The political situation looked bleak for Sir John A. Macdonald and his Tories as January 1887 dawned. The party had been in power for almost a decade, was old and tired, and had seen reverses in provincial elections held in Manitoba and Ontario in December. Famed Macdonald biographer Donald Creighton described the scene. “It was extremely discouraging,” he wrote. “It was nearly as bad as it could be.
Despite it all, Macdonald had Parliament dissolved on January 15, 1887, with the election set for February 22. Macdonald called Sir Charles Tupper, Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK, home for the campaign. He named Tupper Minister of Finance and the stage was set for their party’s re-election. “Tupper, looking as hearty and pugnacious as ever, arrived in Ottawa ready and willing for service,” Creighton wrote.
Like Macdonald, Tupper delivered addresses throughout the campaign, rallying the Tories at each stop. The Warhorse of Cumberland was tireless as always on the hustings. When the votes were counted on February 22, victory once again belonged to Sir John A. with, of course, Tupper by his side.is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon.
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