Canadian conditions were, in fact, evolving for themselves a new system--Home Rule with its limits and conditions left as vague as possible--and that new system contradicted the very postulates of Russell's doctrine. It was only when the system of Russell became incarnate in a governor, Lord Metcalfe, and when the opposing facts also took personal form in the La Fontaine-Baldwin ministry, that both in Canada and Britain men came to see that two contradictory policies faced each other, and that one or other alternative must be chosen. To Elgin fell the honour not merely of seeing the need to choose the Canadian alternative, but also of recognizing the conditions under which the new plan would bring a deeper loyalty, and a more lasting union with Britain, as well as political content to Canada. [1] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 24 February, 1847. It would be wrong to call Cathcart the "acting governor-general"; yet apart from military matters that term describes his position in civil matters not inadequately. [2] Walrond, _Letters and Journals of Lord Elgin_, p. 424. "During a public service of twenty-five years I have always sided with the weaker party." [3] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey on Grey's Colonial Policy, 8 October, 1852. [4] Gladstone to Cathcart, 3 February, 1846. The italics are my own. [5] W. H. Draper to the Earl Cathcart, in Pope, _Life of Sir John Macdonald_, i. pp. 43-4. [6] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 24 February, 1847. [7] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 26 April, 1847. [8] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, enclosing a note from Col. Tache, 27 February, 1847. [9] _Ibid._: Elgin to Grey, 28 June, 1847. [10] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Grey to Elgin, 7 May, 1847. [11] _Ibid._: Elgin to Grey, 27 March, 1847. [12] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 13 July, 1847. [13] _La Revue Canadienne_, 21 December, 1847. [14] The speech of the governor-general in proroguing Parliament, 1848. [15] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Grey to Elgin, 22 February, 1848. [16] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 17 March, 1848. [17] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 5 February, 1848. [18] Elgin refers (11 June, 1849) to "military men, most of whom, I regret to say, consider my ministers and myself little better than rebels." [19] _Episodes in a Life of Adventure_, p. 57. [20] The obvious point, made by the Tories in Canada, and by Gladstone in England, was that the new scheme of compensation was certain to recompense many who had actually been in arms in the Rebellion, although their guilt might not be provable in a court of law. See Gladstone in _Hansard_, 14 June, 1849. [21] Elgin to Grey, concerning Grey's _Colonial Policy_, 8 October, 1852. Metcalfe's policy in the matter had really forced Elgin's hand. [22] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 14 March, 1849. [23] Elgin-Grey Correspondence: Elgin to Grey, 12 April, 1849.