ficient
majority, and the unprincipled use by its various opponents of casual
combinations and {301} alliances. Apart from a little group of
Radicals, British and French, who advocated reforms with an absence of
moderation which made them impossible as ministers of state, there were
not sufficient differences to justify two parties, and hardly
sufficient programme even for one. The old Tories disappeared from
power with their leader, Sir Allan MacNab, in 1856. The Baldwin-Hincks
reformers had distributed themselves through all the parties--Canadian
Peelites they may be called. The great majority of the representatives
of the French followed moderate counsels, and were usually sought as
allies by whatever government held office. The broader principles of
party warfare were proclaimed only by the Clear-Grits of Upper Canada
and the _Rouges_ of Lower Canada. The latter group was distinct enough
in its views to be impossible as allies for any but like-minded
extremists: "Le parti rouge," says _La Minerve_, "s'est forme a
Montreal sous les auspices de M. Papineau, en haine des institutions
anglaises, de notre constitution declaree vicieuse, et surtout du
gouvernement responsable regarde comme une duperie, avec des idees
d'innovation en religion et en politique, accompagnees d'une haine
profond pour le clerge, et avec l'intention {302} bien formelle, et
bien prononcee d'annexer le Canada aux Etats-Unis."[7]

As for the original Clear-Grits, their distinguishing features were the
advocacy of reforming ideas in so extreme a form as to make them
useless for practical purposes, an anti-clerical or extreme Protestant
outlook in religion, and a moral superiority, partly real, but more
largely the Pharisaism so inevitably connected with all forms of
radical propaganda. They proved their futility in 1858, when George
Brown and A. A. Dorion formed their two-days' administration, and
extinguished the credit of their parties, and themselves, as
politicians capable of existence apart from moderate allies. Until
Canadian politics could have their scope enlarged, and the issues at
stake made more vital, and therefore more controversial, it was obvious
that the grant of responsible government had rendered the existing
party system useless.

The significant moment in this period of Canadian history came in 1864,
when all the responsible politicians in the country, and more
especially the two great personal enemies, John A. Macdonal