Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-03
Over the Border.
From Montreal TO DetrOIt-KingstOn-
BelIeviIIe Toronto international
Trnde-APPearnnceO fthe Country, PeO-
pie, etc.
IcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE DAILY sPY.l
kingston. Ontario. July %, Il

KINGSTON, Ontario, July 20, 1871.
Going westward from Montreal the traveller
can choose between two routes-up the ST. Law
renee by steamer, or over the Grand Trunk by
rail to Detroit, distince, this way, of about six
hundred miles; by water, farther. Either is
pleasant. tits simply a choice of Pullman cars
one way, and comfortable steamers the other
Time usually determines.
1t may as well be said here as in future letters
that, having been over nearly the entire length
of the Grand Trunk, find it vastly improved
in the last two years; for quite the whole
length is nearly equal to the best roads in the
states Though this may seem "damning with
faint praise" yet, TO those who journeyed over
it before the improvements were made by its
present manager, Hon. C. J. Bridges, it will seem
very commendatory. At present trains are run
as promptly as on other lines, and at the same
speed. The track is being relaid with steel rails
rapidly, and comfortable cars, made in SPRING
field and Worcester, are running in connection
with the Pullmans. The management is such
that, in every particular, it will soon equal the
leading roads on the continent. This much is
due to correct, as far as these lines may reach,
the impressions made upon the public mind by
the condition in which it was before its present
able head took control. 1t is delightful sum-
mer route in a northern climate.
This place is on the northern shore Of Lake
Ontario, near its junction with the St.Lawrence,
on a slope just sufficient to make it easy of ac-
cess and healthy. 1t was settled very early in
the history of Canada. Traces of its ancient
character are numerous and interesting-the
shape and style of the buildings, width Of the
streets and walks, the antique steeples of some
of the churches, and in fine, the whole appear
ance savOrs of the past. In the earlier days it
was the seat of government, on which it grew
and fattened. Until lately the English govern
ment kept a large garrison of troops in the forts
that lie frowningly on the opposite shore from
the city. Now these are all gone, and the place
seems in decline-a sort of selfconsumption
for the want of business men and capital to set
the wheel of new life going. 1t has fine
harbor, good railway facilities, and population
of $4,000, seemingly waiting to be awakened
into renewed vigor. Some of its residents say
that annexation is the only remedy. For our
part we can see no other.
The present system of government, and the
relations with the powers that be over the bor-
der, are an incubus that no self-will can remove.
Recently the Dominion board of trade met here,
and engaged earnestly in debate on CONNER
cial relations with their American neighbors.
The song and its refrain were, Annexation"
Provincial and influential men said and echoed
it. There was some mild opposition and ques-
tioning, coming evidently from lingering jeal-
ousy and fear of republican institutions, lest
Canadian fogyism, English-aping snobbery and
governmental sycophants came to grief, and
either go to the rear, or, fall into line and march
with events to a higher prosperity and better
career.
1t is as amusing as play to see these persons
look askance and superciliously at Americans,
and hear them converse relative to them, their
country and its nstitutions--cOmplacenty COM
pairing them to their mother land and her Amer
lean colonies. 1t would be hard to find else
where as much egotism, conceit, selfsuficiency,
and contemptuous and contemplate arrogance.
The conCeit of the Club" is modest indepen-
dence in comparison. They are merely scions
of the British aristocracy that built Albamas,
and have put their country in a humiliating con-
dtion, and given her bills to pay beside.
The Washington treaty is very unpopular in
Canada, and especially with the class to which
| have alluded. Yet they admit they are over
matched, and must succumb. Kingston is good
representative of the results of these aristocrats
and their policy. They are behind the century
feeding still on the glories of past age, and
fasting on the varieties of the present-endeav-
oring to beat away future as inevitable as q
flood tide after low water In American hands,
and guided by progressive policy, this place
would count, to-day, $4,000 people, educated,
wealthy, advancing, instead of the decay and
gloom attendant upon its retrogression.
1t is worth the travellers while to soiourn here
day. He can study the historic and venerable
days that have nobly gone; easily discover the
needs fthe present generation, and foresee that
which must come under either one reign or an
other. All around is a magnificent agricultural
country, as productive almost as any western
prairie wide sweeping level, dotted with
farms, and IN the dim distance stretch away
valuable forests of timber, here and there
varied with rich ores of iron, coal and other
minerals; coursed by streams of fine water,
however, and beautified by nayigabe lakes
Such is the character of the country nearly all
the way from Montreal to Sarnia-about 600
miles-an enormous territory, waiting the pro-
ductive and developing forces which follow the
flag Of the republic wherever it waves
We tarried awhile at Belleville, nearly 100
miles west from here, place subject in part to
the same system and similar people; yet many
Americans have ventured in and impaired to it
an appearance and prosperity that is unseen
and unknown here, though its natural advan-
tages are less. A New Yorker by birth, but
resident in Belevile many years, said to me:
"a poll tomorrow, on annexation, would show
large majority in its favor; it is our only sal
walton, our only hope without it prefer to re-
turn to the states" Yet, but little is said
about it. Men seem timid-afraid to speak
their sentiments. Concerted action, under
proper leadership, is necessary to show the real
opinions of the masses. They are learning rap
idly. The imaginary line no longer shuts out
the influences of liberty.
Toronto is an exceptional Canadian city-the
only one resembling ours in exterior and in
habits and customs. Less dull old fogyism and
crown loyalty-more liberality, enterprise and
progress. Located about as Kingston is, on the
charming shore of one of these vast island
seas-in "close communion" with Jonathan
copying his good points, although the process
may wipe off venerable royal rust. Their faces
are Zionward, and they mean to go. All
around, on every hand, in each department of
business In witch its 10000 people are busily
engaged, they are keeping step to the music to
which the century is marching. The fossils are
pretty much harmlessly asleep, and "young
Canada is intelligently awake. The chief bust
ness is trade-some manufactures. large
and well appointed university is located here.
One unfortunate popularity noticed all along
the Grand Trunk railroad is that most of the
villages are located from mile to three or four