ally clear that the government of
the country must be carried on. In these circumstances Sir Allan
resolved upon trying his hand at forming a new Government. He first
offered Macdonald the attorney-generalship for Upper Canada, and,
availing himself of his young ally's 'friendly relations with the
French,' entered into negotiations with A. N. Morin, the leader of the
Lower-Canadian wing of the late Cabinet. Morin consented to serve in
the new Ministry. The followers of MacNab and Morin together formed a
majority of the {37} House. The French leader, however, was most
anxious that his late allies in Upper Canada--Sir Francis Hincks and
his friends--should be parties to the coalition. Hincks, while not
seeing his way to join the new Administration, expressed his approval
of the arrangements, and promised his support on the understanding that
two of his political friends from Upper Canada should have seats in the
new Government. This proposal was accepted by MacNab, and John Ross
(son-in-law of Baldwin) and Thomas Spence were chosen. The basis of
the coalition was an agreement to carry out the principal measures
foreshadowed in the speech from the throne--including the abolition of
the Seigneurial Tenure[10] and the secularization of the Clergy
Reserves.

[Illustration: Sir Allan Napier MacNab. From a portrait in the John
Ross Robertson Collection, Toronto Public Library]

Such was the beginning of the great Liberal-Conservative party which
almost constantly from 1854 to 1896 controlled the destinies of Canada.
Its history has singularly borne out the contention of its founders,
that in uniting as they did at a time when their co-operation was
essential to the conduct of affairs, they {38} acted in the best
interests of the country. For a long time there had not been any real
sympathy between the French Liberal leaders, LaFontaine and Morin, and
the Liberals of Upper Canada. After the echoes of the rebellion had
died away these French Liberals became in reality the Conservatives of
Lower Canada. The _Globe_ repeatedly declared this. Their junction
with MacNab and Macdonald was therefore a fusion rather than a
coalition. The latter word more correctly describes the union between
the Conservatives and the Moderate Reformers of Upper Canada. It was,
however, a coalition abundantly justified by circumstances. The
principal charge brought against the Conservative party at the time was
that in pledging themselv