On this date in 1892 writers at Kingston’s newspaper of record, the Whig-Standard, reviewed Opposition leader Wilfrid Laurier’s visit to their city two-days before. Laurier had delivered an address to a large audience who had gathered inside City Hall to greet him.
“And what an able polished gentleman he is!” the paper reported. “Though of French extraction he yet speaks the most graceful English in an interesting and argumentative manner. There is no doubting the ability, honesty and purity of the man. He has not been mixed up in any scandals, personal or political, and is, therefore, free to express himself upon the rascality’s on which light was thrown at the last session of Parliament.
“Laurier made a good impression last night. He pleased his old admirers and made many new ones. He put it beyond anyone here to suggest that he is lacking in loyalty and patriotism. His speech was by all odds the most enlightening that has been made in Kingston (in a long time) and it will bear its fruit. To the support of such a man, in behalf of better government than that we have had now for some years at Ottawa, the people will rally and elect Mr. Laurier.”
Chalk one up for the Liberal leader.
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.