It was on this date in 1873 that Sir John A. Macdonald of Kingston took to his feet and delivered one of his greatest speeches. He did so in the shadow of defeat and scandal, his resignation in disgrace only hours away. The speech came, of course, as details of the Pacific Scandal were laid bare for all to see. Still, Macdonald tried to rally his troops a final time. His concluding remarks are below.
Sir John A. Macdonald: I have fought the battle of Confederation, the battle of Union, the battle of the Dominion of Canada. I throw myself upon this House; I throw myself upon this country; I throw myself upon posterity; and I believe that I know that, notwithstanding the many failings in my life, I shall have the voice of this country and this House rallying round me. And, Sir, if I am mistaken in that, I can confidently appeal to a higher court—to the court of my own conscience, and to the court of posterity. I leave it with this House with every confidence. I am equal to either fortune. I can see past the decision of this House, either for or against me, but whether it be for or against me, I know, and it is no vain boast for me to say so, for even my enemies will admit that I am no boaster—that there does not exist in Canada a man who has given more of his time, more of his heart, more of his wealth, or more of his intellect and power, such as they may be, for the good of this Dominion of Canada.
Macdonald was soon swept from office despite his plea, and Alexander Mackenzie was then invited by the Governor General to form Canada’s first-ever Liberal government. Sir John A.’s five-years in the valley of defeat then began.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.