The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07
THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN A. MAC
DONALD.

BY the death of Sir John A. Macdonald,
not only does Canada lose the foremost OF
her statesmen, but there passes from the
worlds stage one of the great men OF his
time. Sir John Alexander Macdonald was
born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1915, but re-
moved while yet in tender years with his
parents to Kingston, Ont, where he was
educated and called to the bar. In 1874 he
was elected the representative of that city
In the Canadian Parliament. He was
elected in the Conservative interest, and
after having occupied nearly every position
of honor in that party, died at its head.
In view of the fact that his death has
occurred while the political conflict in
which he was engaged is still in progress
IL is somewhat difficult to assess exactly
the value of his work; but his character
was of such marked individuality that
there is little difficulty in estimating in q
general way the influence he has exerted
upon his country. The late premier was
q man of unquestioned ability, boundless
resources, and unrivalled power in the
leadership of men. These qualities to-
gether with a disregard for consistency
that was at times astounding, con-
tributed to make his course successful
to degree seldom attained by popular
leaders. He has been very aptly compared to
Lord Beaconsfeld for the daring and
startling way in which he changed and
frequently reversed his political policy,
continuing at the same time to carry an
unbroken party with him. AS a public
and parliamentary speaker comparison
would be unfavorable to Sir John; but it
is not too much to say that i'll other re-
spects the successes of long series ofyears
bear testimony to the superiority of the
Canadian statesman. Much of the de-
ceased premier's success was due to his
suavity in his dealings with men-partisan
with divergent views and opponent alike
he treated with personal cordiality and
courtesy that robbed the great leaders OPP
position of bitterness. In general he
sought to attain his ends by gentle
means, though none could fight stronger
battle than he when an appeal to strength
was unavoidable. The sobriquet, "Old
Tomorrow" which chung to him with pc
culiar tenacity, was given HIM by North
western Indian chief who had despaired of
ever obtaining from the procrastinating
minister redress for the wrongs of the gov
eminent to his tribe; and it bears curious
testimony to the characteristic referred to.
Charges of corruption have been fire.
euently urged against Sir John Mac
donald and his party, but only once did
the great leader fail to avert popular dis
favor on this account. This was the time
Of the Pacific scandal, when the famous
telegram sent during an election to a
wealthy contractor, ''Send along another
$4,000" swept the Conservative party into
oblivion for period of five years. The
poor condition of Canadian trade mean
while led to Sir Johns adoption of pro-
lection to Canadian industries as a party
cry with which he carried the country.
He remained uninterruptedly in power
over several elections by the exercise of
his consummate abilities as a political
tactician in balancing manufacturer
against consumer, Orangeman against
Catholic, Frenchmen against the English
speaking races, etc., etc., as party exigency
demanded.
His last successful bit of political stra-
tegy, in which by skillful use of the cry
of disloyalty to England and the employ
ment of the influence of the Canadian
Pacific railroad, a political engine of his
he Aafa fad tha
party which favored an unrestricted reci-
procity treaty with the United States,
brought Sir John prominently into the
notice of the people of this country. The
measures with which his name has
been identified are: the confederation
of the Dominion, the Washington
treaty and the building of the Canadian
Pacific railway. Sir John Macdonald at
many times evinced spirit of hostility to
the United States; but this was doubtless
assumed with view to political effect.
and had no real basis upon personal dis
like for either the American people or our
institutions.
In politics he scrupled at little to attain
success, which even his opponents must
acknowledge he used for the best interests
of his country, though as his warmest
sympathizers acknowledge, many of his
measures have been carried out with too
obvious regard for party expediency-the
expensive and hurried building of the
Canadian Pacific railway being a case in
point.
Sir John Macdonald's success was due
in the main to systematic placing of his
opponents in false light through antici.
pating them in the advocacy of measures
advanced by them which he foresaw would
become popular. In this way he always
contrived to appear as having positive
and distinct policy, while his opponents
appeared as unressoning directors, while
they were lacking in a substitute policy
about which party might rally. On the
whole his influence upon the development
of Canada has been beneficial one, though
his regard for party success has very
largely neutralixed the good which hi,
career might have donehis country.
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