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a very political community. Its residents were almost all die hard

”grits . The Beaton's.MacLeans an some of the MacDonalds were very Liberal. As a result East Point received more than its share of pol— itical favours in the nineteenth century. This can be seen in the appointment of Justices of the Peace, FenceVViewers, Constables, the lighthouse keeper and the postmaster. James A. Beaton ran as a Lib- eral for the Legislative Council in 1878 but lost to Lawrence Kick— ham.185 During the 1850's and 1860's two local men were bitter pol— itical enemies. Emmanuel MacEachern of South Lake and Alex R. Beaton of East Point were cousins but they certainly did not see eye to eye on Confederation.186 (Emmanuel sat as a Tory on the Executive Council and in the Assembly). Emmanuel MacEachern observed in the House of Assembly of 1866 that the terms of Confederation were "unjust" to the Island, but added that "... the wrong done to us in that respect, would be light indeed compared with the loss of our liberty — the loss of power to regulate our own affairs."187 In a letter to his sister (which is attached) he gives his view of the“plot”of Confederation. Alex Beaton was more inclined toward Confederation. Their personal- ities were so that one could not compromise with the other. Alex was especially arrogant.188 Emmanuel MacEachern'skcompromising cha» racter can be highlighted in this incident. He was invited to a Highland dinner, given in Charlottetown in 1871, to celebrate the Marriage of H.R.H. Princess Louise with the Marquis of Lorne, Mr. MacEachern declined, saying he would not be present at an enter—

tainment given in honor of a Campbell;'one of that house, who were

the heredity enemies of his clan”.189 Emmanuel's contempt for Alex