New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-11

Instead of simplifying. every day ADDS ne"
difficulties to the situation at Ottawa. Inc d.
ways-cOntending factions composing OF 'onn
Macdonald's Cabinet, even before ther ue"o
chieftain's body has been laid in its grave aro
onpapne in actual strife over the succession
Cir Hector Langevin refuses to be laid aSiue'
Nv reason of his position, his age, experience
and he NAV fairly add his ability, he is the
natural leader of the party. He inquiries with
much pertinence whether the movement to throw
him overheard implies belief on the part Vi
his colleagues in the truth OF the accusatlons
against him. lie says he is innocent ana IL
the party he has served for nearly hall CEN
tury agrees with him in that point, ne 1ails u
understand why it should not be as willing now
70 follow his leadership as before the charges
were brought. But to Sir Hector's dismay ne
finds a consensus of opinion against him on inc
part of all the factions except his own.
MIR. Abbott Mr. Meredith, Mr.. Dalton NC
Carthy and at least half dozen other Ooil.
servatiyes whose influence is the expression Oh
some religious, social or commercial class winch
Sir John Macdonald had succeeded by one Oh
his strange mesmeric processes in wedding 10
his fortunes, have sprung up with claims upon
the leadership. 1t really seems, if party
caucus is not soon held to settle the question
once for ALL that there will presently be as
MANY leaders as there are Tory Members OF
Parliament. Nothing but party caucus can
now settle it, at all events and there Is hot INC
slightest reason to suppose that even us ueclsion
would be long respected. Probably, II tne UoN-
ernor-General had asserted his prerogatlve I'M
mediately upon Sir Johns death and had sum-
moned either Sir Hector, Mr.. Abbott or Slr John
Thomson to form Cabinet, party dlsc4Ilne
MIGHT have been enforced effectually. But IL
* a striking illustration of the purely personal
dominion of Sir John Macdonald, and OF the
sliehtness of the authority which he deputed To
his subordinates, that within three days after
a death that had long been anticipated, ana
might be supposed to have been prepared for'
the party is rent into fragments, and no leader
is in sight who is capable of commanding any
thing like undivided attention. Ii has been
reported as saying OF Sir Johns that the
best kind of Ministry was one composed OF
mediocrities. any man of whom his chief could
send to Jail at pleasure" 1t IS not hKeiy unaO
the late PIemier's power over his associates was
so great as this, but certainly he selected only
those whose feeble abilities were sure to leave
his own ambitions at peace.
1t is more than probable that Sir John Ihomp-
son will undertake temporarily to fill the breach'
and at once the storm within and without his
marty will burst upon him. Every faction lead
er will consider himself the inheritor OF sir
Johns policy and the special guardian OF Sir
Johns memory. No new step will be taken
without a challenge nor without the cry OF DIS
loyalty to the old cheftain. Within 1ew
months the trade negotiations between the DO
minion and the American Government must DO
resumed, and fitting occasion Will a1se 1or
the return to America of Sir Charles upper
who initiated them. If Tory Government
can survive so long, it is safe to assume that
Sir Charles will not return to his post In Lon
don, but that he will bring his forceful energy,
his unlimited audacity and his great personal
influence to the task of again cementlng the
confused elements that have been left in charge
of Canadian deStinies.