Puslapio vaizdai
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Premier

OFFICE

Minister of Justice

Minister of Finance

Minister of Public Works Minister of Railways and Canals

Minister of Militia and Defence

Minister of Customs Minister of Agriculture

Postmaster-General

NAME

Rt. Hon. Sir John Macdonald
Hon. James Macdonald

Hon. Sir Alexander Campbell
Hon. Sir John Thompson
Hon. Sir S. L. Tilley
Hon. A. W. McLellan
Hon. Sir Charles Tupper
Hon. George E. Foster
Hon. Sir Charles Tupper
Hon. Sir Hector L. Langevin
Hon. Sir Charles Tupper
Hon. J. H. Pope

Rt. Hon. Sir John Macdonald
Hon. L. F. R. Masson
Hon. Sir Alexander Campbell
Hon. Sir Adolph Caron
Hon. Mackenzie Bowell
Hon. J. H. Pope
Hon. John Carling

Hon. Sir Hector L. Langevin
Hon. Sir Alexander Campbell
Hon. John O'Connor

Hon. Sir Alexander Campbell Hon. John O'Connor

DATE OF APPOINTMENT

Oct. 17, 1878

Oct. 17, 1878

May 20, 1881

Sept. 25, 1885

Oct. 17, 1878

Dec. 10, 1885

Jan. 27, 1887

May 29, 1888

Oct. 17, 1878

May 20, 1879

May 20, 1879

Sept. 25, 1885

Nov. 28, 1889 Oct. 19, 1878 Jan. 16, 1880

Nov. 8, 1880

Oct. 19, 1878

Oct. 17, 1878 Sept. 25, 1885

Oct. 19, 1878 May 20, 1879 Jan. 16, 1880

Nov. 8, 1880

May 20, 1881

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May 13, 1887 industries was the

The carrying out of the promise to protect Canadian first work undertaken after the elections and in the Session of 1879 Sir Leonard Tilley, as Finance Minister, introduced the tariff which has since become known as the National Policy, and which, though strongly assailed, was sustained at three successive general elections thereafter-in fact as long as Sir John lived.

Efforts to get capitalists to undertake the construction of the Pacific Railway having failed, the Mackenzie Government had gone on with portions of the line as a Government work, but it had made slow progress. Sir John having redeemed his promise as to Protection now went resolutely to work on the great project he had so much at heart, and in 1880, with his energetic Minister of Railways, Sir Charles Tupper, and the Hon. J. H. Pope, he visited England, and succeeded in forming a syndicate of capitalists to undertake the work. The contract allowed ten years for its completion, but so vigorously was it pushed that in 1885 Sir John had the pleasure of going with Lady Macdonald across the continent to the Pacific coast on the great Canadian highway, thus realizing the completion of his great ambition.

The tariff question was the great issue of the elections of 1882 and 1887, but after the latter a new element was imported into it by an agitation commenced by Mr. Erastus Wiman, of New York, for commercial union, or unrestricted reciprocity, between Canada and the United States. In company with a member of Congress, who was also enthusiastic for the scheme, Mr. Wiman visited Canada and held meetings throughout the country. The project was endorsed by a number of the leading members of the Opposition, and a propaganda was started, aided by a powerful combination in the press, which was making such headway that it was felt there was danger of the country being carried if vigorous measures were not taken to counteract it.

Sir John believed that the success of this project would inevitably lead to the absorption of Canada in the American union; and though more than three quarters of a century had passed over his head, and his life had been one of continuous and arduous labor, he felt that the supreme effort of his career had now to be made. Early in 1891 he obtained a dissolution, issued a stirring address to the people of Canada,-one phrase of which, "A British subject I was born; a British subject I will die," became the rallying cry of the campaign—and went into the fight with a vigour which surprised everybody, and which could not have been exceeded in his younger days. Two and sometimes three meetings per day were addressed, with additional talks from the rear platform of cars to excited crowds at railroad stations. Even on Sundays, when friends urged him to take a much needed rest, he kept two secretaries busy all day by dictating letters to them. When the voting came on 5th March, he scored a triumph which everybody admitted was due to his personal efforts and popularity; but it was a triumph purchased with his life.

Although completely exhausted by the labours of the campaign, he went right on with the preparations to meet Parliament, which he did on 29th April, and for three weeks kept up the strain as Leader of the House. But exhausted nature could stand it no longer, and after one or two premonitory symptoms, in the last week in May the country was thrown into consternation by the news that he had been stricken with paralysis from which there was little hope that he would recover. Then followed ten days of anxiety, shared not by the people of Canada alone, but throughout the whole British Empire, from all quarters of which came sympathetic enquiries-daily joined in by Her Majesty the Queen through the Governor-General. On the 4th of June physicians in attendance reported slightly more favorable symptoms, but notwithstanding this he continued to sink, and near midnight on the 6th of June, without having regained consciousness he passed peacefully away. Messages of condolence poured in from Canada, from India, and from the leading statesmen of the Empire, and from the Queen, who showed her appreciation by causing a wreath of white roses to be placed on his coffin with the inscription: "From Her Majesty Queen Victoria, in memory of her faithful and devoted servant." The impressive scenes of the national funeral,

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