back as 1905, he was lured into winning more elections by the
adulation of his followers and his own love of swaying men as a master,
until elections with him became a habit and the loss of one a tragedy.

And even the war which shook so many men's love of country to the
depths--some of them over the precipice of profits, others to the
passionate heights of sacrifice--did not obliterate in Laurier the
fatal desire to win elections. One has almost to cease thinking to
remember that Wilfrid Laurier did hope that an election would yet be
held during the war that would return him to power. The failure of the
Government in the war would be largely the fault of Quebec which he
still in large measure controlled. He held that ace. And when the
time came he would play it. The Premier wanted no advice from him.
Laurier offered him none.

When the bilingual dispute was transferred to the Commons, Laurier took
the only side consistent with his character and his career. He avowed
his belief, as always, in Provincial rights, but he asked Ontario to
use its strength with clemency. Even with an element of bitterness he
did not lose his dignity. But the fine sparkle of the Laurier we all
knew was gone. He was beset with complexities and contradictions. The
one simple thing about him was his hope to finish his work by winning
another election. In the debate on the Nickle motion for the abolition
of any further king-made aristocracy in Canada, he was an acidulous old
cynic, offering to go and burn his title in the market place if certain
others would do likewise. Those photographs of Laurier in the Windsor
Uniform, making him look like a refulgent relique of the court of Louis
XIV. were no longer prized in the family album. Away with them!

Poor, splendid old man! Even in his crotchets and quavers he was
charming. To the very last he could rise in the Commons and with a
voice as thick as wool make members opposite fancy they were hearing
great music.

In 1916 an artist painted a portrait of Laurier to hang in the
Legislative halls of Quebec, where the sound of his magic voice had
first been heard in parliamentary speech. The artist began to paint
the Laurier of "the sunny ways." The old man corrected him. "No, if
you please," he said gravely, "paint me as a ruler of men."

It was the Cardinal speaking; the man who had disciplined more Cabinet
politicians than even Macdonald, the master of Cabinets; the old man
who r