The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-08
American Affairs In Montreal.

In a recent address, DIR. Mcgowan gave a
picture of Montreal as matters now stand in
that metropolis with regard to American af
fairs. The sudden flooding of the province by
the influx of two million dollars in silver, dis
turbed in a remarkable manner the smooth
course of life among the simple hdbitans Of
the st. Lawrence. The farmers hailed with
bright ready money for their products, instead
OF the Provincial bills they had been in the
habit of receiving. Montreal dealers, on get
ting American silver at a discount, sent it
over the country to their agents for the pur-
chase of produce. 1t was soon noised abroad
that new silver dollars were given in exchange
for oats, pigs and poultry; whereupon the far
mers sold all that they could scrape together.
They remained happy in the possession of
their hard cash, until the period arrived for
making city purchases, when, to their dismay,
they discovered that silver dollar was not a
dollar, and forthwith they made all haste to
get rid of the mysterious coin. Our money
then sold lower In the country than it did in
town.
The ancient Saurentian mountains have late
ly had cast upon their base two very distinct
formations, which afford matter of study to
the ethnologist rather than to the geologist -
lower stratum composed Of sable fugitives
from slavery, followed by wave of pale-faced
runaways from liberty-these distinct forma-
tons confronting each other afford new Illus
tration of the adage that "politics make
strange bedfellows.'
1t is hard to say which class Of secessionsts
American or British, are most violent in
abuse Of the Union, nor is ii worth while to
enquire. The genuine piety and true liberal
ism of the Canadas are with us in our strug-
gle; toryism, Anglaisism and Romanism are
exultant at the prospective downfall as they be-
lieve of republican institutions. Canadian
priests from the pulpit assure their focks that
it is because of the prevalence of heresy in the
States, that the Almighty is affecting Ameri-
cans. There is, however, on the whole, more
friendly feeling towards Americans in Cana
da than is met with in England. Not little
of the hostility that does exist was caused by
the staggering tore of some American news
papers menacing the Canadas with invasion and
subjugation. 1t was an offence that has been
deeply resented. Yet, after all, notwithstand-
ing the goading of the populace here as in
England, by Lord Palmerston's government,
during the Trent excitement, the anti-Amer-
can feeling, only brought up the volunteer
force to $4,000 men. Among the French Ca
nadians, only five in every thousand could be
induced to arm themselves to repel Yankee
invasion. 1t will be our fault If the Canadi-
ans of both races and both religions do not
prove the best of neighbors-most excellent
friends. The action of the Illinois Legisla-
ture encourages the Canadians to enter upon
the completion Of their enterprises of internal
navigation. New York and Buffalo may well
lear a loss of trade If either the Ottawa River
or Georgian Bay Canal projects should be ac-
complished.
The most interesting object in Montreal at
the present time is the Rink-a spacious skat-
ing palace, brilliantly illuminated by night,
and thronged with the well TO do denizens of
the city, where lovely woman also they have
good share Of pretty faces in Montreal)
glides fairy-like over the crystal surface of an
extensive parallelogram to the sound of most
excellent music. The expert skaters Of both
sexes, have of late been applauding very en-
Enthusiastically the feats Of young man from
Central Park, New York, whose skill and dex-
terity are indeed marvellous. His maneuvres
on the ice are facilitated by the use Of an im-
proved skate-Yankee of course.