Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

34 HISTORY OF THE BANKsure the measure will be carried in spite of all opposition andregard it as being wisdom on my part not to assume a hostileattitude towards the Government, but utilize any little influenceI have with its members to improve the measure.Our friend, Mr. Hague, says, 'Do everything in your power todefeat the scheme, and ifyou fail, try to improve it afterwards.'But when he gets to be a little more experienced in publicmatters, he will find out that a Government will yield much inorder to be relieved from the opposition of those who are lookedupon as possessing considerable influence in either House, but ifopposed by such parties until a vote is taken which results indemonstrating that the Government has a large majority, nofriendly remonstrances will be listened to afterwards."A day or so later he was extremely annoyed to learn thatthe House of Commons Committee on Banking had decidedto postpone consideration of the billfor the extension of thecapital of The Canadian Bank of Commerce until Mr. Rose'sgeneral banking scheme had been laid before the House.Nevertheless the bill speedily passed through both Housesafter it was finally taken up on May 18, 1869, and by May 31it only awaited the formal assent of the Crown. To hissurprise the Banking Committee of the Senate gave moretrouble than that of the Commons. This was because SenatorRyan, 1 vice-president of the Bank of Montreal, stronglyopposed some of its most important clauses. Anticipatingsuch a move because of his old differences with that bank,Senator McMaster had all his friends on hand, and he foundhis reward for the moderation of his attitude towards theGovernment's general legislation in the fact that his bill wasIfrhe Hon. Thomas Ryan was a native of Ireland.He was engaged in mercantilebusiness in the province of Quebec, being a partner in the firm of Ryan Brothers andCompany, of Quebec and Montreal. Retiring in 1863, he was elected to the LegislativeCouncil of Canada, in which body he sat until Confederation, when he wascalled to the Senate. He served on a commission appointed by the Canadian Governmentwith a view to opening up trade between Canada and the West Indies, Mexicoand Brazil. He took much interest in educational matters, and was one of the CatholicCommissioners of Education for the province of Quebec. He died in 1880.