---- TOPICS OF THE DAY.

LORD DURHAM'S AVANT-COURIER.

LtEADING daily paper takes Lord DURHAM to school with re- 1 is future proceedings in Canada. He is told that "for

spec

the last seven years, the error of the Colonial Government has beers successive concessions to a turbulent and disaffected ma- jority," The error of concession to the majority! He may think it o well to talk of conciliation in all public measures, but concili-

tion may be carried so far as to leave no distinction between a

friends and enemies; and if unhappily that spirit of conciliation ran mad should prevail in the instructions given to the new Geyer- nor.General of Canada, much is to be feared for the result of his mission." In other words, let Lord DURHAM beware of a policy showing no distinction between the hostile parties in Canada ; let him favour the "British" minority at the expense of injustice to the "French" majority. Perfect fairness, "no distinetion"—t hat will never do; but he must make a distinction, he must show partiality : and in favour of whom ?—not the majority, but the minority ! He is warned, moreover, that if he do not act on this bright Orange doctrine, the minority, being armed and embodied as soldiers, and flushed with their recent triumph over the ma- jority, will be apt to take the matter into their own hands. Het e are the very words— "Late events have taught the Canadians of British origin to know their own strength ; and we are of opinion, that if the attempt is contetnplated to subject them to the continued ascendancy of a French majority in Lower Canada, it would lie requisite to back that attempt by a larger military force than that now proposed to be sent. The same Glengarry Volunteers, who luso prompt in marching to put down revolt, and to repress aggression on the American frontier, would be equally ready to resist the domination of the 'Nation Canadienne ' in any other jiwm which it might assume."

So, if Lord DURHAM make " no distinction"—if he do not set the minority over the majority —he may look out for another re- volt. Lord DURHAM, we believe, declared in the House of Lords, that he knew not of any " distinction" between French and Eng- lish Canadians, but that all subjects of the British Crown were equal in his eyes. The declaration was consistent with his cha- racter; and very politic to boot, considering the probability which even then existed, that, if the revolt were easily suppressed, he would be importuned to apply to Canada the Orange system of Ireland. This probability has been fulfilled to the letter. And moreover, as those who call for the Orange system in Canada have a natural distrust of Lord DURHAM'S character, they now inform bis Lordship and the public, that he is not to be the " Dictator" we allimagined, but is merely to carry into effect instructions from the Colonial Office. " The final instructions to be given to the new Governor-General of Canada I" Lord DURHAM'S personal qualities, therefore, all except promptitude and energy in obeying instruc- tions, are put aside. His clearsightedness, his love of justice, his hatred of oppression, his popular sympathies, his generous nature, and his happy ignorance of any "distinction" betwcen British subjects of whatever origin — all these high qualifications, as people imagined, for the difficult task that he had undertaken, only disqualify him for the mean performance which is now attri- buted to him—that of carrying into effect Colonial 011h e instruc- tions for setting up in Canada an Orange ascendancy over the "

alien' majority. We speak from authority. The paper we

have quoted, is not the Times or the Standard,* or any Irish Orange publication, but that MzumunNE-Whig jourcal par ex- cellence, the once Liberal Morning chronicle! This si mi-official new of Lord DURHAM'S mission will be reprinted in all the Cana- dian papers, and nail with joy by the minority, and with a feeling of despair by the majority. If it had been written by Lord STANLEY, it would not have evinced a more tyrani cal spie " We are all waiting with impatience," says a " Britt: h " Cant • than writer, quoted with approbation by the Chronic', " to see tchat will be done with the traitors now in conlitienie. t." Ven- geance, blood, and a permanent Orange ascendancy !--• uch is the cry of Lord MELBOURNE'S " only morning journal : " :Itch is the ot'ont-ron desnatebed across the Atlantic to proclaim he nature tt Lord DURHAM'S mission.

It it uere nut for certain other personal quolities of Lord

DURHAM, such as his resolution and self-reliatice, fri m which it May be hoped that our view of his appointment, titoL r the head Of" The Measure and the Man,' 's• will yet IP we should infer from this Canadian manifesto of the Ministeriii'. Chronic/e, that the new system of" Tory government by W ' was about to.receive its fullest development in Canada, with it additional misfortune of the wreck of Lord DURHAM'S public character, which is the only one, amongst Liberals of high statioli that has nut irretrievably starred since Lord GREY began that la al system of " Tory government by Whigs." But supposing the orst, still is there net plenty of consolation fur" Reformers ? " Al undance : for example_ 1. The Chronicle is still a " Reform" journal. 2. The "Reformed" House of Commons declan s that the Colonies are not iii a critical state, and that Lord (1; ENELO is highly qualified to administer their comfortable afnurs.

3. Mr. W ARD has entirely forgotten hi3 assertion, that if the "Reform " Government declared aoainst Vote by 1;i: lot, there must be "a perfectly new combination of parties iti 1 arliament and the country."

who, however, r. pent, tli- V.., :1 in term, of w rmest nj.s.

4. There are no Radicals left ; but we are all " Reformers " now.

5. Let what may be said, we have still a "Reform Ministry."

6. Though the Tories are steadily advancing to power, and, by advancing slowly, laying a sure foundation for their approaching supremacy ; though the characters of public men on the Liberal side are breaking down one after the other, and irretrievably ; though already there is great danger that when the Tories get in, the Opposition to them will be disjointed, and miserably feeble from loss of character; though, along with the characters of public men on the Liberal side, the very principles of Reform have been rapidly losing ground for two years, and promise to:be soon extinct; and though the principles of Toryism have ad- vanced and are progre—ing in jnst the same proportion, until every one acknowledges t.:4t another'general election would give us a Tory House of Commons, still, have we not "kept out the Tories ?"

In one word, let 113 "keep out the Tories." So long as we " keep out the Tories," let us rejoice and make merry. When they get in, it may perhaps appear that we had kept them out too long ; but that is not a present coasideration. Let us but " keep out the Tories" from week to week ; the future may take care of itself.