both at Ottawa and Kingston, were such as will never be forgotten by thos who witnessed them. Not alone was it an immense concourse poured in from all parts of Canada to pay their last token of respect to the dead Chieftain, but it was a touching tribute to the personal character of Sir John and the never varying kindness and consideration with which he had treated all with whom he came in contact; and which won him such a place in the affections of the people; that thousands in all stations in life and from all parts of Canada, who saw him laid to rest in Cataraqui Cemetery, felt that they were taking leave not merely of a great statesman but of a warm personal friend whose memory they would long cherish.

He was a born

Rarely, if ever,

The newspapers of the United States joined with those of Canada and Great Britain in tributes to the dead statesman, in which former opponents freely recognized the great work he had done-the Chicago Herald epitomising the general voice of the press when it said: "With Sir John Macdonald's death passes away one of the most heroic figures of the time. leader of men, a shaper of policies, and a maker of history! has the career of a single statesman been to a nation what the career of Sir John Macdonald was to Canada. He entered public life with the provinces numerically weak, with undeveloped resources and torn by internal dissensions, and he did not lay down his charge till he had seen dissensions largely healed; British power on the American continent consolidated from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Ocean; the great natural resources of this vast region rapidly developing; a deep system of waterways penetrating from the Atlantic to the heart of the continent almost completed for large vessels; Canada standing high among the nations of the world for its merchant marine; and a magnificent highway across the continent, the building of which challenged the admiration of the world, and which is destined more and more to become the great line of communication between Europe and the Orient. That others from time to time took their parts and are entitled to share in the credit for what has been accomplished may be freely conceded, but history will record that to the energy, genius and guidance of Sir John Macdonald is Canada pre-eminently indebted for the position she occupies to-day.

After the funeral Her Majesty sent an autograph letter of sympathy to Lady Macdonald, announcing to her that she desired to confer some honour to mark her appreciation of Sir John's services to the Empire, which she did by elevating his widow to the Peerage with the title of Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe. A memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey, attended by the most eminent British statesmen, and subsequently a bust of Sir John was placed in St. Paul's Cathedral, amongst those of the great men of the Empire, and unveiled by Lord Rosebery with fitting ceremonies. Besides the monument erected by the Dominion on the Parliament grounds at Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Kingston also erected monuments to his memory, and in Toronto the annual decoration of the monument, with addresses commemorative of the work he accomplished, has been started, and constitutes an example which is being followed in other cities

CHAPTER XXV.

HON. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE.

Alexander Mackenzie the First Great Liberal Premier of Canada — Of Typical Scotch Parentage-A Toiler from His Earliest Days-Apprenticed as a Stone-Cutter-In the Land of Burns-Joins the Baptist Communion-Decides to Emigrate to Canada-Arrives at Quebec on the "Monarch”—Decides to Locate at Kingston-At Work as a Builder— Cheated out of His Summer's Wages—A Winter in the Back Woods—A Contractor and Foreman on Public Works-Marries Helen Nell-Makes His Home in Sarnia-Death of His Wife-Takes an Interest in Politics-Editor of the "Lambton Shield”—Marries Jane Sym-Elected to Parliament-An Able Debater-Prophesies Evil to Liberals from the Formation of the Coalition Government-Takes Part in the Confederation Debates-His Prophesies Fulfilled-Advocates Vigorous Policy in the North West Rebellion of 1870Provincial Treasurer of Upper Canada-The Campaign of '72—The "Pacific Scandal”—Mr. Mackenzie Called on to Form an Administration-His Campaign-His Career as Premier -Visits Scotland-Sir Charles Tupper's National Policy-The Election of '78— In Opposition-Feels Deeply the Death of George Brown-In Poor Health-Once More Visits the Old World-Mr. Laurier Becomes Leader of the Liberal Party-Death of Alexander Mackenzie.

The career of Alexander Mackenzie, the first great Liberal Premier of Canada, admirably illustrates how the humblest citizen of this country may rise to the most exalted position in the gift of the nation.

Like many others of the leading men of Canada, such as Sir John A. Macdonald, George Brown and Lord Strathcona, he was of Scotch parentage. He was the son of Alexander Mackenzie and Mary Stewart Fleming, and was born at Logierait on Monday, January 28, 1822. His father, a carpenter and ship-joiner by trade, was, during the greater part of his life, in poor circumstances, and, to provide for his numerous family, was forced to move from place to place in his native land in search of work. After the birth of his son Alexander, and before his death in 1836, he had Perth, of Pitlochary and Dunkeld. He was a typical Scotch father, the father immortalized in Burns' Cottar's Saturday Night, and it was from him that his son inherited much of his austerity of character and high sense of right. His mother was of superior family; her father had been destined for

been a resident of

the army, but seems to have had no liking for the calling and settled down in a remote part of Scotland, where he acted as schoolmaster and session clerk. No doubt the future Premier of Canada inherited from his grandfather on his mother's side that intellectual power that early made him one of the ablest public men in Canada, and that literary grace which makes the descriptive passages in his letters such interesting reading.

The early life of Alexander Mackenzie was like that of hundreds of other Scotch lads who have become distinguished in business, in politics and in literature. As soon as he was able he had to assist in earning the daily bread for the family, and when but ten years old we find him on the hillside employed as a herd-laddie. This work, of course, he did only in the summer season and in the winter months he attended school. When but thirteen years old he left school altogether. His early life was one of labor, and at sixteen he worked in the fields at the plow.

On account of the circumstances of his family and his environment, however ambitious he may have been, he could not hope to enter any of the learned professions. A mere day-laborer he would not be, and so he apprenticed himself to John Ireland, of Dunkeld, as a stone-cutter. Thus the man who was to be one of the builders of the Dominion began his life in earnest as a hewer of stone for the bridges and dwellings of his native land. His brothers were likewise to be workers; Robert and Hope became carpenters and cabinet-makers, John a tin and coppersmith and Adam a druggist. Alexander made rapid progress at his trade, and in 1841, before he had reached his twentieth birthday we find him at Irvine employed as a journeyman stone-cutter.

He was now in the region that Burns had immortalized, and the inspiration of his surroundings and a somewhat close study of many of the poet's immortal verses did much to shape his character. Burns' love of nature, Burns' sympathy with the poor, Burns' passion for Liberty took possession of him. It was about this time, too, that he began to take an interest in the history of his country, and in the great movements that were

stirring the nation. He was in sympathy with the Chartists, and took part in some of their debates, but was never an extremist, and disapproved of many of the tactics of the leaders in the movement.

From boyhood Alexander Mackenzie was, in religious matters, broadminded and tolerant. He was a Presbyterian by birth, but while at Irvine was in daily contact with a number of earnest Baptists and under their influence joined the Baptist Church. No doubt, the cold austerity of the Presbyterian Church of his time made him turn for spiritual communion to this newer and more liberal-minded body, but he ever had an affection for the Church of his boyhood days, and towards the end of his life this affection seems to have increased.

The young stone-mason spent only a short year at Irvine, but in that year the whole course of his future life was shaped; his mind was aroused by his study of Burns in the land of Burns; he began to take an interest in the great social and political questions of his time; and here he got his religious bent Here, too, he fell in with a family by the name of Neil. The father and eldest son were stone-cutters, and he formed a strong friendship with them, but a still stronger friendship with Helen Neil, a Scotch lass but seventeen years old.

The Neils were dissatisfied with their lot in the Old World. Work could not always be obtained and when obtained the laborer's wage was barely sufficient to support life. At that time Canada was attracting a good deal of attention in Scotland, and the Neils thought they might better their condition by going to the New World. As soon as they had definitely concluded to pursue this course Alexander Mackenzie determined to accompany them, attracted, no doubt, by the opportunities the New World would present to his ambitious spirit, but also drawn across the Ocean by the magnet, Helen Neil. The party took passage on the ship "Monarch," sailing from Greenock, and after a voyage of a month's duration arrived safely in the St. Lawrence.

Alexander Mackenzie had been a reader and knew something of the history of the country he was about to make his home, and when the "Monarch" touched at Quebec he visited the points of interests in that historic old city; saw where the great battle of the Plains of Abraham had been