New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-02
OTJCK UORK IN CANADA.

Canada has advanced toward her destiny with
ruthless dispatch since Sir John Macdonald cast
the die last February and offered himself anew
m the electorate Parliament has now been
proroaued and the halt in events which this
makes necessary may be conveniently employed
in retrospection. Sir John Macdonald went TO
the people on declaration which is now
known to be utterly untruthful. Mr.. Bond.
of Newfoundland, had negotiated with
Secretary Blaine Treaty OF Reel
procity, against the approval of which by
the British Government Canada vehementy
protested on the ground that its operations would
DESTROY her fisheries. At the same time Sir John
Macdonald offered to join with Newfoundland
in Reciprocity arrangement with the United
States. and also to negotiate for the settlement
of various other questions pending between the
States and his colony. This suggestion was
transmitted by the British Minister to Mr.
Blaine, who replied that he would be glad to
consider with Canada the matters proposed, but
that this negotiation must be kept separate from
that then pending with Newfoundland, and could
not be proceeded with at all until by informa!
conferences with the Canadian representatives
il was found that a satisfactory basis of negotia-
sired that no public mention should be made
of the projected conferences. Mr.. BlalneS
motive for this response Is easily understood
He could not admit that the fishery interests OF
Canada and Newfoundland were identical He
had good reason to diStrust the Canadian
premiers Reciprocity offer. Sir John Macdon-
aid had been consistently opposed to such
measure of Free Trade as the United States
would be compelled to insist upon, and it was
plainly in direct contradiction of his established
poicy. TO concede it he would have to aban-
don all that he and his party stood for and
accept as his own the platform of the Liberal
Opposition. Mr. Blaine did not believe that Sir
John Macdonald would do this. 1t seemed much
more likely that he was aiming to give such
shape to the negotiation as would inevitably
cause its collapse, thereby furnishing himself
with the argument for home use against his
Liberal foes that fair Reciprocity was impos-
sible. since he had tried TO get it and had failed
Mr. Blaine had no intention of allowing the
United States to be thus made Use Of
The event has proved that these suspicious
were entirely just Thwarted in his tricky
game, pressed By his Liberal enemies at all
points. well knowing that the census was about
to reveal how mlserably his policy had failed,
and convinced that the wholesale corruption
of his Government could not escape the scrutiny
of another session of Parliament, Sir John re-
solvcl upon desperate expedient His brill
liant audacity and unscrupulousness were never
displayed so clearly as in the steps he took to
carry out his resolution. He brought the Gov
ernor-GeneIal into his service, and actually
forced him to declare TO the people, as the occa-
sion of dissoving Parliament, that Mr.. Blaine
had made proposals for Reciprocity Treaty
and for the settlement of all pending issues
that new election must be had so as to give
Sir John the warrant to meet the American