The sun., 1919-06-03
BRITISH AMERICAS
TALE OF PROGRESS
How Antagonistic Provinces
Were Welded Into One
Great Dominion.
THREE MEN DOMINANT
Work of Macdonald, Laurier
and Borden in Building a
COnfederated Nation.

three names stand out In Canadian
history above all others---Sir John A.
Macdonald. Sir Wifrid Laurier and Sir
Robert Borden. Each name stands for
a distinct achievement in the making OF
the new Dominion" So writes Frank
Maitland In Mutseys Magazine for June.
And he continues thus interestingly:
Macdonald was the chief Of the fathers
OF confederation. True. he was not the
hrst to suggest the project. but without
his skifui leadership and persuasive per-
sonality confederation would have been
an impossible dream. When the Ca
madam Dominion OF to-day was merely
British North America when the great
West was an unknown wilderness, gen.
orally believed 10 be worthless and unin.
habltable when Canada meant only a
small strip of territory along the st.
Lawrence and Lake Ontario; when the
MARITIME Provinces of the present Do
nnion were isolated from Canada by
distance and geographical barriers. and
from one another by petty provincial
jealousles; when the ultimate absorption
Of all these small. struggling communi-
ties by the great American republic
seemed TO be inevitably decreed by ma
ture and by geographical law-even then
Macdonald saw a vision OF the Canada
OF to-day, with its influential place In the
councils of a new British Empire.
In those days his dream seemed fool
ish and impracticable. The provinces
that were to be formed into the new
dominion had little In common. French
Canada and English Canada. the present
provinces OF Quebec and Ontario, we're
engaged In a perpetual quarrel OF race
and creed. Tho Maritime Provinces
down on the Atlantic. with their petty
1ealousies, were far away, and there was
10 railway connection with them. The
populations of all the provinces were
sadly discoura ged, and II was becoming
the fashion to look to Washington for |
relief. -
In Giant Republics shadow.
Even the descendants of the United |
Empire Loyalists were losing faith In |
the future. Their fathers and grand |
fathers had come into the Canadian |
wilderness at the time of the American |
Revolution, sacrificing all that they pos |
sessel rather than own allegiance to |
flag that was not British. Their in |
tensely British sentiment had been |
landed down from father TO son. Yet |
even those of United Empire Loyalist !
stock had almost despaired of the task |
OF building up strong and prosperous |
Cana la alongside the giant republic.
There were many others who con- |
tributed to the achievement of the SEEM
ingy impossible, but 1t was John A"
who. in a difficult time, was the chief of
the makers OF the dominion. 1t was his
winning personality and CHEEKY optimism I
that won the support OF the pessimists
and doubters. his genius for leadership
that. secured the cooperation of strong
leaders who could have served together
under no other man.
Macdonald laid the foundations OF the
Canada OF to-day Laurier continued his
work on the superstructure. He became
Premier in 1896. following a period of
acute economic depression, during which
many Canadians had despaired Of their
country and had been tempted to seek
relief in annexation TO the United states.
For years there had been an alarming
annual exodus of tens of thousands OF
Canadians 10 the United States. Canada
was losing heavily each year OF the best
blood OF the Dominion.
Sir Wilfrids CHEEKY optimism gave
Canadians national self-confidence
which they had lost In the years that
interviewed between the death of Mac
donald in 1891 and the Liberal victory
~ 1875. He formed an administration
Of all tIc talents" which was probably
1he strongest cabinet in Canada's his |
tory. 1t Ia a disputed question whether
or not the effect was intended. but he
gave a new birth 10 the imperial enthu-
siasm OF Canada by his establishment
OF the British preferential tariff. Great
constructive policies were inaugurated,
and a vigorous campaign for immigra-
tion was successfully undertaken.
Exodus 10 United states Ends.
In the new era Of national self-con-
hdence and industria! and commercial
prosperity the exodus to the United
States came to an end and was fol.
lowed by movement of population from
the South to the North. There were
many years of expansion and prosperity,
during which the western provinces were
formed and peopled. "Laurier's luck"
was the subject OF somewhat bitter COM
ment at times by Sir Wilfrid's political
opponents. but his host of supporters
claimed for him that the crops ripened
for bounteous harvests in the sunshine
OF his smile He was the idol of his
people and even his opponents loved him.
Not even in his native province of Que
bee was he ever accorded more demon
stratively affectionate receptions than in
tho city OF Toronto, where every voter
loNed MIN Dut not more IMAM one IN
I'VE would cast ballot for him
The racial and religious antaBonism
between Ontario and Quebec has its
roots in the distant past. Few can doubt
that it was Sir Wilfrid I.aurier's sincere
desire TO brC"': down that antagonism,
that indeed he believed this to be his
supreme duty. History will record that
his success was only partial. that his
great mistake of 1917 in opposing the
win the war movement Of that year In
great measure destroyed the good work
" a lifetin'1. but his sincerity In the
effort none can doubt
II there IL anything to which l have
devoted my political life." he said in
300 "it II 10 try 20 promote unity,
harmony and amity between the diverse
elements OF this country. My friends
ran desert me- they can remove their
confidence from M, they can withdraw
he trust they have "'7~~" =, my hands,
Hut never shall deViate from that line
n policy. Whatever may be the con:
whether loss OF prestige.
loss % popularity. or loss OF power.
feel that ] am In the right, and l know J
that a. time will come when every man
Will render me full Justice on that {
score" IA
borden Had Uphill Struggle.
Sir Robert Borden is a Nova Scotian.
horn in the picturesque hamlet of Grand {
Pre-, immortalized in Longfellow's
'ENangeline." He comes from the little
province down by the sea where 50 many
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