The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-03
Canadian Politics.

We published yesterday Geographic report an
nouncing the resignation of the entire Canadian
Cabinet. This would seem to be premature.
Messrs Hincks and Morris, as we learn from the
Toronto Globe, have rendered their designations,
they being in favor of an immediate dissolution
and general election, their colleagues insisting
upon postponemcnt to the LIST of january. II is
probable, however, that NJ Lafontaine will deem
it best resign the seals premier, and thus dis
solve the Ministry, in which case MIR. Hincks will
be called upon to form new Cabinet, and gene
raj election will Immediately take place.
Nv. Y. Commercial advertiser.
Readers on this side IF the Lakes care little
about Canadian politics beyond the mere know
ledge of facts as they occur; but in this case
word or two of comment seems necessary to
render the announcement Ineligible
The great feature and the great misfortune of
Upper Canada is, that its politics are indisso-
lubly connected with ecclesiastical questions,
complicated in their nature, and involving an
immense amount of sectaran strife and animos-
ity. These grow out of the application of
large proportion of the public lands to the main
tenance of religion, under the term CLERGY
Reserves" and the endowment Of a limited
number of rectories in connexion with the es-
tablished church of England. While the old
regime of ''the Family Compact" swayed the
destnies of the province, the Clergy Reserves
were held to be for the sole benefit of the cler-
gy of that church but this exclusive principle
was set aside by the Imperial Parliament in
favor of the admission of the church of Scot
land, and subsequently of all other sects; not,
however, without prolonged agitation and con-
sequent illfeeling. At this moment all sects
may share in certain proportions in the funds
accruing from the Reserves, but only certain
sects avail themselves of the privilege. Other
bodies, in whose church polity the voluntary
principle forms a distinguishing feature, re-
fuse any portions of the proceeds, and further
object to their reception by others, on the
ground that they form the nucleus of domi-
nant church in the colony. These voluntaries
contend, from the terms of the act under which
| the reserves were created, that it is competent
to Parliament to ALLEVIATE them from religious
and to apply them to secular purposes, from
which the whole community could derive pro-
fit. On the other hand, the clergy, who are
the recipients of the bounty of the State, main
tain that this alienation would amount to sacri-
lege; and with this as their cry, they enter INTO
vigorous agitation to sustain the existing state
Of things. With regard to the Rectories, it is
objected by the voluntaries that they were es-
tablished fraudulently, and that it is competent
to the Legislature to retake and apply to other
purposes the property with which the clerical
lncnmbents are endowed. These questions
were amongst the main exciting causes of the
instruction of 1878, and from that time to
this they have entered more or less largely
into the platforms of contending parties. They
are now considered the Test question Of poiti-
clans on both Sides and it is in connection with
them that the present ministerial crisis has
occurred.
The cabinet, now in IFS ath-throes, came
into being four years ago amidst the acclama-
lions and high hopes Of the reform party. But
alas for human weakness The prestige of the
ministry soon faded away its leader-Mr.
BALDWIN, the Attorney General-announced
his resignation some months ago; the Inspector
General is following suit and the constituencies
are left to mark their disapproval Of men who
made promises but to break them, and regis
tered vows which they have uniformly dis
carded.
Other questions have entered into the diff
pity, and now constitute separate grounds Of