The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎603v] (97/239)

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THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.
by the Canadian Fisheries Question for the display of his rare
diplomatic bent. The scope of the Viceroy in Canadian politics
has well-defined limitations. Speaking at a banquet in Montreal
in 1878, Lord Dufferin expressed a very strong view in a delightful
classic image. “ After all,” said he, ” Viceroys of Canada are but
afievrjva Kaprjva — fleeting shadows and evanescent eidolons, that
haunt your history but scarcely contribute a line to its pages.” 1
This is perhaps a too modest view of the Governor-General’s in
fluence. But the initiation of a great policy by him would be not
only a constitutional solecism, but a blunder in tactics, leading
probably to a deadlock with his ministers, whose collective advice
he is under an obligation to accept. It is, however, very different
with the Viceroy of India. Unlike Canada, India has not, and in
the view of many, never can have, constitutional government. The
Viceroy’s power of initiative is not circumscribed by any limita
tions. The policy directed by him, and his Council of six, is only
subject to the control of the Secretary of State for India. In no
other post under the Crown is there such isolated responsibility ;
none other affords such great opportunities for the display of
statecraft.
But when Lord Lansdowne arrived in the Peninsula th'e day for
easily achieving great reputations had passed, just as surely as the
day for amassing great fortunes. The end of the path of conquest,
entered and trod so gloriously by Lord Dalhousie, had been
reached. With the annexation of Upper Burma a limit has been
placed upon the expansion of our great Dependency in the Orient.
The policy underlying the Government of India, fully developed
by Lord Lawrence, was settled for all time. After years of
weary negotiation the demarcation of the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan.
had been brought to a successful issue by Lord Dufferin. Indian
finance had been organised upon a broad and systematic basis by
Lord Mayo, whose deplorable assassination in the Andaman
Islands prevented him from seeing the fruit of his labours. His
successor, Lord Northbrook, saw annual deficits disappear under
the nev system. It afforded him funds to combat a dire famine
m Bengal. In an evil moment it tempted him, in 1873, to remit,
to his reputation’s hurt, the Income Tax, reimposed by Lawrence
as a permanent source of revenue. True, our relations with the
Amir of Afghanistan were unsatisfactory, but Lord Lansdowne
had not any difficulties to face in that quarter at all comparable to
those Lord Salisbury sent Lord Lytton to solve in 1876. “ All
is well in Oudh ” was a far truer assertion in 1888 than when
Dalhousie placed that celebrated telegram in the hands of his
successor on the eve of the Mutiny. It has been said that India
is continuously menaced by war, famine, and bankruptcy. Happily
(1) “Canada Under Dufferin,” Canada Monthly, Vol. XIV., p. 733.