New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-29

him we'll He went to the Klondikc
and Dawson City on horseback and by
boat down the Yukon--a mere incident
OF travel There was nothing OF the
tenderfoot about him. no hardship
from which he shrank il was all In
the days work. Nothing could appeal
more irresistibly TO that hardy people
They found in Lord Mimic and in Lady
Mimic spirits kindred TO their own.
Little things count. They are race
AT home on the ice and proud OF IL. and
when they discovered that Lady Mimic
was skater more accomplished than
the best Of them, and indeed in a class
by herself, they were at her feet. Her
gifts as hostess were those Of genius
and OF charm. In other hands the
social material with some exceptions.
might have proved intractable. In
hers the necessarily rather mixed as
semblies at Government House became
harmonious and sympathetic.
That Lord Mimic was q friend Of ours
and desired nothing better than to see
Americans and Canadians bound to-
gether by good will we long since
New York and in Washington, but his
visits were not frequent. l once asked
him why he did not come oftener:
Il cannot afford to."
And az Il was not an answer easy TO
understand. ne explained further:
When the Governor General crosses
the border his pay stops. Not only
that. but the Commander in Chief has
10 be sent for from Halifax TO cake his
place while he is absent. 1t is an in
convenient rule, but it is a rule"
That was the frugal policy Of older
days. when the notion Of friendly in
tercourse between Canada and the
United States had not entered the
heads OF the Colonial authorities. Or
very likely II was the Treasury, which
NEEDLES in all matters and takes
purely financial view Of both domestic
and foreign affairs, especially those
which il least understands
When Sir Wilfrid Laurier made his
effort with our Government 10 settle
the Alaskan business on terms which
would have recognized the just de-
mands Of America. Lord Mimic was in
sympathy with his Minister. He did
not and could not appear in the infor-
NAL negotiations which then took place.
but he knew Of them and cordially APP
proved Of the attempt which, but for
the United States Senate might have
been successful
When Canada Loyalty resolved to
send a force TO South Africa in aid of
the Mother Land against the Beers,
questions arose about organization.
The Canadian Militia Department OF
those days was not thought too effl-
cient or too scrupulous. The Governor
General happened to De a thorough
soldier With great experience in mill
tary affairs. He took charge Of the
whole business Whether ne did not
strain his authority may be doubted
II he did so much the more credit
does he deserve. The men for emer-
gencies are the men who will take re
sponsibilities He saw TO everything:
70 the appointment % officers, TO sup
plies equipment, to every detail on
which success in war depends; in the
spirit which led Napoleon 10 declare
that before he set out 10 cross the Alps
he had himself examined every buckle
and strap Of the artillery. The Cana
dian contingent we're as good troops of
the kind as ever went into cam
paign. and their success, the perfec-
ton Of them as material for success
full war. was primarily due to Lord
Mimic. If he had done nothing else
he would have been a great Governor
General. But 1 take this one in
stance as an example Of the spirit and
capacity he showed throughout his six
years reign.
Upon the Indian Viceroyalty I must
touch briefly. 1t was again Lord Min
to's fate 70 find himself in storm
centre. Indian unrest. as il is the
fashion 70 call conspiracies Of treason
and murder. was approaching its
height. Lord Curzon had resigned
ca1ce rather than abandon his own pol
icy. Lord Mimic, appointed by Union
list government, found himself almost
al once the agent Of the most Radical
Ministry England had ever seen, with
Lord Morley as Secretary Of State for
India. He had TO repress sedition and
violence with one hand and to launch
reforms with the other. He pursued
these apparently inconsistent ends stead
fastly and at the risk OF his life. He
narrowly escaped--he and Lady Mimic
tOgether-assassi natiOn. He did not
escape censure from the English in
India. who believe il impossible 10 graft
upon an ancient Oriental civilization
the modern ideas and institutions or
the West. But no man ever doubted
that he wrought with a single mind for
the Joint interest Of England and of
that great military dependency which
cur Mr.. BRYAN believes 70 be a British
colony. With fine courage and almost
always with that sovereign sense which
has always been his, he ruled India for
Eve wears, and TO his administrative
achievements all men pay homage.
He was one of those servants or
Empire whom the Empire can Ill spare.
The India ne left was a better gov
erned and more contented and pros
perous India than he found. When he
came home in 1910 hCnors were show
cred upon him. including the Garter. the
f --..oso,f oF oil I from that