The sun., 1890-09-21
CANADA'S FRENCH SPECTRE.
n EaRElTENs TO RKTOLUTTONTER
HER POEEIICS
gtirTsng Scenes n the Isssd or EvanRsllae
THE Late Aeadlan Convention aaa hts
0,~uen~aneN-A small DARK Cloud.

BhEnNnGnnee-A BUnu OnF9 St3NNs
Br. JoHK. n. B.. Sept. le.-There is cloud
upon the political horizon Of Canada and the
Dominion. In working out it's political destiny.
promises soon to furnish q spectacle OF world
wide interest
In order to understand the interesting turn
which Canadian AFFAIRS have 30 suddenly taken
Il is necessary TO give some attention to
somewhat extraordinary occurrence Of which
Nova Scotia was very lately the scene At the
little village Of Church Point. the heart OF old
Acadia. the Land OF Bvangeline," SEQ
assembled 100 regularly appointed Acadian
delegates In Convention, and In Convention
made extraordinary by many circumstances
These delegates represent the maritime
provinces among them being DR., E. H. Logger.
N. p. Lovits ThSriault, the Hon. o. j. Le
Blanc, o. NJ. Meianson, NJ. P. P.'s. and Senator
Joseph Poirler. These delegates have assem-
| bled TO take measures to forward French
Canadian interests In lower Canada an in
| tontion which may mean much or little &C.
| cordinE to the turn events take.
| From far and EeRr tho Acadian people
gather and soon the 100 eloquent are sur
rounded by 5000 Of their countrymen. and this.
| too. In a sparsey settled district at harvest
time. Work has been neglected. for news OF
the assembly so deeply affecting the national
life OF the hahitants has spread like wildhre.
The eloauence OF the delegates is of q burn
ing nature, and the imaginations OF the llsten-
ers are soon atame with French nationalism.
| And now the Convention, assembled in this
| obscure corner ofthe Dominion, is TO be sinRu-
| larly honoIed. Senator Poirier has arisen and
holds despatch above the heads of those
about him. With deep feeling he reads. and
| through him the Vatican is speaking to the
Acadians. His Holiness, through Cardinal
Rampolla, "confers the holy benediction upon
/ Id To-.
ton." Burning addresses follow, and the as
semblaRe calls upon compatriots at large 10
celebrate q national fete each year to foster
the spirit Of French national life TO conserve
French interests, and. above all. the French
| language. From the excited thousands comes
shout upon shout in acclamation. French
bosoms glow. French hearts are fired. The
Teople are carried away by the enthusiasm of
the hour: and not the hearers alone. The couu-
try around about has seen stirring times. and
| the Senator Of polished speech now recalls the
has seen there. The Acadian expulsion is the
speakers theme now, and IN reach of his voice
are eleven men WHO trace their descent directly
OF tGeIr am gestors, in this heated moment, are
speaker moves first 10 tears and then TO rage
tine multitude winch hangs upon his words.
pon,oa M 1 to Stimulate % the % Spirit Of French ma %
tlonalisp In various ways until the next X; meet !
Vention, loo. % and md sufficient m money Is sub.
scrbed to push the scheme rapidly forward to
6s Tine i ass e
orst9ry Of the Convention has generated.
to 1NeI the neadoWs @ et Grand Pre- and the dele.
gates disPerse All Is apparently quiet. and
augnration OF a M movement OF the Rravest inn
portancs In the affairs OF Canada Yet the
o s eeePon IS ons f the @ S
dinary which has marked Canadian history for
What may not be the political significance Of
these " Aca6ans in Convention" and OF this
fervid Senator telling them of their past tEi-
perhaps half OF the speakers the Convention
given high hoPest % for the future and this
pie Of Canada. There appear, at once two di;
yerging lines Of progression which will demand
fhsrs ars reuse
lieve that the question Of separation from
Great Britain R any waE worthy Ts
that which frequently finds expression In the
utterances Of annexationsts Of the more pro-
lie in either Of these extremes. but that Can
ada's future is not mapped out on any definite
OF journals noted alike for moderation and
loyalty. Here is a specimen straw telling OF
1T has frequently been urged that. apart
OF three things will result in Canada: Imperial
republic beside us, 1t may fairly he observed
that in the light of historic precedents ultimate
whom either OF the three alternatives is real
lied. The whole history Of tho world affords
ma nation Of 100000 Of people inRsbttnS hall
continent, into another nation. In the way OF
ward. grand in itself, does not captvate te our
and GA1Rs An sdherens II Canada yery
tude OF precedents for colonies and dependen-
cies becoming independent nations. In Amer
lean history this has been the rule rather than
the exception. Little more than 100 years ago
The whole q North and South America was
both semi independent, are the only consider
able communities this side the Atlantic which
adhere to a aEpropean 1 s19kkeregnfy kt sueh are In
The political cloud is at present no larger
than the proyerbtal mans hand. Until now
affairs have exhibited only uninteresttng fea-
ance OF the present regime Liberals somewhat
homeless Of political victory and mum6ling. In
ence. Under these conditions things, have
nationalism. has appeared new factor ana
one which grows da lily moro important, The
france is the cry. The French Cana Iians have
suddenly sprung from the undienllied position
S 5s
ton which threatens to cause the fabric OF
to the efforts oi French ambition. now so sud :
denly finding out its great opportunity. or
Canada's estimate d population OF 5,00U,0 900 one
third are French. Prae!cal!y the French were
tho pioneer settlers. Plainly. they cannot for
the feur-de- lis and French dominion II what
was to have been New France. Natural ly they
do not forget their iaith--nor that of their Eng
lish speaking brothers in tho confederation.
They nave long held, in manner, the balance
OF power, and have constituted q political bug
bear. courted because formidable. For. these
| reasons there has always been aome friction,
and within the year 1t has been greatly
Increased by the contest so fiercely .waged in
| upper Canada over the troublous legislation In
connection with the Jesuits estates and the
resHsiPS orainEe i casnolis turmoil @ TGGsthSr
one 10 70 be consdered. Tho desire to
French Canadian at it's head. On the other
side of the house the spectre q a possible
continually. As the Tory eheftain grows
older thoughts turn naturally 70 successor.
and while the present Minister OF Justice seems
pearest the pinnacle OF Canadian ambition. Sir
Hector Langevin has al the desires and Q
| lane az NJ AM than htR Irish -ChEhn-