The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26

ability Of all other branches Of the Admin
istration to that branch which represented
the popular will.
Fifty years elapsed after tbs passage Of
the Constitutional act, and meanwhile
both Upper and Lower Canada had been
oonyulsed with rebellion before, on June
IA. 1874, the first genuine Parliament OF
the United Provinces convened at Kings
ton. This Parliament was the outcome
Of the act providing for the union OF the
provinces under the name Of the Province
Of Canada hence it Is in Canada commonly
known a. the Union act OF 1910 Under this
law the organs of government were TO CON
sist OF a Governor-Generel appointed by
and holding Office at the pleasure of the
Crown; a Legislative Council Of not more
than twenty members, chosen by the Crown
and holding Office for life, and a House OF
Assembly consisting OF eghtyfour mem
bers- tort y-two from each province elected
from territorial constituencies deimited
in the act. Each member was required TO
have landed property qualification Of not
less than five hundred pounds sterling.
The Executive Council was not dealt with
by the act for, like the British Cabinet. OF
which il was supposed TO be miniature
copy It had no statutory basis. The prin-
cipe Of Ministerial responsibility could re-
ceive full operation merely through it's
tacit recognition by the Crown. Provision
was likewise made in the act for perma-
nent civil list. in lieu of the territorial and
casual revenues previously at the disposal
Of the Crown, for consolidation of the
revenue, and debts Of the provinces; and
for the sole Use Of the English language in
all Parliamentary proceeding a feature
which vas received with marked disfavor
by the dominant party in Lower Canada
Such was the Constitution under which
the two Canadas. now united in one. were
governed during the next twenty-si1 years.
or until in s67, the British North America
act created the Dominion OF Canada 1t
50 happened that as he sovereign of Great
Britain was appending her signature TO
this epoch making measure which gave
her most important colony its first real
installment Of unity and autonomy. the
man TO whom all parties concerned were
most ind, b'ed for the outcome lay dying
at Coves, in the Isle OF Wight Lord Dur
ham who had been sent TO Canada to allay
disafection and 10 devise lasting remedy
therefor had returned to England. down
cast and crushed in spirit despite ample
assurances Of continued public confidence
on the part Of the Canadians His health
never robust, soon gave way under the
weight OF chagrin. and in the spring Of
1870 his physicians advised sojourn Ia
southern France. IL was on his way
thither hat he was stricken down Even
in his latest flashes Of consciousness he
gave sign OF the deep disappointment
hanging heavily on his mind II is well
known that he had been harshy treated
and 10 a certain extent dsavowed bv
the British Ministry. Il would fain hope.
he said in his last moments. that | have
not lived altogether in vain. Whatever
the Tories my say, Canadians will one
day do Justice 10 my memory Our au-
thor points out that never has "A diving
wish been more amply gratfied Ca
nadians Of all shades Of race. religion and
political opinion have long since done
ample Justice and given deserved re-
Mobilization 10 the memory Of this the
most gifted Of all their Governors.
confederated Dominion. stretching from
the Atlantic to the Pacific is an enduring
monument TO his political sagacity for 10
him the beginnings Of union were unaues-
tionably due In every colony of the
British Empire his name has become in
separately associated with the great prin-
ciple " colonial autonomy
II is a discriminating Judgment which
is here pronounced upon Lord Durham
Il ia recognized that while he had many
Of the great qualities which go to make
a capable administrator he had few of
those which go to make a popular man
His potulance and extreme hauteur were
welinigA uncomfortable, and these quali-
ties unamlable enough in themselves.
were intensified by his unusually vigorous
expression Of his feelings on the slightest
provocaJion. But his quiokness OF an
prehensiou. his innate shrewdnes- and
power of penetration and his stupendous
capabilities for work mark him as one Of
the rarest Of men Our author adds
that Durham's place in history must be
determined by his achievements and by
those alone For himself he reaped dis.
appointment and a premature grave. for
Canada and the Empire he laid the basis
Of new epoch in harmonious relations.