Year: 1872

RESULT OF THE CONTEsT-STRENGTH OF PARTIES


QUESTIONS INVOLVED.


IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRDUSRl


TORONTO, Sept 3.-FOr the last two months
the Canadians haye been hoty engaged In their grand
pouticatontest. Tie battle has ragged most fercey in
Ontario where party lines arc most strictly drawn ana
where there is not village that has not been favored by
frequent visits from Opposition and Ministerial stump
speakers Indeed such has been the warmth ana rahcor
OF the discussion that in several cases tho dspuans
have proceeded from words to blows unpeasanty PROV
ing that the pugstc example of the Premier at Kings
ton In the early part Of the campaign has not been With
out its influence Happily bones have been broken,
though not few aspants have met with carly political
DEATH and number OF veteran politicians have passed
away forever. Aside from numerous and often
influential local issues and prejudces but two or three


great principles have been involved IN the struggle ana
these have been mainly Of administrative character
Most outsiders will DO tempted to agree with dis
tnguished professor Of history who has devoted some
tmo TO tho study Of Canadian politics and has come 10 the
conclusion that there real dividing line between
the two parties now in existence, and known as heior-
ers or Liberals and Conservatives or Tories Ihe ater
are the ms enjoy many advantages for when they
are truly thankful. The former being tho OUTS have
many just grievances which they increase by agitation
But the historian Of the day. without set theories ana
with desire to be correct and impartial will be able IN
the present case If he be not entirely devoid OF sympa
thy after careful study to appreciate tho pohtcal u
ferepces which as 1t were divide the four millions OF
Canadians into two hostile camps nearly equal IN
strength. There are several important admin
Istratiye questions at issue. 1t has been charged
against the Government that they have
been exravagant in increasing the ordinary expendl'
ture over 100000 in five years, and that they nave
been reckless in various financial schemes, notably IN
connection with the Intercoonal and Pacific Railways
Tho timely withdrawal of the Finance Minister, Sir
Francis Hncks his old constituency (which after
Daf hv n
and his defeat In tho populOus riding Of South Bront
would seem indicate popular disapproya OF tho imam
cial policy OF the Government The rejection OF Mr.
Aquila Walsh Chairman of the Intercolonial Railway
Commission and the election OF Mr.. Charlton, clever
American, Justly be interpreted as popular con-
demnation Of the in which that enterprise mas
been managed. But tho surprising and overwhelming
defeat of sir George E. Cartier in East Montreal may
be considered as resulting from something more than
dissatisfaction with his conduct as Minister OF Mta'
Other causes have contributed to the defeat OF the
baronet in the city and the rejection OF many OF bis sup
porters in the country; important cause viii pres
emily be indicated.


But the vital principle OF the struggle has been tho OLD
wellworn one OF Parliamentary control Of tho public
money In a small way compared with metropolitan or
imperial interests but in very serious and dangerous
way when Canadian interests and resources are con-
sdered the present Government have secured ana e1er
cised very unusual ard extraordinary powers. Ihey



despocay put through the agency Of free institutions
they have cunningly obtained alarming prerogatYes'
For various purposes-mainly the Pacific Railway and
the fortifcatons-they have obtained absolute control
OF over $6OOOOOOO and If they maintained in power
will secure despotc direction Of the Sl0oOOO more that
will be found necessary for those unnecessary works
The Ministry got these sums in two votes with
out any condition The Opposition contended that the
Ministers should have furnished in detail pre-
else specifications and the amount intended
to be expended upon each, and upon each
item have asked the assent Of Parliament.
This was the great ssue Strict Parliamentary control
over each penny public expenditure, aud not the hur
ried voting Of from 81 100000 to 3O00OO trusting en-
tirey TO Ministerial integrity and efficiency for the
proper application OF the money so given. The verdict
seems TO have gone against the Government though not
with sufficient unanimy and heartiness to make 1t GER
tain that they must be driven from Office On the con-
trary though they have lost heavily in Ontario and
ouebec they arc stil confident OF retaining power by
the larger measure OF support expected from the other
Provinces The elections appear to have given each
Marty about 90 in a House OF 200 members; and there
fore the uncertainty OF the political situation occasions


Great deal of speculation 20 the course OF the 70
members OF independent" prScvlties. few elec-
tns are vet TO take place but there the results can be
nrediced with some gree OF probability In the mean
iime the following the claSslfcatlOns OF the neui
bers-elect made by the two parties:


'NA .-Mfy classic ATOM -0PP. CLAssiFICATt0S-