The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
CANADIaN POLITICs.
Great luterest In the Approaehiag Prov
iueial Elections.

ineiai Eieetioas.
MONTREAL. Feb. lT.-Meetings in the interest
OF candidates at tho approaching provincial
elections are now the order of the day. Tho
Quebec Legislature Is at present In the
hands OF the same party that turned It into an
annex OF the Tupperite establishment at OTTAWA,
but strong efforts are to be made to bring about
tho same result as occurred in the Dominion
elections in June last. Not that believe the
result will be any more satisfactory. II the
party that calls itself Liberal should happen to
gain the upper hand. tho place hunters who
have been disappointed At Ottawa would turn
with rapacity on the provincial chest at Quebec.
The only difference between provincial and
dominion politics Is In the area. As Sir John
4. Macdonald once said, "the smaller
the rat pit the hercer the rats night"
II has been the fashion to abuse the
late Honore Merc!er. than whom a more
devoted Canadian cannot exist, but there has
never been an administration. certainly In the
province Of Quebec, more cynically corrupt than
tho one now presided over by Mr.. Flynn. The
financial affairs OF the province are In the hands
OF Montreal brokers' who with their friends are
doing fairly comfortable business. At meet
Inc held on Monday night Mr.. Marchaud. who
was one OF the members OF the provincial
Liberal Government that gave way before the
rush OF corruption let loose by the men who now
~ lueUcC. sthteu tnut inc province
was stared In the face by two alternatives,
bankruptcy or increased taxation. The liabili.
;ics of the province far exceed the assets, and
there has been yearly deficit since 1891. The
clerical influence 10 thrown on the side Of the
party that has brought Quebec into this con-
dillon. and In order TO keep the people In hand,
II possible. and prevent their voting for the
Liberal party that represents the anti clerical
side In the Manitoba school question. II is
given out from time to time In tho cler-
ical press that general mdndtment will
be issued by the Bishops condemning the set
Element OF that question. A good deal will de-
pend on the result OF the coming elections in
IN the interest OF the clerical party aud Mon
treal traders; The deepening OF the channel be
,p"Is ,S ono. anu .nsre oh'r onshse me
that city and made Montreal the com
m.Tci. ms,Ssoposs Of Gsnads n.n to the
been living on political corruption. OF which tho
Chapleaus, Rosses, TaIllons, Fiynn-. and nu-
have beea even.d up a bit now for both sides;
there is little more for eithe- Montreal brokers
or Quebec corruptlonists to prey upon. The
people are leaving the country; griculture.
which Is the chief occupation OF the province.
Is no longer relnunernti,e, and money does not
with their condition among the peoplss:.
dsr.tand the cause of their troubles.
Without ree,proe.U treaty of some
few subsidized journalists or interested per
sons. attaches any Importance to The nns prom
or preferential trade and dii.erentinl TARIFF.
Outside OF the corrupted and interested element
now well understood that It is the state Of
colonial dependence that Ia responsible for the
disturbed state OF the country. and though II
cannot be made an issue In tho coming election.
II win. neveri heles, be present In the minds Of
n large majority. II Is a curious association to
be Witnessed at this moment in QUE oec-thst Of
the clerical party In intimate connection with
that of political corruption. the com binRtion
supporting the inperialist system that is ruin
Reports coming In from all over the Dominion
show trade TO bs diminishing. collections of
increasing. As have previously shown. this
has its reflection in tho financial enhsrrsss'
OF sns from H n ia ns DE-
About two months ago Sir W. Van Horne of
the Canadian Pacific spoke grandiloquently OF
year from then 1.-THE most prosperous times
s 01 sss Was has cn sfF Sir VAN Hs.u.s
Cup, as tho Hindoos would say. Like his
prophecy OF two years ago to tue Manitoba
wheat would be again si.2o a busIei, he gave
himself a good margin for realization, Tie
lea, Canada included. he attributed to Tho
Venezuela controversy that, according to him,
arrested the era OF prosperity that was AZ hand.
In Canada the Canadian Pacihc IL the COM
mercial barometer. and as we thrive 80 do the
branches OF trade" Tho barometer reads very
viii Sir William prophecy what is comlngr
As an illustration OF the way IN which the
apS nn,ica ~ % m rnInp Sr ooImt
to the nomination Of Mr.. +. +. a. Evanturcl.
NJ. r p. for Prescott. TO tho position of Speaker
Assembly besides, Mr., Evanturel, who is = ma.
aud was at one time editor Of lie Cdnndirh,