The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published very Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, June 11, 1891. A COLONIAL STATESMAN.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 619, 11 June 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published very Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, June 11, 1891. A COLONIAL STATESMAN.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.;

One of the foremost colonial statesmen has passed away after a life of great usefulness. Sir John Macdonald, the deceased statesman to whom reference is made, has left his mark in the world’s history, and his great qualities were cordially acknowledged by those who were his strongest opponents. The worst they could say of him was to call him “ Old To-morrow,’’ which meant that while he was an opportunist in politics and acted with astonishing promptness and enthusiasm when he had made up his mind, yet there were questions which he put off dealing with until delay would no longer be tolerated. As Prime Minister of Canada he was an Imperialist whose individuality was one of the strongest features in bearing down the opposition against Imperial connections with Canada.

Sir John Macdonald was what is described as “a Scotchman cayght young.” He was only six when he was taken to Canada. Though not gifted with a University education he soon made his influence felt as one of the best read and cultured men in the Dominion, and a good classical scholar. He was an omniverous reader, with a retentive memory. He became known as the “ Chieftain,’’ a title which gives proof of the admiration of the people. Of his private life innumerable stories are told, but it is enough here to say that he was one of the most approachable of men, who enjoyed life himself, but had an extraordinary capacity for work, and never lost an opportunity in encouraging talent. He possessed the faculty of being able to throw the cares of office off his mind at any. time, and (says one writer) no matter how momentous were the issues disturbing the country they never interfered with the Premier’s night’s rest. He had to deal with the most conflicting interests apart from the provincial spirit which existed, and which meant that each representative tried to get his province the largest amount he could out of the Dominion Treasury. There were the peculiar circumstances of Quebec and the French Canadians to be considered ; also the power wielded by the Roman Catholic clergy and the strength of the Orangemen in Ontario, and the fact that the provincial governments might be in opposition to the party in power at Ottawa. Of the quarter of century of work done by Sir John and his colleagues Mr Stead’s journal says :— Now the various provinces are united by railroad, and there is interprovincial free trade from the Atlantic to the Pacific; the country has witnessed an immense development in the last twenty-four years; its trade has enormously increased ; the social condition of the people has much improved ; the prairies of Manitoba and the North*

"West Territories are accessible ; British Columbia is within three or four days of Ottawa by a railway passing entirely through British territory; and lines of steamers are plying regularly between Canada and Great Britain (shortly to be supplemented by a new fast service), China and Japan, and the West Indies, and endeavors are being made to open up steamship and telegraphic connections with Australia. To the Conservative party, and to Sir John as its leader, most of these things are largely due, for in only five years out of the period which has elapsed since the establishment of the Dominion have his opponents enjoyed the sweets of office.