“FLOUTING CANADA'S PRIDE”

Shannon News, 7 September 1926, Page 1

“FLOUTING CANADA'S PRIDE”

DOMINATED BY DICTATOR? DOWNING STREET OR OTTAWA? THE REAL POWER. VANCOUVER, July 14. Some of the organs of public opinion in Canada have become extremely agitated in the present crisis in political affairs in the Dominion, and the French-Canadian newspapers of Quebec Province have hurled insults at Britain, declaring that Canada is dominated by a dictator in the person of Baron Byng, the Governor-General of Canada, while the Vancouver “Sun,” a fullmouthed Liberal daily of British Columbia, noted for its outspokenness, has flatly asked whether Canada is not governed by Downing Street. Under the heading: “Flouting Canada’s Pride,” the Vancouver “San” said: “Lord Byng's, refusal of dissolution to Mr King, and granting it under similar circumstances to Mr Meighen, leaves the GovernorGeneral to-day in absDlute charge of Canadian affairs, exercising the Royal prerogative, paying bills by Royal warrant, and virtually the dictator of Canada. “The one great consequence of Cord Byng’s action is the arousing of a doubt in the minds of Canadians .of leaving our constitution in its present form if, as many Canadians now fear, it may be open to a construction which it is being forcefully subjected to. “Millions of Canadians are to-day asking, ‘Where reposes the real power over Canadian affairs, Downing Street, or Ottawa?’ Why should we not have sent to us a, member of the Royal Family, someone who has been trained for generations to ■ the exact degree of detachment from < party 1 politics, or why should we not have a native Canadian as Gov-ernor-General? It is only fitting that Canada’s most distinguished citizen should represent his King as the head of the Canadian Government. “To send a Governor-General to this country who, rightly or wrongly, lays himself open to the suspicion of ' dragging Downing Street , into Canada’s domestic affairs is to flout Canadian pride, depress CtTnadian consciousness'—-two results, that are inimical to the progress of both the Dominion of Canada and the British Empire. Canadians have pride. All British peoples have pride. What Canadians ask is that there be no more interference in Canada’s affairs than Britishers have in British affairs." MacKenrfe and Imperialism. Tho Liberal French-Canadian 1 newspaper, tho “Quebec Soleil,” commenting on the situation, said: “If the Government demands ■ a dissolution, they cannot, in constitutional practise, be refused. There will, no doubt, bo great astonishment in the country. What can have happened ? Can it be that the attitude of Mr MacKenzie King on interImpcrial matters and, recently, on the subject of the prior approval of treaties by Parliament, has been found disagreeable in high places? “Has the Governor-General taken his instructions from London? We refuse to believe that the rulers of Britain, who pay such respect to constitutional tradition, advised the course which his Excellency actually took,” “Le i Canada,” another FrenchCanadian Liberal journal, said: “Is Canada an autonomous Dominion with the right to govern itself? Or is it a colony receiving. its instructions from Britain ? This is the constitutional question Avlilch must bo answered in the next election. Are we, in ono week to lose the fruit and destroy the efforts of many generations, and to renounce our dearest liberties and most sacred rights? The Canad an people will be called on to pronounce on this question; to say if they wish to be be free or prefer to make their wishes secondary to those of a representative of the Crown. Never was there an election since Confederation which put so grave a problem up to the people.” Still another French-Canadian print, the Independent organ, “Le Devoir,” said: “A dispute on tho constitutional issue, which will probably agitate opinions as they have not been agitated for many years, is bound to emerge from this parliamentary crisis. A stern discussion on the rights of minorities seems only shelved for the time. The whole problem of Imperial relations has been stirred up, and that of the relations between East and West Canada weighs on the outcome of the struggle . . . No one can .predict the result of the electoral campaign.” “Quebec Action Catholique” considers the crisis tlie gravest sinco Confederation also.