The sun., 1888-11-25

aion on the Canadian question attracted more
attention both In this country and in Canada
than that OF Mr. W. r. whitney, the Secretary
OF the Navy. 1t II now known that Mr.. Whit
nsy made every effort TO impress his views
on the real standing OF the quarrel be-
tween the two Countries on President
Cleveland's Cabinet, but the opinions
Of the Secretary Of the Navy were
not accepted by Mr.. Baysrd. Mr.. whitney.
who was constitutional lawyer Of prominence
before he entered the Cabinet made an ex-
| tended examination into the records OF the
case. and decided that Great Britain had vir-
tually admitted that our claim In the fisheries
dispute was right In 1870 and 1871 she said
that the position taken By Canada on the fish,
cries question was an extreme view" This
was an admission that the position that the
| United States took then was right and II our
Cabinet had kept to that position there would
have been abundant diplomatic backing.
very common claim Of Canadians waa that
the retaliation measures which President Cleve-
land threatened would have been . positive
benefit to Canada. Tho keynote Of this asser-
ton was set by Prime Minister Sir John Mac
donald. In an interview which had with him
at Ottawa. The Premier decided that retelia.
ton would build up the Canadian railroads.
He said that Chsmberlain's treaty was advan-
tageous to the United States. and that Canada
would act for herself now, without considering
her relations TO the mother country. All OF the
Premiere Ministers. however. did not stand
with him in this position. Sir John Thomp-
son. tho Minister Of Justice. believed
that retaliation would hurt Canada but
he noped that eventually. 1t would have
railroad i % system % as TO Be- independent Of the
unsa prepSssy ssss Tfs fhe
Minister OF FINANCE, spoke With even moro
@pdeds would the H1i United States % ana 10 favored
99either annexation nor e2mmeIciai Tpion.
ter Of Finance. leader q tho opposltion in Par
Lament and man Of great locS SI inusnSSs A. ,S
would not hurt Canada he believed that t6e
would be the and shn,
With the United States.
Pls me$Ssp Sffi y he caSiRss. and W " GIVE
az ss Il ~ 6nsa ass sSsu suls
Sanada seysrsy Al through Kingston z I.S,nS aud
70 this however. In the person Of the Hon. q;
safo il
lieves IN commercial union. ana thought that
hs oa
Gait. told me in Montreal It was absurd to
say that unfriendly action on our part would
not hurt Canada. 1t would he no light thing"
he said, TO ahift the immense volume Of bust
Witch Ney Ysk az. and
that such movement ts OF no consequence
In the same way. the Hon. William McDougai.
an eminent constitutional lawyer In tho Do
minion. said 1t was arrant ponsepse to say that
NOT injure Canada. It would well nigh ruin her.
wright Of the Grand Trunk and others said
that 1t was IN the power Of our Government to
very seriously injure the Dominion.
On the other eide. there we're mon like
Peter Mitchell. ex-Minister OF Finance. and for
Believed 1,tS a tie M Prime Minister N thai Canada
would be less injured than the United States
by any action on the part Of the President Of Q
revengeful character. But It must be said that
the preponderance OF opinion was In favor OF o
closer union with the United States. The peo-
tSsailed By % the eHcs encs @ of t their aovernmsnt
eternal squabbles which arise from the
The most refreshing Of all the opinions put
forth was that OF Senator Sherman. who pro-
ssttlin4s the whole trouble: Hs comgpg{ed that
be largo sum to Canada, but It was mere
tax would pay the whole of 1t.
Meanwhile however, the subject has been
and dissemina:ed to the public. 'There is still
no one line Of policy which is looked upon as
acceptable to the people of both countries.
BLAKELY HALL!