The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-23
HoNoRs DECLINED.

THE HUDSON BAY TERRITORY.
Some commotion has been excited by the
course pursued by an Ex-Governor Of Canada
in relation to the Hudson Bay territory, and
Canadian Journals profess surprise that the
president OF that company should contem-
plate the transfer of that tract of land to the
allegiance of the United States The conduct
Of Sir Edmund Head Is criticised as showing
show very little some British fellow subjects
care for the political status of Canada when
money can be made by disregarding it." In
an account of an interview between depu-
tation of gentleman interested in the terrific
ry, and the Duke Of Buckingham, Mr.. Sey-
mour, M. p, is reported to have said that il
nothing was done for the Red River people
the Hudson Bay Company's possessions would
be sold to the United States. Mr.. Roebuck
said that "as sure as there is sun in heaven,
the United States vii thrust themselves be-
tween us and the Pacific Ocean if some steps
are not taken to prevent It," and added, "that
the time is not far distant when, as commu-
nication with the Red River country is now
through the United States, the country will
be overrun with American settlers, and they
will claim to belong to the United States."-
Canadian papers do not disguise the fact that
the title of this territory must sooner or later
be conveyed to the United States, but protest
against anything Of the kind as not in accord
ance with the "highest style ofloyalty or pat
riotism"1 ni 3" 81 '5- 1' 3r
Am PARTY SPIRIT
However, runs SO high In Canada that it
would seem to be fast deadeniAg all real and
enlightened regard for the good of the DOM
inion. The valuable territories Of the Hudson
Bay Company, and the rich region of the
northwest threaten to slip from their grasp
The new government urgently requires t. be
consolidated and strengthened; spirit of ma
tionality needs to be created by the demon
stration of a common national interest; these
is call for the exercise Of patriotism, self
sacrifice, and industrious unselfsh devotion
to the public good. But unfortunately one
sees few signs Of any such spirit. The prin-
cipal public men, instead of setting themselves
to consolidate Canadian interests ON Canadi-
an soil, are squabbling in the outset over the
loaves and fishes, engaging in keen struggle
for party dominance, and what seems infip-
itely more absurd, wrangling over titles ofno-
bility, crosses of the Bath, and questions of
precedence Meantime the elections are
drawing near. Lord Monck's present cabinet
owe their places solely to his discretionary ex-
ercise of the powers with which he was in
vested by the Act of the Imperial Parliament.
They were not chosen by any parliamentary
party, and they represent no political party
out Of doors They are ministry strictly and
literally without followers. As body they
ton Of individuals, who are at the head ofno-
thing except the departments,--o and usual,
newly invented and unusual,-over which
they respectively preside. As an administra-
ton they have their followers yet to find or
to create. They may be turned out OF Office
by the very first vote given in the first House
of Commons; and they know this so well, that
they are bending their energies to the one
business of electioneering, leaving the pres
ent affairs of the country to look out for
themselves. How long the Dominion can
stand this kind Of thing, and also the enor-
nous expenditures which the new govern
ment machinery involves, remains to be seen.
10 .iirta ITEMS.
Canada, at the Paris Exposition, carried off
three gold, thirteen silver, and twenty-nine
bronze medals, besides forty-three honorable
mentions.
i A joint committee of Common and Select
Councils of the city of Philadelphia visited
Canada last week for the purpose Of obtain
ing information regarding Canadian trade
and commerce, banking and customs, and gov
ernmental system, general and municipal
One of the changes operated by Conledera-
ton Is that henceforth the Governor of Que
bee will, as previous to the conquest, worship
in the Catholic Cathedral. The pew, former
ly occupied by the French governors, had al
ways been reserved, judges only being allow
ed the use of it. We now learn from the
Courier du Canada that 1t has been restor-
ed 10 Sir N. Belleau, who, last Sunday, occu-
pied It In state with Lady Bclleau. This res
toration of French governor to his pew In
the Catholic Cathedral of Quebec is hailed
with delight by the French citizens.
The Quebec News says that, if the Inter-
colonial Railway pass by their doors over the
present line of the Grand Trunk, the ancient
capital will sink to the level OF such towns as
Kingston, Brockville, Prescott, and Three
Rivers. The Point Levi land speculators
have been disappointed in their operations
Lots that day or two ago were valued by
their owners at $4,000, can How, since the
publication of Lord Monck's reply to the dep
utation on the Intercolonial Railroad, to be
had for $4,000 or less. .'ef
Divers attempts are being made to produce
a national anthem for the Dominion. The
Toronto Globe suggests that it "would be as
well to wait until we are nation before we
have a national anthem"