OUR ISLAND STORY . I59

chase of the proprietory estates, and the transfer to Canada of the P. E. Island Railway together with the obligations incurred on account of its construction. Thus, by suggesting a plan for the abolition of the Proprietory system, by the construction of the railway, and bythe “Better Terms,” Mr. Pope succeeded while Leader of the Island Government, in removing from the people the incubus of rent payments to absentee landlords, in supplying

. , the people with railway accommodation, and in changing the poli-

tical condition of the Island from that of a mere colony of the Mother Country to that of a Province of the Dominion of Canada.

I After the entry of Prince Edward Island into the Union, Mr. Pope was Premier of the Province for about three-months. In the partial election of members of the House of Commons, which fol-

lowed the Union, he was chosen to represent Prince County. He

was not successful at the succeeding general election in which the administration of Sir John A. Macdonald was defeated as a result of the Pacific Scandal. -

' Afterwards he again took an active part in Provincial politics. Contrary to the wishes and advice of his former colleagues in the years before Confederation, he came to the support of the Roman Catholic Bishop of CharlottetoWn who had established several

large and excellent denominational schools in the principal towns '

of the Province, and appealed to the electorate for “Payment for Results” in respect to the secular education afforded in these schools. The contest proved to be practically a trialof strength between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants; and as the latter had a large majority in the Province Mr. Pope was defeated.

But a vacancy in the representation of Queen's County fOr the House of Commons was forthwith caused by the appointment of the. Hon. David Laird to the officeof Lieutenant G0vernor of the North—west Territories. Mr.- Pope seized the opportunity thus offered. After ‘a spirited contest with his own brother-in- law, ‘Mr. William Welsh, he was elected as. a supporter of thelOp- position and Sir John Macdonald. In the general election of 1878, Mr. Pope was again successful; and-upon the formation of the Macdonald AdministratiOn he became a member of 'the Cabinet and Minister of Marine and Fisheries. '

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