TAKE the British constitutional system as the great original system upon which are founded the institutions of all free States. I take it as one of a family born of Christian civilization. I take it as combining in itself permanence and liberty; liberty in its best form-not in theory alone, but in practice; liberty which is enjoyed in fact by all the people of Canada, of every origin and of every creed.
Can any one pretend to say that a chapter of accidents which we can trace for eight hundred years, and which some antiquaries may even trace for a much longer period, will account for the permanence of these institutions? If you say that they have not in themselves the elements of permanence which preserve the foundations of a free State from one generation to another-how do you account for their continued and prosperous existence? How do you account for it, that of all the ancient constitutions of Europe this alone remains; and remains not only with all its ancient outlines, but with great modern impovements, -improvements, however, made in harmony with the design of its first architects? Here is a form of government that has lasted, with modifications to suit the spirit of succesive ages, for a period of eight hundred years. How is it that I account for the permanence of its institutions? By asserting that, in their outline plan, they combine all the good of material importance that has ever been discovered.
The wisdom of the middle ages, and the political writers of the present time, have all laid down one maxim of government,-That no unmixed form of government cansatisfy the wants of a free and intelligent people; that an unmixed democracy, for instance, must result in anarchy or military despotism: but that the form of government which combines in itself an inviolable monarchy, popular representation, and the incitements of an aristocracy-a working aristocracy-an aristocracy that takes its share of toil and danger in the day of battle, of care and anxiety in the time of peace-an aristocracy of talent open to any of the people who make themselves worthy to enter it-that three- fold combination in the system of government is the highest conception of political science.
Let us see if the British form, apart from any details of its practice, combines in itself these three qualities. The leading principle of the British system is, that the head of the State is inviolable. It is necessary to the stability of any State that there should be an inviolable authority or tribunal; and under the British system this is recognized in the maxim that "the King can do no wrong." Having placed the principle of inviolability in the Crown, and the principle of privilege in the Peerage, the founders of the State took care at the same time that the peerage should not stagnate into a small and exclusive caste. They left the House of Lords open to any of the People who might distinguish themselves in war or in peace, although they might be the children of paupers (and some have been ennobled who were unable to tell who their parents were), to enter in and take their place on an equality with the proudest there, who trace back their descent for centuries.
It was for the people of Canada, with the precedent of England and the example of the American republic before them, to decide which should be the prevailing character of their government, -British constitutional, or republican constitutional. For my part, I prefer the British constitutional government, because it is the best; and I reject the republican constitutional government, because it is not the best. We arenow witnessing a great epoch in the world"s history; and the events daily transpiring around us should teach us not to rely too much upon our present position of secure independence, but rather to apprehend and be prepared for attempts against our liberties, and against that system of government which, I am convinced, is heartily cherished by the inhabitants of this province.
- HON. T. D. M"GEE
