The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1911. CANADA'S AWAKENING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1241, 25 September 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1911. CANADA'S AWAKENING.

—— J The final figures of the, Canadian general election show how strongly the tide of opinion swept against tho "Continuous Ministry." When the dissolution took place the Laueiee Government went to the country with over 130 members; to-day it is only 82 strong—a loss of no fewer than 50 seats, or between one-half and one-third of its total strength. The comments of the English newspapers arc naturally ' directed to what, if it was not really the deciding factor of the election, is at anyrate the most important result of it so far as British politicians are concerned,- namely, the refusal of Canada to stand by the champions of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States. These comments range from the Westminster Gazette's attempt to console itself, by reflecting that it would rather sec)iCanada reject reciprocity than support it with the intention of weakening the Imperial tic, to tho Tariff Reformers' rejoicings over the removal of what they considered was a danger to the success of their- propaganda. We do not know why the venomous language of the London Star is reported to us, since the Star is a Liberal gutter organ, but doubtless its language is the open expression of the private, anger and dismay of tho Radicals throughout tho Empire. As might have been expected, there is widespread disappointment in the United States, and the disappointment must be very deep when it inspires such ludicrous "explanations"' as that Mr. Champ Clark and Mi;. Taft frightened the Canadians into believing that^ reciprocity means annexation. Reciprocity does not mean I

annexation, nor did the Canadians thick that it did. Sensible people vill leave aside or largely discount most of the comments that seek to explain tho result of the election as simply a manifestation of Canadian opinion on Imperial issues. The Aew York Evening Post, which is iisually far better informed, and a far more reliable guide, on Canadian affairs than almost any other American paper, puts its linger on the main truth of the matter when it that "tho predominant question was "whether or not the Liberal party has run the length of its tether." Analysing the strength of parties'at the dissolution, the Post noted that to obtain a bare majority tho Opposition would require to win twenty-five seats, and it observed that "such a gain could hardly be compassed unless forces other than_ those connected with the reci-jn-ocity question are at work to bring it about." Those other forces obviously were at work; and they amounted.*in the total, to weariness of a Ministry tnafc had been too long in office for the good of the country. One of Satcable messages recorded that "a significant feature of the elections was the defeat of the Ministers after lavish promises had been made in various cities of great public works to be undertaken if the Ministers were victorious." The Canadian Government has for years pursued the tactics with which New Zcalandcrs have been rendered painfully familiar during the past two decades, and especially.during recent years. Writing of the situation prior to the 1908 .election, tho London Times correspondent dealt with the abuses of administration, and said that "if the present Administration is sustained by anything liko its majority in the late House, such an event can bo accepted by them as an open invitation to continue past evils." The Administration was returned to power, and it has not left the "invitation" unheeded; but thero is a limit to what even an easy-going and politically lax country will endure. ■The condition of things against which Canada has at last rebelled was pungently described by Mr. Foster Fkasee in Canada 'As It Is. Mr. Fraser was in Canada during the whirl of the 1904 election. If a supporter of the Opposition is elected (he wrole) ho will have no "pull" on the Government to securo special advantasovfor his constituency. A huptwrter of the Government Rets material aid from tho "powers that be" in the way of grants for pnbhc bnildings, bridges, roads, post offiws, and <i dozen things for the benefit of the local community. . . . The local member has moro porsonal influence with his Government than tho reprerentativo of any British constituency, for the constituents have elected him,*not because of a largo patriotism,-but because of direct material gain, and tho Government makes (jrants for improvements knowing that it is -the best way to prepare for 'tho general election, when the member can point t-i deeds in proof that ho has looked after tho interests of his constituents. Though tho dissolution in 100-t came hurriedly, Mr. Feaser noted, there were "plenty of indications that an appeal to the electorate was imminent. ( There was a sudden eruption of Government works all over tho country." Again, many Government appointments were vacant, and had been vacant for months, and when Mr. Fraser aske'd why they had not ocen filled up, a Departmental head laughed and oxplaincd: "My dear sir, they have been left vacant purposely. Thero arc ten men after each appointment, and they will each .work hard for the return of the- 1 party, expecting the vacant office will bo their reward. If the vacancies had been filled, one man would have been satisfied; but the party would not hav6 got the support of the nine disappointed men. ,7 "Cynics, well aware of all these facts, have, for years been saying that a Government of that sort was a fixture, beyond the fear of removal. But thero. is after all a latent patriotism even in. an apathetic political community which must rise up in revolt against mis-government sooner or later. The Canadian people appeared to have got accustomed to the Liberal Government as the only possible Government, and no doubt the Liborii! speakers and writers strove hard to impress the voters with the troubles and difficulties that would, result from the removal of a Government as Jong established and therefore so well accustomed to the imnortant work of administration. Canada however, knew better. It knew that the_ JJAuniER Government had remained in office too ; long, and it knew that a change would bo to.the advantage of the nation,