The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-10
The Dominion Repeal Agitation.


The speech of Attorney General Wilkins in
| the Nova Scotia Legislature, threatening nul-
| fcation, secession and fight as the result of
| any attempt on the part of the New Dominion
| to coerce the lower province into remaining
in the confederacy, has not yet received the
attention which its Importance as the initial ut
| terance of a great revolutionary movement
calls for. By mail advices from Halifax, pub
| lished in our columns to-day, we find that the
parliamentary utterance Of the first law officer
Of the province has alarmed the local authori-
ties Major General Doyle, Lieutenant Gov
ernor of the colony, speaking in the name of
the Queen, has, with all the adroitness of an ex-
perienced cabinet adviser, and the peremptory
bluntness of court martial president, officially
requested the Attorney General to define his
positon-to say if he is a traitor to the Crown
or loyal citizen? Mr.. Wilkins is asked by
the General to acknowledge or deny news
paper report of certain portions of his address
enclosed from Government House." With.
the ready perception of good British law
yer, the Attorney General saw at once
that to ''hesitate was to be lost"
General Doyle wished to know if
the ''disloyal sentiments attributed to him
were really uttered by him." IF Mr.. wilkins
replied simply eyes" perhaps the constitution
would be suspended next day, martial law be
proclaimed and the enemy of confederation
find himself in prison as an armed traitor. If
he answered ''no," he would at once lose his
political capital and be classed as a confedera-
ZIONIST. With excellent Judgment the Attorney
General informed General Doyle that he is
''actuated by the strongest emotions of 10y
atty" and as proof of his feeling says he is en-
deavoring for ''the restoration of the constitu-
ton of Nova Scotia for the reason that con-
federation with Canada twill ultimately lead
to annexation with the United States"
This very neat manner of bunting and turn
ing aside the edge of the sword with stroke
of the pen renders Mr.. Wilkins standpoint I'M
assai'able by summary measures on the part of
the Executive. His famous speech will be re-
vised by authority, but enough viii remain to
show that it is no idle threat of an excited
orator. The Assembly, Of which he is the
leader, are wholly with him, and on Tuesday
passed resolution condemning the Lieutenant
Governor for his action in this matter; and
although the Lieutenant Governor yesterday
quelled this additional rebellion by threats of
dissolving the Assembly unless the resolution
was expunged, that body is doubtless of the
| same opinion STILL
| Nova Scotia was by means and agencies
| thoroughly familiar to politicians of all coun-
tries entrapped into giving its adhesion to the
| scheme of confederation with Canada but no
sooner was the act accomplished than the
Parliamentary opposition, strengthened by the
very means used to crush it, became all-pow-
erful in the province and set about the task
| Immediately of undoing the work that had
been performed and recovering its lost au-
tonomy. Every effort of Cancellation was
attempted on the part of the Canadian authori-
ties TO seduce the leaders in this repeal move
ment from their allegiance to the people; the
whole weight of the imperial influence was
thrown into the scale, alternately threatening
and cajoling without effect, aud at the last
| general election in the province but two union
members, as they are called, were returned
TO the House
|
hand" obscuring the efulgence Of that
great luminary which is grandiloquently
by British orators said never to set on
Englands empire, and in this rebellious
attitude of Nova Scotia there Is most per-
picking question for England's rulers-for
| Englands home rulers--for so far "a Canada Is
concerned that province Is powerless to attempt
anything In the way of military movement.
Between 1t and the lower province lies the
province Of New Brunswick, itself but luke
warm in Its adhesion to the new rtgime, and
far more likely In the event of q war to cast
its lot with Nova Scotia, and by checking the
| forces Of the central government at its border
protect Its fair fields from the devastating
march Of hostile armies. The Nova Scotians
are sturdy race, thoroughly imbued with O
military spirit, and, thanks to the fostering in
1uence Of the parent government, with q
thoroughly organized, armed and equipped
militia force, composed of men Of mixed Irish
and Scotch descent, who having something to
fight for, would be difficult of subjugation.
What will England do in this crisis becomes,
then, the great question to be considered.
will she give mortal offence to Canada and
ALLEVIATE the affections of the Canadians by in
terposing her authority to aid In the disrup-
ton Of the great rival confedcracy created
by her as counterpoise to the United
States, or will she seek to trent Nova
Iseots as she has heretofore treated ireland 2