The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
MIDNIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
Trial of the Speaker for Construc-
tive Corruption.
PROMINENT CANADIANS,
A Mosaic of Nationaities in the Men,
bership Of Commons
HnnsE or COMMONS.

In previous letters have described the Parliament
buildings and grounds, the House OF Commons and
Senate, and the peculiar method OF transacting cgs-
iatve business. In this propose to dwell somewhat
upon the personnel OF members and TO briefly sketch
those who taking a leading part IN tho develop
mcnI OF tho strength unity and resources OF the New
Dominion Perhaps could not have hi upon moro
favorable opportunity for this purpose than that which
is at hand before the tablcau OF Parliament
ut midnight. A strange scene too! Down stairs, in
the private apartments Of tho Speaker. is largo
gathering Of the distinguished and fashionable ladies' and
gentlemen Of Ottawa, enjoying the fchctes OF social
party while up stairs here Ia the House, the Speaker
himself tho .nrst OF the land'-is sitting
his official chair gloomy and anxious, presiding over
angry debate OF which he is the subject. yet in
which he can take part Such Is the peculiarly
Of Canadian institutions and the Canadian character
that the very men who, few moments ago were the
recipients OF hts hospitality, now on the floor in
u party costume prepared to denouncc by voice and
vote the wrong which they conceive he has done in
permitting himself TO be party, ms they say, TO a
small printing contract as the proprietor OF provin-
cia journal The mere suspicion that public Official
Is enjoyi ing profit and emolument from government
outside Of his salary is one of those things
which the Canadian tolerate, and II makes no
difference how high or low the individual may bc--if
the facts are proven goes his head 1t proper
made the instrument OF assault tho government
by the opposition moro for the purpose Of weakening
the administration than from any desire to impcach
really high toned gentleman, and when the vote was
taken he was trnmphantly vndicated. But TO return
THE GALLERIES.
Although the clock marks the ''noon OF night'' the
spacious galleries assigned to the general public are
crowded to OVERLOOKING Tho Minister'S Gallery is a
bouquet OF richly dressed beauty. The Senate GALLERY
alone comparatively deserted, there beng only
thin fringe along the railing OF the white haired
bald headed. intellectual century plants, who have
been appointed tor life 10 partial imitation Of the
English peers and who sit there seli-contentcd con-
tempative and serene. 1t Is SAID that the greatest
national harm OF which tho body has ever been guilty
was when they defeated the arrangement which had
been agreed upon between Lord Carnarvon and the
Dominion authorities for the immediate construction
Of the western end vancouver's Island, OF the
Canada Pacific Railway, undertaking which,
when complete, viii be Of THO grandest
elements OF growth that be introduced into this
country. One vi these aged gentlemen told me. III
brok on ana indignant voice Gully this morning, that
Mr. Mills, the present Minister of the Interior, not
very long had the audacity, public speech, 10
speak OF the honorable the Senate as "a Magdaen asy-
lum for political prostitutes seduced by the govern
nent OF the day" Looking across the house from
the reporters gallery, which is directly over The
Speakers chair, and where score more OF bright
journalists are making regulations Tor the members
down below, the eye rests upon the Speakers gallery,
night, because there present ladies names
are identified with the social, II not POLITICAL history
OF the Dominion.
LADY POLITICIANS.
see Lady Macdonald, wife of Sir John. the ex-
Premier, VINO twenty-five years has fought his
battles side by side, and with splendid
victories at home while he conquerng abroad IL
may not be complimentary say that sne is bora
dplomatist although most ladies such, yet lew
stand III her presence without being fascinated by
The graccs OF her and the facility with
which she adapts herself to the keynote OF the hour
Tail, cOmcly brunette OF the purcst type, broad
browed, browncyed, with face at suggestive of
energy and intellect uality-one OF those aces, in ac
that make you forget to notice whether she rs dressed
III white or black--it is not wonder that Lady
Macdonald has made herself power and a
popular the political and social circles OF
Canada sitting near by Is petite hsurc, brown
haired and blue eyed lady scarcely malron yet not
a maiden, with "a face Us bright u morning glory
the wife OF Hon. j. Edward CauchoD, OF Quebec Pres
ideIt OF tho Prlvy Council, and the chief political
editor OF the journal de Quebec. Politically Nine
Canchon is the antipodes OF Lady Macdonald, and
possibly there Is just bit OF rivalry between the two
enough to give zest to their respective endcavors IN
behalf OF their respective parties but there warmth
oil coorng about social surroundings, breadth Of
cultivated taste III the collection OF PICTURES sculpture
aud bric-a- brac that adorns her beautiful mansion
ncrc--Sadecora all, the Indian name Tor Quebec
that will always command Tor her, no matter whether
out OF power, the respectful homage that belongs
to true woman. There are score Of others whose
names shall nameless, because 1t would be invid-
ious make o:her selections the wives and daughters
OF members all intent upon the proceedings and all
swuyed by the eeingg that animate their friends
on the floor.
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMONS.
Leaving the lair the galleries now and viewing
the House oil Commons proper there are few bodies OF
vino appear better advantage than this And
yet the first thought that occurs 10 stranger ia that
IL is a mosaic OF natonalites-a combination OF French
English, Irlsn, Highland and Lcwland Scotch. win
here aud there Of the German and scandinavian
ana soup Con OF Canadian 4 mud desce ndants OF the
May flower pilgrims, and even the blood OF Henry Ward
Beecher. The line between the Puritan and Cavalier
stock on this floor Is sharply discerniblc rs II was
200 years ago. But by far the most distinctly defined
ana compact OF he represented hero tho
French, oil whom there are tar proportion. Some
times they speak In their tongue, but ire
qucnty IN English, OF when nearly all have perfect
command barring SLIGHT and pleasant In either
language however recognize that peculiar force OF
intellect asserting ITSELF that veness OF purpose
albeit they may differ on minor topics-wnich was
characteristic OF the rugged foreiathers the
Frcnchncn ith witch they always nam
tanned their rights. From the foregoing observations
you may infer nat there are as many brogues IN the
House OF Commons u there chords In Kolian
harp, though they don't always sound sweetiy when
the Premier and sir John rug curtain for
And BY the way these two giadators representing as
they one the government and tho other the oppo
sitiou, deserve a passing sketch.
Hon. Alexander Mackenzie. tho Premier Is Scotch
He came TO Canada u 1872, and having IN youth
learned the bus OF builder ana architect he here
became contractor Entering political lie he rap
idly distinguished aud advanced himself, until 1878,
when, owing to the resignation OF SIR John Macdonald,
he was called on TO fOim the now administration, OF
which he still remains the head He also holds the
Office OF Minister OF Public Works Among the m-
portrait measures OF his government 10 tho enactment
OF tho Marine Telegraph law. which virtually abosh,s
the monopoly Of the Cable Company; the establish
mcut OF DOMINION mllIthry college ahu tnv
improvement oil tho militia system; the enlarge
ncnt of the cnnDls The permanent orgunlza-
ti0n OF the civil service; the establishment 81
q supreme court for the Dominon the reduction
Of postage 10 and from the United states the free dev
cry OF postal matter Va cities and towns; the construc
tcn OF transcontiD mental nc and the opening OF me-
EQUATIONS for tho establishment reciprocity treaty
between the United States aud Canada In potcs Mr..
Mackenzie is liberal, and has always held those poo
lilicaI principles which, England, may be corisd-
cred pocularo the universal brotherhood OF man, no
matter what rank oi lie no may have taken his orr
Ho 4 of AL Ia
lion and of all Legislation that tends 10 promote any
body OF men class OF men Tor tho act OF their
belonging body or class 10 higher position point
icaiIy than any other class IN the country. He also
thoroughly believes III party government aud
that IL Is utterly impossible conduct
new country without II. lie says also that whilo
an earnest advocate OF the presem connection
with tho mother country he "tl always endeavor 10
u,.iuta,u Canadian rights aud TO bring Canada into
,,rom,neuce In the eyes .. the world. la physique,