Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01

Wlue attention.
In half century. almost unnoticed.
Canada has attained a startling
growth II seems only few years
ago that. amid dissension and rebel
lion. she was struggling for confeder-
alton and responsible government.
The patriotic fight of the great Viii
liam Lyon Mackenzie is almost ,cur-
rent history and great many OF
those who remember the British
North American act of lS67--the act
which gave Canada federal govern
ment--are still hale and hearty eiti-
zens Of Britain's richest colony.
The first premier Of the great Do
minion Sir John A. Macdonald. is
scarcely a figure of the past He was
active 10 the political life Of his coun-
try until 20 years ago The sound of
his voice is still fresh in the minds
Of Canada's most prominent. present
day statesmen. The rapid rise Of the
Dominion OF Canada. from few
scattered settlements to a country OF
wealth and population. has been re-
markable
While the two great peoples of the
American continent. those of the
United States and Canada. have
waxed strong under the influence OF a
progressive policy which is peculiar
TO this hemisphere they have done so
along widely diverging lines The
governmental systems Of both coun-
tries. which at first glance may seem
alike and which are founded upon the
principle of popular representation.
are vastly different The civic af-
fairs OF the United States rest upon
three distinct divisions of govern
ment. the executive. the legislative
and the judicial. while the Canadians.
profiting by the deficiencies as well
as the good points Of thu American
constitution. drafted a government of
party responsibility IN which the
three great divisions of their neigh
boris civic structure were welded in
to one The Canadian political meth
cd is the newest development of con-
stitutional government and its origin
anc success form one OF the most
interesting chanters OF recent history.
The keynote OF the Canadian the
DRY of government is party RESPONSE
bility. All civic branches are respon-
sible to the party in power and the
party in power IL directly RESPONSIBLE
TO the people While formally the
legislature consists OF two bodies
the house of commons and the sen.
ate--the country Is practically gov
erned by one assembly. the house of
com mons. for the senate is a negligi-
Bile quantity in the practical civic OBJ
erations of Canada. The governor
general who formally presides over
all and who is the representative of
the king. theoretically appoints the
premier. but, In reality. he always
chooses the man whom the nariia.
mentary situation requires, Nomin-
ally he is chief executive OF the Do
minion, but in practical government
the executive of the Canadian people
is always the premier.
The premier must be meraber of
the house and must be elected to his
seat from q regular riding or constitu-
ency In him are united the Offices
OF speaker OF the house and major
ity leader The members OF the cab
met must also be members OF the
commons and they are elected to
parliament by the people of their
own riding The Canadian ministry
consists of the premier and his cab
met ard this combination Is popular
ly known as "thc government"
When Party Loses.
When the Canadian party in power
loses its majority In the house.
thrc Ugh a split in its ranks over some
political question or through loss OF
popular confidence at an election, the
opposition goes into power and its
ofnctsi leader Immediately and auto.
r.aueally becomes premier, the gov.
eruor general always calling on him
to form new government II the
Canadian system prevailed in the
United States Presfden: Tar, and the
members OF his cabinet would have
TO be members of the house OF rep
resentatives.
The Dominion Of Canada is gov
ernsd always by the party in power
and the executive and legislative
powers Of his party are recognized
by the people For every act or pro
posal 'the government" or party In
power is directly responsible to the
house OF commons and to the Cana.
dian people and if. In any OF Its 1cts
or proposals It fails TO meet with the
approval Of the house. or the people
4, steps down from power and The
opposition TAKES control as party Il
is because Of THIS policy that the
liberal party went TO the people With
the reciprocity issue,
Constitution Almost Perfect
In the beginning OF Canadas 20
titieal life just previous 10 the var
% 1912. the country was governed
under the constitutional act by TWO
distinct couneils-executive and feg
s;aiive They we're independent Of
I each other aud through abuse Of
privilege began 10 think themselves
Independent Of the people The p',
'neer settlers. whose only thought
vas for the Gearing ana tanning Of
be vf'ierness. cared little foF 50.