“Too bad, too bad, that they should be so partisan up there,” said Sir John. “I tell you, Bob, if they were all as independent as you and I are, this country would soon get some blankety fine legislation.”
Speaking of Sir John, I remember years ago, when he came from North Ontario to Whitby during a campaign, and regaled himself, as was the custom of those days, with a drink at the bar of Jake Bryan’s hotel. The crowd naturally joined in the “refresher,” and as Sir John—(he was then only John A.)—lifted his glass, a friend drew his attention to the fact that there was a fly in his grog.
“That’s all right,” he quickly replied. “It’s meat as well as drink, and I’m hungry.”
That caught the crowd, and the remark spread far and wide. The Tory majority in Whitby was never so large as it was in that election.
The Old War Horse From Cumberland.
Sir Charles Tupper was really the fighting man of the Conservative party in those days, and he dearly loved a scrap. His command of the English language was complete, and his declamation was powerful. A good field day by Sir Charles in the House gave you something to see and hear. He was outspoken even to friends. When some Portage la Prairie supporters, who were dissatisfied with something or other he had done, wired him from Manitoba that they could not see their way to support him in this particular measure, they received a curt message in reply which read: “You had better vote Grit.”
The Portage people went home, but did not vote that way at the next election. During the campaign of 1900, when Sir Charles had came over to rehabilitate the disorganized Conservative party, I happened to be on the C.P.R. train which was taking him to Nova Scotia. Visiting his private car, I found him resting in bed. I remarked in course of conversation, “I suppose you are going back to Cape Breton.” He was a candidate there.
“No, no,” he said. “I am going to Western Nova Scotia to help our friends there.” And then he told me he could be elected by acclamation in Cape Breton if he would consent to let Alex Johnston, recently Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries, and a strong Liberal, be his fellow member. This was offered him by those who controlled the political situation on the other side.
“But,” said Sir Charles, “I absolutely refused the offer, and told them it would be either two Conservatives or two Liberals; besides, as leader of my party, I could not show such an example to my loyal followers. We must sink or swim together. If we win and I should lose in Cape Breton, another seat can easily be found for me; if we are beaten, there are others to take up the fight,” The old Cumberland war-horse was game to the last.
Sir Hibbert Tupper, his son, was also a fighter of the first rank, but when the Bowell Government was disrupted he was among the first to return when peace was declared, and announced his entry into the Council Chamber with, “The cat’s come back!” which was a slang phrase of those days.