The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-23
TIE CRISIS IN QUEBEC
The Liberal Nintstry Dis.isseA sy . Tory
Lleutennnt- Governor


The Liberal Ministry Disaissea ~ Terry
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
"A constitutional crisis OF the FIRST order"
said Mr.Erastus Wiman yesterday. rs proceed
ing In the neighboring province Of Quebec. Il
possesses features Of q most interesting char
acter for all students OF the science OF govern
mont by the people, The events that impend
have especial interest for Americans, Who in
their experiment Of self government. are not
only deeply Interested in their own carer. but
In the career Of other nations that are attempt
ing that high and noble duty. The difference
between the two Governments controlling the
destinies Of the North American continent.
namely. that OF a republic. on the one hand.
and that OF monarchical colony. within British
possessions. on the other, is very marked. and
tits just this difference which creates the crisis
in Ouehac.
The distinctive character OF the United
States Government Is that the powers Of the
general Government are delegated by the
States. It lisa power that proceeds from the
circumference to the centre. In Canada a
precisely opposite condition exists. Tho
power there proceeds from the centre to tho
circumference. The central power Is sup
posed to be hcr Majesty the Queen. as repre-
sented by the Governor General at Ottawa and
his advisers. These latter appoint Lieutenant
Governor for each OF the several provinces. and
by the grace ofthis Lieutepap Mt. Governor. thus
appointed. Government OF the province ia
supposed to exist It 80 happens that her
Majestys present representatives ut Ottawa
are Tories. They appoint Tory Lieutenant
Governor for each province. It also 30 hap
pens that the Parliament Of Quebec IL Liberal
In Its complexion. Hence Liberal Cabinet is
a necessity There ia. therefore, a conflict be-
tween the Liberal Cabinet OF Quebec and the
Tory Lieutenant.G Governor appointed nv the
powers at Ottawa,
"A contrast could hardly be mora martad
than exists at the present moment between
the State OF New York. for Instance. and the
province OF Quebec. II would seem n varv ro.
markable thing IL Mr.. Harrison had tbe rowor
to appoint n Governor Of the State ~ Nav York
who was Republican. who should dismiss a
Legislature that was Democratic. Yet such.
broadly stated. is the condition that exista In
Quebec. The regularity Of the crisis ia how.
ever. that the Tory Lieutenant. Governor INV.
ing called a Tory Premier to form a Torv Cab.
met, the attempt will be made. At the Assem-.
blsge Of the local Parliament. IN few tiavs n
govern by Liberal majority. In the hands ~
this majority rests the power to grant
supplies with which To carry IN ths
Government and the Lieutenant. Govern.
or's salary and the Premier'a comnensa.
ton will not be paid unless the IdberaI ma
jority choose to nay them. A deadlock ~ this
character in leeislation would. Of conraa avent.
uate in the dissolution Of the Houaa and an
appeal to the people. This anneaI. M Mar.
cier and tho Liberals believe. will result IN
their vindicstion, so far as a sweepinp majority
is concerned. The crisis would. tberefore ha
indefinitely prolonged. r. wonl8 ha a rrorv
Government in Ottawa and Ouebec. m tho
one hand. against the pon,lar vote 40 roaootod
In Parliament. on the other. For the f,ret t;n,a
since the Revolution. on this continent tboro
would be felt the forces OF n conflict het,vean
the central power. which might he desnotic
on the one hand. md an exnressed deairo IN
an opposite direction. Of the naonle IN tha
other hand.
1.-The future OF this most ;nterest;pe oond,-
ton will depend upon the attitude ~ tho Re-
man Catholic Church. II tba CordInaI th.
Bishops and priests favor the Govornmont ~
Ottawa. Mr.. Mercier and the IJheral mo;or,tv
NAV be showed under during the cominc ,-;r,
tor. IT. on the contrary. an imnartiaI attitude
is assumed there is very little doubt that n
Liberal majority will be returned. r. 10 threot-
ened that IL the local hierarchy side with Tho
Tories. Mr. Mercier and the IJhar.Ia will a..
peal to tho Pope. There is therefore, nrohahIa
on this continent. a contest In which the Tar.
away influence Of the vatican will have mora
or less weight. Altogether it Ia n varv ,ntar,
estinp snectacle
I'm ali that has been said no referance has
been made to the causes q, this confict t.
NAV be true that There has baen corr,,nt,on IN
tho Quebec Goyernment: and II Ia nm aecar-
tanned fact that large s,ms NJ money bava
been improperlv annronriated Rut q a.
Equally true that the ROYAL Commiosio, bo.
,yoro oho rood Nth ~ ,4,,inot,a. T., thoas.n
~. LII. "a J.. .s.,. .,t 49,, eoo " ,
adoptinc that most non .committaI verdict No.
culiar to the Scotch people. Of not nroven,
1T remains to be seen whether with sncl n
verdict. and such peculiar conditions Tho
Quebec people. who are mostly French. will
sustain Mr., Mercier and administer n rebmke
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