The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-30
CANADIAN POLITICS
SINCE THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN
MACDONALD.
sir Johns MISCONCEPTIONS Methods - The
Revelations OF the Last Session OF Far
Nnmeut - Primo Minlster Abbott - his
Past, lls Promises and llls Future.

| Vmmehu G'rumno MtnustSE
| Past, Hts Promises and nis Future.
| MONTREAL. jan 27.-A long lane in Cana
dian political history had its turning when Sir
John Macdonald died. Even before his death
| important questions Of policy were looming
up and engaging a large measure OF public
| attention. but the general feeling was that no
| great political change could take place 30 long
| rs the old mar" lived. When ut 10 o'clock
| on the night OF June q. 1890 the bells OF every
| Canadian city tolled forth the news OF his de-
mise. men felt that an ancient spell was
| broken. and that now all things had become
possible. Who would lead the Canadian peo-
ple2 To what destiny would he guide them? ?
What would DO the principles Of the new
| regime? These were questions that every
ono was putting. to which no one gave very
| confident answer.
Sir John Macdonald disappeared from tho
scene In the early part OF what proved to be n
very stormy and otherwise memorable session
Of the Dominion Parliament. The gravest
| charges had already been formulated against
his oldest colleague in the Government, tho
| heir presumptive to the Premiership. Sir
| Hector Langevin. Other scandals were In the
mir and tho leaders OF the Opposition were
| laying their plans for a general assault upon
| the Government. which had suffered con-
| siderably in tho recent elections. and it
was thought might possibly be defeated on
some skifully chosen ISSUE 1t seemed bad
| time for tho old man" to drop out: but posi-
bly, It was not so bad in party sense after all.
| Deprived OF their trusted leader. the Conserva-
| tives. through an instinct OF seIf.preserva-
| ton. chung only the more closely together:
no longer relying on his genius and
| fortune. they had to depend more upon
themselves and make more strenuous
efforts to get public opinion on their side
There were only two possible successors to Sir
John in the Premiership. Sir Hector Langevin
being ruled out by the fact that the most seri-
Gus accusations against him were even then
under investigation. These were Sir John
Thompson and Mr.. Abbott. The latter was
much the older OF the two. both in years and in
political experience. The former held the i'm
portant office OF Minister Of Justice and en-
joyed high reputation for abilit and integrity.
There was no rivalry between the two, how
ever: it was simply n question as to which
| would. all things considered. lead the Conserv-
alive party most efficiently and successfully.
After consultation with both. Lord Stanley laid
the mantle OF Sir John Macdonald on the Shout
ders Of Mr.. Abbott. The latter sits in the Cam
adian Senate: Sir John Thompson in the House
Of Commons as member for Nova Scotia
constituency. Between the two they man.
aged things pretty we'll during the re-
mainder Of the session. which lasted till the
very end of September: and in spite OF tho
scandals which were unearthed in quick sue
cession. retained unbroken the majority Of %
be1ueathed to them by the departed chief.
Meantime Sir Hector Langevin had retired in
disgrace: his bosom friend. Thomas Nc
Greevy. member for Quebec West had been
expelled from the House for corrupt and dis
honest practices; and several important de-
partmental officers had been dismissed or
SuSnapIad for mi ~ ind
another. Such untoward occurrences might
have shaken the credit OF any Government.
and 1t says not a little for tho courage and
tact of Mr. Abbott and his leading colleagues.
particularly Sir John Thompson. that they
were able ut the end OF the session to lead Off
their forces in good order and maintain bold
front before the country and the enemy.
The line adopted by the new Premier was to
disciaim all responsibility. 80 far as his Cabi-
net was concerned. for the irregularities
brought to light. and to declare his firm inten-
tion OF doing all in his power to purify the
public service and to give Canada an honest
government and honest political methods. 1t
is very difficult, however. for n politician and
the leader OF a party to adhere strictly to
high moral code. The Opposition. as might
have been expected. took certain discount of
the Premiers professions. and during the
course OF the parliamentary investigations it
did sometimes appear that tho zeal OF the
Government for getting at the bottom OF tho
scandals no matter who might suffer. was not
always at fever heat. when tho devil was
sick. tho devil n monk would be-" as we all
know. and when Sir John Macdonald died he
left his party very sick. Their new piety.
the Opposition said. was a sirk-bed IL not
dcath-bed piety. and not to be trusted.
With provoking iteration they referred to
the fact that the good Abbott. who was
going to reform the morals OF the country.
had in 1872 been the dispenser OF the hugest
corruption fund ever raised in Canada, and,
in the year following. had recorded before a
Royal Commission his opinion that 1t was en-
tirely natural ana justifiable for wealthy man
to contribute vast sums toward the election ex-
penses of a Government with which he en-
pected to have profitable dealings. Tho friends
Of the Premier. on the other hand. said that
1872 was very long time ago. and that some
useful lessons had been learned since then
Considering that he was man verGing on
seventy years OF age. fond Of retirement and
very wealthy. they could not believe that uny-
thing short OF sense Of public duty had led
him to take on his shoulders the burden az
government In a troublous and uncertain
time. Upon the whole tho country has seemed
TO sympathze with the favorable view OF Mr..
Abbott's motives: and it rests with hims.lf
w ohN" "'o'het Oh government
are really superior to those of his predecessor
There Is no doubt at all that under Sir John
Macdonald's regime things had drifted into a
very bad condition. 1t was proved last ses-
sion that in two departments at least of the
Government public contracts were made a
source OF supply for political necessities. and
tho preceding session had brought facts to
light which involved a third department in
grave suspicion and brought about the ex.
pulsion OF prominent member OF the Hous.
OF Commons. ono OF Sir John s most devoted
adhcrcnts While posing as a statesman
the late Premier had but one cardinal
principle OF government, which was 10
buy power from the people with hard
cash. He once said that il he bribcd
the people he bribed them with their own
money and that their satisfaction with the
way he lid II was shown by their ping him
In power. What he did not explain was that
while he took money from the whole people
he applied 1t In more or less sklfully yelled
manner to the purchase of the purchasable.
and that the reinforcement which his party
thus received suflced to give it the prepon-
derance. In his own public discourses he
seldom dealt with broad and never with high
principles: he Invariably assumed that the