The morning call., 1892-09-24
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CANADIAN POLITICS.

II appears 10 be understood that the
Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John Abbott,
is to retire in favor OF Sir John Thompson,
and the backward condition Of our northern
neighbor is illustrated by stories that the
accession of the new Premier win lead TO
an outbreak of religious war. Sir John
Thompson, who was born a Protestant,
turned Catholic, and is hated by the
Protestants with an intensity which can
only be realized by those who have lived
in countries where the two faiths are nearly
equal in strength. In France. where the
PrOtestantS are q mere handful, Protestant
Prime Minister held power for years with
out even a comment on his religion. In
Austria, where everybody is Catholic,
Count Won Beast, a Protestant, held SUI
preme power as long as he wanted. In this
country nobody knows anything about the
religious faith of the members Of the Cabinet.
But in Canada Protestant Ontario is ready
TO fly to arms against the Inaugural
ton of q Catholic Prime Minister, and
Catholic Quebec declares that it will pick
M the gauntlet as soon as il is thrown.
Even in the wilds Of Manitoba, where they
grow wheat which costs more to carry 1t
to market than it sells for. the people arc
ready to fly al each others threats on the
subject Of parochial schools.
Canadians would exhibit more wisdom if
they dropped their sectarian strife, at any
rate for a time, and turned their attention
to the practical cons eQuences Of the Tory
policy which the D 0minion has pursued for
many years. Canada is approaching peril
ousiy near the ragged edge of bankruptcy.
1t ewes S275, coo, 900; the net per capita
charge for interest is over three times as
large as that which is borne by citizens of
the United States. The population is grow
ing at the rate Of about IL per cent per
decade, the census of 1891 show ing total
population of i, coo. The emigration OF
Canadians 20 the United States is in round
figures 100000 a year. One-haf the total
debt has been incurred for subsidies and
other aids to railroads which do not pay.
There appears to be no reliable prospect of
an increase in the revenue; the resources
Of the Dominion can hardly be more vigOr-
ously exploited than they are; in a few
years the lumber trade must decline in con-
sequence Of the exhaustion Of the forests.
The Liberal party Of Canada has always
held that the true policy of the Dominion is
10 draw clOserits relations with the United
States. On the other hand tie Tory party,
which has been in power for 4 long period,
holds that the interests of the provinces
will be best promoted by closer relations
with the mother country and an attitude OF
quaSi-hostility toward the United States.
The coming Prime Minister lately delivered
a speech in which he was very spiteful to-
ward this country, and called upon his
hearers to hoist the flag Of DO surrender to
the United States. 1t is understood that it
was on his advice that the Dominion Gov
eminent Tepudiated its promise to abolish
the discrimination against American vessels
using the Welland canal, which led TO the
proclamation of retaliation by President
Harrison. He has always been a stickler
for the headland Interpretation of the
fisheries treaty.
If the Canadians think that they can
make anything by nursing spite aud enmiiy
toward the United States no one on this side
Of the line would object TO their trying the
experiment. We feel like the blacksmith
whose wife used to beat him and who OBJ
served phii0sophically, at don't hurt ne
and it does her such lot Of good" Il did
annoy Americans 0 see Canada sympathz-
ing with the South during The war while all
their ties were with the North, and They
had DO natural utilization with the rebels
likelihood Of any new war in which Canada
can side wiki The enemy. Americans are
in position to survey the Canadian situa-
ton dispassionately from the standpoint Of
Canada's interest only. And such a survey
leads most people 10 hOpe that before long
our ueighboTs will see that their real in
teTest requires the restoration Of the Liberals
to power.
Canada has an area as large as the United
States. and though with our present ap-
planes the great bulk of this territory is
unavailable for settlement and not suscept-
IDLE OF development. yet still il is impossible
to say what improvements may be made
hereafter in the reclamation OF snow-clad
wilds. In the 81. Lawrence Valley, the
slopes of the lakes, and the valleys Of the
Northwest there is an abundance of I'M
occupied land. Under wise government the
population OF the Dominion might be made
10 increase more rapidly than it does.
Sound craftsmanship might devise a plan
TO keep at home the French Canadians.
VINO are moving to New England. Ameri-
cans would rejoice al any indication Of new
prosperity in Canada, but they hardly ex-
pect it so long as the Tories remain in
power.