The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-01
THE FUTURE OF CANADA.


The prediction Of leading American
Journals that the death of Sir John Mac
donald is the funeral knell of the Conserv-
alive ministry in Canada is not, in our
Judgment, likely TO be fulfilled. Abbott,
the new premier, Is a very able lawyer,
and is man of clean hands, who has never
broken his word to friend or foe. The gen.
eral confidence felt in him as a man who
promptly says Yes" or mo-" and is
courageous enough to stand by his pledges
goes far to blunt the edge of the opposi-
tons sneer at him as the attorney of the
Canadian Pacific. Premier Abbott is likely
to hold his ground, because he is univer-
sally believed to be both an able statesman
and heightened, honorable man.
But, assuming that the opposition
succeed in forcing the Abbott minis
try to retire, he will be sure to be
succeeded by either Sir Charles Tup-
per or Sir John Thompson. Sir
Charles Upper is strong man; an ag-
gressive and forceful politician whom the
Liberals most cordially hate and fear, for
he is formidable party organizer and
fighter. He lacks the suavity and sagacity
of Sir John Macdonald, but he has the con-
fidence and respect of his party, and as a
thrown to make room for any of the pres
ent leaders of the Liberal party. Sir
Richard Cartwright is tory turncoat,
who is heartily detested by one party and
distrusted by both; Laurier is very clever
debater and party "stumper," but has
never shown any administrative ability,
and until the so-called Liberal party in
Canada commands weightier leadership
the Conservatives are likely to enjoy long
lease of power.
The two parties in Canada stand in an
attitude toward each other that is not I'M
like that of the two great political parties
of the United States. The employers of
labor; the owners of capital and the work.
ing men who own any thing outside their
hats are generally Republicans; the dema-
gogues and the mere rabble that are the
foul, lawless fringe that hangs upon the
skirts of substantial and intelligent indus
try are generally Democrats. So in Cam
asse the men who eInploy labor and ven
IT, CAPITAL; the wageworkers who are
money saving and law abiding are Conser-
vativss at all the general Dominion cleo
tions, whatever they may be at the provin-
cial elections, while the restless dema-
gogues, who lead the Liberal party, get
small support from either men who en-
ploy labor and risk capital. or non-in-
surrectionary, thrifty labor.
The ute SIX of confidence felt in the
Iibe- y saders in Canada is shown by
the tact that while the provincial
ovcrnments are not seldom Liberal. :"
nc Dominion government is never
theiess generally Conservative. In mar
row, local strife, the Liberals some
times win. but on broad questions of
Dominion policy they are distrusted and
therefore generally defeated. 1t is the deep
and general distrust of the Liberal lead
ers that defeated them in the last general
election quite as much as the personal eff
forts and popularity of Sir John Macdonald,
joined to his adroit appeals to the senti-
! mental feeling of loyalty to the Crown.
Thousands of Canadians, who believe that
annexation to the United States would be
90 the great advantage of Canada. and
would Welcome il tomorrow If the time
were ripe for it and the occasion oppor-
tune voted with the Conservatives nj the
last general election, not because they
were dsluded by buncombe denunciations
81 snnexationists as TRAITORS" but be-
cause they distrusted the ability of the
Lbes 4 party to rule Canada with wisdom
and moderation. The time had not
come for commercial union and unlimited
rsciprecity, ending in political annexation,
and even If The hour had been favorable
the Ii eral leaders were not regarded as the
ct meI for the hour.
These Liberal Conservatives admit to
I the American who interrogates them
that unlimited reciprocity would be
money and general prosperity for Cam
! ada. but that commercial union in
smpossible at present, because il would be
discrimination against England If YOU
reply that the Canadian protective tariff is
] enforced against the mother country. who
lies the Tag offree trade, they grant il. but
gay thet the sentiment Of regard for Eng
land Is still too strong to enact a CONNER
eial policy which makes the United States
rather than England the most favored ma
sion. The Canadian protective tariff is en-.
forced against all the world, England in.
cluded, while the commercial union of
Canada with the United States would
mean the beginning of the end of the
present filisl relationship between England
and Canada. since annexation would
surely be the bright, consummate flower of
commercial union.
If you further ask why Canada should
fnrego her own political and COM
mercia advantage out of Difference 10
Q mere sentiment, bundle of patri-
otto traditions and memories tied to-
ssfhsr by bic of British bunting
teFiaec the Union Jack. they an
ave hat there is no sound reason
whs ther man or = people should
thsts away q perfectly legitimate and
Dc ia commercial and political advantage
e. sake Of mere sentiment and the
la ideality of a distant flag. bat that
tha5 Re Obliged 10 respect the facts of
hums nature as they find them, and il is
.~e shak