S44 CANADIAN NOMS-DE-PLUME IDENTIFIED. 



impediment in his way ; and lie rules irrespective of party, because 

 to him public opinion is as nothing. But just in proportion as the 

 form of a government is removed from a despotism, disregard of pub- 

 lic opinion becomes a crime in a ruler, and ceases to be a subject for 

 eulogy. And he who administers a G-overnment free and popular in 

 its form, without regard to public opinion or to party opinions, call 

 it which we please, is a violator of the- constitution he is boxmd to 

 uphold, and insincere in his professions of attachment to that con- 

 stitution. Swift, in ridiculing party divisions, describes the kingdom 

 of Lilliput as divided into two parties, one of whom wore low heels 

 to their shoes, the other high heels ; and if Sir Charles Metcalfe had 

 been made Governor of Lilliput, he might have governed its diminu- 

 tive inhabitants withotit regard to their heels, and have chosen his 

 councillors from both parties indifferently, caring nothing for their 

 disputes, and despising their party differences ; but who would allege 

 that he was influenced by public opinion, or that he was administer- 

 ing Responsible Government 1 It is, however, just as a pigmy people 

 that Sir Charles has always regarded Canadians, and it is with this 

 view that he takes to himself the praise of inflexible determination; 

 but the inflexible determination of a ruler under the British Constitu- 

 tion is national determination ; and personal determination which 

 opposes this, is despotism. The threat to employ v/hatever force 

 may be necessary to enforce it, is tyranny ; and the pretence that it 

 is consistent with Responsible Government is hypocrisy." On Sir 

 Charles' alleged resolve to act officially without the concurrence of 

 his Executive Coimcil, Legion thus remarks : " Charity may once 

 have ascribed his invasion of the Constitution of this country to 

 ignorance of British constitutional usage ; but time has removed the 

 veil, and he must now be considered either as the originator, or the 

 instrument of a design to defeat and put down Responsible Govern- 

 ment in Canada. If Canadians value Responsible Government, they 

 cannot give way. They must use every constitutional means of 

 asserting their rights, till they obtain them fully. If they do not 

 value British freedom, or if Dr. Ryerson has been able to frighten- 

 them with his bugbear of " Royal Proclamations and MOitary Pro- 

 visions," let them kneel down and ask pardon for the presumption of 

 their Parliament, and let the reign of favouritism and intrigue con- 

 tinue. If Canadians have not the spirit of British subjects, let them 

 be the servants of servants they deserve to be ; but if they have any 



