The morning call., 1891-08-16
DOODLE IN CANADA.

It's washing day in Canada. The long
expected nvesigation has come at last, and
it turns ont, as everybody anticipated, that
the dollar bill is not wholly unknown in
those Arcadian provinces. They have had
bar'ls in Canada as elsewhere, and after the
passage of Doodle bills, melons have been
cut. Some OF the parties implicated, like Sir
Hector Langevn, have seen a long career
OF popularity blasted and material has been
unearthed which would contribute the
groundwork of dozen criminal prosecu-
tons. 1t seems that the Canadian boodlerS
are unsophisticated; they neither covered
their tracks nor muZzled their confederates
in sin. Men have gone before the lnvesti-
eating Committee and confessed to taking
brides, as if that were an ordinary business
transaction, and the bribers do not seem to
have sense enough to lie themselves out of
the scrap-.
The whole course of Canadian politics for
the past twenty years satisfied people on
this side of the border that good deal of
money, or the equivalent OF money, must pc
changing hands in the Dominion. British
North America was ruled by coalition be-
tween Tories under the lead of Sir John
Macdonald and Frenchmen under the lead
of MERCER and Langeyn. Between these
two parties there was not one common prin-
cipe. Macdonald was politician who was
ready 10 sacrifice everything for the main
tenance of the British connection. The
French leaders cared nothing about the
British connection, and had bat one politI-
cal aim. the maintenance of their faction.
When two parties, so hopelessly divided on
questions come together ana undertake TO
run government jointly it may he taken
fo- Tod hoo. f,alA thar Nv
the cohesive power Of public plumber. We
know what would have been thought in this
country of coalition between Mason and
| Slidel on one side, aud Sumner and Garrison
on the other, to run the Government OF the
United States.
The Canadian Pacific Railroad must have
been milch cow that would always stand
milking. 1t was built in defiance of bust
ness principles and without the smallest
prospect of earning expenses. But when
ever it got into trouble it fell back on the
Government and was helped out. 1t is not
Supposable that the members of the Do
minIon Government and the Dominion Par
lament helped it out from love and affec-
ton. 1t swallowed up number OF small
railroads which were owned by the Govern
ment or by companies. 1t is not 10 be be-
lieved that these consultations were
effected without some use of lubricating
oil. 1t got exclusive privileges which shut
off competition, and enormous grants of
land that should have been reserved for set
tiers. When protest was uttered Sir John
silenced the directors by fourishes about
the glory of England and the LOYALTY to the
old flag. 1t is hardly credible that sophie
morical defamation could have stopped the
mouths of the opposition if it had not been
re-enfUrced by more substantial arguments
The Canadians will probably find before
| they are through that they are repeating
an experience which has been witnessed on
this side of the line. as well us IN the lead
ing countries of Europe. They will be for
tunate if they escape with no worse punish
ment than the loss of a few regulations.
But the danger is that the scandal may i'm
pair the financial credit of the Dominion,
which is in no condition to stand a shock.
The Dominion owes S22S, OOO, COO, OF which
the interest charge is some ten million
dollars. rs total annual expenditure is
about So, OO0. 900, and its income S40.000,00O,
leaving Il deficit of S5OOO,O00 to DE made up
by financiering. This is without reckoning
the drain on the public funds from the
Canadian Pacific. when Will be constant.
1t is a heavy burthen for a people whose
numbers are less than tho population of
Pennsylvania.
These British colonies-canada, Austria
liza and New Z'aland-seem to fancy that
| because, through the friendly aid of the
British Government, they have secured in
London a good market for their bonds. they
are emancipated from the control of the
laws OF trade, and can run into debt indeti-
nitely without reckoning how the debt is to
be paia. Some day they will discover their
mistake. and probably the discovery will be
| precipitated by some unexpected scandal.