OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16451, 19 February 1919, Page 7

OBITUARY.

SIR WILFRID LAURIER

(By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) OTTAWA, February 17. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (ex-Prime Minister of Canada) is dead. While dressing for church on Sunday ho fell to the floor, suffering from a stroke. His physician declared he had only a fen* hours to live.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier will go down to history as one of the master builders of Canada's greatness; High Commissioner, Premier and far-seeing statesman, to his energy and foresight is due much of the commercial prosperity and stability which she now enjoys. He had been Premier of Canada for fourteen years consecutively—a record in colonial Parliaments oclipsing even Mr Seddon's long administration. The brilliant French-Canadian was born in the town of St. Lin, Quebec, in 1841, of humble parents. After studying at L'Assomption College and McGill University, lie was admitted to the Bar in tho twenty-third year of his age, and surprised "the Judges by his eloquence and fluent oratory. In 1871, lie was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly. His first speech electrified his hearers. The Dominion Parliament soon opened its doors to him, and, in 1874, lie delivered a speech on tho expulsion from the Commons of tho former rebel leader, Kiel, which made his name known throughout the whole of Canada. Sir Wilfrid Lauior was a Liberal in politics, and his idol was Mr Gladstone. In 1877 he was appointed Minister of Inland Revenuo in the Mac- I kenzie Government, but tho Ministry was a weak one, and in the following year ho found himself in Opposition, and very soon the leader of his party, nobly fighting the battle of Liberalism until, in 1896, he triumphantly led his forces to victory. Sir Wilfrid was the first French-Canadian to attain to the post of Premier. A year after becoming Premier he was privileged to take part in the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria: It was on this occasion tliat ho advocated a closer union between Great Britain and her colonies, and preferential trade arrangements, predicting that the time was approaching "when Canadian pride and aspiration would develop a claim to demand as a right their share in that broader citizenship which embraces the whole Empire, and whose legislative centre is the Palace of Westminster." Ho was the first colonial Premier to make the Home. Country this offer of fiscal co-operation. He displayed admirable rectitude of purpose in 1899, the year the South African war broke out. Although assailed by both the Loyalists and pro-Boers, and charged at vai'ious times with vacillation; he pursued a persistent course, with the result that Canada made a contribution to the cause of Imperial defence of 7358 men. In 1902 he attended the Colonial Conference and tho Coronation; in 1907 he attended the Imperial Conference, when he put forward the proposal for an "All-Red" route of steamship service. _ While he was certainly the most outstanding and popular figure in Canadian politics, ho lost many friends over his rather cautious attitude during the war. His Government was defeated in tho 1911 election, and Sir Robert Borden succeeded him as Prime Minister. Sir Wilfrid refused to join a Coalition Government during tho progress of the war, and lie opposed conscription in Canada, owing to the hostility of the French-Canadian population. When tho Conscription Bill was before the Canadian House of Commons, he sought refuge in the referendum, but his amendment was lost by 111 votes to 62. His refusal to join a Coalition precipitated -an appeal to the country, which returned a big majority for the Government. Last year Sir Wilfrid Laurier retired from the leadership of the Liberal Party.

A STATE FUNERAL.

OTTAWA, February 15. Owing to tho death of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the meeting of Parliament has been postponed. Sir Wilfrid will be accorded a State funeral. Tributes are pouring in from every portion of tho Empire. SIR MARK SYKES. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association,) LONDON, February 17. The death has occurred in i?aris of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Mark Sykes, a member of the House of Commons. Sir Mark Sykes was born in March, 1879, and was the only son of the late Sir Tatton Sykes. Ho served in tho South African War aud in the present war. Ho had been Unionist member for Central Hull since 1911. He leaves a widow, three sons, and three daughters. PRINCE YAMAGATA. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) TOIvIO, February 16. The death is announced of Prince Yamagata. Prince Yamagata was born in 1838. He was Vice-Ministor of War in 187071, Minister of War in 1873, Prime Minister in 1889 and 1898, commanded the First Army in the China-Japan War, created Field Marshal in 1898, Chief of the General Staff in 1904, and President of the Privy Council in 1905.