OCPOBER 9., 19st

Noted Island Confederation

Fatheris Career Is Reviewed

Following is a summary of the address delivered by Dr. Frank Macxlnnon, Principal of Prince of wales College, at the unveiling of the Pope monum t at Bedeque yesterday by the Historic sites and Monuments Board:

The Popes of Prince Edward Is- land were descendants of Thomas Pope and his large family who were timber merchants in Ply- mouth at the turn of the nine- teenth century. Tile older mem- bers of the family were pr-csperolls and energetic business men who sought to extend their activities in their trade. and, to this end, two of them, John and Joseph. came to Prince Edward Island to buy and cut timber for shipment. John. who arrived first, settled In Bede- que, and Joseph eamotlater, in left). Joseph was for sixty years one of the Island's prominent poli- ticians and civil servants. During this time his two sons. W. H. Pope and J. C. Pope. were among the most influential leaders in the public life of the Province.

James Coliedgc Pope was borll in Bedeqlle on June 11. 1826. Af- ter some schooling at home and at his family's old city of Ply- mouth, and a short adventure to California during the gold rusll of 1849. he worked with his father in Bedegue. After his apprentice- shin, he established his own busi- ness at Green's Shore, now Slim- merslde. In time he became pros- perous both as a timber lnercllant and lalld owner.

Turbulent Politics

Pope entered the Island Legisla- ture in l857 as member for Bede- que. This was one of the most interesting periods in the Pro- vlnce's political history and Pope played an important part in it. The Island had achieved respon- sible government in 1851 and for the first time her Executive Coun- cil and Legislature were primarily responsible for the administration of public affairs. But. the system was new, and it took local politi- cians many years to become ac- customed to it. The Governor. who had previously directed the government, himself. occasionally meddled in the exercise of powers which were no longer his. Minis- ters of the Crown were often con- fused in their attempts to follow constitutional practice. And the people were not yet familiar with the new status of their House of Assembly.

At this time. too, politics was kept in constant t rmoil by three of the liviliests pubic questions in Provincial history. The teaching of the Bible in the schools and the incorporation of the Orange Lodge roused denominational bitterness; landlords and tenants disputed the rights and wrongs of the land question; and the Confederation issue was everywhere a topic for discussion and argument. The combination of controversy and political incxperlencc provided the Islanders of the 1850's -and '60's with a turbulent political life

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Jame! Pope was a landowner. I Protestant who was a. leading spokesman of the Roman Catholics in Dublin life. and a unionist when most people were opposed to Can. federation. Consequently- he was ill the midst of all the political battles of the day and his skill as a strategist became quickly re- cognized. When the Conservatlsts came into power in 1859. Premier Edward Palmer appointed Pope is member of the Executive Council.

The Palmer Government

The Palmer Government tried two'experiments. The first was an unsuccessful attempt tocarry on as a. cabinet composed entirely of ministers without portfolio. The heads of the Government depart- ments were civil servants. This arrangement was prompted by the fact that a cabinet of nine mem- are was considered too large for a Legislature of. thirty and the idea that the House would be more independent if it did not contain holders of public office. This plan did not work, for min. isters could not serve unpaid and they had to be department heads in fact if not in name. With the exception of tlie Haythorne Gov- r-rnment of 1872 this prodedure was not followed again. ' The second major Palmer. Pope and their friends was the reform of the Is- land's upper house, the Legisla- tive Council. It was an appointed body and by 1859 it contained a large majority of Liberals. Con- sequently, it obstructed the lower house and the Government suc- cessfully petitioned the Queen to increase the number from twelve to seventeen so as to provide a balance of party representatives in the Council. Two years later, in 1881, this government was able to secure the passage of a bill which made the upper house elective. Although it remained for thirty years. .the Lcgislative' Council henceforth gradually declined ill importance until its abolition in 1893. 0

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Pope As Premier

Colonel John H. Grey succeeded Palmer in 1883 and two years lat- er Pope followed "Grey as Pre- mier. He led the Government for tilree terms. alzain in 1873. He was the last Premier before the union with Canada and the first after.

Two interesting problems with which Pope had to deal are ex- amples of the many changes which had to be made in the early years of responsible government. Soon after he took office he had to ask I-ion. Kenneth I-Ienderson, one of his colleagues. to resign from the Government because he (Henderson) had no seat in the Legislature. Henderson, thinking back to the days when Executive Councillors were not responsible to the House. refused to resign, and, after several threats, Pope asked the Governor to dismiss the stubborn minister. Governor Dun- das compiled and forced Henderson from office. Such .a combination oi Governor and Premier against a minister is unique in constitu- tional history.

Issue With Governor

Pope had also to remind the Governor of his place in respon- sible government. When Pope was summoned to form his third cabinet in l87.'t Governor Robinson specified that he was to try to bring the Is- land int Confederation. Pope was a unioni t but he refused "the

honor of attempting to form a

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any definite policy , , film; to self government, and as aever undertake. at the instance of 6 e representative of the Crown. to 0'' any not calculated in the slight- ea done: to abridge this right." . Robinson persisted in his at- tempt to commit Pope but the lat- ter refused to take office unless the Governor gave him a com. Dlebelyifree hand. Alter some Irlument Robinson was forced to alve in. This episode gave Pope In excellent opportunity of pub. licly emphasizing that the Cabinet, and not the Governor, was pr-1. "'31"! responsible for administra- tion. , POM played an important part in the negotiations which led the Island into Confederation. when the Dominion of Canada was form. ed in 1867 the. Island refused to Join. she had only recently achiev. 94 Wllionsible government and she wanted to retain her Independence;

THE GUARDIAN.

or economic association with the

. other provinces and she did not wish . The People of this Island have the

to unite with them: and the terms of union were not sufficient- ly attractive t.o her. By 1873, how- ever, economic "difficulties and pol- itical turrnoll forced the Island to join the union. incessant Quarrels

The political parties were mere- ly groups of factions in the late 1360's and these factions quarreled incessantly over Confederation and religous issues. After the general election of 1870 no one could form a. government along conventional party lines and Pope finally suc- ceeded by getting certain factions to lay aside their grievances for the time being.

Meanwhile in few of Pope's sup- porters were demanding the con- struction of a railroad through the Province, and to retain their sup- port the new cabinet promised to build the road. The necessary leg- islation was pushed through the House in 1871 amid vlolent' up- position. and when corruption and

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;,Do you own some Canada Savings Bontfll Mn I-OM50" 7 Yes, I have some. I get themthrough the payroll plan at the Refineries. I've never refused them. In fact, I wish I could afford to buy a lot more of

begin buying Bonds ?

Because they had the drive at the Refineries. There ' were the Victory bonds first, and then we continued

'.HavoyoucasIledanyofffleBomfo? . Yes, I had to cash in cl couple on account of sickness.

. My wife and-my mother were in the hospital at the ' - some time. My mother died at the some time that

had the baby. ..

Do you pfnsfo buy a Bondin the next issue? '. Oh, yes. As Iongvus they're going. lusuolly buy two i bonds every time they come out.

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of the railway were charged the Pope cabinet resigned.

The I-iaythorne government which followed became involved in branch lines and a steady accumulation of railway debt. Financial embarrass- ment finally forced it to seek terms of union from the Dominion. Hay- thorne and David Laird went to Ottawa and made an agreement with Sir John A. MacDonald and his colleagues but they were de- feated in the general election which followed their return to the prov- inces.

J C. Pope agahl became Premier. He and his family had always been friendly with Sir John Macdonald and when he went to Ottawa he re- ccived a. warm welcome from the Prime Minister. Again on agree- ment was made and Pope was sub- sequently able to get it approved in the local Assembly. Consequently. the Island became a Province of Canada on July 1, 1873 and Pope formed the first Cabinet under the new constitution.

Federal Politics Federal politics was anlinviting

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field for local politicians after un- ion and Pope was among those who ran successfully for the House of Commons ill 1873. The western railway scandals drove Macdonald from power in the following year and Pope was among the Conserv- atives who fell in the election of 1874. He tried provincial politics again in 1875 without success but in the following year he re-entered the House of Commons in a by- election. He was again elected in 1878 when Macdonald and the Con- servatives returned to power. when the new Government was formed Pope was included in the Cabinet 3:: Minister of Marine and Fisher- lcs. .

Pope was,not. all emillent Federal Cabinet Minister. Like David Laird who had been Minister of the In- terior in the MacKenzle Govern- ment,, he was not sufficiently famil- iar with politics and adtninLst.ration outside his owll Province. to wield much influence either in Parlia- ment or on the hustings. His chief work was in the bullding'up of friendly associations between the

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Canada Savings Bonds-6th Series-mature in TO yeorst and 9 months from date of issue and bear ten 3 V291, coupons. The first coupon covers 1 year and 9 months and is payable on August Isl, I953; subsequent coupons come due AITQIIST id yearly thereafter until maturity. If cashed before August Isl, I953, simple interest is paid at 295 per year, calculated monthly. If held to maturity the overall yield is equivalent to 3.21m per year. The limit for holdings in any one name Is 35,000 in the 6th Series. The bonds are coshoble at full face value, plus interest at any time of any bank in Canada. They are registered in the dwner's name. They are non- osslqnuble and non-transferable. coooeeqoooencoeoooooosoosonos In

FACE VALU

Island Conservatives and their Nd- eral counterparts. a task which WM similarly performed for the Lib- erals by Louis Davies a few years later. Pope never really had an opportunity of achieving experience and prominence in Federal politics. for ill-health dogged him soon after he entered the Cabinet. Tile strain resulting from financial loss- es in his business enterprise brought on a nervous breakdown from which he died on May 18, 1885. A Great Strategist

J. C. Pope's striking character- istic as 9'. politician was his skill at manipulating men and policies. He uas a. strong advocator when nec- essary, but he also knew when to wait for the strategic moment. Moreover, his views were never so strong as to alienate important pol- itical factions, all important point ill days of coalition parties. In many ways he was a contrast to his father and brother, both of whom were strong in their view- points, quick to challenge, and de- cisive in their actions. Vlfhereas Joseph was a constitutional reform-

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Not necessarily. I own my own home. I figure they're iust as good (is money in the bank anytime. You can cash them when you want to..

PAGE THIRTEEN; ' '

er and W. H. was a political was nor, J. C. was an effective putt leader who wielded I larn Amount of personal power through concil-

,iation and compromise.

Pope can be criticized for unnb ing to the demands of the rallwaf promoters and thereby bringing the Island to virtual bankruptcy. Per- haps, however, he was one of thq several astute observers who knot that railway troubles were sure result in Confederation. and the after union,- the Dominion Ioui take over the railway debts. If he was one of the perpetrators what was perhaps the cleverest political" manoeuvre in the historn of the Province. .

He received at least one 09' propriate reward for the Print! Edward Island Railway ll reptnh ed to have spent 525,000 for I-bl funeral train which carried him 9! his last resting place and The Examiner commented in its obit- uary that as long as there was I railroad on the Island the name cl J. C. Pope would never be fottot-, tem ' - '25

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'Fredert'ck C. Lambert five! of 740 Br-Ikyln Si., Saint John, N. 3. Employed as a clerk with Atlantic Sugar Refineries I.Id..'Ile is 43 years of age, married and the father of an 18-month old boy. His bobbin include carpentry and candy-making.

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