Strong Argument Against Confederation

Speaking of the Colonies reminds us that the Montreal Sun of the 28th ultimo editorially refers to the political condition of Canada in rather a striking manner. It states, we observe, that even the Toronto Globe has been forced to admit that Ontario is within the category of Provinces where the “canker of corruption” is eating out the life of the Government, where there exists a premeditated system of thieving from the public purse, an organized system of ballot-stuffing and ballot-switching. “Added to this,” says the Sun, “we have just witnessed the horrifying perjury in connection with the Gamey charges, the partisanship of the judges and the chaos of the Legislature in both parties when the report came up for discussion. This marks the lowest stage ever reached by any province in the history of Canada. God help Ontario! Happy are we who live in the province of Quebec. Our pretensions are fewer, but the obligations of good citizenship are better carried out.” Happier still are we who live here in Newfoundland, outside the Dominion of Canada altogether. The Sun’s remarks, as quoted, furnish us with some of the strongest reasons we have yet seen in print why this colony should not become a part of the Canadian confederacy. Our political life is pure compared with that of the Dominion, and social, and even commercial, conditions here just now are quite as good as, if not a little better than, those of the best province in the big neighboring commonwealth. As a matter of fact, we are doing admirably as we are, and do not want Confederation.

“The (St. John’s Newfoundland) Evening Telegram – Jul 6, 1903” https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lKkHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kjoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6229%2C6776301