The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-08-27
Official Press of King County
Tuesday, August 81, 1878.
SECESSION OVER TIL BOR-
DER.

now making another desperate effort to
scare the Dominion Government into
compliance with the terms OF the nnion.
Recent dispatches from Victoria state
In substance that q memorial was laid
before the house there last wednesday
by the premier addressed to her Males
ty the Queen, setting forth the grlev-
ances of the province in detail, and
concluding with an eDtreaty that, IN
event the Dominion Government fails
to carry into effect the Carnavoon terms
of 1874, before the first day OF May
noxt, it shall be ordered that British
Columbia have tho right to withdraw
from the union. This memorial we are
assured will be adopted by large ma
jority.
Really We cannot accredit our British
cousins with sincerity in this move
ment. 1t looks too much like political
bunsombe upon the face of it to be con-
strued into any sincere intention on
their part to withdraw from the union,
which 10 them is source of so much
profit. and perhaps they will tnd after
sxhausting oil their resources in this
direction, like the boy who wanted
NEE marbles, that the Dominion Gov
ernment don't scare worth cent
They wanted the promised transconti-
D entail railroad, of course. and are right
In demanding of the Canadian Govern
msnt compliance with the terms of
the union in this matter. but it must
DO understood that they are already the
recipients of too much government pap
TO be accredited with even tho remotest
intention or desire TO withdraw from
the union.
The trouble all comes just here. The
Canadian Government in their accept
ance of the Carnavoon settlement Of "a
and ia theis anterior agreement, under
took more than they can ever fulfill
The proposed railroad was a wild, i'm
practicable scheme, premature. at least
by half Il century. The bui lding and
maintenance of such road would have
wellnigh baukrupted the Canadian
Government. Admitting, however,
that the government has no intention
of building that road until tho business
Of the country will justify its construc-
ton, which must be many years hence.
and perhaps never. they have an ele-
plant on their hands in the possession
of British Columbia which they natu.
rally would have no objection to part
ing with, and British Columbus alone
woald be the loser by the separation
This province can practically never
DO of any benefit to Canada isolated as
1t is. and mus. remain for years, as at
present, a continual bill of expense to
the government, at least unless radical
reforms in the administration of its sf-
fairs are adopted. In the first place
the provinces is receiving an annual sub,
sidy of about $3SS. 900 from the Cana
dian Government The government
also runs tho postal and fishery depart
ments. and furnishes the judiciary
Then the senator's and representatives
of the province absorb not less than
$50. 600 more. In lieu IF ell this the
government receives in return the rev
enue OF the country. which does not
amount To more than about $3.50, 900
annually--Only about one third of what
she annually expends in sustaining the
expansive governmental machinery of
the province.
Besides what the dominion are an
hually expanding upon their local gov
eminent. some $50.00 are raised by
local taxation, which added TO the esti-
mate already given brings the cost OF
maintaining the government of the
Province To $4,000. Now British
Columbia only has about one-fourth OF
the white population of our Territory
yet We run our governmental machinery
at . total annual cost of $4,000.
Now we take it that our British
Columbia neighbors are too thoroughly
welded to the consideration of their
own interest, and altogether too fond
of federal pay. to back square out OF
the union with Canada. even If the
right they pray for were granted
TO them. Once out of this union they
would find il necessary TO reduce the
expenses of their local government
about one-tourth more. Then the heads
of score of their government super
numsries. who ere of no more practical
utility than the fifth wheel TO coach,
must needs come of. and surely there
would be weeping and gnashing OF
teeth. We would welcome them into
our union, but they could expect no
such stall feeding from Uncle Sam.
They would then be obliged to adopt
tho independence of the Yankee and
shift for themselves. and they have
been too long accustomed 10 look To
the government for help 10 undertake