Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-11-14
Chr 6ree press.
q. O.. BENEDICT, Editor.


The Canadian Crisis.
The downfall of the Macdonald Cabinet |
is the most exciting political event that nas
taken place in the New Dominion since IL
formation. For twenty years SIR Jonn
Macdonald has been a recognized leader IN
Canadian politics. He was the hrst prime
minister of the new Dominion government
with the formation Of which he had so much
n do and has held the Office without inter
runtion since the Both of March, 1864. lie
is a very shrewd and able man. and up TO
last April. when Mr.. Huntington brought
AGAINST the ministry his famous charges Oh
corrpnt allotment of the contract for the
Pacific Railroad to a Canadian Credit Mo-
hitler. and of corrupt use of money IN cleo
tions. his strength in Parliament and before
the country was very great The inyestlga-
t;ng commission, appointed by Lord Dui-
ferin did not break the force of those
charges. When Parliament assembled, the
issue was squarely joined. The opposition
moved to insert in the reply Of the House oil
Commons 10 the Governor-General' ad-
dress THAT we have to acquaint His tx
eellency that by their course, in response to
the investigation and under the facts DIS
closed by the evidence laid before US, His
Excellencv's advisers have merited the
severe censure Of this House The friends
Of the government moved to amend tins Dy
..rerretting the outlay Of money by all
political parties and expressing con-
ti,ued confidence in the administra-
tion The great debate On these motions
was closed On the part Of the ministry last
Monday night by Sir John, in speech oil
five hours duration. lie denied that the
Government had awarded any contract to
uugb Allan. lie said " he formed com
pauv Of - men chosen carefully and pam
fully for the purpose Of controlling or
Hugh Allan, and preventing him from
having undue influence. lie admitted
the recent of large sums Of money, Tor use
in the elections; bat he declared repeatedly
and with the greatest earnestness that none
of it va, expended d" improperly or con-
trary to law" He said
I saw it in my place as a member of Par
lament tbat the money was distributed for
the purpoSe of fighting money against
money. fire against fire, influence againsl
inf.ence. and we were oyermatched by the
gentlemen opposite.
/ can tell of one man on the other sac
who spent S2G 600; another case ! can
proye Of spending $50 900. | can also prove
eases wherein s. coo, $4,000, S''ouo anu
5000 have been expended
He admitted that Sir Hugh Allan had
offered McMallen 81, 900 to return his cor
respondenee proving the demand for and
payment of money at various times, and de
clarei that Mr. Huntington overbid Sir
Hugh. Thi. Mr.. Huntington denied, III
terruptinr Sir John to say that he never
got any information from McMullen ti!l
long after he made the charges, and never
paid or promised him a cent. OF the bitter
ness Of the Prcmier'> speech. an extract Will
give some idea. lie said:
| have no hesitation IN saying that in all
that expenditure ! was met by two dollars
TO one. | have read with some amusement
the attack. that have been made upon the
Government because a member OF the gov
ernmeut was a party to this fund. II We
had had the same means possessed hy the
honorable gentlemen opposite, II We had
spies. If We had thieves, If We had men VINO
went to your desk, picked your lock anu
stole ycur note books, we would have much
stronger evidence than the honorable gentle
men think they have now. We were hsht-
inr an uneven battle; We were simply sub
stealing aS burglars. We may trace II ont
as conspiracy throughout. use the word
conspiracy adyiSedly. and will use the WORD
out of the House as well a. in the House.
In closing Sir John said; have fought
the battle of Confederation, the battle Of
Unien, the battle of the Dominion Of
Canada. I throw myself upon tins House,
throw my~efupOn this country. throw
myself upon posterity. and | believe that
know that notwithstanding many taliIngs
in nv life | shall have the voice OF this
country and this House rallying to ny sup
port.
But the House of Commons did not rally
to the support Of the ministry. At the
oneniing of the House, on Wednesday, amid
breathless silence. the Premier announced
that the government had resigned. lie
said
The advisers of the crown had until
last night believed they had the support OF
this house that it would not only meet
any motion Of want of confidence, but en-
able them to carry on in a satisfactory and
creditabe manner the affairs of the country.
They have reason to believe and they know.
that they have not at this moment a good
working majority, and the consequence Is
that conceived it my duty, to-day, 30 go
TO His Excellency the GovernOr-General and
tender to him the resignation OF the present
government
This event has occasioned great excite
ment throughout the Dominion, and pre-
dictions are not wanting from friends OF the
late ministry, that Mr.. Mackenzie, who has
been invited to frame a new cabinet, will
fail to sustain himself He Is a ScOtchman
by birth and an editor by profession, has
held Office for only short time in the pro-
vince of Ontario-noyer in the Dominion
government and has his reputation all to
make a. an executive officer How he will
succeed in the task before him, remains to
be seen. But nothing that can occur can
wipe out the rebuke Of the lavish use OF
money in elections, which this overthrow
Of the Macdonald cabinet has afforded. There
is a further significant fact to be noted, viz :
that this result is largely Il victory Of
the men in the New Dominion who aim at
the entire separation Of Canada from Great
Britain.