Year: 1867

| inPiofOu HiIhin tue last year. and the whole
| volunteer iofce OF ontario and Quebec is al


ready, by the liberality OF the Imperial Gov


emment, armed with the breech loading rife
| am happy to be able to congratulate you on
| the abundant harvest with which ithas pleas
| ed Providence to bless the country, and on


the general prosperity OF the Dominion.
| Your nationality enters OH ITS course, backed
| BY the moral support the material ad and
the most ardent good wishes of the mother
country. Within your own borders, peace,
security, and prosperity prevail, and lervent-
iyspray that your aspirations may be directed


TO such high and patriotic objects, and that
you may be inspired with such spirit Of


moderation and wisdom as will cause you TO


render the great work OF Union which has


been achieved blessing to ourselves and your


prosperity, and fresh starting point in the


moral, political and material advancement of


The people of Canada. %


ihns the great wheels OF the new Domin-


ION machine are at last fairly in motion, and


the scheme of Confederation is in GOOD wav
TO get Itself tested 1t starts off with a fair


wind and under auspices in many resnects


highly favorable But despite all the connli-


ments, the congratulations, the saiutes and
lejocings there is apparent very general un-
easiness among those who have the success OF
the experiment most at heart. Nova Scotia
is at present the rock which looms most
threateningy in the course OF their newly
launched ship OF State. The newspapers in
the interest OF Confederation affect to make
light OF the opposition which has developed
itself in the Maritime Provinces, and express
a conviction that the maieontents will hot
undertake to 60 anything, but after having
got rid of their discomfort in few speeches
will fall into the Union line. But their real
anxiety is constantly beaaying itself through
their bold words An Administration organ,
referring the other day to the Nova Seotian
difficulty, said; t


We believe the Rouges and other Anti-Con-
tederates will do all they can to aggravate this
sore, TO embarrass or defeat the completion OF
Confederation; but that they viii succeed in
this design we do not believe-dt least 10 is to
be hoped not. lHo1 Han


The italics are ours. The virtual admis-
sion which the sentence contains is sgniti-
cant. And certainly this anxiety is not with
out reason. Already, as the telegraph in
forms us, Mr.. Howe, the eloquent leader of
the opposition, has begun the war. In a tell


ing harangue against Confederation, he de-
clared the whole scheme wrong perpetrated
upon the people, brought about merely by the
desire on the part of Great Britain to get
rid of the task of defending the Provinces
An act of Parliament, he declared, does not
make nation, or happy and prosperous
people. He was especially severe OH Lord
Moncks speech from the throne, which he
reviewed clause by clause. The projects for
fortiiying and arming the Dominion and for
extension from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
received no mercy at his hands. So long rs
the State of Minnesota could in one week
send force Of men which could completely
cut off from Canada all her Pacific possess
ions, how could they be other than source
OF weakness to her in case Of war. Gentle
men might talk OF Notifications and military
organizations in spirit OF defiance against
the United State; but for his part, in view
of the position OF Canada, he prayed for
peace between her and her Southern neigh
bors.


The resignation of Mr. A. T. Gait, one OF
the abest il not the most popular members
ofthe Cabinet, has caused profound sensa-
tion. Mr.. Gait resigned his office on the verv
when all parties @efv p '''.'-o'' a. -" "ou'et'
plete the new financial scheme which he Xsia
in part inaueurated. Private reasons are al
very general impression obtains that it is the
result of the heavy blow lately received by the
banking policy of the Government. Public
INDIGNATION. seemed 10 demand scapegoat,
and Mr. Gait as been made the vIcJi1n. ut
least that is what the Opposition papers say.
But in the meantime the government are in
difficulties, owing in great measure otheir
own recklessness I'd extravaganza, and the
retirement of the Finance minister adds large
ly to their embarrassment. At this moment,
when they have just met Parliament for the
purpose OF making many important arrange
ments for carrying on the affairs of the new
Dominion, when they are called upon to en-
dure the attacks of a section of the represen-
tatves who are dissatisfied with the Union,
and ready to seize upon every argument
which will have u tendency to weaken its
strength, it is of course especially important
that they should present strong and united
front, have clear and straightforward policy,
and ndbeunembarrassed in their financial arrange
ments. Unfortunately this is precisely what
they cannot show; and it is asserted that Mr..
Galt's resignation is the consequence not only
of the failure of his bank policy, but of
graver financial difficulties, the details OF
which are yet concealed from the public.


The Hon. Mr.. Tiley has been appointed
Minister OF Finance in place of Mr.. Gait.


'ia