New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-16
MR.. lBBOTTS TASK.

Senator Abbott, whom the Canadian Gov
ernor-General has summoned to the task OF
forming Tory Government for the Dominion,
has experienced great difficulty in executing his
trust 1t is now known that Mr. Abbott was
second choice He should have been that, or
third or q fourth He is in no sense a popular
leader, nor has he at any time been conspicuous
in the affairs of the Dominion. Such impor-
tancs as he possesses is derived solely from his
relations with the Canadian Pacific Railroad as
a shareholder a director, an attorney, and a
something not easily distinguished from lobby
ist. This is certainly not a relation which
should entitle Mr.. Abbott to political prefer
ment over men Of much greater ability and
much larger experience in affairs. The secret
of his selection is the necessity of compromise
Undoubtedly Sir John Thompson, who was
originally invited to form Government ana
who was unable to do so, is and should be the
first choice of his party at large. his failure
to take the place for which, OF all available
men, he is most fitted, results from that secta-
rian strife and contention which enters into all
political considerations in Canada, and which
is found so bewilderng to American students
of Canadian affairs.
Sir John Thompson is a Roman Catholic and
convert from MethodiSm. The Canadian
Methodists are of the Wesleyan body, closely
associated with their Church in England. In
the main they. have supported Sir John Mac
donald as the representative of the British tie
with which they have much sympathy. Uniting
with the Tory Churchmen of Ontario they have
bitterly opposed the elevation Of Sir John
Thompson on the declared ground of his re-
ligion. 70 Americans generally this is likely
to seem an astonishing display of bigotry, but
it should be remembered that the Roman Cath
Ole Church in Cana1a is very di1 insti-
tuition from the Roman Catholic Church with
which Americans are familiar. The Catholics
of the United States, or so many Of them as to
constitute great and controlling body in the
Church, are born and bred to the American idea
of the total separation of Church and State.
The Catholics Of Canada. however possess as
the descendants of the French colOnists ancient
and peculiar political rights, including that Of
taxation and OF the control Of their schools as
public schools. They are largely members of
one race, and Church and race are interlocked
together for ali purposes of mutual defence.
This brings about situation from which ami
mostly between Frenchmen and Catholics on
the one hand and British and Protestants on
the other has followed naturally and inevi-
tably. Sir John Thompson, minded man
of more than ordinary ability, has been the
victim of this arimoslty.
Without undertaking to predict the results
of Mr.. Abbott's efforts to conduct the Govern
ment of Canada, it is proper to point out the
conditions he will encounter and the reasons
drawn from those conditions which seem to us
to render it impossible that any Tory Premier
can long hold together the Parliamentary party
bequeathed to him by Sir John Macdonald. II
is party without any definite principles OF
government whatever. II has no distinct plan
for any of the grave crises which must shortly
arise. It is composed of groups, controlled by
faction leaders, who are supporters of the So
called National Policy for what they can get
out OF it. Each Of the delegations from the