The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-28
CANADA's sEMI-CENTENARY

Next year will mark the semi-cen- tenary of the Dominion of Canada, and, while the war has somewhat in terfered with the plans for the cele- bration of the anniversary. 1917 will not pass without notable commemora- ton of the rounding out of 50 years of national existence. Today is the forty-ninth anniversary of the royal assent to the British North America Act by Queen Victoria, under which the new Dominion of Canada was for
 nalIy inaugurated on the first of July following.
 The idea of a federal union of the Provinces of British North America had been discussed for more than half a century preceding the actual union. The first important, gathering of the statesmen who favored confederation was held in Quebec in 1864, when Upper and Lower Canada Nova Sco- tia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland were repre- scented by their ablest men. It was a growing fear of the hostility of the United States, manifested in the Trent affair; the Fenian raids, and the abrogation of the reciprocity treaty, which made the confederation move menf popular and gained for it the aI- legiance of majority of political leaders and the masses of the people. The original conference of the Fathers of Confederation resulted, after long de1iberation, in the passing of the 72 resolutions which eventually became the British North America Act, and the constitution of the new Dominion. Union resolutions passed the Canadian Assembly and Council with little opposition, but in the Mar itiIne Provinces the victory was not so easily gained. In Nova Scotia there was a great deal of opposition to the plan, but it finally received the assent of the legislature. In New Brunswick success was achieved only after two general elections. Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, although rep resented at the Quebec conference, re- mained aloof.
 Of the changes made in the original resolutions before they were passed by the Imperial Parliament and re- ceived the assent of the Queen, the principal one had to do with the of fcial title of the new confederation In the original draft of the act, pre- pared by Sir John Macdonald, the union was called the Kingdom of Can- ada. Lord Stanley. afterward the six teenth Earl of Derby, who was then British Foreign Secretary, opposed this name as likely to be offensive to the people of the United States, and the title of .'Kingdom' was dropped and stDominion'' substituted.
 Canada, which comprised the pres ent provinces of Quebec and Ontario; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick com prised the original provinces of the, Dominion. The first years of the new nation were marked by strife and dis cord The Dominion had scarcely been launched when Joseph Howe, one of the leading statesmen of Nova Sco- tia, headed a secession movement which soon assumed formidable pro- portions For a. time it seemed that the new ship of state was headed toward the rocks, but wreck was averted and the controversy amicably settled.
 Manitoba was the first addition to the union, having been admitted in 1870 after the suppression of an armed insurrection against Canadian author fty, led by Louis Rie1. British Colub- bia was admitted to the Dominion in 1871, and two years later Prince Ed ward Island cast in its lot in the corr federation. SaswatcheWan and All bera were carved into provinces and Joined the sisterhood in 1905. The Do nainion will celebrate it's centenary as a union of rich and prosperous prov inces stretching from coast to coast.