Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-27
An INTERESTING CONVENTION.

The French Canadians resident IN Nlassa-
chusetts number something over seventy
thousand, or about one-twentieth of the total
population of the State. For four years
past they have held annual conventions for
the purpose of discussing matters pertaining
| TO the advancement of their interests, and
the gathering for the present year will be
held in Boston on September 18th. The
| call for this convention is a somewhat note
worthy document. "Born in Europe or in
America" it says, 1--WE are all sons OF
Frenchmen. We should then, fratcrnize
more and more, and work earnestly for the
increase and progress of our race ia this
country. That is why, to-day, we believe
that we interpret the sentiments of all intel
lgent French Canadians by inviting all
French societies in Massachusetts to send
delegates to this convention. The hope is
thea expressed that all personal, social OF
| religious differences will be forgotten, and
that the members of the convention "listcn-
Ing only TO patriotism and dreaming only OF
the future of their children" will act only
|
also pointed out that the first duty of every
French Canadian, although ne may make
great efforts to preserve the unity OF his
race his language and his traditions, is 10y
atty, without equivocation," to the United
States. 1t is further urged that the better
favored of those living in this country make
known to their less fortunate countrymen the
means to ameliorate their social and national
condition and it is pointed out that in those
States where conventions of French Cana
dams have been held the race has been more
favored, because it has been demonstrated
to others that the race was not inferior, and
that 1t included many who were the most
devoted citizens of the Republic, although it
preserved the language and the customs of
its fathers.
The convention, when assembled, will dis
cuss these questions-which as will be seen,
are practical and timely;
The social and intellectual condition of the
French Canadians in the United States, and
the means to improve it.
The political and social influence and future
OF the race.
The French language, its use and preser-
| vatOn in families.
The French Canadians and the working
class.
The position of the French race in Amcri-
Gu, the preservation of its memories and the
| teaching of It's history.
Statistics concerning the French Canadians
| in the United States, namely The number
living in each community represented at the
convention the number of employees in each
| branch of industry the number known to be
| nalurallzcd, showing how many have been
naturalized within year; the, number of
children under fourteen, showing how many
| attend the public schools and how many the
| schools carried on by the Catholic church ;
the number of French Canadian newspapers
| regularly published, showing how they con-
form to the customs of the race and what en-
enlargement they furnish to the societies and
conventions.
Such "A convention as this can not fail of
being the means for the accomplishment of
much good. Some years ago the cry was
raised in certain quarters in Massachusetts
that the French Canadians were 'thc Chi
nese of New England" and that, like the
Chinese they "must 60" That calumny has
been pretty effectually disproved, largely
through the efforts of the gentlemen who
have been active in getting up
the convention above spoken of. But
the French Canadians have come to New Eng =.
land 10 stay, and their numbers are increasing
every year. In Vermont they now nu mber
about twenty-five thousand, or one-twe fifth
of our whole popuation-a very much larger
proportion than in Massachusetts, 1t is i'm
portant therefore, that public encourage
men, be given to whatever tends to elevate
their social and intellectual condition-in
short to Americanize them. AS general
thing they take kindly to our civilization and
customs. They are patient, industrious and
frugal. And as all Of our home readers
know, two generations of American life are
sufficient, in large proportion of cases, to
obliterate all visible distinctions of race.