New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-23
THE CANADIAN SUCCESSION.

TIE CANADIAN SUCCESSION.
The appoptment of the Marquis OF LorneS
Successor brings to a close an interesting ex-
ncriment in colonial government. From the
dull Noycmber afternoon in 1873 when lie
landed in Halifax to these few remaining weeks
of his term, the official station OF the Governor
General has been overshadowed by his soclai
distinction rs the Queens son-ln-iaw. ouc
ceeding Lord Dufferin, the most popular olnciai
ever sent out to the Canadian provinces from
rhe mother State the Marquis OF Lorne couiu
not hope to rival him in tact discretion anu
administrative ability. If he was received al
the way from the landing-pier ID Nova ocoti'
to Barrack Hill in the lumbermens capi'al WIN
extraordinary tokens of spopuiar enthusiasm, IL
was not because his personal qualifications loi
executive administration were either recoS-
nized or assumed but simply because the
daughter of the Queen was by his side. he
significance of his appointment lny in the fact
thot !, cavo thc Dominion a sembancc of per
sonal government; and now that his oihcial
form il drawing 20 a close, little else is to be
said. He has shown himself to be capable
Governor General, digniied in bearing ano
amiable in disposition, with the clearhcsS oi
pcrccption and sOundness of Judgment In pc!-
itics which, together with GOODNESS anu
formaity Of manner, commonly 60 with the
Scotch blood lie has made no serious mis-
takes and has left Il favorable Impression
wherever he has come in contact with the
ncoplc of the various provinces; ana II he had
heen merely the Duke of Argyl's son, he would
have won q rcpntation in the Dominion as
British pohlcman who, without having Lord
Duncrin's genialty, wit and mcrcurial tenn
Dcrament possesses the capacity ana tempera-
mcnt of his class for judicous administration.
From first 10 last, however, his personal char
acteristics have been eclirsed 10y his social
distinction. 40 that he will go out, very much
rs he came in. chiefly remarkable for his con-
nection by marriage with the royal family.
The Marquis of Lorne made his trnmphal
enir, al Halifax when Lord Beaconsiicd was
at the height of his power and Imperialism
was q word to coniure with. The appointment
of the Canadian Niceroy was appauded by
English Conservatives ~ an ingenious mode oi
invigoia!ing the loyalty OF the provinces and
knitting them more closely to one another III
the bonds of confederation and also TO the
mother country. The Canadian Premier then
as now, was an old-idshoned Conservative,
who plumed himself on being an ultra 10y 'llst
SO far as the relations of the provinces to bIra'
Britain wcrr concerned. Among the measures
of domestic administration to which the Coy
eminent was committed by It's election al
drcs.e, was the speedy completion of trans
continental system of railways, and for this
immense undertaking enormous masses oi
British capital would be required. II lmpcr-
| L.. ,t,It, at that flIup
in the Dominion, there were practical consd-
Grafton, which served to account for the stress
that war LAID upon it, If the presence OF the
! Ouccu's daughter in Ottawa was an indication
of an era OF good feeling in the relations be-
| tween the parent State and the provinces, IT
was also an assurance that increased interest
would be manifested by the moneyed classes III
! London. not only III the political administration
! but in the internal development OF the Domln-
! ion. Certainly the Government has had reason
| 20 congratulate itself upon the facility with
which financial support for its railway enter
prises has been obtained in England. SO that
in this sordid sense A" Imperialism has been
something moro than high sounding word.
/ Indeed there is reason 10 believe that the ap-
pointment of the Prncess's husband as Gov
crnor-Gencral, aside from promoting marked
imrrovcment in financial relations, has stimu-
lated the loyalty of the provinces.
The British Ministry has not made fortu-
nate choice in appointing the Marquis of Lorne's
successor. The Marquis of Lansdowne,
whether deservcdly or not has acquired the
reputation in County Kerry OF being AL
unfreling landlord, and the abruptness with
which he deserted the Liberal Ministry when
the first remedial measure was preached, and
the acrimony and persistency with which lac
opposcd the Land bill, have excited the resent
mcnt of the Irish people. With an Irish pop
ulation of ~ least one million in the Dominion
the MARQUIS of LansdOwne will have strong
race prejudice TO overcome when he comes ont
in the autumn as GovernOr-GencIal The
! Canadians have one English trait markedly
developed, passion for party politics, and
they will not he slow to perceive the faulty OF
irritating the Irish voters, especially in the
populous province Of Ontario. We shall be
surprised, therefore, if the appointment of the
MARQUIS Of LansdOwne be received with cor
diality and enthusiasm by the press Of Til,
| Dom nion.
WHY WERE THE TAX LAWS MOI
AMENDED
1;,.or c,;von fny NIGHTS since fn ou1