New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-05
few remarks, and will continue the debate on the
opening Of the House to-day.
Every member IL In the capital with the exception
OF Louis Rie the Member for Proyenoher (Manitoba).

y
PARTIES IN THE DoMISIoS-G CONVENIENT AND
OPPOSITION TACuCs-THE CHANCEs-GoLDwIY
SMITHS NEW IDEA ON GOVERNMENT
TrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
TORONTO, Nov. 3.-While everybody recog
nizes the propety OF mndng his own business, human
nature prompts 10 curiosity respecting that OF
ncighbors. Canadian poldcs at the present time are
extremely exciting TO Canadians ana cannot be wholly
without interest 10 their nexdoor neighbor. Besides
the Of the Pacific Railroad scandal sets at
rest two problems which might have suggested them
selves your side % the line namely whether political
corruption be possible uader monarcheal Institutions
and whether the annexation OF the United States to
Canada might not ultimately be induced by or
tho greater political purity Of the Canadians. The
exact truth about the Canadian scandal has been pretty
well cucidated and the exact position OF the Govern
ment in reference thereto may be described In few
words Sir Hugh Allan conceived great profit TO HIM
self in securing the contract for the Canada Pacific Rl
road, is apparent from his correspondence with
Messrs. McMullen and Smith. The two leading mem
bers of the Canadian Government Sir John A. Macdon-
aid aud Sir George l.. Cartier needed money TO secure
them n majority in the new Parliament To show how
nearly they losing power may mention that. on
test vote taken after the elections the Government had
only IS Of majority IN House OF about 2Oo so
that IL needed only eight more Opposition
members TO have placed them IN Il
minority OF one Laying aside the question OF
large sum money for oarty purposes from tho apph
cant for public contract questionable procedure
and to that the ultimate placing OF the contract A
Sir Hugh Auans hands was in way Influenced by tAa
Is incredible. However the thing may be justihed'H
was-to put il milGy-a grave mistake. The charges
that the Government favored the admission OF Amer-
can capitalists and that the giving Of the charter TO sir
HUGH Allan was a matter Of barter ana SALE have not
been proved The subsequent issues taken 10y the Oppo
sion In reference 10 the privileges OF Parhaneut peihs
violated first 10y TIE prOrog ton on the 18Th OF August
last and next w the issue Of Royal Commissloh'
arc st open questions although II seems to me tla IN
both these matters the Government has the best oil inc
argument. .
Tgis scandal which will mark era In Canadian his
tory has now merged into question Of politics pure ana
simple. / much mistake the Canadian people Il inc!
demand that the matter be dealt with as pohueai
crime seek to edee Sir John Macdonald Oh account
OF it, On the contrary, believe that the party winch
has hitherto supported him will idoiize HIN moro lhAh
ever There various reasons for TINS Inc aps'I"c
ton OF ono OF his confidential communications to col
league from the Montreal Post-0ice, aud the unworthy
use made OF II by leading members OF the Opposition
party has caused the impression that he Is surrounded
by a base conspiracy. An his colleagues the most OF
whom usssacd by III. breath OF suspicion IN regard TO
the railroad have stood by him. and there Is not
h slightest foundation for the rumOr sent you by the
Associated Press OF discussions in the Cabinet The
advice lie rendered to the General IN REFER
ence 10 prOro suing Parliament and appointing Royal
Commission was accepted by that parsonage and mas
subsequently been Endorsed by the Imperial authorizes.
No definite agreement has been proved TO exist between
Sir Hugh Allan and linn, and, 1ntllY, every eeeior ID
the country knows that bribery and corruption at cleo
lions are not confined 10 political party. For these,
and similar reasons inclined TO think that the Op-
position are premature In expecting to accece TO
power at this iuncture.
The debate now gong forward IN the House Of Com
mons bids fair be of the longest On record sir
John himself viii speak TODAY, and the first division is
expected TO off tonight The debate arose from the
leader of the Opposition moving, last Monday the fol-
lowing amendment TO the second clause OF The Address
in reply to the speech from the throne:
We have 10 acquaint his Eyccllency that, by their
course I'm reference 10 the Investigation OF me crEes
his House and under the facts disclosed IN the evidGne
aid before Us. his ExcelcncTs advisers nave mefltea
the severe ccnsUre OF this House
In the above notion the evidence spoken Of os beng
before the House evidence collected by the Royal
Commission. and which the Commissioners presented
without comment Of their own. From tins notion
therefore II will he that although the Opposition
has hitherto ignored the Commission tAe results Cd
tanned by It are made the basis Of attack upon the Gov
ernmeut On Tuesday Mr.. james Macdonald, one OF the
Nova Scotia members and prominent supporter of the
present Administration. moved the following amend
men 10 the amendment proposed 6y the leader OF the
Opposition:
The desire to assure your Exceency that after con
eideratiou of the statements made IN INC evidence 1o
political parties ~ Parliamentary elections, ana desire
Inc most stringent measur 10 put On end 10 tne piae
tiuucd confidence ~ your EXcelchcys adNAcrs' anu III
their administration OF public AFFAIRS
From the above motion it will be seen that the Gov
ernment party has adopted two leading tactics by
which to outfank their antagonists-hrst 10 maintain
that there was as muc corruption practced at the late
1,lp bv "A
ext that the present Government deserves TO DO sus
tanned on account OF its successful administration OF the
affairs OF the country. The universal prevalence OF cor
rupton il true and the plea will no doubt be accepted
NV many members OF the House, but the Opposition
does not stand formally charged on that score There
no doubt Canada has prospered greatly under the pres
ent Administration which is also tine Administration
that contaminated confederation, hut the Opposition
has not yet had opportunity of displaying its admin
istratiye ability and therefore need not be con-
demnod untried. Some five or six Govern
ment supporters have gone already, and
few more may still do SO; but although the
Government majority will not be large, probabilities are
all on the side Of its carrying the vote There Is hardly
betting man in the Dominion who mas not stake on
the result and noses" counted as anxously by
them ar by the cOntending parties Themselves.
friend the other day put the pretty accurately
when he sad al think the Government Will have over
ten OF majority I'll bet they have not less than five
and III take my oath they not in the minority
Mr. Goodwin Smith has ventilated u novel
idea which he calls a simple alternative to making
the Executive the prize of such faction fights as are
now gong on II is have the Executive elected by
the Legislature, with provisions for proper rotation
and minority clause prevent sectional asceIdency
The idea needs more development than ne has given II
before an opinion could be formed of Its merits. To
Canadians who supposed to be imbued with Tue
most extrayagant admiration for the British Constitu
ton 1t will appear revolutionary, and to most people
absurd The only advantages Mr.. Smith claims for 1t Is,
that it viii! prevent faction and destroy the motive Tor