New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04
an EMBARRASSED FIRST MINISTER.

~
The Premier of Canada is in the midst of much
tribulation. lie became Premier, not because
he was the commanding figure which the title
implies, but because he was not. His strength
paradoxical as it seems, lay in the very fact that
he was weak, that he had aroused no enmltles
and was embarrassed by no friendships. The
natural successor of Sir John Macdonald in the
leadership of the Tory party was Sir Charles
Topper. lie failed to obtain the distinction
to which he was clearly entitled because of the
personal antagonisms he had excited With him
set aside, the succession would properly have
fallen to Sir Hector Langevn But Sir Hector
was under charges, and had to be passed. That
left Sir John Thompson As the most promising
material from which to make Tory leader. Sir
John. however, was Catholic, and between him
and the commanding place stood an earnest and
ugly Orange sentiment. Mr.. Abbott issued from
this difficult situation as the man against whom
the least could be said. 1t follows that he was
the man Of whom the least could be said. That
he has succeeded, after long and trying session
Of Parliament during which the sins OF the
Macdonald era have been uncovered by whole
sale, in maintaining this position is decidedly
to his credit. The position may be equivocal'
but it took some ability to hold it.
Now, however, Mr.. Abbott has to make
move. The understanding when he assumed
Office was that the Cabinet should hold together,
each Minister retaining the portfolio confided to
him by Sir John Macdonald, until the session
was ended Then, during the recess, Mr.. ABB
bott was to reconstruct his Ministry in perma-
nent form This task he is now engaged upon
with results prophetic of disaster. Mr.. Chapeau,
the Minister of State, whose Importance is de-
rived from his following of ten or dozen
French Canadian members, has served notice on
the Premier that he must have more patronage
or he will strike. For years Mr.. Chapleau has
been convinced that he is much bigger man
than his country has supposed. lie claims to
have convinced Sir John Macdonald of that fact
and to have received the promise Of the Ministry
of Railways as token of Sir. Johns enlarged
opinion. But, unfortunately, Sir John died
without communicating to any one else this re-
yised estimate of Chapleau or the arrangement
that had been made with him, and Mr.. Abbott,
though painfully anxious for peace, feels unable
to place bis richest mine at the disposal of a
politician whose long hair and fierce expression
seem to constitute his only real claims to great
ness.
The truth is we suppose, that Sir John made
all the promises he thought necessary to keep
Chapleau quiet and orderly with no intention Of
carrying them out. That used to be Sir Johns
fayorite way of dealing with men who were big
enough to bother him, but not big enough to
help Mr.. Abbott however, does not possess
Sir johns serene audacty nor his skill in len
dering men incapable of distinguishing between
punch in the ribs and pa. on the back Mr..
Chapleau, consequently, is in state of indgna-
ton and has resigned, threatening to fall, like
Samson, amid other ruins than those of his own
career This threat is not an idle one, and Mr.
Abbott knows it. y change of ten votes in the
House would surely retire the Government Mr.
Chapleau is thought to possess fully that number
and if he does the situation is within his con-
troll 1t would cost twice that number to yield to
his demands, so that the Premier confronts on
either hand perilous expedient.