Page:The New England Magazine 1891, 5.1.djvu/108

mand a working majority in parliament, and a deadlock followed. Under those circumstances, a coalition of the hostile parties was formed and the union of all the British North America provinces was decided upon, under the title of the Confederation or Dominion of Canada. Notwithstanding the greater increase still of British numbers after confederation, due to the addition of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and the other Western provinces to the Union, the French in Canadian politics retain an immense influence. This is one of the wonders of our new world politics. In fact, without the aid of the French, no important political step can be taken in Dominion affairs. They hold the balance of power. Their leaders have generally evinced not only sagacity, but remarkable courage and party loyalty. These qualities render them most useful colleagues on the one hand, and powerful opponents on the other.

The ablest and most distinguished of the French Canadian leaders, in the first quarter of this century, was Sir Hypolite Lafontaine. Appearing at a critical time in the history of his country, he rendered his people valuable service, politically and socially. It was his mission to introduce to his countrymen the benefits of the new privileges given them by the Act of 1838, and to obtain from unwilling governors their complete assent to the full operation of those reforms. Truly is it said that, when he retired from the government, the new system of self-government was in thorough working order, though not so perfect in its details as it has since been made. M. A. N. Morin worthily followed in his footsteps, but with easier duties to perform. While continuing the training of the people in the work of responsible self-government, he succeeded in allaying the apprehensions of the British and gaining their respect by the moderation and wisdom of his public acts. Mr. Robert Baldwin of Upper Canada truly appreciated the merits and services of this statesman, his French colleague, for which he suffered at the hands of extremists of his province, and lost his parliamentary seat. But M. Morin did both himself and colleague honor in securing his election by a French constituency, which did not contain half a dozen of English votes at the time.

Sir George Cartier followed those statesmen, having the advantage of their experience to guide him, no less than the co-operation of that able, energetic, and sagacious British chieftain, Sir John A. Macdonald. Each worked hard for country and party, rendering valuable service to both for many years. Sir George possessed the courage, determination, and fidelity of the Briton, united with the vivacity, cleverness, and courtesy of his race. Only a short time since, Sir John A. Macdonald in speaking of his former colleague’s gifts, remarked: "He was the most far-seeing and practical of any politicians, I have ever known." Most of the great undertakings and reforms carried in the Canadian Parliament since 1840, either originated with or were fostered by him, such as the act abolishing the remaining commercial and political restrictions; the repeal of the navigation laws and differential duties; construction of the Grand Trunk Railway; Reciprocity Treaty with the United States; the abolition of seignorial tenure; and the settlement of the clergy reserves. Some of these measures aroused feelings equal in violence to those which have drawn universal attention to the Irish question. The civil code, the code of procedure, the cadastre, the revision of the various educational laws in favor of a more complete and uniform system, were other enactments previous to the union of all the British provinces under the Act of Confederation. The Treaty of Washington, the Intercolonial Railway, the great improvement and extension of the canal system of Canada, now the equal of any in the world, were followed by the purchase of the Northwest, giving a new and a vast empire to Canada. To open up and foster the settlement of the new region, as well as to bind all parts of the new union from the Atlantic to the Pacific close together for mutual benefit and support, the Canadian Pacific Railway was built. Most of these great enterprises Sir George lived to see completed before his lamented death, and he truly deserved this gratification. Such labors