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Rh out a rival as a master of legal fencing. He was at his best, and had a subject peculiarly suited to his tastes. He made a most vigorous onslaught on his opponents; and when he concluded his great speech, the Minister of Justice moved an adjournment of the debate, which gave him the right to open in reply on the following Monday. The occasion had now arrived when Mr. Thompson's career was to be made or marred. He had to rescue his party or go down with them. On Monday he began his speech, and was not half an hour on his feet when it was recognized that a most keen and powerful debater had entered the ministry. Calm and dignified in delivery, severely logical in argument, he spoke for five hours, effectively repelling every attack made on the government, and by that speech took his place as the best debater in the Conservative party. From that day to the present his career has been one succession of triumphs. This great speech, it is admitted, saved the government from defeat. A general election took place in 1887, and the Minister of Justice was again elected for Antigonish, and his government sustained at the polls.

Hon. Mr. Thompson was sent to Washington while the Chamberlain-Bayard treaty was in negotiation, as legal adviser to the British plenipotentiaries, and prepared the legal brief for them. It is understood that he and the Hon. Mr. Bayard drafted the treaty. For these distinguished services he was knighted in 1888.

In the session of 1889 one of the finest debates ever heard in the Canadian House took place over the Jesuits' Estates Act. Sir John Thompson defended the course of the government, and his speech in reply to Mr. Dalton McCarthy was probably the finest effort of his life. As a masterly legal argument it surpassed the speech on the Riel question, and brought the government out of another crisis.

It is not necessary to mention in detail the many useful statutes which have become law under the supervision of Sir John Thompson. Last winter two important measures — the Bank Act and the Bills of Exchange Act — became law. The Copyright Act, which protects the interests of the Canadian publishers, was passed in 1889, but has not as yet become operative on account of the opposition of the British Government. In connection with this subject, Sir John Thompson went to England in 1890 to confer with the home authorities; and the argument on be half of the Canadian Government was made in a very able memorandum addressed to Lord Knutsford, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The recent death of Sir Barnes Peacock has given rise to a discussion of the claims of Canada to representation on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for the colonies. The idea of appointing a Canadian seems to meet with a fair measure of approval both in Canada and in England; and Sir John Thompson is mentioned as the probable choice, if a Canadian be appointed. He is certainly the Canadian best qualified for the position. His former experience on the bench, his ability as a lawyer, and his judicial temper and bear ing would fully warrant his appointment. But whatever be determined in that matter, there is little doubt of the important part Sir John Thompson will continue to act in his country's affairs.