174 THROUGH THREEFOLD TENSION 



governor-general to Canada the Earl of Elgin, 

 son-in-law of Lord Durham. Elgin at once 

 committed himself fully to the principle of min 

 isterial responsibility. The first election after 

 his accession to power resulted in a sweeping 

 victory for the Reform or Liberal Party, and 

 to the leader of this party s majority in the 

 legislature Elgin intrusted the formation of a 

 ministry. In this action the advance of de 

 mocracy in Canada was definitely recognized, 

 whatever the effect might be on the connection 

 with the mother country. Within a few years 

 responsible ministries were conducting the af 

 fairs of the other North American provinces also, 

 without visible peril to the unity of the empire. 

 Lord Elgin s practical solution of the chief 

 constitutional issue did not bring political calm 

 in Canada. On the contrary, he had to deal 

 with a particularly bitter revival of the race 

 conflict that was latent in the party alignment. 

 The strength of the Tories was in the English 

 population of Upper Canada, while the Liberals 

 had their largest membership among the French 

 of the lower province. With the accession of 

 the Liberals to power the long domination of the 

 United Empire Loyalists ended, and the loss 

 of place and privilege in the administration was 



