I have already in the previous chapters of this book dwelt on the methods which Lord Elgin so successfully adopted to establish responsible government in accordance with the wishes of the Canadian people, and it is now only necessary to refer to his strenuous efforts during six years to obtain reciprocal trade between Canada and the United States.  It was impossible at the outset of his negotiations to arouse any active interest among the politicians of the republic as long as they were unable to see that the proposed treaty would be to the advantage of their particular party or of the nation at large.  No party in congress was ready to take it up as a political question and give it that impulse which could be best given by a strong partisan organization.  The Canadian and British governments could not get up a “lobby” to press the matter in the ways peculiar to professional politicians, party managers, and great commercial or financial corporations.  Mr. Hincks brought the powers of his persuasive tongue and ingenious intellect to bear on the politicians at Washington, but even he with all his commercial acuteness and financial knowledge was unable to accomplish anything.  It was not until Lord Elgin himself went to the national capital and made use of his diplomatic tact and amenity of demeanour that a successful result was reached.  No governor-general who ever visited the United States made so deep an impression on its statesmen and people as was made by Lord Elgin during this mission to Washington, and also in the course of the visits he paid to Boston and Portland where he spoke with great effect on several occasions.  He won the confidence and esteem of statesmen and politicians by his urbanity, dignity, and capacity for business.  He carried away his audiences by his exhibition of a high order of eloquence, which evoked the admiration of those who had been accustomed to hear Webster, Everett, Wendell, Philipps, Choate, and other noted masters of oratory in America.

He spoke at Portland after his success in negotiating the treaty, and was able to congratulate both Canada and the United States on the settlement of many questions which had too long alienated peoples who ought to be on the most friendly terms with each other.  He was now near the close of his Canadian administration and was able to sum up the results of his labours.  The discontent with which the people of the United States so often sympathized had been brought to an end “by granting to Canadians what they desired—­the great principle of self-government” “The inhabitants of Canada at this moment,” he went on to say, “exercise as much influence over their own destinies and government as do the people of the United States.  This is the only cause of misunderstanding that ever existed; and this cannot arise when the circumstances which made them at variance have ceased to exist.”