Telegram-herald., 1891-06-02
A DYING PREMIER.
His Death Looked for Houriy-A
PROBABLE Crisis in Political At.
fairs in the Dominion.

OTTAWA, Ont. June I, .. IN Sir
JOAN has gradually grown weaker since
i0.So a. IN, and IL is not thought he can
lass much longer.
OTTAWA. Ont, June i-Sir John
Msedonald's condition WAS practically
unchanged. except that his vital powers
seemed TO be gradually weakening
His life now hangs on Q slender
thread. BE Is lighting with his
characteristics tenaeity against the
dread visitor. but with vitality
slowly ebbing away the unequal strug
gle cannot be much longer maintained
since Friday afternoon. though de-
prived Of the power OF speech, he has
maintained the ehserfulness for which
he is so noted IN health Though
still conscious, he realizes that his
doom is approaching. and seems
prepared for the final call. With
his left arm, which is still serviceable,
10 MAKES known his desires. He
passed tho night quietly and enjoyed
periods of brief rest Whenever Lady
Macdonald enters the sick room his
face. which has assumed an ashen hue,
hghts up. Nothing can describe
the attachment he entertains
for tho talented woman who
for many years has been tho wife
OF canada's greatest statesman The
windows OF the sick room. which look
out from the second story ON a we'll
kept lawn. are flung wide open. In
tho ante-room is u large table on which
hundreds of cablegrams and dis
patches from England. Canada and
the United States are being mo-
mentarily deposited Two secretary's
are busily engaged debating replies to
assistants Queen Victoria, Lord Sails
bury. Lord Lorne. Lord Lansdowne.
viceroy OF India and scores of distin-
guished people have sent cablegrams
OF inquiry coupled with regret at the
premier's condition At a. IN. no
change was reported in Sir Johns case.
He had taken nourishment, and was
resting easily.
Touching references TO the dying
premier were made in all the churches,
both Catholic and Protestant Sunday
morning. At ST. Patrick's Rev. Father
Whelan said: AT this moment a great
figure in Canadian history. statesman.
who for nearly fifty years has been init
mately connected with public life in Can
ada, and who for nearly all that period
had guided her destinies, is lying at the
point Of death. Even his bitterest po-
litical enemy would not deny him sym
patty nor refuse to offer prayers for
his recovery"
crisis in political circles is immi-
nent. The cabinet sat six hours Satur-
day. but. as if by arrangement, the lips
OF all the ministers are sealed as to
what was done at the meeting. SIR
Hector Langevin. as senior privy
councillor, will. in the event
OF Sir Johns demise. be summoned
By the governor general to assume
shargc of public affairs But in view
II the fact that grave charges of NAL
jeasance in Office are at present hang
ing over the head of the minister of
public works he will naturally decline,
eaving the question of leadership be-
jween Sir John Thompson and Sir
Charles Upper, the Canadian high
commissioner in England. The gov
srnment has already held an infor-
pal conference with the minister of
Justice. but the indications are that a
,arge wing OF the conservative party
will insist upon the selection of Sir
Charles Upper as the next premier.
Sir John Thompson being a Roman
Catholic.
Hon. David Mills, NJ. p, prominent
liberal and an authority on constitu-
tional law. gave il as his opinion that
In the event of Sir Johns death the
cabinet ministers would not have to
resign and appeal to the people before
accepting Office under a new chief He
,aid the law was still in force that al
lows a minister to resume Office within
thirty days after his resignation with
put reelection