New-York tribune., 1908-06-18
CANADIAN AFFAIRS
The Results of the Ontario and
Quebec Elections.

OF political fireworks for the expression OF emu
tional sentiment. The French element In Ousoec.
combined with certain continental forces. have
evolved something of this the curious commnsiins
of monarchical institutions and their dignifed front
and forms. with freedom and facility Of demo-
cratic action unknown to the republican sys-
tenn, responsible for more. Underlying these
conditions in most of the provinces there is staid
sober God-fearing Sabbath observance. temperance
loving ciasA built four-square upon the ideas OF
Scotch ancestry the traditions OF an English
home. The result Is occasionally seen in startling
political contrasts. Americans in reading about
Canadian affairs should also bear in mind that
while the Governor General at Ottawa opens and
closes Parliament In state of royal splendor and
lends regal style all documents and laws.
and while the lieutenant governors Of the prov
nces also represent the King and each in his lesser
circle duplicates the style and dignity of the fed
era1 capital. yet the prime ministers are the real
rulers Of the country Each Is absolutely dependent
upon majority in his respective legislature; each
resign appeal to the people IL his policy or
proposed legislation is defeated in the House; each
is affected by varying winds OF public opinion as
reflected by the constituencies OF the province Cor
Dominior) through the individual representatives,
In the legislature.
In the provincial elections of Ontario and Quebec,
which took place recently, there some In
teresting points. The Whitney government in
Ontario too certain of its position. too assured
of its too flushed with the consciousness OF
a good record in legislation and work In the last
three years allow of the contest being exciting
what Americans would call state. politics boasted
a Liberal government in power and office from ls'2
to 1906 and though the landslide in the latter year
had returned the Conservatives with majority OF
40 In a House of 10S members. it was hard to say
whether the alignment OF forces would remain the
same. The Liberal overthrow in 1906 had come as
a result Of political decrepitude and OF oarnacles
attached TO party ship of state which was reaIy
rotting with age and corroded by the evil IN
fuence of office seekers. campaign or machine poll
( rbnIS nf XSiQ
even frauds at the ballot box Public opinion de-
manded a change and Liberals as well as con-
servatves. had voted for it. But the question Just
answered was the problem of whether the voters
would stand by their recent decision or return 10
their first love. AS a matter of fact they almost
| doubled the majority and gave Mr.. Whitney 20
seats Of 1O6, with support which. in quality OF
membership and size Individual majoritles. added
/ t the value of the popular tribute
CAUSES WHICH PRODUCED THE RESULT
What was the cause of this unusual result? Mr.
Whitney is a plain. straightforward man. blunt IN
his expression opinions, not conciliatoTy IN
manner forcble In style of speech. but not Dy any
! means an orator. His cabinet IS made up OF sood
average business professional men, ii was not
A Question of briliance of oratorical fireworks
All kinds of being given support OF
public ownership of public utilities through the
governments Niagara power policy, say some 'he
Influence of popular suspicion of the Liberal gov
ernment at Ottawa. say others-and here comes IN
the curious fact that during the last thirty
years has usually voted Conservative in federal
elections while voting Liberal In the provincial con-
tests the absence of any real reason for dissats-
faction and the lack Of Liberal organization declare
many more one might say that the result came.
In the main from public belief in the incorruptibe
honesty of the Prime Minister His policy might
be misrapreSened all political policies are mis-
represented his legislation and record could be
rnipimzed; his friends and followers might be IN
euenced along lines of temperance or some other
special sentiment of the moment; the oppoSl'ioh
might be ably led and its contests sl<ifuily con
! Quoted there no meeting the statement
/ that the province had transpaTeHtiy honest man
| i'm control and should keep him there
No better illustration OF Mr. Whitney's char-
| ec,erfstjcs could be had than his statement 10
| Prohfbitfonst deputaton a year ag" that 'He
| bigotry of extreme temperance men, thelr hlte'A-
perance OF Language and advocacy, had for some
time past retarded progress and reform rather
than helped their cause. Like master IKE iil''i'
and his Minister Of Lands and Mines carried a
measure in the 14G7 session imposing ''Nat1on upon
mines. adhered 10 his plan spite OF its unpopular
itv among mining men, and told delegation rep
resenting the powerful mining interests oI hi> own
constituency that he might lose his seat, cut that
the nolfcv was right and would he carried out 10
the credit of political human nature. he ii said
T Mr. Cochrane's majority has just been doubled
4 different kind of conflict was that fought oAt
on the same day in Quebec. The atmosphere was
hea~y with certain improved charges of corruption
against one Of the ministers. and of maladministr-
tion in the affairs of of the departments, and
the Comm government. though reasonably certain
I of return to power was made ANXIOUS o> u
dramatic occurrence in what might be called per
sonal politics No province but Quebec couid
nrodIce a Henri Bourassa; people but the
French can thoroughly understand him or his In
fuence; other political division of this continent
could afford the picturesque background painted
into his canvass of life and character Quebec
has seen many striking pictures of political kind
and in them all oratory held a foremost place
Ponineau Cartier. MERCER, Chapleau, l-aurier,
have passed ath9vart its pages OF history. and in
each case there has been dramatic moment which
prefaced and secured success Bourassa appears
to have now experienced and grasped this essential
factor and it may be, has his place among
the Olympians-
CAREER OF HENRI BOURAssA
Only forty years old. and yet member of the
House of Commons since 1886; bitter opponent
of Canada's participation ia the South African war
and a keen critic of the Chamberlain policy; an
enemy to every form Of Imperialism. yet be-
lever in British institutions. in British connection
as it is at present in monarchy a principle and
in aristocracy practice; a Liberal In pohucs
when he feels like It, and admirer of Lauriers
personality and leadership; Radical In all mat
ters Of theory yet grand seigneur IN manners
and style: an orator in voice and delivery. keen'
quick sarcastic and clever speaker-he presents a
most interesting picture of personality and possi-
bility. For some years past he had been drifting
away from his Liberal moorings at Ottawa I'M
possible as minister. on account of his unPopu-
lar war attitude and its influence in Canada out
side of Quebec; honest in matters of public trust
and therefore reyoIted by certain indications Of
politicsI and personal corruption in Dominion af-
fairs. approving Of Sir Wilfrid Laurier but disap-
nroying of many of his ministers and some OF MS
legislation he had voted and spoken accordingly
Hence his position in Parliament was becoming
strained when the spring OF 1s0i, certain charges
vrere made against Adelard TurgeOn, minister OF
,be Quebec government. and he seized the oppor-