New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-17
L0ED LORNL'S ADDRESS.

The career of the ,Uung couple vii" Ncr"
greeted with a grand flourish OF tlumpetS nj
Halifax last November, and who made, aS
such things go in tie Dominion, Royal
plogrcss 10 Ottawa, has not ceased to be re-
gaIdcd with keen interest 10y Americans as
well as Canadians. They have barely had
time to become accustomed to the raWuess 0l
provincial manners and to make the acqUaint-
auce OF a few of the weather. lumbermen
and tLo more conspicuous members OF
The iil-raid civil service at their Capital; ana
now the Highland laddie with lis faXrh mar
and his winning smile, has opcued Ills inst
Parliament. His speech proves that whether
the Goycynoi-G General be a Sc,tchman or an
Jrisbman. Her Maic~tys soU-in-law, or simply
9 nr,r of the realm, his political functions are
insignificant. Official compliments, depart
mrut announcements, and gHtennE gcncGdl-
ties are strung together alter an orderly ahd
graceful but utterly commonplace fashion.
Lord Lnrne refers to the Administration spnc-
wha; arbitrarily as "My Government" form
of specch which neither Lord Duiiciia nor Lord
Nouck affected, but there Is not IN single
passage Of the uddilss The iaintest CLEAN OF
= new idea The vigorous prosecution of tnc
Canadian Pacific Railway is urged a. mat
ter of course, but no inunation IS given
that a subsidy is 20 he expected from the
Home Government. When the appointment
of Lord Duilcrin's successor WAS announced
il was hailed in some quarters OF tie D"min-
ion as a providcnrial dIspensatlon in favor OF
this tlausContinental enterprise. Certain
journals did not hesitate 10 present. the
claims Of this railway upon the " Imperial EX-
" chcouer.n Ii was argued that Il soiidly-bmlt
and judicousiy operated railroad running
through the Dominion from Halifax TO the
Pacific would be an important link in ,hc
British system, aud would tend to promote
Imperial intcrc.ts." Il WAS suggested,
moreover that the new GOvcrnor-Gencrai,
- a monhcr Of the Queens hou choid,
could exert influence in high circle,
abroad which another Ni'croy could not
DO. Lord L9rne however, toes not seem -
have profitcd hy tins gr,tmtous advice lie
enters heartily enough into tins ruilv ny
scheme and recommends the extension Of the
line. but dryly remarks that IN carrying the
project into execution due regard mast bc
mad TO the financial position OF the county,"
In this, rs il other matters, the GCy.rHof-G cu-
eial has no distinctive policy.
The truth Is that tho cOniCIeratcd Provinces
which form the Dominion of Canada enjoy
un,rarmcilcd autonomy, and The Governor
General is merely political dummy-An
ornamental feurchead. IL can have no
policy OF his own. 1t is the duty IL well as
the privilege of the Premier to d.
rect public aiIars and to shape the
policy of the Government. is 80 hap
pens that prOtcctiGnIst movement III
direct antagOnslH to the economic policy of
the mother county is led 10y the present
Premier, Sir John a. Macdonald, himself a
thoroughgong Tory, with extreme ideas of
loyalty to the Crown. The Premier represents
the majority OF the Dominion Parliament and
has the patronage of the Government at his
command. The GOVcrnOr-Gencral is IA man
OF pith set no to represent the supremacy of the
British Crown, but not allowed to exercise any
political functions. He is the leader Of Canadian
society rather than the head of the Govern
mont With the Princess by his side he may
strengthen the hold Of the parent state upon
the affections of the loyal subjects of the
Provinces. but in the strIct political sense he