The Portland daily press., 1869-02-10
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, February 10, 1859.
Canadian Items.
PORTLAND

III montreal on Thursday night, the TOO
OF large building known as St. Patrick:
Hall fell in while ball was being held in the
building. The hour was late and many o
the company had left; but though there was
great excitement,the symptoms of downfall
were providentially discovered early enough
to allow nearly the whole company to fly into
the street. As the last were escaping, the
roof fell in with tremendous crash. Several
persons were severely injured, but we believe
no lives were lost. The accident was caused
by the breaking of the iron girders in the
roof.
The Moniteur Acadien mentions the case
of young girl, Miss Ryan, who fell down a
flight of stairs, and upon the declaration of
doctor was buried. Her father, who was
absent, returning some days after, had the
coffin taken up, when it was found that the
unfortunate girl had been buried alive.
One reason why it is said that the New
Dominion capital is to be abandoned is the
want of any adequate provision against fires
in Ottawa. The insurance companies re-
fuse to take any more risks in that city.
Mr.. Wentworth Dixie in his book entitled
"Greater Britain" thus describes the people
Z of the Province of Quebec:
There is something about this of old France,
something of Dutch sleepiness and content
There is indeed, some hustle in the market
place, where the grand old danes, in snowy
caps, sit selling plums and pears; there Is
much singing made over the lading OF the
timber ships; there are RATS in hundreds
gliding down, down the river; old French
carts in dozens creaking and wheeling on
their numbering way to town, with much
cracking of whips and clappering of pooden
shoes,-the very boys wear noisy shoes against
their will, and make clatter simply because
they cannot help it. Nos Institutions,
notre tdngue, ct nos lois, As the motto of the
inhabitants. Their newspapers are filed with
church celebrations, village tstes, speeches of
ments by the "Scheriff," speeches of NJ. Car
tier at the conservation of Mgr Laroque,
blessing of bells, of ships; but of life,
nothing-of mention of what is passing
in America, not a word. Ia
journeying from Portland to Quebec, the mo-
ment the frontier was passed we seemed to
have come from a land of life to one of
death. No more bustling villages; no more
keen-eyed farmers; fog of unenterprise
hung over the land; roads were wanting;
houses rude; swamps undraine1; fields un-
weeded; plains untitled.
The Halifax papers declare that the Re
pealers of Nova Scotia are greatly exasperat-
ed at the detection of Mr.. Howe, and will
make desperate efforts to secure his defeat in
Hants county. Who will oppose him is not
yet settled, but among the possible. candidates
named is Mr.. James w. King, who was de-
feated by Mr.. Howe in 1867, by six hundred
majority. He was member of the last Par
lament, and strong anti Confederate.
There is still talk of another appeal to Eng
land, and of resistance to all compromise /;
but it is evident that the Repealers feel the
damaging blow which they have received.
They have been sold out, and like Mr.. Bum
BILE, they have the mortifying reflection that
they have gone very cheap. Whatever they
may do now. it is quite plain that there is to
be no fight, no grand appeal to the god of
battles, by persons devoting their lives, for
tunes and sacred honor to their country's
cause. The Dominion authorities having
discovered that it is cheaper to buy malcon-
tent patriots than to fight them, and the pat
riots having come to the conclusion that it is
safer and more profitable to sell their country
than TO die for her, things are likely to adjust
themselves on this comfortable basis. The
people will grumble and chafe, but they can
do little. They have no effective organiza-
ton, and they have lost confidence in the
public men in whose hands they yet are. In
the Dominion the power of the people is to a
great extent fiction. Those who have the
government machine in their hands are able
todo very much what they please with it. 1t
is rather mortifying conclusion to all the
bounce and buster with which they have
been edifying an admiring world, but cir
cumstances seem to have been too strong for
them.
The ST. John Journal strongly objects to
the proposed removal of British troops from
the Dominion. 1t does not think s'the good
relations between the United States and Eng
land" likely to be disturbed, but considers
the requirements of great Military Rail
road, Notifications, &c." such as to make the
troops necessary.
Some members of the Common Council
have publicly charged the Mayor of st. Johns
with appropriating large sums Of money be-
longing to the city. An investigation is Or
dered.
Quebec is indignant because its parliament
ary delegation, sent to Montreal to present
an address of welcome to Sir John Young
were not invited to the banquet given in thu
Governor-Generaps honor.