The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-05


largely in excess of Canada East. The To-
ronto Globe has long labored to correct this
evil, and succeeded in creating strong reform
party, but under the lead of the present At
torney General, Hon. John A. Macdonald of
Kingston, opposition to this reasonable meas
ure has been kept up even in Canada West,
sufficient to checkmate all efforts to give it
practica. success.
Now that, by the Imperial Act providing
for Confederation, the principle clamored for
by the "Reformers' has been at least partial
ly recognized, the reform party are organizing
10 defeat the ambitious aspirations OF those
VINO have hitherto defeated them, and to place
'"e administration of affairs in the hands of
'ne ir'ends of reform. To show the
spui' ana bitterness with which the con-
test is wased we quote from the Sarnia Oh
seruer:
Keformers have an imperative dutv ;nnosod
upon them by the connection of faty ny imposed
with the past This is a connection u,,P?a ,Pieseht
Tories would no doubt gladly obl;tarato. .ne e
they could. Oblivion of the past mnst ~
grateful to party which so far has been al.
been obliged to succumb and see Reform
measures carried out-even when it has mean
ly endeavored to tighten the blow to its pres
tige by stealing and passing those measures
which it had opposed for years. Tory orators
and writers now glibly and hypocritically
prate about those unfortunate sectional diff
ferences," which have so long distracted Can
ada. What were these differences, we should
like to ask? Were they not in a general way
founded on this one great grievance, viz: the
denial to Upper Canada of an influence in The
Government proportional to her population
and the amount contributed by her to the Pro
vincial chest? We scarcely recollect of any
complaints of injustice preferred by Lower
Canada; the, injustice was so palpably the
other way that such could not have beer
maintained with gravity of face before the
Legislature. The differences are said now to
be settled, and how? Why, by conceding to
Upper Canada in substance Just what Reform
ers have SO long struggled for, and which
was so long and obstinately refused to be
conceded. And how did the struggle come to
be so protracted? Was it the opposition of
Lower Canada alone that did it? No, indeed
1t was that tratorous few amongst us, who on
this question followed the lead of Mr.. John A.
Macdonald, that arch betrayer of Upper Cana
dian interests, that held the balance against
us, and prOtracted and embittered the struggle.
1t is less upon Lower Canadians who we may
say only fought for their own, than upon Up
our reprobation must rest. And now when
the battle has been fought and the victory
won, when that hated principle of Represen-
tation by PopMation, which the Attorney Gen.
eral again and again declared to be so
totally subversive of British constitutional
Government that he would never assent to it
has been carried, with the approval, be it re-
membered, of a British Conservative Govern
ment-we are coolly asked to shake hands and
be friends, and have no more party differences
We venture to say that the great body of the
people in Upper Canada will not so Judge, and
that the men who have sacrificed our interests
in the past are not to be chosen to look after
our interests in tn future. Our people will
we believe, refuse to reward Tory politician
for services rendered against Upper Canada
The past will not so readily be forgotten as
those renegades to the trust reposed in them
affect to believe.
On the same subject the Ingersoll Chronicle
holds this language: .s
The prospect that Confederation win be car.
ried in a few weeks is SO great as almost to
amount to a certainty, and we naturally be-
think ourselves of the elections to follow
There will, if Confederation be successful, be
two elections, one for members of the Federal
and another for members of the Local Parlia-
ment. The Federal elections, however, will
come first and we may be in the midst of that
struggle in very few weeks. That will be the
fiercest struggle OF the two, because it will to
some extent determine the character of most
Of the doubtful constituencies. Besides, it is a
foregone conclusion that the Reform party will
control the Local Parliament of Upper Cana
da, and our opponents will not make so hard a
nght over that as they will over the Federal
Parliament The
triumph of Reform principles which is involv-
ed in the success of Confederation is some
thing of which Reformers may wen be proud
1t will not soon be forgotten under what dis
couraging circumstances Reformers have toll
ed for years in order to obtain Representation
by Population; and when at last victory is
with us, we need but little argument to induce
us to stand by our colors. When there SEEM
ed the least prospect of success, few of our
party fell away, and it is not likely that those
who stood firm under difficulties and defeats
are going to desert in the hour of success
Besides the prestige which the triumph of Rep
resentation by Population is sure to give the
Reformers as party, the redistribution OF
seats in Upper Canada must be another advan-
tage. In place of 65 members, Upper Canada
VIII hereafter elect 50 representatives and we
ought to elect by larger majority under the
new than under the old arrangement OF con.
stituencies.
One paragraph from the Brockville Re.
corder shall suffice under this head:
The present is the commencement of new
era in the political world of Canada. There is
prize to win, and we trust some little exer
tion will be made to win it. With no friend,
in court, the party is powcrless. John A.
suckers are still lowering round, ready t.
catch and gobble up Office at all hazards. n
new appointments, however, ought to be mad
till the new Parliament meets. Then the bat
tie will have been fought, and the Adminstra
ton be in a position to deal with vacancies in
more honorable and Independent spirit. Al
honest Administration would act thus. al
though such we cannot boast of at the presen
time.
MADOC GOLD MINES.
The Globes correspondence from the gold
region of Madoc, some sixty miles from
Kingston and thirty from the line of the G.
I. railroad, gives a glowing account of the
prospects for rich digging, and says:
The report of Mr. Michel on the gold regions
OF Madoc, will dissipate the doubts of those
who were not disposed to believe that gold ex-
lsted here, and will help to confirm the belize
of those who from the first have been satisfied
that new Ell Dorado had been discovered
which would equal in richness those of Cali
fOrnia, OF British Columbia, or of Australia
That report was based upon observations made
some two months since, and must be consider
ed exceedingly favorable; but if Mr.. Michel
were to revisit the gold region now, am Ger.
tain from the developments that have been
successful results" he anticipated from further
explorations, would be more than realized.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The salt well at Goderich, on Lake Huron,
after brief stoppage, has been started with
better results than ever. The brine is said t.
be the best known on the continent, produc
ing salt of the purest and whitest quality
The brine as it comes from the well is suffici
emily strong and pure to be used for curins
beef and pork.
The oil wells of Boutwell, are nearly al
shut down, and at Petrolia, where the yield
may be increased to almost any extent, crude
oil is quoted at from IS cents to 81 per barrel
with little demand at these low figures.
The Government buildings at Ottawa are
being arranged to meet the new demands to
be made upon their accommodations by the
expected speedy consummation of the Con.
federation scheme.
The Canada papers record full share Of
@horrible outrages," showing that the gallows
which reigns there in all its vigor and fear
inspiring terrors, does not prevent the frequent
outbursts of murderous passion any more
than the milder regime which obtains in
Michigan on one side and Maine en- the
other.
The Rolling Mill at Toronto is about pass
ing under the ownership of the G.. t. Railway
Company. 1t is hoped when the Company
get full control of the works they will have