Year: 1878

practically ended yesterday by the resigna-
tion of the Mackenzie Ministry. The ex-
pected swearing in of Sir John A. Macdon-
aid as the new Prime Minister did not
take place, but the delay is transient.
There was a Cabinet Council at Ottawa, the
seat of government, resulting in the de-
feated Ministry placing their resigna-
tions in the hands of Lord Dufferin,
the Governor General, who immedi-
ately thereafter took the train for Mont
real to meet Sir John Macdonald aud
confer upon him authority to organize new
Ministry. By the theory of the Canadian
constitution the members of the Cabinet
are appointed by the Governor General, the
representative of the Queen; but this is
mere form in Canada, as it is a mere form in
Great Britain, the designated Premier really
selecting all his associates. The official title
Of the Canadian Ministry is ''the Queens
Privy Council for the Dominion of Canada
Although nominally mere advisers of the
Governor General they really conduct the
government, and are responsible, not to
him, but to the Parliament.


1t is conceded even by Mr.. Mackenzie's
political opponents that he has acted with
perfect honor and propriety since the de-
feat of his party in the elections. It rested
entirely in his own discretion whether he
would resign now or hold on until the
meeting of Parliament The only thing that
could make his resignation compulsory
was vote of want Of confidence by the
lower branch of the legislature, which in
the Dominion, as in England, is called the
House of Commons. The upper house in
Canada differs essentially from the upper
house in our Congress. Our Senate has
coequal authority with our House of Repre-
sentatives, but the Canadian House of Com
mons has supreme control of the ordinary
working Of the government, even to the
extent of making and unmaking the Minis
try.


What most impresses Americans in the
recent events in Canada is the directness
of the control which the Canadian people
exert over their government. Our Presi-
dent has fixed tenure of four years, and
no change of majorities in one or both
houses Of Congress can shorten the dura-
ton of his authority. It is probable that
President Hayes will find o majority of both
houses against him at the middle of his
term but instead of resigning, as Mr.. Mac
kenzie has done, he will continue to hold
Office for wearisome two years of mortify-
ing obstruction, in which he will be un-
able to appoint any officer or carry
any measure without the consent of his
81 - Rxrf in do he
| legislative and executive departments are
always in harmony, making the government
strong and giving free course to the will of
| the people. The advantage Of this system
is that the whole efficiency Of the govern
ment can always be exerted for good or for
evil, and that no impediment arrests or
blocks the popular will. The disadvantages
of the system will be apparent whenever
o mischievous delusion gains possession of
the popular mind and policy is adopted
in haste to be repented Of OF leisure. It
affords no time for the public judgment to
ripen and mature. Every transient craze
is forthwith made to assume the dignity of
q policy, although further discussion after
| the first gust of excitement has passed





which is better guarantee Of wisdom and
stability.


| Not only is the executive administration
| in Canada subject to mutation by every
transient breath of popular opinion, but
the Legislative department itself is changed
more suddenly than ours. The new
House Of Commons, just elected in the
Dominion, becomes the immediate heir
of the legislative authority. The
old Parliament will never assemble
again, and if an extra session were called
Immediately it would consist of the new
members. We are not sure that this is not
o better system than ours. By the second
week of November, 1873, we shall have
elected new House Of Representatives
which will not meet for the transaction of
business until December, 1879-that is to
say, more than year intervenes between the
election of the House and Its first exercise
Of Legislative authority. We cannot think
this wise arrangement. 1t has been dis
carded in all of our State governments, our
State Legislatures meeting within q few
weeks or ut most few months, after the
members are chosen. 1t Is absurd to inter-
pose q period Of thirteen months be-
tween the election and the assembling of o
new Congress. 1t seems glaringly absurd
when wc consider one Of the great duties
which may devolve upon the new House of
Representatives which the people of the
States are now engaged in choosing. If
there should be no choice Of President by
the electoral colleges in 1880 the next
President will be elected in Febru-
airy, 1881, by House Of Representa-
tives chosen in the autumn of 1878. Such
an arrangement is inconsistent with the
nature Of popular government. 1t is almost
as absurd as it would be to appoint Presi-