et the party system, by which
the House of Commons is divided into two parties, each with a coherent
policy. The leaders of the party which has the majority at the general
election form the Executive, or Government, and, if they can keep their
majority together, these leaders hold office till the people pronounce
their verdict at the next general election.

(2) Members of a party will only work together under their leaders if
those leaders have a coherent policy on which they agree, and which wins
the sympathy of their followers. 'It doesn't matter much what we say,
gentlemen,' said a British prime minister to his colleagues on a famous
occasion, 'but we must all say the same thing.' Once a government {49}
under this system has made up its mind, each member must sink his
individual opinion, or must resign.

(3) But while the Cabinet as a body must 'say the same thing,' its
members must also be heads of departments, for the competent
administration of which they are responsible. One man must have charge
of the Customs, another of Finance, another of Justice, and so on.

This system of heads of departments, each responsible for his own branch,
but all uniting in a common responsibility for the common policy, and
holding office at the will of a majority in the House of Commons, is
known as Responsible Government. Under it the sovereign, as has been
said, 'reigns but does not govern.' The monarch of England acts only on
the will of his advisers. Once the Cabinet has decided, and has had its
decision ratified by a majority in the two Houses of Parliament, the
monarch has no choice but to obey. Dignified and honourable functions
the Crown still has; but in administration the ultimate decision rests
with the ministers. 'In England the ministers are king,' said a European
monarch.

To every man alike in Great Britain and in {50} the colonies this form of
government seemed, as has been said, fit only for an independent nation,
and inconsistent with the colonial status. To Howe it was the essential
birthright of British freemen, and he determined to vindicate it for his
native province.

But Howe was no doctrinaire, bound at all costs to uphold a system. He
was a practical man, fighting practical abuses. When parliament met,
early in 1837, the young editor, already recognized as the Liberal
leader, in company with Laurence O'Connor Doyle, began the fight by
bringing in a resolution against the practice of the Cou