24 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



the existence of humour among a practical people, and his " Wise Saws " 

 and " Sayings" were uttered fully half a century ago. In art we have 

 L. E. O'Brien, George Eeid, Bell Smyth, Eobert Harris, J. W. L. Forster, 

 W. Brymner, and Miss Bell, who have done much meritorious work. 

 Yet, on the whole, if great works are wanting nowadays, the intellectual 

 movement is in the right direction, and according as the intellectual soil 

 of Canada becomes enriched with the progress of culture we may 

 •eventually look for a more generous fruition. The examj^le of the United 

 ■States, which has produced Poe, Longfellow, Irving, Hawthorne, Howells, 

 Parkman. Lowell, Holmes, and many others, famous as poets, historians, 

 and novelists the world over, should encourage Canadians to hope that 

 in the later stages of its development the Canadian people, composed of 

 two distinct nationalities, will prove that they inherit those literary 

 instincts which naturally belong to the races from which the}' have 

 «prung. 



XL 



The political system under which the provinces are now governed is 

 •eminently adapted to the circumstances of the whole countr}-. 



In the working out of responsible government, won for Canada 

 during the Queen's beneficent reign, there stand out, clear and well- 

 defined, certain facts and principles which are at once a guarantee of 

 efficient home government and of a harmonious cooperation between the 

 dependency and the central authority of the empire. 



1. The misunderstandings that so constantly occurred when the 

 Queen ascended the throne, between the legislative bodies and the im- 

 perial authorities, and caused so much discontent throughout the prov- 

 inces on account of the constant interference of the latter in matters 

 which should have been left exclusively to the control of the people 

 directly interested, have been entirely removed in conformity with the 

 wise policy of making Canada a self-governed country in the full sense of 

 the phrase. These provinces are, as a consequence, no longer a soui'ce 

 •of irritation and danger to the parent state, but, possessing full inde- 

 pendence in all matters of local concern, are now among the chief glories 

 •of England and sources of her pride and greatness. 



2. The governor-general, instead of being constantly brought into 

 -conflict with the political parties of the country and made immediately 

 resiJonsible for the continuance of public grievances, has gained in 

 dignity and influence since he has been removed from the arena of public 

 controversy. He now occupies a position in harmony with the principles 

 that have given additional strength and prestige to the throne itself. As 

 the legally accredited representative of the sovereign, as the recognized 

 head oï society', he represents what Bagehot has aptly styled the dignified 



