Lessons from Sir John, eh? The Founding Scoundrel
Will Ferguson
Break out the gin! Today marks the 187th anniversary
of John A. Macdonald's birth, and like Canadians everywhere,
I'll raise a toast to the Father of Our Country on this
important national holiday.
What? You say January 11th isn't a national holiday?
Surely you jest. John A. Macdonald was the architect of
Confederation and our founding prime minister. He oversaw
the purchase of the North-West, the entry of British Columbia
into Canada and the building of the CPR.
How could he not have a holiday in his honour, especially
considering that his old nemesis Louis Riel is about to
be heralded in the House of Commons as a national hero?
Riel, prophet of the grasslands, led an insurrection against
the government that caused the deaths of more than 100 people,
including innocent settlers and two priests.
Now, you might think, in the wake of what has happened
over the past four months, that the appeal of religious
zealots leading quixotic holy wars would be diminished,
but in the wonky logic of today's Canada, Riel is the hero
of history, not Macdonald.
Which is a shame, because Sir John was a wonderful role
model -- especially when it came to wielding power. In recognition,
I'd like to offer the following primer to our current PM.
John A. Macdonald's seven keys to success:
1. The party line uber alles. An earnest Tory senator
once told Macdonald, "I will always support you when I think
you're right." Macdonald replied: "Anybody may support me
when I'm right. What I want is someone who will support
me when I'm wrong."
Moral: Whether a golf course in Shawinigan or a promise
to abolish the GST, what matters is not whether your leader
is right or wrong, but that you stick with him, no matter
what.
2. The tactical use of humour. Once, onstage during
a public debate, Sir John, drunk, vomited. An awkward pause
followed, but John, smiling, said, "I'm sorry. I don't know
what it is about my opponent, but every time I hear him
speak, it turns my stomach." The crowd roared.
Moral: When caught in a tricky situation, laugh it
off. If, for example, students are pepper-sprayed and clubbed
on the head, do not accept culpability. Instead, turn the
thing into a joke. "For me, da pepper, it's what I put on
da plate." The Canadian public loves a leader with a sense
of humour.
3. Mocking the opposition. John's longtime foe was
George Brown, a man both upright and unwavering. Rather
than grapple for the high ground, Macdonald acknowledged
the obvious, turning his weaknesses into a point of pride.
"The people would rather have John A. drunk than Brown sober,"
he proclaimed. He was right.
Moral: Whether your opponents are separatists, socialists
or gadflies on Sea-Doos, you can't go wrong portraying them
as prudish and straightlaced. Especially if they are.
4. Neutering the competition. Canada's first separatist
movement began not in Quebec, but Nova Scotia. The movement
foundered when the leader of the separatists, Joseph Howe,
was won over by Sir John's considerable charms. A year after
arriving in Ottawa, to outraged cries of "Traitor!" Howe
crossed the floor to become a minister in Macdonald's government.
Moral: Keep friends close, and enemies closer. Rather
than purging a dangerous enemy, defang him by giving him
a cabinet posting. Minister of finance, say.
5. Maintaining proper decorum. Macdonald once charged
across the floor of the House and attempted to land a haymaker
on an opponent, roaring, "I could lick him quicker than
Hell could scorch a feather!"
Moral: Never give an ounce of respect to foes. If
a protester gets in your way, throttle him!
6. Dealing with ethics issues. During the 1872 election,
Macdonald, desperate to save the railway and his career
(the two being inextricably linked), received campaign donations
for implied railway contracts. The scandal led to Macdonald
becoming the first -- and only -- PM in Canadian history
forced out of office on charges of unethical behaviour.
Undaunted, John was swept back to power five years later,
and ended his days in triumph.
Moral: In Canada, ethics and politics don't mix.
If you're going to have an ethics counsellor, make sure
he's in your pocket. You don't want an independently appointed
do-gooder stirring up trouble. God no!
7. The vision thing. For all his flaws and foibles,
John A. Macdonald oversaw the creation of Canada from a
patchwork of eastern colonies to a nation spanning the continent,
from sea to sea, a mari usque ad mare.
Moral: To be a great leader, you must have a vision.
But don't worry, Jean . . . six out of seven ain't bad.
So let's raise a drink to the scoundrel who started it
all. Maybe next year, Sir John will get a holiday of his
own. In the meantime, Happy Louis Riel Day!
Maclean's Magazine
January 11, 2002
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