Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-23
ALL OVER THE SEAL
A. w. Wheeler Of Toronto, Dis
cusses the Question
PEOPLE AGAINST AGITATION
The Conservative Party Exsgerstes It's
Importance TO Imbitter Its Followers
Against the United States.

81 notice that the seal question is oe-
cupying the attention of American
newspapers" said A. II. Wheeler, a
leading liberal of Toronto, Canada, si
Sweets hotel yesterday. at puzzles
me not little TO understand Why such
an unimportant issue should be dis
cussei So generally. In Canada the
sealing difficulty cnts little or no figure.
However, back of Il all. there is an ele-
ment which Is bringing II 10 he front
and Circulating II, and for a purpose.
too. The sealing Interests are confined
10 the Pacific coast. The number of
persons engaged therein is small, COM
paratively speaking. The conserya ative
party, which Is now IN power, ls causing
all the trouble. This party Is closely
allied with the mother country. and
whatever England says upon one OF
these questions Is Law. The liberal
party, on the contrary, Is for Canada.
and its advancement.
Closer Relations with United States
For several years past this party has
been urging closer relations with the
United States upon It's constltu.
ents. Among other things re-
ciprocity and annexation sre the
two most prominent. The peo-
pie were beginning 10 see the advantage
which would accrue TO them in caso
absolute reciprocity wss in vogue. AS
an extreme, providing TINS could not
be carried. annexation was talked of.
The liberal party was catching the peo-
pie, especially IN the smaller places and
the rural districts. The conservative
party, of courec observed this and de
termined 10 head OFF the movement In
the direction OF the liberal party. In
sheer desperation the sealing question
is taken and exaggerated. The leaders
are able 10 make those who are still I'M
bued with British sentiment helieve that
the United States has psrpetrated upon
them great and irreparable wrong by
preventing few crafts from catching
seal upon the high seas. They disrc-
gard the fact that such wholesale ex-
termination will, in short time, ruin
the business and eventually force them
into something else.
Controls the High Seas.
They say that England and her
colonies control the oceans ard the
seas and that no country should be
permitted to dictate where, when apd
how she pcryerts that power. The sub
iects are convinced, and, in
stead of being stirred by de-
SIRE to do something and vote
in way to benefit Canada they are
misled into voting for ".he old party,
the old policy and the old flag" This
is .he war cry of the conservative
party, and the lash with which il Whips
the wavering ones INTO llne every year.
The old party is gradually losing
ground. Gradually the people are
tiring of sacrificing everything for the
saks of promoting the interests of
Great Britain. Gradually the fallacy
of the conservative party is beginning
to dawn upon them. All kinds of sub
terfuges are adopted, but the end wall
surely come. The conservative party,
in the reflections recently held, WAS
greatly encouraged by the defeat of
Mercy and the election Of Abbott. as
premier to fill the vacancy caused 10y
the death of Sir John Mcdonald
claiming that Mercy was n liberal and
that hls defeat was rebuke 10 the
platform Of the liberal party. Abbott
was treasurer of the Hugh Allen bri-
berry fund. which vas the political scan-
dal of 1873.
Hanging OF Riel
Mercy was the original head OF the
nationalist party. which came into ex-
isteuce as result of the hanging of
Rel. the revoluuonist. The province
of Quebec set TIP the claim tha.
Rel was insane. The province OF
Ontario demanded that he should
be hung. Sir John Mcdonald, thinking
II would be easier to pacify the French
Catholics of Quebec than the Prostes-
ant orancmen of Ontario, decided that
Riel should hang, and lie was executed
on the gsllows. This so enraged the
Quebec constituency that II organized
the nationalist movement which Was
headed Ivy Mercy. He pulled his
strength from all parties. the conservs-
tive as we'll as the liberal party furnish
ing volunteers. The conservative party
congratulstes itself that II has defeated
the liberal party. when IN fact IL hss
done nothing IF the kind. AZ said
before, this seal question is not next 10
the people. 1t ~ being used as = red
flag TO detract the attention of the
people from that which interests them
rnosf-free and unres,rlcted reclproclty