The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-28

been formed and Rad ssnen w.shtn ire
brief space Of two years All pussc
business save mere routine was a. q
s.ar1xsfIl
There conls Be but enc way our %
this critical cal de sac-viz.. ~ q coasi-
ton between fhe Conservatives ard fsb-
erals. who dfvid@1 the country so evenly
ard this. In view OF the bitter antag-
onIzrn between the two parties. seemed
50 lnaDracslcsbse as to be hardly worth
discussing.
Bat It II offer the grnprohabls that hap
pens. Tto-the profound surprise of sup
porters AMI opponents alike. ard 20 his
CSn Infinite credit. Mr.. Brown then lead
Ing the opposition. realizing the need OF
decisive action Il the pr.on was 20 be
preserved. made overtgFeS 70 Sir John
Macdonald which resulted in the former
consenfing 10 enter the cabinet with TWO
OF has followers on the express under
stanG-nk that. as a Substitute for the
representation by CUps1lsfior" he han 80
consistently and DersAsrently e12xnploFfe1s
parliament would al IS next session IN
dertake the confederation OF the Canadian
provinces
As the scheme AlreaHv formed one OF
the principal pisnks In the Conservative
party platform. having been adopted b
Sir John from the programme OF the
Britszn-AT1ertcan League. which had hrsE
Ho0fe3 u 50 far back as 1913. there Sas
no difficulty n accepting the Liberal
leaders conditions. 4 coalition govern
ment was accordingly formed. The two
lifetime opponents took counsei together
and WED with each other in the energy
and eioqaence with which they advocated
the great undertaking. Associated with
them were the French leaders Carter
and Tache. whose hearty cooperation
was OF inestinable service
Their attention was first turned 10 the
maritime provinces. Nova Scotia. New
Brunswick. Newfoundland and Prince Ed
ward Island. AS IL CHANGED the time was
peculiarly opportune, for these provinces
had just arranged for a convention at
sharlottetown. Prince Edward Island. OF
delegates appointed TO arrange the terms
OF a legislative union.
The Inception OF Confederation.
The coalition government asked permits
sion 70 take part IN this convention, and,
this being granted, Macdonald. Brown,
Cartier and several other delegates went
down 70 represent the Canadas.
The result OF their presence was 70 give
a wider scope 70 the character and aims
OF the convention and as the delegates
from the maritime provinces had no au-
fhority 10 discuss the larger union, II was
decided 70 adjourn the convention 10 meet
again At Quebec upon a date TO be sub
sequentiy fixed, steps 20 be taken in the
meantime TO commend the scheme OF con-
federation 20 the provinces which had not
yet committed themselves 10 IT,
In execution Of this understanding the
Canadian emissaries made a tour through
the maritime provinces. IN the course of
which they did much 10 influence public
opinion by means OF eloquent speeches de-
hvered at bananets given In their honor
In October. 1854. the conference upon
which the fate OF Canada depended as
sembled az Quebec In the historic old par
lament buildings. Ontario. Quebec. Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick. Prince Edward
Island and Newfoundland were represent
cd by delegates. Sir Etlenne Tache was
CHOSEN president. and the sittings were
held with closed doors.
The conference continued for nearly
three weeks. with the result THAI resolu-
tons einbodying the priucgr-f points OF
confederation were adopted and that each
body OF provincial delegates stood pledged
TO use their utmost endeavors 10 secure
the concurrence Of their respective legis-
latures In the project
CIT Is interesting 70 note that flst about
this time there had been introduced into
the United States congress a bin proyid
ing Tor the admission OF British North
America into the American Union as
four separate states, the public deb. ~
when would be assumed by the Federal
government
The delegates TO the Quebec conference
from Ontario and Quebec had no difrlcul-
~ In carrying out their part OF the bar
gain.
At the meeting OF the Canadian leg,sla-
tpre In February. 1855. the union resolu
tons were carried by a large ma toritv
The subject had BEEN a familiar one with
them for years past. and they looked hooe-
fully to It's satisfactory solution as a wav
or release from their embarrassing poiltf-
cal deadlock
Not so. however. was IL among the mari
time provinces. With one accord they
kicked up their heels. Nova Scotia adoptei
resolutions in favor or union OF these
provinces alone. In New Brunswick a gem
eral election resulted In the return OF a
majority hostile TO confederation.
Newfoundland dropped the project alto
gether. and Prince Edward Island not only
passed resolutions an,agonisllo 70 the
scheme. but even went the leaeth OF repu-
dating the action Of her delegates at the
Quebec conference.
Perseverance, Under Difficulties.
The Canadian administration neverthe-
less dld no; lose heart. but perzeyerea
steadily IN their endeavors. Messrs Mac
donald. Brown. Cartier and Gait went 10
Eegiand and succeeded IN obtaining many
Important concessions from the imperial
authorities including the guarantee OF a
loan for the construction OF the Inter
colonial railway uniting New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia with the Canadas Bet
Ter terms az TO debt and revenue were also
offered. and IN the end change OF feeling
was wrought which secured a ma tority for
confederation In the legislatures OF the two
just mentioned provinces. the other two
stll holding aioof
IN December. 1Sss, joint conference OF
delegates from Ontario. Quebec. Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick met in Lon