DCHP-1 Online

Unionist Hist.

• 1 n. a person in favor of union among the provinces of British North America, especially of Upper and Lower Canada.

  • 1823  It is probable, that the Unionists are to be found chiefly, if not wholly amongst the mercantile classes of the community.
  • 1840  As regards Canadian politics in particular, I am a Unionist in every sense of the word.
  • 1904  After quoting . . . from the Unionist petition, Papineau exclaims: "Are not these accents of rage and hatred?"

• 2 n. a supporter of Confederation.

  See also: Confederation  

  • 1869  The elections in Newfoundland have resulted adversely to Confederation. Twelve Antis and five Unionists have been returned, and five Constituencies remain to be heard from.
  • 1875  The Honorable W. H. Pope, the colonial secretary -- who was always a decided unionist -- spoke effectively for an hour in its favor.
  • 1953  Two weeks before polling day, even with the aid of their two disreputable election Acts, the Unionist campaign managers were still not sure of success

• 3 n. during World War 1 and later, a supporter of the principle of a coalition government.

  See also: Union Government  

  • 1916  Most of these adventurous souls, of whom the newspapers keep any account, go into politics. A majority of them become Unionists, speak often on platforms -- sometimes quite badly, sometimes well -- write books, engage in social reform, get taken up by the aristocracy, perhaps themselves acquire titles along the way.
  • 1961  Clear Grits, Unionists, Progressives . . . are part of the ancestral lore of politics -- parties with a past but without a future.