Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14

vehicle from France in the caleche, which is
here modified into a two-wheeled straight
shafted carriage, bearing sleigh body on a
powerful spring and providing for the driver a
seat on the dashboard The Dutch have taken
Holland and
THE FRENCH ARE TAKING INV FRANCE.
In 1853 the government of the 60 900 French of
Quebec passed to Great Britain. The oppor-
tunity of the subject Frenchnen came at the
time of the revolutionary struggle. As the
price OF non-par anticipation in the uprising OF
the colonies they wrung from Great Britain
everything they had lost except formal indie
pendence. They regainsd their property. the
use of their own as the official language, their
religion as the established local form and their
laws and customs instead of those OF England.
Quebec, the American France, is the largest of
the settled Canadian provinces 1t is about
nine-tenths as large as European France. In
population 1t Is next to Ontario. OF the mil
lion and third people of the province, at the
time Of the census of 1881, over million were
French and 1,170,115 were Roman Catholics.
Not only did the French thus monopolize
Quebec, but they were the strongest nationality
In point Of numbers in the Dominion as a
whole. Their total was 1928, 929 against 957,
4O3 Irish, SSl, 30l English, 500. 1868 Scotch,
254,3l9 German and 108,547 Indians.
The natural increase of the French is greater
than that Of the English-speaking peoples, but
they have not gained SO fast through European
lmnlgrSElOn. IL Is estimated tnat tlere are
now two and quartersmllllon OF Frenchmen in
the Dominion. Whey are driving other races
from Quebec, and pushing into the other prov
inces- They are gradually attaining to the
strength which on the precedent of our revou-
ton would encourage them to attempt to set up
a government Of their own. They have shown
national aspirations. They are thoroughly
French in thought. habit, language, and relig-
ion and they wofk together in politics. As
long as they may have complete control of
Quebec and by holding the balance of power
between the contending political parties may
dominate the Dominion they will reasonably be
content to remain nominal British dependency.
But the opening to settlement OF the western
provinces and the increase by immigration of
the English-speaking peoples gives to the
French the same apprehenslons that the forIna-
ton of free-soil territories and states gave to
the slave states in the period preceding the
civil war. On the other hand the English
speaking peoples Of Canada resent the French
domination.
THE IRREPRKssIBLE CONFLICT IN CANADA.
There Is o strong antagonism between the
Roman Catholic French and the Protestant
English and Scotch. Feeling is at white heat at
the present time over the Jesuit estates act
In the bargain with Great Britain at the time
OF the American revolution it was agreed that
the Roman Catholic should remain. SO to speak.
the established church OF Quebec and that it's
property should not be conhscated. Certain Of
the church property which was taken is now
under this act TO be restored, and the Protes-
tants of the Dominion are holding meetings of
indignation and protest. The Frenchdn reply
give voice more boldly TO the aspiration for
national independence. A Toronto newspaper
recently SAID:
IT the reports which reach US may be relied
on our French Canadian tellow-citizens declare,
IL the pl9inest terms their cherished mother
tongue can furnish, that their ambition and their
n IN IL In II
French province In an Anglo-Saxon federation,
but an independent French Canadian nation.
They even speak Of this purpose already
achieved, asking and receiving the blessing of
the Pope of Rome upon the young FrenGA-Ca ana
dian nation This In a bold stand"
The paper goes ON to protest against the dis
loyalty OF recent fiery harangues by French
leaders, declaring that even the rouge and the
bleu must give place to the tricolor," and saws
British Canadians Of liberal mind will readily
admit the right OF their French fellow-cltizens to
retain their language and their religion, though
many of them may demur at a contln nee of a
system which taxes Ehglish-speaking Canadians
20 aid in the perpetuatiOn of the one and pledges
the Canadian constitution to safeguard the State
aided propagationo Of the other. But all will Unite
in drawing the line this eide OF French Cana
dian nation The northern half Of this continent
is British and must remain So"
Such serious'importance is attached to the
present clash OF Canadian races. tongues and
religions that according to ruinor the intended
visit Of French squadron to Quebec was pre-
vented by representations of the British gov
eminent. A recent Special dispatch from
Ottawa to the New York Tribune says:
1.-The reason now assigned for the cOuntermand
Ing Of the orders for the French squadron desig-
mated 10 visit Quebec is that the French ambas-
sadOr at London received a courteous intimation
from Lord Salisbury that in the present condition
OF the public temper in Canada ON the subject of
French ascendancy in the province of Quebec IL
might be undesirable to allow French war ships
to anchor in Quebec harbor. The recent speeches
off haaT q
were called Oh 10 look at the tricOlor as their ma
tonal flag, and others calling on The provincial
military To be prepared 10 defend their national
ity, appear 10 have had an effect on the mind of
the British cabinet"
1CI on PARLE FRASCAIs.
The French domination ojlower Canada and
the commanding influence u this race in the
Dominion are typifed on the Miramichi. The