Macdonald Sir John Alexander 1815-1891 Joseph Howe Era Attends Charlottetown
Conference, 1864, and proposes union of all the provinces, 178; premier
of first Dominion Cabinet, 198; Tupper writes him as to Howe's political
plans, 207; Tilley and Tupper urge him to visit Nova Scotia, 209; visits
Halifax with Sir Georges Cartier, Peter Mitchell, and William
Macdougall, 210; Acadian Recorder suggests violence, 210; Howe
denounces the suggestion, 210-212; arrives in Halifax, and guest of Sir
Hasting
Doyle, 213; meets Howe, 213; appears before committee of
Legislature, 213-214; urges Howe to put an end to the agitation for
repeal of the union, 215-218; persuades Howe to enter Dominion Cabinet,
225; his public letters, 257; contrasted with Howe, 287; correspondence
with Howe on Pacific Railway policy, 299-300. (Egerton Ryerson era) His University Bill,
1847--its terms, 155-157; withdrawn, 156; referred to, 161; amends
Separate School Bill, 231; supports Ryerson's stand as to separate
schools, 233. (Sir James Douglas era) And the Pacific Scandal, 321. (Sir Georges E. Cartier era) His alliance with
Cartier, 31, 33; his first appearance in Parliament as an uncompromising
Tory, 31; opposed to La Fontaine, 32; votes against settlement of
Seigniorial Tenure, 32; opposes Indemnity Bill, 32; and the Pacific
Scandal, 53; his resignation, 53; at Quebec Conference--favours
legislative union of provinces, 57; defends proposed constitution,
59-60; forms first Dominion administration, 67; resists demand for
disallowance of New Brunswick Act abolishing separate schools, 74;
sympathizes with Roman Catholic minority, 76; presents Militia Bill,
1862, 87; helps Cartier to establish political union, 100; freedom from
racial or religious prejudice, 100; his qualities, 101-102; strained
relations with Cartier, 102-103; Cartier's knowledge of service to, 111;
receives knighthood, 124, 129; explains Wolseley's quarrel with Cartier,
130. (Lord Elgin era) Becomes receiver-general in Sherwood ministry, 43; his
statesmanlike qualities, 43-44; re-elected, 1848, 50; his political
sagacity, 110; rivalry with George Brown, 114; on provincial
representation, 118; on the dissolution of Parliament in 1853, 127; on
the Representation Bill, 132, 133; Liberal-Conservative party owed its
birth to his inspiration, 137; persuades Sir Allan MacNab to agree to
coalition government, 139, 141; attorney-general in MacNab-Morin
ministry, 140; his views on Clergy Reserves, 163; takes charge of bill
for secularization of the Clergy Reserves, 168; Hincks enters his
ministry, 223; one of the builders of the British Empire--honours
conferred upon him, 225; monuments erected to his memory, 226. (George Brown Era)
Relations with George Brown, x; leads his party, 42; frames bill for
settlement of Clergy Reserves, 60; reveals political sagacity, 69; on
the character of the union, 82; bitter relations with George Brown,
87-91; offers seat in Cabinet to John Sandfield Macdonald, 100; the
"Double Shuffle," 107-108; moves want of confidence in Sandfield
Macdonald government, 1863, 146; Brown's motion for constitutional
changes, 1864, takes him by surprise, 150; his account of negotiations
between George Brown and government as to Confederation, 151, 154-156;
his connection with, 152,. 154-155; announces agreement, 153, 160;
favours nominative Senate, 164; describes new constitution, in
Confederation debate, 170-171; announces in Parliament decision of
government to carry Confederation at once and send mission to England,
182; explains intentions of government, 183; on defence of Canada, 183,
184-185; goes to England, 186; relations with George Brown, 189-192;
asked to form government, 1865, 189; interview with Brown, 189-191; his
proposal that Belleau be premier accepted by Brown, 191; virtual leader
of government, 191; charged with using Brown as a stepping-stone to his
own political ambition, 199; benefits by Brown's entry into ministry,
199, 200; Holton describes his path as "studded all along by the
gravestones of his slaughtered colleagues," 201; on friendly terms with
Holton, 202; his essential conservatism, 202; relations with Macdougall
and Howland, 202, 209; with Joseph Howe, 203-206, 210; his ideal of a
legislative union, 207; anomalous position of his Liberal colleagues,
209-210; his government overthrown, 210, 235. (Baldwin / La Fontaine / Hincks era) Co-operates in
founding United Empire Association, 228; elected in 1844, 252; enters
ministry as receiver-general, 276; re-elected, 279; offers Baldwin
chief-justiceship of Common Pleas, 357; Hincks in his Cabinet, 359.
(Sir John A Macdonald era) Assigned foremost place among Canadian statesmen, i; national
recognition of his services after his death by creation of peerage for
his widow, i; memorial tablet in St. Paul's Cathedral, and statues in
Canadian cities, i; his personal popularity, i-ii; his personality made
Confederation possible, ii; Canada's debt to him, iii-iv; his birth and
ancestry, 1; brought to Canada in 1820, 1; boyhood days at Kingston and
on the Bay of Quinte, 2; his debt to his mother, her strong personality,
2; educated at Kingston Grammar School, 3; Mowat's tribute, 3; studies
law, 4-5; called to the bar, 1836, 5; begins practice at age of
twenty-one, 5; Oliver Mowat and Alexander Campbell students in his
office, 6; called out as a volunteer in Rebellion of 1837, 7; defends
Schoultz and Ashley, 8-9; his first visit to England, 1842, 9; takes
Alexander Campbell into partnership, 9; elected alderman for Kingston,
10; marries his cousin, Miss Isabella Clark, Sept. 1, 1843, 10; their
children, 10; enters public life, 1854, as member for Kingston, 11-12;
his firm belief from the beginning that Canada's prosperity depended on
permanent connection with the mother country, 12; impelling motives of
his long public career, 13; unsettled problems in 1844, 13-14;
Confederation movement, 14; difficulties of his position, 15-16; his
election address, 23; takes little part in discussions during his first
session, 25; Draper recommends him for position of commissioner of crown
lands, 26; had no sympathy with political creed of Family Compact, 27;
becomes receiver-general, 27; his views on university endowment, 28-29;
Alexander Campbell's letter to, 31; opposes Rebellion Losses Bill, 36;
refuses to join the annexation movement, 40; strong supporter of British
American League, 40; acts as moderating force in conflict over Rebellion
Losses Bill, 42, 43; his character contrasted with George Brown's, 53,
54; conceives idea of Liberal-Conservative party, 62, 63; appointed
attorney-general for Upper Canada, 63; introduces bill for
secularization of Clergy Reserves, 65; Pope's pen-portrait of his
appearance and character, 73; supports measure proposing to make
Legislative Council elective, 75; has no desire and makes no effort to
hasten Sir Allan MacNab's resignation, though circumstances force him
into leadership, 76-77; resigns from the MacNab-Tache ministry, 78;
reasons for resignation, 79, 80; forms an administration with Tache, May
24, 1856, 80; his quarrel with George Brown, 80-81; challenged by
Colonel Rankin, 81-82; his views on the separate school system, 82; on
the resignation of Tache, forms an administration with Cartier, 83;
becomes premier of the province of Canada on Nov. 26, 1857, 83;
dissolves House and appeals to people on questions of separate schools
and representation by population, 84; makes proposition to Sandfield
Macdonald, which is rejected, 84, 85; forms administration with Cartier
as premier, 86; the "Double Shuffle," 86, 87; becomes less opposed to
representation by population, 89; forms administration with Sir E. P.
Tache, which lasts only a few weeks, 90; buries the hatchet and forms
coalition with Brown to work for Confederation, 93, 100-102; anticipates
results of Confederation, 103; attends Charlottetown and Quebec
Conferences, 104-114; though strongly in favour of legislative union,
modifies his views after discussion at Quebec Conference, and accepts
scheme of a federal union, 107-108, 245; introduces in Parliament the
resolutions adopted at Quebec Conference, 118, 119; one of commissioners
to British government in regard to Confederation, 120; upon death of
Tache, is called upon to form a ministry, but Brown refusing to act with
him, or with Cartier, they sit together under the nominal presidency of
Sir Narcisse Belleau, 122, 123; his answer to Lord Monck on delay in
Confederation, 124; his wariness and skill in presenting Confederation
resolutions, 126, 127; made a K. C. B. in recognition of his services
in Confederation negotiations, 128, 267, 344; first prime minister of
Dominion of Canada, 131; his second marriage, 131; granted a special
audience by the queen, 132; returns to Canada, 132; difficulties in
formation of first Dominion Cabinet, 133; list of members, 134-135; his
party adopts name of Liberal-Conservative, 138; seeks able colleagues,
139, 140; results of first Dominion election, 141; sends Tupper to
oppose Howe and his movement for repeal, 143; visits Halifax for purpose
of winning Howe over to Confederation, 144; Howe persuaded to enter
Dominion Cabinet, 145; acts passed by first Dominion Parliament, 151; on
verge of ministerial crisis over Intercolonial Railway, 153, 154; his
desire to annex North-West Territories, 156; difficulties in
accomplishing it, 157-163; introduces bill for establishment and
government of province of Manitoba, 161; taken seriously ill, 161;
returns to Ottawa, 163; goes to Washington as member of commission, 163,
165, 169; his reluctance to become a member of the commission, 171-173;
objects to any permanent sale of the fisheries, 174-175; his connection
with, and reasons for withdrawal of Fenian Raid claims, 175-178; on
decision in San Juan boundary dispute, 179-181; on the fisheries
question, 182-184; signs Washington Treaty, 185; moves ratification of
certain clauses of Washington Treaty, 186-190; general election of 1872,
193 et seq.; the "Pacific Scandal," 200 et seq.; his defence, 208,
209; sends in his resignation, 210; leads opposition, 211; his
resolution in favour of a national policy, 217, 225; puts the new policy
before the country, 220-223; urges preferential trade with mother
country, 227; again in power, 1878, 228; inaugurates the national policy
and reverts to transcontinental railway scheme, 234; crosses continent
on Canadian Pacific Railway, 238; firm in his conviction that Riel
should be hanged, 243, 244, 280; brings Letellier difficulty before
Parliament, 248-250; Ontario boundary dispute, 254-258; introduces
Franchise Act of 1885, 258-260; country's devotion to, 262, 263;
qualities which maintained loyalty and devotion of his followers,
263-265; Confederation honours cause a break in his friendship with
Cartier, 267, 268; introduces bill to adjust representation in House of
Commons, 273; election of 1882, 273-276; resolutions on home rule in
Ireland, 277; contrasted with Blake, 277-279; election of 1887, 279-283;
adoption of jubilee address to queen, 283; compromises with Canadian
Pacific Railway over their monopoly of transportation, 285; takes a
constitutional stand on Jesuits' Estates Act, 289; commercial union
policy, 291 et seq.; contemplates a general election, 300-302; takes
steps to renew commercial intercourse with United States, 303; his last
appeal to electors of Dominion, 304-311; makes the most of contents of
Farrer pamphlet, 313-314; throws himself with energy into election
campaign of 1891, 314; for fourth time his government is sustained, 315;
receives a chill while attending demonstration at Napanee, 319; attends
opening of the session, 320; suffers a slight stroke of paralysis, 320;
his last appearance in the House, 320; suffers a final stroke on May 29,
1891, 321; and dies on June 6, 1891, 321; funeral, 321, 322; tribute
from Queen Victoria, 322; memorial service in Westminster Abbey, and
tablet to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral, 322-323; a summing up of
his work and influence, 333-353; a practical politician, 333-336; his
political methods, 335-338; his personal magnetism, 339; anecdotes of,
340-341; not an orator, but an effective debater, 341-342; proposed
preferential trade in 1879, 342; in favour of Imperial federation, 343;
letter to, from Cecil Rhodes, 349; kept in touch with Imperial affairs,
344; Imperial honours bestowed on, 344-345; a self-made man, 345;
tributes to his statesmanship, 346; his sympathy with French-Canadians,
347-348; a peacemaker, 348; Lord Dufferin on, 348-349; a poor man,
349-350; sum raised for, in 1870, 351; statues to, in many Canadian
cities, 351; his greatness and shortcomings, 351-353. (Tilley era) At
Charlottetown Conference, 74, 75; at Quebec Conference, 76, 78; at
Westminster Conference, 121; presented to the Queen, 124; forms first
Dominion ministry, 127-128, 129; forms second ministry, 136; his
national policy, 137. =Bib.=: Pope, Memoirs of Sir John Alexander
Macdonald; Macpherson, Life of Macdonald; Collins, Life and Times of
Macdonald; Adam, Life and Career of Macdonald; Hopkins, Life of
Macdonald; Biggar, Anecdotal Life of Macdonald; Dent, Can. Por. and
Last Forty Years; Taylor, Brit. Am.; Cyc. Am. Biog.