[bourinut] CANADA DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA 17 



staunch friends, or by curious tourists who found their way to that quiet 

 spot, he passed the remainder of his days with a tranquillity in wondrous 

 contrast to the stormy and eventful drama of his life. The writer of this 

 paper has often seen his noble, dignified figure — even erect in age — pass- 

 ing unnoticed on the streets of Ottawa, Avhen perhaps at the same time 

 there were strangers walking through the lobbies of the parliament 

 house and asking to see his portrait. 



One of the most admirable figures in the political history of the 

 Dominion was undoubtedly Eobert Baldwin. Compared with other 

 popular leaders of his generation, he was calm in counsel, unselfish in 

 motive, and moderate in opinion. If there is some significance in the 

 political phrase, " Liberal-Conservative," it could be applied with justice 

 to him. The " great ministry " of which he and Louis Hyppolite Lafon- 

 taine — afterwards a baronet and chief justice — were the leaders, left 

 behind it many monviments of broad statesmanship, and made a deep 

 impress on the institutions of the country. Mr. Baldwin, too, lived for 

 yeara after his retirement from political life, almost forgotten by the 

 people for whom he worked so fearlessly and sincerely. 



Joseph Howe, too, died about the same time as Papineau — aftei- the 

 establishment of the federal union ; but unlike the majority of his com- 

 peers who struggled for popular rights, he was a prominent figure in 

 public life until the very close of his career. All his days — even when 

 his spirit was sorely tried by the obstinacy and indifference of some 

 English ministers, he loved England, for he knew, after all, it was in her 

 institutions his country could best find prosperity and happiness, and it 

 is an interesting fact, that among the many able essays and addresses 

 which the question of Imperial Federation has drawn forth, none in its 

 eloquence, breadth, and fervour can equal his great speech on the Consoli- 

 dation of the Empire. The printer, poet and politician died at last at 

 Halifax the lieutenant-governor of his native province in the famous old 

 government house, admittance to which had been denied him in the 

 stormy times of Lord Falkland. A logical ending assuredly to the life 

 of a statesman who, with eloquent pen and voice, in the daj^s when the 

 opinions he held were unpopular in the homes of governors and social 

 leaders, ever urged the claims of his countrymen to exercise that direct 

 conti'ol over the government of their country which should be theirs by 

 birth, interest and merit. 



In Xew Brunswick the triumph of responsible government must 

 always be associated with the name of Lemuel A. Wilmot, the descendant 

 of a famous U. B. Loyalist stock, afterwards a judge and a lieutenant- 

 governor of his native province. He was in sorne respects the most 

 notable figure, after Joseph Howe and J. W. Johnston, the leadei-s of the 

 Liberal and Conservative parties in Kova Scotia, in that famous body of 

 public men, who so long brightened the political life of the maritime 



Sec. II., 1897. 2. 



