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heir dependence upon the central authority。
It had taken less than three weeks to draw up the plan of union。 It took nearly three years to secure its adoption。 So far as Canada was concerned； little trouble was encountered。 British traditions of parliamentary supremacy prevented any direct submission of the question to the people； but their support was clearly manifested in the press and on the platform； and the legislature ratified the project with emphatic majorities from both sections of the province。 Though it did not pass without opposition； particularly from the Rouges under Dorion and from steadfast supporters of old ways like Christopher Dunkin and Sandfield Macdonald； the fight was only halfhearted。 Not so； however； in the provinces by the sea。 The delegates who returned from the Quebec Conference were astounded to meet a storm of criticism。 Local pride and local prejudice were aroused。 The thrifty maritime population feared Canadian extravagance and Canadian high tariffs。 They were content to remain as they were and fearful of the unknown。 Here and there advocates of annexation to the United States swelled the chorus。 Merchants in Halifax and St。 John feared that trade would be drawn away to Montreal。 Above all； Howe； whether because of personal pique or of intense local patriotism； had put himself at the head of the agitation against union； and his eloquence could still play upon the prejudices of the people。 The Tilley Government in New Brunswick was swept out of power early in 1865。 Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland both drew back； the one for eight years； the other to remain outside the fold to the present day。 In Nova Scotia a similar fate was averted only by Tupper's Fabian tactics。 Then the tide turned。 In New Brunswick the Fenian Raids； pressure from the Colonial Office； and the blunders of the anti…Confederate Government brought Tilley back to power on a Confederation platform a year later。 Tupper seized the occasion and carried his motion through the Nova Scotia House。 Without seeking further warrant the delegates from Canada； Nova Scotia； and New Brunswick met in London late in 1866； and there in consultation with the Colonial Office drew up the final resolutions。 They were embodied in the British North America Act which went through the Imperial Parliament not only without raising questions but even without exciting interest。 On July 1； 1867； the Dominion of Canada； as the new federation was to be known； came into being。 It is a curious coincidence that the same date witnessed the establishment of the North German Bund； which in less than three years was to expand into the German Empire。
CHAPTER IV。 THE DAYS OF TRIAL
The federation of the four provinces was an excellent achievement； but it was only a beginning on the long； hard road to nationhood。 The Fathers of Confederation had set their goal and had proclaimed their faith。 It remained for the next generation to seek to make their vision a reality。 It was still necessary to make the Dominion actual by bringing in all the lands from sea to sea。 And when； on paper； Canada covered half a continent； union had yet to be given body and substance by railway building and continuous settlement。 The task of welding two races and many scattered provinces into a single people would call for all the statesmanship and prudence the country had to give。 To chart the relations between the federal and the provincial authorities； which had so nearly brought to shipwreck the federal experiment of Canada's great neighbor； was like navigating an unknown sea。 And what was to be the attitude of the new Dominion； half nation； half colony； to the mother country and to the republic to the south； no one could yet foretell。
The first problem which faced the Dominion was the organization of the new machinery of government。 It was necessary to choose a federal Administration to guide the Parliament which was soon to meet at Ottawa； the capital of the old Canada since 1858 and now accepted as the capital of the larger Canada。 It was necessary also to establish provincial Governments in Canada West； henceforth known as Ontario and in Canada East； or Quebec。 The provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were to retain their existing provincial Governments。
There was no doubt as to whom the Governor General； Lord Monck； should call to form the first federal Administration。 Macdonald had proved himself easily the greatest leader of men the four provinces had produced。 The entrance of two new provinces into the union； with all the possibilities of new party groupings and new personal alliances it involved； created a situation in which he had no rival。 His great antagonist； Brown； passed off the parliamentary stage。 When he proposed a coalition to carry through federation； Brown had recognized that he was sacrificing his chief political asset； the discontent of Canada West。 But he was too true a patriot to hesitate a moment on that score； and in any case he was sufficiently confident of his own abilities to believe that he could hold his own in a fresh field。 In this expectation he was deceived。 No man among his contemporaries surpassed him in sheer ability； in fearless honesty； in vigor of debate； but he lacked Macdonald's genial and supple art of managing men。 And with broad questions of state policy for the moment out of the way； it was capacity in managing men that was to count in determining success。 Never afterward did Brown take an active part in parliamentary life； though still a power in the land through his newspaper； the Toronto 〃Globe〃； which was regarded as the Scotch Presbyterian's second Bible。 Of the other leaders of old Canada； Cartier with failing health was losing his vigor and losing also the prestige with his party which his solid Canada East majority had given him； Galt soon retired to private business； with occasional incursions into diplomacy； and McGee fell a victim in 1868 to a Fenian assassin。 From the Maritime Provinces the ablest recruit was Tupper； the most dogged fighter in Canadian parliamentary annals and a lifelong sworn ally of Macdonald。
It was at first uncertain what the grouping of parties would be。 Macdonald naturally wished to retain the coalition which assured him unquestioned mastery； and the popular desire to give Confederation a good start also favored such a course。 In his first Cabinet； formed with infinite difficulty； with provinces； parties； religions； races； all to consider in filling a limited number of posts； Macdonald included six Liberal ministers out of thirteen； three from Ontario； and three from the Maritime Provinces。 Yet if an Opposition had not existed； it would have been necessary to create one in order to work the parliamentary machine。 The attempt to keep the coalition together did not long succeed。 On the eve of the first federal election the Ontario Reformers in convention decided to oppose the Government； even though it contained three of their former leaders。 In the contest； held in August and September； 1867； Macdonald triumphed in every province except Nova Scotia but faced a growing Opposition party。 Under the virtual leadership of Alexander Mackenzie； fragments of parties from the four provinces were united into a single Liberal group。 In a few years the majority of the Liberal rank and file were back in the fold； and the Liberal members in the Cabinet had become frankly Conservative。 Coalition had faded away。
Within six years after Confederation the whole northern half of the continent had been absorbed by Canada。 The four original provinces comprised only one…tenth of the area of the present Dominion； some 377；000 square miles as against 3；730；000 today。 The most easterly of the provinces； little Prince Edward Island； had drawn back in 1865； content in isolation。 Eight years later this province entered the fold。 Hard times and a glimpse of the financial strength of the new federation had wrought a change of heart。 The solution of the century…old problem of the island； absentee landlordism； threatened to strain the finances of the province； and men began to look to Ottawa for relief。 A railway crisis turned their thoughts in the same direction。 The provincial authorities had recently arranged for the building of a narrow…gauge road from one end of the island to the other。 It was agreed that the contractors should be paid 5000 pounds a mile in provincial debentures； but without any stipulation as to the total length； so that the builders caused the railway to meander and zigzag freely in search of lower grades or long paying stretches。 In 1873； which was everywhere a year of black depression； it was found that these debentures； which were pledged by the contractors to a local bank for advances； could not be sold except at a heavy loss。 The directors of the bank were influential in the Government of the province。 It was not surprising； therefore； that the government soon opened negotiations with Ottawa。 The Dominion authorities offered generous terms； financing the land purchase scheme； and taking over the railway。 Some of the islanders made bitter charges； but the Legislature confirmed the agreement； and on July 1； 1873； Prince Edward Island entered Confederation。
While Prince Edward Island was deci