OUR ISLAND STORY THE THIRD CHAPTER The Struggle for Responsible Government Before the year 1850, Responsible Government had been conceded to Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Canada , the latter comprising parts of the Provinces now known as Ontario and Quebec ; and, before that year, Responsible Government had been demanded for Prince Edward Island . Fresh from the struggle for Responsible Government in Nova Scotia , Edward Whelan arrived here in the year 1843. Encouraged by the Liberal Party, of which George Coles was then one of the leading spirits, he soon after began the publication of a journal named "The Palladium" and an agitation for recognition of the people's civil, political and religious rights. Among these rights was that of a Govern¬ ment responsible to the people for its acts. To the extension of this right there was a strong opposition. Men appointed by the government of the Mother Country to rule the Island could not see that there was any need for the change proposed. The in¬ fluences of the landed proprietors, their agents, and their relatives and friends, were all arrayed against the movement: for if it should prove to be successful their friends at court, in England would intercede for them with greatly lessened power. Many persons could see no good reason why, in a colony so small as Prince Edward Island , the people should be permitted to go\ern themselves, as in other and larger communities. The wealthy and social circles of the colony were opposed to the idea of placing the government in a position of responsibility to the common people of the country. But in spite of all opposing influences, the struggle for Re¬ sponsible Government was maintained. Throughout a series of years the promoters of the movement increased in numbers 1 ,