COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE CROWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 924, 2 January 1880, Page 3

COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE CROWN.

; (Graphic ) ; The decision of Sir Michael Hioks-Beach 1 on the Letellier ease is likely to have an important influence on the relations of tbe ; colonies t the Crown. The Marquis of ! Lome was advised by tiie Dominion j Caliinet to remove the Lieutenant-Governor jof Quebec from his office. He did not re--1 gard the counsel as wise, ami believed that he had the right to override the decision of ; the Ministry. As there was some doubt ; on this point he referred the question as to the extent of his power to the Home Government ; and the result wa» that he received directions to act in accordance with local opinion It apnears, then, that the renr seulative of the Crown m a self governin colony cannot claim, in any matter of purely local interest, to act aside tiie will of the majority of the population as expressed by their official delegates This makes he post, rather less imp irtant th m it has hitherto been supposed to'he, but it is difficult to see that any otner system could be established. It a Governor-Gcne-al or Governor hatl tin- power of reversing tdic. ju lgm-nt of his Ministers, appeals to the itnperial Cabinet would ■ ecome incroa-ingly frequent; and the inconveoie’ce that, would result from this is obvious. A Colonial Minister may be the most prudent and painstaking of statesmen, but it is simply impossible that he can make himself familiar with the details of every quarrel that may arise in distant colonies. Even the high official who represents the Que-ui on the spot is much less likely to settle wisely .any local difficulty than those who have spent their lives there, and know the signifleam;.; of every fact bearing on the question in dispute, 1 he true function of a Governor is. like tiie Sovereign, to symbolise the supremacy of law ; and he is of service in conn-c dug the ; colony over which he twesi les with the | larger interests of the Empire In regard to any matter which involves Imnerial considerations he must always of course hold the highest place, and see that the policy of the central authorities is properly respect d But all local questions the colonists are perfectly competent to arrange fir themselves, and exactly in proportion -.s they are a'lowcd freedom of action con wo expect them to lie contented and prosperous. No race has so striking a genius for colonisation as the English. The French have never made goo,l colonists, nor have the Spaniards been much more successful ; but wherever English settlers go, they manage in the etui to create flourishing communities The reason partly is that they carry with them the ideas and habits of a self, governing a >ciety, and it would he folly to adopt any course that would tend to undermine their indepen lent spirit