The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-10-30
The Confederation Mission from Canada
PORTLAND.

1eSbeIudy tue OoA'
egates signalized their readiness 10 uep"i' 'oi
England by accepting a puDnc uihhoi "'
Hamilton. G. W.; tomorrow, they will re-
oo;vo tho same polite attention at Montreal
the dav Of departure is understood to be def
p;teIv fixed for the 7th November. The
scheme which for two years has been the
theme of Provincial discussion, approaches
its consummation by very deliberate steps
and not without delays more or less danger
Gus. The delegates from the maritime prov
nces have been for some months in England,
and so also have Messrs. Howe and Arnaud,
from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Mr..
Howe carried with him petition, said to
have been signed by Hhalf the adult popula-
ton OF Nova Scotia" and got it printed In
the Daily News, for one thing A delegate
rather ingeniously tried to spike that gun, by
calling attention to the fact that halt the
adult population OF Nova Scotia would be 3d.
600, but was crushed by the editor Of the
News, who replied that adult population in
pc.itics means adult male population, and
that with this restriction the petition was
certainly signed as aforesaid. MIR. Howe and
his coadjutor have also secured the influence
of the London Star, and issued pamphlet Of
thirty-seven pages entitled Confederation
Considered in relation to the Interests of the
Empire A very busy pair, Messrs. Howe
and friend, and evidently in the way there.
The Colonial Secretary, to various urgent
suggestions from the provincial delegates, has
at last responded that the British Ministry
tent upon the next worl-will, not oput too
fine point upon it, consider the question
With which kind assurance his lordship
leaves the delegates to take such comfort as
they can, and telegraphs to the Canadian
government to know at what time it will suit
the Canadian convenience to send delegates
to confer with those already in England.
The Canadian delegation has accordingly
been made up. The delegates are John A.
Macdonald, W. P. Rowland and w. McDou-
gall from Upper Canada, and G. f. Cartier,
Ell. Langevim and A. T. Gait from Lower
Canada. Mr.. Calls name has been recently
added to the list, to conciliate, it is said, the
British population in Lower Canada. Both
the other delegates are Frenchmen. The
British residents in the Lower Province have
considerable Jealousy, apprehending that its
result may be to put them at the mercy of the
French majority in all educational and NUM-
cipal matters, and movement was recently
on foot to send petitions to the Queen, asking
that the project should be left to the consid-
Grafton of another Provincial parliament ex
pressly elected to take it in hand and especially
to devise some means of protection for good
Churchmen left in the midst of swarmng
majority of French Catholics. 81 .,4
The Canadian Ministry is not in very good
repute just now. 1t is strong, because Con-
federation is strong i'm the Canadas. Two
years ago the Cartier Macdonald government
representing the Canadian conservatives" or
Tories, alter many successes had finally lost
its prestige. George Brown, the leader of
the Canadian Radicals who had long been de-
manding representation based upon popula-
ton but could never quite get it, then Joined
hands with the. Conservative leaders and
composite ministry was constructed on basis
of Confederation. The measure proved sue
cesslul, and although Mr.. Brown subsequent
ly withdrew on account of some difficulty
about the Reciprocity treaty, Confederation
has sustained the ministry ever since. The
delay IN securing Confederation itself howev-
er has given great offence on all sides. The
ministers say that, in their opinion, there was
no chance of getting The bill through the House
oil commons aftrr EuTU
Russell. Their friends are dissatisfied with
the excuse, and their opponents declare the
delay was designed to secure the adoption of
Mr.. Calls tariffand legal tender scheme, meth
er Of which were fayorably regarded, though
both were accepted as temporary measures
rather than to endanger Confederation by de-
feating the ministry which had that
business in hand. In the inssolence
OF their strength, it is said that four
of the twelve had thrown off all regard for
public opinion, and during the recent session
of the parliament were habitually intoxicated
in the streets CT Ottawa and in the legislative
chambers. aa M ~.
2 With the Canadas 50 strongly in favor of
this measure and the remaining provinces on
the whole favorable, though not enthusiastic,
the probability is that the delegation which
sails week from Wednesday will be success
ful, that we shall see a British Confederation
on this continent, and that then the talk
about Annexation at which Canadians get
angry and ninety-nine out of hundred Amer
leans laugh, will finally drop.