lared would always be uppermost. "I am proud," he
wrote, "of my descent from a rebel race."[273] And, as if this were not
sufficiently specific, he added: "If the people felt as I feel, there is
never a Grant or Glenelg who crossed the Tay and Tweed to exchange
high-born Highland poverty for substantial Lowland wealth, who would
dare to insult Upper Canada with the official presence, as its ruler, of
such an equivocal character as this Mr. What-do-they-call-him--Francis
Bond Head." Ever and anon the Tory press retorted on him in a spirit by
no means calculated to soften the asperity of his heart. The most
contemptuous epithets were freely bestowed upon him, and he was from
time to time taunted with his humble origin. It seems almost unnecessary
to say that those who indulged in such taunts as these had very little
wherewith to reproach Mackenzie on the score of birth and breeding.
There must surely be some foul taint in the blood of any man who can
stoop to such methods of humiliating a beaten enemy. Still, such
insults, coming, as they did, in the wake of serious material injury,
added fuel to the flame which burned within Mackenzie's heart like a
consuming fire. All the worst part of his nature was up in arms. There
were times when he wrote and spoke like one who has lost all
self-control. But he was in such deadly earnest that he carried
conviction to many a wavering mind. In the Home District, where his
paper chiefly circulated, there were scores of people who had seen
enough of irresponsible Government to be ready to receive his
preachments with favour. His efforts were not restricted to writing
virulent articles. He openly went among the people, and disseminated
his doctrines by word of mouth. He spoke better than he wrote; and it
was only natural that he should exercise a strong influence over the
rural communities wherein the Radical element was in the ascendant. His
influence became specially conspicuous at this time throughout the
Second Riding of York, which he had represented in Parliament, and
which, as previously mentioned, had been the scene of much high-handed
corruption during the last election contest. The voters of that
constituency awoke to the fact that they had been beguiled by the
Tories, and that their representative, Mr. Thomson, was not likely to be
of much service in the role of a Reformer. They eagerly listened to
Mackenzie's tabulation of grievances, and cheered him to the echo when
he hinted