New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
SIR JOHN FIGHTING DEATH,
a STRUGGLE THAT CANNOT LONG BE MAIN.
49,, ~ TANNED.
TIE CANADIAN PRBMER's VITAL POWER!
tr GRADUALLY wEAKENING-sPEcULA-
1IoN OVER HIS SUCCESSOR.

TIE CANADIAN PRBMIER's VITAL POWERS
M GRADUALLY wEAKENING-sPEcULA-
uoN OVER HIS SUCCESSOR.
Ottawa, May 3l.--Sir John Macdonalds con-
dit.on is practically unchanged since last even
ing. except that his vital powers seem to be
gradually weakening.
Touching references to the dying Premier were
made in all the churches, both Catholic and
Protestant this morning.
Sir Johns life now hangs only by slender
thread. He is fighting with his characteristic
tenacity against the dread visitor but with vital
ity slowly ebbing away, the unequal struggle
cannot he much longer maintained. Since Friday
afternoon though deprived Of the power OF speech
he has maintained the cheerfulness for which he
Is noted in health He realizes that his death Is
approaching and seems prepared for the maj call
With his left arm which is still servlceaoie, ne
makes known his desires. He passed the nght
quietly and enjoyed brief periods of rest When
ever Lady Macdonald enters the sickroom
his face, which has assumed an ashen
hue. lights UP. N5Ining can describe the
attachment he entertains for the talented
woman who for many years has been his wi1e."
He lies on large-Sized brass bedstead. slightly
propped up. The windows of the sick room.
which look out from the second story on we'll
kept lawn are flung wide open. The heat Is op-
pressive. and only slight coverlet hides the form
of the dying man. In the ante-room Is larHe
table. on which hundreds of dispatches from Gan
ada. England and the United States are peinR
constantly deposited. Two secretaries are puslly
engaged debating replies to assistants queen VIC
toria, Lord Salisbury, Lord Lorne, Lord LanS-
downe, viceroy of India. and scores OF olstln-
euished people have sent cable messages OF IN
curry coupled with regret at the Premiers condi-
ton.
The politicians have awakened to the full real
i,nion Of the position in which the Premiers death
would leave the Government and the country. Inc
members of the Cabinet sat all day yesterday IN
council earnestly discussing the situation. which is
admitted even by them TO he serious. The POSI-
tion of the Ministry in case of the death of the
Prime Minister has been the subject of general
discussion one idea advanced being that. upon the
formation of new Ministry necessarily following,
its members would have to seek reelection. and
long adjournment of Parliament would thus be
made necessary This view. however. is not In
accordance with the rule laid down in Todd's
Parliamentary Government in England" from
which the following is an apt quotation:
II the Prime Minister should vacate his ONCE by death
~ resignation or dismissal Ministry is. pso facto,
dissolved Individual Ministers retain their oces
~ permtted by the Sovereign, and may form part OF
fresh combination another head but this would De
thew must make a fresh agreement WIN hln'
There is this further tparagraph applicable to
the present case: o
The reappointnent of a Minister oil tne crown 70 an
onace which he resigned, either upon change OF
Ministry or otherwise but to which no one else hi
49,. annonted In the interval has never been accounted
a new appointment under the statute so as 70 'acaOe
the seat nasmuch Ministerial ohces are not s'oueu
nv mere resignation thereof but only upon he appOnU
ment of a successor -:
d. iiou
.rtional practice express the opinion that IT is
,ossihle for the present House TO resume It's ses-
sions pending the formation of new Ministry
oltbopgh such procedure would not be IN accord
ance with usage -, c.u,o,,
Sbould Sir John Macdonald die, Lord Stanley
will at once call on some one To act as Ills au-
viser and assume the responsibility 10 farlalleh.'
Never was leader Iof ability more sorely wail.eu'
Sir Hector Langevin, the senior PrlVy CouhclnoI
in the Cabinet cannot undertake uhe TASK Vi
forming new Ministry, as at present theTe Is al
impeachment hanging over his head IN the house
of Commons The only other posslOle Successor
to the dying Premier is Sir Charles upper, OIL
Iobn Thomson. Minister of Justice, or the Hon
i j. @. Abbott, leader of the government IN une
Senate. The last is, however, not only one OF
,ho LARGEST stockholders in the Canadian Pacific
pathway hut he is also a director of that company
This fact would almost preclude the possibility
NJ his succeeding Sir John. The choice pracu-
callv lies between the Minister of Justice ana
Sir Charles Tupper. The impression IN onclal
circles here seems to be that Sir John thompson
is the Minister most likely to be called upon oy
Lord Stanley The report, however, Is current
and is largely believed, that Sir Charles lupper
is now on his way to Canada III TINS DC cie
case II is reasonable to suppose that he comes aU
the request of the Government to succeed his
dying chieftain. ct.
The last speech of any Importance made py or
Jobn Macdonald in the House was in the deoa@
on the address referring 10 the general elecuoh'
He said We went to the country, Mr. Speaker
on that policy-the old flag, the old policy, aye
and the old chief and with all my SINS Oh onls-
sion and commission of twenty years. Inc country
responded TO the call" At the close OF the speech
he said Now, Mr.. Speaker, can only say, WIN
resneet TO the statement that it is disastrous
victory. that we are satisfied ought TO be satls-
6ed because at the end of this present Parlla~
ment If IL lives, shall be some eighty-two years
of age, and can say that we are going 10 last
chat time unless we dissolve"
Sir Johns last public utterance in the House
was in defence Of his lifelong associate Sir Charles
Tupper on Friday last. 1t was late In the even
ing The Opposition mad made vigorous and re-
heated onslaughts on the High Commissioners ex-
penses for contingencies.