We have had further news this week, in relation to
the Pacific Railway Scandal in Canada. Sir Hugh Allan " admitted in his evidence paying an aggregate amount of $180,000 [say, £36,000] to the Ministers and their supporters for election pur- poses, but declared that there was no other inducement except a general desire to promote the Government policy, including the Pacific Railway." That looks frank,—as if the Government had virtually said to Sir Hugh Allan, ' You are rich, and can help us to carry the policy which will make you richer, and if you give that help, we will endorse that policy.' But a more disastrous omen for the future of Canadian statesmen can hardly be conceived. It brings before us a vision of states- men playing into the hands of capitalists, in order that the capitalists may return their lead ; of capitalists determining to recoup themselves for the help they have given to the statesmen, by freely squandering the resources of the State ; of wasteful ex- penditure and bad work which the statesmen would not dare to check ; and lastly, of diminished self-respect in the leaders, and of a wide-spread popular suspicion in the followers, which may soon hardly admit of trusting any man with power long enough to get the full benefit of his services, and which will make Parliament fitful, jerky, irresolute, and weak.
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