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

pamphlcte and addresses Mt public meetings, he
gradually acquired high reputation as an
authority on these complex problems. No less
than twenty years before the passing OF Mr..
Gladstonc's Land act the young Irish Peer had
anticipated its leading principle in n speech in
the Upper House suggesting that tho Irish
tcnnnt-at-will should receive compensation
for disturbance" rs we'll az improvements"
At the Same time no combatcd with unusual
ability Mr. Mll's proposal that tho landed es-
tates of all Irish proprietors should DO brought
TO n forced salo. and in 1854 he delivered an ex-
haustivo speech on tho Landlord and Tenant
bills which was conceded to be tho fairost and
most comprehensive statement hitherto mndc
Of tho controversy then pending. 1t was n year
or two aftorward that Lord Duffurin made
n yacht voyage to Iceland. whose pleasant
chronicle ia too well known to need moro
than cursory allusion. In 1860 he was
appointed by tho Palmerston Ministry n
commissioner to prosecute Inquiries into the
massacre OF tho Christians in Syria. And here
we may note that the free institutions he So
cured for tho Lebanon have not only worked
admirably and enduringly. but have been often
referred to rs the pattern on which the Consti-
tuition Of the new autonomous province Of Bull
garia should DO framed. From this period
Lord Duffcrin kept steadily rising in the esti
nation Of his party leaders. IL not in public
notorety. For two or thrco years ho held tho
position OF Under Secretary OF State for India.
and when Mr.. Gladstone camo into power in
1868 was nominated Chancellor OF tho Duchy Of
Lancaster. Paymaster- General. and was sworn
In rs priyy councillor. II appears TO have been
matter OF quite general regret that rs an Irish
nobleman. thoroughly acquainted with Irish
affairs. Lord DufTerin was not offered the Lord
Leutonancy OF Ireland, and when the Cover
- Tod hot
death Of Lord Mayo. it became n question
whether no or Lord Northbrook should go to
Calcutta. Eventually the latter was sent to
India. and Lord Duffcrln to Canada. How inn
portant this appointment was will be obvious
enough when we remember that in 1872 the ro-
latons OF Great Britain with tho United States,
m well as tho yexed and varied topics affecting
tho position OF Canada toward the mother
country demanded u policy bold. yet eau
tous. delicate yet firm. The embarrassment
Of tho new Governors position was indeed
materially increased by the feeling then largely
prevalent in Canada. that her interests had
been sacrificed by the Washington treaty for
the purpose OF settling questions with the
United States which 1t happened TO DO conve-
nicnt for England to see removed from further
discussion. On the othor hand Lord Duffcrin.
though not member Of Mr.. Giadstone's Cabi
net. had been holding offlco under his Minis
try, and the attitude Of that Government was
looked upon by n large portion OF the peo-
ple Of Britain and Of Canada as betraying
ut least half-heartcdness in tho main
tenance Of their connection. II was urged
that Mr.. Gladstone had intlmatcd in tolcr-
ably plain terms that England would con-
| sent TO retain Canada only 80 long as she cost
nothing. and was ready to cast her or at any
moment should the sacrifice seem essential to
A. I 81 nf
ferin entered upon his functions as the repre-
sentative Of nm imperial policy suspected OF
forcing on the Dominion tho serious consider
alton Of the question OF separation. and OF i'm
polling men TO ask IL It were not better TO do at
once themselves what the parent State seemed
| bent on forcing them 10 do when II should serve
its turn.
There is no doubt that Lord DufTcrin's nd
ministration will stand out ms marking an i'm
poriant epoch in the political life Of tho Domin-
ion. BY remarkable combination Of qualities.
he has left an impress on tho country which
will not easily be eiraced. Conspicuous among
the services which this man has known how to
render may be named the skill and manifest
success with which he has striven 70 intensity
the feeling Of Canadian loyalty. He has shown
England that I'm her great colony she possesses
! a tpeudcucy which Is rising to no insigniil-
cant rank among the nations OF the globe
To the Canadian people he has unfolded
the value Of their limiiless territory Of their
productions and undcyelopcd sources Of ma
terial wealth. and has opened up to them n
vista Of strength and power terminating In the
spectacle Of q close copartnership with the
parent State Although Liberal, Lord DUFF
forin seems 10 havo rejected from the first Mr.
Gladstones Wow Of colonial relations and "a
have urged with peculiar fervor and sagacity
what il known ng lfa irpparfa1 thqgrv ~ n
connection between the mother country and its
outlying possessions In many Of his spirited
speeches be has seemed 10 descry In tho future
q Gang "a. not ~ coonists. bu, Of associates
with tho inhabitants Of tho british islands
and he insists that tho vast resources Of the
country comprising all the natural appliances
for the creation Of populous and aGlucat State
point to such 4 readlustmcnt Of the existing re-
latlon. Tho settlement OF the northwest musi
supply. no thinks. Mt no distant date a popula.
ton from which signal uccessons % strength
might be drawn in time Of nocd by the home
Government, and whose trade will become an
object Of momoutous interest to Great
Britain What ia remarkable. tho late
Goyornor-GonerM really appears 10 have
commended this project OF reciprocal
Obligations md strict intor-dopondenc.
20 the symuathies = the Canadian people. Il :.
certain that annexation and independence
though freely spoken Of somo years ago. are
seldom referred to since the advent OF Lord
Du0erln without repugnau'c. TIL re- nre signs
such. for instance. ~ the woil-known spcc.h of
Mr.. Edward Blake at Aurora. that tho Domin.
ion, though uot rs yet specially demonstratiy.
upon the subject. il beginning 20 tolerate ,ht
idea Of moro intimate connection with the
empire than # now holds. There Il souti
ment, not 10y any means dominant hut seeming
ly growing and sedulouslY eD- 0urnged hv some
LEADERS, OF opinion. TINT when other portions
of the empire are ready for the experiment
Canada might not be unwilling TO assist IN IN,
formation OF q scheme whi n should bind 20,
Gethcr in close ties with the mother country nj
tho colonies and dependencies Of tho British
crown under ono grand principle Of Imperial
federal rule. At all events we may concede thai
Lord DU1erins utteranccs hayo dono much {,
strengthen this feeling. md have drawn 50
much attention 20 Canada on the pnlt OF Tho
Engliah sovereign and her Nini-tors-suGl
cionty oyincod Boy tho appointment Of tho nov
Goyornor-Geuornl-asw will materially 0sslst il
tho elaboration OF the idea
or1 nufT,rfn Ia oor, oofil ,tt,,,, g., .l,g r..