New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-30
THE CANADIAN SCANDAL.

REFUSAL OF THE PRINCIPAL MEMBER OF THE OPPo-
sITIoN TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION
POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION MEMBERS.
lFRos An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEJ
TORONTO, Aug. 28.-Mr. Huntington, who
originally preferred the charges against the Govern
ment in the Pacific Railway matter, has been officially
summoned to appear before the Commission appointed
TO investigate them In my last letter limited that he
would refuse, and he has informed the Commits
siohers OF his determination to do so. This need not
necessarily interfere with the object OF the Commission
unless he can influence Mr.. McMulen and other Inn
portant witnesses to withhold their evidence. DE was
requested 10 furnish the Commissioners with list OF
the witnesses he might wish to be examined in order
that they might be duly summoned to appear on the 4th
Of September in the Parliament House at Ottawa. In
declining obey the he states his reasons at
some length, OF which the following are the more I'M
portant
believe that 1T is breach of parliamentary privilege
that Royal Commission, issued without the special
sanction Of the House. should take any cognzance OF or
should assume 10 call on me to justify words Wnch
have spoken the floor OF the Commons, ana Tor wncn
am responsible to them, and TO them only feel that
should do act which may be construed INTO an
acquescence IN the attempt TO remove from the Com
mons the conduct and control OF the inquiry believe
that the creation OF Commission Involves Dreacn OF
that fundamental principle OF the Constitution when
preserves to the Commons the night and duty OF lnta
ting and controlling inquiries into mgh political onehes
that Involves also breach OF that fundamental prlh
cpe OF justice which prevents the accused rom cfea
the tribunal and controlling the procedure Tor their a
This contains very good summary OF the objections
advanced by the opposition generally TO the royal com
mission. The ignoring Of the Commission by the one
party will not necessarily affect the investigation as the
evidence against the Government has been pretty fully
given In the newspapers already, while the evidence on
the Ministerial side will certainly be brought forward
now. The text OF the Commission has been published,
and Is in every respect have already toreshadowed
except in particular informed you that the Com
mssiones not required to report comment upon
h,atu, NV i'm "a
and present it to Parliament for its decision. This
in effect what they limited TO, but in addition
they invited to accompany the evidence with any
opinions which they think ht to express therenpon
This clause is interpreted by the Opposition press as
constituting the Commissioners arbitrators between tine
two parties and giving them authority finally to decide
upon the guilt innocence Of the Government That
however depends upon the nature OF the opinions they
may express upon the weight given to them by Par
lament. There can be doubt but that
the ultimate decision rests with the peo-
pies representatives. The policy adopted by
the Opposition. OF not taking advantage OF the Comms-
sion prosecute their charges Ia interpreted
by the Ministeriasts as implying that they have no
legal Public opinion now regards the charges as
OF kind which might affect the Government in polti-
cal not in moral sense, and this is how the objec-
Of the Opposition to taking the investigation out OF
the hands Of Parliament Is accounted for Thus the Issue
is assuming more OF political aspect in which the evil
dence OF corrupt electoneering VIII be apt TO be lost
sight Of.
The leaders OF the Opposition have taken to snmpng
the country. Mr. Mackenzie their leader in the House
OF Commons, is at present I'm Nova Scotia, exposing
the Scandal In both OF the maritime provinces there
exists strong faction known the Anti party which
originally opposed Confederation, and which now per
petuates jealousy Of Ontario and Quebec Mackenzie
being an Ontario man, and one who has always main
tanned that the maritime provinces have 20: more than
Justice in the adjustment Of terms Of confederation, 1t
may imagined that his mission is not success
The Anti party the only Government opponents in
the provinces OF New-Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Mr. Blake, who is reckoned the most brilliant orator
among the Opposition, has been countenanciug
demonstration at BOwmanye, in Ontario, at which he
declared that the prorogatOn was crime. that the
proceedings the 18th inst were IN violation OF justice
and that the appointment OF the Commission act
of political tyranny Another demonstration against
the powers that be has also been held AT Drummond-
VILE near Niagara Falls, and in this way revolutionary
feelings are aroused. Should the Government triumph
would wonder if troublous times are in store Tor
Jana