The New York herald., 1872-12-10
What the Premier Thinks Of
Her Prospects.
Sir John A. Macdonald and His
Feeling for America.
A Pleasant Solution Of the Fenian Raid Claims
The San Juan Decision Of No Consequence
Annexation and Independence Below Par.

Canada, and as such the representative OF the
Queen Of England. his influence on politics Is CON-
paratively nil. The man OF real power in the Do
minion is the Premier. Sir John A. Macdonald. 1t
is the Governor Generals prerogative to sign all
bills that pass through Parliament, and there 1t
may be said. his functions practically begin and
terminate. This government Is to all lntents and
purposes constitutional monarchy, leaving out a
house of peers and the privilege of conferring pat
ents OF nobility. Sir John A. Macdonald occupies
an analogous position to Gladstone. His Cabinet
Ministers hold seats in Parliament and feel them
selves bound to adopt and urge all the measures Of
their chief
l found little trouble in making my way to the
presence of the Premier though
BRITISH MASTODON
with enormous whiskers and the legs of an ele-
plant, had prior claim to an interview, but being
a contractor and having an axe Of large dimen-
sions to grind, Sir John thought he could afford to
watt The Premier made favorable impression
when lie came among us about two years ago as
member of the High Joint Commission. His frank,
hearty democratic manner had more the Ameri-
can flavor about 1t than the cautious, conservative
dignity OF Secretary Fish.
SIR JOHNS APPEARANCE.
He Is man advancing on ffty-tw years. but full
of the nervous energy Of youth He entertains
religious aversion to wearing hair on his face, and
the result is the expressive mobility Of his features
shows to better advantage. He is sOft-yoiced.
pleasant-spoken man, combining these rare quail
tes-the Suaviter in naOdO with the O7titer In re.
Judging from the tone OF the papers that oppose
him, he is an INSCRIPTIONS vagaDond, who never
had particle OF principle and who is leading the
country to the devil
INTERVIEWING THE PREMIER.
found him in the midst of mountain of corre-
Grant is ever troubled with, and though all this
was on his thoughts, together with the irrepressbe
suggestion on q neignboring tray OF luncheon,
smoking hot, he threw himself back in his chair
and entered into conversation as freely as though
his duties were mere pastime. said to him
''Sr John the opposition press accuses you OF
having shamelessly neglected the interests OF
Canada and acted In c0llusion with America by
failing to provide for another decision than what
has been rendered In the San Juan boundary case,
and In allowing the Fenian claims to drop out of
sight"
Sir John, without permitting himself to be in the
least degree disturbed at mention of the OppOsi-
tion press, which has abused him with unstinted
violence, calmly answered.
.'It is absurd to blame me for the San Juan deci-
sion. II persons or peoples consent to leave
vexed question to arbitration they are dishonest IL
went into this matter Of arbitration with their eyes
open. We might wish the decision was different,
but who will accuse the arbitrator OF having
rived at anything but dislnterested conclusions
AS for me consider the surrender of the island to
America as Of no materislconsequence to Canada.
AS for i~f,s
THE FENIAN RAID CLAIMS,
they were not before the Commission. BY mutual
consent they were laid aside, as not coming within
the scope Of our joint mission. There was strong
disposition on both sides to introduce as little as
possible calculated to embarrass the settlement Of
the principal question the Alabama claims. Con-
ventons for the disposal of differences arising
from time to time between the two nations must
be held at more or less regular Intervals and II
the Fenian raid damages received no attention
from us at this time, they may on another 0cca-
siOn.u
'Do you think, Sir John, that England is disposed
to press for the payment Of these damages ~
81 don't think she is-at least not now. Eng
land is doing her best to promote an entente
cordtale with America, and she wants as little
opening of old sores as possible"
''But then, is it not Canada that loses all this
time ?v
"Well, yes, Canada, through the Fenian raids
lost 81, ooo but we hope to get 1t all, and
more, back from England in an indirect way"
"How Is that ~
CANADA's BIG JoB.
'You see, we are about to build Pacific Railroad
next year. 1t will be 1000 miles long and win work
wonders for Canada. England will 60 security for
US on the Stock Exchange, and with an issue O.,
twenty million bonds, five per cent interest, prin
cipal payable in forty years, we shall be placed in
way Of carrying out tile undertaking successfully.
The English government in this way will repay us
ten times for losses by the Fenians, and
can, therefore, leave England to settle the matter
with America at her own convenience, which no
doubt, she will do"
NO CUTTING LOOSE FROM ALBION.
"I3ut suppose England takes the advice OF the
London Times and cuts you adrift. How then ?"
~ have no fear of that. England never shook Off
colony yet unless she was compelled to-not a
single colony, whether worthless or valuable. Now
why should she shake or Canada We cost her
nothing; but, on the contrary, through means Of
free trade between the countries, we give her
wide field for the sale Of her export products. As
for what the Times said feel that at the OPEN
ing Of Parliament 1t Will at once come up tor dis
cusson. You will then see how unanimously the
representatives OF the people, liberals and con-
servatives alike, will repudiate the sentiments OF
the Times. You will hear such discussion as
must convince the most sceptical that the whole
weight of English opinion is In favor Of retaining
the come xion."
THE ANNEXATION GANG.
~ suppose you ignore the presence OF an an mex.
tion element In the Dominion ~
''Not entirely. We have annexationists In Can
ada as they have republicans In England, but their
presence Is scarcely seen or felt"
"But you have party anxious for independence.
Sir John, and some OF the opposition tell me you
belong to 1t ~
Tha Dro ninr m pd q
81 doubt" said he, '9f you will flnd such party;
or, II you do think you will discover they belong
to q class OF idle, worthless people, who have no
stake in the country who are in opposition to the
government, or who have been disappointed in
fortune.'
DRAINING THE DOMINION.
'sThere Is no getting over the fact, however
that your population is undergoing perpetual
drain and that the young men of the country are