In anticipation of tomorrow night’s Throne Speech Throwdown, I bring you this, from the days when civil discourse wasn’t always so civil:
“You damned pup! I’ll slap your chops!”
–John A. Macdonald, to his former Kingston legal pupil, Oliver Mowat, on the floor of parliament in May 1861. Mowat had just suggested that Macdonald was exaggerating Mowat’s views on representation by population.
Donald Creighton’s John A. Macdonald: The Young Politician, sets the scene beautifully:
There must have been some provocation in [Mowat's] remarks—some charge that Macdonald had wilfully falsified his views. Macdonald gasped. These impertinences were actually coming from the fat boy who had been his inky junior at school and his respectful apprentice at law! Suddenly, as the plump, bespectacled, rather self-important little man finished his statement, Macdonald’s brittle temper was shattered into splinters as at a blow. In a minute—as soon as the Speaker had left the chair—he walked quickly across the gangway. Blind rage in his heart, he confronted Mowat.
“You damned pup,” he roared. “I’ll slap your chops!”
John Sandfield Macdonald quickly stepped between the antagonists. Others helped to pull them apart.”
If you’re like me, you’re now thinking it’s high time CBC aired a program called The Toughest Canadian, in which celebrities grease up and enter the squared circle on behalf of their picks. Tell me you wouldn’t tune in to see Mary Walsh, representing Marie-Madelaine Jarret de Verchères,1 give Ben Mulroney, representing Louis Cyr,2 his comeuppance.
Today’s token blogger self-love: I grow enviably lush mutton chops. Sir John A. would have used them like handlebars to steer my head straight through the Speaker’s chair.
Next, on the Bironist: bidding starts on the naming rights for my comedic sidekick.
Footnotes
1At fourteen, Verchères (1678–1747) commanded the defence of her family’s fort against a band of Iroquois for a week. She apparently also became extremely litigious in her later years. The two must be connected, but I’m not sure how.
2Legendary strongman and mama’s boy (1863-1912).
best seo forums: Thanks for sharing such an brilliant post. I make sure to visit this post regularly. keep sharing more and more..
Seenloitering: The “gender analysis” in this article is upside down. Marie Calloway is a threat to the status quo because she threatens the myth that women are morally superior, above...
Jefry: I do not really like to read a story like a novel or a real story but I think this is very interesting and need to be read
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Legong: I know I am replying to this pathetic, racist statement a little late and the whole ignorant rant probably doesn’t even deserve a reply. Wanhenglo, if we were all to generalise about...
Sky Goodden: This is startling, refreshing, overdue, and damn good. Thank you, Shary.
Mark: It’s not just in Canada, it seems all over artists don’t get the local recogtnition they should. I was in Malaga where Picasso was born and it is much different, but then he is...
Guest: I didn’t want babies or a period any more. I KNEW without a doubt I did not want children so I had been asking for a hysterectomy since I was 19. I finally got it at 39. My...
Djzklj: Pretty interesting article, despite that I don’t wanna make a voyage there
Sanyo Seiki: I love this game! Very addicted! Sanyo Seiki