The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-28
Sir R. L. Borden, 61 Today, Faces Many
 Difficult Problems

AS the Premier of Canada during a world-conf1ict in which the very exis- tence of the Empire is at stake, Sir Robert Laird Borden has been called upon to face problems more momen- tous and difficult than have fallen to the lot of any of his predecessors. The Nova Scotia barristeR who heads the Dominion government was born in Grand Pre- sixty-one years ago today, June 26, 1854, and he has brought to his task a long experience in states manship.
 The Dominion, which will be forty eight years old next week, has enlist ed the services as Prime Minister of some of the ablest statesmen Of mod ern times. Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Premier of the federated Provinces, certainly belongs in that category. When the union of Brit lSh America was effected in 1887, Mac (donald, native of Scotland, headed the first ministry. which was a coali- ton cabinet embracing both Con serVative and Liberal statesmen. Dur ing his first administration Sir John had to cope with the Fenian raids of 1870, when the militia had to be call ed out to drive back the Irish invad- CTS from the United States. The first Rie1 rebellion in the Northwest, in the same year, also required a military force for it's suppression.
 In the general elections of 1872 Sir fJohn was sustained, although by a reduced majority, owing to the general dissatisfaction of Canadians with the 1 Washington treaty which Sir John had helped to negotiate. In the fol- I lowing year, following the charges of corruption in connection with the Canadian Pacific railway project, Sir Johns ministry fell.
 
 kenzie, another son of Scotia, who 1 had been a stonemason in his youth, and later a Liberal newspaper editor. Mackenzie was one of the most hon est and straightforward public men in Canada's history. He declined the mained at the head of affairs until 1878, when Sir John A Macdonald was returned to power, after a cam paign in which Canada for Cana dians,'' was the battle-cry, and the national policy of protection the chief plank in the platform. Sir John 1 remained Premier until his death in 1891. During his second admins tration he was called upon to sup press another western rebellion led by Louis Rie1, whose execution aroused much popular protest in French Canada.
 Upon the death of Macdonald the
 
 to Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, 8. native of Canada. and an eminent lawyer. He was succeeded in De- cember, 1892, by Sir John Sparrow David Thompson. a native Nova, Sco- tan, eminent as lawyer, jurist and statesman. He died suddenly and l tragically, while on a visit to Eng land, at Windsor Castle. after two years as Premier Of th& Dominion Sir Mackenzie Powell, a native of England and a veteran editor and statesman, next held the reins of gov- 1 ernment.
 Upon Bowelrs retirement another 1 distinguished Nova Scotian, Sir Chas. Tupper. a, native of Amherst, became Premier of Canada, and sought to al lay the rising tide of discontent with the party in power. His best efforts l were in vain, and in 1896 the Liberal were returned to power, The Pre- miership devolved upon Sir Wilfrid Laurior, the brilliant and able French 1 Canadian, a, native of Quebec, and the first man of French blood to hold the l post of Prime Minister of the Donin- ion. It was during his administra- 1 ton that Canada. first took an impor- tant part in the imperial defence by sending contingents of troops to South I Africa. Sir Wilfrid's successor. Sir Robert L. Borden, has been called upon to continue this policy in war vastly larger in extent.
 |