New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-02
altogether unclouded, and the Viceroy has


task before him which will tax hN statesman
ship in no ordinary degree. Religious preju-
dices and animosities are still rife, the Protes-
ant minority of what was Lower Canada look
ing with jealous eyes upon the ascendancy IN
that section of the Roman Catholics, and the
Roman Catholics of the upper Province enter
tanning the same feeling toward the Protestant
majority there. Then, there is the discomfort
of the maritime Provinces, notably OF
Nova Scotia, with the new arrange
ment, growing out of the apprehension
that their commercial interests VIII
be sacrificed to the aggrandizement of the other
Provinces. There is the fact that the machin-
cry of government is not uniform, Ontarlo
having elected to have only one Legislative
Chamber, while the other three members OF the
Confederation are to have two Houses each
There are also the diverse prejudices OF race
as to forms of government the French portion
of the population leaning to centrallzation Oh
power, while the Anglo-Saxon are VIGOROUSLY
in favor of municipal Institutions There Is
the danger Of conflict between the General
Government and the several local governments,
the new Constitution failing to define clearly the
limits within which the functions OF the former
are to be confined. And lastly there is the
difficulty inherent in the attempt to establish q
sort of mock royalty in a community already
largely imbued with republican sentiments. In
their enthusiasm over the cOnsummation or
their hopes, the COnfederationists may possibly
overlook these elements of future trouble; but
the practical statesman cannot be Indifferent
to them; and Lord Monck doubtless al
ready realizes the greatness OF the TASK
that he has undertaken. Should he sue
ceed in consolidating the work when
has been commenced under his auspices, he
will indeed have earned a title to enduring
fame. During debate which took place In the
House of Commons on the Confederation bill,
John Bright in allusion to the opposition OF Nova
Scotia to the scheme, remarked that the House
should guard against "a little sore, left at time
"like this, becoming great SORE" The disatfee-
ton of the people of Nova Scotia is not the
only little sore that has been left by the Cana
dian politicians and the British Government.
It Will be interesting to watch how these Ill
GERS are treated by such State physicians as
Mcdonald, Gait, and MCGEE.
1t is impossible to read what has been writ
ten both in the English press and that OF
British North America, on this question without
perceiving that the feeling among the promoters
of Confederation is that, now the danger OF
annexation is passed-as they imagine-a great
and prosperous future is before the United
Provinces. One writer in a late number OF
The Fortnighhy RevieU says: "The shadow
"of the great Republic has hitherto rested
"heavily upon these Provinces; but they
"have already begun, and will continue,
"to free themselves from this" How
American greatness should have exerted
a malign influence upon the prosperity OF these
Provinces one is at loss to conceive; nor can
we understand, supposing the alleged mallgn
influence a reality, how Confederation is going
TO neutralize it. Time will show whether this
new scheme of government will give British
North America, comparatively, as much pros
perity as the United States enjoy. If 1t Is
now quasi-royalty versus republicanism, we
arc willing patiently to abide the issue OF the
appeal to that great arbiter