The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-26

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presence ceases to be pleasing. All
these prerogatives he holds for the
fixed period Of four years.
If the chief executive which Great
Britain sends to Canada were endowed
with any such powers, Canadian self
government would, indeed, be a delu-
sion. But the governor generals au-
thority is unreal because it lacks the
warrant Of a popular mandate; he
represents only a tradition. He
stands with regard to the Canadian
| that the king occupies towards the
British parliament-he reigns but
does not rule. He is placed SO high
in the scheme of government that he
Is beyond the pale Of practical politics.
The divine Institutes of monarchy
| hold that "the king can do no wrong"
However. as a still older maxim af-
the voice Of God,'' it became necessary
to find some one who would answer to
the people for all that was done in
the kings name. That is the func-
ton of a British cabinet. In the
course Of time the men who were
| dlS"cIdDlG W l1le people nave insisted
that the king must act only upon their
advice, and thus the cabinet ministers
have become the real rulers.
Ministers Dictate.
1t Is even so in Canada. The gov
ernor general must be guided in all
his policies by the cabinet ministers
who are practically designated to be
his choice by the majority in the house
| 0P hi
his appointments must be inspired by
the cabinet.
| But one can conceive that even min
| listers chosen by the people may fall
| into error, that a nation itself may be
carried beyond rational bounds by
temporary agitation. 1t is in such
| emergencies that it becomes the duty
of the representative Of the crown, as
the supreme custodian of the national
honor, to act upon his own RESPONSE
bility. He may then stay the hand of
| fate or accomplish his own ruin. He
can peremptorily dismiss his cabinet
and replace the ministers by other
| representatives Of the people holding
views more in accordance with his
| own.
| The ministry thus formed assumes
all responsibility for the governors
actions, for which it must answer
within a short time to parliament, or
4 " IIle pSOplG uiIGCLly IL 6l6CIlOnS are
necessitated-and general elections
must be held if the governors cabinet
can not command the support Of the
| peoples representatives. When the
people refuse to indorse the action OF
the cabinet the ministers must retire
| from office. ..
Nor is the governor-general i'm
mune. If he has misjudged public
opinion he must pay the forfeit as
| surely as Charles lost his head in the
struggle with parliament.
On the other hand, if, on second
| thought, the people reverse their opin.
ion and approve the action Of the gov
exercise of the royal prerogative may
have been the means of saving the ma
ton from the consequences Of toe
hasty action.
Appeal to People.
Nor is the power of forcing an ap.
peal to the people the exclusive pre-.
which finds itself at variance with the
majority Of parliament may ask fol
general elections to enable the people
to give direct decision between
them. The popular branch Of parlia
ment may also challenge the cabine
or the governor to meet the people b.
refusing to vote the appropriations tt
| carry on the government.
1t must be admitted that such
system combines great elasticity tt
meet unforeseen events with unpar
alleled facilities for public opinion t,
assert itself. IT, at the same time ex
plains why in Canada general cleo
tons for parliament are not held on
fixed date. Members are elected TO
a definite period of five years and can
not act longer, but they may be sen
back for reelection at any time dur
ing their term.
In other matters the imperial con
troll over Canadian policies is no NOR
irksome. What Canada contributes t.
imperial defense she does of her owl
free will. The commander-in-chi HE
appointed by Great Britain must wor]
in harmony with the Canadian govern
ment, and even now the law is bein
amended to permit of the appoint
ment Of a Canadian officer to tina
post.
Power of Courts.
When Canadian litigation is CARRIE
to England the privy council decide
the cases in accordance with Canadial
law, and Canadian jurists may eve
be appointed to that august body. L
all foreign negotiations affecting he
interests Canada, since confederation
has been represented by her own sons
While 1T is true that Great Britain /
not prone to go to war to uphol
Canadian contentious, it must be born
in mind that she has left Canada per
fectly free to protect herself in wa
by tariff egislation-bearing eve
with hostile imposts upon her ow
products.
Still the British connection has in
fluenced Canadian parliamentary lif
in many other respects. Thus tn
Canadian senate is not an inf1uentia
body such as that of the United State.
created to protect the weaker state
and to share in the executive func
tions, but rather an imitation Of TIL
house of lords. The members are nc
elected, but appointed for life, gen
orally as reward for services ren
dered to the party in power.
In the house of commons, which
the real source of power, the mode c
procedure is also far different fror
that followed in the house Of repre-
sentatives. It's head, the speaker, t
begin with. is not selected for hi
fighting abilities, but rather for hi
dignified bearing and impartial dis
positions. His functions are rather t
(. pour oil on the troubled waves of pal
liamentary debates than to assist 1