The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-21

between the ministerial and the anti-mnisterial
members, has produced recently succession of
Cabinet changes which have followed each other
as rapidly as the tricks of a pantomime. A few
weeks ago, the MACDONALD Ministry was in power
1t was defeated upon the vote to transfer the scat
of Government from Toronto to Ottawa re-
signation Immediately followed, and, after little
delay, the BRowN-DoRIoN Cabinet was formed
After holding office for twenty-four hours, the new
Ministry resolved into its original clements.
and the MACDONALD Cabinet, with some few modi-
fcatons reinstated in power. Whether Canada
will witness shortly repetition of these feas of
"ground and lofty tumbling," or whether Mr.
MACDONALD and his associates can maintain the
position so suddenly wrested from them, and so
speedily recovered, will depend altogether upon
their ability to grappe successfully with the
raj really important questions that at this time
attracting the serious attention of our Canada
cousins. The first in point of gravity and sig
ni6cance, is the Public School question The
Catholics of Canada claim, as they have claimed
heretofore, in many parts of the United States,
that separate schools shall be established and that
that the revenue derived from Catholic sources
shall be rigidly applied to the education of Catho-
lie children. They are wholly opposed to a COM
mon fund, and to schools open to all denomina-
tons; and indeed, regard the policy of extending
any aid whatever to secular schools for children
as, at best, of questionable soundness But if the
system of public education is to continue to re-
ceive the sanction of the government and taxes
are to be imposed for that specific purpose. they
demand that the sums received from Catholics and
non-Catholics, shall be kept separate from each
other and shall be separately appropriated From
this 1t will be seen that the points in contro-
versy are precisely similar to those which agi-
tated the public mind throughout the States
few years ago. But the Catholic element is
stronger, and more concentrated in Canada than it
is with us and the endeavor to effect this changeis
therefore more powerful and persistent 1t is one
thing, however, to desire a thing and another to
obtain it. Even where the wish is STRONGLY ex-
pressed the frution is frequently quite tardy. and
in this case, there does not appear any immediate
probability of inducing the Canadian government
to consent to introduce any notifications into the
system they have already adopted. The Canadians
are, moreover, troubled at this present time con-
corning matter of more general interest and more
Emulating the progressive spirit displayed by the
people OF the UNITED STATES they have been tempt
ed to embark in various works of internal improve
ment without considering, in The first instance
where the money was to come from TO meet the
cost of construction. Long lines of railway have
been undertaken in advance of population. One
bridge alone-the Victoria-a perfect marvel of
engineering skill, is now in process of completion
and will involve an expense of several millions of
dollars. Nor can that expense be said to have been
incurred. Spanning with its i'm
mense tubes the st. Lawrence river, this wonder
full structure is absolutely essential to the unity of
the Whole system of Canadian railways, of which
1t forms the connecting link. But in thus prose-
cutting with so much ardor, and at so vast an out
lay OF capital their various enterprises the Cana
dlans like the Myndians of old, have made their
gates larger than their towns and having exhausted
their private means in doing So now call upon the
government to help them out of the dilemma As
the iaitn OF the government is already pledged to a
considerable extent to the bondholders the oueS-
hon, now to be considered, is the best manner of
raising sufficient revenue to meet these extraordi
nary engagements. The progressionists advocate
IN increase OF the tariff ostensibly for the protec-
lon OF Canadian industry, but in reality for the
purpose OF maintaining the public faith, and of
pushing to completion the works already COM
nenced The proposition to increase the tariff has
however, already given rise to bitter sectional
dispute, for the tariff works as unequaly in Cana
ia as 1t Is said to do elsewhere As most of the
ruces OF foreign production upon which it is pro-
poseo 10 lay additional duties, are imported into
Cahaoa from the United States our manufac- |
Iureis nave special interest in watching the pro |
9resS OF legislation upon this important question.
The minority, upon whom the burtben wonld |
fall, protest vehcmently against anv al
empt 10 increase the revenue by the adoption of a
Measure which would operate prejudically upon |
me class of citizens alone, and would not affect
he great body of the people in the slightest posi-
Die degree. They argue that as the public i'm
'rovements were undertaken for the general bene
1t OF all classes of the population, the assessment
o meet the expenses of those works should be rs
general as the advantages they were designed to
onfer. The argument is a plausible ono and tbo
opposition to any partial legislation is so great that
is scarcely probable that the Canadian govern
,ent will provoke still further a sectional feud
'hicn mas already been productive of some per-
onal Violence, and many angry discussions. In
ne midst ofa these conflicting clements the project
as been started for uniting together, under one COM
ION political banner, all the Irish inhabitants of be
rovince, both Catholic and Protestant What
beet the promoters of this league have in view.
eyond the election of few additional members
ON their own ranks to the Provincial Parliament.
&c nave no present means of ascertaining. To
game, inthe midst of a mixed population like
as u canada, party simply upon the basis of
: ,.'1cnai'y-''a purely Irish party'-seems to l
as 1t would prove if the project were J
- ~ productive of antaeonisms be-
Wy power oi The government either to har- $
'. suOuue' While TO unite all the Catholics
'getner IN opposition to the proteetont &c.
'usses'ion winch has also been oror.I,, mo
oseu-would be even still more in;,s: P0 G
rosperl.y OF The Province. 1t is plain bo,.o,-0
oln tnis orief review of Canadian affair, 49,,
ur neighbors to the northward wbon, - '"'' a
cen accustomed to regard as quiet, metboa;aa, Q
40 toierably well satisfied race of proyincials -
leir own political and domestic troubles -
'ntend with, and that those troubles are neither
In number, nor. easy to bear with in a
nere enc The contention respecting the :
~ OF government, has already led to the J
inporary overthrow of one ministry, and :
gum provocative of bitter and acrimonious dis b
:. .e'ions' Inc difficulty of providing the WAYS
.ens 10 fulfil existing obligations without
seeuonal disturbances is also one o. t
orc .ilu ordinary gravity, and, in addition to C
o'o u.'.ui sources OF discord there vet remains
e polltlco-relgious question of the nnhl;c Il
hoos to be adjusted in some way or other evau, '
ough the contemplated Organization of t.nnroIr
lsh" or purely Catholic party should never =, t.
rfected iD'li .l'n ri .sa-aa Il - -''e' oe "
: IN noticing yesterday in our local column tho Oh
Ct that the mixed Commission created b, a's
AaoA ana City Council, for the purpose of pre- G.