The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-15
SOME NEW BOOKS.


previous representatives OF tho crown. and the
unswcrvng fidelity Of Lord Duf1crin to those
principles. should mako an account Of his al
minietration acceptable to tho students OF polit-
ical history. Two narratives OF the interesting
period are now published. The Fart Of DtFehfs
administration IN Canada. by WILLIAM i.EGGo
CR Worthington. Now York Land Canada unuer tie
Administration Of the Fart Of D,Ge'in. by Gro
STEWART. Jr. Rose Bedford Co.. Toronto). Tho
latter work s n somewhat slight performance
dealing for tho most part with the social aspects
Of his themo. which. however. arc skcchcd for
US in vivid and sprighty way. In Mr.. Leggo's
book on tho other hand. we have n substantial
contribution to our knowledge OF Canadian at
fairs, for tho author has aimed to exhibit the
precise nature and bearings Of those political
problems which, II not conclusivcly solved
were carried worry far toward solution undor tho
late Governor General. II is chiefly through
his aid that We nre enabled to point out just
what Lord Duifcrin had to do and how effective
ly he did It. Undoubtedly tho importance as
sgnabe to tho career Of public man Is to be
measured by tho judgment with which he has
construed the Constitution OF the country heh has
been called upon to govern, and tho dextcrity
and tact with which he has applied that con-
structlon to the working Of the civic machinery.
When we consider what elements Of nuctua-
closed in that system Of checks and balances
known ne tho British Constitution, We should
look for even less Of precision and fxity in the
polity Of tho Canadian Dominion. Hero even
the theory OF government is Of recent date. and
II had scarcely known the strain Of practical
application before the advent OF the last Cover
nor General. The story Of the Imperial rulo in
British North America il the record Of patcr-
nal Government gradually shifting from a semi
military to n personal character. and at last
taking on the scmblancc Of tho ministerial sys-
tenn by which tho parent country is controlled.
Tho early representatives OF the crown were
chosen rather as trustees Of the royal property
and assertors Of tho sovereign's prcrogativo
than as guardians OF the rights Of the colon
lists Veritable vccroys in all but name. these
officers knew but little Of constitutional govern
mcnt and their instructions did not require
them to begin its study. 1t will probably sur
prise many persons 60 learn that so late as 1880
no less than forty bills passed 10y tho Assembly
were thrown out in the Upper House. In this
and other points Canada then presented the
spectacle OF Government requiring no moneys
from tho legislature; no restraint could DO
imposed on tho Executive by an annual vote Of
supply. or by the Withholding Of such n vote.
In effect. the Governor. supported 10y an Upper
House Of his own choosing. was completely !nde-
pendent OF the people. 1t was In this same year
however. that we first hear Of responsible gov
ernmcnt for Upper Canada. The struggle thus
begun for an extension Of popular power in
that province through a Ministry responsible
to tho Lower House. and in Lower Canada
through an elective Upper House. continued
with increasing acrimony until II eliminated
in the rebellion OF 1851 headed By Mackenzie
and Papineau. With regard to the claims Of
! tho latter agitator. II may DO said that every
| reasonable concession had been made by the
! imperial power. but the French leaders had de-
! termincd 10 DO satisfied with nothing short Of
! independence. while in Upper Canada ii is no
lees certain that no great body Of the people de-
sired autonomy. and that tho outbreak might
have been hindercd by common prudence and
good management Nor were the lines as yet
drawn. except in tho last named province. be-
tween tho advocates Of arbitrary and constitu-
! tional government In Lower Canada the
struggle was one Of races. not Of principles a
contest between tho British aud the French
populations.
Such was tho political condition OF the Cana
das when Lord Durham was sent out as high
commissioner 10 frame n plan for the adjust.
ment Of the colonial policy. The remarkable
report which he submitted had most impor-
taut and far-roachng effect on the British North
American possessions. since it led 20 the union
Of Upper and Lower Canain. the gradual estab-
| lishmeut Of responsible Government. and n
! progressive Moderation Of the colonial policy
| throughout the empire. But the author 81 thil
admirable State paper had not the credit Of car
ryiug out his scheme Lord Sydenham WAS the
lrst Governor Of any portion of the British do
minlous in North America who Attempted &c
rule his province ayowedly upon tho new sys-
TEN. although the principle Of constitutional
government was only initiated during his short
/ term Of office. Two years later Sir Charles
/ Metealfo undertook 20 resusctatc the old scheme
Of governing through tho actual personal
interference Of tho Executive and II was ouly
with the advent Of Lord ElGin in 1877. that tho
doctrine OF ministerial accountability was dis
tinctly recognized and solidly established The
latter was the first Governor who fully gras ped
the length and breadth Of the now principles
and who Loyalty worked Thorn out. His loyalty
indeed. withstood a crucial test in the riots OF
lS49. when he sustained the policy Of his min
istry at the risk Of his own life. The admins
tration Of his successor. Sir Edmund Head. is
chiefly notable from the fact that it was
under his rule the idea Of confederation
on the part OF all the provinces began to
gain much strength. As early as 1859
delegation from Nova Scotia was sent 1,
England with n view TO effective action on
this subject and In 1864. under tho next GOV
ornor. Lord Monck, the Legislature OF Canada
passed resolutions in favor OF union. II was IN
the same year that n conference was hold n
Quebec. composed Of representatives from al
the provinces west Of Lake Superior The soy
enty-two resolutions hero adopted as tho basil.
Of confederation were collectively known MS tut
Quebec scheme and on it was based tn.
British North America not Of lsG7-thc Act o.
Union. Before Lord Dullerin entered upon IN,
post Of Governor General. I'm June. 1872. Ia,
provinces OF Manitoba and British Columhi,
had Joined the confederation. and the whoh
Northwest territory had been codod by the HON,
Government 10 tho New Dominion OF Clniin
Such was tho considerable ONCE second ouiS
among the charges in the gift OF tho crown TO tl'
vice-roynlty OF India. which was intru,;ed by
the Gladstone government TO an Irish noblc
man, young in public life, without any extended
experience In executive functions and who has
made no conspicuous mark in parliamentary
debate But just what his claims were 10 the
dineult and honorabe.posltlon now offered hin
will appear from glance ut some biographical
details collected in these volumes.
The Right Hon. Frederick Temple Black
wood the only son OF prco fourth Blrlr