The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-13
THE NEW DOMINION.
A Thousand Petitioners Bedegs Parliament
House In Victoria, British Columbia-
No Violence 0fered-The Decos-
mos Ministry Dissolved

VICTORIA. B. c., Feb. IL, 1874
Monday afternoon citizens, numbering nearly
1000, marched to the Parliamentary Building IN
an orderly manner There was Q large police
force on hand, but no disturbance occurred. DR..
Helmcken presented q petition. passed 1t meet
ing on Saturday. the gist or which II that this
meeting deemed 1t inadvtsable to enter into any
negotiations tor captaizng the dry dock guar
antee or to borrow any money from the Dominion
government until the scheme Of the Mckenzie
Ministry for the alteration OF the terms OF
union shall be made known; and, further,
that IL Is distinctly opposed to the pro-
'incial government interfering In any manner
WIN the terms OF union or agreeing to any new
terms onered by the Mckenzie government until
'ney nave been submitted to the people for
adoption.
tae apphcasion by the Ministry for q gunboat
10 De stationed at the government buildings was
reiused py the commander OF the fleet.
resolution was also sent to the civ members
who support the government, calling upon them
TO resign. Inc same afternoon Decosmos resigned,
anu mas since ieft the city, 1t is said to stand for
an outside district for the Commons
To-day Mr.. Walker, OF the Decosmos Ministry.
was called upon by the Governor to form A GOV.
eminent. 1t Is understood that he viii make no
changes in the
PERSONNEL OF THE CABINET
Mr.. Morton, one OF the leaders in the attack ON
the Parliament Buildings. is out as a candidate for
the Commons, and Higgins. another leader, having
been threatened with arrest, publishes o card &C.
ceptIng the entire responsibility OF the demonstra.
uon.
The House meets on Friday, when the petition
win be considered. The press In opposition to the
general government say that nothing but dissolu-
ton will satisfy the country, and charge that the
attempt to change the terms OF the union was done
to vitiate the railway clause. .l.-
THE COLONY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
includes Vancouver Island. within few miles o.
which is San Juan. small spot in Puget Sound,
which it took the Emperor OF Germany to decide
whether it belonged to the United States or Great
Britain. The Dominion OF Canada has had many
troubles since 1t attained Q kind OF independence
In 1867, and among the most serious and most diff
hcult to overcome was the positive aversion OF the
maritime colonies to consent to absorption in the
provinces OF Quebec and Ontario. The colony has not
more than 1000 inhabitants, exclusive of Indians
and Chinese, who probably amount to twice that
number, but II has large resources in fisheries and
mines and It's geographical situation Is such as to
adapt 1t to command y large trade on the Pacific.
British Columbia was visited In 1857 by at LEASE
1000 California miners attracted by the reports Of
vast gold deposits on Frazer River but the adven-
escaped from the intense severity OF the climate
were glad to get back to the United States. The
and emigrants can only reach there by passing
through the American Pacific States. Its greab
want has been means OF active communication
with Canada and, comparatively, with the world at
large. The Dominion government, in order to
induce the colonists to join the union made an en-
eagement to
CONSTRUCT A RAILROAD FROM ONTARIO
to the city OF Victoria, IN Puget SOUND, and to pro-
vide for steam communication with San Francisco,
besides contributing annually considerable sum
toward the support OF the local government.
Work on the rallroad was to have commenced in
n n
guaranteed loan OF Ooo, 900 to aid in its con-
structon, and the highest hopes were entertained
that the Dominion was about euternS on Grand
and progressive career. But the disclosures in
the management Of the anairs OF the company.
to grief and which, in the recent elections
LEFT his party IN miserable minority,
neighbOrs. Over $l,o00,0OO have been spent in
surveys, and though work was to have been COM
menced At both ends OF the road seven months
OF the line has been located and 1t does not APP
pear even that a practicable route has been
found. There has been, therefore, complete
BREACH OF THE LEADING CONDITION
upon which British Columbia entered the Cana
openly and emphaticaIly declare that 1t Is as SEN
siDle 10 talk oibunding railway 'to the moons
as to think OF doing anything practical In con-
years. The terms OF annexation with the conIed-
eracy specified the route of the railway, but it is
now announced that this must be changed.
AS might be expected the pucky British Column
bans became wrath on learning OF tins breach OF
IaIth Though o mere handful they own a very
entered into should not be dsregarded Their
only interest In political connection with Can
ada was the building o1 the Pacific Railroad, and
that falling they consider they will be better OF
going 1t On their own hook. They claim the right
acknowledge the authority OF the British Crown.
The nrst provincial Legislature OF British Column
bia met at Victoria in December last
The Canadian Parliament.