The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-13
SOME y BOOKS.
RritLah America.

The third volume in The British Empire
ssrtes Is entitled British America Funk a Wag-
nalls Col, Toths aim Of the series we have pre-
yiously referred. The author OF each OF the
lectures now published was invited to give a
short account OF the part cular country discussed
nv him during the period preceding It's In
corporation with the British Empire. its colonial
history. the effect OF tho connection with Great
Britain on tho country and the natives. and the
outlook for the future, To these topics were 10
b added the conditions for colonization, Of trade
and commerce. the state and local government
and the laws OF the country. especially where
thsre was any great difference between them
and those Of tho United Kingdom. In the
volume before US the subjects treated are
the provinces composing the Dominion OF
Canada, Newfoundland. Bermuda, the Bahia
mas. the West Indies. British Honduras. British
Guiana and the Falkland Islands. Altogether
twenty-four lectures will be found here re-
produosd, among the authors OF which may
b named Lord ~STRATHcoSA. High Commits
soner for Canada. PETER BYRNE, Agent Tor
Ontario: Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, late Gov
srnor Of the Bahamas and also OF the Wind
ward Islands and Of Trinidad. and SIDNEY
OLIVIER. Colonial Secretary OF Jamaica. On
the lectures relating to the Dominion ~
Canada and to the British West Indies
w need not at present dwell. nasmuch as
ssvsrsl other books dealing with those subjects
have been reviewed in these columns within
Q comparatively recent period. We shall con-
nns ourselves, therefore, to what certain spe-
daily qualified writer's have TO tell us about
Newfoundland. Bermuda, the Bahamas, Brit
ish Honduras. British Guiana and the Falkland
Lslands..
Tbs island Of Newfoundland IL nearly as
large os the State Of New York; that Is TO say,
II comprises about $4,000 square miles. Tho
mass Of the inhabitants reside in that portion
which stretches from Cape 81, John to Cape
Race, and from Cape Race to Cape Ray. For
many years past there has been very little
immigration into Newfoundland. while the emf
grafton therefrom into tho United States and
Canada seems 10 have been considerable, Ac-
sording To the last census % per cent. Of the
present inhabitants are native-born. Religion
and dialect give a clue 10 their origin. or the
2io. 900 persons enumerated only I 500 are Pres
bytenns. These are engaged chiefly in mer-
camille pursuits, are mostly Of Scotch descent,
and. though more influential than their num-
bsrs would indicate, are late comors. Their
obt hn'V INV Nv FltlI 'h' oNhi''hF ~ '''NS
at a date earlier than the beginning OF this
century. The next considerable division Is
furnished by the Roman Catholics, who dwell
within the peninsula of Avalon and who come
from the south OF Ireland. They number
about 70. 600. the inflow of most Of them
may be referred to about the middle Of the
last century. Arthur Young gives a lively
description Of the brisk trade which existed
in his day between Cork and 81. Johns. The
residue Of the population Of Newfoundland
belong TO the Church Of England and the
Wesleyan body. They are of English descent.
Mr.. Beckles Wilson. who recently journeyed
through the island. detected almost everywhere
outside Of 81. Johns among the English-speak-
Ing inhabitants the habits, customs and dialect
OF Devonshire. That is not remarkable when
we consider the close relation Of the western
and southwestern coasts OF England to the
fishing banks OF Newfoundland.
The growth Of population and the develop
ment Of industrial enterprise brought about
the establishment OF representative institu-
tons In Newfoundland In 1892. The year 1912
Witnessed tho constitutional experiment of an
amalgamated house, the Legislative Council.
which was an appointive body, being fused
With the elected Assembly. In lstS there was a
retersion TO the ordinary type of crown-colonia
government, which was followed by the re-
sponsible or Parliamentary regime In 1855
Newfoundland was the last Of the Atlantic
provinces OF British North America to receive
the last-named boon. Like Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick In Decentralization days,
Newfoundland has shown erself inclined
70 centralizs political power. Municipal
institutions have yet to begin their career.
Outside OF a Council in st. Johns. which Is partly
elective, and has Of late incurred a debt, the
management of local affairs Is in the hands
Of certain boards appointed by Government.
and the cost Of roads and bridges, Of school
establishments and Improvements generally has
beon betrayed from the collective revenues Of tho
island. While Newfoundland has thus es-
capped the annoyance Of rates and assessments.
she has failed to enlist local sympathies, az
tachments. interests and responsibilities In
the promotion of the welfare of localities.
Tho later history Of the colony and its actual
condition are intimately connected with the
so-called supply system and its consequences.
Attaining it's maximum in the eos, this
system had many features Of a monopoly.
for It was centred in the hands Of a small body
Of capitalists called merchants, who resided
in the chief towns, such IA st. Johns. Harbor
Grace and Carbonear. II welded almost
absolute power over the main industries
Of the country, the cod and seal fisheries
and had brought within its grasp the import
as we'll as the export trade In the case Of the
cod fishery the mode OF business is described
as follows. Advances Of truck known as sup
plies and consisting of such things a. tackle
nets, Irvine, canvas for sails, clothing anc
provisions. were dealt out TO fishermen or mid,
demen in the spring. at prices which woulc
cover the risk Of loss and prospective profit
In the autumn a return would be made OF the
seasons catch. which on being sorted wa:
pdt to the credit side of the account, generally
at the price then ruling in the local market
Further supplies were then required for thu
winter. and would be obtained usually at th'
same rate. the sum still due the merchant. /
any, being carried over to the next season. II
the seal fishery the same order was observed
except that there was a Joint venture, continued
only for q month, and the advance was limited
to q kit In defence of the merchant
charges. it was said that he ran the risk OF
bad season and Of fluctuations In the foreign
market. On the other hand. II was notet
that he held the lever at both ends. and could
at least where he had many dealers re
coup from one the losses he might have suf
fered from another. In any event, II was
system that left much TO the discretion Of tn
Ind vidua. and lent itself easily to the pro
ducuon Of good dealers and bad dealers. OF ZOO
merchants and bad ones.
Now it was precisely in the COS. in tn