New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-28
4 YEW KINGDOM IN THE NEW WORLD.

4 NEW KINGDOM IN THE NEW WORLD.
If the British Government has been criminaly
tardy in responding TO the demand for justice
to an old kingdom, subject to English rule, it
has certainly displayed remarkable alacIity i'll
Selling the opportunity which is apparently
now presented for creating a new one.
If Ireland lies bleeding and anguish
ing from grievous mismanagement, extend
ing over long series of years, her
cries unheeded and her miseries Knocked by
her masters, Canada has no reason to complain
of neglect and wrong; for she is about to
receive n special and notable mark of imperial
favor Immediately after the opening of the
present session of the British Parliament, q
bill for the confederation of the Provinces of
Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick was introduced into
the House of Lords, through which it has
already passed. BY this time it must be be.
fore the House of Commons, and as it will
meet with but little opposition there, we may
expect shortly to hear that it has passed that
branch of the legislature too, and received the
assent of the Queen. The bill provides that
tho Confcderated Provinces shall be designated
"The Kingdom of Canada and that the
machinery of the new Federal Gov
eminent shall be similar TO that
of tho mother country. The supreme
executive authority will be, of course, exercised
by the Sovereign, through the representative of
the Crown, and there is to be Senate, CORE
spending to the House of Lords, and a popular
Chamber, corresponding in its constitution and
its functions TO the British House of Commons.
1t is unnecessary to enter into the origin of
this Confederation scheme; but, taking a dis
passionate view of the matter, it appears to us
to be more the work of tho politicians than the
fruit of popular demand for change. 1t is
notorious that the people have never
been properly consulted on the subject
It is equally notorious that the scheme
has met with considerable opposition from the
inhabitants of Lower Canada. There is a con-
siderable party in both Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick totally averse to the proposed
change Newfoundland andI Prince Edwards
Island refused point blank Ia become parties to
the scheme; and it is charged that very question
able means were resorted to to induce many
members of the Canadian Legislative Council
to give 1t their support. The names of the
Queen, the Governor and tho Admiral were
freely used, 1t is said, TO influence members
to accept policy which, it was stated, had re-
ceived the deliberate sanction Of the Queens
Ministers; and threats were freely uttered that
II the Legislature refused to confederate, the
protection of the Imperial Government
would be withdrawn and the country
left to its fate at time when the Fenans
were threatening an attack upon the Provinces.
1t does not appear to us that a case of neces-
sity for confederation has ever been made out
and in view of all the circumstances attending
the inception and the progress of the scheme,
as well as of tho unexpected announce
ment that new Kingdom is about
TO be established on our Northern bor-
ders, we cannot resist the conviction that
there is something of sinister character inthe
whole affair. This confederation scheme, we