The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-25
CORRESPONDENTS.
our Dominion Letter.

RIVER DAVID, L. o., Dec. ltth, 1871.
To the Editor Of The Bdnner:-DEAR
SIR:-The political situation in the
Dominion at this time presents many
queer phases to disinterested on-looker
Parliamentary business languishes while
tie members, both of the House of Com
mons and the local government are
wrangling over the spoils acquired from
government contracts, which were sub
let, thereby making hundreds OF thou
sands. An examination has unearthed
the most rotten corruption that has ever
been exposed to an indignant public.
Many conservatives are impatient at the
DELAY of Premier Abbott in forming a
new and strong cabinet. All claim that
he does not fill the place of Sir John Mac
Donald. All of the Provinces had their
respective grievances to air. Nova
Scotia is up in arms, because their win
ter port has been transferred to Port
land, Maine, instead of Halifax, Mani
toba is terribly exercised over the sepa-
rate school question, the Catholics
claiming the right to establish parochial
schools, and now to cap the climax a
good clergyman of the English Church,
demands the same privilege, arguing
with reason, if the church of Rome has
\ the right to separate schools, why not
the Church of England as well, so be-
tween them, and all other denominations,
the common school system is in danger.
New Foundland has never forgiven
Canada for interfering in the Bonel-
Blaine treaty for reciprocity with the
United States. Every fisherman in New
Foundland knows that but for the stand
taken against their colony by the Ottawa
government, they would be to-day en-
joying the privilege of free trade with
the United States. They have retaliated
by refusing to Canadian fishermen,
privileges accorded to Americans. And
now Canada has done the same thing by
putting on a tariff for all fish coming in
the Provinces. What the outcome will
be remains to be seen. Many think the
retaliatOry measure of the Ottawa gov
eminent will drive the ancient colony to
secede, and join the great republic where
they long ago wished to be. In the
meantime business is at stand-shll,
farms are mortgaged, home markets
for the surplus, a general depression
hangs over all the Provinces. Now the
question natur ally comes up, why is all
this? l claim the whole system is
wrong, from foundation to ridge-pole,
from the government at Ottawa, to town
council Nature in her great economy
has been as lavish in her gifts to Canada
as any other country. Her resources are
ineXhaustible. Her forests and mines
lie idle for the want of energy and CAPT
tai, her broad and prod uctive acres are
not cultivated in a way to produce the
best results. No tall chimnies grace the
fertile banks of her water-w many a
splendid water privilege sends their
liquid riches unutilized to the sea.
Ea Ia inn fn
United States; they exist as long as they
can under such diScouraging circum-
stances, and finally end by emigrating to
the Eldorado across the border. Last
spring there was great exodus, one sta
ton agent sold four hundred dollars
worth of tickets in one, day for different
points in the New England manufacture
ing towns and brick yards on the Hud
son river. If Canada's resources were
developed her young men and maidenss
might stay at home, as it is they must
go to foreign country to earn their
bread BY SO doing they aid their peo-
pie at home, and help pay up the mort
gage on the homestead. There is almost
as much American money as Canadian
currency circulating here, good part of
it is sent here by the toilers in the field
and factories of the United States.
There is some talk of annexation, but
do not think the majority favor it.
They have had a dream of independence
some time in the future, but the last
census was disappointing to these dream
ers, Instead OF increasing, they have
actually diminished, in some parishes
taken on an average, they did not come
up to the estimate hoped for. Indepen-
dence is SO far distant in the dim future,
IL would take an instrument of larger di-
mansions and more power than the Lick
telescope, to discover the least sign of
its naturalization. Speaking of the nat
ural resources of Canada reminds me of
an incident that happened here in this
parish few years ago. l cannot answer
for the truth OF it, but it was told me,
and vouched for by respectable citizen
of this place. An old farmer wishing to
excavate for well on his farm, so his
cattle could have water, commenced to
dig, and after getting down few feet he
stopped work for moment to light the
inevitable pipe which always accom-
panies him. When he gat back to work
he suddenly found himself surrounded
with flames. He had evidently struck
natural gas, which had ignited from his
pipe. He thinking he was getting dan
gerously near the bad regions down
below, took to his heels and ran home as
fast as his legs could carry him. 1t is
needless to say the well was located else
where. N. A. u.