Four issues occupied the attention of Islanders during the 1870's: building a railroad, joining the Canadian confederation, granting financial aid to Roman Catholic schools, and settling the land dispute between tenants and proprietors. Each issue affected the residents of Somerset

in one way or another.

The first three issues caused considerable dissension among politicians. In the election of July, 1870 Liberal and Conservative candidates did not always hold their parties' respective positions on these issues. A minority Liberal government won the election; but when George W. Howlan, Liberal and Catholic, proposed that the Liberals agree to grant financial aid to St. Dunstan's College, the government divided,and in deptember, 1870 the executive resigned. m The Lieutenant Governor called upon James

C. Pope and his party to form a new government.(gJ

With a majority coalition government’that included a number of Catholics,Mr. Pope turned his attention first to the construction of a railroad. He successfully pushed through a bill approving the building of a main railway from Casumpec to Georgetown; the vote in the House of

“1“FQUO". Assembly was seventeen to eleven, (3) There was consider—

able opposition to such a project because of the financial

burden it would mean for Islanders and because of Mr. Pope's

disregard for public opinion in the matter. m

50.