The sun., 1889-12-16
What DeterS the French Canadians
from Annexation.

In q late issue Of u Union Liberdle, a
French Canadian newspaper published
weekly at Quebec, NJ. PH11EAs GAGNoN
reviews the history Of the various projects
for O political fusion Of the United States
and Canada down to the stoppage Of the
q, annexation movement of 1s49. The writer at
this time confines himself to q nearly color
less record OF facts, reserving for another
occasion the discussion Of the question
whether French Canadians ought now to
favor the incorporation Of the Dominion, or,
at all events, OF their own province. with the
great American republic. To ono Of the
points brought out in his interesting retro
spect we would direct attention.
It is well known that In the negotiations
for the peace Of 1763 the British Government
considered the expediency Of restoring Can
ada to France and OF accepting the island
Of Guadeloupe In lieu Of the territory upon
whose conquest is stamped the name Of
WOLFE. There were not wanting far-sighted
men, In England as well as In France who
argued that the continued presence Of the
French on the St. Lawrence would act as
salutary check on the self-assertive impulses
OF the American colonies. When FRANKLIN
vigorously opposed this view, it was un-
doubtedly from the conviction that In case
of collision with the ruling power tho French
Canadians would make common cause with
the Engllsh-speaking colonists on the south
OF them. The advisers Of GEORGE III, how
ever, hit upon device by which they might
not only acquire Canada, but establish
safeguards against coalition between its in
habitants and the sturdy Calvinists who were
their nelghbors. They covenanted by the
treaty OF Paris to assure to the new Catholic
subjects OF the British Grown the utmost
liberty Of worship, and they presently pro-
ceeded to carry out this engagement in the
most thorough way by the Quebec act, which
to this day forms part Of the organic law of
the Dominion.
Tho American colonies had themselves to
blanc for the success Of this astute contrtv-
ance. The only half conciliated French
inhabitants OF Canada would, no doubt, have
co0perated in the struggle for independence
with their English-speaking neighbors, had
the latter shown themselves as tolerant
and reasonable as tho mother country, or
had the latter In the Continental Congress
of l774 evinced the same broad-mindedness
in matters Of religion as they were to
l7s7. Unluckily, they took In the first men
toned year the worst course conceivable In
view Of the rupture with England, which
already was unavoidable. In a memorable
Address to the People Of Great Britain they
denounced the Quebec act and demanded
repeal OF Its provisions comforting special
privileges on the Catholics of Canada. AMI
mated for the moment with the spirit of En-
DIcoTT rather than with that OF JKFFERsoN,
they revealed. or seemed to reveal, unmis-
takAbly how they would treat Catholics.
should they ever have the power. The
British Government was not slow to profit
by this fatal blunder. 1t took pains to cir
culate tho nl-inspired Address among the
people Of Canada, and from that hour the
mission Of FRANKLIN and CARROLL and the
invasion under ARNOLD and MONTGOMERY
were foredoomed to failure.
Tho distrust planted In the minds of Cana
dian Catholics by that unfortunate Address
10 not yet entirely eradicated Not even the
total absence OF sectarian biasin tho Federal
Constitution established In 1883. nor the fact
that to each State In the Union is reserved
the exclusive control of It's religious con-
Germs. has avalled to quiet the suspicion
and alarm engendered by the designs and
prejudices avowed at Philadelphia In lT74.
To this cause Ia attributable the solid resist
ance which We encountered from the Cana
diAns In the Revolutionary war. and again In
the war OF 1919. To 1t must also be ascrlbed
the speedy and utter collapse OF the annexa-
ton project of ls4s. which for short time
seemed to make some headway In Quebec.
AAVar wiz tho Catholics OF Canada. until