The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-15
THE GARDEN Oh TnE GULF.
Prince Edward Island and
Confederation.
The Tempest, Calm and Peaceful Repce-flOw
Politicians Waxed Wrathful and Local
AddiSons Fought Inky Duels.
What the People Think Of
the Change.
RESOURCES OF THE ISLAND.
A Glorious Holiday
Retreat.
PASSING GLIMPSES BY TEE WAY.
The Present and Future
Prospects.
What the People Think Uf
the Change.
RESOURCES OF THE ISLAND.
A Glorious Holiday
Retreat.
PASSING GLIMPSES BY TEE WAY.
The Present and Future
Prospects.
SUMMERsIDE, Prince Edward Island,

sUMMERsIDE, Prince Edward Island,(
June 3, 1873. J
The excitement over the confederation scheme.
BY which this great egg producing country becomes
part OF the New Dominion, has at length subsidized.
and a feeling Of lamb-like resignation pervades
the island from East Point to Sea Cow Pond. His
tory may furnish thrilling episodes Of revolu-
tionary wars and wildly portray the wild and
fantastic deeds OF an oppressed and passionate
people when reused to action, but no pen has yet
described the heroism, selfabnegation and disin-
terestedness OF the good primitive folks OF Prince
Edward when the question Of annexation began
to take practical turn. Perhaps in years to come
some ardent patriot, now rending the legislative
walls OF Charlottetown with truly rural cloquence
viii pause and, thinking Of the great and
glorious day when Canada and his native land be-
came one, will describe for the benefit OF coming
generations, the stirring and soulabsorbing events
which marked the happy union. With loftiness
above reproach he win scornfully pass over the
hot and pungent compliments exchanged between
the local orators when the gauntlet was thrown
down on the mighty topic Of confederation. Then,
verify, did the island Ciceros come boldly to the
front, just as will heroic turkeys enraged at
crimson cloth. The smaller the pit The fercer fight
the rats. No pen can picture the nobility OF soul
displayed during the trying and momentous period
when, 1t is believed the very quilts OF the native
porcupine were severely affected, except, per-
haps, that OF the historian alluded TO. whose
task must be pleasure and whose fame
must extend even beyond the boundary
line within which the bold Yankee fisher
men fear to tread. Agriculturists, the great po-
tato- raising portion Of the community pricked
their ears farmers OF all classes from Cape Bear to
Horse Head stood still, doubtless awaiting an ex-
traordnary meteorological exhibitions the local di-
rectors Of the country's fate ran about at white
heat the very walls OF the Assembly Chamber are
said to have perspred with freedom, ana IL is no
figure OF speech to say that great crisis was at
hand These are merely facts for the historian,
who must have almost heard the heart throbbings
Of his fellow-countrymen when plunged In the deep
sea OF political agitation.
THE ISKY DUELs.
Nor can 1t be forgotten how the Addisons OF the
local press fulfilled their noble mission. The blood
curdng threats and prophecies OF the Ratuesnake
were answered with defiant grunts by the Weekly
Hedgehog, reiterated with treacherous bites by the
independent LOBSTER and overnauled at length by
the SENT Weekly cod. While the storm ragged
Lampoon "cut" Smith, Jones, of the Flattsh,
carried Greek dictionary for selfpro-
lection, and for time the benigerent
quildrivers revelled in the thought OF unching or
each other at no distant day. II can well be
Imagined how the enlightened people Of Prince
Edward became interested in the subject OF
confederation, and how their pastoral and poetic
notions became confused and distorted. But I
have already in previous letter traced the his
tory Of the which led to the consummation OF
the wishes or the Dominion Minister'S who SO
adroitly engineered the railroad bill which
eventually became the stile over which Prince
Edward stepped into the union.
THE LAST RESORT.
Embarrassed debt. the plaiD tYuth there
was help for the islanders but to make the best
OF what they considered o bad Job. And to their
credit, be 1t said the surrender of the government
was not agreed 10 without as shrewd and plucky a
piece OF negotiation ever satisfied greedy
and pretentious rustics. Ii is charged, indeed,
that the terms upon which the concession is
made are extravagant, and that before long the
Dominion government will suffer from its self
imposed burden. BE that as 1t may, the politicians
OF the island, representing simple but Stubborn
people, whose great earthly boon is the abolition
Of taxes, have not been hoodwinked In the trans
ton. The debt allowed to the island, at $50 per
head will amount s4.701, $50. less the sum 10 be
expended railways estimated at 81, 250, O00-
difference, say, in round numbers, $3.50 0OO-on
which the island is to receive five per cent or
$75,000 Then there is an allowance OF $45, 600 per
aonum for public works less i've per cent interest
charged upon allowance OF $500 600 for purchase
OF public lands-namey S40,o0o-leavlng an annual
payment to the island Of $1,000; for general pur-
poses, $4,000; eighty cents per head on
population OF $4,000 making annual sub
sidy OF $1,000; Lieutenant Governor, $4,000;
militia, $4,000; post once ana mail service
$4,000; lighthouses and quarantine $4,000 tele-
graphic communication, $1,000 aud interest at five
per cent on railways costing 49, $500 will amount
to $l6250o. Such are the terms obtained by the
islanders an annual charge on the Domnon
Treasury OF S40s 400, although s claimed that the
yearly payments to the Dominion by Prince Ed
ward Island under confederation will probably
reach II not exceed that amount. In any event the
Island gains by the bargain.
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK OF 1T.
II was hard task, first OF all, to make the noble
sons Of Prince Edward understand the meaning Of
coniederation Impressed with the idea tlat the
Dominion eye was covetous, and firmly believing
that the proposed union would involve them III I'M
tod predicaments, the sturdy farmers vigorously
protested against the scheme, and ii was not until
they were assured by long and persevering
arguments that their taxes would not be Increased
by the change that they consented to it. Even now
ieelng OF regret prevails throughout the island,
although II IL not INDUCED by the intelligent
portion OF the community. should the Dominion
government fulfil its contract, winch, OF course,
remains TO be seen, the success OF the scheme Il
beyond question. In my rambes through the
island have had the pleasure Of encountering the
SPECIES known as the fossiated iopy who doesn't
believe In railroads and shrnks with disgust from
your new Inventions. the sight OF sewing ma
chine wel-reguated axe grindern would
doubtless bring him 10 an early grave. On the
whole, however, the people are quickly becoming
reconciled 10 their late or fortune, whichever Is
ana when the machinery OIL Tue DOMINION
government shall have been put IN proper
motion wholesome revolution will unquesllon-
ably result. II is time that the Garden OF the
6ulf,o as II Is not nappropriatey termed, should
be developed, and no surer inethod could have
been adopted for that purpose than that o. con-
federation Distracted by innumerable petty tfou-
bes and Jealousies Tor years past, which few wise
heads could have readily removed, Prince Edward
Island might have continued for centuries to creep
on at its present snail-like pace without hope of
redemption, barnaclc on the British government
and the home of Isolation and discomfort. But
new light has shone upon a land sngularly blessed
by nature and possessed oil ali the elements consti-
tHted 10 make people happy
RESOURCES or TIE ISLAND.
Formerly known as the "Granary OF Canada
and very good granary 1t Is, Prince Edward,
within fe years, has done wonders in the agri-
cultural line. There are larmH In queens county
without equals In the whole Dominion, and further
down, Tor the matter Of that The exports VI The