The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-06
BRITISH COLUMBIA.


&EcNL CONSEQUENCES q TIE MAll
As..s:.,.. .. y. E,isS4 sss.ass-As I. ~
sLs Csis.iss-xSasEG issn shs Cola re-
sse.s-aIsi.. .e,sfsssrss and l.. ::
tsss>rhe Enthusiastically Hxpsdition.
IS vfcfoiaA Y, l., Sept 90. 1897
he following important petition q now being pr,
ssssly circulated among the people Of the colones:
<sios 70 Her MOST oaAolous H4jrr VICTORIA, II TIN
o coD e n.,S,e ., 1,a asp D .r AMI
loyaf s6bjscts resident p thS colony Of British colum.
that We 1 sisrsed q shs colony nom various Dor.
ton. Of your Majss.ys Kingdom and It's dependencies
permanent homes and psttering several conditions
That having severed the ties which bound Us TO our
ss9p and abandoned The most sacred associations Of
ignumersbe We nd ourselves after years Of labor and
to poorer than arrived dishearened at the gloomy
prospects Of our future and apprehsnsye for the vel
Thai ths white population. which numbered 20, 900
ssd Si II con y hs 'Sss
THAI the colonsss required for the mere supper.
OF the government TO contribute the enormous sum OF
seventeen pounds sterling per capita OF the popG aiion
while public improvements are unprovided for and cd
That we hardly able to pay more than mo!ety OF
600 being the requirements ofths government for
That the finances OF the colony are consequently in
mosy oeploablo condition. and that the government and
the people are embarrassed and vegng insolvency
boring portions OF the United States for tho necesares
q life which are subject 70 heavy duties arrival in
the colony; WHILE the other hand few exports
subject such rsssricvs burdens BY the United
States tariIi as almost TO amount 10 exclusion.
between the colony ana Tue neshbornr American terri
tories and that have lost OF best citizens
Who have found permanen, homes in the United States
That should immediate steps be taken to arrest
this exodus and redress other enumerated grev.
ancss the colony win soon become depopulated.
That wo look In vain for emigration from England
as We are too poor to compete with the other colonies
forpopuation; and also In consequence of the great
distance oil the colony from the centre OF trade
That as only connection with the outer world con-
gsts Of an American steam line with San Francisco our
only chance Of immigration ID from the United States
established.
That although the Councils Of the colony, consisng
O. two-thirds OF the officials, have unanimously voted
Tor confederation with Canada, is doubtful that the
pencils q e.se iherefrom win be felt for many years.
S-.5E BE srst tract 0! unsettled land beiween the
Two extreme poAas unless steamship line with Panama
That 30 mby submit to your Massty's graclouscon
sderation a. the ony policy 70 bring prosperity back
eminent may be pleased to relieve US Immediately OF
the expense OF excessive STAFF Of officials assist the
that em.rans from England may reach u.s. and also
assume the debts OF this colony or that your Majesty
4he United States.
That every feeling Of loyalty and every cherished
sentiment OF our hearts prompt US to cling TO pres
ant connection with mother country and TO count
as best Inheritance our birthreht as Briions; but
all our commercial and business rotations ore so inti-
mate with neghboring American population that we
no other feasible help of present difficulties
kkan by being united with them, unless your Majesys
government viii help US az aforesaid.
heart the welfare q your people ana hat no trad
tiona policy Of your government will interfere With the
advancement Of this object
That in this belief We place our unhappy condition
before you, convinced that your Majesty VIII give US
gracious hearing, and adopt that course which will BIO
most conducive 10 the welfare OF this colony.
That unless we obtain population from England
direct British line with Panama. cheap system
Of government, and overland rood from Canada as
We suffer- and the means most acceptable the large
majority OF the British people OF tho colony. We pray
be taken a. your Majesty, in your wisdom, will deem
proper for tho speedy transfer OF tho colony of British
OF your petitioners be granted, your petitioners In
duty bound, will ever pray, &C.. &C., &c.
oRIcISAroRs THE PETITION
The gentlemen who originated the foregoing petition
among the best abest and most influential citizens
In British Columbia and Vancouver. The principal
in ths matter Captain McNeii Boston gen.
sleman but an English subject; he the founder OF
the Northwestern Fur Company, which somc years ago
cold out to THE Hudson Bay Company; Captain John
Todd, ono CT the oldest settlers IN the colony. an
Englishman by birth, but Of the liberal progressive
class; and Mr. Mcmillan, editor OF the Morning. Nes
published in this city. Mr. Mcmillan Is Canadian by
birth, an able and farseeng man. He Is believer in
the glorious destiny OF the American republic. and de-
sires TO be sharer in s onward march to honor and
rsnown. In I'd 'lon there not a shoemaker tailor,
barber, carpcater, mechanic. miner or laborer the
colony that would not to-day sign tho document
aud vote ior the immediate annexation Of British
Columbia to the Uaited States. As might be
expected, to govcrnment officials are bitterly
When first the document was promulgated the au-
shorites ctaely took steps 10 suppress u and were
successful BUT ibis had only Me effect TO the
strength the sumberlDg fires and add TO the intensity
OF She desire for annexation While the profess
ann oxation still they have not tho podness to
openly. SUCH course would for the moment seriously
smnsr,s ter psn lapsV n. T bssr,s
Mt the saon OF tho colonies, but added that
In week he woild be brisfcss barrster physician
with whom conversed said that were lie to sign such
document he would DO without patients In twentyfour
hours his pgaciise being largely in the families Of
uxvxsAL CONDITION or THE COLONIES.
The co.onrs OF Vancouver Island and British Column
bia were consolidated u November last The friends Of
this measure confidently predicted that It's
would reduce the expenses Of the government inspire
confidence invite immigration AMI restore prosperity.
Soon after this consolidation and the Nc Of the
Colonial Parlis q at Now Westminster tho estimate
tor the curre expenses Tor me ensuing year were ad
Near 5000 900 o. this amount was TO interest the
public debt TO meet the estimates II became necessary
10 increase tie OF tho existing tariff OF British
columoa the road tolls TO the mines and the tonnage
dues ON vessels Following the adoption OF these
measures tho salaries Of the officials rducet some
ton per cent and public improvements suspend
ed> But the adoption OF thesc expedents failed In St
ing the people from leaving the colony and have rather
accelerated lnrir exodus
Lass lhan THREE years ago the colonies or Vancouver
Island British Columbia estimated 70 contain
about twenty thousand inhabitants; and Victoria, With
It's eight thousand thousand people, presented the
appearance OF odrishing commercial city, bidding fair
obe the second city tho Pacific coat. Besides its
commerce with United States SAILING vessels II
had two aud tlree steamships month from san Fran
cisco and ships laden with merchandise passengers
wcrc arriving from England Australia, China and
Japan had lis established schools, naries and COL
ieges its churches literary societies and three daily
yapcrs all apparently IN state OF prosperity. At hs
Nine che united colonies do not claim more than six
III aesnd population. and OF this number two thou
Bant IN the city OF Victoria-ihough some claim
three tnogssrda solitary steamship o month tho