Page 112 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

by thc Island Itqislaturc. Local patriotisrn had finally been forced to
yield to economir: nccessity and on Julv 1, 1873 Prince Edward Island
became a province of the Dominion of Canada.
The political and ecrinomic objection0 thai had prompted the policy
of "splendid isolalion" were considerably assuaged by the terme of Con-
iederation. The Dorninion government conceded IO the Island govern-
ment soine speeial provisions designed to meet its most pressing local
dihculties. A speciaI subridy of $45,000 was granted in consideration
of the Island's lack of Crown lande. but from thici amount was to be
dedncted interest at the rate ol five per cent. per annum on any amount
not exceeding $800,000 [bat the Dominion would advance for the pur-
cha~e of proprietary lands. E5cient steam service and telegraphic com-
munieation between the lsland and ~he Mainland were aasured. In
addition the Dominion gover nrnent aasumed the ownership and opera-
tion of a two hunderd mile railway system thereby providing the Island
with a much desired and adequate rneans of intemal commrinication.
FinaHy, to meet the fear of inadequate representation, an additional
member was ollotted to the Island in the Hou~e of Coninions. Since the
terms of the Qnebec Conference guaranteed neither rhe settlement of the
land question nar eilieient communication w iih the Mainland, and since
the 1869 offer had made no provision for a railway, Prince Edward
lsland gained iremendous advantages froni its (en-year policy of "splen.
did isolation".
The people ol Prince Edward lsland had BO profound a respeet for
loeal self government, snch a high degree of economie self sufficiency
and such an ardent provincialism that for ten years they viewed with
indifference or snspicion the scheine of Confederation which would of
nee~ssity resuIt in an alteration 01 the Island's Coneiiiution, include it
in a distaaieful tariff structure and endanger its individuality by plaeing
it under ~he jurisdiction of a ceniral government in which it would have
Iittle influence. On July 1, 1873 sheer eeonomie forces had eompelled
the Island to abandon this polic- of exclusiveuess and to enter into
union with the Dominion ol Canada. That the lsland was able to accept
its new destiny with so few misgivings was the result of the Doininion
governmeni'5 williugnese io provide generous solutions t O the Idaud's
ino-st pressing eeononiic difficulties. Siuce the people of Prinee Fldward
lsland received suc h a hoepitable welcome they an ticipatcd a prosperous
future a3 a provinee of the Doininion of Canada.
The Patti'ol had a rather amusing eomnientary on the celebrations
of July 1 :
"On Tuesday, July 1, whetlier Ior wcal rir lor wae, Prince Edward Island
liecarrie a Province ol I~P Dominion. Ai iwelvr o'cluck noon, the Dominion
Flag was run up on tli' Rag sraffs st Goicrnmcnt House snd tlie Colonial
Building and a saluir 01 21 gun6 was fired from Si. C;corgcls Batiery snd
from H.M.S. Spnrion now in purr. The Churc,h and nity hells rang out
a lively peel and ih~ vulunieers undcr revi~w ni the city park fired a
feu de joie. Sn fnr na powdcr and metal conld do it, therc: waa for a filiort
lime a terrible din. But among the people whn ibrongrd the elreers the
was no ~nihusiam. A tcw oiinutes beIore 12 tlie Sh~riff, MT. Watson,
stepprd Iornard ou tlie Lialcouy uf the Colonial Bnilding nnd resd ~he