New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-25
NEWFOUNDLAND and TIE EWDoMIYION

FORTUNATE RESULTS OF REJECTING ALL TERMS OF
UNION WITH CANADA SOME INTERESTING
NOTES on THE RECENT FISHERY TROUBLES
THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION IN NEwFoUND-
LAND.
iron An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ST. JOINS, n. f., Jan. 5.-The unusually
prosperous condition of this ancient colony, after many
years Of unvarying retrogcssion, contrasts snguary
with the steady cry OF hard times which constantly
reaches nowadays from the United states aud each
OF the COnfcderated Provinces which form the Domn-
ion Of Canada 1he chief cause given for the happy
condition OF things this island Is the maintenance OF
its responsible government in opposition to the original
scheme of Confederation, which Newfoundland was
numbered among the prospective dependencies OF TIE
New Dominion After three vigorous efforts at the
polls reduce these cOonsts to terms and deliver their
legisat the Parliament at Ottawa, the CoDfeder
ates the party in favor OF union with Canada was
called abandoned their welghy project and turned 10
Issues OF domestic nature. How the colony mas
proed by refusing the terms of confederation Is eX-
panabe by the that for the past four or five years
the revenues of Newfound and have each year about
doubled the annual allowance specified in the original
scheme OF confederation. For meagre yearly stipend
from Canada this island was asked to surrender the
control Of its peerless fisheries its forests mineral
lands, and Labrador, the Gocouda Of all hshinS
grounds. The Canadian tariff would be substituted for
the light duties which the local government imposed,
and the Dominion would be free to levy an export tax
OH the exports of island But all these serious dis
advantages were avoided by the resolve Of the people
to preserve tho OF responsible government and
seftaxatiOn.
Then followed successful seasons, largely increased
revenues the discovery Of virgin fshnggouuds in tho
extreme north OF Labrador tecming with mackerei,
herring cod and SALMON the copper mines Of Tilt Cove
and other settlements began TO yield immense returns
and attract the attention Of American and English cap
itasts; in fine, every local circumstance tended TO
strengthen the Newfoundander's conviction that in
having rejected the terms OF confederation with Can
ada he did what was Just and prudent
ST. Johns IL an oldashioned town and slow to discard
stirring events at the legendary nnedays' notice The
Halifax Award is still open question here, and the
alleged Outrages perpetrated twelvemOnth ago upon
American fishermen at Fortune Bay are discussed witha
yehemence worthy ofya facts Of recent occurrence IL
interesting relate that the people of Newfoundland
are by no committed without hcarng-or rather
saying-tO the British size OF that tangled question
Not long since had an opportunity OF learning from
several worthy planters of Fortune Bay that the report
made TO the Marquis OF Salisbury by the British naval
officer. Captain Sullivan who had been ordered to In
yestiea the particulars OF the alleged outrages, was
an unqualified partc statement. His principal in
formans were bgoted and frenzied natives, who bad
participated in the pratical attack when the American
fishermen fred upon and their seines seized and
wantonly destroyed. The pretext for this desperate
conduct the violation OF the local Sunday law by
the Americans in fishing on the Sabbath IL was, indeed
but imsy prctcxt TO conceal the biRotry OF tho ma
ves and Justify outburs Of malice for upon the day
OF the outrages, and upon preceding and succeeding
sabbaths, openly spread and mended their nets
adjusted boatgear repaired their s1s prepared their
fishing tackle and engaged In other things which IN
yoved as great breach OF the local Sunday law as
did the tong of the Yankees who provoked their ire
One coOl-eadcd planter from Fortune Bay tOd NE tat
the indignant fishers who had desperately vndIcated
the sancy OF the Sabbath by destroying their neigh
bors property and firing bullets at them, resOrted to
upane way OF proving the sincerity OF their motives
after the muny They paraded the byways OF fortune
Raw followed by uprOar0us groups OF devout saDData
rans in whose midst numerous dscordant concbs were
blown with eXultant vim. Sea songs and TRADITIONAL
ballads were rendered with junction., and host OF anna
teurs assisted in the bosterOus choruses Tho pious
uphoders OF the day OF having thus RECALLED their
Christian spirit in the open air. betook themselves 10
divers abodes whittier the INDIGENOUS musicians were
summoned for with fiddle and pipe TO stimulate the
dance and copous measures OF rum TO exilarate the
dancers their glorious vindcation OF the Sabbath could
be ali the more fifty celebrated
A more satisfactorily demonstrated case OF fana-
clsm It would be difficult to imagine. Most of the
rioters became drunk and unruy. Such are the plain
facts regarding the conduct OF the men on Sunday
afternoon VINO went forth TO seize and destroy property
end explode firearms in vndicatOn of the sanctty OF
S''''~N''SH'
that OF all sections Of Newfoundland was in Fortune
Bay alone that such deporabc outrage could have oc
Cured because have the strongest assurances that
apart Insignificant minority the people OF this
colony cherish warm sympathy with the United
States and furthermore have found the desire for
annexation to general among intelligent Newfound
landers who unequivocaly assert that they would
gladly advocate that project If sotHe promising means
toward l(s fultilment were clearly defined.
The belief prevails III Newfoundland that the appoint
ment of the Marquis Of Lorne to the GOyernorGen-
erashp of Canada made at the suggestion of the
Earl Duerin. whose keen study of the leanings OF
people led him to suggest the presence OF
royalty i'll the New Dominion. Tue sa9aci0us Earrs
foresight told him that such rare stroke OF pol
lev would revive the old spirit OF loyalty In Canada,
which quietly but inevitably giving way to
spirit OF liberalism and independence. i'll which sympa-
thy with the mother country mingled in merely
nominal degree Few wondered. then, at the tri-
ha landing OF the Queens daughter and the heir OF
Argyle at old Halifax and their stately transit thence
to the capital of the New Dominion because the sin-
plest-niided clearly understood that the puTport Of
arousirg such enthusiasm as has attended the new
Governor. Generals coming was TO cOunteract the
wayward tendencies OF young Canada, ana to draw
more closely the ties between old England and her
North American colonies.