caucus in 1919 to determine
the programme of whatever party he had in the Union. The caucus
determined nothing. Did he hope to carry on until the legal expiry of
his term in 1922, thereby evening up with the Liberals who wanted to
bring on an election in 1916?

This also we do not know. Sir Robert was a weary and baffled Premier.
He did not know how to let go. Once even his faltering hand was off,
who was to succeed him? There were three men to consider.

The man's work was done. He knew it. Much of it had been nobly done.
He knew that the nation was sure of this. And he now understands that
even with the failures and the weaknesses of his administration, both
as Conservative and Unionist Premier, we cordially concede to this high
mediocrity a place in our critical affairs only second to the credit
that he gained in England and in Europe as the head of a nation that
had gloriously fought and magnificently won--in the war.

Canada never had as great and noble a servant, who failed so
conspicuously on personal grounds to be the nation's master. But there
were elements in the patriotic servant-hood of R. L. Borden, higher
than the political masteries of more brilliant men.

A POLITICAL SOLAR SYSTEM

RT. HON. SIR WILFRID LAURIER

Fifty years from now some Canadian Drinkwater, charmed by the eloquent
perspectives of time, may write an "Abraham Lincoln" string of personal
scenes from the lives of Wilfrid Laurier and John A. Macdonald. The
narrative will thus begin in the very year that the story of Lincoln
ends, and it will carry on down just fifty years in our national
history to the time when Wilfrid Laurier, passionate student of the
Civil War, reached the end of his climax in the affairs of Canada and
the Empire. But the poet who does this must be inspired; because no
young country at that period of time in the world had had two such
remarkable men as contemporaries, and political foes, and lucky is the
nation which at any period has such a man as Laurier.

Outwardly Laurier's political career was complex where Macdonald's was
simple. John A. was as great a Canadian as Laurier; but in the simpler
times in which he lived he had less cause to be puzzled by the web of
fate and of political cross-currents at home and abroad, even though he
was immensely more baffled by politicians and party emergencies.

Laurier swung in a great romantic orbit of political sentiment, vaster
than that of any other st