Macdonald called an election for 5 March 1891. The Liberals were heavily financed by American interests; the Conservatives drew much financial support from the CPR. The 76-year-old prime minister collapsed during the campaign, and conducted political activities from his brother-in-law's house in Kingston. The Conservatives gained slightly in the popular vote, but their majority was reduced to 27. The parties broke even in the central part of the country but the Conservatives dominated in the Maritimes and Western Canada, leading Liberal MP Richard John Cartwright to claim that Macdonald's majority was dependent on "the shreds and patches of Confederation". After the election, Laurier and his Liberals grudgingly accepted the National Policy; when Laurier later became prime minister, he adopted it with only minor changes.
Macdonald called an election for 5 March 1891 The Liberals were heavily financed by American interests; the Conservatives drew much financial support from the CPR The 76-year-old prime minister collapsed during the campaign and conducted political activities from his brother-in-law's house in Kingston The Conservatives gained slightly in the popular vote but their majority was reduced to 27 The parties broke even in the central part of the country but the Conservatives dominated in the Maritimes and Western Canada leading Liberal MP Richard John Cartwright to claim that Macdonald's majority was dependent on "the shreds and patches of Confederation" After the election Laurier and his Liberals grudgingly accepted the National Policy; when Laurier later became prime minister he adopted it with only minor changes