New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
VICEROY AND CABINET.
FURRY IN CANADIAN POLITICS.

The LETELLIER CAsE-RLFERENCE OF TIE Gun
TROvERsY TO THE HOME GOVERNMENTAL
POINT FOR AMERICANS.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT FTHE TRIBUNE
MONTREAL, April THE details OF what mas
been prcmaturely heralded as a Dominion Far
hamentary crisis may be briefly Tehearsed' III
December. 1876 NJ. Letellier, a member of the
Liberal Cabinet, was appointed to iill the vacancy
caused by the death of the Lieutenan-Governoro OF
Quebec His Ministry were strongly conservative
and commanded large majorties in the Provincial
Parliament. They soon manifested disposition to
worry and persecute an official whose politics
differed from their own He was too active and
aggressive politician to submit tamely lie re-
taIiated bv dismissing the Ministry, appointing
Liberal Cabinet and appealing TO the Province TO
sustain him. Three of the former ministers were
defeated at the polls the Liberals made unexpected
gains and the two parties were so evenly divided
in the House that the Lieutenant-G0Yernor ana MS
Cabinet, during the most exciting session, were
dependent upon the casting vote of the speaker
ON every test question During the present year the
Quebec Legislature has not been called together.
One of the Liberal members has died and the Conser
vatives have a majority of one. This will deprive
the Speaker Of his power In deciding tie ques-
tons" and will enable the Conservatives to pass
vote of censuTe.
MeauWnlC,
Cabinet which was in accord with the majority OF
the Provincial House bad become a party question
IN the Dominion Parliament. Sir John Macdonald,
who was then leader of the Opposition, denounced
the action of NJ. Letellier in unmeasured terms as
"subversve of the principle of responsible govern
ment in the British North American Colonies; but
his resolution of censure was voted down. When
he became Premier last Fall he was under the
strongest political obligations to turn out the
Ieutenant-Governor of Quebec. The Conservative
members from that Province were most vehement
in their demands for the immediate suspension of
the Liberal pirate who had dehed and outwtted
them The Cabinet, with overwhelming ma
ioritv behind it in each house. finally recommended
the dismissal Of NJ Lcteler The GOvernor-Gen-
eral who has generally been regarded as political
dummy IN the scheme of Confederation, now comes
forward aud by single move subjects the Con-
scryatve game TO chechmatc. de declines to
take the advice of his Cabinet and decides Off-hand
TO submit the whole case to the Imperial Prlyy
Council. Long before the matter can be deter
mined IN Downing Street. the term of the doughty
Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec will have expired.
The Conservatives in the Province are cheated out
Of their revenge and the Ministry are placed III a
most embarrassing position before the Dominion.
Concerning the abstract merits of the case there s
mucb to be urged on each side. The Lieutenant
Governor of Quebec accomplished by his comp d'etat
what President MacMahOn attempted to do in
France when he dismissed Jules Simon. He may
have strained the laws and precedents, but he
exercised a constitutional right in dissolyng the
legislative council and appealing to the people The
Goyernor-General in like manner, ayalls himself
Of his privileges as the representative OF the
Crown BotI he and the Lieutenant Governor
occupy. SO far as their councils are concerned,
the same position as their Sovereign but If the
Queen should attempt to exercise her technical
right and set at defiance Cabinet that was in
accord with majority of the House of Commons,
there would be another revolution in England.
Personal government however, has been carried to
greater lengths in Quebec than IN Ottawa. Tho
Goyernor-Gonoral has simply asked for advice
from tho Home Government, and has not exceeded
bis authority rs the representative Of the Crown
Internationally he has brought storm about his
head Provincial pride is strong in the Dominion
and th, is the first time since the act of COnfedera
ton went into effect tbata matter Of local concern
has been rrIuitted to the Home Government for
review What tho Queens sOn-ln-aw has done
TO London aud pIgeolholod, although tho instruc-
tons to tho GovernoT-Gcneral seem TO preclude
such e1tlonr action this. Tho main point,
which ronr American readers will care 10 make a
note Of is this: This controversy tends to draw
the Mother State and the Confcderatod Provinces
further apart and to promote the growth OF an
Anne xation party.