The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-12
CANADIAN POLITICS.
The Aims, Principles and Leaders of tn
DomInion's Two Great Parties.

The Aims. Principles and Leaders of thu
DomInion's Two Great Parties.
Canada is British possession. but
yet it possesses almost complete po!i:i
cal independence. The tie between
Canada and the mother country mainly
appears in the fact that Canada is pre-
sided over by 4 Governors General, who
is appointed by the home Government,
and who represents the Queen in the
Dominion. The Canadian Government
is formed on the model of that Of En-
gland. 1t has its Parliament, compris-
ing an upper and lower House, ard its
ministry, at the head of which is the
Prime Minister, which is dependent on
the support of Parliament for its power
and existence.
The upper house, or Senate. consists
of members nominated for life by the
GOvernor-Generai.b but in reality by the
government of the day. The lower
house, or House of Commons. is chosen
by the people, the right of suffrage,
however. being restricted by n property
qualification. The Canadian Parliament
has the full right to make all laws for
the Dominion, and practically has COM
plete control Of the government, while
the Governor-General, sent over BIZ En-
gland, has the nominal right 10 veto
bills. The GovernOr-General. however,
never does veto bills Oh his own iudg.
ment If in doubt, he sends a copy Of
the proposed law to the Colonial De-
partment in London, and the bill is Oc.
casionaliy. though very rarely, disal-
lowed.
Of course. the Canadian foreign rela-
tons are under the undivided authority
of the British Government.
There are two great political parties
in Canada. corresponding in name, and
in some respects in principles. to the
two great English parties. They are
the Conservatives and the Liberals, or,
a they are sometimes called, the Re
formers"
For many years the Conservative
party in Canada has been in the as
cendant, and the general elections,
which took place last February, re-
turned new Parliament, with a de-
cided Conservative majority. At the
head of the party is the present Prime
Minister. Sir John Macdonald. vino has
been for a quarter of a century the
most prominent. popular and powerful
Canadian statesman. The leader of
the Liberals is Mr.. Edward Blake.
The main issue between the two Can
adian parties has long been the tariff.
The Conservatives have advocated, and
have imposed, high protective duties
upon articles that compete with the
products of Canadian industry. This
policy has proved very popular in Can
ada. and has been the chief strength of
the ruling party. The Liberals have
hitherto favored a lower tariff; but in
the election of February declared that.
if they came into power. they would
not disturb the tariff as established BY
their opponents.
The next most important difference
between the two parties has been in
regard to the railroad policy, tor in the
building of the great Canadian lines
the largest part of the debt of the Do
minion was incurred. The parties diff
fer also in detail. but not in principle.
on the fishery question.
There is no doubt that in some of the
provinces of Canada there is desire,
more or less strong. that the Dominion
should sunder altogether the tie with
Great Britain. and be annexed to the
United States. Those who favor this
belong, almost exclusively, to the ex-
IRENE wing of the Liberals. The Con-
servatives are firmly set upon main
tanning the connection with the old
country.
In twenty years, the debt of Canada
has increased from ninety-three million
dollars to nearly three times that sum;
and is larger, compared to the pOpula-
ton. than was that of the United States.
at its highest point, at the close of the
civil war.
IernapS outside observers see more
causes of disintegration in the Domin-
ion than Canadians themselves can dis
Germ. 1t is more than possible that the
union may last in spite of burdensomc
and growing debt, the jealousies be-
tween citizens of English and those OF
French descent, and other diffic ulties
that might be mentioned. Ga the other
hand, it may fly into pieces; or it may
gain strength and unity by becoming
wholly independent; or, in the course
of years, Canada may think its sures,
way to prosperity to be union with
this country.-Youth'S Companion.
WOOD AS a FUEL.