abaska at a stroke high rank in the party. He was very soon urged
to seek the wider opportunities of federal politics. Ottawa, it was
clear, would {35} make much greater demands upon his time than Quebec,
yet his health was now improving. Accordingly he determined to make
the change, and in the general federal elections of 1874 he was
returned for Drummond-Arthabaska by a majority of two hundred and
thirty-eight.

In 1874 the Liberal Government at Ottawa, under Alexander Mackenzie,
seemed assured of a long term of office. It had been given an
overwhelming majority in the election just concluded; its leaders were
able and aggressive; and the Opposition was still crushed by the
indignation which followed on the exposure of the Pacific Scandal.

Yet there were many weaknesses in its situation, which time was to make
clear. The Government's forces were not closely united: the only bond
holding together several of the groups which made up the majority was
that of common opposition to the late administration. Many stragglers
on the flanks were waylaid and brought back into their old camp by that
arch-strategist, Sir John Macdonald. The question of leadership was
not fully determined. In Ontario Edward Blake divided allegiance with
{36} Alexander Mackenzie, and Blake's inability to make up his mind
definitely to serve under Mackenzie greatly weakened the party. In
Quebec the situation was even more serious. Dorion was the man whose
constructive ability, admirable temper, and long years of fighting
against heavy odds marked him out as chief, but family and health
considerations determined him to retire to the quieter if not less
heavy labours of the bench. Fournier soon followed. Laflamme, in
whose office Laurier had studied, was hardly a man of sufficient
weight. Holton, leader of the small group of English Liberals in
Quebec, was also in very poor health. To fill the gap Mackenzie
summoned Joseph Cauchon, a former Conservative who had left his party
on the Pacific Scandal; a man of great ability, active in the campaign
for Confederation, but weakened by an unfortunate record of corruption
in earlier days, a record which his Liberal opponents of those days had
painted in startling and unforgettable colours.

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[Illustration: PRIME MINISTERS OF CANADA, 1867-1915

1. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, 1873-78
2. SIR JOHN ABBOTT, 1891-92
3. SI