'The Provinces were proceeding to fulfil the conditions, when, unfortunately, two or three members of the Imperial parliament took a fancy to add to the cost of the roads as much more as the guarantee would have saved. It was for their interest that the guarantee should not be given. It was withdrawn. The faith of England--till then regarded as something sacred--was violated; and the answer was a criticism on a phrase--a quibble upon the construction of a sentence, which all the world for six months had read one way. The secret history of this wretched transaction I do not seek to penetrate. Enough is written upon stock-books and in the records of courts in Canada to give us the proportions of that {120} scheme of jobbery and corruption by which the interests of British America were overthrown. But, sir, who believes that if these provinces had ten members in the Imperial parliament, who believes--and I say it not boastingly--had Nova Scotia had but one who could have stated her case before six hundred English gentlemen, that the national faith would have been sullied or a national pledge withdrawn?'[9] It was the turning-point in Howe's career. For the first time he had attempted Imperial work on a great scale; he had put forward his best powers; and he had failed. His failure wrecked his trust in British and Canadian statesmen, and in the great business interests of England. It did more; it hardened and coarsened his nature. Not that the deterioration was sudden or complete. Some of his most beautiful poetry, some of his finest speeches, were written subsequently. But the weakening had set in, and when in after years he was again called on to face a great crisis, it showed itself with fatal results. [1] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, p. 169. [2] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, pp. 113, 115. [3] See _The War Chief of the Ottawas_, chap. iv, and _The War with the United States_, chap. iv. [4] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, pp. 130-1. [5] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, pp. 169-70. [6] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, p. 140. [7] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, p. 171. [8] See _The Railway Builders_ in this Series. [9] Chisholm, _Speeches and Letters_, vol. ii, pp. 289-90. {121} CHAPTER VI BAFFLED HOPES Foiled in the great scheme, the government of Nova Scotia nevertheless went ahead with its policy of provincial railway construction, and in 1854 Howe, to the surprise of many, withdrew from the Executive to accept the post of Railway Commissioner. His motives were probably in part a desire to provide for his family, which his personal extravagance and political honour alike had kept in a continual state of penury, and in part that disgust at partisan bickering which so often seizes upon provincial politicians in their hours of reflection.