I have a vivid recollection of having in an evil or unguarded moment promised
to do that which my soul abhors - to write a letter informing you how the
world wags here below. I repent, but will not break my word. The punishment
is great and must be borne. It is, however, some consolation to know that
you will have to read it! Remember you have brought the evil upon yourself!
DULLNESS OF THE CITY, ETC
Victoria is dull and comparatively empty; the people who remain stand at
their shop doors with hands in (empty?) pockets, or loaf around to find
some equally unoccupied wight, no very difficult matter, to while away the
tedious moments. From this you may learn that every one, save the Government
officials, are complaining of having too little to do. The reason of this
annual and looked for depression - though greater perhaps this year than
usual - arises from the migratory nature of the place, for during the summer
months Vancouver Island goes to Cariboo, and during the winter months the
said Island returns bringing British Columbia along with it - and right
welcome the change.
Yet some people say that the two places are separate and have distinct
interests. Why the two colonies are evidently one - that is to say,
the people are the same, now in one part, now in another portion. The miners
are the country, the whole country, and without them there would not be
any country, for by them and upon them all those who are not miners subsist.
It would be a nice calculation to work out how much a miner is worth, and
how many others are supported by him; the circle would be very great and
embrace many countries. Of course the benefit is, or ought to be, reciprocal.
In British Columbia, however, the peculiarity is that the miner is taxed
for everything - he has not only to support the Government, but also to
make streets and improve the cities upon the lower Fraser - at least large
sums of money have been voted for beautifying New Westminster, the inhabitants
of which pay little or nothing into the general revenue.
In Vancouver Island the city has not only to make its own streets out of
its own funds, but has in addition to support the Government and make roads
in and into the rural districts. In the one case the miners pay for the
improvement of towns of no use to themselves directly; in the other the
merchants and landowners pay for the support of the Government, and the
miners are not taxed directly at all - both systems are perhaps bad, but
the British Columbian one is iniquitous. But where on earth am I wandering
to - times are dull in Victoria, this arises from the absence of the miners,
and, secondly, from the cessation of immigration; hence the small shop keepers
and retail dealer suffer most, but curiously enough the imports and exports
remain about the same as last year, and therefore the legitimate business
is normal.
The fact is, hitherto the city has been prosperous on account of the arrival
of immigrants with some money in their pockets, attracted hither by the
too glowing accounts of regions of gold, so rich that they shone like the
minarets of the temples at Constantinople. The place is now really suffering
the punishment due to its own sins, it has deceived others and now, although
the bare truth be spoken, it is not believed; however, I hope when your
new enterprise comes into being - to which I wish every success - the intelligence
direct from the mines will do much to dispel the unbelief in other places,
and attract hither by truth, and truth alone, additional people, who will
know that they have to work, and work hard too, if they wish to become rich;
aye, and work hard and be perhaps the poorer - such unfortunately being
the fate of the miner, who although he ruin himself must still support the
Government and the whole expenditure of the country.
But although business is dull and amusement scarce, still there is a deadly-lively
excitement constantly in being; a sort of lazy writhing of a man unpleasantly
aroused from sleep, caused by the infliction of tortures administered by
those miserable beings the politicians - a class of men who seem to seek
their own ends by setting class against class and everybody by the ears:
doubtless they derive some profit in some way or other by their villainous
industry - thrive upon the misfortunes of other people. They have however
of late been completely worsted, and have most signally failed in their
attempts to arouse even a moderate amount of indignation upon subjects which
a few years ago they reckoned with a certainty. The fact is people are tired
of the play and find that it is for the most part a work of fiction - a
sensation drama - startling and apparently fine while upon the stage, but
which will not bear inspection by daylight. Thus we have been treated to
agitations upon Free Trade, the only result being the stoppage of enterprise
and improvement and a considerable diminution of credit and investment.
Then came an attempted agitation against people who held more than one hundred
and fifty acres of land, until it was shown that although a person might
hold a thousand acres of land that even in that quantity there might not
be one hundred and fifty fit for cultivation. Then came a whispered row
on account of there being no parsons upon the council of education, and
that all denominations had not been represented in the persons appointed;
it being quickly know that the law said the system of education should be
non-sectarian, a system now generally acquiesced in and therefore settled,
it became apparent that as religious dogmas had nothing to do with education
so it was unnecessary that the professors of such dogmas should have a place
at the board, in fact that it would be better to fill it up if possible
with non-sectarian members. Indeed the agitation was looked upon as an attempt
to bring up again those antediluvian squabble about religious teaching which
have been buried for years, and are now nothing but dry bones. The last
of the series is an attempt to excite the people about what is termed the
"Church Reserve," that piece of land around Christ Church in Victoria,
and to which the Government at home has given the title deeds for the benefit
of that church in particular, and for education in connection with the Church
of England.
The politicians say it belongs to the people and was intended to remain
an open square. Sir James Douglas says, I ordered it to be laid out and
intended it for the church - who have now got it and fenced it in. These
fences roused the (pretended) ire of the politicians; they, through their
tools, called a public meeting - it met; such a meeting, scarcely a tax-payer
among the crowd. The speakers counseled pulling down the fences; many took
up the idea; some from fun, others from religious fanaticism; about one
hundred men rushed to the barriers to pull them down; some for a lark, others
in earnest; they reach the scene of intended operations; march determinedly
up the hill and then when they reach the brow thereof - they march down
again, they beheld the fences and three policemen! Thus that fizzled. The
meeting said, the Mayor should pull the fences down and they would hold
him irresponsible; but the Mayor did not see that, but did see confinement
in Pemberton's hotel. However he brought it before the Council - the Council
said it was all buncombe and would have nothing to do with it; and then
tow members, who thought the Council useless and also expensive buncombe
also, resigned.
So we are to have a Municipal election! and the rallying cry down with fences.
As though such a thing as a corporation existed! Why it has been dead a
long time, but the Councilors do not know it, or that they are carrying
on their existence in another sphere. How strange it is, that the Anglo-Saxon
is the most avaricious and jealous and envious people in the world. When
a thing is not of any value, or a neighbor not better off then themselves,
they take no note of it or them; but let the thing become valuable then
it is worth scrambling for and must be taken from its lawful owner, and
as to the well-doing neighbor, why the less said about him the better, there
must be something wrong when he is doing so well. In this respect it matters
not whether they be parsons or others, religious societies are as covetous
and envious, and as much blinded by passions as any one else; their piety
is not proof against the temptation, although they all rehearse, "Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's property." How easy it is for them to
deceive and persuade themselves they are doing God, law and justice a service!
such is man - Anglo-Saxon men.
