Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-17

Sir Hector Langesia has resigned and
the Administration at Ottawa and the
Conservative party required it. There
vas nothing else to do says the Philsdel-
phla Press The Dominion will stand
much In its Government bat series OF
sioseiy connected corrupt acts by the
Minister Of Public Works, extending
from Quebec TO Esquimault, was more
than even Canada could endure.
30 far "a Langeyin himself IL con
cerned, the loss ID small. His course
was run. he Ia IS. He has been In
public life forty years. His rival, Chap
lean In the corrupt Conservative leader.
ship in Quebec, commanded the situation
when the present Administration was
organized and made Sir Hector's early
retirement the price OF his adhesion TO
the new Premier, Abbott The resigna-
ton now only shortens by few years
the public life Of politician whose
power was already gone.
The Conservative Administration was
able week ago to rally majority of y
on vote Of confidence. The vote was
light, 80 against II, barely half the
House being present, and the Ministry
held only two-thirds OF lis normal major
ty Of 30 But it la enough. With the
aid Of the party machinery, an alliance
with the French Canadian vote 10 Quebec
and the members Of the outlying pro
yinces anxious about subsidies, the Con
servatiye Premier can probably hold his
party together in the face of the most
damaging disclosures since Sir John
Mcdonald was defeated in 1873 on
account of corrupt revelations in connec
ton with the Canadian Pacific.
This cannot 90 on forever. Nothing
la this country In connection with any
state government, much less national
affairs, has ever equslled these revela-
lions. In 1853 cross-wall was built in
Quebec harbor. The winning coutrac
tors paid Thomas McGreevy, member of
Parliament, bank director, and man OF
note generally, to manipulate the bids
TO secure the contract and to enlarge the
pay. 1t is now admitted that $4,000
was paid into the Quebec Conservative
election fund, $40 900 going to Sir
Hector. $50 900 was paid Robert Nc
Greevy, Thomas McGreevy's brother,
and constant stream of payments was
made to inspectors. To get work on the
made. II WAS raised in cost $53 900, the
harbor wall $4,000. and there were
besides large profits. In the Bale des
Chaleurs Railroad scsndal, S207 900 OF
the provincial subsidy was divided be
tween the McGreevys and their friends
The Quebec ring was, besides, in a
Welland canal fraud, in steamboat con
tract. and in network of petty cor
ruption in the pay Of clerks in the Pub
lie Works Department.
It was shock to the Canadian public
when Sir John A. Macdonald WAS found
to be 3 wealthy man and a heavy stock
holder in the enterprises he had sUbsi
died Mr. Abbott, his successor, ia
Canadian Pacific man. The new Cana
dian peer is simply great contractor
who has shared in the division of the
sppils OF subsidy and land grant There
follows now series of damaging
charge, lustifying the worst Liberal
accusations Of the canvass. The Con-
sentative party may and probably will
continue in power; but this will only
quicken and increase the rising demand
for annexation. A democracy, like
water, needs to be in great bodies to keep
itself pure. and small country like
Canada, governed by an ignorant vote,
ID sure TO have a rotten government