The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-26
AMERICANS AT
HOME In CANADA
POLITICAL SITUATION SOON BE-
u COMES FAMILIAR.
Federation Of Provinces Similar to
Union of States and Yet Unlike
Governor Occupies Place Like Pres
ident-Monarchy Has Little In
Observation-Disclosures Supreme.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Raymond, Alberta, Can, April &C.
For a long time the inhabitant of
the United States, whether native
of the republic or a new accession
from Europe, was content to look
upon his Canadian neighbors as men
belated In the bondage of colonialism,
who could aspire to no other political
future than more or less tardy en-
trance into the union. AS the attrac-
tons Of cheaper land and improving
transportation facilities have induced
him to cross the line, the American
has found, not without some surprise,
that the northern provinces and ter
ritories offered abundant evidences Of
the operation Of Well-balanced po-
1itical institutions fashioned largely
after those with which he is famtl-
lar at home.
Origin of Canadian Government.
The Canadian union or Dominion
came into life in 1867, at time when
the American republic, coming out tri-
umphant and purified from gigan-
tic struggle, had shown to the world
how sisterhood Of states could be
extended to give freedom to the peo-
pies fiocking thither from all quar-
ters Of the globe.
The dreams Of the Canadian feder-
ationists were also wonderful eXpan-
sion and enduring greatness for their
own country. But while following
closely the division Of powers between
the local and federal legislatures, and
other features Of the constitution Of
the United States, they were bound
to depart radically from their model
in constructing the working ma
chinery Of the parliamentary institu-
lions.
The American constitution had been
framed to be the embodiment Of dem
ocratic ideals and set up without other
warrant than the mandate Of the peo-
pie. The constitutional act Of Can
ada, while, in fact, drawn up by a
convention Of Canadian representa-
tives, was in theory a free gift Of the
parliament and king Of Great Britain
to faithful colony.
Canada, then, while securing a
measure Of self-government common
surate with the importance which the
new confederation would give it
. among the nations Of the world, re-
NAMED a dependency of the British
constitutional monarchy. The SOW
ereignty Of the crown is affirmed by
the reservation to it of the right to
appoint the governor general, or head
of the civil government, and the Off
Ger commanding the military forces,
as well as by the right of appeal which
lies in law cases to his majesty's privy
council, or supreme court of the en-
pire.
Governors Position.
The governor general occupies in
the country q position similar to that
Of the president In the United States,
but there Is a world Of difference in
the manner in which these two ex-
ercise their authority.
The president Of the United States
Yields a power that real. because he
holds his mandate to exercise it from
the people. He is in a position to
tell congressman that they may owe
their election to local issues and other
accidental causes, while he speaks and
acts for the whole nation.
The members of his cabinet are to
further his plans rather than to advise
him; having freely selected them he
Fan as freely dismiss them when their