CANADA. Political parties worthy of the name made their first effective appearance after the War of 1812. in "a struggle for responsible gov ernment against the rule of an autocratic Gon•er nos and his Camarilla." Aroused by the political monopoly and social arrogance of a group of royal officials known as the "Family Com part" (see CANADA, section on Ihicroav), op• position took the shape of a Reform Party, under tlu• kadership of Mackenzie, Ralph, Bid well, and Baldwin, advocating an elective legis lative council, reform in the administration of Crown hinds, independence of the judiciary, pop ular control of revenue and the civil service list, and abolition of clergy reserves. The "Fam ily Compact," rapidly enlarging into a Conser vative o• Tory party, under the leadership of Robinson and was forced into a con test. which resulted in a Reform victory in 1839. Under the new' rfginu• a responsible and liberal government was partially introduced. the Upper House being made elective, the Anglican Church disestablished, the clergy reserves secularized, and the University of Toronto thrown open to Nonconformists. Parties soon formed anew upon the question of "representation by population '— an attempt to remedy the unequal representa tions of Upper and Lower Canada as established in the Union of 1840. The Grits represented the aggressive elements, under the leadership of George Brown, and the Tories the opposi tion, led by Cartier and Macdonald. This new contest of parties, embittered by racial and religions differences, produced in 1S64 a complete deadlock in I anadian politics iind leg's; lation. The situation was temporarily relieved by the formation of a coalition, a compromise Ministry under Naedonald and Brown, and the adoption of the much-agitated confederation of the provinces (1867). Confederation, however, soon produced new lines of party distinction rather curiously interwoven. Conservatism allied
itself with Nationalism, and advocated the strengthening of the confederation. Liberalism affiliated itself with Provincialism, and decried undue interference in local affairs. In 1873-74 the Radical Reform Party succeeded in gaining control of political affairs; but in 1878, owing to its advocacy of free trade and the Conserva tive adoption of a 'national' or protective policy, it was again reduced to the opposition. From 1893 to 1896 the Liberals gained rapidly in popular favor. In 1890, under the leadership of Wilfrid Laurier, and by the union of their tariff policy with a radical opposition to federal in terferenee in the noted school controversy of Manitoba, they succeeded in overthrowing the supremacy of the Conservatives. Under the new order the Manitoba school question has been settled, slightly to Liberal disadvantage; reciprocity has given way to a preferential tariff favoring England; a popular plebiscite in favor of prohibition has been disregarded, notwith standing . a prohibition plank in the Liberal platform of 1893; and labor difficulties promising in 1899 the formation of a labor party have been at least temporarily settled. The Liberals have succeeded in holding their own against the skillful opposition efforts of Sir Charles Tupper and the oilier Conservative leaders, carrying the elections of 1900 by decisive majorities and retaining their complete domination of the Do minion House. Much friction is introduced into Canadian polities by the race question, religious differences, and the fear o• hope of American annexation. At present efforts are being made to form party lines upon the question of British imperialism, with disturbing factors in the recent railroad and industrial combinations affecting both the United States and Canada.