The Portland daily press., 1869-08-02
DAILY PRESS.
CORTLAND
Monday Morning, August 3, 1869.
Republican Nominations.
FOR GOvERSOR
JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN,
OF BRUNSWICK.
The DominIsn Of Canaas
OF BRUNSWICK.


We are more and more convinced that the
'sDominion" of Canada is destined to be one
Of the shortest lived political makeshifts that
modern times have seen. The relation OF
the Provinces to the mother country is so
clearly repugnant to the democratic tenden-
cies of the people, Dominion" is such an
absurd fragment of antiquity to be brought
down to this generation, the jealousies be-
tween the constituent parts of the Dominion
are so serious and so constant in their opera
ton and the new governmental machinery
works SO awkwardly and with so much fric-
ton that it is not too much, for Yankee"
at least, to suppose that obituary notices may
shortly be in order. The next event that
may be expected to test the strength of the
Dominion is the
NEWFOUNDLAND ELECTION,
to be held early in November. AT this elsc-
ton the people will vote upon the PROPOSE
ton to make their island part of the Do
minion. The friends of the movement did
not dare to incorporate Newfoundland with
another province by mere legislative act, as
was done in Nova Scotia. Both branches of
the Newfoundland Legislature have voted
strongly in favor Of confederation, though not
without some opposition from influential
quarters. Mr.. Bennett, one of the most
prominent men on the island and member
of the legislative body. leads the opposition'
as Mr.. Howe used to do in Nova Scotia be-
fore he sold out for the sake of Office. If the
friends of confederation obtain anything
more than merely nominal triumph in the
coming election, the existence oil The Domin-
ion may be somewhat prolonged by the in
yigorating effect of a triumph. If, on the
other hand, the people of Newfoundland
should reject the overtures of the Canadians,
the dissolution of the confederation would be-
gin from that moment. To all students of
Canadian affairs we commend the Newiound-
land election. ..u.lf ,.s. Va a...,......s-
SIR ALEXANDER GAIT. 49,
} That man may have recovered from any
inordinate attachment for England and still
haze influence and power in Canada is abun-
dantly shown by the following article from
the London (Canada) Free Press: +.
The intention entertained by Mr.. Rose to
resign his position in the government has
been carried out, and rumor now INDUCES in
the usual suggestions as to successor. The
name of Sir Alexander Gait naturally comes
prominently forward, and is received by very
many with favor. But, then, Sir Alexander
desires the Independence OF Canadal 1t isno
secret that such is the case. he stated so in
the Commons last session. Nor has he de-
sired to keep back his views from his Sover-
,.<x tI.o nrroa FOR n ia stated n
doubted authority that upon the Governor
Generals communicating to him her desire to
confer upon him the honor Of Knighthood, he
stated in reply that before he could accept that
gracious offer he desired that TIE very strong
opinions he held on the subject of Canadian
Independence should be communicated to
the government at home. They were COM
municated, and the reply was to the effect
that the holding of such views would be no
bar to the Queens favor, and Mr.. Gait was
at once gazetted as Sir Alexander.
Perhaps this is the strongest answer that
Eeould be given to the empty-headed rayIngs
of those who have been attributing dis loyalty
and hostility to England TO- those who favor
Matchmaking Canadians. For ourselves, we
lever needed such cries, but there are some
people whose enthusiasm towards the old
country might induce them to listen to sug-
eestions OF the kind referred to. Now, how
ever, tldt tlC <LkiSSA hCA 1CiA h2S CAACtQCA "
Mr. Gait her signal favor, Notwithstanding
his views, it is time that the silly talk about
dishonesty and annexationixts should cease.
The candor exhibited b. Sir Alexander Gait
was admirable, but equalled by the snlight-
ened conduct Of the Queen, who is desirous,
as Sir John Young said at Quebec, to leave
everything connected with Canada in the
hands of the Canadians. el
THE REFFENsTEIN CASE. a
We are sometimes accustomed to think that
the fiscal affairs of no country in the world
are conducted With so much laxity as our own.
But the recently discovered defalcation of Mr..
Reiffenstein, clerk in the Finance Depart
ment at Ottawa, has made the Canadians be-
lieve that they are cursed by similar evils.
This dishonest clerk is supposed to have be-
gun operations in 1886 and to have, been ems
gagged in stealing ever since. How much he
and his confederates have taken is yet un-
known, but the sum is supposed to be very
large. The worst it Is the defaulter was
left at large on insufficient bail and, has left
for the United States. ~ saslues
iaiz GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN. RI
has been stirring up the British lion again by
his harangues to the people Of the Pacific
coast. he has called their attention to the
fact that Puget Sound is the seat Of future
empire and that the United States ought to
possess British Columbia. This makes the
Canadians the more eager to unite it with
the Dominion, and efforts in that direction
no doubt be actively pushed. : 'ni 'lal -
IA" IA. H ID "a "