The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-21

have resulted in the terrible uprising of the
Know Nothings. The reaction in 1856 will send
into oblivion the administration and all con-
cerned. Neither Soule nor Belmont can save
them short OF q war with France and a loan to
Russia.
We have given Mr.. Belmont the benefit of our
columns in his defence and his certificates, for
what they are worth. Win the Cabinet organ
at Washington reciprocate this liberality by re-
publishing our reply? The case is still open
for evidence and argument.
Canadian Observation-Disclosures Of Lord
EIgin.
We may daily expect to hear of the arrival
at Washington of Lord Elgin, la'e Governor
General of Canada, on his way to England. 1t
is understood that some matters of detail re-
lating to the reciprocity arrangement remain
to be settled between our Executive and the
Provincial authorities; the intended visit of
His Excellency is probably due to this cause.
Having concluded whatever business he may
have WITH Mr.. Marcy, Lord Elgin win return to
London to await the pleasure of the Aberdeen
ministry. Rumor has it already that the post
of Governor General of India, which will shortly
become vacant, has been offered to his lord
ship assurcdly no better ruler could be found
for that vast section of the British empire than
the statesman who has governed Jamaica and
Canada with such eclat
1t is probable that no Canadian Governor
ever gained at the same time SO much ground
less obloquy or so much real fame as Lord
Elgin. His administration has been the true
turning point of Canadian history he f'und
the province in q state of fervid though blood
less revolution; he left it tranquil, prosperous
ard thriving. When he arrived in Canada the
liberal constitution of 1871 was still an expert
ment. One party-the old tories-openly de-
nounced it, aud in their anxiety to exclude
their French fellow countrymen from all share
in the government actually acclaimed against
the representative system in the abstract. and
yillifed England for granting them constitu-
ton modelled on, though far more liberal than
her own. The other party-chiefy composed of
republicans in the Upper and Frenchmen in
the Lower Province, we're well pleased with the
victory they had gained: but they were unac-
customed to power they were not agreed upon
principles among themselves, and they lacked
leaders to guide and instruct them. The West
ern section Of the party aimed directly at til
introduction of the democratic principle lat
every branch Of the government: the Easteru
phalanx, on the contrary, which had merely
contended for rights of equality, and bstwetl
whom and the tories the quarrel had been one
of races and not of principles, hung back when
their more advanced allies sought to trample
under foot the last vestige of the old oligarchi-
cal system. Add to this that Lord Elgin's pre-.
decessors had been men chosen not from their
fitnesss for Office, but from family eonsidera-
tons: that they had, sometimes from ignorance,
sometimes from prejudice, interposcd serious
obstacles o. ainst the harmonious working of
the new constitutions: and it will readily be
seen that the task imposed on the new Cover
nor was one requiring no ordinary powers Of
mind, great tact and discrimination, and
task Lord Elgin has fulfilled. In the doing
thereof, he has exposed himself to m ore abuse
ard more calumny than were ever heaped on
Colonial Governor before: he has been called
more hard names than even our philosophical
contemporaries hurl at their opponents heads:
he has incurred more personal risk th an many
Governors would have cared to encounter The
cause of all this may be told in single SEN
tence. Lord EIgin has insisted, cohte gui
coAte, on the constitutional principle that ma
critics must govern. When majority of both
houses of the Canadian Parliament passed bill
he gave it his assent whether the minority liked
it or no; turning resolutely deaf ear to the to-
ries, who would have had him inteIpose his veto
on measures which they did no spprove. In this
respect he was striking contrast to his pre-
decessor Sir Charles Metcalfe, who, though
man Of ability, still conceived himself at liberty
to espouse side in Canadian politics, and thus
neutralized oil attempts at govern
ment on the part of the portion opposed to Lis
friends. Lord Elgin's course, which no SEN
sible man, at the present day, can fail to ap-
plaud, drew down upon him the fierce resent
ment Of Metcalfe's adherents. In April 1919,
on the occasion of his sanctioning bill for
the naturalization Of parties injured by the
rebellion Of 1885, mob burnt down the Par
lament House at Montreal, pelted the Cover
nor Is carriage, and threa ened his life. During
these trying scenes, Lord Elgin display Q equal
presence of mind, and soundness of Judgment
Though he abstainea from any measure which |
might have provoked the turbaleLt minority,
he did not yield an inch to their rotous ella
NOR; and the consequence was, that the seat
Of government being removed to Toronto in |
ew months tho symptoms Of discomfort began