he strove loyally 
 to put the best face on the matter of which it was 
 capalle. 
 
 Canada is free [he pointed out] to do anything she 
 may desire, by legislation, in respect of British pref- 
 erence. The agreement does not prevent her in any 
 way from doing that. It is not in the form of a treaty : 
 but assurances of concurrent legislation are mutually 
 Riven, and while the reductions made by Canada are 
 comparatively small, those made by the I 'nited States, 
 owing to their high tariff, are very considerable. 
 
 ' He had early joined a cnmmittee of which I was secretary, 
 and loRcther with Lord Roberts had personally assisleil in drafting 
 an appeal to the nation on behalf of a memorial to Wulfu. 
 429 
 
' n 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 I repeat that the agreement does not, and will not, 
 prevent Canada from making any preferential ar- 
 rangements with the Mother Country or with any of 
 the overseas dominions which she may consider de- 
 sirable. 
 
 In no sense will the ultimate effect of the agreement 
 \ie to weaken the bonds which unite Canada to the 
 Empire. The arrangements on the Canadian side apply 
 to articles which are obtained mainly from the United 
 States, and only in one or two classes from England. 
 
 Nevertheless, as the Liberal plan of campaign 
 developed, an opposition arose throughout the 
 length and breadth of Canada to the Taft-Fiekling 
 proposals, amongst which nearly all Lord Strath- 
 cona's former commercial associates in the Domin- 
 ion were numbered. Yet even then he permitted no 
 expression of opinion of his to appear. He indig- 
 nantly cabled to Sir Wilfrid Laurier in March; — 
 
 To Sir Wilfrid Laurier 
 
 nth March, 1911. 
 The statement attributed to me by Mr. Goodcvc in 
 the House of Commons, Ottawa, on the gth instant, 
 as reported in io-day's London Times by their Ottawa 
 correspondent, that I had said "that the Canadian 
 Ministers had been hypnotized by the brilliance of the 
 American offer and had fallen into a trap," is entirely 
 baseless and without foundation in fact. It is un- 
 warranted by anything I have e\cr sai<l in connec- 
 tion with the Reciprocity Agreement, whicli I have 
 refrained from discussing. Will you kindly make this 
 known in the House? 
 
 430 
 
 .i r! 
 
Laurier Ministry falls 
 Reluctantly, at last, at the Dominion Day 
 Banquet in that year, at which H.R.H. the Duke of 
 Connaui;ht made I.ia appearance as Governor- 
 General, designated to succeed Earl Grey, did 
 Lord Sirathcona allow Sir Wilfrid to announce his 
 resignation of the post of High Commissioner which 
 he had held for fifteen years: — 
 
 I shall never forget the general blank looks of con- 
 cern and dismay which greeted that announcement 
 [recalls Majur-General Hughes]. I went to him after- 
 wartls and told him in the strongest terms, he should 
 not — must not, resign. "But," he said, dcprccat- 
 ingly, "they want my resignation, do they not? I am 
 now nearly ninety-one. It is fitting that 1 should make 
 way for a younger man." I told his lordship that no 
 one in Canada wanted him to resign — that his 
 resignation would be a national calamity, and that in 
 any case he must await the issue of the impending 
 elections. 
 
 The Canadian elections duly took place in 
 September. Lord Strathcona took the liveliest in- 
 terest in the progress of the campaipn, es[)ecially 
 the apix'arance of his friend. Sir William Van Home, 
 in the role of political orator, for the ex-President 
 of the Canadian Pacific Railway-, in compani' with 
 many other eminent men of affairs, exerted all 
 their powers of persuasion to pre\ent the conclusion 
 of a pact which seemed to them inimical to the 
 present and future welfare of Canada. 
 
 On the 2lst, the issue was decided against the 
 Launer Government, which had been in power since 
 1896. A few days later and the Ministers tendered 
 431 
 
m 
 
 l-lk 
 
 m 
 
 \j 
 
 1 1 
 
 I 
 
 i;-' 
 
 i! ' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 their portfolios to the Governor-General, Earl Grey, 
 who called upon Mr. Robert Laird Borden to form 
 
 a Ministry. , u- u 
 
 Scarcely was the result known than the High 
 Commissioner undertook a trip to Canada to salute 
 the new Prime Minister and to place his office at 
 his disposal. Concerning his official relations with 
 Lord Stratncona, Sir Robert Borden writes me: — 
 
 When I visited London, while leader of the Oppo- 
 sition in 1909, he was most kind and attentive in every 
 way I was struck at that time with an almost pathetic 
 earnestness in the discharge of even the minor duties 
 of his office. To this I alluded in speaking in the 
 House of Commons upon the occasion of his death. 
 
 Returning to London after a garden party and 
 dinner at some distance in the country, 1 found that 
 Lord Strathcona had called on me in Rrown's Hotel 
 and was then engaged with the Honourable Frank 
 Oliver Having sent word to him that I had returned, 
 I was shortly afterwards informed that he would like 
 to see me; and going downstairs at midnight I had a 
 lon^- conversation «-ith him, in the course of which 1 
 learned that he was engaged in a somewhat acrimoni- 
 ous correspon.lence with the Lord Chamberlain re- 
 specting an invitation for myself and my wife for the 
 approaching State Bali. As you are aware, no person 
 is entitled to be invited to such a ball unless he or she 
 had first been presented; and my wife and I ha<l not 
 enjoyed that honour. But Lord Strathcona had taken 
 the ground that, in view of my position as leader of a 
 political party in Canada, this prerequisite shnul.l not 
 be insisted upon. It was with the greatest dilhcultv 
 that 1 induced him to forego any further effort or corrc- 
 432 
 
 !< ' 
 
Mr. Robert Borden 
 
 spondcnce; and he acceded to my wish only after he 
 had become convinced that my wife and I earnestly 
 desired to go for a proposed holiday in the country 
 
 Dunng my visit as Prime Minister in 1912 lie was 
 m evidence on every occasion. He met us at the 
 station upon our arrival in London; he regularly 
 called upon us at our hotel; when I left London to visit 
 Pans, I found him (to my great astonishment) waiting 
 for me at the hotel door early in the morning in order 
 to accompany me to the train. On that occasion he re- 
 proached me for not having given him formal notice of 
 my departure; and he seemed to feel that his failure to 
 attend would have been almost a disgrace. He was so 
 earnest on the subject that when I returned from Paris, 
 I gave him by telegraph the formal notice which he 
 desired, and of course I found him again at the station 
 to meet us. 
 
 During the autumn before his death he visited 
 Canada and I discussed with him then, as well as in the 
 summer of 1912, his continuance as High fommis- 
 sioner. On both occasions I strongly urgxl him to con- 
 tinue the discharge of his duties, and I offered him an 
 additional secretary or secretaries to be selected by 
 himself, and otherwise I assured him that anv arrange- 
 ments to lighten his labours would be williuKlv made 
 by the Government. At my most earnest retjuest he 
 continued to discharge the duties of his high office. 
 
 To Honourable Robert L. Borden 
 
 I.O.NDON, iqth OctoljCr, I0I2. 
 
 We all felt sure that your welcome back to Canada 
 would be of the wannest character throughout, seeing 
 how worthily the Dominion was represented during 
 sour stay here. 
 
 433 
 
frn 
 
 i:.H I 
 
 I! 
 
 i i 
 
 •*', 
 
 V ' 
 
 ' I 
 
 1 -I • i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 I can quite understand that the large accumulation 
 of public business during your absence will occupy you 
 very closely for some weeks, and I cannot think of 
 troubling you with more than a few words at the 
 present moment. 
 
 To my wife and myself it was a great disappoint- 
 ment that we had not the pleasure of welcoming you 
 in our Scottish home of Glencoe, but we knew how 
 impob ■■ it was for you to put aside even for a day 
 or tv ..' che exacting work winch occupied you during 
 you- wnole stay in England; and we can only hope 
 that AC may be more fortunate when next you cross 
 the Atlantic, and that Mrs. Borden and you may then 
 be able to stay with us for a few days. 
 
 In the following month he writes with reference 
 to the commemoration, in St. Paul's Cathedral, of 
 the one-hundredth anniversary of the death of Sir 
 Isaac Brock, the hero of Queenstown Heights: — 
 
 The presence of so many distinguished men on the 
 occasion shows that Canada is now much more in the 
 minds of the people of the United Kingdom than it 
 ever was V)efore, and that, as you so well observe, the 
 great event commemorati-d is regarded as ha\i.ur a 
 profound influence on the destiny of the Dominw,' as 
 an integral part of the Empire. 
 
 At the Royal Society of Arts, Adelphi, London, 
 on November 15. 1912, Lord Sanderson, on behalf 
 of the Dukeof Connaught, president of the soeielv, 
 presented the society's Albert Medal to Lord Strath- 
 cona, " for his services in improving the railway com- 
 munications, developing the resources, and pro- 
 434 
 
Imperial Naval Assistance 
 moting the commerce and industry of Canada and 
 other parts of the British Empire." 
 
 Lord Sanderson read a message from tlie Duke of 
 Connaught in which His Royal Highness said:- 
 
 In my present office of Governor-Gcncral of Canada 
 1 have had special opportunities of fully realizinkr the 
 great services Lord Strathcona has rendered to the 
 Dominion, an<l to the industrial and commerdal prog- 
 ress of the British Empire. As an old friend of many 
 years standing I rejoice<l that, as president of the 
 Society of.. .,s, I had been able to add another mark 
 of appreciation of his long and valuable career of use- 
 fulness. 
 
 No one was more rejoiced than Lord Strathcona 
 at the announcement by the new Prime Minister of 
 a measure of assistance to the Imperial navy 
 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 7th December, 1912. 
 Your announcement of Canada's Naval ICmergtncy 
 Policy has naturally been of profound interest Mr 
 Bonar Law, M.P., has given notice that in the Rous- 
 of Commons on Monday, the 9th instant, he will ask 
 when the Government will afford the Hou.se a suit- 
 able opportunity of expressing its deep appreciation 
 "I the public spirit and patriotism displayed by His 
 Majesty's Dominions overseas in contributing toward 
 tiK- efficiency of Imperial defence." 
 
 No doubt a sympathetic answer will be ghvn and 
 an opportunity afforded for the House of Commons to 
 express its appreciation of Canada's splendid gift. 
 «5 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 4th February, I9i3- 
 As you are aware, the attention of the pubhc during 
 recent months has been called rather persistently, by 
 the press and by the speeches of prominent men, to the 
 extent to which Canada has been drawing money from 
 this country. Lord Faber complains of the negl.ct of 
 gilt-edged securities at home. During last montn over 
 forty millions sterling had been found for new com- 
 panies, against twenty-two millions in January last 
 year, and twenty millions in January, 191 L and only 
 five millions had b( n placed in this country. Twenty- 
 nine millions had gone to the Colonies and ten millions 
 to foreigners. Nearly the whole of the twenty-nme 
 millions had gone to Canada. He did not want to 
 be an alarmist, because he had a great opmion of 
 Canada, but there should be a moderation in all thmgs. 
 As an illustration of the position he mentioned, a cer- 
 tain bank had to collect a bill of about five hundred 
 pounds from a Canadian corporation, and the bill 
 came back unpaid, with a request that it should be 
 presented again when the corporation had obtained the 
 proceeds of a loan from England. It was a very serious 
 matter. Certain financial papers have suggested that 
 it was good for trade to have money invested abroad, 
 but we ought first to see that we had sufficient money 
 for the home trade without a high bank rate. No 
 doubt now taxes and the fear of war, which he hoped 
 wouk". never take place, had driven capital away from 
 this country. 
 
 The position of Canada here at present is rather 
 susceptible to adverse rumours and requires careful 
 attention. 
 
 436 
 
 
 -■■111 
 1 ■ ^1 
 
 Hf 'f^ 
 
 j-'iv ! ''- ■ 
 
 11 
 
 II 
 
 H 
 
 
 ".J^S^S, " 
 
New Critical Attitude 
 In truth, proof was almost daily forthcoming 
 that the old days of unquestioned acceptance, when 
 the great Dominion ("the Mayfair of the Colo- 
 nies") bounded fresh and blcximing into the hearts 
 and stock-markets of Britain, were now over. Yet 
 his sanguine faith continued as ever. 
 
 The Honourable W. T. White to the Honourable 
 R. L. Borden 
 
 Ottawa, Februar>- is, tqi.v 
 I return herewith Lord Strathcona's let tor of the 
 4th instant, which 1 have read with much interest. I 
 still hold the viov , notwithstanding Lord Kabcr's 
 opinion, that the money stringency will gradually 
 abate, and, while there may be a wholesome check 
 for some months, that in due course British capital 
 will be attracted here in as large or larger volume than 
 in the past. 
 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 2Ist Februao". "JI.^- 
 An anonymous letter has appeared in the Economist 
 dealing unfairly with the question of Canadian crops 
 and wheat pro<luction. It puts for^vard official figures 
 showing decreased acreage under field crops and wheat 
 — asserts land is going out of cultivation. The answer 
 to this could be that over a million and a quarter acres 
 of fall wheat and hay and clover meadows were winter- 
 killed and that considerable areas hitherto de\oted 
 to wheat were diverted last year to oats, bark y, and 
 flax. 
 
 To disclose these facts in an official communica- 
 tion controverting the Economist and disclosing the 
 437 
 
MKKXorr nsowTKm mi cma«i 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. :»| 
 
 x^PPLIED IIVMGE Inc 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 extent of the area of winter-killed wheat might be 
 even more prejudicial to Canada than the statement of 
 the Economist, which, although an important paper, 
 has only limited circulation. The position here is del- 
 icate—quantities of undigested municipal and other 
 securities not alone Canadian are causing embarrass- 
 ment to underwriters; and in my view there is danger 
 that an official communication might precipitate an 
 unfortunate controversy. Canadian interests gener- 
 ally are in satisfactory position — the prospects of 
 British emigration indicate that the available trans- 
 portation f aciUties will be taxed to the utmost during 
 the coming season. Therefore, while recognizmg the 
 seriousness of the attack in the Economist, after careful 
 consideration I am inclined to the opinion that we had 
 better refrain from officially controverting it; but I 
 would greatly appreciate an expression of your view. 
 
 Mr. Borden wrote: — 
 
 My colleagues, and I, entirely concur in your view 
 respecting the anonymous letter in the Economist. Any 
 official answer or explanation is quite inadvisable. 
 
 Lord Strathcona wrote later: — 
 
 It seemed fairiy clear that the author of the letter 
 had written with animus, and as the Economist is one 
 of the leading financial journals here, it was not a 
 matter which could be passed over unconsidered. 1 
 came to the conclusion, however, that the explanation, 
 owing to its nature and the fact that it would be given 
 in an official communication, would be more harmful 
 than the anonymous letter, as it might not only pro- 
 voke a controversy, but would probably be widely 
 quoted by other journals and newspapers, and thus 
 438 
 
Defends Canada's Credit 
 
 give great prominence to an abnormal condition the 
 knowledge of which would otherwise be confined to a 
 very limited number. I am glad to learn that you and 
 your colleagues agree in thinking it best to allow the 
 attack to pass unanswered. 
 
 He was equally concerned when a statement 
 appeared in a London daily paper to the effect 
 that the Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada 
 had come to an understanding with the leaders of 
 the Unionist Party in the United Kingdom in regard 
 to the fiscal policy of the latter country. 
 
 This statement [he wrote] was so foreign to what I 
 believed to be the truth that an early opportunity was 
 taken of placing the matter before Mr. Borden, and I 
 send you a copy of a letter I have received from him 
 on the question. In the political development of the 
 Empire in recent years no principle has become more 
 firmly established than that each Dominion should 
 be entirely untrammelled in the management of its 
 affairs. 
 
 From the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 Ottawa, January 20, 1913. 
 I beg to acknowledge your letter of January 3, 
 respecting the controversy which has arisen in the 
 United Kingdom respecting the policy of food taxes, 
 in the course of which assertion has been made that 
 I had entered into some understanding, arrangement, 
 or agreement with the leaders of the Unionist Party 
 in respect to that question. I hardly need to assure 
 you that any such assertion is most absolutely and 
 unqualifiedly untrue. Inasmuch as the fiscal policy 
 439 
 
 sit 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 of the United Kingdom is a question of domestic con- 
 cern, we most carefully refrained from discussing the 
 subject in public and from any arrangement, under- 
 standing, or agreement with either party thereon. 
 
 The extraordinary vigour and industry of Lord 
 Strathcona's old age had become proverbial. He 
 was accustomed to attend at his office in Victoria 
 Street, for many hours daily, whenever in or near 
 London. "I have breakfast at 9 a.m. and dm- 
 ner at 9 P.M.," he would say, "and that gives me 
 eleven hours daily for work." He was a constant 
 diner-out, both publicly and privately, but ate and 
 drank always very sparingly. His watchword was 
 "duty" and he systematically did it as quietly as 
 possible, never losing his temper or "fussing." 
 
 He never ceased work, and one of the many 
 stories told of him related to an occasion in 1906 
 when he had been advised to give himself a rest 
 from his labours. 
 
 "You will be gratified to learn," Sir Thomas 
 Shaughnessy told an Anglo-Canadian gathering in 
 London, "that, yielding to the earnest entreaties 
 of Sir Thomas Bariow, Lord Strathcona has 
 decided to r«lax his energies. He has succumbed 
 to the united pressure of his medical man, his 
 family, and his friends, and has been inducer", to 
 promise to leave his office at 7-30 each evemng 
 instead of 7.45-" 
 
 His habit of long hours became so well known, 
 
 that amongst the other Colonial Government 
 
 offices in Victoria Street that of Canada was called 
 
 "The Lighthouse," because a light was to be seen 
 
 440 
 
Work and Duty 
 
 burning in his room long after other premises were 
 shrouded in darkness. 
 
 Work and duty might be considered the two 
 -predominating keynotes of his life. He himself 
 said, indeed, that hard work was the best tonic a 
 man could have. "When he has his duty to do he 
 has n't time to think of himself, nor to allow him- 
 self any indulgences which will make him slack and 
 spoil him for good work." And so Lord Strathcona 
 kept the Spartan tenor of his way. 
 
 Repeatedly had he offered his resignation to the 
 Government : his family and friends ardently wished 
 him to retire. To their solicitation was added that 
 of his physician. His life-work was over. "It is 
 good," says the Dutch proverb, "for a man to end 
 his life ere he die." 
 
 w\ 
 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 London, 8th February, 1913. 
 
 Deeply sensible am I of the very kind and far too 
 indulgent terras in which, in your confide 1 letter of 
 the 19th December, you refer to my services as High 
 Commissioner, and ask me to dismiss from my mind 
 the idea of retiring which I submitted to you when you 
 were last in London. You with much generosity offer 
 to give me any additional clerical or other assistance 
 I might desire which would make my duties less exact- 
 ing and less onerous. 
 
 But the fact really is that, since I entered the High 
 
 Commissioner's Office in 1896, the course of events 
 
 have been such that Canada has become far better 
 
 known and is now so thoroughly in the minds of the 
 
 441 
 
 If 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 people that, although the volume of work has largely 
 increased, the duties are really much less exacting 
 than they then were, and the staff, which has been 
 considerably increased, is, as it at present exists, quite 
 capable of coping with the requirements. Let me say 
 that, in deference to the earnest insistence of my 
 medical adviser. Sir Thomas Barlow, I tendered my 
 resignation on two occasions to Sir Wilfrid Launer 
 when he was Premier, and at my request Sir Wilfrid 
 announced this at the Dominion Day Dinner in 
 London on the 30th June. 1911. The resignation then 
 tendered has never been withdrawn, but when I met 
 you in Ottawa on the 2d October, 1911, yo". as 
 Premier, in the most kind words did me the honour of 
 asking me to retain office, and I glad'y consented to 
 discharge the duties until it might be convenient for 
 you to appoint my su; :essor, and so it has stood ever 
 since. Almost a year ago, I was very seriously ill, and 
 as Sir Thomas Barlow has been even more insistent 
 than before that I should give up much of the work 
 that I now have in hand, I 'eel that I ought to act on 
 his advice. I shall therefore be greatly indebted to 
 you if you will kindly relieve me from the duties ot 
 the office in May next, when 1 shal' have served seven- 
 teen years. Permit me at the same time to give ex- 
 pression to my deep sense of gratitude to yourself and 
 to the members of your Cabinet, as well as to bir 
 Wilfrid Laurier and his coUe^ues, for the unvarying 
 kindness and consideration and ever ready advice and 
 support you and they have extended to me throughout 
 my long term of service, a service in the interests of 
 Canada which has been to me one of love. 
 
 44« 
 
Proposed Canadian Building 
 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 London, March 32d, 1913. 
 Am indeed deeply moved by your most kind and 
 far too indulg it message of the 3d instant in reply to 
 my telegram of 3d February. Looking to your great 
 kindness and consideration, I feel that instead of 
 retiring in May next, I should meet your wish that I 
 defer relinquishing the duties of High Commissioner 
 until an opportunity offers of a personal interview with 
 you, and to this I very gladly accede. Let me assure 
 you how sincerely I appreciate your own and your 
 colleagues' kind remembrances and warm wishes for 
 my health and strength, and that these are most 
 earnestly reciprocated on my part. 
 
 Amongst the last — indeed, as it chanced to be, 
 the very last — of the many projects he had in 
 hand when he came to be stricken down, was the 
 acquisition of a suitable site for the erection of a 
 building to house the High Commissioner's Office 
 and all the Dominion's interests in London under 
 one roof. For upwards of a year the matter had 
 betn in agitation. Personally, he desired no change. 
 The offices in Victoria Street, sombre and in- 
 adequate and wholly unsuggestive of Canada as 
 they were, had become endeared to him by years 
 of association. Yet if a change were deemed neces- 
 sary, he wished the new offices to be close to the 
 Parliament buildings, and in dignified keeping with 
 the position Canada had attained in the Empire. 
 In June, 1912, two emissaries of the Canadian 
 Government arrived in London, the Honourable 
 443 
 
I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 George Foster, M.P., and Sir Edmund Osier, M.P. 
 They found him still in bed, but ready to propose 
 that his first outing, after several months' seclusion, 
 should be devoted, with them, to the search of a 
 site. 
 
 To the Honourable Robert L. Borden 
 
 15th June, 19U. 
 My recovery from the serious illness which took 
 hold of me in the middle of February last, alihough 
 what the doctor, Sir Thomas Barlow, considers satis- 
 factory, is very slow, and it is only during the last 
 week or so that I have been able to move about ; but 
 within the last day or two I am feeling stronger and 
 better. I may not, however, be quite well enough to 
 meet you at the steamer on your arrival, but shall 
 arrange that Mr. Griffith will be there with all the 
 letters for you, of which there will doubtless be a good 
 many; and when you get here I shall be most happy 
 to be of use to you in any and every way I can. 
 
 Let me now thank you and yrur colleagues for your 
 kind and thoughtful good wishes at a time when I 
 was, owing to the severity of my illness, incapable of 
 giving attention to correspondence myself, but pray 
 believe that I am grateful for your and their kind 
 consideration. 
 He continued in a further letter: — 
 To-day we drove to view such sites as, after con- 
 sideration, were deemed to be eligible. The ones wMrh 
 I think were viewed with most favour were the West- 
 minster Hospital site, and Morley's Hotel, facing 
 Trafalgar Square. As to the latter, we have yet to get 
 full particulars, and the vendors of the hospital site 
 
Earl Grey's Scheme 
 
 are holding out for what appears to be a rather high 
 price. 
 
 I arranged with Mr. Foster that he should cable you, 
 with a view to ascertaining whether the Provinces 
 would join in a general scheme, in the same way that 
 the Australian States are doing, and if this could be 
 arranged, it would, no doubt, simplify matters. 
 
 But the matter dragged along, and in Decem- 
 ber nothing- had been decided. He wrote in that 
 month: — 
 
 A personal interview has been arranged for at an 
 early date between the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 and myself, to discuss the matter of the Westminster 
 Hospital site, which I hear, informally, the British 
 Government may have some idea of acquiring — at 
 least in part, and I will take this opportunity of 
 bringing up the matter that you mention. 
 
 I had hoped to have seen Mr. Lloyd George before 
 the Christmas holidays, but it is now scarcely likely 
 that I shfll be able to do so before next week, when 
 I will immediately communicate with you. 
 
 Meanwhile Earl Grey had launched his pre- 
 tentious scheme for a Dominions House in the 
 Strand, in which all the representatives of the 
 nations of the Empire should be gathered together. 
 Nothing attracted Lord Strathcona less. His own 
 views on the matter he took no pains to conceal, 
 and was accordingly much relieved when Mr. 
 Borden wrote him in December, 1913, that the 
 Ministry "did not consider the time opportune for 
 expending a very large sum of money." To this 
 letter he replied at some length only three days 
 445 
 
 I 1 
 
i 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 before he died. He composed and signed the letter 
 on his death-bed. 't was the last he wrote, and 
 there is pathos in this evidence of his devotion to 
 Canada's interests when it is remembered that till 
 then he had done little or nothing in the hna! 
 arrangements uf his own. 
 
 To the Honourable R. L. Borden 
 
 17th January, 1914. 
 
 Dear Mr. Borden,— 
 
 In view of the circumstances mentioned in your 
 letter I am by no means ourprised that you and your 
 colleagues do not consider the time opportune for 
 expending a very large sum of money in connect-'on 
 with the site and buildings for a business home in 
 London for the Dominion of Canada. While less than 
 twenty years ago there was little belief in the future 
 of Canada by men of affairs in the United Kingdom 
 or by the peoples of the world generally, the position 
 is now entirely changed. To-day the Dominion oc- 
 cupies a foremost place in the thoughts of all people, 
 and requires no adventitious advertising of a spectacu- 
 lar character to draw attention to her merits and to 
 the opportunities offered to those from other countries 
 who are capable and determined to make a place in 
 the world in which they tan settle down and become 
 prosperous. 
 
 An enormously expensive edifice near the Strand, 
 on the plan put before me by Xjsrd Grey, with an ele- 
 vation o'-ertopping not c-'ly the Commonwealth and 
 other buildings in the immedu.te vicinity, but the dome 
 of the great Cathedral, 3t. Paul's, I could not pos- 
 sibly regard as other than an unpardonable expendi- 
 446 
 
His Ninety-third Birthday 
 
 tnre, and in my mind such a vast building, with a 
 dominating pinnacle erected as a striking advertise- 
 ment, would provoke ridicule rather than bring ad- 
 vantage to our great country and its people. I am 
 more con\ i d every day that it is not in the grand 
 architectural effect of the off cs of the Dominion in 
 London that the requirements of the situation are to 
 be found, but in the work that is actually done within 
 them in the interests of the Canadian people. 
 
 At the same time a syndicate or company rcgi itered 
 as the Exchange of International and Colonial Com- 
 merce, Limitc 1, has formally asked mc to place before 
 you certain statements in connection with the Aldwych 
 site and thcii negotiations with Lord Grey, which 
 they consider should be brought to your knowledge, 
 and I enclose the statutory declaration they have 
 forwarded for this purpose. 
 
 Believe me to be, dear Mr. Borden, 
 With kindest regards. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Strathcona 
 
 For the greater part of his ninety-third birthcjay 
 Lord Strathcona had sat at his desk in London 
 working as usual, seeming rather surprised that 
 the numerous journalists, who crowded his office, 
 should take any notice of the fact that he was 
 within seven years of attaining his century of life. 
 "I have no golden rule of my own making," he 
 said; "no secret to practise in living my life. But I 
 might say ihat I have taken no pccuunt oi ilie pass- 
 ing years. I have not counted them as they came 
 and went; I have not cor 'dered them as some men 
 do." His last visit to Glencoe was in September, 
 447 
 
 "r't 
 
 J. if* 
 
Hi 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 when he made a prolonged »tay. He left GlencoJ 
 on the 4th of October accompanied by Lady Strath- 
 cona, and few then thought that neither of them 
 would again see their Highland estate with it» 
 romantic surroundings, which they cherished so 
 
 warmly. . , , . „ . 
 
 But the year was not to pass without his suffer- 
 ing the blow from which he was not destined to 
 recover. The whole Empire, which regarded him 
 with affection and veneration as a type of what was 
 worthiest within it, learnt with regret of the break- 
 ing of the tender tie which bound him to his be- 
 loved wife. . . ^ 
 
 Lady Strathcona had of late been frail, subject 
 to colds, and much confined to the house. On sunny 
 days she would take short walks in Grosvenor 
 Square, opposite her London home, accompanied 
 by a companion, and her faithful little Yorkshire 
 terrier. On Friday. November 7, she suffered from 
 what at first seemed a usual cold, but it rapidly 
 developed into influenza and pneumonia, and she 
 died on the evening of the 12th in her eighty-ninth 
 year. Thus terminated a union lasting through 
 six decades. 
 
 A friend wrote at her death: — 
 
 When her ladyship was away from London, Lord 
 Strathcona would allow nothing to stand in the way 
 of his daily message to her. During her last v.sit to 
 Glencoe, Lord Strathcona was seen, in seeming peril, 
 dodging in and out of the crowded traffic of Victona 
 Street, opposite the High Commissioner s Office. A 
 Canadian friend, with the kindliest intentions, offered 
 448 
 
Lady Strathcona's Death 
 to escort his lordship to his destination. Hi, help was 
 unneces«,ry^ liostening into the High Commission- 
 ers Office, th>» Canadian begged that some one might 
 be sent to do the High Commi«iioner's message for 
 h.m. He did not know that the nonagenarian High 
 Commissioner went out every night at that hour to 
 the telegraph office across the way. He ould entrust 
 a thousand messages to messengers, „ut this one 
 message no one was allowed to handle but himself It 
 went to Lady Strathcona at Glencoc 
 
 She knew what work wa ,nd loved to In; busy. 
 When you called, you might .xpect to find her knitting 
 some httle woollen presents for her grandchildren or 
 for near friends. Even her husband and daughter 
 knew nothing of many gifts of money and sclf-knitted 
 goods with which she relieved poverty and listress. 
 
 Her last notable exertion was her hurried visit 
 to Canada in the previous August. When, in 1912 
 Lord Strathcona .nade his penultimate trip to 
 New York and Montreal, she declared that he 
 should never go again without her. She was, she 
 said quite as well able to go as he, and nothing 
 could prevent her keeping her word, certainly not 
 the reminder that she had always been a bad 
 sailor, sometimes withdrawing into her cabin on 
 the first day of the voyage, only to leave it when 
 tlie steamer touched American soil. A visitor re- 
 ared to this trip when calling upon her shortly 
 before her death, and her remark was, "Yes I am 
 very glad I went. I long desired to see Canada again. 
 How wonderful it is ! " 
 The memory of Lady Strathcona, which many 
 449 
 
 Mr 
 
7 1 ' 
 
 ' 
 
 ■ 'i 
 
 
 ■V 
 
 ( 
 
 '■■P 
 
 
 '■ ■, 
 
 -1 
 
 H '-^ 
 
 
 'l^f • ■ 
 
 ■ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 Canadians cherish, is of a sunny summer garden 
 party on Dominion Day, in the beautiful expanse 
 of Knebworth Park, where she made welcome 
 her friends and showed her unfeigned delight in the 
 shrill music of tlie Scottish pipers. 
 
 Although a woman of retiring and altogether un- 
 ostentatious nature. Lady Strathcona throughout 
 her life splendidly seconded her husband m his in- 
 numerable acts and schemes for the benefit of the 
 people of Canada and of mankind at large. With 
 her daughter, the Honourable Mrs. Howard. Lady 
 Strathcona gave one hundred thousand dollars to 
 McGiU University for the erection of a new wing 
 to the Medical Building. To Queen Alexandras 
 fund for the relief of the unemployed of Great 
 Britain, she gave liberally, and from time to time 
 her helpfulness was shown in many directions. 1 hat 
 in him her death produced a poignant anguish the 
 following affecting letter shows:— 
 
 To Sir Charles Tupper, Bart} 
 
 28 Grosvenor Square, \V.. 
 17th November, 1913- 
 
 My dear Sir Charles Tupper: — 
 
 From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your 
 most kind letter of sympathy in the greatest «.rrow 
 I have ever experienced. She was my stay and com- 
 
 • Sir Charles had written :" No poor words that I can command 
 ™1 «Dre»"h?s^w" feel at lea^g that the beloved partner of 
 Xy^urTy h^SLn called away. From the first hour of our a. 
 qSnce my lamented wife and I were indebted to her tor unre- 
 mitting kindnesses and attention. 
 450 
 
His Final Illness 
 
 forter throughout a long life, and I can hardly yet 
 realize that she has passed away from me. You my 
 dear Sir Charles, have been through the same trial,' and 
 only those who have done so can fully realize what it 
 means, after so many years of dear companionship. I 
 know of the affection which existed between Lady 
 1 upper and my wife, and of her great regard for you 
 aid this makes me the more grateful for your kind 
 thought of me in my sorrow. 
 
 I hope that by this time you are feeling better and 
 more comfortable, and with the kindest regards to 
 you, Mrs. Cameron, and all the family, in which Mr 
 and Mrs. Howard join. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Sir Charles, 
 
 Yours gratefully and sincerely, 
 
 Strathcona. 
 
 After his wife's death the catarrhal malady, 
 which for some time past had troubled him in- 
 creased. He became confined to his room, and on 
 the 17th he was found to be suflFering from great 
 prostration, heart failure threatening. His condi- 
 tion continued very grave, with no signs of im- 
 provement, and it was stated on the evening of 
 Monday (the 19th) that he was sinking. 
 
 Now to the simple piety of his boyhood, in a 
 nortiiern Scottish town long ago, his thoughts on 
 his death-bed returned. 
 
 Never shall those who were around him forget the 
 emotion with which they heard him repeat, not many 
 hours before he died, without error, pause, or con- 
 usion, the whole of the Second Paraphrase, so dear 
 to bcottish hearts: — 
 
 451 
 
 i i(t 
 
 Hi 
 
 J 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 " O God of Bethel, by whose hand 
 Thy people still are fed." 
 
 To-morrow that great hymn, dearest of all hymns 
 to our people throughout Scotland, Canada, and the 
 Empire, will echo down the arches of Westmmster 
 Abbey as we bear him to his rest. And we shall re- 
 member that, halfway up the nave, under the slab 
 over which he will be carried, rests the body of another 
 Scotsman, David Livingstone, the immortal of an- 
 other continent. This paraphrase, we are told, Living- 
 stone, when lost and famishing in the desert, would 
 read aloud to himself under the scorching sun, just as, 
 possibly at the very same time, Donald Smith was 
 reading or repeating it on the waste of snows m 
 Labrador. Thus did these two great solitaries meet — 
 in a Scottish hymn, learned at a mother's knee — 
 before the throne of God.' 
 
 He never rallied, and passed away very peace- 
 fully, at five minutes to two on the morning of the 
 2ist of January, in the presence of the immediate 
 members of his family, including Mrs. Howard, his 
 daughter; Dr. Howard, his son-in-law, and Sir 
 Thomas Barlow, his physician, who had been in the 
 house almost continuously for several days. 
 
 He made a brave fight for life, full of the desire 
 to conquer his illness. Even on the Saturday 
 preceding his death, when suffering great weak- 
 ness, when, indeed, his life was despaired of, he 
 summoned all his lingering strength to request that 
 official letters and documents should be sent to his 
 house in Grosvenor Square from the High Com- 
 ' The Reverend Archibald Fleming. 
 45a 
 
His Death 
 
 nussioner's Office, that they might duly receive his 
 omcial signature. 
 
 The news of the High Commissioner's death was 
 at an early hour communicated to the King- the 
 Duke of Connaught, Governor-General of Canada; 
 and the Canadian Government, from whom mes- 
 sages of sympathy and regret at the loss Canada 
 had sustained were duly received. 
 
 The moment it became known in the City of 
 London, the Lord Mayor, Sir Vansittart Bowater, 
 despatched the following message: — 
 
 The death of Lord Strathcona occasions great grief 
 m the city of London. His devoted services to the 
 Empire entitle him to a lasting grateful appreciation 
 and recognition in the pages of its history, and his 
 long, useful, loyal life affords a grand example to his 
 fellow-countrymen. 
 
 The Duke of Argyll telegraphed from Kensington 
 Palace: — 
 
 "Our greatest, yet with least pretence," as Tenny- 
 son said of Wellington. Argyll. 
 
 In Canada, the grief at his death was widespread 
 and profound. Flags were flown at half-mast on 
 the Bank of Montreal, at the Windsor Station, the 
 offices of the Grand Trunk Railway, Canadian and 
 Dominion Express Companies, and nearly all the 
 principal business houses in this, the commercial 
 capital of the Dominion, of which he was a citizen. 
 
 The Governor-General, H.R.H. the Duke of 
 Connaught, despatched the following message: — 
 453 
 
 V 
 
 ]i 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Please accept expression of very deep sympathy 
 from the Duchess of Connaught and myself. Lord 
 Strathcona's lofty ideals, his splendid patriotism, as 
 well as his distinguished services as High Commissioner 
 have long been a source of pride and stimulus to his 
 country. Among Lord Strathcona's many great 
 qualities, his truly magnificent generosity was prob- 
 ably the most outstanding and his memory will ever 
 be kept green in the Dominion as the generous man 
 of Canada. 
 
 In the Canadian Parliament the Prime Minister 
 moved the adjournment of the House. Said the 
 Right Honourable Mr. Borden: — 
 
 It is fitting, I am sure, and all the members of both 
 sides in this House will agree, that we should pay a 
 tribute to the memory of the great Canadian who 
 passed away yesterday. I speak of Lord Strathcona 
 as a Canadian, because, although bom across the sea, 
 his life-work was almost altogether carried on in this 
 country, to the service of which he consecrated many 
 years of his life. 
 
 He had a notable career, a career marked, especially 
 in the eariier years of his life, by conditions and 
 difficulties more arduous than those which most men 
 are called upon to meet. 
 
 When one looks back upon the great span of years, 
 over which his lifetime stretched, one is tempted to 
 recall all that has transpired in His Majesty's Domin- 
 ion on this side of the Atlantic since Lord Strathcona 
 came to this country at the ^e of eighteen. 
 
 At that time there was much political unrest in 
 Canada, carried in some parts of the country even to 
 454 
 
m 
 
 Prime Minister's Tribute 
 
 the extent of rebellion. At that time we had not 
 achieved the right of self-government or many of those 
 constitutional liberties which have been developed, 
 and have come into force from time to time. Nearly 
 half the period of Lord Strathcona's allotted existence 
 had passed when this Confederation was formed, and 
 from 1838, when he first came to Canada, during the 
 period of his life which succeeded, he saw what one 
 might call a complete transformation of the northern 
 half of this continent. He had been a prominent 
 figure in the public life of this country before he under- 
 took, at the age of seventy-six, to discharge the 
 duties of the high office of High Commissioner of 
 Canada. My right honourable friend knows, perhaps 
 better than I do, the devotion which Lord Strathcona 
 gave to those duties. I have known many men in my 
 own lifetime who have been inspired by a high sense 
 of duty, but I do not kno «■ of any man in my acquaint- 
 ance and knowledge who has been inspired by a higher 
 conception of duty than was Lord Strathcona. As 
 the weight of years pressed upon him, it was almost 
 pathetic to see the devotion with which he insisted 
 upon performing even the minor duties of his posi- 
 tion. 
 
 In all the time I have known him, and that was in 
 the later years of his life, I was struck with the fact 
 that time did not seem to have dimmed ihe freshness 
 of his spirit, the vigour of his will, or his strength of 
 purpose. 
 
 The duties of the office which he discharged were 
 always important and sometimes delicate, and it is 
 satisfactory to us to remember that no man more than 
 he had a higher pride in this country, in all that it has 
 achieved, in all that it might achieve in the future, and 
 
 i n 
 
 f^ 
 
 455 
 
I 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 no man more than he had a deeper interest in all that 
 concerned the honour, dignity, and interests of Can- 
 ada, nor was more concerned to do his duty. 
 
 I think that the example of his life may well be an 
 inspiration to us Canadians. Some one said many 
 years ago that Thomas Carlyle spent his life preaching 
 earnestness to the most earnest people in the world. 
 It is not for me to speak at length of his great public 
 service; in the office which he filled he performed a 
 great and important public service to Canada and to 
 the Empire. 
 
 Besides that, his many benefactions for great chari- 
 table purposes are known to all men, so that I do not 
 need to do more than allude to them to-day. I con- 
 sider that it would be a fitting tribute of respect to his 
 memory that this House should stand adjourned till 
 to-morrow, and I shall move, seconded by Sir Wilfrid 
 Laurier, that the House do stand adjourned. 
 
 In seconding the motion for the adjournment of 
 the House, Sir Wilfrid Laurier joined the Premier 
 in expressing the deep sympathy of the Canadian 
 people in the loss sustained by the death of Lord 
 Strathcona. He said in part: — 
 
 Since Sir John Macdonald, I do not think there has 
 been any Canadian whose loss has occasioned so 
 deep and so universal sorrow. He is mourned by His 
 Majesty, by the authorities of commerce and finance 
 in London whose equal he showed himself to be, by 
 the poor of London for his generosity, by the people 
 of Scotland with whom he remained in close relations 
 to the end, and by Canadians, high and low, rich and 
 poor, of whatever race or creed. 
 456 
 
Canadian Eulogies 
 A former Prime Minister, Sir Mackenzie Bowcll, 
 paid the following tribute to the memory of Lord 
 Strathcona on learning of his death: — 
 
 It is a great loss to the Empire and especially to 
 Canada. He has done so very much for this country, 
 the value of his life and work arc well known to 
 every Canadian. We all had the very highest appre- 
 ciation of Lord Strathcona's ability, and his devotion 
 to this Dominion and to the Empire has been equalled 
 by none. The Government will have difficulty in re- 
 placing him. 
 
 Said Sir George Ross, ex-Premier of Ontario: — 
 
 Canada owes him a great deal for the standing he 
 has given to the High Commissioner's office and for 
 his assistance in directing investments in London and 
 maintaining the honour and credit of the Dominion. 
 It will be no easy matter to replace him with a man of 
 equal generosity and adaptability for the position he 
 has held for so many years. 
 
 In his own Province of Quebec, the Prime Min- 
 ister and the leader of the Opposition both paid 
 tribute in the Assembly to the work of Lord 
 Strathcona. In moving the adjournment of the 
 iiouse. Sir Lomer Gouin said: — 
 
 The death of Lord Strathcona involves a great loss 
 both to Canada and to the Empire. Of him it may be 
 truly said that he was one of the builders of this coun- 
 try, and a national benefactor. He represented us 
 with the utmost dignity in London, and powerfully 
 contnbuted in making Canada better known in 
 Lurope. His splendid works and his many acts of 
 457 
 
 I J 
 
 liM 
 
 !■ i 
 
 ll: 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 munificence will perpetuate his memory and fill one of 
 the brightest pages in our annals. 
 
 Mr J M. Tellier, leader of the Opposition, in 
 seconding the motion, said that the sentiments 
 expressed by the Prime Minister were those of 
 every member of the House. He added: — 
 
 Our loss is a heavy one by the death of one who has 
 represented us so worthily in London. 
 
 Canada [declared Archbishop Bruchfesi] has lost her 
 greatest citizen, the Empire a noble son, and humanity 
 a most generous benefactor. 
 
 I long ago learned to esteem and honour the great 
 man who has just gone out from amongst us, leaving 
 behind an honoured name, a r-^putation for unequal eU 
 patriotism, and as a Canadian that of an unexampled 
 Empire-builder. Although a much younger man and 
 of a different faith and nationality, I am proud to say, 
 now he has departed, that Lord Strathcona was a 
 generous, broad-minded friend, and on more occa- 
 sions than one the venerable High Commissioner gave 
 ample evidence of his love for all the races composing 
 this great Dominion and his deep respect for the ad- 
 herents of the Roman Catholic faith. His donations 
 were especially generous to the poor of this city, and to 
 those he had known in other lands, and although the 
 very large sums were given to other institutions than 
 my own, I hasten to express my gratitude for what he 
 did for our institutions and to myself personally. His 
 lordship gave me ten thousand dollars for the Home for 
 the Incurables, and when Father Quinlan was parish 
 priest of St. Patrick's, Lord Strathcona gave five thou- 
 wnd dollars toward the Catholic High School, to the 
 458 
 
Archbishop Bruche'si 
 
 great satisfaction of the Irisli Catholic faithful of the 
 city. Then, when the noble Canadian peer learned of 
 the Eucharistic Congress, he hastened to place the 
 sum of five thousand dollars to my credit for that 
 splendid marifestation of Catholic faith, and for this 
 alone how could we ever forget Lord Strath.:ona? He 
 also placed his palatial home at my disposition during 
 the same Congress, and Cardinal Bourne was, while 
 occupying the residence in question, treated by his 
 lordship in a princely manner. During one of my 
 recent trips to the other side of the ocean I was hon- 
 oured by an invitation to one of his splendid homes in 
 England, and for three days I not only enjoyed his 
 never-ending kindness and hospitality, but I espe- 
 cially learned to appreciate his qualities as a fati er and 
 as a husband and many other traits which drew him 
 fo closely to those who were near and dear to him. 
 They will all deplore the loss that has just fallen upon 
 them. 
 
 Truly had he been the friend of McGill Uni- 
 versity, whose Board of Governors met and passed 
 the following resolution : — 
 
 The Board of Governors desires to enter on the 
 minutes of this meeting, convened on the very day of 
 the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, a heart- 
 felt expression of their deep regret for ths death of 
 Lord Strathcona, who, in addition to his other im- 
 portant public offices, had held for more than twenty- 
 three years the position of President of the Royal 
 Institution for the Advancement of Learning and 
 Chancellor of McGill University. The members of the 
 Board have felt it an honour to be associated with such 
 a man in the administration of the University, and his 
 459 
 
 :fi. 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 death comes home to each and all of them with a tenie 
 of personal loss. It is a matter of satisfaction that, in 
 spite of distance and advancing age, his lordship had 
 felt able to visit the University as recently as Septem- 
 ber of last year, 'irhen he was one of the central figures 
 of the great and historic gathering convened by the 
 American Bar Association. Passing from life now full 
 of years and honours, dying, as it were, in harness, 
 while still in the active discharge, at the metropolis 
 of the Empire, of his official duties as High Commis- 
 sioner for Canada, he has left behind him memories 
 that will live long in every Canadian heart. 
 
 McGill in particular feels under the greatest obliga- 
 tions to her late Chancellor for services rendered dur- 
 ing the long period in which he watched over her 
 interests; for his wise counsel, his unfailing generosity, 
 and the inspiration of his noble example. 
 
 Said Chief Justice Sir Charles Davidson: — 
 
 Strathcona and Rhodes were two magnificent men 
 {;f our day and generation. We who are still living 
 will not look upon their like again. Thank God that 
 they have been of the brood of the Empire. 
 
 We need not fear exaggeration in speaking of Lord 
 Strathcona. In especial degree has he enriched and 
 uplifted Canadian life. May wc emulate even if we 
 cannot in the mean while at least reach to the lofty 
 standards of his public and private careers. 
 
 He stood supreme in the superbness, constancy, and 
 catholicity of his benefactions. Only when the story 
 of his life is written shall one fully know of how mighty 
 a part he played in his life's ambition, the welding 
 together, with enduring bonds, of all British posses- 
 sions and the Mother Land. 
 460 
 
■I 
 
 Montreal's Loss 
 
 There should be engraven upon his tomb: "Here 
 lies the great and good Lord Strathcona." 
 
 Declared Mr. H. V. Meredith, President of the 
 Bank of Montreal: — 
 
 Lord Strathcona's services to Canada and the 
 Ejnpire and his deeds of charity and princely bene- 
 ficence, will long be remembered and cherished by all 
 Canadian . His connection with the Bank of Montreal 
 as Director, Vice-President, President, and Honorary 
 President, extended over a period of forty-one years, 
 and during all that time his wise counsel and wide 
 experience were of great value to tiie bank, and were 
 freely placed at its disposal. 
 
 The French-Canadian Mayor Lavall^e, of Mon- 
 treal, 'A-ote: — 
 
 The severance of this great man from mortal 
 things is an incalculable lo=s not only to Canada, but 
 to the whole of the British Empire. It is given to few 
 men to be so revered and loved. This universal esteem, 
 however, was the outcome of a life well spent. The 
 worid is a better worid by Lord Strathcona having 
 lived in it. He was not only a brilliant man, but a 
 kindly and charitable one. Great as was his position 
 in the Empire, he never forgot that it was not wealth 
 and position which counted so much as steriing merit, 
 and the forming of a character in which charity and pity 
 for others does so much to ease the pathway of those 
 who have little of this world's wealth and honours. 
 To me, one of the most striking characteristics of Lord 
 Strathcona was his natural goodness of heart — a trait 
 that graciously broadened with the passing years. 
 The life of Lord Strathcona will stand out in 
 461 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 Canadian hUtory as a splendid example of what lelf- 
 denial, right living, and ambition can accomplish. 
 For generations to come the young men of our country 
 will have a glorious pattern to imitate. Canada is 
 especially indebted to th« late High Commissioner 
 for much of the phenomenal progress it has made. 
 
 It was believed <»t first that his mortal remains 
 would find fitting sepulchre in Westminster Abbey, 
 and indeed the Dean and Chapter offered this, the 
 greatest honour that can be given to Britain's 
 noblest dead. But he had expressed on his death- 
 bed a wish to sleep his eternal sleep beside his wife 
 in the cemetery at Highgate, and this wish was 
 respected by his family. It was, however, at the 
 Abbey that the funeral service was performed. 
 
 Before the arrival of the body at the Abbey, Sir 
 Frederick Bridge, who was at tliC organ, played an 
 ancient and a modern lament for the dead. The 
 first was the sonorous music composed by Purcell 
 for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1694, and the 
 other was Chopin's well-known "Funeral March. 
 The great bell of the Abbey was tolling as the 
 funeral procession drove into Dean's Yard. At the 
 door of the West Cloisters the body was received 
 by the Dean of Westminster, the clergy and 
 choristers, and the pallbearers. The coffin was 
 borne into the church hidden from view beneath 
 the heavy folds of the Abbey pall, of deep purple 
 velvet with an edging of silver and gold lace, and 
 thickly strewn with lilies-c.f-the-valley and fern. 
 The ten pallbearers, selected on account of their 
 special connection with Cai.ada or personal rela- 
 463 
 
^'^ 
 
 Westminster Abbey 
 
 tionship with Lord Strathcona, were ai follow*: 
 Lord Aberdeen, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Lichfield, 
 the Very Reverend George Adam Smith (Irincipal 
 of Aberdeen University), Mr. W. L. Griffith (Sccre- 
 Ury of the Canadian High Commissioner's Office), 
 the Duke of Argyll, the Lord Mayor, Mr. Harcourt 
 (Colonial Secretary), Sir William Osier (Regius 
 Professor of Medicine, Oxford), Sir Thomas Skinner 
 (Deputy-Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company). 
 
 The chief mourners included the Honourable 
 Mrs. Jared L.iss Howard (the present Baroness 
 Strathcona), Mr. Howard, and their sons and 
 daughters, Miss Smith (niece), Mrs. Grant (niece), 
 and the Misses Grant, Lieutenant Kjtson, R.N., 
 Mr. A. May, private secretary, and Mr. James 
 Garson, W.S., the family solicitor. 
 
 One wreath was carried behind the coffin. Com- 
 posed of lilies of various kinds and heliotrope or- 
 chids, it was sent by Queen Alexandra, and attached 
 to it was a card bearing the words, in Her Majesty's 
 handwriting: — 
 
 In sorrowful memory of one of the Empire's kindest 
 of men and the greatest of benefactors, from 
 
 Alexandra. 
 
 After the opening sentences of the Burial Serv- 
 ice had been read, the procession passed up the 
 nave to the singing of "O God of Bethel," his 
 favourite hymn, recited by him with his dying 
 breath. The coffin was then placed on a bier be- 
 neath the Lantern, and around it sue candles 
 dimly burned. 
 
 463 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 The Dean of Westminster (Bishop Ryle) and the 
 Precentor of the Abbey (the Reverend L. H. 
 Nixon) officiated. Always beautiful and impres- 
 sive, the Burial Service is especially solemn and 
 uplifting in this ancient fane, with its historical 
 associations and monuments which proclaim how 
 great, if fleeting, is the gift of life, and how noble 
 and enduring are the things of which mortal man is 
 capable. The choir led the singing of the Ninetieth 
 Psalm, after which the Dean read the lesson from 
 I Cor. XV. The anthems were Blair's paraphrase, 
 " How still and peaceful is the grave," to music by 
 Tye, and Goss's " I heard a voice," followed by the 
 burial prayers which were read by the Precentor. 
 Very touching was the singing of the calming and 
 consoling hymn, "Now the labourer's task is o'er." 
 Finally, after the Benediction, when the funeral 
 procession, with the coffin, left the Abbey, the 
 "Dead March" in "Saul" was played, conveying 
 its high, impassioned sense of the dignity of death. 
 The coffin, covered with beautiful wreaths, was 
 placed in a glass-framed motor-hearse, which was 
 followed by about a dozen motor-cars with the 
 relatives and other chief mourners. No horses, 
 either ridden or driven, were to be seen in the pro- 
 cession. It went by Upper Grosvenor Street, Park 
 Lane, Grosvenor Gardens, and Victoria Street. 
 The blinds of many of the houses along the route 
 were drawn. In Victoria Street the offices of the 
 High Commissioner of Canada, the scene of so many 
 activities of Lord Strathcona, were closed, and over 
 the door hung the Union Jack at half-mast. 
 464 
 
^1 
 
 Highgate Cemetery 
 TTie funeral proceeded to Highgate Cemetery by 
 Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road 
 Tottenham Court Road, and Hampstead Road 
 The vault m which Lady Strathcona was buried lies 
 at the northern end of the burial-ground, a pleas- 
 antly situated corner almost within the shadow of 
 the trees of Waterlow Park. Here a large number 
 of people gathered behind the barrier of ropes which 
 marked off the space roundabout the graveside. 
 Before the arrival of the hearse and procession of 
 motor-cars,^ which reached the cemetery shortly 
 after one o'clock, carriages were continually driv- 
 ing up laden with wreaths which had been brought 
 direct from Grosvenor Square. These were so dis- 
 posed as to form a beautiful floral hedge enclosing 
 the boarded and carpeted space where the Burial 
 Service was read. Those who sent wreaths, in 
 addition to Queen Alexandra, were Princess Louise 
 and the Duke of Argyll, the Duchess of Albany, 
 Prince and Princess Alexander of Teck, the Land- 
 graf of Hesse, the Prime Minister of Canada and 
 Mrs. Borden, and the Dominion Government. 
 The white enamelled walls of the vault had been 
 hung by the cemetery authorities with festoons of 
 laurel and wreaths of lilies. 
 
 The service at the graveside was marked by the 
 same simplicity as the proceedings in the Abbey. 
 The chief mourners stood around the vault, wliiie 
 those who had driven from the Abbey, including 
 the Duke of Argyll and Lord Aberdeen, were 
 grouped behind them. The committal portion of 
 the Church of England service was read by the 
 465 
 
 I t 
 
 w 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 Reverend Archibald Fleming, of St. Columba's 
 (Church of Scotiand). Pont Street, with the addi- 
 tion of special prayers taken f^om the Church d 
 Scotland Order. The coffin was finalW lowered 
 into the grave and placed beside the body of Udy 
 Strathcona, with the two wreaths sent by mem- 
 bers of the family reposing upon it. 
 
 It was not a state, nor yet a public, funeral. With 
 all the greatness he had attained. Donald Alexander 
 Smith was a simple and homely man; and it w^ 
 the desire of his family that his bunal should be 
 in keeping with his character, as private and devoid 
 of show as possible. Accordingly U)rd Strathcona 
 had been borne to his tomb without pomp, but 
 otherwise with many marks of honour, national and 
 Imperial, befitting the obsequies of one who had 
 given his long life to the enrichment of the Empire 
 and the knitting-together of its strength. 
 
 Nor were manifestations of mourning on the part 
 of the general community lacking. The public — 
 to whom Lord Strathcona appealed as a wonder- 
 ful veteran of ninety-four serving his country 
 almost to the last hour of his long life — paid 
 such tributes of respect to his memory as were in 
 their power. They crowded the unreserved spaces 
 of the Abbey, filling the great nave. They as- 
 sembled at various points of the way from the 
 Abbey to Highgate, and reverently uncovered and 
 in silence saluted the coffin as it passed them by. 
 
 hi! 
 III! 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 
 
 It is perhaps unexampled in history for the life 
 of a single individual to coincide at so many points 
 with the life of a nation as does Lord Strathcona's 
 with that of Canada. The date of his birth is so re- 
 mote as Jmost to take us back to the reign of that 
 monarch to whom New France surrendered and for 
 whose sake the United Empire Loyalists made their 
 unmortal sacrifice. He came to Canada in the very 
 first year of Queen Victoria's accession and at a cru- 
 cial moment in our history. Lord Durham's mission 
 marks a new constitutional epoch; the subject of 
 these pages was himself an eye-witness of the events 
 which the famous pro-consul reported. His activi- 
 ties were intimately connected first with the Far 
 Eastand then with the Far West. He began his 
 political career soon after the Dominion of Canada 
 was bom. He saw the genesis of Manitoba and was 
 her first representative. He w t:oncerned in the 
 creation or the supreme control ot some of Canada's 
 greatest institutions, — the fur-trade, the bank 
 system, and the railways. He was largely instru- 
 mental in peopling the West and in educating the 
 tast. He saw the growth of Canada's first period 
 of great prosperity, to which his own efforts had in 
 lull measure contributed, and he died on the eve of 
 a new era when our people, stimulated by his teach- 
 467 
 
Lord Strath cona 
 ing and his example, sanctified forever by thou- 
 sands of lives and millions of money the bond 
 which binds them to the British Empire. 
 
 At the public meeting of the citizens of Montreal 
 in 1900, which resulted in the erection of the 
 Strathcona Monument in Dominion Square, he 
 told his hearers that he could then look back on 
 more than sixty years or work in Canada. Yet, as 
 Sir William Peterson reminds us: — 
 
 Already for some time past, he had held his high 
 office as the nation's representative in London — an 
 office which would have sufficed in itself, even apart 
 from his great personality, to mark him out as one of 
 the most distinguished citizens of the Empire. But it 
 was easy to see that at the root and foundation of the 
 high position he had won lay the long years of prepara- 
 tion for it. From his native Scotland he had taken to 
 Labrador all the best results of a careful home traming, 
 which revealed itself in the remarkable rapidity with 
 which he rose to the very top in the service of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. When the call to acUon came 
 to him in connection with the trouble m the North- 
 West it found him a resolute and experienced man of 
 affair^, who knew the hearts of others as they knew 
 his. Then came the period of service at Ottawa and 
 Montreal, which completed his preparation, and gave 
 him such a place in the esteem aiid affection of his 
 fellow-countrymen that none but he could be looked 
 to when there was a need for some one to take up the 
 r61e of Canadian representative in London. 
 To quote Mr. Austen Chsmberlain: — 
 He was a splendid illustration of the opportunities 
 
 which the Britis;i Empire affords to its sons and of tlie 
 .38 
 
A Conspicuous Figure 
 
 use the best of them can make of those opportunities. 
 With no advantages of birth or fortune, he made him- 
 self one of the great outstanding figures of the Empire. 
 He made a great fortune, but what was more, he used 
 It nobly, not for himself, but for his country and his 
 Empire. He did more than make a fortune. He helped 
 to make a great nation, the greatest of our sister 
 nations over the seas, and to encourage in that nation 
 a larger patriotism which, abating not one jot of its 
 own local spirit, can yet impress the Empire as a whole, 
 can think Imperially and place Imperial interests before 
 any local interests, however important at the moment 
 they may seem. Such a life is an example to us all; 
 we must resolve that the great lesson which Lord 
 Strathcona's life taught shall be learned by us all, 
 and that each, according to his means and in his own 
 capacity, will be a true and faithful servant, as Lord 
 Strathcona was, of the country which bred him and 
 the Empire of which he was a citizen. 
 
 In the years immediately preceding his death, 
 his great age, his venerable aspect, his high Im- 
 perial reputation, his personal rank and vast 
 wealth,^ combined with his official status as 
 Canada's representative to make of him a central 
 and commanding figure at Imperial gatherings. 
 Never did he shirk the least duty when his presence 
 or his counsel seemed needed in Canada's interests. 
 Commenting on his maxim that patience and work 
 were the best prescription for health, one of his 
 friends writes: — 
 
 To patience and work there was added this: that he 
 was serving others, not striving, working, planning 
 for himself, but bearing a responsibility of office, of 
 469 
 
 i I 
 
 !i' 
 
 f ■ 
 
Lord r -athcona 
 
 authority, and as so often happens, finding stability 
 under that burden. 
 
 Vast as his wealth was, his sense of responsibility 
 kept him a constant servant to the public interest 
 as it also kept him from devising fantastic and 
 pretentious systems of expenditure whose final 
 utility, even as means of commemoration, is ques- 
 tionable. ,,,/-..•! IT • 
 
 To quote again the Principal of McGiU Um- 
 versity: — 
 
 He carved out his career in the heroic days of 
 Canadian history, — when individual pioneers were 
 privileged to write their names in large characters 
 across the whole breadth of a continent. And after all 
 he was no mere sordid seeker after gain, nor did his 
 material prosperity ever blunt the edge of his mora 
 a.id social ideas and aspirations. In a word, his soul 
 was not submerged, as is sometimes unfortunately the 
 case, by the gathering tide of worldly success. Duty 
 was his guiding star — duty and consaence. We 
 ought to be glad, too, -ought we not? — in our day 
 and generation, that Canada can boast of him as a 
 man of unspotted integrity. His word was as good as 
 his bond. But he carefully weighed nearly every word 
 he uttered, and most certainly every word he ever 
 wrote, vone could apply the pruning-knife more 
 remorselessly than he to the language of any docu- 
 meiit for which he was expected to make hraiself in 
 any way responsible. He was above everything 
 accurate even in the use of words. 1 fancy he had 
 done most of his reading in eariy life when m the long 
 silence of Ubrador he acquired that stock of ideas, 
 and that power of expression, which stood him in such 
 470 
 
 ill 
 
Agmina Ducens 
 
 good stead when he had to address himself, compara- 
 tively late in life, to the difficult art of public speaking.' 
 And he could appreciate a telling phrase, or the 
 pointed turn of a sentence. I remember when he 
 asked me to supply him with a Latin motto for his new 
 coat of arms, which had hitherto contained the one 
 English word "Perseverance." When I enquired what 
 idea he would like to have expressed, he half-whispered, 
 " In the van." I gave him "Agmina ducens," and there 
 It stands to-day. And yet, for all his eagerness to be 
 "in the van," one can never think of him as anything 
 but essentially modest and unassertive. You all know 
 what his bearing was on the various occasions on 
 which he was seen in our midst, — inwardly glad, no 
 doubt, to receive the homage of our love and praise, 
 but genuinely anxious at the same time that no one 
 should be put to any inconvenience because of him. 
 And all the qualities of which he gave evidence in 
 public were familiar to those who knew him in his 
 home. The death of his wife, but ten short weeks 
 before his own, was naturally the greatest sorrow of 
 his whole life. One who saw much of him at the time 
 has told me how it seemed to shake his soul to its 
 depths, and thereafter he was as a stricken man. The 
 friends who met the aged pair on the occasion of their 
 last visit to Montreal will recall some of the instances 
 of the kindly humour that always characterized their 
 intercourse with each other; and it is a satisfaction 
 ' "I have heard him," writes the Reverend Dr. Robert Campbell, 
 of Montreal, "on several occasions speak of the manner in which 
 he spent the long winter nights in Labrador, when he had books 
 only for his companions. He used to laugh when he mcnticned the 
 variety of reading matter found in the Post's library, and of the 
 necessity he was under to wade through some not very attractive 
 books, for lack of anything more interesting to occupy his mind 
 with." 
 
 471 
 
 
 n\ 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 to remember, now that they are both gone, that 
 through their loving and devoted daughter their hne- 
 age is continued in the third generation. 
 
 Lord Strathcona lived a strenuous and a useful life, 
 characterised by courage and high resolve in critical 
 and anxious times. He always showed that he could 
 "rise to the height of great occasions. Alongside of 
 that should be placed the continuous response of 
 constant applications for public and private chanty, 
 to which his resources were fortunately adequate, — 
 a charity that was never exercised, be it remembered, 
 in mechanical fashion, but always with some personal 
 touch of kindly courtesy and consideration. Even in 
 his latest days he was thinking of what he could do for 
 others: and it ought to be mentioned here that, evi- 
 dently remembering of his own accord a certain pay- 
 ment which he was in the habit of makmg to the Royal 
 Victoria College about the time of the New Year, he 
 cabled me the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, 
 on the very day before he died. He was given to 
 hospitality; and his Montreal home was long a recog- 
 nized place of meeting for many who, under the 
 divided conditions of our civil life, seldom met any- 
 where else. He was full of the conviction that in our 
 province French and English must perforce agree to 
 live together, for the very good reason that here 
 neither of the two races can live without the other. 
 
 While thus his personal motto was "in the 
 van," he never failed to give full credit to others 
 in the Canadian Pacific Railway and other great 
 enterprises in which he was identified. Albeit non- 
 partisan, he "heartily sympathized with Mr. Cham- 
 beriain's idea that our Empire should become more 
 47a 
 
11 
 
 Aristotle's Definition 
 conscious of itself. The late Chancellor's contribu- 
 tion to education constituted no mere stereotyped 
 or conventional form of benevolence. I n scientific, 
 medical, and higher education for women he was a 
 pioneer with a marked power of initiative which 
 had been felt all over Canada. He was no sordid 
 seeker after gain, nor did material prosperity ever 
 blunt the edge of his moral and social ideals and 
 aspirations. In a word, his soul was not submerged 
 by the gathering tide of worldly success. A man of 
 unspotted integrity throughout his long career, he 
 measured up to Aristotle's definition of 'high- 
 mindedness.' " 
 
 And truly no reader of the Ethics, bearing Lord 
 Strathcona in mind, but must be struck by the 
 remarkable appositeness of many passages in which 
 the Greek philosopher dwells upon the virtues 
 of "high-mindedness" (juyaXo^xCaS and "munifi- 
 cence" {iiiya\<mpinaa). So apposite are they that 
 I offer no apology for recalling them here. 
 
 Munificence [he says] differs from Liberality in the 
 largeness of the sums with which it deals. Its general 
 characteristic is magnitude; but this must be in rela- 
 tion to three things: — the person who gives, the cir- 
 cumstances of the gift, and its object. Hence every 
 munificent man is liberal, but not every liberal man is 
 munificent. The vice or defect is Meanness. The vice 
 of Excess, which we describe as Bad Taste and Vul- 
 garity, errs not in the greatness of the amount spent, 
 but in the inappropriateness in different ways of the 
 expenditure. There is a sort of scientific skill implied 
 m Munificence. This is needed to decide under what 
 473 
 
 M 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 various circumstances, as they actually occur (for 
 action is i-e only real test of disposition in this as in 
 otuer Virtu.;s), great expenditure is befitting and 
 appropriate. The occasion must be worthy of the 
 expenditure, and the expenditure of the occasion. 
 There must also be the same motive as in all the other 
 virtues, viz., the desire for what is noble. Again, the 
 munificent act must be done cheerfully and un- 
 grudgingly: there must be no close calculations- no 
 Lnsiderations of "How much, or how little will it 
 cost?" but rather, "What will be the grandest and 
 most appropriate way of doing it?" And hence the 
 munificent man will necessarily be liberal also but 
 besides the mere grandeur of the amount spent, there 
 is a grandeur of manner which imparts a special lustre 
 to the acts of a munificent man beyond what would be 
 achieved by mere liberality even with the same expen- 
 diture For aworkanda possession are not tobeestt- 
 mated in the same way. In the latter case there is only 
 a question of intrinsic value; in the former, we mus 
 take into consideration the grandeur and the moral 
 effect produced on the beholders. , .. ,. 
 
 As to the occasions which are fitting for the dis- 
 olav of Munificence (Aristotle notices] first, the 
 Krvice of religion, and next, great public or patriot^ 
 services. In all these cases, however, regard must be 
 had to the social position, and to the means of the doer, 
 as well as the work done. It would be out of place 
 for a man of small or moderate means to aspire to 
 be munificent. It is a virtue reserved for those of 
 great wealth, inherited or acquired, good birth, high 
 station, and so forth. 
 
 Without merit they cannot form the ground of that 
 self-esteem which constitutes High-mindedness, nor 
 
 474 
 
Miss Hurlbatt's Recollections 
 again can they juitify the luperdliousncss in which 
 their posaesaors ape the high-minded. Unlike him they 
 have no superior merit to warrant that feeling, nor 
 discnmmation in its exercise. The High-minded man 
 will not court danger, but if it be great and worthy of 
 him, he will face it without regard to his life, which he 
 does not think worth preserving at the cost of honour. 
 He loves to confer and is ashamed to receive benefits, 
 and he hastens to requite them with increase. He is 
 reluctant to ask a favour, though ready to confer one 
 With great men he carries his head high, while with 
 ordinary men he is unaffected. He is no gossip: lie is 
 a man of few words, sparing alike in his praise and in 
 his reproaches. His gait, his voice and his manner of 
 speech will be grave, dignified, and deliberate. Such is 
 the High-minded man.' 
 
 To the judgment of many of his contemporaries 
 already given it is fitting that some recollections of 
 his traits and habits of daily life, by those closely in 
 touch with him, should be added. 
 
 Miss Hurlbatt, Warden of Victoria College 
 writes: — 
 
 I knew him only as a very old man, always with a 
 certain detachment of manner, as if he had already 
 passed some boundaries of time and space beyond his 
 fellows, and while occupied and keenly interested and 
 ceaselessly concerned with work and duty and service 
 really alone with himself. Perhaps he was always like 
 this — utteriy master of himself and of his fate. The 
 eariy years of discipline and loneliness may have 
 worked this in him. Certain it is that whatever he had 
 suffered of "fret and dark and thorn and chill" had 
 ' Aristotie, Elhia, translated by the Reverend E. Moore. 
 475 
 
 m! 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 with him "banlced in the current of the will" to umi, 
 arts, and charities. 
 
 Vividly doe» Mim Hurlbatt recall her first inter- 
 view with him: — 
 
 I found him in his office in Victoria Street, as he 
 has been seen by so many who came to him from far 
 and near, seated by his desk in a very bare and un- 
 pretentious room, in an attitude with which I was to 
 become familiar, and which has been characteristi- 
 cally recorded for us by Mr. Robert Harris in the pot- 
 trait that hangs in our Hall, one hand holding his 
 chair, the other resting on his knee, an attitude that 
 with many people would suggest relaxation and would 
 be an attitude of repose — with him, as you will have 
 noticed, it was compatible with alertness and a keen 
 concentration upon any affair at the moment in hand. 
 This attitude, apart from his white hairs and vener- 
 able expression, was the only thing which suggested 
 age — it was as if he gave his body rest that his mind 
 should be more free and have the use of all hi. i Tce. . . . 
 I think that then, and whenever I have since met 
 him, I was conscious that his voice was a revelation of 
 his personality; in an almost startling way it betrayed 
 in an instant the man. It was resonant, far-reaching, 
 almost hard in the way every word and every inflection 
 was sent out to reach its purpose, every word convey- 
 ing a sense of power behind it. His voice was even and 
 exact — and it was so when it was kindest and most 
 gentle, and even when other signs betrayed that he 
 spoke with a sense of amusement. 
 
 I cannot do better than describe a certain char- 
 acteristic incident in Miss Huribatt's own words. 
 476 
 
Dr. Grenfell's Testimony 
 
 It reveals the tender relationship existing between 
 Lord Strathcona and his wife. 
 
 On a winter's mominB at Euston Stotion, London, as 
 our train was leaving for Liverpool, I caught sight of 
 a rather alarming scene that had a touching sequel. 
 The train was due to start, the guard's whistle had 
 been blown, but there was a moment's pause and Lord 
 Strathcona was seen hurrying up the platform and 
 mounting the train as it lx>gan to move, and there 
 behind on the platform was the figure of Lady Strath- 
 cona supported by four strong arms, lifting her from 
 her feet, so that she could see into the window of the 
 carriage and wave her farewell. The pathos of that 
 figure I shall not sc nn forget. I had many opportunities 
 on the voyage of hearing from Mr. Garson, Lord 
 Strathcona's Scottish agent, and who counted Lady 
 Strathcona as his dear friend, of the anxiety and 
 loneliness that these great undertakings and sudden 
 partings and absences caused her, how Lord Strath- 
 cona wished always to have her with him, but how she 
 shrank from the journeys. It was said that when 
 Lord Strathcona decided upon his last viiit to Canada 
 in September, 1913, she again wished to remain behind, 
 until he gently suggested that perhaps there might be 
 for him no returning. That was enough, and we know 
 how she came on that last lightning visit, an almost 
 miraculous effort at their age. 
 
 All those who were brought into close touch with 
 him in his later years bear witness to the same 
 traits of character which his old fur-trading asso- 
 ciates had long since noted. 
 
 His insistence [writes Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, the 
 famous Labrador missionary] on the greatness of 
 477 
 
 1: 
 
V' w 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 little things never failed to impress those who came in 
 contact with him, and this was combined with his 
 distrust of conventions, and emphasis on the reliability 
 of plain common sense. I long ago realized how he 
 came to be possessed of that secret of greatness, and 
 faculty of arriving quickly at correct conclusions, 
 unsurpassed even by a Sherlock Holmes. 
 
 As a tiny illustration of this, once at breakfast the 
 lamp under the hot-water kettle had gone out. The 
 butler, apologizing, said he had forgotten to put any 
 spirits into it. Without the slightest display of anger, 
 but like a man insisting on some great universal 
 principle, our host said quietly, "Remember, James, 
 you have only certain duties to perform. This is one. 
 Never, under any circumstances, let such an omission 
 occur again." Whatever that dignified official got out 
 of it, I learned a truth of no small value. In my own 
 craft of surgery, the omission of some apparently 
 trifling detail — and it is equally true of ordinary 
 business — might at any time cause irreparable dis- 
 aster. One of the chief reasons why the Turks, though 
 a virile race of physical fighters, are unable to hold 
 their own, is because they make " Fate" or " Kismet" 
 responsible for their failures and neglect. 
 
 About twenty years ago Dr. Grenfell arrived in 
 Montreal just before Christmas Day, anxious to 
 get an early appointment with Lord Strathcona. 
 
 He himself was overwhelmed with engagements and 
 it seemed impossible for him to give the time we 
 sought, and it looked as if we would have to go a.way 
 without seeing him. It was entirely characteristic of 
 his courtesy, however, that he should have replied to 
 our request, that if we would come on Christmas Day, 
 478 
 
A Christmas Day Appointment 
 
 he would be able to give us the time we desired; but 
 when we noticed that he had appointed Hudson's Bay 
 House for the rendezvous o i that day, we were a little 
 surprised. When we f< jad ii, it wd? away downtown, 
 and a purely business place, and v v knew that, of 
 course, all the employ, "s would be iway keeping the 
 holiday. I still remember .;-:diy t'le deserted streets, 
 so impressive in the big busy centre: the silence and 
 the entire absence, even on the streets, of any living 
 thing, and at last the great, towering portals of the 
 world-famous Company's offices. I climbed the steps 
 with no little trepidation, and the bell startled me, 
 when its echoes rang out, as if in some long-deserted 
 haunt of men. Finally, the great door swung open, and 
 there stood, quite alone, the smiling old gentleman, 
 already white-haired, positively apologizing for keep- 
 ing me waiting. "There's no one in the house," he 
 began, "so I have to answer the door myself." Our 
 amazement at seeing him there at all on that day was 
 so badly disguised that he went on to explain that the 
 famous physician. Sir Andrew Clark, had more than 
 once warned him that to stop work would be fatal to 
 him, and that he realized it was true. 
 
 When we went in, he was opening letters from an 
 almost endless pile. "These are all requests for help," 
 he went on. "I like to deal with them personally when 
 I can get time, but I have calculated that if I granted 
 them all, I should n't have a single cent left." 
 
 On one occasion he was asking me about old 
 Labrador acquaintances, and as it was then fifty years 
 since he had left the coast, it might have been expected 
 that, with all his multiplicity of interests, he would 
 long before have forgotten the individuals. He hap- 
 pened to ask after a certain woman who had been his 
 
 479 
 
'^ !:| 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 servant so many years before. I told him that she 
 had long ago passed away, but that her daughter, who 
 was married and had a very large family, had often 
 spoken of her mother's connection with him. He asked 
 how she was faring with so many children, but 
 appeared to take very little notice when I told him 
 that the family were having hard times. However, 
 the next time I visited that part of Labrador, I heard 
 that he had sent a special Labrador order of pork, 
 flour, molasses, butter, and many outfits of clothing 
 for herself and the children. The method of accom- 
 plishing this was to us just another demonstration of 
 his greatness. To this day the woman is wondering 
 "where on earth that winter's diet, and all that cloth- 
 ing could have come from." 
 
 My last interview with him was just before his 
 death. He had come to the office of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company for the discussion of a new policy. While 
 we lunched, he sat and talked. There was hardly a 
 line on his face, and every faculty was on the alert. 
 He had come down, in spite of the doctor's orders not 
 to leave the house, to hear what I had to say about 
 Labrador. One of his first enquiries was after the 
 little hospital steamer, which for so many years had 
 borne his name on the coast. He was concerned to 
 hear that her boilers had blown out, and that she was 
 laid up owing to the lack of the necessary funds to 
 replace them. It seems almost superfluous to say that 
 he at once ordered them to be replaced at his expense, 
 so as to make the ship as efficient as possible, and the 
 day after I received a letter to confirm his wishes. 
 
 A gop of two years had elapsed since I had last seen 
 Lord Strathcona, and even then he was ninety years 
 of age, and one might have supposed that, so long after 
 
 480 
 
T^ 
 
 A Solitary Landmark 
 
 the allotted span of threescore years and ten, a man 
 whose life had been spent under such strenuous cir- 
 cumstances must be verifying the words of the psalmist, 
 and finding his days "but labour and sorrow." Not so, 
 however, with this man. So far as his keen interest in 
 life was concerned, his natural force seemed in no way 
 abated. He still found his greatest pleasure in a full 
 day's work, and when the day itself had gone, the 
 same sufficient satisfaction in the company of the long- 
 time partner of his life — and of their family. 
 
 This time, however, a blind man could realize a vast 
 difference in his attitude toward the world. The same 
 interest, the same courage, but no longer the same man. 
 He seemed to me like one of the great solitary rocks 
 of our barren coast, which, from time immemorial, far 
 out in the wide ocean, during the season of open water, 
 has raised its head above the gigantic rollers of the 
 Atlantic, and in winter, towered over the resistless 
 grinding of the Atlantic field ice. 
 
 Alone left of his generation. Lord Strathcona seemed 
 now to me to loom up as just such another wonder. 
 The discussion on the business which had brought us 
 together had come to an end. We were thinking of 
 saying good-bye, when suddenly he leaned over 
 toward me and said, "You will let me know about the 
 boilers for the hospital ship? See that they are done 
 as well as they can be and come and see me before you 
 go back to Labrador." The word seemed involun- 
 tarily to have carried his thought back to the long- 
 ago scenes of that country where first he had met the 
 wife whom he had loved so truly. It seemed to me 
 that his white head bent a little lower, as he added, 
 "Doctor, a terrible blow has come to me since you 
 were here last, — terrible! terrible! " he repeated. 
 
 481 
 
 1 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 The next reference which we saw to our old friend 
 was the public despatch in the newspaper telling of his 
 death, and that he was to find a last resting-place in 
 the Abbey, the Valhalla of the nation's mighty dead. 
 But later came the news that his wishes were to be 
 respected, and that the personal honour, so much 
 coveted by many, found no echo in this great man s 
 life. He had chosen to sleep his last long sleep by the 
 side of her he loved so well. So even in death he has 
 left the nation a better legacy than silver and gold, m 
 reminding us again of the greatest of all secrets of the 
 greatest of all lives — the possession, not of money, 
 but of the spirit of simple love. 
 
 In religious matters he was truly catholic: and in 
 his religious benef£x;tions favoured in turn Roman, 
 Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian.' 
 
 Dr. Archibald Fleming, of the London Presby- 
 terian Church of St. Columba's, with which church 
 Lord Strathcona and his family were long con- 
 nected, thus pays his tribute to one who was "a 
 great benefactor of our church in London": 
 
 I wish to speak of him as I knew him — a humble 
 Christian and a deeply religious man. Lord Strath- 
 cona was a loyal and generous son of the Church of 
 Scotland; and almost with his last breath he told me 
 — as he had often done before — how deep was his 
 
 ■ Once in giving a donation of one thousand pounds to a Roman 
 CathoUc institution he wrote: "Whilst I z.m personally more con- 
 nected with the Protestant Church and institutions of the countr>. 
 not the less have I a warm feeling for the fenow-citizens of other 
 denominanons, including the Catholics, both English- and French- 
 speaking, and I would gladly, as far as possible, aid them m their 
 efforts for higher education." 
 
 48a 
 
'm 
 
 His Religious Toleration 
 
 affection for her simple worship, and how he valued 
 her ordinances most of all. 
 
 But in saying this he added - and, spealclng as one 
 who was dehvering a testimony, he bade me repeat 
 It to otliers-that in his long life he had learned a 
 great toleration, and had come to realize that God 
 reveals Himself to his faithful people by the lips of all 
 the churches; for it had been his experience that he 
 could receive benefit from them all; so that to him 
 denominational distinctions, and even the distinction 
 between Protestant and Roman, almost ceased to 
 exist in view of the great elemental truths which all, 
 according to their ability, strove to represent; the 
 Oood and Great Creator" could and would reveal 
 Himself somehow to us through them all. Such was 
 the wide sweep of this great man's spiritual vision, and 
 such the large charity of his great heart. 
 
 _ In other words. Lord Strathcona's religion was 
 vital rather than technical. 
 
 "To be religious in the technical sense of the 
 word," Mr. A. C. Benson remarks somewhere, "to 
 care for religious services and solemnities, for 
 pnestly influence, for intricate doctrinal emotions, 
 implies a strong artistic sense and is often far re- 
 moved from any simplicity of conduct. But the 
 simple man will have a strong sense of responsi- 
 bility—a deep confidence in the will of God and 
 his high purpose." 
 
 In private life he was a most engaging host. 
 
 He does not [testified a visitor fifteen years ago] 
 greatly care for personal talk. He is too self-contained 
 and too watchful to be drawn out. Control and a sort 
 483 
 
 f I; 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 
 of lofty prudence are expressed by his bearing and by 
 the intrepid look in his eyes. He carries with him the 
 atmosphere that surrounds all men who have dwelt 
 long in solitude. His favourite attitude when con- 
 versing is a strong folding of the arms and a down- 
 ward, pondering look. His hair is now snow-white; 
 his skin is fresh, and about him there is a pleasant 
 vigour that is wonderful for his eighty years. His talk 
 is bright, and he is equally at home in American, 
 Canadian, or English politics. There is not a financial 
 movement of importance anywhere in the worid that 
 he is uninformed upon, and his gallery of acquaintances 
 and friends is of amazing extent and variety, from the 
 clerk at some outlandish post of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company to the King of England. 
 
 He was [relates Sir Thomas Shaughnessy] the soul 
 of hospitality, loved to have people about him as his 
 guests, spared no effort or expense to contribute to 
 their comfort and pleasure, and in his dealings with his 
 fellow-men he was a model of courteous consideration. 
 He never forgot his old friends. 
 
 "A model of courteous consideration" expresses 
 but the exact truth. 
 
 The one thing that lives in my memory of one night 
 is not the singing of the great diva, Patti, but the 
 courtesy of Lord Strathcona, as long after midnight, 
 hatless and coatless, his white hair resplendent in the 
 bright electric light, he insisted on standing out in the 
 cold night wind, seeing his guests personally into their 
 carriages, and finally sending us, stranf pre from a far- 
 away country, back to the hotel in a carriage.' 
 » Dr. Wilfred Grentell, C.M.G. 
 484 
 
 m 
 
His Later Reading 
 
 The last forty years of his life were so entirely 
 given up to affairs that he had little or no time for 
 the reading of books. But he was a close and dis- 
 cerning reader of the newspapers. He showed a 
 considerable familiarity with the stan Jard authors 
 whose works he had studied in his youth. Amongst 
 the novelists, after Scott, he had a relish for 
 Dickens, whom besides he much esteemed us a man. 
 On the approach of the centenary of Dickens's 
 birth, he was much moved when I told him that 
 certain descendants of the great novelist were in 
 necessitous circumstances, owing to the nature of 
 the laws affecting literary property. "Of course," 
 he said, "we must help them. That would be the 
 best way to celebrate the Dickens Centenary." ' 
 
 Lord Lytton had not been one of his favourite 
 authors (he recalled in his younger days having 
 read The Last Days of Pompeii) ; he rather knew 
 him as a statesman and especially as Colonial 
 Secretary. But when he leased Knebworth, the 
 ancestral seat of the Lyttons,« the association of 
 the famous author and his gifted son had a gen- 
 uine interest for him. But the old-world beauty of 
 
 ' Not only did he become one of the first subscribers to the Fund, 
 which exceeded ten thousand pounds, but later undertook its in- 
 vestment in Canada at a higher guaranteed rate of interest than was 
 obtainable by us in England. 
 
 ..', .y*'' P'''*'" Lord I.ytton writes: "During the latter years of 
 his life, Lord Strathcona, in spite of his great age, was incessantly on 
 the move. While he was at Knebworth he would come down by a 
 special train after dining in town and return to London at nine 
 o'clock next morning. At other times he would motor down from 
 London on a Sunday for the day, returning the same evening. I le 
 was the most active man for his age that I have eve' met." 
 
 485 
 
 
rFmf_ 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 Knebworth was its greatest charm. He and Lady 
 Strathcona used on special occasions to receive 
 their guests in the great hall, with its groined roof 
 and stained-glass windows, whence the visitors 
 passed out into the gardens beyond, where a band 
 usually discoursed sweet music. During the inter- 
 vals a couple of pipers of the Scots Guards marched 
 up and down the paths playing the bagpipes. Tea 
 was served in a large marquee and at small tables 
 dotting the incomparable lawn. The valuable 
 pictures and objects of art in the state rooms on 
 the first floor of the house, he took pleasure in 
 showing, as also Queen Elizabeth's chair in a gal- 
 lery overlooking the hall. But he loved most to 
 walk about in the gardens and converse with his 
 friends.* 
 
 To a former colleague 
 
 Knebworth House, Stevenage Hests, 
 May 13th, 1907. 
 
 To-day is quite a summer day, bright and warm, and 
 the grounds are looking very beautiful. A letter from 
 our old friend puts me in mind of other days like this, 
 long, long ago — at North-West River, Esquimaux 
 
 « He once told me he shared my partiality to dwellings having 
 historical and personal associations. When he and his daughter, the 
 present Lady Strathcona, paid a visit to me at Westerham m 1910, 
 he evinced the deepest interest in the scene of Wolfe s boyhood and 
 the relics there assembled. A day or two later he wrote me a letter 
 which I cherish, referring to this visit. 
 
 When I last saw him in the spring of 1913 he said, So you are 
 going to live in the old home of Haliburton. It ought to be a fine 
 inspiration for you. Haliburton was a very brilliant writer - 
 adding significanUy, — "and kis mothtr was a Grant of Strain- 
 speyl" 
 
 486 
 
Improvised Hospitality 
 
 Bay, and lateral "Silver Heights" — only there the 
 peace was invaded sadly by such pests as mosquitoes 
 and black flies. 
 
 Many years ago he invited a large and distin- 
 guished party of tourists, including two Continental 
 princes, to dine and pass the night at "Silver 
 Heights" on their way through to the West. 
 Accommodation being scanty it was necessary to 
 add a series of bedrooms to the house and otherwise 
 to improvise domestic arrangements. The notice 
 was brief: a force of workmen was engaged, mate- 
 rials were hastily shipped from St. Paul, but 
 although the work was pressed forward at high 
 speed, the night of the party arrived and the bed- 
 rooms were not quite finished. The guests were 
 dined at the club in Winnipeg, a large staff of 
 waiters having been put into a strange livery for 
 the occasion, and dinner was protracted until a late 
 hour, in order to give the carpenters and furnishers 
 time to put on the finishing touches to "Silver 
 Heights." In fact it was after midnight when a 
 welcome telephone met age reached Sir Donald to 
 say that his guests could start for the house. By 
 that time several were overcome with sleep and 
 perhaps an excess of hospitality! There was no 
 doubt whatever as to the condition of the carriage 
 drivers: they were intoxicated to a man. However, 
 all were finally got to Sir Donald's roof, and none, 
 surveying their sumptuous sleeping-quarters, could 
 have had the slightest suspicion that the whole 
 had risen like a mushroom in the course of a few 
 487 
 
 i ' 
 
 Si 
 
 f 
 
8! 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 
 hours. Unhappily, the host, having seen the com- 
 pany to bed, found that he had reckoned without 
 himself: there was neither bedroom nor bed for his 
 repose. Weary with his efforts, in which anxiety had 
 played no small part, he flung himself into a chair 
 and slept till morning. 
 
 Sir Sandford Fleming relates that once, being in 
 the train with a fishing party, Lord Strathcona in- 
 vited all to dine and sojourn with him for the night 
 at his fishing-lodge at Matapedia, which had for- 
 merly belonged to the Marquess of Lome and the 
 Princess Louise. 
 
 Next morning, wishing to be abroad early to join a 
 friend, I dressed hastily and descended the stairs in 
 the half-'icht. On the bottc-n stair my feet touched a 
 figure wM.h sprang up, and I recognized my host. 
 Though he smiled genially and bade me good-morning 
 and was full of solicitude, I knew he had been asleep 
 all night on that bottom stair, having given up his 
 bedroom either to me or to some other of the party. 
 
 Reflecting [continued Sir Sandford] upon my long ac- 
 quaintance of over forty years with Lord Strathcona, 
 and remembering so many traits of his quiet benevo- 
 lence, I think one may say of him that he was a man 
 whose greatest happiness was in making others happy. 
 
 When I in turn related Sir Sandford's anecdote 
 to a well-known statesman in England, he ex- 
 claimed: — 
 
 Count upon the fingers of your hand the great men 
 
 of the age who could have done that! Can you see 
 
 Cecil Rhodes crouching all night on that bottom 
 
 stair? Can you see Pierpont Morgan or Rockefeller?. 
 
 488 
 
His Favourite Season 
 
 Power combined with humility - it i, a. rare a. it I. 
 irresistible! —»- a» u u 
 
 He was, as has been aptly said, " studiously care- 
 less about his health. His chief affliction was 
 colds, and It IS a wonder that these did not, through 
 his imprudences, lead to serious illness. 
 
 An old Montreal friend, Mr. C. R. Hosmer 
 recalls a typical incident which happened nearly 
 twenty years ago. ^ 
 
 Lord Strathcona was declared to be very ill and 
 threatened with pneumonia. His private car at the 
 
 ^ZZT ?K f ^ '" "'"^'""^ '°' ^'°"''''- "^ 'earned 
 suddenly that his presence might be useful in Winni- 
 
 peg, where the Manitoba School Question had come to 
 
 the front. Without saying a word to his doctor or to 
 
 anybody, he ordered his car to be attached to the 
 
 Winnipeg tram and off he went. Lady Strathcona was 
 
 greatly alanned and came to my office next morning 
 
 I was then General Manager of the Canadian Pacific 
 
 Railway Telegraphs. We found out that he was as far 
 
 as the north side of Uke Superior at the time and it 
 
 was thirty degrees below zero there. The night after 
 
 he arrived in Winnipeg he gave a banquet to the 
 
 Bishop of St. Boniface. Uter, when he returned, I 
 
 spoke to him of how deeply concerned, not to say 
 
 alarmed Lady Strathcona had been. He smiled and 
 
 said. Yes, I remember that cold morning; I had to 
 
 break the ice in the pitcher when I got up." 
 
 Yet of the seasons he loved winter best He 
 
 liked to look out upon a world bathed in sunshine 
 
 - a world in which the trees sparkled with frost 
 
 and the air exhilarated like wine. It was then he 
 
 489 
 
' 
 
 Lord Strathcona 
 would of tenet exclaim, "What a beautiful day. 
 what glorious weather!" Once he said to a guest, 
 Mr. William Carson. " It has been said that power, 
 that empire came from the north. Northern people 
 have always stood for courage and unconquer- 
 ability They have the muscle, the wholcsomcness 
 of life.' the strength of will. In Canada we have 
 upon the whole, the best climate in the world. Our 
 winters may b. cold, but think of the dry and ex- 
 hilarating atmosphere, which makes for health and 
 every sort of alertness. Those who are accus- 
 tomed to the North might taste a little experience 
 of the South, and the South might drop m upon 
 the North once in a while, doubtless with mutual 
 advantage." , 
 
 His London house was at first number 53 Cado- 
 gan Square, and afterwards 28 Grosvenor Square. 
 But he long considered his real home as at Mon- 
 treal. His Dorchester Street mansion always con- 
 tinued as if its owner was in residence. He had 
 there a collection of pictures containing examples of 
 Raphael. Titian. Turner. Reynolds. Gainsborough. 
 Romney. MiUais. Rosa Bonheur. Constable. Con- 
 stant. Alma Tadema. and other painters. One work 
 of art which he was fond of showing was unique in 
 its way. It was a carving done by Esquimaux of 
 the remoter North, and presented by them to 
 Lady Strathcona. It shows a portion of an Esqui- 
 maux village, huts covered with snow, sledges, and 
 a kayak. Men and women are very cleverly 
 modelled, while a fox. a penguin, and a willow 
 grouse are carved in walrus ivory. The whole 
 490 
 
 "*i*t'i 
 
His Residences 
 production ii executed very prettily, and testifies 
 to the artistic capacity inherent in those natives 
 of the Arctic regions. 
 
 When his lease of Knebworth expired, he pur- 
 chased Debden Hail in Essex. In 1905, he had 
 acquired the famous Blacic Corries estate of Glen- 
 coe, one of the finest grouse and deer preser.'cs in 
 the Highlands, to add to his other property there. 
 Black Corries formerly belonged to the chiefs of 
 Glcncoe, but passed from the representatives of 
 the massacred Macdonalds after the rising of "45. 
 It extends to Rannoch and Black Mount, a dis^ 
 tance of some twenty-five miles, and adjoins the 
 esute of Sir John Stirling Maxwell, M.P., Sir 
 W. Menzies, Lord Brcadalbanc, and others. The 
 famous massacre that inspired Macaulay's refer- 
 ence took place in 1691. That the character of 
 the scenery suggests dark deeds is confirmed 
 by Dickens, who described this part of Argyllshire 
 as "perfectly terrible." It was not so to him. 
 
 In London, Lord Strathcona was a familiar 
 figure at the Athenaeum Club in Pall Mall, which 
 i.^ ;.'. > 'i ( ! the centre of British culture. Here 
 k iii'i ..,.,> of the most eminent figures of the 
 day, and in one of its handsome dining-rooms he 
 delighted to gather together distinguished men 
 to meet Canadians of high rank on a visit to the 
 Mother Country. 
 
 As a public speaker he was solid rather than 
 
 brilliant, although there are passages in his speeches 
 
 of real eloquence. He had formed himself on the 
 
 best models and within his self-appointed bounda- 
 
 491 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 Vies was always fluent and self-possessed. As an 
 example of his manner, which was rarely ironical 
 or patronizing, it may be recalled that on one 
 occasion, in 1887, Mr. Edward Blake made merry 
 over Sir Donald Smith's glowing picture of the 
 future North-West. The member for Montreal rose 
 and remarked gravely: — 
 
 The leader of the Opposition is very facetious, very 
 {acetious, indeed. He spoke in a vein of engaging 
 pleasantry, and I am sure we were all delighted to see 
 him so condescend. Will he permit me to tell him that 
 I think he would live more and more in the affections 
 of his fellow-citizens if he would more frequently ex- 
 hibit that milk of human kindness, that sympathy for 
 his fellow-men, and that love of his country which is 
 due from every one who is a citizen of Canada? ' 
 
 Although he scarcely ever in his life was known 
 to utter a too forcible expression, on at least one 
 occasion he acquiesced in one. It was after the 
 stormy campaign in 1880, in which he was defeated 
 for Parliament by the late Colonel Scott. On the 
 day of the election one of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany employees named Cole, who had involved 
 himself in many election bets, each of which had 
 to be sealed by a drink, awoke from a doze m the 
 open air to find his revered candidate, Mr. Smith, 
 approaching. Cole staggered to his feet, and after 
 a profuse exchange of courtesies, enquired how the 
 election had gone. When the painful truth that he 
 had been ignominiously defeated had been dragged 
 » Parliamentary Debates. 
 49a 
 
Vicarious Profanity 
 
 from the member, his supporter's rage knew no 
 bounds. 
 
 The scoundrels! " he cried, " the 
 
 scoundrels!" 
 
 The defeated member rubbed his hands and 
 nodded his head benignantly. "Are they not, Mr. 
 Cole?" he exclaimed; "are they nc:?" 
 
 In the closing years his voice failed him in 
 attempting to reach large assemblages. 
 
 "I shall always remember the last Dominion 
 Day dinner which I attended," recalls a well-known 
 Canadian. "While the veteran statesman was 
 speaking, altliough by reason of his great age his 
 words were only audible to those at his own table, 
 there prevailed what I can best describe as a 
 'mighty hush' amongst the five hundred diners. 
 As a Canadian at my table remarked at the 
 speech, 'Although we cannot hear it, you can bet 
 your last dollar that it is well worth listening to by 
 those who can.'" 
 
 He was fond of stories of his Scottish country- 
 men. One which pleased him highly I have heard 
 him often repeat. A Scot was once boasting that 
 Scotch apples were far better than the Canadian 
 variety. "Really," exclaimed his friend, "you 
 can't mean that!" "I do mean it," was the 
 response; "but I must premeese that for my ain 
 taste 1 prefer them soor and hard." 
 
 Another favourite was the naive remark of an 
 Indian, the shikari of an English titled sportsman. 
 "He shot magnificently"; adding, "But God was 
 merciful to the beasts." 
 
 493 
 
 
 t , 
 
 \^ 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 One story told of his native town could hardly 
 fail to delight him, although he professed incredu- 
 lity. The superintendent of the Forres Sabbath 
 School had prepared a list of questions for the 
 junior class. Name the strongest man; the wisest 
 man; the meekest man. Only one child, a cynical 
 little elf she was, answered correctly: Samson, 
 Solomon, Moses. All the others wrote or printed, 
 according to their capabilities, opposite the quenes, 
 the name of the hero of their hearts— Lord Strath- 
 cona. There might be stronger, and wiser, and 
 meeker men, butthe junior class was not "ac- 
 quainted wi' 'era." 
 
 It has been noted that he was always abste- 
 mious in his diet and latterly became more so. 
 Frequently a friend breakfasting with him was 
 surprised to notice that he drank both tea and 
 coffee. Lord Strathcona explained that in his 
 younger days, living often through necessity m 
 small Canadian hotels, he would find the tea so 
 bad that he would afterwards as an antidote ask 
 for coffee. "In that way," he said, his eyes twin- 
 kling, " I got into the habit of both, so that I_can t 
 make breakfast now with only one beverage." 
 
 When he came to the High Commissionership, 
 the duties of Secretary were being ably performed 
 by Mr. Joseph Grose Colmer, C.M.G., and to this 
 gentleman and his successor, Mr. William Griffith, 
 he gave the fullest confidence and loyalty. Re- 
 peatedly, in his holograph correspondence with the 
 Prime Minister, occur testimonials to their zeal and 
 ability and his desire that their services should be 
 494 
 
Old-fashioned Epistolary Methods 
 acknowledged in a practical manner. Even for 
 those subordinates, who he had reason to suspect 
 were not cordially disposed toward him, he was 
 constantly exerting his influence, and when these 
 were criticized or attacked he was ever oflTering an 
 apology or defence. As one Minister put it to me 
 " Lord Strathcona regarded his staff as if they were 
 members of his own family and could not bear to 
 have a word said against them." 
 
 "Nothing," Mr. Colmer bears testimony, "was 
 too msignificant for his personal attention. It 
 was a favourite saying of his that 'what you have 
 to do is worth doing well,' and that axiom /as 
 the keynote of his life. While not a great reader 
 of current literature, he was essentially a well- 
 informed man. How he acquired his knowledge 
 was often a surprise. But he had the knack of 
 making people whom he knew and with whom he 
 came into contact talk on any subject which inter- 
 ested them and him, and in that way acquired 
 information more or less at first hand. His memory 
 for facts, figures, and faces was phenomenal." 
 
 A characteristic trait of Lord Strathcona was 
 his adhesion, to an advanced period of life, to old- 
 fashioned epistolary methods. He long shrank 
 from the use of an amanuensis or a typewriter as a 
 breach of courtesy; the openings and subscriptions 
 of his letters were patterned on the old Hudson's 
 Bay model. Even the most oflScial or the lengthiest 
 letter he persisted in performing by hand, at an 
 almost incredible cost in time and patience. On 
 one occasion at least considerable physical suffering 
 495 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 was involved. He had had the misfortune, twenty 
 years before while in Scotiand, to fracture one of 
 the bones and otherwise seriously injure his right 
 wrist, necessitating complete disablement. His 
 arm was put in splints, and while chafing under the 
 restraint he seized the occasion to make a voyage 
 to Canada via. New York. In transit his arm be- 
 came worse, the inflammation spread, and he found 
 himself unable to leave his berth. On his arrival at 
 New York he was met by Sir William Van Home, 
 who found him in a very feverish and distressed 
 state Nevertheless, he insisted on accompanying 
 his friend immediately through to Montreal, where 
 he was induced to put himself in the care of a 
 surgeon. What preyed upon his mind most was 
 that he had a number of letters to answer, and in 
 spite of his injured hand these must somehow be 
 answered. 
 "But," urged his friend, "surely you can employ 
 
 an amanuensis." 
 
 The proposition seemed repugnant to him. 
 
 " I 've never done such a thing," he declared em- 
 phatically. "It would give great offence, I assure 
 you. I have always written my letters myself and 
 I must do so now." . 
 
 Albeit after considerable expostulation, and 
 upon a competent stenographer being produced, he 
 consented to try the experiment. 
 
 "But at least I must sign the letters, was his 
 stipulation. " Put the pen between my fingers, and 
 although it will perhaps be a little difficult and 
 painful I must certainly sign the letters myself. 
 496 
 
 
1 
 
 No Strict Sabbatarian 
 So duly the letters were dictated, and when the 
 sheets were brought to him the invalid begged to 
 be left alone to consider them and affix his signa- 
 ture. A pen was fastened between two of his dis- 
 engaged fingers and a bot Je of ink placed on the 
 
 When a couple of hours later the secretary 
 entered to take charge of the correspondence and 
 despatch .t, they found that to every letter had 
 been added a postscript, scrawled slowly and pain- 
 fully explammg how and why the writer had been 
 forced to ,, opart from his lifelong practice of manu- 
 script and apologizing for the same. 
 
 "And in each case," concludes the narrator of 
 tiie anecdote, 'the postscript was longer than the 
 body of the letter!" 
 
 On one occasion, leaving London hurriedly for 
 Glencoe with an accumulation of work, he was 
 prevailed upon to take with him a young steno- 
 grapher with whom he was personally unacquainted 
 Arriving at his Highland seat on Saturday evening' 
 he looked forward to disposing of a number of 
 pressing letters largely dealing with his various 
 chanties, so as to catch Monday morning's mail. 
 Un the Sunday morning when he mentioned his in- 
 tention to the stenographer, the latter said- "Oh 
 but Lord Strathcona, I 'm afraid I cannot do what 
 you ask. I have never worked on the Sabbath." 
 
 For a moment Lord Strathcona seemed dis- 
 concerted. Then he said quietly, "Say no more 
 about It. Go and take a walk up the Glen " 
 Relieved at getting off so easily, the young man 
 497 
 
 h 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 seized hat and stick and went for a delicious stroll, 
 which he found so alluring that he did not return 
 until near nightfall. Weary and footsore he ate a 
 hearty supper and retired to bed. Promptly at 
 midnight, when he was wrapped in the soundest 
 slumber, a thunderous knock at his door startled 
 him. He sprang out of bed and encountered Lord 
 Strathcona, taper in hand and a winning smile on 
 
 his face. . 
 
 "Come, Mr. Blank — the Sabbath is now over, 
 and we must make haste with those letters, you 
 know, so as to catch the morning mail." 
 
 It only remains to add that by dint of incessant 
 industry, the morning sun had not risen very high 
 over the Vale of Glencoe, when the letters were 
 finally despatched, and Mr. Blank, a sadder and a 
 wiser man, once more sought his couch to snatch 
 a couple of hours' repose before breakfast. 
 
 It cannot be said that he was an easy taskmas- 
 ter Generally speaking, none in his employ held 
 a sinecure: but at least he asked none to do that 
 which he was not ready to do himself. And idleness 
 was a fault he found it hardest to condone. 
 
 The main sources of Lord Strathcona s wealth 
 have already been revealed. He left at his death a 
 fortune of several millions, the bulk of which, after 
 the payment of many legacies amounting to nearly 
 a million sterling, was left in trust to his daughter, 
 who succeeded him in the title. 
 
 Truly was it said of him: "A sound judgment 
 and high purpose marked his great public bene- 
 factions." The total amount of his donations 
 498 
 
His Benefactions 
 
 King Edward's Hospiul Fund , 
 
 Cost of raising Strathcona's Horse taocooo 
 
 Royal Victoria College for Women, Montreal 1^'°^ 
 
 viS tei'e':!rre'ir"' '--' ^°- ^^-^^ = 
 
 McGill University, Montreal 200,000 
 
 Yale University . . 410,000 
 
 Victoria Hospital (restoring after fire) '°°'*» 
 
 Aberdeen University 50,000 
 
 Queen's University (Kingston) •"'°°° 
 
 30,000 
 
 His charities of a private nature, which were 
 mcessant were made with a kindness and sym 
 pathy whjch won for him much personal afTectL. 
 A stmp^e hst of the recipients of his bounty would 
 astomsh by ,ts length no less than by the charac- 
 ter of the recipients. 
 
 hi,^J?-^>'^ f aracteristic anecdote is related by 
 his solicitor, Mr. Garson: — 
 
 I was running over the stubs of a cheque-book witt, 
 Lord Strathcona. checking up the variorit« „' 
 I came across the record of a cheque for one hun^rlS 
 pounds made out to a man whom I knew to fe u^ 
 worthy. Calling Lord Strathcona's atte^do^^it J 
 expressed my surprise, but, as he made no comment 
 sa,d nothing more, and continued running thrTugh 
 the stubs of the cheque-book mrougn 
 
 che^^ueTrTh?""'"'' ' ''"'"'^ "^^ ^"°=^ a"°ther 
 Cheque for the same amount, made out to the same 
 
 mdividual. This time 1 ventured to suggest to ZZ 
 InfiH ""^^'v '"^ ""^"'^ '■^""'^t'- dW not jutti y 
 
 bn rn^r'^Jl™.""'^ ''''' " ^' '^'^"'^ -" i"vestig2^ 
 t.on, I believed the reputation would be amply bor„e 
 
 499 
 
 i I 
 
 I ' 
 
 ! > 
 
 i 
 
 h 
 ft. 
 
Lord Strathcona 
 out by specific evidence. I waited for a replv. but he 
 .till kept^ence, and 1 went on looking °v" the «i^^ 
 Finally. I came across a third cheque for the same 
 amount tt, the order of the same individual. When I 
 ^iThirattention to it. he said, in his qmet way: 
 "Well, Garson, if one in twenty is worthy — 
 
 Upon . le lesson furnished by his character in 
 this our age. when national complacence, indolence. 
 * d to have had need of the fie-T -n-ecUv. of 
 war. I nmi not dwell. Industry had with him a 
 sleepless inward monitor. Frugality was a habit 
 yet conjoined to a benevolence which couWnever 
 rest until those around him were happier and better. 
 Duty was a passion. Thoroughness, a sense of per- 
 sond responsibility and personal dignity, were 
 ZL tr^ts in the character of a man ever 
 " scorning delights to live laborious days. 
 
 Amongst ourselves, we should cherish, above and 
 beyond dl, the feeling he had for Canada -a feeling 
 Sd by the consciousness that he had assisted 
 inTer development. It was akin to that of an 
 engineer in the powerful mechanism he has himse f 
 Sd to forge and assemble, fragment by fragment 
 and later, wk pride, beholds it tirelessly respond 
 to his functioning. n^r^inmn 
 
 With his last breath he served the Do'"'"'''"; 
 The people of our country have confronting them 
 daily^n their streets and roads, their banks, the 
 ih^ls and hospitals, their shops^^^ Pf '^ 
 works, their parks, and their homesteads, even if 
 Tis r;cord of his career had never been written, 
 500 
 
Conclusion 
 abundant reasons for holding in perpetual rever- 
 ence the name — Warum et vetterabile nomen — 
 of Strathcona. 
 
 "So pass, O peaceful warrior, to thy rest 
 One gentle step from service to long slc^p 
 And thou art with the memories that keep 
 A nation steadfast, loyal to the best 
 Her hero sons have by their lives confest." ' 
 
 ' Line, in the PcU MaU Gazelle on hia death. 
 
 THE END 
 
Appendix 
 
 HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY PROFITS 
 
 In the year 1914 the profit from the Fur-Trade 
 amounted to £55,008 5*. M.. and that from the Stores 
 
 to £63,757 MJ. 3rf. 
 
 Farm-Land Sales, for the year ending 31st March 
 last, comprise 26,292 acres for $572,837. an average of 
 521.78 per acre. Sales of Town Uts amounted to 
 H31.170. Total sales amounted to £144,658 igj sd 
 compared with £1.507.362 for the year preceding.' 
 Ihe balance to the credit of the Land Account is 
 
 £451.928 J2S. lod. 
 
 In addition to the dividend on the Preference 
 Capitol an mterim distribution of 15 per cent was 
 made on the Ordinary Capital in January last, and 
 a further distnbution of 25 per cent is now recom- 
 maided, malting a total of 40 per cent for the year. 
 
 The unsold lands now in possession of the Company 
 amount to 4.091.376 acres. (From the Report laid 
 before the Shareholders, 29th June, 1914.) 
 
Index 
 
 Aberdeen, Earl of, appointment to 
 Canada, 3, 153; and minialnial 
 m«i« (.!»•)(,>. 154; and Manitolw 
 Khoolfl question, 159, 170-17^; 
 and Strathrona'a Horae, .^6«: at 
 S.'t funeral, 463. 
 AbcTfleen University, S. an Lord 
 Rector, t, 3J4, jjj; quater-cen- 
 tenary, 407-411. 
 Abbott, J. J. C ., and Pacific Rail- 
 way scandal, 1, 464. 
 Abbott. Sir John, and Canadian 
 
 Pacific. 2, I iq. 
 Adams, W. H., 10 S. on deteriora- 
 tion of the Company, 9, 181: on 
 dividends of the Comp;iny. 103; 
 on sacrifice of fellow-officer, 303; 
 to MacFarlane on Mackenzie, 
 206. 
 Aigneau, Count d', free-trader. S, 
 
 305. 
 Alabama claims, 1, 304. 
 Alaska, free naviKation of rivers, 1, 
 417; Hudson's Bay Co. posts and 
 trade (1871), Jlo-,'(i3: competi- 
 tion with Hudson's Bay Co. 
 . 526-J33, .1, II, 18, 19, 33-24. 
 Albert Medal presented to S., J, 
 
 ..•'■'''■ . 
 
 Alexander, Fort, Hudson's Bay 
 Co. post, S.'i headquarters, 1, 
 
 ,3«9.388. 
 
 Alexandra, Queen, and S., 2, 437- 
 and death of S., 463. 
 
 All-Red Route, project, S.'s inter- 
 est, a, 403-407. 
 
 Allan , Andrew, S. 's commercial con- 
 nection, 1, 225; and P.icilic Rail- 
 way scand.il, 464, 460. 
 
 .Mian, Sir Hugh, meets S., I, 3131 
 S.'s commercial connection, 235: 
 career.4601 plans Pacific Railway, 
 461; policy to .imalRamate rival 
 plans, intrigue and briber^-, 462- 
 46S: campaign contribution to 
 Miniatry,467; McMullen's black- 
 mail, 468, 470. 
 
 \fmeity for Riel Rebellion, con- 
 ItTence on, with drlesates, 1, 
 377.. 37", 4JP7 " ; ami assistance 
 against O Donohue, 445-448; 
 question of private promise, 
 449: complication of Scott exe- 
 cution. 450; Tachfs promise. 
 4}". 4S2. 4S3; altiluilc of Hrilish 
 Mimsln. 450. 4Sl; temporising 
 of Canadian .Vfiiiistry. 4^1-454; 
 resolution of Manitoba ilegisla- 
 '"re. 4«4: purchased wilhilrawal 
 of Riel from country. 4.^5-4.^8. 
 474> 47S-482: committee of Par- 
 liament. 495: UufTerin's action, 
 406. 497 n. 
 
 Anderson. James (a), goes to Eng- 
 laml. 1, 164; and Deed Poll nego- 
 tiations. 198. 203. 219. 330. 407, 
 423. 424. 42Q. 
 
 Anderson. James (i;), on W. L. 
 ffardisty. 1, 14J; death. 5,34. 
 
 Amferson. Jonathan, bequest to 
 Forres. 1, 12. 
 
 .Anderson. Tom. death, 1, 203. 
 
 Anglo-.American Commission of 
 'SqS,!!, 321,322,327. 
 
 Angus. Richard B.. and St, Paul 
 and P.icific Railwai^, 9, 62, 63, 
 69; Canadian Pacific Syndicate, 
 
 Annexation to United States, party 
 in Red River region (1869). 1, 
 24'. 253 ti., 358: O'Donohue's 
 activity, 393; S. and others on 
 danger during Rid Rebellion 
 432-436; Minnesota I.egi9lalure 
 and newspaper on. 4^6-4^9; 
 Fenian support of Rirl.4;9; pro- 
 paganda. 440-442; O'Donohiie's 
 invasion of Manitoba. 442-440. 
 
 Antiseptic treatment, frontier prac- 
 tices. 1, 134. 
 
 Apportionment. Ste Redistribu- 
 tion. 
 
 .Arbitration, Hoar's anecdote. 1. 
 418. 
 
 505 
 
 <,i 
 
Index 
 
 Archambault, Louis, and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 468. 
 
 Archibald, Adama G., Lieutenant- 
 Governor of Manitoba, 1, 379 n, ; 
 arrives, 391: and disorders, 395, 
 396; opens first Legislature, 402- 
 404; and O'Donohue's invasion, 
 appeal to Riel, 445~447' 497 "-: 
 and bribe to Riel, 455, 457. 479> 
 
 .481.. 
 
 Argentine, encouragement to im- 
 migrants, S, 383 n. 
 
 Aivyll, Duke of (Marquess of 
 Lome), on Canadian Pacific, 8, 
 127; letter from S., 152; on S., 
 253, 266, 283; on Canada and 
 South African War, 364; and 
 testimonial to S., 419; on death 
 of S> 453: ^t S-'s funeral, 463. 
 
 Aristotle, on high-mindedness, 3, 
 473-475. 
 
 Armit, Secretary of Hudson's 
 Bay Co., 1, 407. 
 
 Arnold-Forster. H. O., and Oun- 
 donald controversy, 3, 397, 398. 
 
 AssuapmouBsin, Hudson's Bay 
 Co. post, Ip 76 n. 
 
 Athabasca, free-traders at, % 32. 
 
 Athenxum Club, 8» 491. 
 
 Atlantic and Pacific Tranut and 
 Tete^aph Company, 1* 186. 
 
 Atlantic cable, plans for sectional 
 (i860), 1, 157, 158; S. and com- 
 pletion, 211, 212. 
 
 Australia, 5. and federation, 8, 274, 
 322.329,359-361,377. 
 
 Austria, restrictions on emigration, 
 8, 281, 287, 2n'-293; working of 
 Canadian prO|,^anda, 394. 
 
 Babel, Pdre, missionary, 1, 88; mis- 
 sion to North-West River, 223, 
 
 Back, and John Stuart, 1. 31. 
 
 Baker, Archer, and visiting colo- 
 nial Premiers (1897), 8, 259. 
 
 Ballantyne, R. M., on Tadousac, 1, 
 
 Datlin, Albert, and emigration to 
 
 Canada, a, 297-301. 
 Bank of Montreal, S.'s connection, 
 
 1, 138,214, 8, 461. 
 Bannatyne, A. G. B., on Howe in 
 
 Red River region, 1, 257. 
 Barber, Jimmy, free-trader, 8, 24. 
 Baring, Thomas, Grand Trunk 
 
 Railway, 1, 459 n. 
 
 Baring Bros., and Canadian Paci- 
 fic, 8, 130, 131. 
 
 Barlow, Sir Thomas, as S.'b physi- 
 cian, a, 440, 442, 444. 
 
 Barnston, George, and reorganiza- 
 tion of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 181 ; 
 corresp. with S., i99;death,8t 31. 
 
 Barton, Major-Gen., on Strath- 
 cona's Horse, 8, 367. 
 
 Bauerman, Hilary, in Labrador, 1, 
 21A. 
 
 Beauharnois, in Rebellion of 1838, 
 1.69. 
 
 Beaver, as unit of value, 1, 81 , 1 13, 
 114. 
 
 Bebel. See Babel. 
 
 B^g, Aleitander, on S.'s arrival at 
 Fort Garry, 1, 323 n. 
 
 Belanger, Horace, to S. on retire- 
 ment, 8, 191; death, 192, 194. 
 
 Belf{ium, and Canadian pre^ren- 
 tial tariff law, 8* 252. 
 
 Bel), Peter W., to S. on salmon 
 traffic, a, 184; to MacFarlane on 
 appointment of officers, 194; to 
 S. on conditions at Ungava, 195; 
 on right to furlough, 204; death, 
 S. on, 208. 
 
 Benson, and reorganization of 
 Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 177. 
 
 Benson, A. C, on technical religion, 
 
 a, 483- 
 
 Berens, H. H., and claim to Red 
 River region, 1, 169: and reor- 
 ganization of the Company, 1^3, 
 177, 178; and fund for wintenng 
 partners, 502. 
 
 Berlin University, S. at centenary, 
 8, 427, 438. 
 
 Bernard, Mountague, Joint High 
 Commission, 1, 411-418. 
 
 Bersimits, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, attached to LabradcH' dis- 
 trict, 1, 333. 
 
 Bersimits River, described, 1* 89. 
 
 Bitournay, Justus, charge of S.'s 
 undue influence, 8, 83, 64. 
 
 Black, Judge John, delegate to 
 Ottawa. 1, 3^9. 350. 376, 497 n. 
 
 Black, Rev. lonn, and opening of 
 
 Manitoba Legislature, 1| 403. 
 Black Comes estate, 8, 491. 
 Black flies, plague in Labrador, If 
 
 112. 
 
 condition 
 
 Blackfeet Indians, 
 (1873). 1. 533- 
 
 906 
 
^^iF^7"?' '""^ "organization 
 of Hudson a Bay Co., 1, 177- 
 and Canadian Pacific Railway' 
 », 99. loi, Ii4i and Manitoba 
 ■chooli quMtion, 170; S.'j sar- 
 casm, 493. 
 Blockade running, Canadian in- 
 vestments, 1, 317. 
 Bonds, British guaranty of Cana- 
 
 dian, 2, 337. 
 Borden, Sir Frederick, and Strath- 
 cona s Horse, 2, 348; quarrel with 
 Mutton, 34Q letter from S., 430. 
 Borden, Sir Robert L., on Dundon- 
 ald controversy, 2, 398 ».; Min- 
 "try, 433; on relations with S 
 432-434; letters from S., 435' 
 4361 437, 444' 446; and article 
 attacking Canadian credit, 438- 
 and charge of understanding 
 with Unionists, 439; and S.'a 
 desire to resign, 441-443; tribute 
 to S., 454-4J6. 
 Boacowitz, free-trader, 2, -.-t, 11 
 Bouchette, R. S.M.,Canadi,rin*el 
 
 1. 54- 
 Boulton, Major, on contest over S.'s 
 papers, 1, 331 n.; rising against 
 •"«. 350-352, 364, 371; Kind 
 from execution, 353, 353. 
 Bourassa, Henri, S. on, 2, 385. 
 Bowater, Sir Vansittart, on death 
 of S., 2, 453; at S.'s funeral, 
 
 Bowell, Sir Mackenzie, and Riel, 
 ••481, 496: ministerial crisis 
 ''*9*). *. ,>53. 154; and Mani- 
 toba schools question, 165, 166; 
 and High Commissionership for 
 S., 314; at Pacific Cable Confer- 
 ence, 331; yields Premiership, 
 331; tribute to S., 457. 
 
 Bown, Walter R., intngue in Red 
 Kiver region, 1, 357 
 
 Bompas, WillUm C, and Indians 
 2, 37. 
 
 Boy Scouts, S. on, 2, 431. 
 
 Brazil, encouragement to immi- 
 ^ants, 2, 383 »., 393. 
 
 Bridge, Sir Frederick, at S.'s fun- 
 eral, 2, ^63. 
 
 Bright's disease, frontier remedy. 
 
 Index 
 
 •X 
 
 Bnstof, S. on, and steam transpor- 
 
 tation, 2, 335. 
 Bntlsh Columbia, gold (1877), 2, 
 
 «S; and transcontinental rail- 
 „ way. 49, so. 
 Brock, Isaac, centenary of death, 
 
 Bro'uifiton, W. K., on character of 
 pension, 2, 193. 
 
 Brown, George, and Canadian 
 cUim to North- West Territory, 
 I, 318; and Pacific Railway scan- 
 dal, 464. 
 
 Bruce, John, in Riel Rebellion, 1, 
 265; on Mactavish and opposi- 
 tion to Canada. 375 ». 
 
 B™W»|^.Pa"l .L. M., and trouble 
 in McGill University, 2, 3S8, «q- 
 tribute to S, 458. •«'''359. 
 
 Brydges, Charles J., Grand Trunk 
 ■ ''"?>'' h 459"-: and Allan's 
 
 Elan for Pacific Railway, 463: 
 and Coinmissioner of Hudson'^s 
 Bay Co., 2, 30. 
 Buckingham, Duke of, and nego- 
 \Sl!S"4 '"^ transfer of North- 
 west Territory, I, 33. 
 Buffalo Lake Indians, i, 533 
 
 Tt'\ S" ""' of Labrador 
 
 ( P' '),>, 157, 158. 
 buller. Sir Redvers, and Strath- 
 
 cona s Horse, 2, 349, 369. 
 Bunn, Thomas, and Riel Rebellion, 
 
 !• 336. 
 Burpee, and Canadian Pacific Rail- 
 way, 1, 473 n. 
 Butler, Sir William F., on Hudson's 
 
 Bay Co., 1, 155; on Riel, 343; 
 
 on expedition against Riel, 389; 
 
 on disorders, 390; on Rlel's 
 
 flight, 391, 393; movements, 
 534. 53°; to MacFariane, on the 
 Company and wintering part- 
 
 1 ^ —t^M niiiici iiiv part- 
 
 ners, 2, 41, 43; |«ter from S., 
 152. 
 
 Cabinet. See Ministry. 
 
 Cairns, Sir Hugh, and Hudson's 
 
 Bay Co.'s Deed Poll, 1, 331. 
 Caledon, Lord, tour with George 
 
 Simpson, 1, 74. 
 Caledonian Bank, failure, 2, 17 
 Cameron, death, 1, 303. 
 Cameron, D. R., and Riel Rebel- 
 
 lion 1,367; and McDougall,3i8. 
 Campbell, Robert, and Deed Poll 
 
 507 
 
 '-- — ". -™ ^^^ r>oll 
 
 controversy, 1, 333, 407, 433- 
 at Carlton 2, 5; to S. on Indians 
 under the Company, 9; on treat- 
 
Index 
 
 ment of wintering partnen. i6; 
 on ruin for fur-trade, 5i7' 
 
 Campbell, Rev. Robert, on S.'i 
 reading, S. 471 "• 
 
 Canada, S. and Rebellion of 1837, 
 1, 38-40, 52, 53; conditions 
 (1838), 45, 46; Durham's rule, 
 53-54; Rebellion of 1838, 68-70; 
 origin of name, 85; Dominion 
 proclaimed, 224; first Ministry, 
 224; prophecies of strength and 
 loyalty, 430. 43i; S. on progress 
 under Victoria, and future great- 
 ness, «, 146. 223. 253, 267, 382, 
 394, 402; S. on loyalty, 224; S. 
 as interpreter of, to England, 
 234; and Jubilee of 1897, 251, 
 276; S. and "Our Lady of the 
 Snows," 254; paucity of news in 
 British papers, 256-258; S.'s 
 resentment of detractions, 422- 
 
 J24, 437-439; drain of British 
 unds, 436, 437; S.'s services, 
 500. 
 
 Canada Central Railway, absorbed 
 by Caneidian Pacific, 2, 112. 
 
 Canada Land and Improvement 
 Company, 1, 468 n. 
 
 Canadian Gazette, on Strathcona's 
 Horse, 2, 342. 
 
 Canadian High Commissioner. See 
 Strathcona {High Commissioner). 
 
 Canadian Pacific Railway, first 
 resolution of Parliament for a 
 railway subsidy, 1, 459; plans of 
 Grand Trunk, 459; Allan's com- 
 pany, 460-462; plan to amalga- 
 mate rival interests, bribery, 
 462-46S; Allan's campaign con- 
 tribution, 467; provisional board 
 of directors, 467; charter, 468; 
 construction contract, 468 «.; 
 exposure of campaign contribu- 
 tion, fall of Ministry, 468-478; 
 as monopoly, 2, 28; attempted 
 piece-meal construction by Gov- 
 ernment. 49; S. on need (1876). 
 50; Dawson route, 51-53; S.'s 
 early disbelief in private con- 
 struction, 55, 56; controversy 
 over route through Manitoba, 
 5fr-59t 73-76: failure of govern- 
 mental construction, 92; Mac- 
 donald's policy, 92-94; negotia- 
 tions for private construction, 
 94-98; terms of construction, 98; 
 
 508 
 
 oppoKtion, 99-101; 5. on ipirit 
 cA syndicate, 102; construction. 
 Van Home, 102-104; financial 
 troubles, loans from Canadian 
 Government, 104-109, 114-120, 
 124 n.; pays running expenses 
 durii^ construction, 107; ob- 
 struction by rivals, 1 10, 135 "■: 
 opposition to governmental loans, 
 1 11-114; connection of Baring 
 Bros., 120, 121; last spike, 122; 
 branch line to S.'s home, 124, 
 125; first through train, 125; 
 achievement, effect on Domin- 
 ion, 125-131; honors to construc- 
 tors, 128; S. on eariy through 
 freight, 129; S. and construction, 
 131, 132; effect in fifteen years, 
 132. 
 Cantlie, James A., and S.'s return 
 
 Jai 
 
 to Parliament, 2, 135- 
 
 Cardwell, Edward, and opening of 
 North-West Territory, 1» 189, 
 218. 
 
 Caribou, protective colonng. It 
 105. 
 
 Carlton, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 steamer to, 1, 536. 538. 
 
 Cartier, Sir George E., and negoti- 
 ations for transfer of North- West 
 Territory. 1, 235 »., 236, 380; 
 and survey in Red River region, 
 243; and delegates from North- 
 West, 377. 378; and S. as M.P., 
 404; and Joint High Commis- 
 sion, 416; and amnesty for Riel 
 Rebellion, 450, 452, 456; resolu- 
 tion for Pacific Railway, 459; and 
 Pacific Railway scandal, 459. 
 462, 465-467, 471; election in 
 Manitoba (1872). 493* 
 
 Cartwright, Sir Richard J., on Wm. 
 McDougall, 1, 268 n.; on Mac- 
 donald and amnesty for Rirl 
 Rebellion, 458; on Pacific Rail- 
 way scandal, 469; on Canadian 
 Pacific. 2, 132. 
 
 Case, George W., and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1| 461- 
 
 Castor, as unit of value, 1, 81, 113. 
 
 1 14. - ., 
 
 Chamberlain, Austen, on S. s il- 
 lustrating opportunities, 2, 46S. 
 Chamberlain, Joseph, and Mani- 
 toba schools question. 2, 178, 
 179; 5. on, and Imperialism, 222, 
 
Index 
 
 365. 374. 390-393; and S., 230; 
 on appointment of Minto to 
 Canada, 323; and Canadian 
 resolution on South African War, 
 331-333; S. on tariff reform, 337, 
 3S7-390 ; and Strathcona'a Horse, 
 338, 369; and recall of Hutton, 
 349. 350: and Canadian batta- 
 lion for Rhodesia, 352, 353; and 
 descent of S.'s peerage to daugh- 
 ter, 355, 356; on imperial inter- 
 est in memorial to Victoria, 383, 
 384; on royal visit to Canada, 
 384; question of official colonial 
 banquet to, on retirement, 390. 
 
 Chapleau, Sir Adolphe, on Cana- 
 dian Pacific, 2, 137. 
 
 Charles, William, to S. on treat- 
 ment of wintering partners, 1, 
 519. 2, 42; letter from S., ii; to 
 S. on future of British Columbia, 
 14; on Boscowitz, 35. 
 
 Charlton, John, on Canadian Pa- 
 cific, 2, m; American Joint 
 Conference, 322. 
 
 Cheeryble Brothers, originals, 1, 
 20, 24, 25. 
 
 Chicago, opportunity (1857), 1, 
 146. 
 
 Chicoutin''. Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, 1, 76 n. 
 
 Chicora, Sault Ste. Marie Canal 
 incident, 1, 383-388. 
 
 Chile, encouragement to immi- 
 grant?, 2, 283 n. 
 
 Chimo, Thomas, Nascopie chief, 
 1> 104. 
 
 Chipewyan Indians, 1, 532. 
 
 Christie. Alexander, and Deed Poll 
 controversy, 1, 222; death, 534. 
 
 Christie, David, and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 467. 
 
 Christie, William J., and Deed Poll 
 controversy, 1, 222; and O'Don- 
 ohue's invasion, 448; move- 
 ments, 536: to S. on gloomy fu- 
 ture of fur-trade, 2, 12, r8o. 
 
 Churchill, Lord Randolph, S. on 
 political action (1887), 2, 136. 
 
 Circee Indians, 1, 534. 
 
 Clark, Sir Andrew, S.'s physician, 
 S. 479. 
 
 Clark, W., to S. on transportation, 
 
 a. 5. 
 
 -larke, H. J., in Manitoba Assem- 
 bly, 1, 403. 
 
 Clarke, Lawrence, and claim of 
 
 wintn-ing partners, 1, 424: and 
 
 O'Donohue's invasion, 448; to 
 
 S. on conditions at York Fac- 
 
 ^ tory, 532. 
 
 Close, James R., and Deed Poll 
 negotiations, 1, 198. 
 
 Clouston, Sir Edward, and Strath- 
 cona's Horse, 2, 339, 341. 
 
 Cochrane. Henry, at opening of 
 Manitoba Legislature, 1, 403. 
 
 Colbourne, Sir John, and rebellion, 
 1»69. 
 
 Coimer, Joseph G., as S.'s secre- 
 tary, 2, 494; on S.'s traits, 495. 
 
 Colville, Eden, and reorganization 
 of Hudson's Bay Co.. 1, 177, 
 186; on impression of S., 194; 
 Governor of Hudson's Bay Co., 
 2, 33.; and wintering partners, 183. 
 
 Committee of 1857. investigation 
 of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 148-152. 
 
 Congress of Chambers of Com- 
 merce, 2, 224. 
 
 Connaught, Duke of, Governor- 
 
 . General,2, 431; on S., 435; trib- 
 ute to S., 453. 
 
 Connolly, Henry, and S., 1, 109. 
 
 Connolly, William, 1, 109 «.; and 
 paper money, 114, 
 
 Cooke. Jay, and Canadian Pacific 
 Railway, 1, ^61, 468 n. 
 
 Corcoran, death. 1, 203. 
 
 Cotter, lames L., to S. on condi- 
 tion of wintering partners, 2, 39; 
 destitution of family, 182. 
 
 Councils of wintering partners, 2, 
 3. 35. 186, 194. 
 
 Coursol, Charles J., and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 468. 
 
 Cowan, William, and Riel Rebel- 
 lion, I, 340 n., 346, 348 n., 349, 
 350; in London on claims of 
 wintering partners, 407, 424; 
 treatment by Company, 518. 
 
 Cowie, Isaac, on duties at fur-trad- 
 ing post. 1, 80 ».; on life at trad- 
 ing post, 1 13. 
 
 Cox, on Peter Ogden, 1, ^3 n. 
 
 Craigellachie, B. C, origin o' name, 
 2, 133 n. 
 
 Craigellachies of Strathspey, 1, 6. 
 
 Cree Indians, condition (1873), 1, 
 
 ^533- 
 
 Gumming, Cuthbert, fur-trader, 1, 
 18. 
 
 509 
 
Index 
 
 Curley, Thomas, attempted in- 
 vasion of Manitoba, 1, 444, 
 Customs. See Tariff. 
 
 Dallas, Alexander G., as head of 
 Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 170; and 
 control of North- West Territory, 
 171; on reorganization of Com- 
 pany, 183, 183; and Deed Poll, 
 220: resigns, 336; on Company's 
 decline m Red River region, 
 340 n. 
 
 David, L. O., and history of Hud- 
 son's Bay Co., 2, 197 n. 
 
 Davidson, Sir Charles, tribute to 
 5., 3, 460. 
 
 Davin, Nicholas F., and Manitoba 
 schools question, 3, 173. 
 
 Davis, J. C. Bancroft, on Ckicora 
 incident, 1, 386. 
 
 Dawson, on Forres, 1, 3 n. 
 
 Dawson, Simon J,, report on Red 
 River region, 1, 168; and survey 
 in Red River region, 344; on 
 Canadian Paci6c, 2, 1 14, 118 n. 
 
 Dawson route, 3| 51-53. 
 
 Dease, Peter W., explorer, 1, 70. 
 
 Dease's House, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, 1, 530. 
 
 Deceased wife's sister, S. and bill 
 to legalize colonial marriages, 8, 
 316-331. 
 
 Deed Poll of 1831, and reorganiza- 
 tion of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 184, 
 185, 196-199, 303, 204, 3Iq; new, 
 51^-516, 518, 521, 523. See also 
 Wmtering partners. 
 
 De Grey and Ripon, Earl, Joint 
 High Commission, 1, 411-418. 
 
 Delorme, Pierre, member of Do- 
 minion Parliament, 1, ^04. 
 
 Denmarlc. See Scandinavia. 
 
 Dennis, Stou^hton, and surveys 
 and trouble in Red River region, 
 1, 2U, 247-249, 366; and Riel 
 Rebellion, 367; and McDougall's 
 proclamation, 385-289. 
 
 Derby, Earl of, retires from Gov- 
 ernor-Generalship, 3, 153; and 
 Strathcona's Horse, 368. 
 
 E)esjardins, Alphonse and Mani- 
 toba schools question, 2, 173. 
 
 Des Rivieres, R., Canadian rebel, 
 1.54. 
 
 Dexlin, C. R., letter from S., 8, 
 385. 
 
 Dickens, Charles, originals of 
 
 Cheeryble Brothers, 1, 20, 34, 35; 
 
 S. and centenary, 3, a8s. 
 Dickey, Arthur R., and Manitoba 
 
 schools question, 8, 173. 
 Disrar^li, Eteniamin, on S.'s report 
 
 on Kiel Rebellion, i, 374. 
 D(^8, distemper, 1, 163. 
 Dominion Day, S.'s celebrations 
 
 as High Commissioner, 3, 331, 
 
 331, 401. 
 Donalda Department, 8, 151, 333. 
 Donelly, J. J., attempted invasion 
 
 of Manit(H)a, 1, 444. 
 Doulchobors, in Canada, 3, 305. 
 Diaper, William H., on future of 
 
 Western Canada (1857), 1, 152. 
 Urummond, George A., on Canada 
 
 and South African War, 2, 366. 
 Dufferin, Marquis of, on weakening 
 
 of power of Hudson's Bay Co., 
 
 1, 238 ».; on Riel Rebellion, 
 
 284 n.; and amnesty for Riel 
 
 Rebellion, 448 n., 496, 497 n.; on 
 
 Pacific Railway scandal, 470 n.; 
 
 S. on, 2, 325. 
 Dugas, and S., 1, 81-85. 
 Dugas, Rev. George, at opening of 
 
 Manitoba Legislature, 1, 403. 
 Dundonald, Earl of, and Strath. 
 
 cona's Horse, 2, 366, 368, 369; 
 
 controversy in Canada, 395-398. 
 Durham, Earl of, in Canada, 1, 52- 
 
 54.68. 
 
 Economist, S. and article attacking 
 Canadian credit, 8, 437-439. 
 
 Edgar, J. D., on 1897 and Imperial- 
 ism, 3, 250. 
 
 Education, S. on technical, 2, 138, 
 ' ;, S.'s endowment for higher 
 education of women. Royal Vic- 
 toria College. 147, 151, 333, 377- 
 380; S. s address as Cnancetlor 
 of McGill, 149. 
 
 Edward VII, and Strathcona's 
 Horse, 2, 367; at centenary of 
 Aberdeen University, 408; death, 
 426; and S., 427. 
 
 Egg Island, wreck of Walker's 
 fleet, 1, 89. 
 
 Elgin, County of, aspect, 1, 2. 
 
 Ellice, Edward, Sr., and S., 1, 41, 
 57,70; and Rebellion of 1838,69; 
 and Committee of 1857, 151, 
 152. 169. 
 
 510 
 
Index 
 
 Elltte, Edward, Jr., on policy of 
 Hudson's Bay Co. towards em- 
 ployees, 1, 63: and reorganiza- 
 tion of Hudson's Bay Co., 178. 
 
 Eisner, Moravian miaaioimry in 
 Labrador, 1, 132. 
 
 Emerson. See Pembina. 
 
 Emigration, Scottish, 1, 7, 8. Set 
 also Immigration. 
 
 Enlerprise, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 steamer on Puget Sound, 2, 14. 
 
 Esquimaux, Southern, 1, 97: origin, 
 107: and Moravian missionaries, 
 108, 132; odour, 116; native re- 
 ligion, 131. 
 
 Esquimaux Bay, described, 1, 07- 
 101,114-116. 
 
 Ewart, J. S., on surveys in Red 
 River region, 1, 250 «.; on Riel's 
 reception of S., 325 n. 
 
 Fargo, W. C, and Canadian Pa- 
 
 Clfic Railway, 1, 461. 
 Farley;, James J., and St. Paul and 
 Pacific Railway, 2, 70-73. 
 
 Farm, S.'s at North- West River, 1, 
 124-127, 147, 158, 160. 
 
 Federation. S. and colonial, 2, 274 
 
 ^322,350-361. 
 
 Fenchurch Street building, suit, 1, 
 320, 326, 421. 
 
 Fenians, raid^l, 205, 231; precur- 
 sors, 230; organization, 330, 231 ■ 
 warn S., 313, 313; and Cktcara 
 incident,385:and Riel Rebellion, 
 438, 439! attempted invasion of 
 Manitoba (1871), 442-449. 
 
 Ferguson, Sir James, and Strath- 
 cona's Horse, 2, 369. 
 
 Ferland, P^re, missionary, 1, 88 
 
 Ferrier, James, Grand Trunk Rail- 
 way, 1, 459 n. 
 
 Fertilizer, S. and fish, 1, 137 
 
 Field, Edward, and Catholic mis- 
 sionaries in Labrador, 1, 131 
 
 Fielding Tariff L.iw. 2, 252. 
 
 Finlayson, Duncan, 1, 70. 
 
 Fish, Hamilton, Chuora incident 
 
 Fish, S. and fertilizer from, 1, 137; 
 S. on diet, 143. 
 
 Fisheries, S. on Manitoba, 1, 406; 
 expiration of reciprocity and 
 controversies, ^08: controversy 
 before Joint High Commission, 
 410-418. .S« o/jo Salmon. 
 
 Fitzpatriclt, and Manitoba schools 
 
 question, 2, 178, 179. 
 Flag of Riel Rebellion, 1, 336. 
 Fleming. Archibald, on S., 2, 451, 
 453; at S.'s funeral, 466; on S.'s 
 religion, 482. 
 Fleming, Sandford, and develop- 
 ment of North-West Territory, 
 I. 17' i and Canadian Pacific, 2, 
 56. 57, 99, 107, 124; on S.'s hos- 
 pitality, 488. 
 fe'/her, William, at opening of 
 
 Manitoba Legislature, 1, 403. 
 Fhnt, Thomas B., and Manitoba 
 
 schools question, 2, 172. 
 Fond du Lac, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 
 post, 1, 532. 
 Forres, described, 1, 1-5; origin 
 of name, 3 n.; Anderson's Insti- 
 tution, 12; railway connection, 
 194. 
 Forres Pillar, 1, 4. 
 Forster. H. O., Arnold-. See Ar- 
 
 noId-Foister. 
 Forteacue, James, on rights of win- 
 tering partners, 1, 426-428, 508, 
 509, 512, 513: on steamers, 512; 
 on S. and Directorate of Com. 
 pany, 2, 35. 
 Foster, A 6., and Pacific Railway 
 
 scandal, 1, 464, 467. 
 Foster, George E., and ministerial 
 crisis (1896). 2. 153; and site for 
 nigh Commissioner's ofHce, 414. 
 Fox, value of fur, 1, 81. 
 Fraaer, .Malcolm, seigniory, 1, 52 
 '''■^«'',,Siraon, explorations, 1, 15, 
 
 10; character, 16 «. 
 Eraser, Thomas, correspondence 
 withS., 1, 163, 165, 191; on win- 
 tering partners and reorganiza- 
 tion of Company, 181. 182: on 
 S., 228. 
 Fraser River, discovery, 1, 16 
 Fur-trade. See Hudson's Bay Co 
 Strathcona (Hudson's Bay Cit I 
 Free-traders, Alaskan competition 
 j!52I^M2.2, II, 18. I9,22^24;in 
 North-West Territories (18731. 
 535. 536. 2, 205; S. on, 1, 5i6:'in 
 British Columbia, 2, 24. 
 French Canadians, and North- 
 West Territory (1869), I, 238- 
 S.on, 2,144 i55B.:224,254,276. 
 !• urness. Sir Christopher, and fast 
 Canadian line, 2, 386. 
 
 Sii 
 
Index 
 
 Gaddy, in Rid Rebellion, 1. 361. 
 
 Gait, Sir Alexander T., tafiS pol- 
 icy, Montreal protest (1866), 1, 
 309-211; in Ministry, 224; reso- 
 lution for Pacific Railway, 459; 
 Canadian High Commisnoner. 
 a, 216. 
 
 Gardiner, A. G., aphonsm on S., 
 a, 230«. 
 
 Gardiner, J. P.,at opening of Mani- 
 toba Legislature, 1, 403. 
 
 Garry, Fort, »i.i«ed by Riel, !« 277. 
 
 Gauvin, H. A.. Canadian rebel, 1, 
 54. 
 
 George V, visit to Canada, pre- 
 cautions, 8, 384, 385. 416- 
 
 Georgetown, Minn., Hudson's Bay 
 Co. post, massacre, 1, 316. 
 
 Germany, restrictions on emigra- 
 tion, a, 281. 288, 291-393. 297. 
 
 300; complaints of Canadian 
 activity, 393, 294; and Canadian 
 preferential tarin law, 253; S. on 
 militarism, 438. 
 
 Girard, M. A., in Manitoba Assem- 
 bly. 1, 403. 
 
 Gladstone, William E., and S.'s 
 report on Riel Rebellion, 1, 374. 
 
 Gla^ow, bank failure, a, I7- 
 
 Glyn, C. C, and reorganization of 
 Hudson's Bay Co., i, 177. 
 
 Glyn, Henry, and reorganiaition 
 of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, I77- 
 
 Godbout, Hudson^s Bay Co. post, 
 1, 77,78.88. 
 
 Goddu, T. H., Canadian rebel, 1, 
 54. 
 
 Goodridge, Hunt & Henley's ^ent 
 in Labrador, 1, 167. 
 
 Goschen, Geoi^ J., Governor of 
 Hudson's Bay Co.. a, 16; and 
 Imperialism, 227; from S. on 
 development of Hudson's Bay 
 region. 245. 
 
 Goudy, Joe. of Labrador, 1, 142. 
 
 Gouin. Sir Lomer, tribute to S., a, 
 457. 
 
 Governor-Generalship, S. and sug- 
 gestion, a, 268, 354. , 
 
 Grahame. Cyril, at opening of 
 Manitoba Legislature. 1, 403. 
 
 Grahame, J. Ogden, to S. on treat- 
 ment by the Company 3, 185. 
 
 Grahame. James A., and Deed Poll 
 
 controversy, 1> 222; Chief Com- 
 missioner of Hudson's Bay Co. 
 
 543; wintering partners on, %» $, 
 4, 8. 35. 36; and S., 36. 
 
 Grand rail, described, 1, no. 
 
 Grand Trunk Railway, and con- 
 struction of transcontinental line, 
 1, 172, 459 : hostility to Canadian 
 Pacific, a, 110, Ii3n- 
 
 Grant, and contest over S. s pa- 
 pers. 1, 33» «• 
 
 Grant of Elchies, Baron, !» 6. 
 
 Grant. Cuthbert, fur-trader, 1, 18. 
 
 Grant, G. M., on Hudson's Bay 
 Co. and land-holding, 1, 525; on 
 Dawson route, i, 53- 
 
 Grant. James, clerk at North-West 
 River post, 1, 106: marriage and 
 divorce, 120. 
 
 Grant, Lewis, and S., 1, 57; and 
 Rebellion of 1838, 69. 
 
 Grant, Sir Ludovick, and clan 
 lands. 1| 6. 
 
 Grant, Ulysses S.. and Chicora m- 
 cident. 1, 385-387- 
 
 Grant, William, career, 1, 30, 24, 
 
 25* 
 
 Grant clan, 1, 6. 
 
 Granville, Earl, and transfer of 
 North-West Territory, 1, 245; 
 and Riel Rebellion, 337, 343 «-. 
 381, 383; and Canadian fisher- 
 ies, 414' „ - 
 
 Great Northern Railway. See St, 
 Paul and Pacific. 
 
 Greenway, Thomas, and Mani- 
 toba schools question, a, 156, 
 161, 166, 168. , , 
 
 Grcnfell, Wilfred T., on life m Lab- 
 rador, 1, 121 ; on economic waste 
 there. 239; recollections of S.. 2, 
 477-482. 484. 
 
 Grey, Earl, appointment to Gov- 
 ernor-Generalship, 2, 399. 400; 
 Landsdowne on, 401; and anti- 
 Japanese riots at Vancouver, 411; 
 project for Dominions House. 
 
 GnSaht^haries P., and Deed Poll 
 
 controversv. 1, 233. 
 Griffith. William L.. at S.'s funeral. 
 
 a, 463; as S.'s secretary. 494- 
 Gzowski, C.S.,and Pacific Railway 
 
 scandal. 1, 464. 
 
 Hallock. Charles, on trade at Hud- 
 son's Bay Co. post. 1, 106; on 
 S.'s farm at North-West River, 
 
 512 
 
Index 
 
 I3J, Il6: on a Ubrador home, 
 138. 
 
 HamburK-American Company and 
 emigration to Canada, 1,396-301 
 
 Hamburger NaekHclttm, on enu- 
 gration to Canada, 8, 304. 
 
 Hamilton, John, and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 467. 
 
 Hamilton, Robert, and S., 1, 96; 
 on Committee of 1857, 149; at 
 opening of Manitoba Legiila- 
 ture, 403; on claim of wintering 
 partners, 439; on O'Donohue's 
 invasion, 448: on S., 499, a, 2, 
 3; to McFarlane on Manitoba 
 election, 1, 534; on steamer, 
 council of officers, S. as head of 
 
 fur-trade, 539; on Governorship 
 fof S.^lands, i, 7; to S., on retir- 
 
 Ste Esquimaux 
 
 ing_, 10. 
 Hamilton Inlet 
 
 Bay, 1, 97. 
 Hareourt, Sir William Vernon, at 
 
 S. s funeral, 8, 463, 
 Hardisty, George, in Hudson's Bay 
 
 Co., X, 145. 
 Hardisty, Henry, 1, 119; in Hud- 
 son's Bay Co., 1451 to S. on con- 
 dition of Plains Indians (1873), 
 533; search for cart route, i, 8. 
 Hardisty, Isabella, 1, 119; first 
 marriage, l3o; marries S. by 
 consent, 130. See also Strath- 
 cona (Lady). 
 
 Hardisty, Joseph, in Hudson's Bay 
 Co., 1, 145. 
 
 Hardisty, Maria, 1, 1 19. 
 
 Hardisty, Richard, Sr., chief trad- 
 er at Esquimaux Bay, 1, 119; 
 and death of Simpson, 154- 
 death, 154, 203. 
 
 Hardisty, Richard, Jr., in Hudson's 
 Bay Co., 1, 145; with S. in Red 
 River region, 307, 323, 324 ». 
 326, 338. 
 
 Hardisty, Mrs. Richard (Suther- 
 land), 1, 119. 
 
 Hardisty, Thomas, 1, 119; in Hud- 
 son's Bay Co., 145. 
 
 Hardisty, William L., in Hudson's 
 Bay Co., I, 145; to S. on Yukon 
 trade, 532; retires, S, 18. 
 
 Hargrave, death, 1, 303. 
 
 Harmsworth, Alfred, as popular 
 
 Harper, on gold in British Colum- 
 bia, 8, 13. 
 ^^^ven, Jens, Moravian missionary 
 
 in Labrador, 1, 132. 
 Hay, Henry, of Labrador, 1, 143 
 Hay, John, on apostles of British 
 
 Imperialism. 8, 255. 
 Hay River. Hudson's Bay Co 
 
 post, 1, 533. 
 "'»<•, Sir Edmund, Governor of 
 Hudson s Bay Co., 1, 183. I86- 
 on policy of reorganized Com- 
 pany. 184; and opening of North- 
 West Territory. 189; and offer 
 of American syndicate. 331- 
 death. 226. 
 Henry. Sir Edward, on precaution' 
 for visit of Prince of Wales to 
 Canada. 8, 416, 
 Herschel, Lord, (and Imperial In- 
 stitute. 8, 248; American Joint 
 Conference. 323. 
 Hcsperia. suggested name for 
 North-West territory, 1, 174 n. 
 Mill, James J., first meeting with 
 ^.. 1, 368; and Riel Rebellion. 
 308; steamers on Red River. 8, 
 45: and St. Paul and Pacific Ry., 
 60, 61, 65 «.. 64; to S.. on rates 
 to Winnipeg. 67; Farley's suit 
 against, 70-73; Canadian Pacific 
 Syndicate, 98, 104. 
 Hinclts, A. S., and Pacific Railway 
 
 scandal, 1, 464. 
 
 Hind, Henry Y., on salmon trade 
 
 of Labrador, 1, 128; report on 
 
 Ked River region, 168. 
 
 Hoar, E. R., 00 arbitration, 1, 418 
 
 Hodgson, James S., Director of 
 
 Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 186. 
 
 Holton, L. H., and Riel, 1, 496 n. 
 
 Hoptans, E. M., and Simpson's 
 
 book, 1, 74 «.; and investment 
 
 of savings of Company's em- 
 
 ployees, 216; retires, 336. 
 
 Hosmer, C. R., on S.'s carelessness 
 
 of health, 8, 489. 
 Howard, Arthur, 8, 148 n. 
 Howard, Donald S. P., 8, 148. 
 Howard, Edith, 8, 148 n. 
 Howard, Frances M. P., 8, 148 fi 
 Howard, Robert H. P., 8, 148 n. 
 Howard, Robert J. B., marriage 
 to S.'s daughter, 8, 148 
 
 t ^ i — ' ^"' " pwijuioi lu a. s aaugnter, x. 14s. 
 
 Kf.!;- ( ^"' •'*^'' '" """"« "<"™' J°«P''- "nd transfer of 
 Colonial Premiers, 359-264. I North-West Territory, 1, 335; 
 
 513 
 
Index 
 
 and Mimy o( Red River region. 
 944; miMion and advice to Red 
 River region, 3Si-a6o, 380; con- 
 duct towards McDougall, 360- 
 364; and S.'t appointment at 
 commiMioner to Red River, 373, 
 303-307: realizes blunder, 374, 
 375: letter from McDougall, 
 385; on McDougall's illegal proc- 
 bmation, 389, 390; to McDou- 
 gatl on S.'s miwion, 319; S.'a 
 reports to. 340*343. 348, 349. 
 350; on S.'i Krvices at commis- 
 lioner, 364. 3*5; on S.'s report, 
 370: and delegates from North- 
 W"t.377. „. . ... 
 
 Hudson s Bay, S- s interest in rail- 
 way and steamship line, St 344~ 
 346. 
 
 Hudson's Bay Company, Simpson 
 as head. 1, 59-63. 67, 70, 154: 
 policy towards employees, 63- 
 65, 164; King's Posts, 7.5-77' 
 
 Kllshed, 383: coalescence with 
 lorth-West Company, uo; 
 Northcote and reorganisation, 
 505; Alaskan posts, 510-513; 
 
 steamers on rivers, 513. 530, S^i. 
 53^-539. >• 6-8. 37. J4: decline 
 of fur-trade, 1, f 15. 517. >• I3; 
 proposed rivals in fur-trade, 1, 
 519, 530, S, 187; retrenchment 
 in fur-trade, 1, 533, 8, 3. 3. 14> 
 181, 183. 195. 203, 303; profits, 
 land policy, 1, 535. 536, 8, 33, 
 198, 303, 503; competition from 
 Alaska, 1, 5^6-533. >* H. l8. 
 19, 33-34: and free-traders, 1, 
 
 535. 536, t* 34-37. 305; problem 
 of servants, 1, 537: proposed 
 sale of reserved lands to Canada, 
 
 8, 7: and Indians, 9, 38, 
 grade of Insjiecting Chief Fac- 
 tor, 9, 10; price of furs (1876), 
 11; Victoria as fur-market, 36; 
 in extreme North, 38; change in 
 Directorate (1883), 33-35! de- 
 terioration of personnel, 180- 
 i8a; character of later Chief 
 Commissioners, 183, 184, 186; 
 decline of salmon industry, 184; 
 ignorance of the Board on fur- 
 trade, 190; history, 197 «•; "** 
 death with death of S., 3 10; 
 present activities illustrated, 
 311; fur-trade commissions issued 
 (i82i-i905),3i2. 5«o/joStrath- 
 cona {Hudson's Bay Co.), Win- 
 tering partners. 
 Hughes, Katherine, on Lestanc 
 
 and Riel Rebellion, 1, 333 «• 
 Hughes, Samuel, suggests S. for 
 Premier, 8, 154; and South Afri- 
 can War. 334: and S:rathcona s 
 Horse,339. 3451 breach with Hut- 
 ton, apology, 345; on Dundon- 
 ald in Canada, 395, 398: on S. s 
 proposed resignation, 431. 
 Hun: 9c Henley, operations in Lab- 
 ra 01. 1, 130, 163. 164, 166; sell 
 out to Hudson's Bay Co., 167. 
 Huntingdon, Lucius S.. and Pa- 
 cific Railway scandal, 1, 469. 
 Hurlbatt, Ethel, on S. and Aber- 
 deen University quater - cente- 
 nary, 3, 408; recollections of S., 
 
 tSibiroCer transtw, 2"^', W. Hufton^Edward, and Strathcona's 
 367, 380-383; transfer accom- 1 Horse, 8, 339. 340. 343. 3m: 
 
 packing of furs, 79-81; chan;;e 
 from beaver to money as st id- 
 ard of value, 81, 113. 114 ^up- 
 
 Sly ship and Indian trade, 106: 
 lascopie post and route, 109- 
 III; post at Ungava Bay, m, 
 165; relations with Labrador 
 planters, 140; Committee of 
 1857. 148-153; unconscientious- 
 ness, 155; and Newfoundland 
 taxes, 167; Canadian demand 
 for control and opening of North- 
 West, 168-172; reontanization 
 and negotiations for transfer 
 of North-West (1862), 173-179. 
 186-18Q, 317. 234-236: Direc- 
 tors of reorganized Company, 
 186; investment of savings of 
 employees, 315. 216; American 
 offer for territory, 333: terms of 
 transfer to Canada. 336, 245- 
 347; effect of Dominion Act on 
 political power, 2;^8 n., 340 n.; 
 and trade with Minnesota, 240; 
 popular Canadian misconcep- 
 tion of operatives and personnel, 
 270-273; local officials and Riel 
 Rebellion, 274, 277-383, 384 n. 
 286, 292. 295. 296, 298, 299 « 
 300, 301, 308. 339 n., 346, 348 n., 
 349. 356 n , 373, 397-399. 436; 
 
breKh with Canadian Miniitrv 
 344.349-3SJ; Hugli«.'i apology, 
 
 Iddnleigh. Lord. Sei Northcolt. 
 Iminigration, Canadian, condi- 
 
 ne«d, t, 238, 141, J70, .14. hi. 
 
 donald Minirtry, J39. 340; and 
 railway rate, 343, ,04; practical 
 character o( S.', addre«e., 14,; 
 »■ and non-Briti.li, a8o. Jo',- 
 Continental prohibition, and re- 
 atriction, to emigration, 381 
 M7-J93. as?. 300; method of 
 propaganda on Continent, j8i- 
 387. »94-396| and South Ameri- 
 can propaganda. 283, 38j » • 
 propaganda and Britiah foreign 
 relations. 39J; attitude of (ler- 
 man trana-Atlantic lines. 396- 
 
 Ki'i.k "'""°™!!' ■'03: S. and 
 British. 305-309; freak plan, for 
 
 1°?°""K'I;k. 309. 3>o; North 
 Atlantic Trading Co., llo-nv 
 amount (1897-191J), 314 »! 
 denunciation, 433. 
 
 Imperial Institute, decline, S. and 
 restoration. 2, 346-348. 
 
 Imperialiam. S. on, 3, 333. 134 17 . 
 376, 377; S.', advocacy of 'pref- 
 erential duties, 335-329: S. on 
 development of dmuli and. 
 235: 1897 as turning point, 250 
 376j»78; Canada's preferential 
 tariff law. 253, 275; S. and colo- 
 nial representation, 369, i7«- s 
 and colonial federaSonT 374' 
 3597361; reciprocity in prefer- 
 Wk l.'-™' 3,^6-338; S. on 
 Jouth African War and, I6v 
 t-haniberlain's tariff reform. 387- 
 390; S. on services of Chamber- 
 Iain, 391-393; and attempted 
 American-Canadian reciprocity. 
 429, 430; S. and naval assistance! 
 
 Indians. Montagnais, I, 85, 80 90- 
 Nascopie, 102-105, 'M! and 
 transfer of North-West Terri- 
 tory, 247, 263; and Riel Rehel- 
 n a •? V^^'*' Chipewyans, 533; 
 Buffalo Lake, 532; Crees and 
 Blacfcfeet, 533; Circees, 534; 
 treatment by Hudson's Bay Co 
 
 Index 
 
 515 
 
 «. 9. >«, 188; deatilution of 
 
 Northern (1881), 37, 
 Inkster, Colin, on S. at Fort Garry 
 , 1.343". 
 Inspecting Chief Factor, grade 1 
 
 9. 10. ' * 
 
 InUrnaHanal. on Red River, J, 340, 
 
 International Financial Society 
 and reorganization of Hud»n's 
 
 I ^i''J~°\^' '79' "°. '»7- 
 riih Republican Union, 1, 330 
 
 Ubister, Alexander K.. before Com- 
 mittee of 1857. 1, ,j,; and S., 
 196, 219; career, 196; on fund for 
 wintering partners, 502. 
 
 Isle Jer^mie, Hudson's Bay Co 
 post, 1, 78. ' 
 
 JapancK, Vancouver riots 2, 411 • 
 suggestetl policy for Canada to.' 
 wards, 412, 413. 
 Jarvis, S. t> at Winnipeg. 1, 403. 
 Joint Hieh CommissVn, intpSr- 
 tance of Alabama claims. 1, Jo,, 
 4"o, 418; fisheries question as 
 excuse, 410, 41,; Canadian in- 
 terests and diKord among Brit- 
 lai comminioners, 411-418; free 
 navigation of Alaskan rivent 
 4'7; arbitration, 418, 410 
 Jordan. VVilliam. and S.. 1, 86. 
 Jubilee of 1897, and Imperialism, 
 ,• "y"', 276; Harmsworth's party 
 for Colonial Premiers, ivPif,!- 
 Dominion Day Banquet; 266 
 267. 
 
 Kane. Paul, on pettiness of Sir 
 
 aZris^"""' *■'«'"*•" 
 
 Keith, James, 1, 31 
 Kelvin, Lord, jubilee, 2, 230 
 Kempt, Sir James, on Canadian 
 
 immigrants, 1, 50 
 Kennedy, John S., and Canadian 
 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 465; and St. 
 
 Paul and Pacilic Railway, 2, 64, 
 
 05: ;»nd Farley suit. 70-73; Ca- 
 
 nadian Pacific Syndicate, 98. 
 Kernaghan. William, letter from 
 
 ^■. 1, 146; before Committee of 
 „.'*57. I5t- 
 Kimberley, Lord, and Canadian 
 
 hsheries, », 413; and amnesty for 
 
 Riel Rebellion, 450. 
 
Index 
 
 King, E. II.. mMti S., 1, JIJ; S.'t 
 comniercjat ronnection, 2ay 
 
 Kini'i PMt«. characttr, 1, 75-77^ 
 
 Kipling, Kudyard, on Canada, I, 
 35i, 354; and Impcriaiiim, 353; 
 S. and " KecMaionai," J78. 
 
 Kitchcnrr, Earl of, and Strath- 
 conii'-* Horie, Si 367. 
 
 Kittion, Norman W., agent at St. 
 Paul, 1, lAo; and S.. 3<i, }'>>• 
 on Kiel Kebellion, 31s ".; Ked 
 River iteamers, St 4b; and St. 
 Paul and Facilic Railway. 61, 
 63fi.,64, 71: Farley'tfuit against, 
 70-73. 
 
 Kl<>ndyke gold discovery, S. and.Si 
 34H. 
 
 Kohn. Reinach & Co., Canadian 
 Pacific Syndicate, 8, 98. 
 
 Kruger, Paul, S. on, S, 329- 
 
 Laberge, free-trader. It 527._ 
 
 Labouchere, Henry, apnoriam on 
 S., S, 334 n.; on Imperial Inati- 
 tute, 347- . ^ , 
 
 Labrador, S. and lalnion trade, 1, 
 127-131; S. and resourcea. 136. 
 137. 314. 328, 239: economic 
 waste, 239: decline in salmon 
 industry, 2, 184, 185; conditions 
 (1900). 207. 
 
 Labrador, 1, 214. 332. 
 
 Labrador tea-plant. li 136- 
 
 Labradorite. S.'s interest, 1> 130. 
 
 Lachine, situation. 1» 58 ». 
 
 Lacombe, Pf re Albert, missionary, 
 
 1, 88; to Laurier on Manitoba 
 schoolsquestion, S, 173. 
 
 Lady Head, Hudson s Bay to. 
 
 boat, 1| 54!- 
 Laidlaw. cC plan for railway, li 
 
 Laird, David, to S. on Indians, S, 
 
 Lake, Col., and Canadian militia, 
 
 2, 351 . 
 Lake St. John. Hudson's Bay Co. 
 
 post. 1, 76 «• . ,, J , 
 
 Lake of Two Mountains. Hudson s 
 
 Bay Co. post, 1, 72. 
 Lalonde, Paul, free-trader, 1, 536 
 Lampson. Sir Curtis M.. Director 
 of Hudson's Bay Co.. 1, 186, 
 194; S. on. 195; onS.. 334; and 
 transfer of North-West Terri- 
 tory, 246; from S. on Red River 
 
 missfcrn, 368; threatens to resign, 
 407; letter from S., 412; and free 
 fur-trade, St 25. 
 
 Lands ol Hudson's Bay Company, 
 under transfer of North-West to 
 Canada. 1, 33ft; wintering part- 
 ners and snare in. 430, 507, 5 IS. 
 S30. S, 13, 31. 39, 30, 38. 44, 183, 
 301. 303; management and prof- 
 its. 1, J35. IS». t 7. 33' '9». 
 503: S. in charge, 1, 543; P«>* 
 posed sale to Canada, S, 7; S. re- 
 tires from Commissionership, 30. 
 
 Langevin, Sir Hector L.. and am- 
 nesty for Kiel Rebellion. 1, 451- 
 453. iS*" ""' Pacific Railway 
 scandal, 467. 
 
 Langevin, Louis P. A., and Mani- 
 toba schoolsquestion. S, 161. 179. 
 
 Lansdowne, Marquis of, and Ca- 
 nadian troops, 2, 338; and Strath- 
 
 cona's Horse, 338, 3*9; "" Earl 
 
 Grey, 401 : at S. s funeral, 463. 
 La Pierre's House, Hudson's Bay 
 
 Co. post, 1, 530, 531. 
 Lapp House. Hudson s Bay Co 
 
 post. 1, 511. 
 Laprairie. in Rebellion of 1838, 1, 
 
 La Rocque, Felix, fur-trader, \, 43. 
 
 Laacelles, Sir Frank, and Cana- 
 dian immigration propaganda, 
 S, 294, 398. 
 
 Laurie. H. J., ami S. s statement, 
 1, 197, 398. 
 
 Laurier.Sir Wilfrid, on Pacific Rail- 
 way scandal. It 474 n.; and Man- 
 itoba schools question, St !'><>. 
 173-175, 177-179: and S. as Hit;h 
 Commissioner. 331; letters from 
 S.. 347. 357, 383, 393. 3". 32(i 
 327. 336. 34». 358. 383.387, 424 
 Ministry, 251; plans for recep- 
 tion in England (1897), 259-361; 
 at Harmsworth's reception. 363. 
 264: G. C. M.G.. 364: correspond- 
 ence with S. on fast Atlantic 
 service. 370-374; and bill on mar- 
 riage to deceased wife's sister ,316, 
 317; American Joint Conference. 
 332: on Minto's appointment. 
 324; Redistribution Bill, 339-- 
 331; and resolution on Impenat 
 supremacy in South Africa, 331- 
 333; and Canadian troops for 
 Sout " 
 
 outh Africa, 338; breach with 
 
 516 
 
Index 
 
 Hulton, 144, M9-]U; and ipr- 
 cmI battuhun fur KAodctJa, 35J; 
 and Strathcona's Hone, 368; 
 oppo«e« oAcial colonial ban- 
 
 3uet to Chamberlain, 390; Oun- 
 onald controveray, J9S~J98: 
 and appointment 01 Earl Grey, 
 3V), 400: and All-Ked Route, 
 40], 404, 406, 107; and •latua o( 
 Agente-Generaf in London, 414, 
 416; and S.'a propoial to resign 
 (1910). 415. 4J6; fall of MinV 
 try, 431: tribute to S., 456. 
 Laval Univeriity, S. on, 8, 13}, 
 Lavallie, Mayor, tribute to S., 3, 
 
 461. 
 Lawson. J. H., on neglect ofold 
 olficert. new Commiiaioner, I, 
 1S3. 
 L«blanc, Pin, on terms Canada 
 
 and Quebec, t, 83. 
 Leith, Jamei, and John Stuart, 1, 
 38, 31. 33: miisionary fund, 33 B. 
 Leniay, Joseph, and Kiel Rebellion, 
 
 1, 3I1». 
 L«pme, Ambroise D., in Riel Rebel- 
 lion, 1, 267, 347, 361 ; and O'Don- 
 ohue's invanicn, 447: bribe to 
 leave country. 455-45*. 474, 478 
 
 Lubbe, free-trader, t, J5. 
 
 Luxton, W. K.. kller from S,, », 85. 
 Lyall Irforge, and reorganiaation 
 
 of Hudson a Hay Co . 1, 177 ino 
 Lytteltor.. Alfred and Uundonald 
 
 cont.uversy, I, 397, 3,11: rf:a- 
 
 ttona with S., 400. 
 Lytton, Lord, on S.'i activity, 1; 
 
 485 1. 
 
 MacArthur, D., and claim of i"in. 
 tiring partners, 1, 4J3; on Deed 
 I'oll and proposed new fur-trade 
 company, jij, 518, ji,; on free- 
 trader., 535. 
 
 .MarAiilay, promotion, 1, 517, 
 
 Macbeth, connection with Forres 
 1. I. 
 
 McBride, Sir Richard, and status 
 of Agent-General in London t* 
 4l3-4lfc 
 
 McCarthy, Dalton, and Manitoba 
 schools (luestion, 2, 170. 
 
 McCIintock, K. Leopold, in Lab- 
 rador, and S., I, 157-161. 
 
 ■McDermott. Henry, and election 
 during Riel Kebelliun. 1, 356 n.; 
 and Canadian Pacific Raflwav 
 .47- 
 
 indictedformurderolScott.495: McDonald. Archibald from S on 
 
 commuted sentence, 496. economy, 1, j; at Cariton » 
 
 Lestanc, P4re, and contest over S.sMacdonald, James, and picific 
 
 oaoers. 1. 1,1 1., „«. H..„. Railway «:andal. 1, 475. 
 
 Macdonald. Sir John A., and nego. 
 tiationa for North-West Terri- 
 tory. I, 186, J35. 243; Ministry. 
 224; and surveyfl in the Terri- 
 
 k»«.t«., 1 tit. aiiu tuiiLcst over 3. s 
 
 P^PSr'i *(,33'' 3M. 33*; conduct 
 in Riel Rebellion. 333 n.; and 
 execution of Scott, 356, 358. 
 
 ners. 2, 190; at S.'s funeral ''^t 
 -^ ' Tebet 
 
 Lindsay. James, and Riel Reb 
 
 Lichfield. Lord, and wintering part- 
 " S.'8 funeral * 
 
 lion, 1, 381. 383. 
 Liquor, in fur-trade. 1, 527, 08, 
 Lisgar. Lord. See Young (John). 
 Lloyd-George. David, on All-Red 
 
 Route, 2, 407. 
 Lockhart. J., on claim of wintering 
 
 partners, 1, 439, 506; on new 
 
 Deed Poll. 521. 
 Lodge. Henry, of Labrador. 1, 139. 
 London Chronicle, on S.'s appoint- 
 ment as High Commissioner, S, 
 
 215- 
 London Times, on Strathcona's 
 
 Horse, S, 341. 
 Lome, Marquess of. See Argyll 
 Lowe, Robert, and S., 1, 195. 
 Loyalty, S. on Canadian, 2, 224, 
 
 237. 275. 277, 3>5- 
 
 517 
 
 '"T. 242, 243; and transfer <A 
 the Territory, 246; letter from 
 Howe on Riel iLjbellion (1869), 
 256; regardji S. as Simpson's 
 successor, 271., belated advice to 
 McDougall, 27V 276. 282 »., 
 293 "•; on McDougall's illegal 
 proclamation, 288. 289; confer- 
 ence with S. on Rebellion, 297- 
 35>l; appointment and instruc- 
 tions to S. a.^ commissioner, 303- 
 306; and S.'s request for Privy 
 Councillorship, 312; S.'s reports 
 to. 326: and TacM. 343 n. ; antic- 
 ipates S.'s failure. 366 ».; and 
 delegates from North-West, 377 
 440; illness (1870). 378; and 
 LMcora incident. 385; on fisher- 
 ies question. 408; in Joint High 
 
Index 
 
 a, 410-418: on future 
 
 ■trnifth and loyally o( Canadiij 
 4JI ; on danger of aniwKutiun of 
 wcMcrn lerritory by Uniied 
 State*, 4j6: on Feniaiu and RicI 
 KebellKHi, 459. 440; «nd O'- 
 Donohuc'a invaaion and Kiel. 
 447: and amnesty (or Riel Kebel- 
 fion. 451-454; "nd bribe to Kiel, 
 
 45«r438. 474. .47»-4*/: ■**"f''''' 
 Railway ■candal. fall of Mimetry, 
 467-47B; breach with S.. 473, 
 476-478. 497. «. 78. 81-8.1. 87, 
 91, oa, 98; oppoMe* ledH to St. 
 Paul and Pacific Railway, 66. 
 76-78, 8i-*j: return of Miniitry, 
 
 eiticy at to transcontinental 
 ailway, 93-94; negotiationi (or 
 private latruction, 94-98: and 
 confttr on loani to Canadian 
 Pacifi 'OS, locf; reconciliation 
 with * 134: death, 15a; on im- 
 migration, 339. 
 McDonald, K., to S., on competi- 
 tion from Alaika.t, 11, 18, 33- 
 34: on free-traders, market for 
 fun, 35. 
 Macdonald, Sir William, tariff let- 
 ter (rom George Stephen, 1, 31 a, 
 McDonell, Sir James, and Rebellion 
 
 o( 1838, 1, 69. 
 McDougall, James, in Yukon trade, 
 1. 510-513; to S. on competi- 
 tion from Alaska. 536; death, I, 
 ao8. 
 McDougall, William, and Cana- 
 dian claim to Red River region. 
 1, 188: and negotiations for its 
 trans(er, 335. 236. 246: and sur- 
 vey o( region, 343: appointment 
 to North-West Territory, 245 «., 
 253; character and frustrated 
 hopes. 355. 268 ».: Howe's 
 conduct toward, 357, 360-364; 
 barred out, 36^, 367, 3B4; Mac- 
 tavish's warnmg and advice, 
 365-367: and Hudson's Day Co, 
 officials. 274 H., 278-283. 286, 
 392: Macdonald'fl belated ad- 
 vice, 275, 276; furniture seize<l, 
 283; illegal proclamation, 284- 
 290, 292; accuses Canadian Gov- 
 ernment of deserting him, 290 M.; 
 attempt to confer with Riel, 290- 
 392; departs, 293; on false re- 
 ports, 312 n.; meeting with S., 
 
 317-3*0: 
 lavish on 
 
 379 H.; Mac- 
 
 MacDowair, IXH., on S and win- 
 tering partners, t, aoa. 
 
 McEwen, ofTer for Hudson's Bay 
 Co. territory. !« 223. 
 
 MarFarlane, C. F., letter from 
 Adams, t* ao6. 
 
 MacKarlane, Roflerick, and claim 
 of wintering partners, 1. 419- 
 424, S, 13, 28; acknowledgment 
 to, 1, 499 If.; on competition in 
 Alaska, 536, 537: letters from R. 
 Hamilton. 534, S39, i> 3; to S, 
 on need of steamers and servants, 
 i> 537: establishes Fort Smith, 
 539: letters (rom S., a, 17,21.34: 
 memorial to the Company, 36- 
 38: letter (rom Butler, 41: (rom 
 Bell, 194; protest on treatment 
 of old omcers, 198-301; medal, 
 308. 
 
 McGill, James, endowment for 
 McGill University, 1, 56. 
 
 McGill, Peter, Mayor of Montreal, 
 
 1,70- 
 McGill University, endowment, 1, 
 56: S.'s inauguration as Chancel- 
 lor, S» 148; problem of law school. 
 
 150: truuble over South African 
 War, 358. 359: stud* 
 
 ception of S.. 37a, , 
 
 to S., 459, 460; S.'s benefactioni, 
 
 , 373: tribute 
 
 499. 
 
 MacGillivray, Simon, It 27, 30. 
 
 MacGilHvray, William, 1, 27 n. 
 
 McGreevy, Thomas, and Pacific 
 Railway arandal, 1, 464. 
 
 McGrigor, Sir James. 1, ^3. 
 
 Machray, Robert, and Riel Rebel- 
 lion. 1, 307, 326. 3S4; at opening 
 of Manitoba Legislature, 403. 
 
 Mclnnes, D., plan for railway, 1, 
 463. 
 
 Mclntyre, Duncan, Canadian Pa- 
 cific Syndicate. 8, 98. 
 
 McKcnny, Henry, on Howe in Red 
 River region, 1, 257, 258. 
 
 McKenzie, promotion, 1, 537. 
 
 Mackenzie, Alexander, and seating 
 of S., 1, 404: and Pacific Railway 
 scandal, 475; and Hudson's Bay 
 Co. lands, 2, 7: and transconti- 
 nental railway, 49; and route 
 throURh Manitoba, 74, 75: fall of 
 Government, 80, 
 
 5>8 
 
i ndex 
 
 Maclniult. Ftrdliuiid, to S. on dc 
 tsnoralion of the ComiMnv 1 
 lai. "^ ' ' 
 
 Mackeniw, P«w. tmm from S„ 
 1, 4>. »5, ao6; S.t meat, jo6. 
 
 »IrKfnii«, Kodnicli, and UkiI 
 l^ll controvcriy. J, jjj; ,„d 
 rUim of winlerinii pannm, 4Jj; 
 and fund lo recompcnac winter- 
 in| panneri, 301-304; un r«ir- 
 ■ng, S16; un oividendi ' 
 
 ^.. „.-. ... -.,.„,„,.., 34j; to 
 s. on lorrowfi ol winterin( pan- 
 nni.liio, iai;onr>aHin(ofold 
 omciala. Manitoba, 31. 
 
 Mackcniie. Samuel, and Deud Poll 
 controversy, 1, ajj. 
 
 Mackenzie River l-liitrict, value 
 It 531; policy toward (isij)' 
 
 McKinnev, and annexation, I, 441 
 
 McLaughlin, John, proclamatioti to 
 the Indiani, 1, 151, ijj; charac- 
 ter, 153. 
 
 McLean, John, and Kiel Rebellion, 
 >| 3S>, J54. 3SJ, JJ6 ». 
 
 McLean, John, on Simpion, 1, 61 • 
 on lervKT In Hudaon's Bay Co., 
 
 ' ^5; on KHC|uimaux, 108: eatab- 
 IiaheB Nan'opie post, 109. 
 
 McLeod, Roderick, 1, 3«, 31. 
 
 McLoughtin, John, birthplace 1 
 53 ». 
 
 McMullen, George W., and Cana- 
 dian Pacific Railway, 1, 461, 
 46* ».; Allan's letter! to, 463; 
 blackmail, ibo, 470. 
 
 McMurray, VVilliam, on Comniit- 
 
 5r j°n !.'"■ *• '5<>-'5»: and 
 Ueed Poll controversy, 222; and 
 O'Donohue's invasion, 448: to 
 S. on free-traders, 516: on gov- 
 ernment of North-West Terri- 
 tories, promotion, t, s, 9; abili- 
 ties, 9 ».; letter from S., 20. 
 
 Macnab, The, of Upper Ottawa, 1, 
 7'- 
 
 MacPherson, David L., and Pacific 
 Railway scandal, 1, 459, 463,464 
 
 MacPherson. Joseph, clerk at 
 North-West River post, 1, lo6; 
 adventure, 112. 
 
 McQuestin, on Yukon, 8, 19. 
 
 Mactavish, Miss, letters from S 
 t, 128. 136. 
 
 Mactavish, D. C, to S, on decay 
 of fur-trade, S, 180. 
 
 519 
 
 McTavJih, DofuM. S. on, u o«. 
 
 car. t, M8. 
 Mactavish, Dugild, letter from S., 
 ». im: on death of Simp«in, 134: 
 at Washington, j>6. 
 McTavish, O. S., and claim of win- 
 tering partners, 1, 429; |«,er 
 from brother, 281 
 McTavish, J. H, on Riel Rebellion. 
 »■ 293 n.i in Manitoba Assembly. 
 405. ' 
 
 McTavish. William, .^nd Deed Poll 
 negotiations. 1 1.17, jji, ,uit 
 against tht I i .lum 226;<k>v. 
 wnor, 237 ■ .1 Hishop T.clii. 
 2.38; and tr,,i,l,i, ,,i .< ,,( j,.,,,,f 
 region. 2Vi .1,1 ..ni-ew.iiti t . 
 United --•,.,.., 3,1, J,,,; an^. 
 Howe, viMi -sd 2,,|, »„„, 
 McD.ii,s.ll ii.j .-.7; je.,i.v|, o, 
 ».. i'Hj II, .ttneil. ' y t'.!,--.*.!; ui 
 offici.iU jnd.ii:iiu>l> Ion ird Wil 
 Rehci!. in. 274, -7f-2..,i, ji-) n . 
 286, -•.)•, jcx,, j-,i,, ..,,,, „ j„a^ 
 309: 0,1 s*-U(!i of lurt (;,iriy 
 377, >9<>: o .>!. I),.|,air; con- 
 duct. 27». on Kii-r, ,la,„, .,7^,. 
 proclamation. :S ■ < n , at Kort 
 i-arr}'. 339 ».. .^ 1 . n , i^i,|-, „.. 
 pression. 346. 341, n., jjo; s, to 
 succeed, 369, 37^; and fxiver- 
 norship of Manitoba, 379 n.; 
 death, 391 ; and claim of winter- 
 ing partners, 422. 
 Mail. S. on preferential rate for 
 newspapers to Canada, t, 400. 
 401. 
 Mair. Charles, intrigue in Red River 
 
 region. 1, 257, 263. 
 Malmaros. Oscar, intrigue in Red 
 
 River region, 1, 241. 
 Manitoba. S, on future of region 
 (1857), 1. 146, 147, 153. 168, 
 109: parliamentary investigation 
 of control by Hudson's Bay Co., 
 I4^f53; provincial act, 378: 
 appointment of Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor, 379; origin of name, 400; 
 first Legislature, 401-404; S. 
 on resources and development 
 (1871), 40s. 406; S.'s speech on 
 (1872), 488-493; settlement, », 
 31; Red River steamers, 45, 46; 
 S. on railway needs (1H76), 50- 
 S5; route of Canadian Pacific 
 through, j6-59, 73-76. See alia 
 
 i> 
 
Index 
 
 Manitoba achools quertion, 
 North-We»t Territon', Kiel Re- 
 bellion, St. Paul and Pacific. 
 
 Manitoba.Kcd RiverBteamer,2,46. 
 
 Manitoba schools question, Cath- 
 olic demand for restoration of 
 ■eparate supported schools. 2, 
 155- (ailureof mediation of Privy 
 Council, 155. '56: Remedial Bill 
 in Parliament, problem, 156- 
 158, 165, 166: public opinion, 
 158; S.'s privi .e mission of con- 
 ciliation. 158-165. 170* .489: 
 position of provincial Mmiatry, 
 I6i, 162, 166; S. on precedent 
 of i«7i. 163-164: attitude of 
 Laurier, 166, i73-»75: S's 
 tpeech. 166-168; ministenal 
 commission to Winnipeg, 173; 
 commission's sugKestions for 
 ■ettlement. i75-'77; arrange- 
 ment, 177; S.and negotiations m 
 England, 178; S. on Archbishop 
 Langevin's action, 179. 
 
 Manitoban, on S., 1, 484. 485- , ^ 
 
 Marcbessault, S. , Canadian rebel, X, 
 
 54- 
 Markham, Sir Clements, on S. at 
 
 North-West rtiver, 1, 158. 
 Martin. Chester, on Howe in Rtd 
 
 River region, 1, 255; «" S. s 
 
 amnesty report, 496. 
 Marti.., Joseph, and Manitoba 
 
 schools question, 2, 171. 
 Masson, Madame, and Riel, 1| 241. 
 Masson, Luc H., Canadian rebel, 1, 
 
 54- 
 
 Master Cutlers' Company of Shef- 
 field, annual feast, 3. 236. 
 
 Matheson, and reorganization of 
 Hudson's Bay Co.. 1, 178. 
 
 Matheson, Alexander, to S. on fur- 
 trade. 1. 535; on steamer on Sas- 
 katchev —, 3| 6; on Directors. 
 16. _, ^ 
 
 Matheson, Duncan, on -■>. and the 
 kyak, 1, 115 n.: and destitution 
 at Ungava. i, 196. 
 
 Matthews, and Manitoba schools 
 question. 2, I79- , . . 
 
 Maynard, and reot^amiation of 
 Hudson's Bay Co., I, 178. 
 
 Maiocchi. Vincent, musical adver- 
 tisement, 1, 53 *•• , -. 
 
 Mcinertzhagen. Daniel, Director 
 of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 186. 
 
 Melville Lake, described, 1, 99- 
 
 iDi, 115. 
 Meredith, H. V., tribute to S., 2, 
 
 461. 
 Meubetshuan, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 
 post, 1, 76 n. 
 Miall, E., and Canadian Pacific, 3» 
 
 109. 
 Mites, Edward, and S., 1. 75. 
 Miles, George, on S.'s accounts, I, 
 
 80. 
 Military training, S.'s fund. 2* 420. 
 Militia, politics in Canadian, 2, 350, 
 
 395. 399 «• .. ^ , . 
 
 Mitnes, Robert, Canadian rebel, 1. 
 
 54* 
 
 Mingan, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 1, 
 77, 78, 90, 91, 96; attached to 
 Labrador district, 223. 
 
 Ministry, first of Dominion. 1, 334; 
 fall of Macdonald'-i, 472-478: 
 fall of Mackenzie's, 2, So; fall of 
 Topper's, 231; fall of Laurier's, 
 
 431- 
 
 Minneapolis Tribune, on annexa- 
 tion, 1, 437-439- 
 
 Minnesota, resolution for annexa- 
 tion of western Canada (1868). 
 1,436-439- , ^. 
 
 Minnesota. Red River steamer, 2, 
 46. 
 
 Minnesota and Picific Railway, 
 land grant, 2, 47. 
 
 Minto, F' -' of, Governor-General, 
 2, 32' .4; S.'s reception at 
 Montr^. *., 328; and viwt of Duke 
 of Cornwan. 384. 
 
 Missionaries, S. and Catholic, 1* 
 88, 223; and Moravian, 108, 109, 
 
 Mista'ssini, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 
 1, 76 «. 
 Moberty, promotion. I, 537. 
 Moisie, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 1, 
 
 76 «. 
 Molson, William. Grand Trunk 
 
 Railway. 1, 460 n. 
 Monrk, Viscount, and opening of 
 
 North-W* t Territory, 1, 187; on 
 
 Fenian raid, 206. 
 Montagnais Indians, traits and 
 
 customs, 1, 85, 89. 90. 
 Monterey, carries Strathcona's 
 
 Horse, 2, 347. 348. 
 Montreal, in 1838. 1, 54-57 ; and Re- 
 
 bellion of 183U, 69; S.on (1866), 
 
 520 
 
Index 
 
 ao4: protest on tariff reduction 
 (1866), 309-3II: S.'s first com- 
 mercial interests, 214, 225; S. 
 and commercial improvements, 
 S, 14a: Royal Victoria Hospital, 
 146: Royal Victoria College, 
 •,47. iS'. Hi. 377-380; recep- 
 
 ";°"». ^••M* '■?"?'■ •'72-374- See 
 
 also McGiil University. 
 Montreal Gazxtte, on commercial 
 
 effect of Atlantic cable, 1, J13 n. 
 Montreal Star, on S.'s peeraee. 3. 
 
 266. t- • . I 
 
 Moratrian, 1, 227, 
 Moravians, missionaries and Es- 
 quimaux, 1, 108; S.'s interest, 
 
 109, 132, 133. 
 Morayshire, aspect, 1, 2. 
 Morris, Alexander, campaign 
 
 against S. (1878), 9, 79. 
 Morton Rose & Co., Canadian 
 
 Pacific Syndicate, i, 98. 
 Mosquitoes, plague in Labrador, 
 
 1, 112. 
 Mount Royal, S. at launching, S, 
 
 314. 
 Mount Stephen, Lord. See Ste- 
 phen (George). 
 Mousseau, Joseph A., .ind Riel, 1, 
 
 496 B. 
 Mujgrave, Lord, tour with George 
 
 Simpson, 1, 74. 
 Munro, Alt tander, to S. on passing 
 
 of old ofiti.ers, 8, 194. 
 Murdock. Sir Clinton, and Riel 
 
 Rebellion, 1, 382; and amnesty, 
 • 453. 
 Muskapis, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 
 it 76 ff. 
 Musquarro, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 
 post, 1, 77, 96. 
 
 Napier, Gen., and Fenian raid, 1, 
 206. 
 
 Nascopie Indians, described, 1, 
 102-105: and Catholk: mission- 
 aries, 224. 
 
 Nascopie post of Hud.son's Bay 
 Co., 1, 109, 224: trail to, from 
 North-West River, 109-111. 
 
 Nathan, Henry, and Canadian 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 468. 
 
 Nathan, N., and Pacific Railway 
 scandal, 1, 464. 
 
 Natural siience, S.'s knowledge, 
 1, 122, 160. 
 
 Navy, S. and Imperial assistance, 
 
 .,». 435- 
 
 Necobau, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 
 ». 76". 
 Nelson, Wolfred, Canadian rebel, 
 
 1> S3, M- 
 tfevi Nalton, on annexation, 1, 431. 
 New York Sun, on annexation, i, 
 
 5»i 
 
 434- 
 
 Mewcastle, Duke of, and Hudson's 
 Bay Co.'scontrol of North-West, 
 1, 171-176, 17S. 187, 18«. 
 Newfoundland, taxation in Labra- 
 dor, 1, 167. 
 Newspapers, preferential rate on 
 British, to Canada, 8, 400, 401. 
 Nicoll, Sir William R., on S. and 
 
 Aberdeen University, 8, 408. 
 Norfolk, Duke of, and Manitoba 
 
 schools question, 2, 178, 179. 
 Norman, Nathan, and S., 1, 137, 
 
 227; and Ungava Bay, 165. 
 North-Atlantic Trading Company, 
 and emigration to Canatu, 2, 
 ^ 310-313. 
 
 North-Clerman Lloyd Company, 
 and emigration to Canada, 2, 
 296-303. 
 North-West Company, Simpson's 
 policy after coalition, 1, 61 ; pur- 
 pose and terms of coalition, 500. 
 _ Ste also Wintering partners. 
 North-West Mountwl Police, origin, 
 
 li 374 «. 
 North-West River, Hudson's Bay 
 Co. post, S. transferred to, 1, 94; 
 situation, loo, loi; life at post. 
 1 1 i-i 14; surroundings, 114; S.'s 
 farm and garden, 124-1^7, 147, 
 158-160; Catholic missionaries, 
 223. 
 North-West Territory and Ru- 
 pert's Land. Canaclian demand 
 for control and opening, 1, 168- 
 172: population (1869). 263; 
 attitude of French, 237-239; 
 under Canadian Government, S, 
 5; S. and (iovtrnorship, 7: S. on 
 importance and futu^'e, 221, 222. 
 See alsp ffudson's Bay Co,, Man- 
 itoba Red River region. Riel Re- 
 bellion. Wintering partners. 
 Northcliffe, Lord. See Harms- 
 worth. 
 Northcote, Sir Stafford H. (Lord 
 Iddesleigh}, letter from Lamp- 
 
 I; 
 
Index 
 
 son on S., 1* 334; heads Hudson's 
 Bay Co., 336; and Rid Rebellion, 
 393; abandoned visit to Red 
 River region, 367; from S. on 
 Governorship of Manitoba, 379; 
 and transfer of North-West Ter- 
 ritory, 380; letters from S., 385, 
 394, 465; Joint High Commis- 
 sion, and Macdonaid, 411-418; 
 and arbitration, 418: and claim 
 of wintering partners, 430, 435, 
 436, ^8, 505; on danger of an- 
 nexation, 435, 436; and Canadian 
 Pacific FiaiTway, 473 n. 
 
 Northcote, on Saskatchewan River, 
 1. 536: «. 6-8 
 
 Norway. See Scandinavia. 
 
 Nourae, William, Chief Trader of 
 Labrador posts, 1| 96, 101 ; re- 
 lieved, 119. 
 
 Oakeley, Hilda, from S. on Victoria 
 College, 2, 378, 379. 
 
 Obe, Joseph, 1, 96. 
 
 O'Brien, Edward, letter from Jo- 
 seph Howe, 1, 360. 
 
 Ocean Nymph, 1, 191 «., 303. 
 
 O'Donnell, William, on S. at Fort 
 Garry, 1, 342 »- 343 »-. 486- 
 
 O'Donohue, W. B., intrigue in Red 
 River region, 1, 341, 439; and S. 
 at Fort Garry, 331 »., 333, 343 ».; 
 flight, 393, 396; character, 443; 
 attempted invasion of Manitoba 
 (1871). 444-449- 
 
 Ogden, Peter, 1, 33; career, 33 n. 
 
 Ogden, W. B., and Canadian Pa- 
 cific Railway, 1, 461. 
 
 Oleskow, Prof., as Canadian emi- 
 
 Kation agent, 2, 395. 
 me, Robert, on Howe in Red 
 River region. 1, 259. 
 O'Neill. John, career, 1, 443; at- 
 tempted invasion of Manitoba, 
 444. -^g- , . , . 
 
 Oregon County, claim of wintermg 
 partners of Hudson's Bay Co.. 
 
 1. 427- 
 Osier, Sir Edmund, and site for 
 High Commissioner's oiBce, 2» 
 
 Osier, Sir William, at S.'s fwMral. 
 
 a, 463- 
 Otelne. Nascopie c\nf4. I, 143. 
 "Our I-ady of the Snow* " S, and 
 
 term, S, 254- 
 
 Oxford University, D.C.L. for S.» 
 2,386. 
 
 Pacific Cable Conference. S» 33i. 
 
 Pacific Railway scandal. Sie Cana* 
 dian Pacific. 
 
 Papinachois, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 poet, 1, 76 n. 
 
 Papineau, Louis, fugitive, 1, 53. 
 
 Paquet, P^re, missionary, 1, 88. 
 
 Parent, Etienne, letter to S., 1, 
 395 n. 
 
 Parliament, British, S. and colonial 
 representation, 2, 369. 
 
 Parsons, S. K., to S. on attitude of 
 Company's Board, 2, 190. 
 
 Paytabais, Nascopie chief, 1, 104, 
 105 H. 
 
 Peace, Sir Walter, and Chamber- 
 lain, 2, 390. 
 
 Peacocke, George, on Fenian raid, 
 1.306. 
 
 Peel's River, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, I, 530. 531. 
 
 Peerage for S., question of title, 2, 
 264-366; descent to daughter. 
 354-358. 
 
 Pembina, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 McE>ougall at, 1, 364 368, 384, 
 393; S. at, 321-323: O'Dono- 
 hue's invasion, 444, 448; plan for 
 railway, 463, 
 
 Pension, of wintering partners, 2, 
 182, 187, 193; more liberal 
 scheme, 198. 
 
 Peters, Klaas, Canadian emigra- 
 tion agent, 2, 303. 
 
 Peterson, and plans for fast Atlantic 
 service to Canada, 2, 370-374. 
 
 Peterson, William, on S. and con- 
 struction o> Canadian Pacific. 2, 
 131 n.; and trouble in Mc(jill 
 University, 358, 359: on S.'s pre- 
 paration for later career, 468. 
 
 Pilcher, Thomas D., in South Afri- 
 can War, 2, 3<i3. 
 
 "Planters" o( Labrador, 1, 140. 
 
 Pope, John H., and Canadian Pa- 
 cific. 2, 105, 117. 
 
 I Pope, Sir Joseph, on Governor for 
 
 I Manitoba. 1, 379 «■ 
 
 ' Porcupine River, navigation In 
 Treaty of Washington. 1, 417. 
 
 t'ljsadowsky Welmer, Count von, 
 
 I and emigration to Canada, 2, 
 
 I 293- 
 
 5»a 
 
Potter, Richard, and reorganiza- 
 tion of Hudson's Bay Co.. 1, 170. 
 186. 
 
 Price, William, career, 1. 53 n. 
 
 Privy Councillor. S.'8appointment, 
 S. 215. 
 
 Provencher, J. A. N., and Riel Re- 
 bellion, 1, 367. 
 
 Provincialism, S. on decrease, 3, 
 376. 
 
 Prowse, Robert H., and S., 1, 138 
 191. 
 
 Quebec, origin of name, 1, 85; 
 Civil Code. 3, 150. 
 
 Que-hee-le River, proposed Hud- 
 son's Bay Co. post, 1, 520, 
 530. 
 
 Rae, John, on S.'s promotion, 1, ; 
 162; return to England. 164, 
 
 Railways, early plans for Canadian 
 transcontinental, i, 172, 175; 
 S.'s interest in rolling-stock com- ' 
 pany. 225; S. on need of Mani- 1 
 toba (1871). 406. See also Cana- 
 dian Pacific. St. Paul and Pacific. 
 
 Ramparts, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 1» 5.".; free-traders at, 3, 22. 24. 
 
 Rampini, Charles, on Forres, 1, 4. 
 
 Rankin. Colin, letters from S., 1, 
 233, 301, 304 «-. 428. 3, 15, 19, 
 207, 2(h->. from Hamilton. 1, 499. 
 
 ReciproLity, influence of treaty of 
 1854 in Labrador, 1, 128; and 
 in Canada, 407; S. on, 3, 
 146: S, on attempted American 
 (1911). 429. 430. 
 
 Red I^gginj, Alaskan chief, t, 51 r. 
 
 Red River, first steamers, 3, 45" 46. 
 
 Red River region. Sre Hudson's 
 Bay Co., Manitoba, North-West 
 Territc-y, Riel Rebellion. 
 
 Redistribution Bill. S. on, of Lau- 
 rier Ministry, 8, 329-331. 
 
 Redpath, Peter, S.'s commercial 
 
 Rebellion and , 
 
 connection, 1, 225, 
 Reid, J. M.. on Riel 
 
 annexation, 1* 440. ', 
 
 Reid, Whitelaw, on Canadian High 1 
 
 Commissionership, 8, 220. ] 
 
 Renaud, Fere, missionary, 1, 88. \ 
 Rendezvous, Alaska, fur-traders at, ' 
 
 1. 529. ! 
 
 Resolution, Fort, to be abandoned, i 
 1. 533. 
 
 Index 
 
 Reuter'a Agency, and Canadian 
 news, 3, 257. 
 
 Revelstoke, Lord, and Canadian 
 Pacific, 3, 120. 
 
 Reveistoke, B.C., origin of name, 
 8, 121. 
 
 Revillon Fr^res, in fur-trade, 8, 
 205. 
 
 Rhodes, Cecil, and Canadian bat- 
 talion for Rhodesia, 8, 352. 
 
 Richards, Arnold N., and Riel 
 Rebellion, 1, 31S. 
 
 Riel, L^uis, early career and char- 
 acter, 1, '41, 242; and O'Dono- 
 hue's invasion (1871), 445,440; 
 bribe to leave the country, 455- 
 458. 474. 478-482: return, elec- 
 tion to Parliament, expulsion, 
 480, 482. 493, 494, 496; indicted 
 for murder of Scott, 495; out- 
 lawry, 495. 496: Rebellion of, in 
 1885, executed, 497. See also 
 Riel ReWlion. 
 
 Riel Rebellion, origin, t, 189. 237- 
 264, 380^383; parties in Red 
 River region on transfer of terri- 
 tory. 233, 241, 245 «., 371-373; 
 character of Riel, 241, 242; trou- 
 ble over surveys, land grabbing, 
 242-245. 217-250, 372; attitude 
 of Hudson s Bay Co. ofhcers, 
 250. 253. 261, 274, 275, 277. 281. 
 284 n- 296. 298, 299 «., 300, 301, 
 308, 373. ,397-399. 436; Joseph 
 Howe s mission and advice, 251- 
 260, 280; McDougall Lieutenant- 
 Governor, 252; Howe's conduct 
 toward MrDougall, 260-264; 
 McDougall barrerl out. 264. 267. 
 284; Mactavish's advice to Mc- 
 Dougall, 265-267: influence of 
 McDougalt's character, 26fi «.; 
 M;irdonald'» belated advice to 
 McDougall, plan to placate Riel. 
 275. 276; Fort Garry seized. 276. 
 277, 296; Mactavish on McDou- 
 gall's conduct, 278; organization 
 and plan of rebels. 279; Mac- 
 tavish's proclamation, 28*1; Mc- 
 Dougall's illegal prfM-lamntion, 
 284-290. 292; arrest of Canadian 
 partisans. 287: S. directed to 
 offer assistance to Canadian 
 Government, 293-295; McDou- 
 
 gall's effort for conference with 
 Kiel, 290-293; McDougall quits. 
 
 5*3 
 
Index 
 
 393; S. supporta Canadian claim. 
 397; his conference with Minis- 
 try, 297-303; absence of Tach6, 
 300; S.'s appointment as com- 
 missioner, instructions. 301-306; 
 Queen's message, 306, 337; meet- 
 ing of S. and McDougall. 317- 
 320; reception of S. as Company 
 official, 32^-325. 340, 341 : Har- 
 disty's activity for S., 326, 328; 
 S. advocates military prepara- 
 tion, 326; annexation to United 
 States feared. 327, 432-442; dis- 
 closure of S.'s commissionership, 
 contest for his papers, 329-333, 
 341 ; public meetinR, reading of 
 S.'s documents, 333-33**. 34^; 
 flag, 336; Convention, 33S, 339. 
 343-350, 2, 163; Kiel's repression I 
 of Hudson's Bay t'o. officers, li > 
 339. 346. 34« «■• 349. 35o. 356 n.; 
 execution of Scott, 342 n.. 356- 
 363, 376, 396; delegation to Ot- 1 
 tawa, 345, 349, 376, 44": bill of 
 rights, 345, 347-349; Boulton's 
 rising, 350-354. ^64, 371. 44q; 
 election lor provisional govern- 
 ment, 350, 354-356: Kiel's plea 
 and promise to S., 353, 354; de- 
 parture of S., 363; results of mis- 
 sion, 364, 365, 371, 374-376; mil- 
 itary preparation. 366, 369, 381- 
 383; Indians and, 368, 374; S.'s 
 report, 369-374; amnesty ques- 
 tion, 377, ^s n., 449-458. 495- 
 
 497; Manitoba Act. 378; passage 
 of military supplies through 
 Sault Ste. Marie Canal, 383-3?«: 
 military expedition, flight of Kiel, 
 388, 389. 391-393: S. as tempo- 
 rary Governor, disorders, 389- 
 39'. 393-396; American subsidy. 
 435: Fenian interest, 438, 439; 
 O'Donohue's attempted inva- 
 sion (1871), 442-449: bribe to 
 Kiel to leave country, 455-458. 
 474. 478-4«2- 
 
 Rigolet, Hudson s Bay Co. post, 
 situation, 1* 99; trade, 106; Es- 
 quimaux, 107; conditions(i89i). 
 a, 184, 185. 
 
 Riots, election, at Winnipeg, 1, 493. 
 
 Rippte. 1, 213. 
 
 Ritchot, J. N., in Kiel Rebellion, 
 1, 265; and S.'s papers, 331; 
 delegate to Ottawa, 349. 35"- 
 
 376, 497 fi.; and O'Donohue's 
 invasion, 145. 
 Roberts, and Fenian raid, 1. 206. 
 Roberts, and reorganization of 
 
 Hudson's Bay Co.. 1, 178. 
 Roberts, Earl, and Canadian 
 troops, S, 352, 370. 37 »; and 
 Strathcona's Horse, 369: at un- 
 veiling of statue to Wolfe. 428; 
 S. on, 439. 
 Robertson, Leith, death, 1, 203. 
 Robinson. H. N., intrigue in Red 
 River region, 1, 241 ; on execu- 
 tion of ^ott, 363; and annexa- 
 tion, 44 1 • 
 Kobitaille, and amnesty for Riel 
 
 Rebellion, 1, 451, 454. 
 Rochester, John, attack on S., 1, 
 
 498. . . 
 
 Rogers, Sir Frederic, on S. s mis- 
 sion to Fort Garry, 1, 366. 
 Roman Catholic Church, missions 
 of Lower St. Lawrence, 1, 88; 
 missions in Labrador. 131, 157. 
 223. See also Manitoba schools 
 question. 
 Rose, John, and transfer of North- 
 West Territory, 1. 246, 382. 383; 
 letter from Macdonald. 288. 
 Roaebery, Earl of, and Imperial- 
 ism, 2, 227. 
 Ross, on Cuthbert Grant. 1, 18 n. 
 K088, B. R., in Hudson's Bay Co., 
 
 1. 145. 
 Ross, Su George, on S. and Pacific 
 Railway scandal, 1, 477; tribute 
 to S., 2, 457; on "Strathcona 
 period," 280 n. 
 Ross, J. J., and Canadian Pacific 
 
 Railway. 1, 468. 
 Ross, James, and Riel Rebellion, 
 
 1. 355- 
 Ross, Roderick, on gold in British 
 Columbia, % 15; on end of the 
 Company, 186. 
 Roy, Pere, missionary, 1, 88. 
 ; Royal. Jdst-ph, Speaker of Mani- 
 toba Assembly, !« 403. 
 Royal Society of Arts, medal to S.. 
 
 2» 434- 
 Royal Virtoria College. S.'s endow- 
 i ment. 2. 147, 233. 499: S. on 
 purpose, opening. 377-3*'o- 
 Royal Victoria Hospital. 2, 146, I47. 
 Rupert's Land. See North-West 
 Territory. 
 
 524 
 
Index 
 
 .^.^r,"°J?-'^:'!??l;'""S'.''"'*-'79;L <<'''" pacific a, 103, I06, 109 
 
 • "^. -I '"J. lUU, lUU. 
 
 Schrotder. John H. W., Director 
 of Hudson's Bay Co., 1, 186. 
 
 Schultz, John C, intrigue in Red 
 Kiver regjon, I, 241, 245 „., 345 
 yfi-JjS. 'f>3. 264; arretted by 
 Kiel, 287, 29c n.: and Hudson's 
 Bay Co., ,150 ».; RieP, enmity, 
 352: and S.'s statement on in- 
 criminating papers, 397, 398. 
 election to Parliament, 493' 
 arrest for perjur)-, 535. 
 
 Scott, Alfred H., delegate to Otta- 
 .."1^ ^'J*?^ 35", po. 497 B. 
 
 ■ of 
 
 Rufsell, Sir Charles, Director of 
 
 Hudson's Bay Co., 8, 33. 
 Russell, John. Earl, and AMama 
 
 claims, 1, 204. 
 Russia, restrictions on emigration, 
 
 S, 2Si, 288-291, 
 
 Sadler, Bill, his "leg boi," 1, 141. 
 
 Saguenay, Hudson's Bay Co. post, 
 If 76 R. 
 
 St. Paul, S.'s interest, 1, 310. 
 
 St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, S "s 
 first journey over 1, 314. 3"5; : wa, 1, 349, 350, 376. .g, „ 
 S. on prospects (1879T, 8, 20; I Scott, Hugh, aAj exSL 
 origin, 47; tirst conttruction, 47; I brother 1, ,76 """'"" 
 
 1^2 £',''*'• "'■,?■■■ "I" ""^ of I Scott, Thomas, execution, 1, 357- 
 P»th- r? A, ^^'""'P^B, and I 363: excitement over ei«:ution 
 Pembina (,876 , ji, 54; plan of 376; disposition of bSy. 3^: 
 ^and J. J. Hill togetcontrol.i execution and amnesty jio^ 
 60; interest of George Stephen,: indictment of murde e«, l^l 
 01, 62, 69; option on bonds. 495. ^ 
 
 63; reorganization, 63 «5 con- Scott, Thomas, campaign against 
 rtruction to Canadiai, border, S. (18S0), 2, 86 87 "K"'"*' 
 
 ZL A.'L?' ^ i?"ip<«-Psmbina Scotl, Thomas a'., and Canadian 
 hne 65-69: Farley's attempted Pacific Railway, 1, 468 n 
 blackmail, 70-73; S. on questLin Scott, VV. U., on North-Atlantic 
 o his connection 76-:7S: charge Trading Company j/S,?."'" 
 of discouraging Manitoban im- Scott, VV. D. B., anecdite of S 1 
 migration, 87.^0: influence on 91 "; service under S. 214 
 Canadian Pacific. 94. 98 » 1 5,;*,,*, „„ Red River, S, 46 
 
 S 6 V'"'"'"'?'"; ""^ Mani- Semple, Robert, death, 1, 389. 
 P^fi "*' ^'■''" '^'"'"''' ""dson's Bay Co 
 
 Salary, C. M. de, sent to Red' Cb;ador'dis?ric['i23""''"' '° 
 River region, I, 302, J04, 323 Seward, William H., -nd Alabama 
 ».: conduct there during Riel claims, X, 204. <■ ^"""""o 
 
 ?,'. l-T' 3^''„'^'' "•' 33°. 332, : Seymour, Lord William, and 
 334. 340 ».. 34«., 370. 37 ■ • , Strathcona's Horse, 2, 360 
 
 Hate's ?!?"" °/-' ^"i- '">P<^- Shaughnessy, Sir Thomas, on S.'s 
 rialism, 3, 227; on Canadian im-; hospitality 8,484 
 
 •JZf!'^"S" '^"^F"''^' ">)■ , . Sheddon, John, and' Pacific Rail- 
 Salmon, S. s development of Lab- wav scandal 1, 464 
 rador trade, 1,127-131. 166; de- Sherbrooke. Lord. S Lowe 
 
 Samluk. 1, 144 a, Edinburgh. 1, 13 n. 
 
 ban Francisco^ land owned by Hud- ( Sieveright. on Simpson. 1, 61 n 
 »n 8 Bay Co I. ,78. ; silton. Clifford. Tnd Manitoba 
 
 ^ V,fiT»" .^''?- A"""" ""• ■ T^°°^' ■"«'"!<"'■ «• '65: letters 
 
 c 1. S.' 'i??' 53«. ». o-». from S.. 295, 298, 
 
 Sault Ste. Mane Canal. pasKige of , Silver Heights. S.'s residence 8. 
 
 supplies for expedition against! 83 ».; branch line to, 124 12', 
 
 Riel, 1, 383-;388 Simp«,n, Sir C«.rge, and John 
 
 Scandinavia Canadian emigration Stuart. I. 29: character 20 
 
 propaganda, 8, 303. 70, ,55. ,56; s.'s letter of i'ntro^ 
 
 .S25 
 
Index 
 
 duction, 41; importance, 59; 
 policy as head of Hudnn's Bay 
 Co.. S9-63, 67. 75. 92-94. >54' 
 170: real office, 59 n,; Napoleonic 
 cult, 63; and S., 72; mamed 
 life, 73; knighthood, world tour, 
 74: book, 74 n.; and post at 
 Ungava Bay, ill, 166; and Cath- 
 olic missionaries, 131 ; on agri- 
 cultural possibilities of Mani- 
 toba region, testimony before 
 Committee of 1857, 147-151, 
 168, 169; death, 154, 157- 
 
 Simpson, Thoma«. Sir George 
 Simpson on, 1* i.si- 
 
 Simpson, Wemyss M., and S. as 
 M.P., 1, 404. 
 
 SimpMn, Fort, conditions (1880- 
 87), 2, 33, 25-27. 
 
 Sinati, Yukon chief. 3, 18. 
 
 Sir Donald, Mount, significance of 
 name, 8» 132. 
 
 Skead, James, and Canadian Pa> 
 cific Railway, 1, 467. 
 
 Skelton, O. D., on Canada's pref- 
 erential tariff law, 3, 252: on 
 immieration, 3^ n. 
 
 Skey, John, on immigration to 
 Canada, 1, 47. 
 
 Skinner, Sir Tnomas, at S.'s fu- 
 neral, 3, 463. 
 
 Smith, Alexander, character and 
 ancestry, 1, 5; marriage, 5, 8; 
 children, 8; death, 23. 
 
 Smith, Barbara (Stuart), marriage, 
 ancestry, 1, 5-8; children, 
 
 Smith, Marianne, death, 1» as. 
 
 Smith, W. G., letter from Mac* 
 tavish, 1. 778; resigns from Hud- 
 son's Bay Co., 407. 
 
 Smith, Fort, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, 1, 539. 
 
 Snow, John A. .survey m Red River 
 region. 1. 24^. 
 
 Society. British attitude toward 
 colonials. S, 250 n., 264. 
 
 Society of St. Raphael, and emi- 
 gration to Canada, t, 2Qtl. 
 
 South Alrica, S. and federation, 3, 
 322. 
 
 South African War, S. and ap- 
 proach, 2| 339; question of Cana- 
 dian resolution of support, 331- 
 333; S.'a attitude on Canadian 
 participation, 334; Brst Cana- 
 dian contingent, 335, 336; second 
 Canadian contingent, c^uestion of 
 command, 338; Canadian troops 
 and surrender of Cronje, 352. 
 370; question of Canadian bat- 
 talion for Rhodettia, 352, 353; 
 S. on Imperial forces, ^62-364; S. 
 and refusal of Canadians to ex- 
 tend service, 370, 371; return of 
 Canadian troops, 380; conduct of 
 Canadians, 385. See also Strath- 
 cona's Horse. 
 
 Spanish-American War, S. on, 8, 
 326. 
 
 Spear, and Kiel Rebellion, 1, 439. 
 
 Spence, Thomas, on election dur- 
 
 ing Riel Rebellion, 1, 356 n. 
 character, 10; death, 23; letters I Spruce Bud, 1, 163. 
 from S„ 36, 40; and return of | Stanleyof Preston, Lord, Govcrnor- 
 S., 192, T93. I General, 3, 153. 
 
 Smith, Charles M., and Canadian i Stead, William T., on S., ?,■ 330 k. 
 
 Pacific Railway, 1, 463. 
 Smith, Donald A. VwStrathcona. 
 Smith, Sir Frank, and Canadian 
 
 Pacific, 3, 120. 
 Smith, (-ieorge, S.'s ancestor. 1, 5. 
 Smith, George A., at S.'s funeral, 
 
 3. 463 
 Smith, Jane, 1, 23. 
 Smith, John S., 1, 8; education, 
 
 12: doctor in East India Com- 
 pany's service, 22. 
 Smith, Marcus, on railway route : 
 
 throueh Manitoba, 3, 57. 
 Smith, Margaret, 1. 8; character, | 
 
 14, 15; death, 23, 86. ! 
 
 Smith. Margaret C. 5»Strathcona. I 
 
 Steamers, Hudson's Bay Co. river 
 boats. X, 512. 530. 531, 536-539. 
 3, 6-8, 27, 34; on Red River. 45, 
 46; S. and plans for fast trans- 
 Atlantic, to Canada, 270-274, 
 328, 380, 385. 386, 402-407. 
 
 Steele. S. B., Strathcona's Horse, 
 3, 346-349. 366-369. 
 
 Stephen. EUpeth (Smith), 1, 208. 
 
 Stephen, George (Lord Mount 
 Stephen), first meeting with S., 
 1, 207; early career, 208; defence 
 of low tarin, 211, 212; plan for 
 railway from Pembina, 463; and 
 St. Paul and Pacific Railway, 8, 
 61-64, 69; syndicate for con- 
 
 526 
 
Index 
 
 ■tructing Canadian Pacific, 97, 
 98; and financial problemBofcon- 
 itruction, 105, 119, ijo, IJ4 n.; 
 baronetcy, 138; credit for con- 
 struction, 131; and reconcili- 
 ation of S. and Macdonald, 134; 
 and S., 137: Royal Victoria Hot- 
 pital, 1 46, id7. 
 
 Stephen, William, and George 
 Stephen, 1* 307, 308. 
 
 Stephen, Mount, significance of 
 name, 2, 133. 
 
 Stewart, Alexander, letters from 
 J. Stuart Introducing S., 1, 37, 
 41-43: and S., 57. 
 
 Stewart, James, and Strathcona's 
 Horse, 3, 340. 
 
 Stewart, Jajnes G., and Deed Poll 
 controversy, 1, 333. 
 
 Stikine River, navigation in Treaty 
 of Washington, 1, 417. 
 
 Strathcona and Mount Royal, ! 
 Donald A. Smith, Baron, Early 
 years and Hudson's Bay Co. : an- 
 cestry, parents, 1, 5-8. 10: birth, 
 names, 8; on Scottish emifrration, 
 8; early home, 8, o; and para- 
 phrases, 11,3, 451 ; education, 1, 
 13-14; and sister Margaret, 14, 15: 
 early interest in fur-trade, 15-18; 
 question of career, law studies, 
 18-33, 34; at London, 35-40; 
 departure for Canada, plans, 40- 
 4$- 52; letters of introduction to 
 Simpson and Stewart. 41-43; on 
 Canada in 1838, 45, 46; at Que- 
 bec, 52. 5j: at Montreal, 54; 
 enters service of the Company, 
 57. 65; first duties at Lachine, 
 66-6W; on Rebellion of 1838, 68- 
 70; first post assignments, learns 
 French, 72; and Simpson, his 
 jealousy, 72, 73; .appointment to 
 Lower St. l-»wr^nce, 74, 75; 
 character of posts tiere, 75-77; 
 journey thither, 77; influence of 1 
 9er\ice there. 78; routine and I 
 system, 78-81; anecdote of rirst ; 
 black-fox purchase, 81-85; on 
 Montagnais, 85, Sq, 90; and 
 Catholic missionaries, 88, I31, 
 157, 233; on wreck of Walker's; 
 fleet. 8q; on Bersimits River, 8g; | 
 trouble with eves, unauthorized | 
 journey to Xlontreal, 92, 93; ' 
 transfer to Labrador as punish- ■ 
 
 ment, 93, 94; winter journey 
 thither, 94, 95; new district de- 
 scribed, 97-101 ; and Moravian 
 misMonaries. 109, 133, 133; and 
 Connolly, 109; and Ungava post, 
 III, 165; life at Esquimaux Bay, 
 its influence, iii, 113, 121-134, 
 337: on mosquitoes, ll3:explora- 
 tions and adventures around 
 post, 114-118; marriage by con- 
 sent, 130; and Indians, 133, 188; 
 farm and garden, 134-127, 147, 
 158; development of salmon 
 trade, 127-131, 166: and Hunt 
 and Henley's operations, 130, 
 163, 164, 166, 167; religious serv- 
 ice, 133; and medicine, 134-136; 
 and resources of l^brador, 136, 
 137. 214' 228, 329; correspond- 
 ents and Labrador acquaint- 
 ances, 137-140, 143-146; and 
 "planters, ' anecdotes, 140, 141; 
 Oil relative value of meat and hsh 
 diet, 143; on future of Manitoba 
 region {1857). 146. 147. 153: 
 on death of Simpson, 157; and 
 Admiral McClintock, 158-161; 
 Chief Factor, 162. 163; and New- 
 foundland taxes, 167; and reor- 
 finization of Company and r>ced 
 oil question (1862), 179 iKA. 
 189, 196, 222; winter vovage to 
 St. John's (1864). i'lness, 190- 
 192: on English iKnonime of 
 Canada. 192; return to England 
 (1864), 192; at old home, and 
 mother, 192-194; and BoarrI of 
 the Company, 194; on I^mpsnn, 
 195: at Directors dinner, unde- 
 livered speech, staRc frlRht, 200, 
 201; return to Labrador, 202; 
 effect of trip on reputation, 202. 
 224; still unknown in Can,ida, 
 202; on Montreal (1H66J, 204; 
 on Fenian raid. 206; first meet- 
 ings and impressions of (icHjrgc 
 Stephen, 207, 211: on completp<l 
 Atlantic Cable, 212; first .Mon- 
 treal commercial interest, 213, 
 214, 225: and investments of 
 brother officers. 215, 543, 3, 31- 
 33; and Canadian investments, 
 1,21 7;and blockade-running, 21 7; 
 on American offer for Hudson's 
 Bay Co. territory, 223; district 
 enlarged, 223; and proclaiming 
 
 527 
 
Index 
 
 of Domiiiion, 334; General Man- 
 ager of Eastern Department, 
 aa6, 233, 333. 237; reputation in 
 Labrador, 227; Mactavish's jeal- 
 ousy, 269; considered as succes- 
 ■or to Simpion'a power, 270; fa- 
 ble of Mrvice in Rupert's Land, 
 372; regarded as Mactavish's 
 successor, 369; and Joint High 
 Commission, 407, 413-417; and 
 settlement of claim of wintering 
 partners (1871), 1^1-430, 502- 
 504, 8| 44; activity and prob- 
 lems aa Chief Commissioner, 1, 
 499, 506; ■-■•to ' nproved transpor- 
 Ution, 510. ^jd, a, 34; gives up 
 manager ^i>. of fur-trade, 1, ^17, 
 S40. 5J^ : ;<; and new appoint- 
 ments, }. 9; opposes rival fur- 
 trade cu'tipany, 530; continued 
 interest in wmtering partners, 
 525* «. 2. 14, 15. 35. 36. 41. 42. 
 180, 188, 189, 193. 19^, 198, 303. 
 30&~209; reorganization of fur- 
 trade, 1, 526; and Mackenzie 
 River District, 531 ; on free-trad- 
 ers, 536, 3, 205; and council of 
 officers ( 1 874), 1, 539 : subordinate 
 on, 540; profits offur-trade under 
 his management (1874), 540- 
 543; realizesgloomy future of fur- 
 trade, 543, 2, 18; on need of econ- 
 omy, 3, 3, 14; wintering part- 
 ners on management, 3; on price 
 ctf furs (1876), 11; (1901), 205; on 
 concessions to wintering part- 
 ners (1879), i^, 21, 32; retires 
 from Land Commissionership, 
 20; upsets Directorate, becomes 
 a Director, 33-35; and Grahame, 
 36; becomes Governor, 43; and 
 political position, 79; on life of 
 wintering partners, 197: and his- 
 tory of the Company, 197 fi. ; on 
 death of old officers, 307. 
 
 Kiel Rebetiion: on Riel, 1, 343; 
 interest in Red River controver- 
 sy, 268, 369; offers assistance 
 (rf Company, 293-295; supports 
 Canadian claim, 297; conference 
 with Ministers, 297-301 ; appoint- 
 ment as commissioner, instruc- 
 tions, 301-308; journey to Fort 
 Garry. 507-3 1 7 , 320-323 ; req uest 
 fw Privy Councillor^ip, 311: 
 warning by Fenians, 313, 313; 
 
 meeting with McDougall, 317-- 
 330; reception as Company offi- 
 cial by Riel, 323-325; refuses to 
 take oath. 324,341: virtual con- 
 finement, 325, 332, 347, 350; ad- 
 vocates military preparations, 
 336; disclosure of commissioner- 
 ship, contest for papers, 329-333, 
 34'; at public meeting, 333-338, 
 343 ;amlcxecutionof Scott, 313 n., 
 356-363; danger and conduct, 
 342 n.. 343 n., 371 ; assurances to 
 Convention, 344; and deloeation 
 to Ottawa. 345, 349; and hill of 
 rights, 345, ^7-349; and elec- 
 tio". for provisional government, 
 35". 354 156; and Boulton rising, 
 351-353. 364, 371; departure, 
 363; rrsulis of mission, 364, 371, 
 374-3:''. intercepts Northcote, 
 367; report. 369-^574; and Gov- 
 ernorship of Manitoba, 379; on 
 Chicora incident. 385; in military 
 expedition, 388; as temporary 
 Governor, and disorders, 389- 
 391. 393; letter from Riel on his 
 night, 392, 393; on destruction 
 of Company's papers. 397; on 
 danger of annexation to United 
 States, 432-435; and amnesty, 
 453> 454: and bribe to Riel to 
 leave the country. 454-458. 474, 
 478-d82. 
 
 Politics: initiation, 1, 309-313; 
 election to Manitoba Assembly, 
 401 : to Dominion House of Com- 
 mons, 401; introduction as M.P.. 
 404; and Pacific Railway scandal, 
 breach with Macdonald, 473- 
 
 478, 497, a, 78. 81-83, 87. 91. 92. 
 
 98; as independent. 1, 483; popu- 
 larity with constituents, 483- 
 485; local measures. 485. 48'>; aa 
 member of the Assembly, 486; 
 banquet to (1872), speech on 
 North-West, 486-493; reflection 
 as M.P. (1872), 493, 49d, 499; 
 and Governorship of North- 
 West Territories, 8, 7; on his 
 clean hands, 77, 78; reflection 
 (1878), independence. 78- S3; 
 chai^ of technical corruption. 
 83-85; defeated at second elec- 
 tion, 85-87, 492, 493: reconcil- 
 iation with Macdonald, 134; 
 election to Parliament from Mon- 
 
 5*8 
 
trc.il (1MH7), 1.15-U''; on con- 
 duct of l^jrd Kandulpli Chunh- 
 itl, 136; un protfctiiin, i.^N, i4(»- 
 146; on twhnical etlucution, l.^H. 
 l.V»;on ItK-al irnprovemunts. 14^; 
 on I'rpnch Canadians. 144, 155 n., 
 224. 254. 276: on ciistoms reKui^- 
 tions, 145; on reciprocity. 146; 
 on Canadian proKrcs;* iitidpr Vic- 
 toria. 146: Roval Victoria Hospi- 
 tal, 146, 147: Royal Victoria Col- 
 lc«e. 147. 2,vv .V7-3H0: inau«u- 
 ration as C hanccltor of Mc<jtll, 
 148-153; on d»!ath of Macdonald, 
 152: onAlicrdeen'sappointmcnt, 
 15.V and suKgestfd Premiership 
 (l«<K>). IS-*:, and ManitolM 
 schools question, mission and 
 speech, 15«-I7.l. j8o: in minis- 
 terial comintHsion jm subject, 
 173; suKKcstions for setllcment ', 
 of question, 175-177; later con- 
 nection with question in Kn>;- 
 land. 178, 179; on ailary of High 
 Commissioner and judijcn, 21H. 
 3ig. 
 
 Raihvaya: first connection with 
 St. Paul and Pacific. 1, 314, 315; 
 first meeting with J. J. Hill. 30K; 
 on resources and development of 
 ManitoUi (1871), 405, joo; on 
 future strength of Canada. 4.v>; 
 on line bctwi-cn Peml>ina and 
 Winnipeg. 463, 3, 51, 54; and 
 Pacific Railway scandal, 1,464,, 
 465, 467, 472-474, 476-478: and , 
 construction contract then, : 
 46.S n.; and Red River steamers, 
 8, 46: on need of transcontinental 
 line (1876), 50; on Dawwjn route, 
 52-54: early disbelief in private 
 construction of transcontinental 
 l'"f. 55. 5f»; -ind route through 
 Manit.)[>a, 5<>-5y. 73-7^: control 
 and reorganization of St. Paul 
 and Pdcitic. 60-05; lease of VVin- 
 nii)eK-iytnl>ina line, (^5-(tg, 81- 
 83: on Stephen's connection with 
 St. Paul line, 69; Farley's suit 
 against, 70-73; on question of! 
 connection with St. Paul line. 
 76-7H; Macdonald advised to se- 
 cure cooperation of, 81-83; and ; 
 charKc of dit«couraKing immigra- 
 tion, 87-90; an<i Canadian Pacific ' 
 Syndicate, 97, 9«; on spirit of the | 
 
 5^ 
 
 Index 
 
 Syndicate, in?: on ahuse against 
 Caaadi.m Pacific, 11 1 ; on burdi n 
 of construction, 115; on govern- 
 mental loans. 1 15; on conmction 
 of n.iring Bros., 121 : on list 
 spike, I23;anil branch linetoSij. 
 ver Heights, 124, 125; on etTi-ct 
 on l3oniinii)n, 125; knight nl, 
 12H, I y>; (,n .n hit'Venient of the 
 line, I2i>-i3i ;rri-*lil for construc- 
 tion. 131, i^j, H5 ,1. 
 
 iliflH Commtixioner : apjioint- 
 ment ,a, 2 13-2 1 5 ; public rccpiion 
 of apjxjintmcnt, 215. 216; nature 
 of oJhce, 21^^221 ; on iiii()Oitance 
 and future of North-W'eBt, 221, 
 222: on lm[>erialisni, 222, 235, 
 3,17. .V4. 374. 37'>. 377; on pn>g. 
 ress and future of Canada, 223, 
 ^53. 3 ' '. 382, 394. 402 ; and pref- 
 erential duties, 225-229. 274, 
 33''-338; at Lord Kelvin's jubi- 
 lee. on ("anada and Inii>crial tele- 
 gr,iph. 230; aphorisms on, 230 «., 
 234 «.; celebntions of Domin- 
 ion Day. 231. 2W>, 267, 321, 401; 
 under Laurier's .Ministry, 231; 
 (i. C. M.C... 2\2\ aslefturer.intl 
 mterpreter of Canada. 234; and 
 immigration, 238. 241-243. 271J- 
 315: Tupper's tributes, 243, 244, 
 323: and Hudson's Bay railway 
 and steamer line, 244-246; and 
 Imiwrial Institute, 24('h-24H; and 
 Klondyke gold rush. 24H: (m Eng- 
 lish society and coloni.ds. 250 «.; 
 on Colonies anfl Jubilee of l8(;7 
 251, 276; Argjll on, 253. 383; ami 
 term "Our Lady of the Snows," 
 254: and piiucity of Canadian 
 news in Kngland, 256-25H; and 
 reception of Laurier (1897). 25(>- 
 261, 263; peerage, question of 
 title, 264-2M1; expected retire- 
 ment (1897), 267; and (.overnor- 
 Ceneralship. 268. 354; anfl colo- 
 nial representation. 2U). 375;and 
 fast Atlantic service to Cana.la, 
 270-274. 328, 3H0. 3H5. ^Hh, 402. 
 403. 4"5-4"7: and colonial fetler- 
 ation. 274. 329, 35<>-36i. 377; 
 on Kipling's "Reces-sional." 27M; 
 and Canada's "si>eitacul.ir ile- 
 velopment." "Strathcona jh.'- 
 riod. " 280; in House of Lords, and 
 deceased wife's siiiter bill, 3it^ 
 
Index 
 
 ui; on Amcrican-Britith Con* I 
 fctrnre {l8(>ft). ^3; and ap- ] 
 pntntment of Minto, jaj; on , 
 Bristol and iiteam trannportation, 
 535; on Sfunish-Amcnran War, 
 3J6; on Britiih guaranty of Ca- 
 nadian bonds, ^37: function at 
 Montreal for (>overnor-('i«ncral, 
 32M; and approach of South Afri- 
 can War. 339; on Laurier'a Re- 
 distribution Bill, 329-331; and 
 Canadian resolution to support 
 policy in South Africa, 331-33^: 
 and Canailian participation m 
 
 the war. 334-33'». J3»- 3.V' 353- 
 
 i7o. 37'. 3***>: Loru Rector of 
 Lberdeen, 334, 335: Strathcona'n 
 Horse. 339-344. 348. 349. 367- 
 369. 373. 375: and Huttons 
 quarrel with Canadian Ministry, 
 345. 349-35^; and descent of 
 peerage to daughter, 354-35'': 
 and trouble at McGill over the 
 war, 358, 359; and freak war 
 correspondence, 361 , 363 ; on 
 Imperial forces, 363-36^; promo- 
 tion of Icnowledfte of Canada in 
 British schools, 365; and pro- 
 posed royal visit to Canada, 365, 
 377. 384. 385; reception at Nfon- 
 treal (1900). 373-374; on de- 
 crease of provincialism, 376; and 
 Pacific Cable. 377, 380, 383; and 
 death of Victoria, 38 1 : on Bou- 
 rassa. 385; Oxford D.C.L,, 386; 
 and Chamberlain's tariff reform, 
 387-390; on Chamberlain as 
 Colonial Secretary. 391-393: crit- 
 icism of support of Chamberlain, 
 393: attempts to retire, 394. 4^5. 
 426,^31.433. 44»-443;and t)un- 
 donald controversy, 397. 398; on 
 preferential rate for newspapieni 
 to Canada, 400; (juater-cente- 
 nary of Aberdeen Univemity. 407- 
 411; and anti-Japanese riots at 
 Vancouver, 411-413; and dig- 
 nity and attributes of Hijih Com- 
 missionership, 4' 3-416; tour of 
 Canada (1900). reception at 
 Winnipeg, 4(7-419; accident. 
 419; testimonial on decade of 
 service, ^19- fund for military 
 training in schools, 420; on Boy 
 Scouts, 431; honorary military 
 ofKces, 4^31; resentment of de- i 
 
 tractions of Canada, 432-42^, 
 437-439; keeps aloof from poli- 
 tics. 434; on death of Edward 
 VII. 426; relations with him. 
 437; an<l (^ueen Alexandra, 427; 
 at centenary of Berlin Univer- 
 sity. 4^7. 438; on militarism in 
 (Wmany, 42H; at unveiling ot 
 statue of Wolfe, S3H. ^3<r, and 
 attempted Canadian- American 
 reciprocity, 429, 430; relation! 
 with premier l^rden, 433-434; 
 on centenary of death of Brock. 
 434; presented with Albert 
 Meflal. 434; and Imperial navaf 
 assistances, 435: on Caiudian 
 drain of British funds, 41S> 436; 
 and article on Borrlen ancl Umon- 
 JAts, 439; and site for office o( 
 High Commissioner, 443-447; ill* 
 ness and death, 451-453; trib- 
 utes, 453-462; funeral. 463-466; 
 coincidence with life of Canada, 
 467. 
 
 Traiti : generosity, benefac- 
 tions, 1, 13. 35. 36, 8, 454, 456, 
 458. 460. 472. 479. 485. 4?«-5«>: 
 on service, anecdote of burning 
 of house. 1, 19, 20, 91; conserva- 
 tism, 38; appearance, 73, 87, 159; 
 no sportsman. 87; luperstition, 
 86; temperance, 1 15 n., %, 140. 
 494; reading,!, 133,163,1,471)1., 
 485; and natural science, 1* 
 133, 160; frugality, 134. 138, S, 
 500; gentleman. 1, 338; and sub- 
 ordinates, 338, 339, 8, 494, 497, 
 498; sarcasm, 79, 80 fi., 493; 
 residences, hospitality, 83 n., 
 472. 483. 484. 486-491; pre- 
 cision oilanguage, 116, 470; re- 
 ligion, 155*1., 483, 483;optimism, 
 394; industry, 440, 441. 479. 
 500: old aee, 447, 481, 485 n.; 
 and his wile, 448-450. 471. 477, 
 481 ; goodness of heart, 461 ; 
 preparation for later career, 468; 
 career as epitomizing Imperial 
 opportunities, 468; sense of duty, 
 469, 500; integrity. 470; motto 
 for coat of arms, 471 ; as illustrat- 
 ing Aristotle's " high-minded- 
 ness," 473-475; detachment of 
 manner, 475; characteristic atti- 
 tudes, 476, 484; voice, talk, 476, 
 484: particularity, 477, 478. 495; 
 
 530 
 
Index 
 
 courtMy, 478. 4«4: and Dickms 
 cmieiuo-, 4«5: cjrrlfMnti«'« 
 about health, 489; love of win- 
 ter, 4*>; club, 441: ill public 
 Hprakur. 4f)l-4<).): fomlnen* for 
 Htnrictt, 441. 41)4; information, 
 nwrmory, 495; adhenion to old 
 rF'iHtulary mcthodii. 4<)5-49M; 
 fortune, 448; ttPfMton of rharartrr, 
 <l»xn iifr!«)n.d ditcnjt) . jtii); acrv- 
 »«' to CaiLid.!, 500. 
 Strathcona, Inaliflla (Hardisty), 
 Liidy, marriaRfH by consent. 1* 
 lio; letter to mother, I44: death, 
 S, 44M; and hunhand, 44H. 449, 
 471 «., 477. i«i: rharartcr. 450. 
 Strathrona, (Margartt (*. Smith- 
 f lr)ward ), RaroneHH. birth, 1, 
 120; marriaee, children. 8, 148; 
 descent of father's barony to, 
 354-357- 
 btrathcona s Hone, plan. S, ,1^9- 
 344; orKaniMtion. 346, '{47; 
 voyage to Capetown, S.'s mci^ 
 ■age to, 347-349: wniren. en- 
 comium!!, 366, 367: in England, 
 367-369: S. on. 373. 175. 
 Strathcona period" of Canadian 
 history, 2, sKo, 467. 
 Strathspey, T.rant clan, 1, 6; emi- 
 gration, 7, 8. 
 Stuart. Rarliara. Sttr Smith. 
 Stuart. Donald, grandfather of S., 
 
 1, 5: children, 6 n. 
 Stuart, Donald, 1, 17, 19, 31, 
 ^ 34 "■ 
 
 Stuart, James, as law student, 1, 9. 
 Stuart, John. 1, 6 n.; explorations 
 in Canada, 15, 16; character. 
 16 «.. 2f>-32: as fur-trader, 17; 
 and career of S., 18. 32, 35, 37, 
 40: travels in Kiirope, 33: retire- 
 ment, 34, 43: letters to Simpwnn 
 and Stewart introducing S.. 41- 
 43; to S. on 8er\ice in the Com- 
 pany, 70. 
 Stuart, Margaret, 1, 6 n. 
 Stuart, Peter, career. 1, h n., 29 n. 
 Stuart. Robert. 1, 6 n.; fur-trader, 
 
 death, 17. 
 Stuart, William, c:%reer. 1, 6 n. 
 Stutsman, t)nos. intrigue in Red 
 River region. 1, 241; and Kiel 
 Rebellion, 311 «.; and annexa- 
 tion, 441. 442. 
 Subsidy, Canadian, 2* 405. 407 n. 
 
 Supperukwak. Esquimaux sod, X, 
 
 Smanston. ilealh. 1, 203, 
 Sweflen. .W Scanitinavia. 
 Sylvester, free-trader, t, 25-27. 
 
 Tachi-. Alexandre, as bishop of Red 
 
 River rrgion, l. 23M. 245 n: and 
 Riel. 241: and HoweH visit. 25H; 
 
 ami RicI RilK-lli.in. yjo. H4 « 
 34.\ n . 356. .3'J7. 3'*. 37" « '. 37V 
 and disorders after flight of Riel, 
 393: at ofM-ning of .Manitoba 
 [^•giMature, 403: and proniine of 
 amnetity, 450. 4*2, 45,-,. 497 „.; 
 and trilie to Kiel, 43s. 479. 
 Ta<Ioiiwc. S.*» aii(«Miitnient to 
 trading post a*, i, 74, 75; ih.tr- 
 arter of [mwI. 77, 
 ■Tariff, Montreal pruteflt on reduc- 
 I tion (i«(rf.). I, 2o»>-jn: (ieofge 
 ! Stephen's defeme of low, 211, 
 2lj; S. on protrttion, 8, 138, 
 i4<>-i4(".: S. on cuHtnm* regula* 
 tions. 143: S. on reriprwily, 146; 
 S. on preferential duties. 225- 
 229; Canada's preferential law, 
 3S^< f7.V iran»|iortation in bond, 
 32ft; S. cm need of reciprocity in 
 preferential duties, 33f>-33N: S. 
 and Chamlwrlain's reform move- 
 ment.3H7-^(^»; attempted Ameri- 
 can-Canadian reciprocity. 429. 
 4.V>- 
 Taylor. Thomas, and Deed I'oll 
 
 controversy, 1, 222. 
 Tea, Labrador plant, 1, lyd. 
 Telegraph. Atlantic Cabll-. 1, 157. 
 1^8. 211. 212: plans for trans- 
 Canadian. 169, 172, 177. iWi; S. 
 on Canada ami all-Hrilish. 2, 
 ^ 230. 377. 38", 3«5. 
 Tellter. J. M., tribute to S„ 2, 
 
 4.S«- 
 Temijorance. S. on. 2, 140. 
 Thibault. \'icar-(lcn.. sent to Red 
 River regiim, 1, 302. ,304, 323 n ; 
 conduct there during Kiel KeUl- 
 lion. 327. 32H tt., 330, 332-334. 
 3JO K.. 34S, 370. 371; at up<'ning 
 of Manitol)a Legislature, 4113. 
 Thorn, Adam, and Simpson's book, 
 
 Thompson, Sir John, death. 2. 153. 
 Thompson. William. Set- Kelvin. 
 Thornton. Sir tdward, and Chicora 
 
 531 
 
MKROCOPV RISOUJTION TBT CHART 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 ^ APPLIED IM^GE In. 
 
 KS nocHcster. Hew York 1*609 uSA 
 
 •JS (71G) *S2 ' CJOO - Phon* 
 
 ^= (716) 2ee - 5989 ~fai 
 
Index 
 
 incident, 1, 384-387: joint High 
 Commission, 411-418. 
 Tilley, Sir Samuel L., and negotia- 
 tions for transfer of North-Wcst 
 Territory, 1, 235. 
 Torngak, Esquimaux god. 1, 131, 
 Torrencc, Daniel, plan for railway, 
 
 ^ ^' ^^^- . 
 
 Trans-Atlantic service, S. and fast, 
 
 fur Canada. 2, 270-^74. 328, 3H0, 
 
 385, 386, 402-407. 
 Trutch, Sir Joseph, banquet. 1, 405. 
 Tapper, Sir Charles, journey to 
 
 Fort (larry withS. (i86q), 1,307- 
 
 J22: letters from Macdonald on 
 oint High Commission, 411, 
 415. 417; and Canadian Pacific, 
 472 «., 2, 92, 94, log; and bribe 
 to Rid, 1, 479: attacks on S.. 
 497. 2, 78; on S. and construc- 
 tion of Canadian Pacific, 132; re- 
 turn to rescue Ministry, 153, 154, 
 213; and Manitoba scnoots ques- 
 tion, 165, 171- as HikH Commis- 
 sioner, 217, 243, 244; Premier, 
 fall of Ministry, 231; tribute to 
 S.,323; and Strathcona's Horse, 
 353. 35+. 358; and descent of S.'s 
 peerage to daughter, 354-358; 
 and death of Lady Strathcona, 
 450. 
 Turner, J. H., and status as Agent- 
 General, 2, 413-416. 
 
 Ungava Bay, Hudson's Bay Co. 
 post, 1, in; S. and re^stablish- 
 ment, 165; conditions (1888), 
 2, 42; destitution (1893), 195, 
 196; conditions (1900), 207. 
 
 United States, S. on relations, 2, 
 323. See also Annexation. 
 
 Vancouver, anti- Japanese riots, 2, 
 411. 
 
 Van Home, Sir William C, on suc- 
 cess of reorganized St. Paul and 
 Pacific, 2, 64, 65; and construc- 
 tion of Canadian Pacific, 104; 
 on origin of name of Craigellerhie 
 Station, 123 n.; and branch line 
 to Silver Heights, 124; and bond- 
 ing privilege question, 326; in 
 Canadian election (1911), 431. 
 
 Verrall, and S., 1, 96. 
 
 Victoria, Queen, and completion of 
 Canadian Pacific, 2, 125, 127, 
 
 128; and deceased wife's sister 
 bill, 3l(); S. on death and reign, 
 38I-3H3- See also Jubilee of 
 1H97. 
 
 Victoria, as market for furs, 3, 
 26. 
 
 Victoria Bridge, S. on, 1, 204. 
 
 Viger, B.. Can.idian rebel, 1, 54. 
 
 Vincent, Sir Howard, toast to the 
 Colonics, 2, 236. 
 
 Wainwright, Griffith, at Fort Garrj-, 
 1, 402. 
 
 Walker, Sir Hovenden, wreck of 
 fleet, 1, 89. 
 
 Wallace, James, on Howe in Red 
 River region, 1, 257, 258, 441. 
 
 Walrus, wrecked, 1, 534. 
 
 Watkin, Sir Kdwani \V., and reor- 
 ganization of Hudson's Bay Co., 
 
 1, 172-180; negotiations with 
 Canada, 186. 
 
 Watson, Robert, and S., 1, I9i 194. 
 
 Watt, William H., destruction of 
 papers, 1, 397; and O'Donohue's 
 attempted invasion, 444, 448. 
 
 Weldon, Richard C, and Manitoba 
 schools question, 2, 172. 
 
 Welland Canal, attempt to de- 
 stroy, 2, 362. 
 
 West Indies, S. and federation, 2, 
 274, 322; direct intercourse with 
 Canada. 329. 
 
 Westminster Abbey, S.'s funeral, 
 
 2, 462-464. 
 
 Wheaton, Frank, and O'Donohue's 
 attempt to invade Manitoba, 1, 
 444, 448, 449. 
 
 White, W. T., on Canadian 
 finances (1913), 2, 437. 
 
 Williams, John, of Labrador, 1, 
 138. 
 
 Willis, N. P., on Montreal, 1, 55. 
 
 Wilson, James, on S., 1, 228. 
 
 Wilson, Joseph , and Deed Poll 
 controversy, 1, 222. 
 
 Winnipeg, in 1869, 1, 237; election 
 
 riot (1872), 493; and route of 
 
 Canadian Pacific, 2, 56-59. 73- 
 
 76; rail connection with St. Paul, 
 
 65-69; receptionofS. (1909), 417. 
 
 i|,l8. See also Riel Rebellion. 
 
 j Winslow, Lanier & Co., and Cana- 
 
 I dian Pacific Railway, 1, 461. 
 
 j Winter, Sir James Newfoundland 
 
 I tax collector in Labrador, 1, 167. 
 
 532 
 
WinteritiR partners of Hmlson May 
 Co., 1, 154, 5(K>; inipurtaiHc, I7(); 
 and reorii.irii/atioii of ilu- foin- 
 pany, iXed Toll, l7(>-i,S6. 1^7, 
 n)(y~H)i). 203, 204, 2li>. 5'»-;-5'»4; 
 S. s undt'liviTCHl speech dh, 2fJ<). 
 201; Fenchurcli Strocl hiiiMiiii; 
 suit, 220, 226, 421; ami ^li,,rf ii) 
 transfer of North-U'u.st rirrilor\ 
 to (_ana<la, coruroversy arul sci- 
 tlonient, 241, 24;, 253. 2C11, 407, 
 4'<>-43". 2, 1S3; ami ^harc in rc- 
 serveil lands. 1, 43". 5*>7. Si(h 520. 
 
 2, I2,2J,2(^30, 3S. 44, I«3,20l. 
 
 202; (let-lining comiition, 1, ym. 
 5"i. 5"4. 5"(>-5<«j: Norihcote's 
 plan to recoiiipense, 505; antj 
 other activities of Company, 
 512. 513, 521, 524, 543; and new- 
 Deed Poll, 5'3~5"'». 5"^. S-'i. 
 522; treatment and complaints. 
 518, 2, 2, 16. 2S-30. 35. 36. 30, 
 43, 180, 185-187, 190, lyi. n/>, 
 203; S.'s continued interest, 1, 
 525,2, 2, 14, 15.35,36,41, 180, 
 188, 189, 193. 197, 19S, 203, 204, 
 206-209: councils, 1, 539,2, 3,35. 
 186, 194; character, 1; policy of 
 promotion, 5; S. on conceRsions 
 (1879), 19, 21, 22: MacFarlane's 
 memorial ('886), 36-38, 41 ; need 
 of union, 39. 187; concessions 
 (1886), 42; neglect of old officers, 
 182; pension, 182, 187, 193, 198- 
 201; beneficial fund threatened. 
 183; on character of Commission- 
 ers, 183, 184, 186; propose<i new 
 company, 187; characteristic re- 
 sentment, 192; passing of old 
 officers, 194; appointment of 
 officers, 194; S. on life, 197; all 
 rights as partners lost, 201 ; 
 
 Index 
 
 .iiistirr of protest'*. 201 ; sacrififcd 
 
 !'y [H'licy of rflrfiirhiiu-iit, :?iij, 
 ; -'"3; Ualiv iiy, ::i2. ,SV,- ,j;.i„ ||,n|. 
 I MJii's l!ay Co., Stralhcona illu-J- 
 
 sm s !i,:y Co.l. 
 \\ itihe..' Stone at Forres. 1, 4. 
 UoIlL-. James. S. at unveilill^ nl 
 
 >tatue.2, |2:s4-"J. 
 ; \»uIr.L-lf\_. S:r C.arnet (l>onh, on 
 ] conditions in Kcd |<i\fr reuion 
 I i-^tK,), 1, 353, 2^^.j; e\iK-ililion 
 : against Kirl kel.cllion, 3S3, T,hS. 
 \ 3'*y: iiiid (Governorship of Maiii- 
 I tolm. 379 H. 
 
 I \\ol\t-rlf)n. Lord, and reorganiza- 
 i tinn r.f Hudson's iJav Co.. 1, 177; 
 ' C.rand Trunk Railway, 4S9 «- 
 \\ fi^ley, as Ciiief Comiiii:,si,tner. 2, 
 
 182. 
 
 ^'lrmoleff, and emigration to Can- 
 a<la, 2, 2Kc>-29i. 
 
 \'oun«, search for cart route. 
 2, 8. 
 
 Young, George, on S, at Fort 
 Curry, 1, 324 n., 329. 375; and 
 execution of Scott, 357, 361-363; 
 at opening of Manitoba Legisla- 
 ture, 403. 
 
 Young, Sir John, and Riel Rebel- 
 lion, 1, 307. 308. 343 n.; and 
 Ckicora incident, 384, 386; and 
 amnepty for Kiel Rebellion, 450, 
 45". 453. 
 
 York Factorv, conditions {1872), 
 
 ^■h 5"-525. 532- 
 
 Yukon. Fort, and Hudson's Bay 
 Co., 1, 527, 528: American trad- 
 ers, 2, 19, 23. 
 
 Yukon River, navigation in Treaty 
 of Washington, 1, 417. See also 
 Alaska. 
 
CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS 
 U . S . A