Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-15

CANADA's NEW PREMIER.
| Does Senator Abbott's Selection Mean Sir
Charles Tupper's Succession?

A
Charles Tupper's Succession?
| Special to the New York Herald.
OTTAWA, OSr., June 13.-It is general,
thought here that the selection Of Mr. Abbot
is the result of the advice of Sir John Thomp
son. who was offered and refused the premier
ship. and was fully concurred in by all the
members of the present ministry.
OLD MEMBERS TO BE RETAINED
The new premier has been in consultation to
day with various members of the cabinet, and il
is confidently stated that he has asked the mall tc
| retain their present portfolios and that thew will
do SO. If this is so there will be no disturbance
in ministerial affairs. and for the time being. al
all events things will go along as before. There
seems to be very general impression that the
appointment of Mr.. Abbott is only temporary
and that as soon as matters become straight
ened out Sir Charles Upper will be called to
form new and permanent cabinet.
LIBERALS ARE CONFIDENT.
The liberals are confident that without the
leadership of Sir John Macdonald the conserva-
tive majority will soon disappear, and that in
the general election resulting they will secure a
good working majority, and that in place Of
Sir Charles Upper succeeding to the premier
ship Mr.. Laurier or some other good liberal
will be called upon to assume the reins of gov
ernment.
MR.. ABBOTT s CAREER.
Mr.. Abbott's parliamentary and public career
embraces period of nearly thirty-four years,
and has not upon the whole been very eventful
With the exception of somewhat unpopular
insolvent act and an equally abortive act
against bucket shops his initiation of legislation
has been of the rarest During the past
twenty years Mr.. Abbott has been identified
with most of the chief commercial enterprises
organized in this city, which. together with his
large legal practice. soon gave him leading
position at the bar.
He was born in the county of Argenteuil in
1921 and in 1S47 was called to the bar of lower
Canada His political life began in 1847 he
being elected for his native county. For a
brief period in 1862 he was solicitor general in
the Observation-Disclosures cabinet and
while there introduced the jury law consolida-
tion act for lower Canada and bill for the col
Letting of Judicial and registration fees by
stamps. two bills which added to his fame as a
lawyer. At the general elections in 1872 Mr.
Abbott was once more elected to parliament and
In the following year became prominent figure
in connection with the Pacific scandal. As legal
adviser of the late Sir Hugh Allan it was
through his hands that the $500 900 passed that
was given by Sir Hugh Allan and others to the
conservative leaders to carry the elections
Abbotts confidential clerk, George Norris
stole letters and kilograms relating to the big
deal and revealed matters to the liberal leaders
In the debate Ill the autumn of 1873 on the dis
closures Mr.. Abbott took no prominent part
Elected in 1874 he was unseated and was de-
feated in 1878, capturing a seat. however. in
1880. He was given the leadership of the senate
in 1881, but his duties there are not what the
leader in the popular chamber is called upon
to perform.
Mr.. Abbott was for many years chief solicitor
Tor the Canadian Pacific railway and for the
two years following 1887 was mayor of Mon
treal. He Is not prominently known outside
this province nor can he by any means be called
a strong leader.