vigor from its inception in the cause of temperance, has in a large degree secured for it its present position. The Hamilton "Spectator," established in 1848 by the late Robert R. Smiley, was long the leading conservative paper in Ontario; it is still vigorous, and has a large circulation; it is owned by Lawson, McCulloch & Co. The Hamilton "Times," London "Advertiser," London "Herald," and London "Free Press," Toronto "Leader," Branford "Courier," and a long list of minor papers, daily and weekly, were established between 1848 and the succeeding decade. The papers named are first class in their kind, and comprise some of the best enterprise and talent to be found in the Dominion. We append a few words upon one or two daily papers of quite recent date, that have taken, both in in-. fluence and circulation, a leading stand in their respective localities, in common with their contemporaries already mentioned. The St. John, N.B., "Daily Telegraph," established in 1865, deserves special mention, not less for its sound political and commercial standing than for the high literary character it has maintained since its inception. Mr. William Elder, a gentleman of distinguished culture, has long been its chief editor and proprietor. The Montreal "Evening Star" was established in 1869, and claims attention for the independent stand it has taken since its establishment. On all matters, social or political, the "Star" has exhibited an energy of discussion and a freedom of opinion at once commendable. The paper was established by Messrs. Marshall & Co., but almost immediately after was purchased by Mr. Hugh Graham, a young man nearly connected with the late E. H. Parsons of the old "Evening Telegraph,” a writer sufficiently known in his day. After long connection with the financial department of the "Telegraph," and subsequently of the "Gazette," Graham entered upon his enterprise of building up the "Star." How well he has succeeded, the paper to-day tells; for, after much struggle, small beginnings, and fiercest rivalry, it stands forth at once the equal of any evening journal in the Dominion. This is attested by its circulation, which has so largely increased within the past two years. The "Star" is printed on a "Prestonian" press, capable of turning off ten thousand copies per hour. The paper, from the first, has commended itself to the masses by the curt, matter-offact style of its editorials, and the vigor with which it advocates the interests of the workingman. In a word, the "Star" is one of a class of journals to be found in every large metropolis, and to the well-being of which its presence is sufficiently

essential. The Toronto "Mail," established in 1870, is the second most extensive journal in point of size, circulation, and influence in Ontario. Like its rival, the "Globe," it expends large sums in obtaining latest news. It has its agencies in Montreal, and some other principal cities; and the telegrams

and general reports found in its columns are marked by promptitude and accuracy. The "Mail" is the organ of the conservative party in Ontario; and perhaps on no journal can a greater amount of editorial talent be found. It has a substantial circulation throughout the Dominion, and its influence is daily and deservedly on the increase. It is printed by a company, of which T. C. Patterson is manager; this gentleman is also editor-in-chief. We close this sketch by briefly remarking on the strides assumed by journalism in Canada within the last

ten years. Statistical figures might be adduced to exhibit what those strides, at once so substantial in themselves, have actually been; such, however, we believe unnecessary; facts are patent enough to every observer. The increase in immigration, the opening up of railway communication, the extension and perfecting of telegraphy, and, more than all, the completeness and efficiency of the school systems throughout the Dominion, have worked changes not to be mistaken. Every city has its round of dailies; every village and hamlet, its one to three weeklies. These are the sure indices of national progress and enlightenment, the unerring registers that mark our advancement as a people now, and shall continue to do so in the future.

CHAPTER XLII.

THE DOMINION OF CANADA ·

(continued).

GENERAL SUMMARY FROM 1867 TO 1878. -A REVIEW.

1. WE have already sketched some of the more general affairs of the Dominion since confederation, and at this point, before passing on to notice the more recent events under the administration of Lord Dufferin, we may review the whole subject. The British North American Act of 1867 abrogated the constitutions of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada, and enacted that henceforward they should be federally united into one dominion under the crown of Great Britain and Ireland, with a constitution similar to that of Great Britain; and although, as before observed, these provinces were so united at their own request, yet it is true that the scheme originated in the political necessities of the Province of Canada. The maritime provinces had desired a union apart from Canada, and had entered into negotiations with that end in view; and it is no overstatement of facts to say that the more influential province seized upon the opportunity to effect the broader union, and thus escape from local embarrassments, the nature of which has been fully described in previous chapters. It is still believed by many good and able men of the maritime provinces, that had this lesser union preceded the greater, the latter would have resulted with greater advantage to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The writer humbly shares in this opinion, but does not find an insurmountable ditticulty in the scheme of a maritime union yet to be effected.

2. The Dominion of Canada, thus brought into existence, required skilful guidance. The "rights of the provinces" was a very probable question under the new régime. However, care had been taken to guard against this, and Sir John A. Macdonald, in referring to this matter in the light of the United States Constitution, said, "They declared by their constitution that each State was a sovereignty in itself, and that all the powers incident to a sovereignty belonged to each State, except those powers which by the constitution were conferred upon the general government and Congress." Then, speaking of the

Federal Union of British America, he says, "Here we have adopted a different system. We have strengthened the general government. We have given the general Legislature all the great subjects of legislation. We have conferred upon them, not only specifically and in detail all the powers incident upon sovereignty, but we have expressly declared that all subjects of general interest, not distinctly and exclusively conferred upon the local governments and local Legislatures, shall be conferred upon the general government and Legislature." Notwithstanding this precaution, discussion soon arose as to the relative powers of the local and general governments and Legislatures, friends of the former pretending to see in the acts of the latter a disposition to ignore the rights of the provinces. At one time Mr. Dunkin, a prominent member of the Quebec government, announced in his place in the Legislature in 1867, that "none of the functions of the province have a municipal character. They are not derived from the Dominion; they are not dependent on the Dominion; their authority is not subordinate to the Dominion. It has far more the character of coördination." But later on in the discussion Mr. Dunkin modified his views, and in another speech he affirmed that "he never entertained a thought of claiming any undue importance or jurisdiction for the local governments. The local governments had subordi nate functions to the general government; but no one could deny that they had some coördinate powers, and that was all he claimed."

3. But trouble of a more serious character soon arose in another quarter. The people of Nova Scotia, a majority of whom from the beginning opposed some of the provisions of the union act, and protested in various forms, now denied the right of the local Parliament to sanction the annulling of their old constitution, holding the doctrine of Locke, that "the Legislature can have no power to transfer their authority of making laws, or to place it in other hands." This opinion found an able advocate in the Hon. Joseph Howe, and completely controlled the elections in Nova Scotia for some time after the confederation. But an appeal to England was without effect, and, being unable to defeat confederation, Mr. Howe obtained such an extent of fiscal and other concessions for Nova Scotia as to warrant, in his own judgment, his acceptance of a place in the Dominion Cabinet. He says, "I did not take office, though it had been offered to me for eighteen months, till my country's fair claim to readjustment of the scheme was admitted, and un

til Gladstone's cabinet, with John Bright in it, counselled peace and refused repeal."

4. In 1868 Newfoundland signified her desire to become a member of the Dominion; but, up to the present, the terms satisfactory to her government and Legislature have not been agreed upon. British Columbia signified her willingness to join the union immediately upon the Hudson Bay Territory being purchased by the Dominion government. The Dominion Parliament of 1867 passed resolutions authorizing the acquisition of this territory, and two members of the general government -Cartier and McDougall — were despatched to England to promote the necessary negotiations. In 1868 the most important measure of legislation was that authorizing the Intercolonial Railway, and the commencement of the great work. This road was the key-stone to confederation. Without it, of course, there could be no union, and without the union the British government would not guarantee the necessary three million pounds. The Imperial Act, authorizing this loan, provided that the "commissioners of her majesty's treasury shall' not give any guaranty under this act unless and until an act of the Parliament of Canada has been passed, within two years after the union of Canada under the British North American Act of 1867, providing to the satisfaction of one of her majesty's principal secretaries of state, as follows: "1st, for the construction of the railway; 2d, for the use of the railway at all times for her majesty's military and other service." "Nor unless and until the line in which the railway is to be constructed is approved by one of her majesty's principal secretaries of state." The object of this clause was to compel the Dominion government to adopt a line already surveyed by Major Robinson, running along the gulf shore as far north as possible from the American frontier. This line was adopted, and, of course, secured the approbation of the secretary of state, and the road has been built, connecting Halifax and Quebec.

5. In 1869 negotiations between the Hudson Bay Company and the Dominion had so far succeeded that the former agreed to surrender all its rights for the sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars; and it was arranged that this amount should be paid, and a legal transfer of the territory made on the 1st day of December, 1869. For some reasons the authorities of the Dominion decided that the lieutenant-governor of the new territory should be at the seat of his future government in advance of the date fixed upon for the transfer, and