t. His political
career thus closed while he was yet a young man with years of valuable
service before him. Baldwin attempted to re-enter political life. The
resignation of the two leaders involved a new election, and Baldwin was
defeated in his own 'pocket borough' by Hartman, a Clear Grit. That
was the end. He retired to his estate 'Spadina,' his health shattered
by his close attention to the service of the state. He was an entirely
honest politician, deservedly remembered for the integrity of his life
and his share in upbuilding Canada. So the Great Administration
reached its period.

It was succeeded by a ministry in which Hincks and Morin were the
leaders. The new parliament included a new force in politics, George
Brown, creator of the _Globe_ newspaper. A Scot by birth, a Radical in
politics, hard-headed, bitter of speech, a foe to compromise, with
Caledonian fire and fondness for facts, he soon commanded a large {144}
following in the country and became a dreaded critic in the House. He
had disapproved of the late ministry for its failure to carry out the
programme approved by the _Globe_, especially the secularization of the
Clergy Reserves. He became the Protestant champion, the denouncer of
such acts as that of the Pope in dividing England into Roman Catholic
sees and naming Cardinal Wiseman Archbishop of Westminster, and the
pugnacious foe of 'French domination.' His activities did not tend to
draw French and English closer together. He lacked the gift of his
successful rival, John A. Macdonald, for making friends and inspiring
personal loyalty.

The Hincks-Morin government was a business man's administration. It is
noteworthy for its successful promotion of various railway, maritime,
and commercial enterprises. It aided in the establishment of a line of
steamers to Britain by offering a substantial subsidy for the carriage
of mails, a policy which has continued, with the approval of the
nation, to the present time. It was this ministry also which pushed
the building of the Grand Trunk, and ultimately succeeded in creating a
national highway from Riviere du Loup to {145} Sarnia and Windsor.
This was the era of reckless railway speculation. Municipalities were
empowered to borrow money on debentures for railway building guaranteed
by the provincial government. Unfortunately they borrowed extravagant
sums and ran into debt, from which, at last, the province had to rescue
them. But, unlike