The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-04
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Monday Morning, March 4, 1867.
PORTLAND
An Expensive Luxury.


It has become an old and significant nro,
verb that those who dance shall pay the pi-
per. This is as true of nations as of indtyil-
uals; in politics as In matters of private and
personal concern. Our Provincial neighbors
on the North and East, are about setting up
national housekeeping on somewhat magnif.
icent scale, by rolling three or four provinces
into one, and giving to the confederated gov
ernment thus formed larger powers, new
functions and increased dignity. .
Canada,-both East and West,-New Bruns-
wick and Nova Scotia propose to become one
consolidated vice-royalty, with its head at Of
tawa, ruled by Viceroy or Governor-Gener-
al, and Parliament with Cabinet and other
appendages of greatness aud power. We are
of those who see nothing in this movement
to alarm the fears or excite either the envy or
Jealousy of our people, believing as we do that
it is matter over which our neighbors have
full jurisdiction with the consent of the pa-
rent government,- and that 1t is but a step
ping-stone to better understanding and more
Intimate and profitable relations between the
business people and interests of the two coull-
tries. Confederation means in Canada, to
large extent, the equalization of government
burdens and the distribution of the public
debt of the province among the people of the
confederation, thus imposing upon the lower
provinces some of the burdens now resting
upon the western provinces burdens incurred
by works of internal improvement which arc
claimed to be largely for the benefit of New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as for
Canada.
But with intelligent, far-seeing Canadians,
Confederation means a preliminary step to
independence, itbeing well understood that the
English Government will oppose no obstaclesto to
independence when once satisfied that the peo-
pie OF the Provinces really desire it. 1t is no de-
parture from the truth to say that, by anoth-
er portion of intelligent Canadians, independ-
encei is looked upon as the condition prece-
dent OF annexation to the United States
We do not say-for we do not believe-that
annexation is now desired by large or infu-
ential class of Canadians; we only say that,
If annexation is ever to come peacably, it
must come after independence. But enough
Of this, for the present at least.
Our neghbors having determined upon Con-
federation, and uniting their fortunes under a
common Provincial government, and full and
free consent to, the banns having been given
by the home parliament and the crown, they
will soon begin to realize the correctness of
tho adoTa Of fha ofx Sc IL =,
their own case and under their new relations
Royalty is expensive, and even quasi royalty
is very different thing from republican SIM
plcity. To illustrate this fact we need refer spe-
cifically only to single item of the expense
about to fall upon the Canada treasury,-the
salary OF the chief officer, Governor General
or Vieeroy as be may be designated, and who,
IL is generally understood, will be the second
son Of Queen Victoria. While the appoint.
ment of this officer will rest with the crown,
the salary, like all other salaries in the Prov
ince, and all other expenses except those for
military defence, are to be paid ex xaus,veIy py
the provi1cfaf government.
BY late cable dispatches 1t appears that the
bill which has just passed Parliament, pro-
viding for confederation, fixes the annual sal
ary of the Executive at $4,000! with four
Lieutenant Governors, whose united salaries
will no doubt amount to an equal if not
much larger sum. The united population of
the provinces proposed to be consolidated, ac-
cording to the latest census reports, is $685.
345. The aggregate population of New Eng
land fc Q 1oS or
structed Canada. We have no figures to rep
resent the relative wealth OF valuation of
New England and the proposed Contederacy
or Dominion" but it is perfectly safe to say
that the valuation of Massachusetts, alone
nearly equals if it does not largely exceed the
valuation of the whole of British America
proposed to be includedu under the newregime
While New England exceeds the proposed
Confederacy in population and overwhelm-
ingly exceeds it in wealth, the salaries Of her
six chief executive officers combined amount
to less than $4,000, or one-fifth the salary
proposed for his Royal Highness who is to
grace the quasi throne at Ottawa. The Judi
cial salaries of Canada are in keeping with
the Executive, and the same is true of official
salaries generally. ..a-t i.
The truth is, while croakers and discontent-
ed spirits often complain of the expense and
extravagaDce of our republican government,
and Heaven knows we are not deficient in
extravagance,-therei is probably no human
government on earth, of similar extent and
responsibility, that is so cheaply maintained
as ours, or that necessarily imposes so few
burdens upon the enterprise and industry of
the nation. The fact that the country is now
groaning under excessive taxation does not
initiate against this general statement, for
this taxation is no Part of the legitimate or
necessary burden imposed upon democratic
or popular governments, but the fruit of
wicked rebellion, wagel by demagogues and
tyrants in the interest of despotism, for the
purpose of queDching the fires of constitu-
tional liberty and thwarting the mission Of
republican institu ions and counterworking
the efforts Of those who would promote hu-
man progress, tighten human burdens and
give increased respect to human rights by
bringing up the masses to higher level, and
inspiring the hearts of toiling millions with
love of liberty and selfrespect. The institu-
tions of freedom, of popular liberty and of
republican government are comparatively
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