The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-15


First Election.
As at the present moment great deal Of politi-
cal excitement prevails in this part Of Canada. II is
well that should make SUCH general summary
Of its causes and results a. may enable the Ameri
can reader to comprehend the actual situation OF
affairs here, and their bearing on the prospects Of
the annexationists. 8M
The dissolution Of Parliament after Q convention
Of four days, and without session, in order appa-
renty protect the ministers from articles Of accu
sation, which had been drawn up for presentment
to the House, and it is thought would have passed.
and the consequent refusal Of the franchise to over
one hundred thousand persons on whom the House
was about to have conferred it, would, under any
circumstances, form strong grounds for the decla-
nations Of stump orators and the diatribes Of the
press. But in Canada there are other, though
hidden, causes for the prevailing anxiety rs to the
termination Of the approaching elections, which
visible to any Stranger his first day in this
capital. 1t is felt that this Parliament will prove
the great assize Of the AngloSaxons Of Lower
Canada, and that its decision will fix the ultimate
destiny of that race here To understand this it ia
necessary to be aware that the present dominant
party is, in this section Of Canada, purely Celtic
The supporters Of the ministry have been almost
hitherto, the former; and to account for this state
q things 1t only requires to glance at the past his
tory Ct tie country.
Tie constitution Of Canada originally granted by
England, was rendered, in fact nullity, by the
power vested in the Governor OF aominating an
upper house. or legislative council. This body was
entirely in the hands of the English portion Of the
population and either vetoed every bill desired by
the French Canadians, or made its passage tue
price of concessions from the Assembly, the lower
house. The system was persevered in till six
OF the French counties, in 1887, rose In arms, re-
pulsed the Montreal cavalry in the first engagement
beat the regular troops under Col. Gore, in the
cond, and though finally put down, made so good
defence that the British government incontinently
determined to concilate people whom it could no
longer either Cypress neglect with impunity and
accordingly determined to grant the people "re-
sponsble government. G., that for the future the
Governor should veto fewer bills than heretofore,
and not keep the Assembly and Council perpetuauy
in collisions finally, that his advisers should possess
the confidence of the people, and in order to neu
tralze the effect Of such large concessions to dig
Lower Canada were united. Lord Metcalfe, "high
prer0gative" Governor took advantage of the union
TO govern Lower Canada by Upper Canadian votes,
majority in the Assembly. The Legislative Council
was of course at his service, and good spell at the
"loaves and fishes" Of power rconciled the reluct-
ant British to responsible government" and threw
disafection which my Lord Egin was sent out chief
y to alay. His lordship succeeded by reducing the
Legislative Council to mere registry Office, and
identified himself, in the opinion Of the AngloCa-
madam population, entirely with their opponents.
A contest Of races and creeds is at hand, but be-
fore it can take place, the Clergy Reserves must
evidently be taken from the Protestant Episcopal
Anglican Church In Canada By the Crown, and now
seemingly about to be converted to general secular
use, is the only barrier to perfect union Of all the
Rome, the greatest capitalist in Lower Canada.
Some q the Catholic organs seeing this, have de-
fenced the preservation of the Reserves with re-
markable ability. On the other hand, the whole
"high church, party as the Armenian Episcopaians
called) look on these Reserves either with in
difference or hostility, and earnestly desire union
against the great and growing power OF the Roman
Catholic church. The position of this church is
curious. Its tendencies ave essentially conservative,
and It's attitude has been constantly monarchical.
Papineau's agitation, ending in the rebellion Of
1887, essentially democratic Of the As
semhly ard idol OF the people, he was scarcely less
the enemy of the Romish church than OF the British
crown and found no difficulty in passing au act
through the Assembly-a Roman Catholic body
placing the property of the church under the manage
ment OF trustees appointed by the people. TIE bill,
however, was thrown out by the Legislative Council
composed Of Protestants,who were DESTROYS of conci
atng the church, and placing tho piestsin opposition
tothe dcmagognes. Hence that church stood staunch
to the crown during the rebellion, which otherwise
would have confined British authority to the citadel
of Cape Diamond, and entailed first q long seige,
and afterwards re- conquest Of the country upon
grand scale, upon the Brtsh--about the largest
results to be expected from Canadian rebellion in
military point OF view. However. events have
altered the position: formerly they stood side by
side with the Protestant inhabitants in support Of
royalty against democracy, whose votaries were the
laity OF their own persuasion But, as the power of
the State has since passed into the hands of the
Gallo race, the clergy OF Rome transferred their
allegiance to the rising sun: they are still united
with the State, but now that State is popular Pro-
tetant interest is not needed to protect their pro-
The church is united in the clergy Of Rome. They
have, therefore, taken Dol Ter tone and bear them
selves at once as the trbunes of the people and pat
rons of the government; while the Professionals,
conciliated with advantage, If at ALL are speaking
and surely tending towards union In grand aud
general attack upon the temporalities Of the Catho
les from which the prelacy Of Upper Canada holds
shall have been definitely disposed Of. When they
are secularized the division of parties and the APP
proacbing session will result in fierce and enduring
contest between Protestant democracy on the one
side, and the Roman Catholic hierarchy and
monarchy on the othcr-an Issue naturally interest
ing to the American observer; the more so as from
the component materials of each party the same
conflict viii put the Saxon against the Csaul.
In conclusion, IL il to be observed that the Anglo
Canadian race--now wholly in opposition to the
ministry, is dviced into two sections-the tories
ara TIE clear Hrits." Inc FORMER are nigh
church, or monarchsts the latter republicans. The
sole question which keeps these parties from fusion
viii shortly be settled in favor OF the last named of
them and its principles therefore, will prevail, the
mere so as the high church loyalty, though loud
tongrtd, Is conditional and contains abundance of
mental reservations" in reference to prelatcal
PROF erty. II emanates from q party whose
policy up TO the time Of Lord Elgin, was to keep
canada q tsro ineogriia, 70 conceal all real
infoi nation. and. when obliged to communicate
with England, 20 sing in a tune Of impassioncd
loyalty. BY this system they kept "tbc tat Of the
Land TO ihemselvcs they then followed 1t long that
IL became mere habit, and now theyare ashamed
70 sncoery charge their notc and, In point OF fact
they are marching for republic TO the tune Of "God
save the Queen"
Tie weather here for weeks past has been most
delightful, IN occasional thunder shower being well
coined alike by agricuturist and citizen. The city
was recently threatened with visitation Of cholera