The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-03

PORTLAND.
fut sdav Mermng, Farca 3, 1879.
DOminien of Cnnndr.

|
Inc Parliament OF the Dominion Will as.
semple in the course Of few days; and the
press OF the country is already laying out the
work which that body will have before it.
! Inc revision OF tho tariff will be among the
tasks hrst demanded at its hands. New
bfunsH Kick and Nova Scotia aie united al
most 10 man in their determination to be
rio OF the present onerOus duties on the nee
essarles OF life; and it is not likely that their
VIII viii be resisted. The Government and
Its friends begin to understand that they have
difficult task before them to prevent their
iale'y-iaunchei ship OF state from going to
pieces before her voyage is fairly begun. The
tone OF the government organs in discussing
the condition OF affairs is very serious. They
all counsel concession ard cancellation to-
ward the disaifected Nova Scotiahs There
are sun rnmors also of cabinet changes, ard
oT John A. Macdonald is pointed out as the
Jonah who should be thrown overheard to
save the ship of state Irom laundering. The
quebec Chronicle in a recent issue, holds the
following language; .a III
Some, including MANY in the Iower Pro-
ylnceS, point 10 the P.emler as the great
stumbling block of the Cabinet. as re ,ards iIs
!iternai harmony and the adoption of q policy
iust ana conc!ilat?ry TO all portions of the
Dohiihion. IL IN sad in those Provinces that
the retirement OF Sir John A. Macdonald
from the Cabinet would crafty and reassure
the people, who appear to look upou him with
( suspicion, well or i'll founded. Now, should Ii
appear that Sir John alone, or he and two or
thfee Of his colleagues, have outliyed their
usefulness rs Ministers. and that his or their
reNfenieht Tor the pr sent would concifiate
nova Scotia, or considerably increase the
ohtan sentiment there, no doubt such sacr-
nce % personal ieelug shou d be ma lie. True
patriotism frequently demands the subordna
tion OF personal desires ami ambition to con
SluefatiOns of public in crest, and Individual
Hkes OF d'sl,kes should not be permitted to
stahu IN the way OF such acts. This Union
mas COST 100 much labor and anxiety has ex-
cited 10 many patriotic hopes, and Is too full of
prom ses for the future be given up with
OUT an eif1rt or "a struggle. All that we can DO
IN iarness and in Loaor, TO remove the pre.
JuuHes, ana, possibly, the grievances of our
brethren by the sea, should be cheerfully per-
formed, TO establish the foundations of the
Cnlon aeep IN the popular heart, and to make
the connection a veritable bond OF strength
ana genuine source of prosperity and great
ness to British North America. In compari-
son with such results, what signifies the
sneiVihg OF this or thai worn-out politician?
1t is somewhat doubtfAl whether the disaf-
fection existing in che Maritime Provinces,
al least in Nova Scotia, may not have passed
the stage when ii could have been arrested or
appeased by change OF Ministry; but the
Chronicle is certainly correct in its declara-
ton that no means should be left untried to
conciiiate the NAL contents. m -se4f
There has been some uncertainty as to
whether the Nova Scotian members of the
Dominion Parliament should resume their
seats at Ottawa; but in caucus held recently
by them at Halifax it was resolved that they
should do SO. aaa-4 as r-s rar 4
The route of the Intercolonial Railway is
not yet a settled question. 1t Is still under
discussion in the cabinet. A New Brans-
wick paper, commenting upon the recent res
olutions OF the Legislature OF that Province
against the Northern and Central routes, ex-
presses conviction that this action will
have much influence upon the Privy Coun-
cil But equally .shrewd though less inter-
ested observers, il view of the stupidity con-
stantly manifested by that body, and of its
subserYiency to certain Montreal influences,
are far less san2uine.