The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-03
THE BRITISH PROVINCES.
Our Quebec Correspondence.

QUEBEc, June 81, 1896.
Political Crisis Looked For-Gro,un Of Annexation
Se'aiments-Rapid Increase Of the Public Deot-The
Assassination PioHen Preparing for some Desperate
Schcme-The Feaan Scare, dc.
The political affairs Of this Province just now con-
siderably ''mixed," and few persons know with what
party to array themselves For many years Upper
Canada has been outvoted by Jean Baptise Of Lower
Canada representation by population and other proposed
measures to relieve Upper Canada Of the incubus have
been agitaed and all have failed About year ago the
leaders Of the two chief parties held caucus and the
result coalescing between the followers Of George
Brown the one hand, and John A. Macdonald on the
other They accepted basis for this party coa
ton the confederation scheme that for many months
has attracted much notice this country and Great
Britain. Meanwhile the agitation Of the question Of
nexaton goes on and the public in state OF ner
exctabty, growing out Of the uncertainty Of the
relations with the United States The provincial debt Of
he country has increased 1850 about fifteen millions
of dollars or the Of three millions Of dollars per
year. until the Canadians groan under public debt Of
about eighty five millions Of dollars.
To Canada this Is a critical moment. No knows to
what point he should steer and everybody looks forward
to crisis the the moment that the result
Of tho delegates visit Is officially mado known. Should
the government be defeated land they must be should
doubt follow II Is not hard to guess what questions
would form the points Of dispute in that campaign.
Lower Canada would 60 largely against confederation
Upper Canada almost unanimously for IT, but knowing
Upper Canada does that the maritime provinces have
the power defeat the measure, look to abandon
ment Of the scheme and the substitution Of separation
and independence therefor. Tho proposed termination
OF the Reciprocity treaty has struck the peo.
pie, and all impressed with the urgency OF somc
legislation that will closely ally Canada with the
neghboring reprblc. This Is nothing less than
peaceful withdrawal from Great Britain and annexation
to the United States All things considered forced
the conclusion that this year will witness of the
greatest revolutions In the politics Of this province that IL
has known; and firmly believe that two Of the
questions the next poll will be separation and indie
pendence' and "annexation." The annexation breeze
that swept Canada In ls49 but pun OF air
pared with what this year will develop should the
federation scheme fall TO the ground.
Thompson, Ceary, Blackburn and Bennett Young arc
In Toronto awaiting trial. wen two three other
recent arrivals who IL believed have assist In
the pcrfcctng Of another plot of supcndors magnitude
but the nature Of which they have 30 far we'll Kept
Many Of the Canadians greatly exercised over the
growing strength and boldness of the Fcnans, who
longer deny the existence Of the Order here but who
maintain the secrets OF their organization well that
when they appear in public they not detected Some
time ago tho Fenians turned oct n2ht Ia Toronto
fully armed ana equipped yet they not recognized
Yhe loyal Oange Society Of Canada In anagonisfic to
the Fcnans aud the Orangemcn publicly cecbrat. the
18th OF Jolly many persons fear that in parts the
province there will be . collision.