The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-07
SIR JOHN MACDONALD
The Distinguished Premier of
Canada Is Dead.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
His Long Career in Dominion Politics-He
Was Associated with the Most In
portant Enterprises.

OTTAWA, June 6.-Sir John Macdonald is
no more The distinguished statesman
who has guided the political destinies OF
Canada for nearly half a century, passed
peacefully away at 10:15 tonight, sur
rounded by his entire household. Lady
Macdonald. who bore up so bravely during
the fatal illness, is now Frustrated with
grief. Ali the church bells are tolling and
thousands OF citizens are expressing deep
regret at the premier's demise. For
hours members os the household have
been watching at the bedside, waiting
TO see life depart. Although the physl-
clans declared last night Sir John could not
survive until morning they mad Lot maqe
allowance for his marvellous vitality. ne
had past consciousness thirty hours ago
and had taken no nourishment since save
small quantities of champagne which was
administered with difficulty. The premier,
sick unto death, kept up an unequal
struggle until sfter 10 O'Clock To-
night. For days il is assumed he resisted
the inevitable by the sheer force o. MS
powerful WILL but yesterday consciousness
disappeared, never to return. In the en-
suing period of nature, now no longer re-
strained, asserted itself. The life lire,
already low, fiickered and smeuldered as
though the soul would leave its earthly
tabernacle.
At 10 O'Clock this morning hundreds who
( called to make inquiries realized that all
Nope had now vanished forever. News
from the SICK room was more discouraging
than ever. strange and leaden color
overspread his countenance and me eX-
tremities assumed an icy coldness. once
or twice the watchers at the Dedslde
thought death had come, and DR.. Powell
holding the premier's pulse, discovered
only a faint trace of life. Lady Mac
donald, for three hours before the sad
event. never left the room for an instant
The other watchers included Mary, her
invalid daughter, Hugh John Macdonald,
the premier's son, job Pope, Sir Johns
faithful private secretary, and near friends
of the family. AT 10:l0 there was d COM
plete collapse. In the succeeding few min
utes the premier's breath became more and
more labored and only the slightest tutter
of the heart indicated life'S presence. AT
10:l5 the premier gave few lung and
heavy respirations and without struggle
or ahe slightest evidence of pain passed
away. The undertaken was promptly mott
fed to prepare the body for embalmment
4 The funeral is likely to take place Tues
Niay next and viii be of state character.
On that day the body will likely be re
moved to the Senate chamber and lie in
state four or five hours. The interment
viii subsequently take place at keystone,
Ont, where the Premier's first wife and
father are buried.
1Sir John Alexander Macdonald was born
10 Glasgow, Scotland, January IL, 1915.
His father Hugh Macdonald emigrated
from Sutherlandshire to Canada and set
tied in Kingston in 1920. The SON entered
public life in 1874 as the representative of
the city of Kingston in the house of assem-
bly,, and continued to sit for this consti-
tuency until the union of 1861 when he was
elected to the house of commons by the
electorate until 1878, when he was defeated.
He was re- elected IN 1857 by both Careton
and Kingston. He took an active part in
bringing about the Canadian confederation,
and in lS66-67 he was chairman of the London
colonial conference when the British North
America act was passed by the imperial
parliament.
On July /, 1861, the new constitution
came into force in Canada and Sir John
Macdonald was sworn as priyy councillor
and appointed minister of justice and at
torney general. In recognition of his SER
vices he was created knight commander
o. the bath (clviD by the Queen, and in 1884
he received the grand cross of the same
-order. He remained prime minister until
1873, when his government resigned on the
Canadian Pacific charges. Alexander Mac
kcnze accepted the office and for nearly
five years Sir John was the leader of the
opposition. In September, 1873 the Liberal
party was defeated at the polls on the cry
of protection TO the native Industries, and
Sir .Jonn again became premier and mas re-
manned at the head OF affairs in Canada
ever since.
He achieved decided victory at the polls |
at the recent election on the issue of re-
stricted commercial relations with the |
United States as against the plan of uure- |
stricted reciprocity advocated by the Lib |
erals. 1t is currently believed that the |
Conservative victory was due absolutely |
TO nis astute and experienced maneuvering. |
His death. therefore, means very serious |
change in the political balance of power in /!
the Dominion.
Sir John Macdonald executed several de-
licate diplomatic missions. He was one of
the British Joint high commissioners which
settled the Alabama claims question with
the United States. For this service ne was
called to the prlvy council of Great Britain,
an honor seldom conferred on a colonial
statesman. His wife, Susan Agnes, whom
he married in 1867, is a daughterof Thomas
]. Bernard, member of the Queens prlvy
council, Jamaica, West Indies, and is known
as a writer of periodicals.
Rocky Mountain Weather Predictions.