The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-23

ohly rare gems Oh poetry ard stories of loyipc
hearts, but even jokes and anecdotes tho, a.
much to unbend and relieve the mind u,,o,,
exhausted with long protracted effort
PROVINCIAL MArrRRs.
At the risk OF incongruity we shall add To
this long pre- face the few items we have been
able to gather from our provincial files. Per-
haps one reason for their extraordinary lack OF
interest at the present time is the fact that po-
litical discussion has largely given place to
acork, in anticipation of the elections, though
it is not sure that these will come off before
August. A great deal of party spirit Is being
generated, and our neighbors will be lucky if
theJ escape the evils growing out of heated
and sharply contested campaigns, which they
nave been quick to discern when looking at
them across the "border."
- I DECAY AT QUEBEC
This old capital seems to have lost its COM
melcial prestige, and its papers are exercised
over problems relating to the retention even of
its present diminished prosperity.
Referring to this matter the St. John Globe
says:
The Quebec Chronicle discusses in yery
serious tone the dangers that threaten Quebec
and the rapid decline in the manufacture of
lumber, owing to the transferring of the trade
to other localities. Unless something can be
found to take the place OF these important
branches of industry-which have SO long been
the main stay ofthe population-the decadence
of Quebec IS certain.
sHIPBUILDNG IN. NEW BRUNSWICK.
The Globe, from which we have copied above,
goes on to speak of business prospects in the
lower provinces, and on this matter says:
The danger which threatens Quebec through
one important branch of industry also threat
ems our own Province. Shipbuilding has de-
clined here until 1t has reached point of insig-
nitcance that no one ever expected to see 1t
reach. There have been those who have in
dulged in predictions that our lumber trade
would pass out of our hands, by the early de-
struction OF the forests; but we can remember
no prediction that our shipbuilding would de-
cline to the extent it has declined. Iron ships
and screw steamers have worked q complete
revolution; We cannot compete with them
at all. We cannot build first class
ship and sell her at a remunerative price.
Scarcely st. John steamer now sells in
the English market.
a Is RUssIAN-AMERICAN TREATY.
In Dur last weeks review of Provincial mat.
ters we quoted few Canada papers on our
late acquisition of Russian territory, but only
from one that exhibited anything like an angry
spirit. The following from the st John Globe,
our extracts indicated:
Many OF the Canadian newspapers exhibit
great deal of Ill temper and a bad spirit over
the purchase OF Russian America by the
United States. This is quite as foolish as the
action of Congress relative to Confederation in
these Colonies, although there was some ex-
cuse for the latter, owing to the absurd talk of
mlnV of COntamnnrariaa
in British America power 10 counterbalance
the power OF the United States. 1t is no con-
Germ OF ours whether Russia sells or gives
away her territory, or whether the United
states bnya 1t or gets it for nothing. The Duke
OF buckingham, the Colonial Secretary, truly
said it was matter of no Importance to Eng
land. Cannot those fault-fnding journals take
hint from his Grace?
NOT SATISFIED WITH CONFEDERATION.
There seems to be a strong anti-confedera-
ton ground-swell in the lower Provinces. The
Halifax Chronicle, the leading anti-confederate
paper in Nova Scotia, says, "the people of No
wa Scotia, reinforced from New Brunswick, |
"aoiA object to the continuance of a Confederocy
HATED AND DRsPIsRD." The st. John Globe, |
anti-confederate, says, "Nova. Scotia win send
Ito Parhament) at least fifteen or sixteen Rep
resentatives, pledged to punish those phs drag
ye9 Wem INTO Cofyeuefutt0n
BECOMING BURDRNsoMB.
Some people imagine that England pays in
large measure the expenses of the Provincial
governments. This is not so All the official
salaries and all the civil expenses of the Prov
inces, as well as the whole expense for internal
Improvements and for a volunteer militia are
paid by the Provinces themselves, the Home
Government expending no money in the Prov
inces except for military defence. And yet,
with only this item of outlay, England begins
to consider the Provinces burden, and seems
willing to guarantee loan of $4,000 900 for
the 1ntercolonial Railroad, or even to pay this
sum II thereby she can relieve her exchecquer
of the burdens imposed by the garrisons kept
up in the Provinces for their defence. The
Times of March 29th, speaking of this very
question, says: |
Let it be clearly understood that the guaran-
tee of the Canada railway loan carries with it
the responsibility Of self-defence to be under
taken by the Confederation, and that 1t Is the
intention of the Queens government to with
draw at no distant time all British troops from
the American continent. If that be so, the
guarantee may be cheerfully paid if ever it
should be called for; and if the two measures
Of the present session enable US to escape the
burdens which the Canadian garrisOns infiict
upon this country, there will be no reason to
regret them. even though they comprise the
encouragement of an unremunerative enter
prise by means of a principle condemned by
sound finance
On this significant paragraph the London
Free Press one of the ablest administration
papers in Canada West-says: ... |
There are several points of moment compris-
n
First, that the guarantee to the loan for the
Intercolonial Railway has been given as set
Oft to the removal of the troops, and not upon
the merits of that enterprise. -,-7+
Second, that it is the intention of the Queens
government to actthdrdU the troops at no dis
tant date. atI
Third, that the Home Government would
gladly pay the S15,00OO0O, the loans OF which is
guaranteed, rather than be called upon to con-
tinue to garrison this country f
Fourth, that 1t is the opinion in England that
the Intercolonial Railway will be an unremu-
nerative enterprise, and that the means taken
to encourage ir are financially unsound
q Such are the infereDces and direct state
ments which the paragraph quoted from the
Times conveys. That they have not been put
forth hastily, or in an unauthorized way, is
probable from the importance of them.