ublic men of the day, who
were moderate in their views, were nevertheless the champions of popular
rights. These men were Messrs. Bidwell, Baldwin, Dunn, and others. Their
influence was strongly felt in the House of Assembly, and was sustained
by their great moral worth and high social position. To such men the
powerful aid of the _Guardian_, in advocating the principles of equal
justice to all parties alike, was indispensable; and from its support
they derived much strength, and were greatly aided in maintaining their
position in the House and in the country.

It was under these circumstances, and amid the peculiar exigencies of
the times, that the _Christian Guardian_ became the great organ of
public opinion on the liberal side in Upper Canada. It can, therefore,
be well understood how at such a time, when the supremacy of party was
the question of the hour, the publication of Dr. Ryerson's
"impressions"--candid and moderate as they were--fell like a bombshell
amongst those in Canada who had set up as political idols such men as
Hume and Roebuck in England. To dethrone such idols was of itself bad
enough; but that was not the head and front of Dr. Ryerson's offending.
What gave such mortal offence was that Dr. Ryerson saw any good whatever
in the moderate English Conservative (though he saw none in the English
Tory). And worse still, that he saw many undesirable things in the
English Whigs, and nothing good in the English Radicals. To give special
point to these criticisms and comparisons Dr. Ryerson stated that:--

Radicalism in England appeared to me to be another word for
Republicanism, with the name of King instead of President ... and
that the very description of the public press, which in England
advocates the lowest Radicalism, is the foremost in opposing and
slandering the Methodists in this Province. Hence the fact that
some of these editors have been amongst the lowest of the English
Radicals, previous to their egress from the mother country.

The point of this criticism struck home; and, on the very day on which
it appeared, the cap was fitted upon the head of the leading radical of
the province. In fact, he placed it there himself, and thenceforth
proclaimed war to the knife against the Editor of the _Guardian_. (See
page 125.)

With singular ability and zeal did Mr. W. L. Mackenzie carry on this
warfare. He at once saw what would be the effect of the new departure.
A