irst to propose the sacrifice
of party to country, the arrangement arrived at was the least
advantageous to his interests. He had the satisfaction of feeling that
the Upper Canada Liberals in the House supported his action, but those
from Lower Canada, both English and French, were entirely
unsympathetic. The Lower Canada section of the ministry accordingly
remained wholly Conservative.

It does not require much depth of political experience to realize the
embarrassment of Brown's position. The terms were not easy for him.
In a ministry of twelve members he and two colleagues would be the only
Liberals. The leadership of Upper Canada, and in fact the real
premiership, because Tache was frail and past his prime, would rest
with Macdonald. The presidency of the Executive Council, which was
offered him, unless joined to the office of prime minister, was of no
real importance. Some party friends throughout the country {40} would
misunderstand, and more would scoff. He had parted company with his
loyal personal friends Dorion and Holton. If, as Disraeli said,
England does not love coalitions, neither does Canada. For the time
being, and, as events proved, for a considerable time, the Liberal
party would be divided and helpless, because the pledge of Brown
pledged also the fighting strength of the party. Although the union
issue dwarfed all others, questions would arise, awkward questions like
that of patronage, old questions with a new face, on which there had
been vehement differences. For two of his new colleagues, Macdonald
and Galt, Brown entertained feelings far from cordial. Cautious
advisers like Alexander Mackenzie and Oliver Mowat counselled against a
coalition, suggesting that the party should support the government, but
should not take a share in it. All this had to be weighed and a
decision reached quickly. But Brown had put his hand to the plough and
would not turn back. With the dash and determination that
distinguished him, he accepted the proposal, became president of the
Executive Council, with Sir Etienne Tache as prime minister, and
selected William McDougall and Oliver Mowat as his Liberal colleagues.
Amazement and {41} consternation ran like wildfire throughout Upper
Canada when the news arrived from Quebec that Brown and Macdonald were
members of the same government. At the outset Brown had feared that
'the public mind would be shocked,' and he was not wrong. But the
sober second thoug