The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07
MACDONALD rs DEAD.
Fell Asleep Surrounded by His
Family and Friends.
THE BELLS OF CANADA roLLiNc.
To Bs Given State FuneraI-Achieve-
ments Of the statesman's Long
Public Life.

Public Lie.
OTTAWA, June 6.--Sir John A. Macdon-
aid is no more. The distinguished states
man, who has guided the political desti-
MES of Canada for nearly half century
passed peacefully away at io:t5 tonight,
surrounded by his entire household. Lady
Macdonald, who bore up so brayely dur
ing the fatal illness, Is now Frustrated
with grief. All the church bells are toll
ing, and thousands of citizens are express
ing dssp regret ct the premier's dennise.
For hours the members of the household
have been watching st the bedside. wait
ing to see life depart.
Although physicians declared last night
that Sir John would not survive until
morning, they had not made allowance for
his marvellous vitality. He had lost con-
sciousness thirty hours ago, and had taken
no nc Irishment since, save small quantities
ofcha npagne, whichwas administered with
difficulty. The premier, sick unto death,
kept up the unequal struggle until after 10
o'clock tonight. For days he had resisted
the inevitable by the sheer force of his
powerful viii, but yesterday consciousness
disappeared, never to return. In the even
ing period nature, now no longer re-
strained, asserted itself. Life's fire, al
ready burning low, tlickered and smoldered
rs though the soul would leave its earthly
tabernacle.
At ten O'Clock in the morning hundreds
who had called to make inquiries realized
that all hope had now vanished forever.
The news from the sick room was more
Encouraging than ever. A strange and
lesden color overspread HIS coun-
fenance, and the extremities assumed
an icy celdness. Once or twice
the watchers AZ the bedside thought
death hsd come, and DR.. Powell. holding
the premier's pulse, discovered only
faint trace of life. Lady Macdonald for
three hours before the sad event never left
the room for an instant. The other watch
ers included Mary. her invalid daughter,
Hugh John Macdonald. the premier's son,
Job Pope, Sir Johns faithful private sec
rotary, and near friends of the family.
At 1915 complete collapse set it. In
the succeeding few minutes the premier's
breathing became more and more labored,
and only the slightest flutter Of the heart
indicated life's presence. At 10:15 the
premier gave few long and heavy in
SEPARATIONS, and without struggle or the
slightest evidence of pain passed away. An
undertaken was prom pity notified to pre-
pare the body for embalmiDg.
The funeral will likely take place Tues
day next, and will be of state character.
On that day the body will likely be re-
moved to the Senate chamber and lie in
state for four or five hours. The inter-
ment win subsequently take place at
Kingston, Ont, where the premier's first
wife and father are buried.
John Alexander Macdonald wax born In Glas-
gov, Scotland. January IL. ISIS. His father,
Hugh Macdonald. emigrated FROM Sutherland
taYio, In 1890 Young Macdonald was educated
at the Royal grammar-school, Kingston, adopted
the law Is profession, and was called to the
was appointed queens counsel, and afterward
became bencher. ex-ofiicio, of the Law Society
Of Ontario As counsel he achieved distinction
Who rsided Canada n isss At 0f the ecn Ssad
Of . small band Of marsuders. But 1t is as q
politician and statesman that he has won his
place In Canadian history. He entered public
Kingston u the houss assembly, and continued
% sit for this constituency until the union OF
1867, when be was elected TO the house OF COM
1875 when he was defeated Marquette, in Man
itoba, and Victoria, British Columbia, after
wards returned him, and In 1882 Lennox and
S "a n counties chose him as their member;
at the general election OF 1857 Careiton and King
ston both elected him. In May. 1877. he was first
appointed TO once, becoming receiver general
lands In the Drapsr ministry. Early in the fol-
lowing year the government was defeated by
the Reformers, and Macdonald and his col.
leagues remained in opposition until 1854 Dur
ing the interim he developed powers OF ssssidu-
fty and tact, familiariZsd himself with all the
great questions Of the day, and acquired a
served Sm Ss in siserfs Hs toof WHIST ssa
place at once among the debaters Of the time,
and his speeches on the rebellion losses bill and
the secularizstion OF the clergy reserves at
ne opposed with vigor and energy, In septem-
Der, 1854, the latter question proved the Issue be-
s tore the People, and Macdonald entered the
once sand and forever . psSS5s%d ant at
once for which his training well fitted him
of the coalition the clergy reserves were secuisr
ised on fair and equitable basis, Seignorial
tenure In lower Canada was also abolished In
$50 the nominal leader OF the Conservatives,
cir Allan MacNab. succumbsd to govt, and,
much to his chagrin, his young aud active
lieutenant. Macdonald, was chosen to succeed
him as chief OF the party. This post no held up
70 the time OF his death, and in Office and out OF
" ne exercised degree OF personal infu-
ence over his followers that has never
eeen equaled IN the case OF any other public
man in Canada. In 1855 the government was
asfested on the scat OF government question.
Macdonald resigned and George Brown was
called upon to form new administration. He
succeeoea N the task, but being defeated on
the nrst vote in the house OF assembly, he
made way for Macdonald, who again resumed
power. taking the otfiee of postmaster general,
which he resigned the next day TO assume ais
more congenial ONCE of attorney General His
ministers also changed Offices, and this incident
IN Canadian politics Is known as the double
ship until is6a, when his government
was defeated on the militia bill.
S ~ .s ,ss r o,no Seerge stsnne Cartier
on the fall of the Observation-Disclosures ion
ministry, be formed q new government. with
Sir Etienne T. Tsche leading the Lower Cana.
eralship, but II was found, however. impossible
70 carry on affairs with comfort The govern.
ment, owing TO frequent deadlocks. was quite
ment, and the proposition TO federaliEe Upper
and Lower Canada and the maritime provinces
OF Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Ed
ward island. was received with enthusiasm as q
way out OF the difficulty. A conference
took place between the leaders on both sides,
snc the question was very fully discussed. In
ls64 Macdonald attended as q delegate the con.
ference that had been called at ChArlotsetown,
Prince Edward island. where the smaller con.
federation OF tbs seahoard provinces was under
sSnsdssss re- a Mac and his associates
most OF the gentlemen present that
the larger union OF all the British
North American provinces was much the more
desirable scheme Of the two. Another CONVEX
ton was held few months sfterward in the
city OF Quebec, delegates from all the provinces
being present, ana at this meeting the plan of
Grafton Macdonald took an active part, and in
iS66-67 he was chairman OF the Lon
don colonial conference, when the British
North American act was passed by
the imperial parlisment In 1855 Sir Etlenne p