The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-22
THE PR ESS.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH ss, 1879.
Nova Scotia Politics.

.il Nova Scotia Politics. ouHi
A correspondent of the Boston Traveller,
writing from Halifax, gives an interesting in
sight into the political condition of the Do
minion, particularly the Province OF Nova SEQ
tia. The following is an extract:
~ . POLITICAL. .. ...f...
Nova Scotia can safely be congratulated up
on a political serenity and quietness, such as
she has not enjoyed during the last four or
five years. For once in decade the politi-
clans, who were wont to put things in fer
ment over some public measure, anent the
fisheries, confederation, repeal, or annexa-
ton, are, in this year of grace, without any
cause for disagreement. The local govern
ment has furled its banners, and has most un-
reservedly accepted the situation. More than
this, they have come down to the legislature,
and in face of all their predictions of ''blue
RUM that was overtaking the Province,
made the Lieutenant Governor, in the speech
with which he opened Parliament, few
weeks ago, say that we were never in more
prosperous condition that there was healthy
vitality pervading every branch of our indus
tries; and that the people were enjoying a
prosperity in all things loyalty not excepted)
such as never before had been vouchsafed un-
TO people on this continent.
H THE GOVERNORS S SPEECH
is document to which considerable impor-
tance is attached, as it is supposed to indicate
the policy of the administration, if it has any,
and what public measures are to be introduc-
ed for the benefit of the public. The speech
this year was an exception to the popular
idea. 1t was in fact an absolute negation of
all the elements popularly supposed necessary
to constitute Governors speech, for 1t nei-
ther promised any new measures nor indicat-
ed any policy upon any subject whatever.
This omission left everybody in a blissful
state of ignorance as 10 the movement of the
government upon the Washington treaty, i'm
migration, the mines and the crown lands
and the leaders of the opposition, for the
want of something to attack, pitched into the
speech for what it did not rather than for
what it did contain. The congratulations
for the Prince of Wales's recovery, and the as
surance of the loyalty of the people here, led
to an animated discussion; in fact the only
point in the speech in which any interest cen
tered. The opposition speakers rang the
changes upon the government for these same
expressions of loyaty, after all they had said
and done and threatened, when agitating for
repeal
1t is customary in our House of Represen-
tatives, when the Governors speech is under
COnSlutTdIlOll, anu dtl dllSWcI bucIcJO 10 Dc-
fore them, for every member who can talk, to
have his say. The debate ON the address is
looked upon as the most important one of
the season, and consequently much interest
is attached to the opinions and sentiments
that fall upon the members especially those
supporting the government : during the
course of the discussion. This year the de-
bate on the address occupied ten days. The
longest speeches and probably the best of the
session were then delivered.
h. A SPEECH ON LOYALTY"
1t was during this discussion that one of
the members of the government, young law
yer named Garvey, representative from the
city in the House, in reply to the taunt of the
Governors speech, delivered speech as re-
markable for its eloquence, as for the home
truths it contained. He said that if the peo-
pie of this Province were at any time during
the past four or five years disloyal or gave ut
terance to disloyal and un-British sentiments,
it was Confederation that made them SO.
When he went to Ottawa the English flag
was gone, and new flag like the Sandwich
Island flag was in its place. When he came
down the river he saw the great historic lines
of Kingston, where the royal Americans of
that time fought the wars of England so well,
and there the ramparts were dismantled, the
British flag was down, and the staff was bare,
and there was not red coat on the ramparts.
At Montreal the drum-beat was gone from
there, too. At the plains of Abraham, where
the blood of his own kindred flowed to pro-
mote British ascendancy on this continent,
the camp was preparing for the march, the
men waiting for the bugle sound to summon
| them to leave the Gibraltar of America. The
| flag was down there, too. That was the 10y
| alty-that was the closer British tie so largely
vaunted when Confederation was proclaimed.
| At the citadel of Halifax, to-day, the success
| ors of those royal Americans-the Goth Rifles
who commenced at Ticonderoga that won
derful seric Of colonial daring that led to the
captu.e OF O., bee, are on the wing to go, and
it was the ironY OF fate that the regiment that
carried the colors of England first into the
woods of Canada, was the regiment that had
carried them away from Quebec and was
ready to carry them away before long from
Halifax. The reason the troops were left
here was because the people could not be
trusted without repression by British bayon-
cts; and if Halifax to-day was not like Kings
ton and Quebec, it was because Nova Scott
ans had the manliness to resist the policy OF
Cardwell, the destroyer of the empire and the
honor and the army of England. He left the
regiments in Halifax for fear of the fortunes
of his pet Dominion.
During the delivery of these bold words in
the Assembly, the galleries were crowded
| with citizens, who, in defiance of the rules OF
| the House cheered the speaker.
INDEPENDENCE.
| ''Coming events cast their shadows before"
| The Hon. Joseph Howe, a member of the Do
minion Cabinet, at Ottawa, in public lee.
ture, declaring that the time for separation
from the mother country was approaching, i
! it had not already come; members of the 10
| cal government of Nova Scotia, on the fool
| of the house, declaring that a change was a
hand, and that it was time for us to put oul
house in order; the report of secret treaty
between the Dominion and England for al
early separation; the reiterated opinions o.
the leading newspapers of the Dominion, that
separation from Great Britain and Independ.
ence, was the ultimate destiny of the Domin-
ion,-warrant the belief that a change in the
| imperial policy toward the colonies is near al
! hand. Howe has been severely rated for his
| indiscretion, as it is termed, by some OF the
papers; he is called an ''old blab." He may
be 'blab," but he has been too long in har
ness, battling for the rights and independence
of the colonists, not to be able at this time o
day to read the signs of the time. The pub
lie sentiment of the Dominion is fast matur
| ing in favor of independence, and Mr.. How,
was right in reading public sentiment as h,
did. There are indications of the approach
ing change in the action of the English gov
ernment in withdrawing the troops, in tn
expression, both in and out of Parliament, O
the leaders of tho liberal party. The colonie
have been time and again assured by Eng
lands statesmen that whenever we expresses
willingness to go, England would not inter
pose any barrier to prevent us. The people
however, in the Dominion, were not prepared
for sudden change. In Nova Scotia, par
ticularly, there were too many association
and memories clustering around British con
nection. The army and navy stationed her
led our people mostly into one groove Q
thought--British connection, British glory
and British trade. OF late years, however
since Confederation, which has given us
semi-independence, ''the public mind has be
come partly If not wholly schooled in Inde
pendence doctrines, anu these doctrines to-da,
are fast taking hold. The Independence par
ty, 1t is thought, will be the party at the mex
general election. In Nova Scotia that part,
Is rapidly gaining ground. Some of our ultr;
loyalists says that independence is but anoth
er name for annexation, and that that plat
form is only decoy duck for the Annexa
tionists. Now, fortunately, there are yer,
few rational people here upon whom sucl
reasoning is likely to have any effect. The,
can readily understand that so long as we ar
connected with Great Britain so long will tn
markets of the United States be closed agains
us (; whereas, Independent, we stand far bel
ter chance of making better bargain wit
our neighbors in any future trade negotiations
than is secured to us under the provisions
the Washington Treaty. Many here, VIII
have keenly watched the progress of polite
in our new dominion, freely assert that Nj
| Iynx.. Afn ex..a, IL. .