Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-10-16
OBSTACLES AHEAD
May Prevent the Proposed
Conference With Canada.
FAITH BROKEN BY TORIES
To Further Their Political Inter.
ests In the Dominion.

WASHINGTON, Oct. l6.-Mr. Manley.
postmaster at Augusta, Me, naturally is
sought for information both as to the
health and political purposes of Mr..
Blaine. All inquirers have gone away
empty handed. except that they have
heard that Mr.. Blaine is rapidly improv-
ing In health, and that the probability is
that he will return to Washington and re-
sume his duties as secretary of state dur
ing October.
One Of the first subjects which will COM
mapd his attention will be the proposed
conference between the Dominion com mis-
sioners and the United States respecting
the trade relations between the United
States and Canada. The conference has
been postponed to an indefinite date, and
It does not appear who is to determine
what date shall be fixed for the meeting
o. the conference, or whether or not the
conference shall be held. Representatives
OF both parties in Canada have recently
been In Washington for the purpose of en-
deavoring 10 ascertain what the intentions
OF the administration are with respect to
this conference.
Thus far they have not been able TO OBJ
tain any definite assurances. The repre-
sentative Of the Liberals has arrived at
the conclusion that there will be no con-
ference. There will certainly not be any
conference until after the November elec-
tions. The following are tho
Reasons for the Inference
that the United States will not urge con-
ference with the pending Tory govern
ment In Canada:
First-The conference was not sought
by the United States, but by the Domin-
ion.
Second-The representatives Of the pres
ent Dominion government have broken
faith III serious manner with the admin
istration with respect To the preliminary
agreement for conference and to that
cad stands discred tied. This breach of
AnSth on tho part Of Sir Charles Tupper
and his associates has been openly ad-
mitted by them and justified as an expedi-
ent resorted to at the time for campaign
use In Canada. IL may he doubtful whether
the present administration will desire to
resume negotiations with those who have
In such fragrant manner broken faith
with them.
Third-The United States government
may well hesitate to enter into negotia-
tions with the present Dominion authori-
ties, for the very good reason that. In view
Of the present condition Of politics In Can
ada and Of recent occurrences, they have
the right to inquire whether or not the
present Dominion government is in n po-
sition
To Enter Into Obligations
with the United States which it can carry
out. Secretary T!aine is very likely to
raise the point that the Tory cabinet is not
in position to give assurances that it
will continue In power.
The President Of the United States, il
he shall consent 60 conference with the
Dominion commissioners, will do 50 with
the knowledge that the Tory governments
holds power by \ rapidly vanishing major
ity, and there are reasonable indications
that 1t will be overthrown long bef re any
result could he reached, in the event that
a conference should DO held. The presi-
dent and the secretary of state may well
presume that there Is no power n present
in Canada to negotiate for more liberal
trade relations which can give any guaran-
tee that 1t will be In power at the time
when any arrangement which might be
agreed upen would 20 into effect.
1t Is as we'll known In Washington IA IL
in Ottawa. that In the last test ote In the
Canadian parliament the Conservatives
could command
A Majority Of Only Fiftsen.
It Is known here also that even at that
time the Liberals, " they nad chosen,
could have obtained five or six votes more
The government here is kept well In
formed as to tho rapidly changing coudi-
tions In Dominion politics, and President
Harrison knows AZ we'll as any one in Can
ada what the expectations are rs tp the bye
elections and also as u the probable ac-
tion Of the courts In vacating the seats OF
+ many Conservatives ia the trial yet To be
had on charges Cf bribery.
President Harrison knows the attitude
which Chapleau holds to the Dominion
cabinet, and he has recently been advised
that the masses Of the Frencb Canadians,
, all ether things being equal, will be better
| pleased to give their allegiance to one Of
their own race a. the head of the Liberal
party, N. Laurier, rather than to follow
the Conservatives in the lead Of an En-
gl,shman.