In anticipation of the difficulty the new Ministry would meet in reconciling the various conflicting trade interests in the promised tariff changes, the N. P. was referred to as a White Elephant—a beast proverbially awkward to have on hand. That the Policy had proved a particularly “happy thought” on the part of the Conservative leader was now manifest, for it is doubtful if anything excepting this adroit appeal to the people’s pockets could possibly have restored the Conservatives to power at this time.
Grip, September 28th, 1878.
RIDING INTO POWER.
CAREFUL HANDLING REQUIRED
Amongst the most able—and one of the few sincere—advocates of the National Policy, was Mr. R. W. Phipps, a well-known journalist and pamphleteer of Toronto. Sir John had during the campaign publicly accorded high praise to this gentleman for his writings in support of Protection; and indeed so great was the indebtedness expressed that Mr. Phipps came to believe that he would certainly be offered the portfolio of Finance in the New Government. Mr. Phipps, on the other hand, made no secret of his own conviction that neither Sir John nor any of his colleagues really understood the principles of political economy.