CHAPTER XXIX.

SIR CHARLES TUPPER.

BY J. CASTELL HOPKINS.

Sir Charles Tupper One of the Great Leaders of the Conservative Party of British North America The Right-Hand of Sir John A. Macdonald-Born at Amherst, Nova ScotiaThe Son of a Clergyman-Educated in Nova Scotia and at the University of EdinburghReceives the Degree of M. D. in 1843-Practises Medicine in Nova Scotia-His MarriageJoseph Howe his Great Rival-Defeats Howe for the Provincial Assembly in 1855—The Fighting Head of the Conservative Party in Nova Scotia-The Conservatives in Power— Tupper Appointed Provincial Secretary-Goes to London to Promote the Building of a Railway from Halifax to Quebec-Practises Medicine in Halifax-In 1864 Becomes Premier of Nova Scotia-His Part in Confederation-Becomes President of the Privy Council-Minister of Inland Revenue-Minister of Customs-Takes a Strong Interest in the Canadian Pacific Railway-In Opposition-Practises his Profession in Ottawa and Toronto-Advocates the National Policy-Minister of Public Works, Etc.-Created a K.C.M.G.-Sir Charles Tupper a Vigorous Debater-Becomes High Commissioner for Canada in London—In 1887 Appointed Minister of Finance-Returns to London as High Commissioner-Does Good Work for Canada as High Commissioner-In 1891 Helps Sir John in his Last General Election-Becomes Premier on Resignation of Sir Mackenzie Bowell-His Cabinet-His Stand on the Manitoba School Question-Defeated at the General Election-His Public Honors-One of Canada's Grand Old Men.

N the formative period of the politics and constitution of a new country personal force is as necessary as personal finesse. To the Conservative party of British America in the latter half of the nineteenth century two leaders were given in the persons of Charles Tupper and John A. Macdonald, who were respectively possessed of these elements of power in a most unique and effective degree. As the years passed on and the Nova Scotia leader stretched out his hand to the great statesman of Canada in a policy of federal union, and, later on, of railway development and tariff action, a new Dominion, broadening out from sea to sea, realized the importance of this combination of personal qualities and accepted Sir Charles Tupper as the right hand of Sir John Macdonald and his probable successor in political power and

party leadership. In that period lie the most important germs of Canadian development, and around it may be seen the shadows of Provincial and National struggles in which these two men were always to the front and always in harmonized public action. Sir John Macdonald combined, in his great public career, a marvellous power of managing men with a skilled capacity, which was also innate and instinctive, for knowing what the people wanted and how and when they wanted it. He possessed a magnetic personality which drew men to him and made the arts of an orator unnecessary. Yet these he possessed in some measure, though not in the forceful degree which made his Nova Scotia friend and colleague so valuable. He was essentially a constructive statesman and as such employed all the elements of conciliation with consummate skill. On the other hand, strength of purpose and vigour of attack, strength of policy and determined energy in its defence, strength of frame and voice and style of thought were the characteristics of Sir Charles Tupper.

Born at Amherst, Nova Scotia, on July 2, 1821, Charles Tupper was the son of the Rev. Dr. Tupper, a veteran Baptist minister and scholar of the Province. He was educated at Horton Academy, and received the degree of M.A. in course, and afterwards the honorary one of D.C.L. from Acadia College. He went to the University of Edinburgh, graduated as M.D. in 1843, and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of the same city. Returning to Nova Scotia he practised his profession for a number of years at Amherst with eminent success. There he married, in 1846, Miss Frances Amelia Morse, and fifty years later celebrated at the capital of the Dominion, amid innumerable congratulations and the receipt of many gifts, the golden anniversary of a happy marriage. Up to 1855 Dr. Tupper took no active part in public matters, though his commanding presence, clever conversational powers and personal popularity seemed to mark him out for political preferment. Then came the moment-the turning point in fortune's fickle favour-which comes to most men at some time in their lives, and upon the issue of which, in his case, depended a future of high position and wide opportunities for good.

Joseph Howe was then the darling of the people of Nova Scotia. He was a man of such brilliant abilities, such far-seeing views, such powerful oratorical force, that had the arena been a little larger, and his field of achievement a little more important, the ranks of the English-speaking world would have rung with his name and fame. As it was he must be deemed by history a great man-despite the limitation of his life and his Provincial environment. In 1855, with all the prestige of popular and Liberal leadership, and his great reputation as an orator and a politician, he came to Cumberland County, where he had been previously elected in 1852, as a candidate for the Provincial Assembly in the general election. Dr. Tupper was persuaded to oppose him in the Conservative interest, and in doing so faced a running tide of public opinion in the opposite direction and the necessity of giving up much of an extensive medical practice. With all his energy, however, he threw himself into the fight, and the result of the strenuous struggle, typical of many an after contest, was a victory for the young Conservative over an eloquent veteran of many years' supremacy, and in an election during which the Province went overwhelmingly Liberal. He entered the new House with sixteen party colleagues out of fifty-two members, but with a reputation which Howe was the first to help by the statement that he had been beaten by one who would be "the leader of the Conservative party."

From that time Dr. Tupper was the fighting head of the party in the Province, although for nine years to come Hon. James W. Johnston remained the nominal leader. With his appearance in the house and residence at Halifax, which followed, a new and distinct period commenced in his career. His platform in and out of the Legislature was conciliation for sectarian issues and the building of necessary railways by and through the Government and not as a result of individual enterprise. The first won for him and his party the Roman Catholic vote; the second neutralized in a political sense the energetic transportation policy of Howe. In February, 1857, the Conservatives came into office and Dr. Tupper was appointed Provincial Secretary. Largely through his activity and initiative many important reforms were effected. The existing monopoly in mines and