THE COLONIAL OFFICE AND COLONIAL DEMOCRACY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1804, 2 December 1879, Page 4

THE COLONIAL OFFICE AND COLONIAL DEMOCRACY.

The “ Times” cannot but regret that Sir Michael Hieke-Beuch has thought it necessary to sustain Sir John Mat'd >rmld’s contention that Lord Lome was bound to dismiss the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec on the recommendation of bis Ministots. A colonial governor is not only the guardian of a written constitution ; ho is also the guardian of Parliamentary principles. In this capacity it is his duty to convince himself in every case of doubt and of importance whether the advice of his Ministers is supported by the judgment of the colonial electorate. Colonial governors have again and again declined to follow their Ministers’ advice, and, accepting their resignations when they persist, have called their opponents into council, and have tested the electors upon the issues raised. It is most important that this power and corresponding duty of colonial governors should never be overlooked. Iu it is found a partial safeguard against the dangers of hasty resolutions. Whether it would have been well for Lord Lome to hare acted in this manner iu tho present case is necessarily open to dispute ; but what is not open to dispute is that Sir Michael HieksBeach should have remembered this safeguard, and, before advising uncondiiional submission to an usurpation of power, should have suggested to Lord Lome the prudence of inquiring whether the Canadian people were prepared to sustain Sir John Macdonald in his demand. The political problems of our colonies are of the greatest interest and diversity, and it is probable that they will increase in complexity and importance, Unless

the people of Victoria save themselves and ns from what now appears to be imminent, Mr Berry will precipitate questions demanding all our self-control to preserve us from the sphere of violence and passion. We have probably escaped a crisis in Now Zealand ; but those who have watched the recant progress of that colony believe that we have only postponed a collision of difficulties. In Canada there is less apprehension of trouble than elsewhere j but we have seen that intricate questions may arise in Canada demanding solution.