The Canadian Forum, Vol. 2
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| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
Produktbeschreibung
Excerpt from The Canadian Forum, Vol. 2: Toronto, October 1921 The bankruptcy of the Conservative party in Canada is well illustrated in the complexion of the new cabinet. Few of the talents are there represented. In a government with reasonable prospects of re-election, cabinet reconstruction before the election is naturally a small matter. Mr. Meighen, however, was in such case that wholesale changes were unavoidable. Certain ministers, being full of years and merely picturesque, wished and had earned retirement; others, being expert politicians, saw that the game was up. Mr. Wigmore had survived by months his fatal lapse, and needed to receive more leisure to attend to the business of Nagle and Wigmore. Of the new ministers Mr. Baxter and Mr. Stewart have the best record. The Quebec members are political ciphers. Mr. Stevens represents mainly British Columbia intolerance of Oriental labour, and Dr. Edwards the peculiar prejudices of Ontario. Mr. Bennett is well known as a rapid orator and a counsel of the Canadian Pacific; Mr. Bristol as devoted to ward politics and Canada Steamships. The new cabinets journey should be comfortable as well as brief. Mr. King will never make progress by facing the- past. Whatever opinion one may entertain as to the place of Sir Wilfred Laurier in the history of Canada, this is not a time when electors are disposed to say their prayers to his image. We doubt if Quebec is disposed to do so. We know that the rest of Canada is not. Men are looking to the distressing conditions of to-day and to possibilities of better things tomorrow. They are asking for leaders who have ideals grateful memories they may have as well but leaders who are looking to the future with sufficient courage and resourcefulness to meet the problem arising from the mistakes of our railway, and war, and fiscal policies. Pre-election pledges have a way of haunting politicians. Mr. King has been in politics long enough to know this. He is disposed to be wary at all costs. But these are days when traditions are being shattered. The eye raised to an image on the wall is less likely to presage victory, than the eye turned to the living present. An element of comedy has already brightened the political campaign. Mr. Meighen asked a question at London that many lesser men have asked before him. Condemning the latest tariff platform of the liberals, "Does Mr. Mackenzie King," he demanded, "stand pledged to put that platform into effect if returned to power?" Hopes ran high when Mr. King replied. "I do not propose," said the Liberal leader, "to be thought lacking in frankness and candour." An enthusiastic audience cheered him. But the quality which passes with Mr. King for frankness and candour will never warm the passions of his stalwarts. An age less temperate than our own would describe it as very small beer. His hearers received his explanation in respectful silence. "I shall answer," he continued, "in the terms in which I answered it before the convention which drafted the platform." The statement that followed (and he correctly quoted his speech to the convention) must rank as one of the most remarkable acts of foresight in our politics; for these words, which suffered then from the vagueness natural to peroration, he now produces in triumph as a solemn pledge. I regarded the platform as a chart, upon which was plotted the direction of the course it was expected the Party should take." If we understand aright the general obligations which govern party leadership, Mr. King possessed an alternative answer as definite as this was ambiguous. He might have replied at Toronto, The Liberal Party hereby pledges itself to implement by legislation the provisions of this resolution. He would only have been repeating the closing sentence of the tariff platform; and it was with full knowledge of its ado
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