New-York tribune., 1875-02-25
POLITICS IN CANADA.
SUBJECTS OF APPEAL TO VOTERS.


SUBJECTS OF APPEAL TO VOTERS
THE GoVERNOR-GENERAL ACCUSED OF VIOLATING
HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE FREE
SCHOOL LAW IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BEFORE THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT.
TORONTO, Feb 4.-Lord Dufferin is in hot
water with the Canadians again. 1t will be remembered
that about IS months ago. the GOvernor-General In
Cured the wrath OF portion Of the press and pubic
here for proroguing Parliament at particular stage OF
the Pacific Railway Scandal investigation. On that oc-
casion it was the "Grs" who heaped upon him
great deal of abuse now IL is tho Tories who accuse
him of acting unconsttutonaly violating his instruc
tons, and displaying political partisanshp. Then his
oeDse that he followed the advice OF MS responSl
BILE Ministers; now, it is that he dispensed with
that advice altogether. When the "Grits found
fault with him, they were In the "cold
shades OF opposihon;" and now 1t is the
"Tores." who are In like positoE-out OF omce'
and finding fault with the GovernorGeneral The COM
mutation Of Lepne's sentence, from hanging to two
years imprisonment and the permanent loss OF hs
political rights have given great Ofense to the Orange
men and Of Upper Canada. who think 1t far too
light punishment for the gravity Of the crime OF which
o Manitoba jury found him guilty The French cana
dams OF Lower Canada, on the other hand are
offended affect to be offended, because he was not
given complete amnesty. But what engrosses pubic
attention throughout Canada is not the Communication
OF the sentence 80 much the manner in which 1t was
Effected I am qloting official documents when state
that Lord Dufferin dispensed with the advice OF his
responsible Minister'S" and acted "on his personal
responsibility" in the matter and he cites the royal in
structons which accompany the Governor-GeneraPs
commission as his authority for SO acting.
The practical effect Of this maneuver is that the Ca
madam Government escape the Odium Of advising
course which was sure to give oense TO large section
of the community. The Opposition press has discovered
that the royal instructions referred to make 1t mpera
tive upon the Governor General 20 consult his RESPONSE
bic advisers and he does not act upon their advice
is claimed that British constitutional practice makes 1t
imperative them to resign. Should their advice be
I'm conformity with the Governor Generals own judg-
ment Is wrong for him TO assume personal responsi
bility Todd, In his parliamentary Government"
affirming that the royal prerogative OF pardon is an
attribute held in trust for the welfare OF the people,
and is exercised only upon the advice OF responsible
ministers" The accusation that LORD Duferin has dis
played political parsansbip in the matter Is based
upon another circumstance The Ontario general cleo
tions took place Jan &c. and 1t was not till JAN 10
that the commutati0n was announced HAD ~ Deen
known previously 1t would have operated adversely TO
that political party In Ontario which Is IN accord
with the Dominion Government. The circnmstantial
evidence advanced prove that the royal clenency was
DELAYED in order TO suit the political exgencies OF the
marty in power is briefly this the considerations which
led Lord Duferin to commute Lepne's sentence were
set forth in dispatch to Lord Carnarvon the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, early as Dec. 10; the
Fren Canadian newspapers freely stated that an am
pesty or commutatiOn would be accorded Immediately
after the Ontario elections and the nal INSTRUCTIONS
were only given to Minister Of Jsstce at so late
date that the day Of execution-Jan 29acualy arrived
without the Communication papers being forthcoming at
Fort Garry. or the telegraph had made the au
thoes there acquainted with the fact of the commute
tion and the ChieJustce repreved tho prisoner for
week Many In Canada hold that the principle OF re-
sponsble government is compromised by the Governor
Generals course in dispensing with the advice OF his
Ministers for tho evident purpose Of screening them
from tie consequences OF rendering such advice.
On this side OF the line we have IN the New Brunswick
riots something parallel TO your Louisiana troubles.
The authorities in that province have called TO their aid
the Dominion militia and the district around Caraquet
is practically under martial law. certain portion o:
the New Brunswick population are indignant at wnat
they claim is insult and menace, and the case Is
furbpr complicated the fact that the Dominion Gov
erpnen will not interfere 10 withdraw the military as
the Minister OF Militia al Ottawa had nothing 10 40 with
their being called out in the first instance The cause OF
the rolng is inc anpsthy OF the Roman Catholic popu
that province and under winch separate schools receive
no aid The battle between the separate schools
been raging 10 New-Brunswick. successive appeals
having been made by the former TO the Dominion
Council ana the electors OF the Province.
but without avail In Ontario and Quebec
separate school system Is In force. and It's perna-
nency guaranteed by the British North America act,
hut in the OF the maritime provinces, the local
Having iled 10 gain Their point by constitutional
means, certain portion Of tho New-Brunswickers
wOuld resolved TO Try what violence would
do The rioters lave committed themselves 10 various
overt acts breaking up meetings OF school trustees ln
yadiug the residences OF oDDOxous individuals ana
plundeTiDg them OF money, liquor and provisions;
DESTROYING public and private property and shooting
Saerfs assistant. Several OF the rinscaders have be N
arres,ed and authority Is for the time beng TRIUMPHANT
hut fierce feeling Is sm0iJering among the French
man Catholic population wDicn constitutes onethrd
OF the whole population OF the province Their griev-
ance is tue wshes-they say the rghts-of large
minority ignored, and what may be the upsbot OF
the present trouble IL would be hard TO Disturb
arces which arise out OF religious differences and AMI
mOgties are VIGOROUSLY dangerous, ana the New
Bruns ick minority certainly the sympathy of the
cOmpatrOts and cOreli lig0usts constitute the ma
jority In the Province OF Quebec.
The Dominion Parliament assembled at OTTAWA to-
day. the most important measure likely to come before
II the establishment Supreme Court. Az present,
appeals o,ly be made from the Superior Courts or
the provinces TO tho British Prlyy Council and while
the establishment OF Supreme Court for the Dominion
Will not abolish the "eppea ugtJ Cesar IL VIII dinin-
sh the number OF sent thither duty of 10
cont Is ky 20 bs imposed tesS coming into Canada
4 nom the urlteo .atsS