He continued to build up a prosperous newspaper business and overworked himself in the effort, so that in 1832 when seized by a fever his constitution was so much run down by his work that his life was despaired of, and not a few in the Province were uncharitable enough to hope that he might not recover. Recover he did, and continued his battle against the Nova Scotia "Family Compact."

Howe's true career began in 1835. In that year Mr. George Thompson published a letter in the Nova Scotian, pointing out the corrupt condition of affairs in the municipal government of the city and county of Halifax. Although no names were mentioned the officials were accused of corruption and Halifax became very much excited. The publisher of the Nova Scotian was indicted for libel; a true bill was found against him, and the AttorneyGeneral sent him his notice for trial. Mr. Howe was not in the least alarmed, and visited several lawyers to get them to conduct his case but they refused, and told him that he should make his peace or submit to fine and imprisonment. He thereupon determined to conduct his own case, and borrowing books on libel from some of his legal friends shut himself up for two weeks before his trial and made a thorough study of libel.

When the day of his trial came he went before the jury with only the first two paragraphs of his speech committed to memory. The court-room was crowded. Those on the Bench were against him and a number of the jury were related to the magistrates and the judges; but Howe had a great cause, a righteous cause. The freedom of the press was at stake and what he might suffer as an individual was sunk in the great cause he was advocating. For six hours he addressed the jury with a power never before heard in a Nova Scotia court-room. For six hours eloquent words fell from his lips, and at times the crowd applauded his utterances and at times they were moved to tears. The court was adjourned at the close of his speech, but on the following morning after the jury had listened to the prejudiced words of the Attorney-General and the Chief-Justice they retired, and in the short space of ten minutes brought in a verdict of not guilty. It was a magnificent triumph and the people rejoiced in it, and a new day broke for Nova Scotia. They carried their hero home, shoulder-high; and he was forced to address them

again from the window of his house. He said but few words; his heart was too full for utterance, and leaving the crowd of cheering people before his house he threw himself on his bed and wept "tears of pride, joy and overwrought emotion-the tears of one who has discovered a new fount of feeling and new forces in himself."

This great speech made Howe famous. Before this time he was known as a brilliant and clever journalist, but from this moment he was, to the end of his life, to be looked upon as the ablest mind in Nova Scotia. Some Nova Scotians resident in New York rejoiced to learn of the victory he had gained for the Press, and presented him with a silver ewer appropriately engraved in memory of the occasion.

His

He had been educating the people of Nova Scotia for some years through the Press, and he now felt called upon to help the Reform forces on the floor of the House, and so when the Assembly was dissolved by proclamation in 1836 he offered himself as a candidate for the county of Haliburton, and so popular was he that he was elected by a majority of a thousand. position in the Province was very well stated on the banners used in his campaign; "Joe Howe, our Patriot and Reformer" was everywhere in evidence throughout his constituency. He was now in the vigor of his young manhood. But thirty-two years old at the time of his election, he had the strength and youthful enthusiasm which was in the end to bring about the reforms that seemed impossible when he began his career.

At this same time a struggle was taking place in Upper Canada. "Patriots" and "Loyalists" were at daggers drawn. The "Family Compact" had the Province by the throat, and to many of the people the winning of liberty by constitutional means seemed impossible. The struggle was to end in bloodshed; swords were to be drawn, and much property and many noble lives were to be lost. Joe Howe did all that the Reformers of Upper Canada did and more, and he did all by constitutional means. Had there been a strong, sane man in Upper Canada in 1836 to educate the people through the Press and on the floors of the Assembly, the "Patriots' war" might have been averted. Doubtless if William Lyon Mackenzie had

been in Nova Scotia rebellion would have broken out, for a large section of the people throughout the country felt strongly against the domineering attitude of their constitutional rulers.

As soon as the Assembly met in 1837 Howe became the recognized leader of the Reformers. The old Council of Twelve sitting with closed doors, answerable, practically to no one, for their actions, at once became a subject for attack. Mr. Doyle moved a series of resolutions in opposition to the doors of the Legislative Council being kept closed to the public, but these resolutions were treated with scorn by the Council, and even some of the more moderate of the Liberal leaders were not prepared to stand by Howe and his followers. They deserted the Radical wing and Howe formed the advanced Liberal party which was to work out the reforms he had at heart.

To Doyle's resolutions the Council replied: "That His Majesty's Government denied the right of the House to comment upon its mode of procedure. Whether their deliberations were open or secret was their concern and theirs only." The battle continued and finally right prevailed, and the doors of the Council were forced open.

When Howe entered the Assembly members were elected for a term of seven years, but a bill was now introduced to make the term four years. On the occasion of the debate on this bill Howe proved himself a brilliant and witty speaker. He was attacked by one of the ablest parliamentarians of his time, a man experienced in chastising opponents, and so bitter was his address that Howe's friends pitied him; but Howe, after dealing with the serious question before the country, turned on his antagonist and held him up to such ridicule that ever after his opponents attacked him with fear and trembling.

But his great work during this first session was a series of twelve resolutions he introduced on behalf of reform. One of these resolutions admirably gives the demands of the reformers and the state of the government at this time in Nova Scotia, and is here quoted in full:

Resolved "That while the House had a due reverence for British institutions, and a desire to preserve to themselves and their children the

advantages of that constitution, under which their brethren on the other side of the Atlantic have enjoyed so much prosperity and happiness, they cannot but feel that those they represent participate but slightly in these blessings. They know that the spirit of that Constitution-the genius of those institutions is complete responsibility to the people, by whose resources and for whose benefit they are maintained. But sad experience has taught them that, in this colony, the people and their representatives are powerless, exercising upon the local government very little influence, and possessing no effectual control. In England, the people by one vote of their representatives, can change the Ministry, and alter any course of policy injurious to their interests; here the Ministry are His Majesty's Council, combining legislative, judicial and executive powers, holding their seats for life, and treating with contempt or indifference the wishes of the people, and the representations of the Commons. In England, the representative branch can compel a redress of grievances by withholding the supplies; here they have no such remedy, because the salaries of nearly all the public men being provided for by permanent laws, or paid out of the casual and territorial revenues, or from the produce of duties collected under Imperial Acts, a stoppage of supplies, while it inflicted great injury upon the country by leaving the roads, bridges and other essential services unprovided for, would not touch the emoluments of the heads of departments in the Council, or of any but a few of the subordinate officers of the government."

Council and man after man

For ten days this debate

These resolutions roused the friends of the arose to level his sharpest thrusts at Howe. continued and for ten days strong and bitter speeches were heard in the House of Assembly. But Howe was calm through it all and carefully noted down in shorthand—and he was an expert stenographer-the main points in his opponents' speeches, and when they had finished rose amid an ominous silence and began an address which lasted for eight hours. It was a brilliant piece of work worthy to be studied alongside the best speeches delivered in Congress or in the British House of Commons. He proved himself once more a master of rhetoric, and by apt illustration, by biting sarcasm, by flashes of wit, held the crowded house spell-bound during the entire speech. The opening was a

happy one and will serve to illustrate Howe's manner of debate, and shows at once his power as an orator and a self-confidence which, when backed by knowledge, goes far to give power.

"There is a good story told of an Irishman," he said, "who was put in the pillory for saying that the city authorities were no better than they should be. He bore the affliction with exemplary patience, and severe enough it was; for every silly fellow who expected an invitation to the Mayor's feastevery servile creature, who aspired to a civic office, strove to win favor by pelting him with conspicuous activity. When the hour had expired, and a goodly array of missiles had accumulated upon the stage, the culprit, taking off his hat and bowing politely to the crowd, said: 'Now, gentlemen, it is my turn,' and commencing with his Worship, pelted the crowd with great dexterity and effect. The Irish, who always relish humor, were so pleased with the joke that they carried the man home on their shoulders. I have no expectation that my fate will be so triumphant, but no gentleman will question my right to follow the example. I have sat for ten days in this political pillory; missiles of every calibre have hurtled about my head; they have accumulated in great abundance, and if my turn has come, those by whom they were showered have no right to complain. As first in dignity, if not in accuracy of aim, perhaps I ought to commence with the learned and honorable crown officers; but there is an old Warwickshire tradition, that Guy, before he grappled with the dun cow, tried his hand upon her calves; and perhaps it would be as well, before touching the learned AttorneyGeneral, that I should dispose of the strange progeny his political system has warmed into existence. The eagle, before he lifts his eye to the meridian, learns to gaze with steadiness on the lesser lights by which he is surrounded; and "as Jove's satellites are less than Jove," so are the learned leader's disciples inferior to their master."

Howe's own words are infinitely superior to anything that can be said in praise of them, and several short passages in this same speech admirably illustrate his transcendent powers as a debater. Of one of his opponents he said: "To my honorable friend's manliness and courtesy I am willing to bear testimony; but his reverence for the past makes him a very poor judge or