, 1873-01-16
THE NEW DOMINION.
The Forthcoming Session Of
the Canadian Solons.
A Discussion of Public Men and
Measures. .,-
The Material Development and
Resources Of Ca1iada---Thc
= Ship Canals, Iltc.

Efo7. Our Qua, Cpyespcnitnk
OTTAWA, Ont, Jan. ., 1878.
TIE FORTHCOMING LEGISLATURES
The err Of legislation is upon us. Through
ont the ylo extent Of tho territories joined for
veal or woe, into tho ~Capadian Confederation,
Local Legislatures are, have been, OF shortly
will be, in session. Tie gathering OF the solona
having soats in the Dominion Parliament will
also take place within week or two, although,
ualle the Congress Of tho Unitoa States, they
have no time f1ed for assembling. The MEM
bors of ali the several bodies arc known, and the
position they will take in the forthcoming do
bates can 10 estimated, with more or less accn-
racy. Tho public men in Canada worthy tho ap-
po1Iation OF statesmen are very few, and the ill.,
PRODUCTION of "pariah politics" into not only the
Local Legislatures, but even the debates in the
Dominion Parliament itself, has u1nlo the av-
erago member feal himself to be little better
than civic Alderman, nnd tho basiness with
which he has had to concern hiulsef
barely Of greater importance than tho location
Of l. county-seat, or the appointment Of a Dis
trict Coroner. There aro q ins " and "outa j
but, at the close Of tho last session Of tho
Dominion Legislature, the former SO far out
numbered tho latter that thoir position seemed
Legislation, especially under IN anomalous system
Of Government, with several Provinces disa1fcct-
ed, md one in open rebellion during that period,
was not litely to DO devoid Of points which, in
the hands OF h skilful Opposition, were caleu-
lated to cause change, to aome extent, in pub
lie opinion. That change found expression at
the late election; and it is beyond doubt thet
when the Parliament meets, there Wiu bo such
a mastering Of the clans OF tho Opposition as
will seriously threaten the tonure~of-ofice Of tho
present Administration.
Tho truth is, there is
NO sTnoSoLT-MARKED LINE or DEFAMATION
on the question Of principles between tho two
parties. It is fact that one favors IN income
suffrage,-tho other does not; that one would
submit the actual location Of public buildings to
the Legislature, while the other contends TINT
such course would open tho door to general
bribery and corruption, and claims the only way
Of deciding ouch questions Is by tho Govern
ment, it being responsible to the people; the
one would have stricter regulations to secure
the Independence OF parliament,--the other
nceHess to cay the Administration party-are
well content to have them remain as they arc.
But while, in principle, thoro is no marked an-
aSonis1n between the two parties, in practco
the lcaders claim o difference OF action as wide
asunder as the poles. The Opposition take excep-
ton to every act Of the Government and the
Government spends no inconsiderable part Of
its time in writing down the Opposition in gen.
eral as an ass. It is certain that Messrs. Mac
kenzie, Blake, Ct al, the leaders OF the Opposi-
tion, 1avo very excellent grounds of objection
to some Of the acts Of tho Administration. They
tabulate their objections to the Governmental
policy in the following way:
THE SPLENDID MINERAL LANDS OF TIE COUNTRY:
Nothing has bean done during the five yearH,
which have elapsed since the formal inaugura-
ton Of Confederation, to explore and develop
the vast mineral weal.h lying between Sault Ste.
Mario and tho Pacific.
Tie Administration says: It is not go.
THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL CANALS:
That five years have passed, and nothing has
been done to place the great inland wat6r-com-
munications OF tho country on footi:i. OF
thorough efficiency
The Administration replies: We have employ
ed an able Canal Commission, and intend to fol-
low out their recommendations The necessity
OF the enlargement Of all the canals between tho
Lakes, along. the st. LnErence, to the Gull, we
recognize; tho work shall be done at as early o
period as possible.
! THE GREAT NORTHWEST LIES uEpEVELoPED:
No means Of reaching the promised land
{Where the thermometer stands al 40 degrees for
six weeks), either by land or water, hnge been
developed, and the immigrant must still, per-
force, travel through O great portion Of the
fertile States Of the Northwest. before he casts
eyes On tho British territory north Of 10 degrees.
Instead OF communication. we have had rebell-
ion and, after its suppression, corruption rising
to Heaven with it's noxiousncss.
The Administration replies: It's Of no good,
gentlemen, to CRY over split milk. The North
vest il progressing; there is large tide OF; I'M
migration into it; and, when tho work on the
Pacific Road shall have reached that point, there
Of the Assiniboine as now line the mississippi or
the st, Lawrence. We hare Epent S100,CU0 in
tho construction Of road to Manitoba, and it is
almost completed. .'Not guilty, NC lud," in
fEo.
TIE GRAND NATIONAL po11c1 Is MxrH:
Tho great Canadian inland and oceanic marine
has not been created 10 now foreign marl:ets
have been opened to our trade; the st. Lawrence
carrying trade, in Canadian vessels, still e1iEts
ouly on paper and ne still suffer from the re-
Gult-fsheries, the so7ereignty Of the st. Law
renco, tho Island OF San Juan, the refusal ot :
Fei'iau raid clannz, and, lastly. tho degradation
Of sllbmitting,to price being PIT upon tho
by the English, Government giving its indorea-
tion on Emall portion OF tho bonds Of The Caba~
dim Pacific Railroad, which Wero juat as safe
and certain without such inlorHa as British
conEols. .....: 49,. .-
10 all Of which the Administration replies: It
al in error, A marine cannos be established
in day; look at cur American ncighborB !;
foreign markets cannot be opened By any ukase;
cn our parts and our BUSINESS with the States
is now greater, and eyon moro satisfactory, than
it YES under tho Reciprocity Treaty.; With re-
gnrd to the Washington Treaty, let's be sansuine
instead Of gangrene, and 1t has its bright sides,
which have called forth the admiration Of all the
civilized world. i
The oppooition talk OF the inconsistency, even N
unfa iulnezs, OF the Government, III tie mat
ter Of -,
- = AN ELECTION LAW |
The last election was in progress Tor six weeks;
aud, beyond doubt, tho o1t,nities thus At !
forded for corruption we're diligently used To
American minds, accustomed to elect q whole |
range Of officers, from President to Alderman,
il one day, and on one ballot, this will appear to
be- as it in fact really is, ono Of the strongest
points against the policy Of the present Admin
istration. And tAere ia no reply to the charge.
on FINANCIAL QUESTIONS, |
The differences arc on mere matters OF detail. !
Neither party at present favors restrictive tar
in; but tho Opposition arc more generally Free
Trn3cr1 than ft3ar a11rsenqfn1 adraytp Thu |