The morning call., 1893-11-03
A FAMOUS CANADIAN.

OlT JOuu JOSepu SdiuWcii aoootts WIN
has just died at Montreal. Canada. filled a
considerable place IN modern Canadian
history. He first rose TO the surface forty
four years ago. when the annexation move
ment of 1859 enlisted the bright spirits OF
the present Province of Quebec in the cause
of Canadian Independence. In concert with
John Rose, A. A. D0rion and others. who
have since played prominent parts in Cana
dian and English life, Mr.. Abbott signed
the manifesto declaring that the destiny OF
Canada was to cut aloOf from Great Britain
and cast her fortunes with the United
States. He had then been for twelve wears
leading commercial lawyer at Montreal.
His adhesion to the cause of the annexa-
tionis:s was considered an important gain.
He followed up the step by entering Parlia-
ment. where he was regarded as the leader
of the anDeXatioDist party.
The British officials acted with ludg-
ment. They forbore to prosecute the
TRAITORS" as they were called. and let
them severely alone. The consequence
was that the movement died out, and ten
or twelve years afterward Mr.. Abbott
loomed up as a member of the Ministry of
Sir John Macdonald, the most bigoted Tory
in the Dominion and statesman whose
platform contained but one plank-Hold
fast to the British connection. Mr.. Abbott
stood on that plank TO the end of his days.
He was considered the keenest and pro-
foundest lawyer at the bar, and this repu-
tation secured for him the friendship and
cleDtship of Sir Hugh Allan, the richest
| and most enterpTising man in the Domin-
ion. All the measures which led to the
construction of the Canadian Pacific and
to the grant of practically unlimited SUBJ
sides by the home and colonial govern
ments TO that cOrpor ration were the handi-
work of a triumvrate consisting of Sir
John Macdonald, Sir John Abbott and Sir
| Hugh Allan. Some one made millions out
of them; whether Abbott got his share is
not known. 1t goes without saying that
these measures were not carried through
! Parliament without the corrupt use of
money. 1t was said that Abbott played
Mephistophees in the case. A cOpfdeu tial
clerk betrayed him and revealed details to
Parliamentary committee. lie and Mac
donald were thrown out of office and re-
manned for several years in obscurity. In
1880 complications in public affairs induced
the Canadians TO seek his leadership again.
He returned to Parliament and few years
afterw ard be was again in flee as men,
ber of Ministry of which Macdonald was
the head. He retained his position till his
chiefs death. when he succeeded him as
Prime Minister.
Abbott was Macdonald's superior 10
education and grasp. But he labored un-
der a stiffness of moral principle which
did not incommode this author of the
North American act. Macdonald was a
| politician who held that principle should
give way to expedieDcy. He was so rigid
! Protestant that he was suspected Of
| Orange tendencies, but he retained power
/ by trades with the Catholic leaders. He
| always had foot in either camp. There
! had been times when he saw how vastly
! Canada's interests would be promoted bv
annexation, but during the last twenty
years of his life his hold on Ontario was
maintained by affecting dread of Ameri-
can encroachment. Abbott was more
straightforward. After his first lapse
from the path of allegiance he became
honestly more loyal than the Queen. He
taught that there was no salvation for
| Canada outside of the provincial pale. He
! died in that faitn.
! 1t is to be said in his favor that he was
native born Canadian, educated in Can
ada and imbued all through with Can adian
notions. He was no importation from the
| land o cakes who looked upon the prov
ince as pasture where the grass was sue.
culent. There are many Canadians whom
the Dominion could better spare thar