New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
rhNIDJAN POSSIBILITIES.

n was frankly admitted by friends and py
foes when the last great electoral struggie ~,
Canada was closing that the Government wou'u
have been defeated but for the singular adroi'-
ness and tact and the great personal influence Oh
Sir John Macdonald 1t will be hard Tor many
70 think or to speak of the Dominion OF CANADA
without him as an essential element therein, ana
the memory and fruits of his long life OF ACTIVITY
will remain for many years to attest no" sUions
a man he was. The people OF TINS country
though they rarely had occasion to sympa'nNo
with the policy of the Canadian Premier were
not lacking in admiration OF his commanding
ability. and while his tactics in the recent can
vass appeared strangely and unJusty to mlSreP-
resent their feeling and interest, they were aoie
to understand that in pretending to nope lor
kind of reciprocity which is to this country I'M
possible, he was using the only weapon al MS
command to defend and perpetuate Canadlah
autonomy which he considered Of priceless Value'
Methods and measures which were possible 10
him will not be possible to any other man, ior
reasons which were considered on Sunday. With
out him the Tory party does not exist in CANADA,
and no man can say what position its discordant
elements will take. Xven for Sir John himself 1t
appeared a task almost beyond possloiiily "
keep together those elements in effective CO.
operation. Where they will go and what they
will do without him will determine the future
of Canada, and not improbably to some exuehO Oh
Great Britain also, for questions when ne was
able to keep in the background are liable to turn
the scale in English contests not far away Inc
evclpsive privileges of the Catholic Church in
Canada. the extraordinary powers of an enor-
nous British capital invested in railroads ana
public works. will not stand on as safe footlng
when Sir John can no longer adjust them by his
peculiar faculty for compromise.
1t is not unlikely that Canada without olr
John Macdonald will presently have personal
concern for people of the United States which 1t
could not have with him at the head OF affairs
The divisions of opinion in the Dominion are
largely territorial What some provinces most
passionately desire others as passionately op-
nose. The maritime provinces have little IN
common with Quebec. The great central region
living between the lakes has interests entirely
diverse from those of the vast territory Deyond
Lake Superior. TO each and all Of them the
Government of Great Britain seems IN constantly
increasing measure foreign, distant and unsym-
pathetic. Points of antagonism between the
various conflicting elements which make up the
dominion of Canada and the ruling power in
Great Britain are only too certain to al1se, When
the towering personality of Sir John Macdonald
no longer holds together party by the peculiar
ties he used. At every hint OF dissatisfaction
in Canadian province, on any question or issue
whatever. the alternative which will come to the
minds of all will inevitably be some arrangement
with the United States. Let it be well under
stood that people of this country do not desire
nor look to see Canada divided. But warning
interests in Canada will be certain to imagine
that this country desires annexation either
piecemeal or otherwise. 1t will be hard to up
root notion which Sir John and his whole
party have 50 carefully fostered in the late
contest.
People and leaders of this country will need
to be prepared in the not distant future to
meet every such discussion with great frankneS.
Neither the whole nor any fragment OF the
Dominion is an object of territorial avarice IN
this country, or would be welcomed without
much hesitation into political union of any form.
No partial reciprocity, such as is possible between
tropical and South American countries and the
United States, seems to be possible between this
country and another whose principal products are
essentially our own. But if the people of Can
ada ever desire commercial union with this
country, in such form that each may enjoy I'M
disturbed it's own political institutions and form
OF government, while sharing in the advantages
of mutual and common defence OF industries
against all the rest of the world, it is certain
that such a proposition would come TO mos'
Americans with much favor, though 1t wouio
never seem their part to suggest 1t.