The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-08
He II zone Of the Boys" and Never Eer-
gets Any Ons-His Opponent. Sir
Richard Cartwright.

saw mill and took the survivors away to
prison. Macdonald was named by the
crown to defend Shoultz. and for man
so young--he was then only q little
over 20--he conducted the case
with consummate tact and great force.
But the iron judges were unmoved by his
logic and his passionate appeals for Glenn
ency. The Judge Of the court-martial did
not even comment on Macdonald's plea;
without any words Shoultz was taken
away and shot.
1t is rather curious that Macdonald
should first bring himself into repute by
defending treason now that he is the
knight champion of the crown and of the
flag that braved thousand years the
battle and the breeze" But he is unques-
tionably a stout defender of royalty and
imperial connection, and it is on the cards
that if the result of the present election is
a strong Reputation of free commercial
intercourse with the United States, Lord
Salisbury, acting under the queens wishes,
will elevate him to the peerage. He is
now only knight of the Order of SIS.
Michael and George, but he is member of
her majesty's imperial privy council,
whence he derives the term right honor
able.
One of Macdonald's greatest holds upon
popularity is his bonhomie. There is no
public man in Canada that has nearly SO
most unique faculty of being able to call
by name Q person whom he has met only
once. and that many years before. For
the greater part of his life, up to within
the past few years, he has been lone Of
the boys" and a patron Of the mixture OF
tom gin and soda, which they call "Col-
Inns" over in Canada.
Some time after the publication of the
"Life and Times of Sir John Macdonald, !"
Sir Richard Cartwright, in the house of
commons, referring to some statements in
the book, began to twit the premier. As
the author of the book was Collins, Sir
Richard wound up his remarks with these
words: 81 think it eminently fitting that
a man, who, during his long career, has
done justice to so many 'collinses' should
in the end have Collins to do justice to
him."
Sir John used to lose his temper fire.
quently in parliament, and he once an
nounced in voice audible through the
commons chamber, when Oliver Mowat,
now premier of Ontario, was severely CEN
surfing his policy, 81 could lick that fellow
quicker than hill would scorch feather
On another occasion the sergeant-at-arms
had to prevent him from punching the
head Of the late William Hume Blake
Sir John is by no means an admirer of
Americans or American statesmen. He
never uses the word American; it is always
Yankee, and he explains this by saying
that 'sthe Canadians own as much of
America as the Yankees do" But his real
reason for this bitterness of feeling is that
he has never brought home any laurels
from Washington when there discussing
reciprocity and other international ques-
lions. He has said that the Yankee poll
tician is too slippery; the truth is it is only
at Washington that he has ever found his
match. No one in Canada has any chance
against him in shrewdness and finesse.
and in disputes with the imperial
ministry it is admitted by all that Sir
John has mostly had his way. But sSiittle
while ago he said in speech that there is
one kind of annexation for Canadians
that he will never oppose-the annexation
of beautiful Yankee girls with good
dowries; and he says he will consent to
losing few bright-eyed daughters of Can
ada provided the Yankee husbands have
purses big enough. But he almost vehe-
mently declares that the Cartwright
Wiman commercial union scheme is onlv
"veiled treason" and the natural result
would be the swallowing up of Canada by
the United States.
Lord Salisbury pats him on the shoulder.
and, as first recognition, backs the Cam
ada Pacific steamer line to Japan to an
enormous extent. In fact Sir John can
get all the money he wants from the inn
perial government as reward for his
anti Yankee crusade. This is not coniec-
ture at all. / have facts which justify nv
statement.
Sir John as nearly resembles the late
Lord Beaconsfield as one man can resemble
another who is not Of his kin. He is thin
somewhat cadaverOus, and from an affec-
ton of the liver is somewhat saliow. His
pronunciation is old-fashioned. pronounce
ing the words duty and constitution,
''dOoty" and constitution" Neither is
he an eloquent speaker, but no matter
what the occasion may be, his address
abounds in witticisms and stories. He is
nearly always accompanied by LADY Mac
donald, a very handsome woman of He
brew birth, who muffies him up well after
he has made speech or otherwise heated
himself. l have no doubt it is owing to
her constant care that he is alive TODAY.
and the central figure in Canada.
1t is only just to say that SIR John does
not now "go on sprees;" on the contrary.
he has proiessed religion before revIyalist
congregation, though a conservative high
churchman. He is by all odds the ablest
and most successful man they have ever
had in political affairs in Canada. and
while he lives and keeps in harness public
policy is sure to run his way. He has not
always been scrupulous, but, on the whole.
his policy has been wise and progressive.
Before dismissing Sir John Macdonald 7
may say that choice topic of private con-
yersation with him, and he sometimes
makes public reference to the matter. is the
character of the civil service of the United
States. He abhors the system of appoint.
ing judges by public VOTE declaring that a
justice SO appointed, if he is human ar Ali
must to some extent be the creature of the
party to whom he owes his Office. In
Canada the judge is appointed bv the
crown for life, and can be removed only nv
impeachment, and there are only two or
three cases in the history of the countrv
where judge has been so degraded.
He also says that the system of rotation
in office in the United States. occurrinr on
a change of administration, is abominable.
for the British system is appointment to
the civil service for life, and removal oniy
for gross neglect of duty or scandalors
or improper conduct. Sir John is an
pFoaching his four score years, and this.
without any question, is his last great po-