Dalhousie Law Journal Volume 13 Issue 1 Article 8 5-1-1990 "His whole life was one of continual warfare": John Thomas Bulmer, Lawyer, Librarian and Social Reformer Philip Girard Dalhousie University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/dlj Part of the Legal History Commons Recommended Citation Philip Girard, ""His whole life was one of continual warfare": John Thomas Bulmer, Lawyer, Librarian and Social Reformer" (1990) 13:1 Dal LJ 376. This Commentary is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Schulich Law Scholars. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dalhousie Law Journal by an authorized editor of Schulich Law Scholars. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Philip Girard* "His whole life was one of continual warfare": John Thomas Bulmer, Lawyer, Librarian and Social Reformer1 On a clear cold day in January, 1899 a ship entered Halifax harbour with a rather unusual cargo. Some 5,000 Doukhobours fleeing persecution in Czarist Russia made a brief stop in the port before proceeding to their ultimate destination in the Canadian West. In spite of the brevity of their stay, a number of Haligonians boarded the vessel to express their good wishes. A lawyer deputed by a workmen's association to address the throng spoke through an interpreter, but his speech did not contain the clichs usually retailed on such occasions. You bring to Canada something more needed in this country than new immigrants - men who will stand by their principles no matter how much suffering it costs them.