Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-07-27
Is is tooLate.

In Individual VINO mas GeSUou quiet
ly, in a state of seeming security, sud
denly rouses himself as he sees i'm
pending ruin Immediately before him,
and asks, is it too late? Are there no
means Of escape? So may a nation
or people, who, having had trust and
confidence in its leaders upon finding
that trust betrayed, that confidence
misplaced reiterates the same ques-
tions. Such is the position of the
Eastern Townships-the pride of
Lower Canada Confederation has
now become a certainty, and it is
equally certain, that those rights and
privileges which we hold dear and
sacred, are about to be taken from US
and we, protestant people, claiming
the rights and benefits Of the British
Constitution, believing ourselves to
constitute part of an English Province
are about to be turned over to the
tender mercies of the Church of Rome,
or soon to be placed in the hands, and
at the command Of those who are in
every way foreign and antagonistic,
to ourselves. Our whole Constitu-
tion subverted, our religious and edu-
cational institutions imperiled and we
a free, intelligent community, entirely
ignored. Trihing with the rights Of
the subject even In the days when lib
crty was il its infancy, when it was a
word spoken in all undertone, cost a
proud monarch Of England his head,
another his Throne and changed a
whole dynasty of kings. And France,
though despotic, has learned by a
bloody experience that the voice Of
the people is the voice Of God" that
/ they have rights which must be re
respected. In fact, there is scarce q
nation of Europe tha woul d
submit to what we are about to sub
NIT to, without creating such a com
motion as would shake the very
Throne itself. And shall we, who
look upon these Eastern Townships
with a love and devotion uneQuaIled
/ by that of the brave Swiss, or Scottish
Highlanders, lie quietly down, lay
aside our weapons. and see our house
hold idols wrested from US by tht
strong arm Of a corrupt coalition gov
ernment. Why should've be sacrificed
iniorder thata few mayrise and flourish
upon our ruin, and that few composed
Of men who have been loyal or disloy
al as circumstances have seemed tt
warrant. Are there no means of es
cape? Must the English speaking
population continually racede befor
the advancing swarms of Frenchmen
Shall our lands be given up to 1.-THE
and offerings in support of an illibel
al church, our educational institution
/ lamish and perish, or become tn
nurseries of bigotry and intolerance
Such will be the inevitable results {
Confederation, unless our rights ar
!. rendered permanently secure prior t
its adoption, of which there is no pro-
O pect. At the time of the Conques
England magnanimously guarantee
to the conquered that their religio
their laws and peculiar institution
], should remain intact and inviolat
Faithfully has that treaty been o
, served. Now we, in this hour of re
olution would ask for the same, ar
. we have right to make the deman
1t is said we shall be dealt liberal
o. with. The past stamps this assertiC
as false. When has a Catholic N
IT jority been liberal to Protesta
minority? The word and princiI
O. are alike unknown to the priest part
ne And it is a current fact that the Graf
Cartier derives his political inspil
b. tion, as well as religious-if he b
nd any-from the two great Catholic
stitutions of Lower Canada. L
20 object for which Frenchmen have
,e. bored, for which Politicians a
or Priests have intrigued is about bel
ed accomplished. And this Lower p
vince will become in very matt
eo New France, but stripped of that |
erty which France herself tolerat
ao What has been done to avert this
pending ruin, to maintain unimpar
mt the sacred trusts of religion and e.
cation Petitions have been plac
At before the Government, and they ha
been unheard. A few independ,
mt members have urged upon the floor
the house, that the question might
No before the country. These motto
have been treated with contempt;
eg. opinion Of the people either feared
ce. seorned. The party in power Il