THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1875.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2225, 25 September 1875, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1875.

The Rubicon is crossed. The Abolition of Provinces Bill has passed through Committee. The modern Caesar — Major Atkinson — is now "on the road to Rome." Yet there is no prospect of history repeating itself by a recurrence of "revolt and deadly civil war." There were rumors enough of such being imminent, but the prophets were poor oracles ; better counsels prevailed among the people ; and Sir George Grey is still left to live, according to his first choice, as a retired gentleman, and, according to the force of circumstances, as a defeated politician. It was a somewhat hard struggle, with so many men in arms, to reach this Rubicon ; the struggle was not less hard in the midst of the stream; but the strength of the foree — men and clauses — are now on the right side of the river, and in a year at most Rome should be reached. Major Atkinson's motto must be Aut Ccesar, aut nullus, and, acting upon that aphorism, we sfiall expect to see him, or another for him, in his place at the proper time, a year distant though it may be, to make the last assault. It has been feared that, as in the matter of delay, so in detail, the Ministry were disposed to dilly-dally with the Opposition until the Provincial Bill would lose all vitality or be materially altered in character. But, judging from the brief and necessarily crude descriptions which we have received as to the nature of the amendments proposed^ and passed, the measure has not been disfigured or greatly altered from its original form ; and one salient point which it was feared would be conceded has been carried by a firm and large majority. That point is — and it is a most important one — that Provincial Councils shall not again meet. If that is not the beginning of the end sought, straws have ceased to show how the wind blows or to break camela' backs. Upon that point it was carefully telegraphed, in contradiction to recently current statements, that the Opposition would in no way consent to compromise. Neithey did they. At the last moment three Superintendents — and no one with, them, so far as we are told — " stood aghast" at the proposal, and a fourth protested, and suggested an amendment which would still leave to their Honors the exercise of their discretion in the matter of calling the Councils together, but to all such suggestions or amendments there was resistance, and the result was the carrying of the clause by a majority of 34 to 16. This may seem to some an unceremonious shoving from their stools — a bad taking off— of the members of our Provincial Councils, and sympathy, if there is any left, might have suggested the granting to them one more session before they threw up the sponge, but it would really have accorded mure with seemliness than with sense. There could be no good sense, while there would be much expense, involved in the meetings of men whose remaining powers might possibly be exercised for evil, and certainly not for good. No practical purpnse could be served by Provincial Council discussions on a foregone conclusion, or upon purely theoretical problems, and nothing more could be dealt with when the disposition of Provincial revenue is settled, and the means of administration provided. Their proceedings would be so much empty sound, without signification. Carried so far, the country will feel satisfied that the session, protracted as it has been, and distracted as have been the participators, has not gone, for nothing, nor is it likely that that satisfaction will be disturbed by any contretemps on the third and final reading. There is no promise that there will not be opposition even at that stage, but for the present, we may, "leaning on faith, look up rejoicing."