Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

234 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. i
On the meeting of the Legislature shortly after, he rendered great service i \
in the debate whicli resulted in what is described as " the memorable andj I
victorious attack " upon the then existing Government. In the new Go- i ]
vernment he was made Provincial Secretary, and afterwards he accepted
the office of Treasurer or Finance Minister, the duties of which his greati
and intimate knowledge of the resources of the Province enabled him to
conduct with vigour and success, his budget speech in 1872 being de-
scribed as " a masterly exposition of Provincial finance." Hitherto repre-
sentatives could sit as members of the Dominion and of the local Legisla-
tures at the same time, but in 1872 an act was passed which disqualified
members from sitting in both, whereupon Mr Mackenzie resigned his seat'
and office in the local Legislature, to devote himself exclusively to the
more important sphere of Federal politics at Ottawa, in the Dominion
Parliament. His great ability and industry soon made themselves felt
here. He was soon, by common consent, first, leader of the Ontario
section of the Liberals in the House of Commons ; then tacitly,
and afterwards by formal election, he became the leader of the whole
Liberal party of the Dominion. When, in 1873, the downfall of Sir John
A. Macdonald and his Government occurred, " there was no one," accord-
ing to the Globe, "justly to deny Mr Mackenzie's title to the Premiership
of British North America, by virtue of the position he already held in
the House of Commons, his capacity as a statesman, his ability as a
speaker, his wide and accurate knowledge of public aff'airs, his ardent
devotion to the interests of his adopted country, his genial love of the
Old Sod and all its belongings, his unspotted personal character, his in-
tense love of right and hatred of wrong, and the enviable place ho has
won for himself in the confidence and respect of his fellow countrymen."
The Mackenzie Administration has left its impress on the political
history and the statute book of Canada, and Mr Mackenzie, its chief and
most distinguished member may be fairly credited with most of the re-
forms — administrative and departmental — which his Government were
able to carry out, In 1875 he paid a visit to his native country with a
view of securing some repose from his arduous duties, and at the same
time to see his native land, which he continues to love with genuine
affection. The reception accorded to him on that occasion is in the recol-
lection of the reader, and need not here be enlarged upon. He was
received by her Majesty at Windsor Castle, Every rank of his country-
men welcomed him with marks of distinction and genuine cordiality.
Dundee and Perth conferred upon him the freedom of their respective
burghs, while his reception at Dunkeld, Logierait, Greenoclc, and other
places throughout the north, were honours of Avhich any statesman, how-
ever eminent, might feel proud. All throughout his political career, and -1
during his agreeable tour in his native land, he bore himself with a
characteristic modesty and dignity, while all his utterances were univers-
ally held to partake of great common sense and refined taste. Those who
know him say that he is of the most kindly disposition, without the
slightest ostentation or assumption, a thoroughly upright man, a firm
friend, a pleasant companion, and full of fun, anecdote, and pleasant
banter, when he unbends at his own fireside or at that of a friend. In j
religion he is a Baptist, and while he holds to his own religious opinions ' i
conscientiously and firmly, he has never shown the slightest tinge of
bigotry or uncharitableness towards those who differ from him.