The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-06
The New Regime In Canada.

| Geuefal anu MS HOUSEHOLD uaNluS tdheh UP
their residence in Rideau Hall, they are en-
joying the repose which they need after 50
much travel, fatigue and excitement. They
will soon be ready to begin their study OF
the character and institutions Of the people
whom they are appointed 10 rule-a task
which has the pleasant stimulus of novelty,
and which will be facilitated by the long
experience and thorough knowledge of Sir
John Macdonald, the new Premier. The
position Of the new Governor General in
relation to the new Ministry is in singular
contrast to that Of our President toward
his Cabinet or that OF the Queen of Eng
land toward her advisers, and it shows how
very slight is the amount of real power
possessed by the nominal head Of the Do
minion government A new President Of
the United States or new sovereign of
Great Britain begins the exercise of his
functions by the appointment Of heads Of
departments, but the Cabinet Of the Cover
nor General of Canada is made for him
without his having any voice or agency in
the matter. In consequence of the late
Parliamentary election Sir John Macdonald
!
sociates in the administration, who were
| sworn in and entered on their duties
between Lord Lorne's appointment and
his departure from England. He comes to
Ottawa to exercise nominal superintend-
ence over new Ministry whom he did not
appoint and cannot remove, and who may
safely disregard his wishes in all matters Of
r =.
| put, if possible, in q still stronger light by
the great Importance attached by the Cana
| dams to the illustrious rank Of the Princess
| Louise. She will not have particle of au-
thority any more than the wife of any other
Governor General, and yet she outshines
her husband as an accession to the political
life of the Dominion which is complete
demonstration that his influence will be
chiefly social.
| The real position Of Governor General
| was frankly explained by Lord Dutferin IN
q striking speech which he made at Halifax.
While the Governor General must always
| possess influence. it is his Ministers, and
not himself, that really determine the pol
! icy of the country. Canada under its new
constitution as fully exercises the power Of
self-government as if its nominal chief ruler
were not appointed by the Crown of
| Great Britain. He is more entirely
q pageant than is the Queen herself.
The nominal functions of the Governor
General are no doubt important. He APP
| points the judges, the senators, the lieu
tenant governors OF the several provinces,
| and the members Of the privy council, MS
! the collective cabinet is called but he does
this only on the recommendation Of the
Ministry, who are alone responsible.
| Of what use, then, is a Governor General
Of Canada? The answer to this question
was furnished by the brilliant example
| Of the State Canada has ever had,
| either under her former or her pres
ent constitution. It is a difficult role
to play, because its success depends on the
personal popularity of the incumbent.
| Lord Dufferin possessed every quality
which fits a statesman for SO anomalous a
| part in the art Of ruling. The Dominion
abounds in elements Of social and political
discord which it is the chief duty Of Gov
| ernor General to reconcile and harmonic.
| There are discordant races in the mutually
| jealous French and Britons and in the Eng
! lish, Irish and Scotch there are discordant
interests between the maritime and west
| ern Provinces there are discordant reli-
| gious beliefs between Professionals and
| Catholics, between Church of Eng
land men and dissenters, between
| furious Orangemen and Ribbonmen !;
there is tendency TO social dscords be-
tween the main body Of the people whose
| equality of condition makes them demo-
cratic and q small knighted aristocracy who
ditiuse among the wealthy class taste for
the social high life in England. Lord Duff
ferin moved among those discordant ele-
ments with such rare tact. sense, courtesy,
| condescension, and such radiant mann ers;
he made so many journeys in which he was
accessible and affable to all classes Of the
! people; he accepted invitations to SO many
banquets where his grace, wit, eloqucnce,
| liveliness and his genial heartincss OF enjoy
ment united mirth With instruction, that the
Canadian people forgot their jealousies in a
common feeling Of admiration and sense Of
good fellowship. Lord Lorne is at some
disadvantage in following 50 gifted and
popular o predecessor, but this is perhaps
more than compensated by the warm senti-
rnent Of loyalty which is awakened by the
| youth, beauty. royal birth and the sweet
and gracious demeanor Of his wife. The
impression thus far made by this illustrious
| pair has been highly favorable and is Of
good augury for the future. With Lord
Daferin and his series Of pleasant farewell
spceches in fresh recollection the bearing
CT the new ruling family has excited in the
minds Of the Canadian people no unfayor-
| able sense Of contrast. The universal senti-
ment seems to be that one benefit supremacy