Birds in Their Little Nests.

Newspaper
Year
1883
Month
9
Day
19
Article Title
Birds in Their Little Nests.
Page Number
2
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
[Toronto Globe] Sir Hector L. Langevin hopes that he will succeed Sir John Macdonald in the leadership of the Tory party, and he is working skillfully and with some success to strengthen his own following so much that, although the party may dislike him, they must accept him or perish. Sir C. Tupper is now virtually out of his way. Sir S. L. Tilley at one time appeared to have the best chance of becoming leader, but that was when he was not so well known in Ontario as he is to-day. Since he became Finance Minister he has lost the reputation for honesty, sincerity, and general respectability as a politician which at one time were supposed to make up for his lack of knowledge and ability. Sir Hector is not disposed to rely upon this alone, but under pretence of attaching the French inhabitants of the Maritime Provinces to the Tory party. He has sought skillfully and with some success to strengthen his own position and weaken that of his rivals. Sir Leonard Tilley’s friends sometimes boast of his increase of strength in New Brunswick, but the only representative from that Province who can fairly be regarded as his supporter is Mr. Foster, of King’s County, and he may one day be found to be his rival. The Tories won Westmorland, Gloucester, and Restigouche at the last general elections, but in all these countries their victory was mainly due to the influences which Sir Hector brought into operation. In no one of these constituencies was the influence of Sir Leonard greater than at any previous election. In Northumberland Sir Leonard neither would nor could do much to help Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Costigan owes him nothing for his election by Victoria. It suits Sir Hector to make a change in the representation of Kent. Mr. Girouard, who was of little value to him, has been induced to resign. The Montreal Gazette pretended to be very indignant because it was said that as a reward for his compliance Mr. Girouard is to be appointed Collector of Customs at Richibucto; but nevertheless he has the promise of the office, and probably he will soon receive the office itself. Sir Hector, accompanied by some of his followers, went to the county to prepare the way for the change. Sir Leonard, we believe, has not been asked to visit the county. He is treated as if this were a matter in which he should have no concern, or as if any interference on his part would be hurtful. In the Province which he is supposed to represent he is ignored. Mr. Landry, who was a prominent member of the late New Brunswick Government, has resigned his seat as a representative of Westmorland, and, with the full approval of Sir Hector, has taken the field as candidate for the seat vacated by Mr. Girouard. Sir Leonard’s friends do not like to see him so treated, nor does Mr. Mitchell, it would seem, like the idea of having his own influence in the Gulf Shore counties so completely destroyed. There have been some mutterings and grumblings which give evidence of much dissatisfaction. The Newcastle Advocate, which tries to support both Sir Leonard and Mr. Mitchell, gives more decided expression to the dissatisfaction with which the Tories of New Brunswick regard the power which has taken so large a part of the Province beyond their control. It says: - “In common with many other supporters of the present Government, we should like to know what grave reasons have arisen to call for the opening up of constituencies in two adjoining counties both for the general and local Legislatures.” The belief that a supporter of the present Liberal Government of New Brunswick will succeed Mr. Landry in Westmorland tends to increase the dissatisfaction. Opposition to Mr. Landry’s election is talked of, and many even of those Sir Hector is supposed to have cajoled are said to object to bringing a man from another county to represent them. But, no one seems to imagine that a supporter of Sir Leonard’s could be elected.