The Evening Star. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2536, 3 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1871.

The last act of Mr Reid’s Ministry has been done—he has tendered his own and his colleagues’ resignation. This was inevitable on two grounds. First, his appeal to the people for an approval of the course he took, was answered by rejecting him as Superintendent ; and, secondly, virtually only himself and Mr Duncan remained, and Mr Duncan very narrowly escaped re jection at the polling booth* We know there are many who imagine that Mr Reid might have continued to be the leader of the Council. In that opinion 4 we do not coincide. It would neither have been to his own advantage nor that of the Province ; and we think, whatever may be said of bis course of procedure during the 1 fist two sessions, his last act is both prudent and graceful. So closes the drama of the ; Reid Ministry. But what is to follow 1 Fortunately, although great changes have taken place, there is no lack of experienced men in the new Council. Many have re-entered political life, who for years took no part in it; and there is every reason to believe that the new Council will be free from much of the ignorance, narrowness of spirit, and intolerance that marked the majority in the last. We expect differences of opinion ; were not measures viewed in their relation to all classes, and in every aspect, they would often be very one-sided affairs. Every man, bent on arriving at truth, tries the value of fill opinions on questions respecting which only probable inferences, can be drawn. It was the, incapacity of the majority of the. late Council to <lo this, that formed the chief blot in their' proceedings. On each of the most important questions of the day they held but one idea, and it was a wrong one. The new Council starts from a different stand-point, and with greater advantages. Instead of having to encounter the determined opposition of the General Government, they have nothing to do but to secure its cooperation. Works resolved upon years ago, which the moral disorder of the world retarded, are commenced under favorable circumstances. Tlic war in Europe, which has operated so disastrously upon the interests of producer, manufacturer, and consumer, is in all probability over : the main interests of the Province, so long clouded, are beginning already to feel the influence of the breaking light ; there is no Native war to hamper us ; and, gradually, we may hope that the gloom and consequent depression will pass away. Nor has this long dreary waiting for peace been without its use. Every squatter, every farmer,- every 'merchant, and every tradesman, has found it necessary to adopt economical ■plans of conducting business, that will not be forgotten in the more prosperous ,-days that seem dawning upon us. The lvalue of economy of time,'moans, and money has been made apparent, if we are to compete with pther producing nations; and wc thus make the fresh start with increased experience, and better able to estimate and direct means to an end. We are nob very fond of such adverse experience; but yet it is true that—

On every thorn delightful wisdom grows ;

In every rill a sweet instruction flows,

The chief difficulties of the new Council will be the legacy bequeathed by the last—the administration of the Land Bill. But even this may be got over by wise concession on both sides. There are plenty of experienced men in the House anxious that the land may be settled upon in the most advantageous way to the settlers and the Province ; and those whose notions are So crude and theoretic that, for the sake of some partially-tried or wholly-speonlative plan, they would unsettle every interest, regardless of the confusion and losfc that would follow, may fairly and very beneficially be disregarded by the Council. We have had enough of that sort of thing. One of, the main difficujtics experienced in working the Land; Bill is owing to. the patchwork of the clodocracy. What we should really like to see would be a Ministry that, would insure the .co-operation of the best man on both sides—if there be two sides. So far as we know, there never was a country in which the tenure of laud was founded upon principles based upon, natural rights. Even in Great Britain, where one would have thought everything connected with it was so clearly defined as to render titles indisputable, a movement' is on fpot to make a fresh arrangement. It is suggested that the Crown shall resume the whole country on giving compensation, and that henceforth the land shall be inalienable. Notwithstanding the hot denunciation^

of our present system, 'wo ■ do not believe the zealots who condemned it in their canvass are the men to mend it. Nothing can be so bad as continued agitation, and so every sound politician agrees, no matter what his opinions as to the right or wrong of existing regulations. We have had debate enough : what we want is action. No doubt there are defects in the new law. To remedy these men of all opinions must unite ; but for two years no sales have been possible, no settlement Ims gone on, and the stagnation induced from without has been intensified within the Province. We trust the new Executive will include men who can command the Council, and work harmoniously with his Honor in all things likely to conduce to progress and prosperity.