New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-19
TIE CANADIAN SCANDALS.


1s1sovvbere we brint some observations by Mr..
Francis Wayland, Glen upon the action OF the
Tory investigating committees in Canada exon
Grating Sir Hector Langevin from the charges OF
corruption preferred against him, and condemnlng
Mr. MERCER, the Premier Of Quebec upon similar
accusations Mr. Glen does not put the unscrupu-
lous inconsistency Of the Tory majority whit
too strongly. It's conduct has been that OF olnd
and audaciOus partisanship. The evidence against
Sir Hector Langevin has been ten times as con-
vincing and vastly more serious than that against
Mr. Mercier. and is more directly the concern Of
Parliament 1t is clear that Sir Hector Lange-
vim demanded and received money for use in sup
port of Tory candidates in the elections from con-
tractors and others in the public service who were
enabled to cheat the Canadian Treasury by
scapdaous notifications OF the contracts approved
by Sir Hector's Department of Public Works.
The Minister'S part in securing these mediica-
tions is of course largely matter OF inference.
But his responsibility for them cannot he denied
or evaded To acquit him of conscious wrong-doing
is IN convict him Of criminal blindness The
Tories themselves are forced to admit in their
report that the contracting firm of Larkin, Con-
nelly d. Co, have stolen enormous sums of money.
apparently about 81, 10000 and that they sue
ceeded in these frauds through the political in
fuence exerted and secret information impaired
bv an associate in their enterprises, Thomas
NcGreeyy. a Tory member Of Parliament, and an
intimate friend and personal creditor Of Sir Hector
McGreevy has admitted his rascally conduct by
hrht and Sir Hector has done something on the
same order by resigning his office
The Tories seek TO secure Sir Hector's escape
by throwing the responsibility for the admitted
rottenness of his Department upon its Chief En-
gineer, Mr. Perey, In this their craftsmanship is
not merely foolish, it is indignantly cruel Sir
Hector Iangevin is Tot the dull fool his apologsts
are meanly trying to make him out to be- lie
is a man Of force and ability. AS such he has been
recognized during q long lifetime, and it is too
late now TO give him different character. Perley
was his officer, and did his bidding, and nothing
could be more dishonest and c0d-blo0ded than to
represent him as the chief sinner in conspiracy
in which he could have been no more than tool.
OF course it is too much TO expect that the Tory
majority in Parliament, elected by the very
money which found its way from the public
treasury through these thieving contractors into
Sir Hcctors political purse, will hesitate to con-
firm the report Of their committee, Political
experlency dictated the report, and political eX-
pediency can be relied upon to whip up partisan
majority for its confirmation. The good name
Of the Dominion, however, will be by such an act
deeply disgraced.
It was as an Offset to these scandals that the
charges were brought against Mr. MERCER. posi-
bly, the ablest and certainly one of the most
successful Of the Liberal leaders. They have not
been as yet sustained, though it must be admitted
that the allegations are circumstantial and have
serious aspects. Whatever their truth may be,
they appertan TO the provincial affairs of Quebec
and not 10 the Dominion. Mr.. AbbOtt's effort to
force Mr.. MERCER into retirement by calling on
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Quebec 10 dismiss his
Government would be exactly paralleled as n
constitutional proceeding were Lord Salisbury TO
REQUIRE Lord STANLEY 20 dismiss Premier
Abbott In resisting such tyranny Mr. Mer-
cier. regardless Of the question Of his
guilt or innocence of political obbery,
would probably have the support Of his Province
and the sympathy of Canadians generally. II will
be strange if Mr. Abbott goes SO far. His Gov
eminent Is sufficiently weak and wobbly without