216 TRAVEL, ADYEXTUKE, AND SPORT. 



tion, having been brought over from the Opposition 

 upon certain terms when the coalition was formed. 

 The Tory element being in the ascendant, and many 

 changes having recently occurred in the Ministry, 

 vacant places in it were filled up by the adherents 

 of that party, thereby destroying the proportion or 

 balance between the several parties which it was 

 alleged by Mr M'Dougall's clique had been agreed 

 upon when the Ministry was first formed. This 

 gave rise to dissensions, which the far-sighted policy 

 adopted regarding the Intercolonial Railway afforded 

 many opportunities for widening into such a breach, 

 that it became at last a necessity that Mr M'Dougall 

 should cease to be a Minister. To have dismissed 

 him would have been fatal, so it was necessary to 

 provide for him. The annexation of Rupert's Land 

 just at that time was most opportune, and to send 

 him there as Lieutenant-Governor was an easy solu- 

 tion of the difficulty. What mattered it whether he 

 was fitted for the post or not, as long as he was got 

 rid of without any scandal ! "Who cared whether he 

 might or might not be agreeable to the people he was 

 to rule over, and what could it matter whether the 

 wretched half-breed population were pleased or not ! 



Party politics in Canada must first be attended to ; 

 they were of all - absorbing importance ; and the 

 North-West and its new Lieutenant-Governor must 

 settle their affairs between themselves. 



No attempt was made by the Ottawa Govern- 



