The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-29
FRENCH CANADIAN POLITICS.
y.,o,,,o,ne. CIR George Cartier, Lansevin'
and Other Leaders The Peasant Consue
uency or the Province OF Quebec-uo"'"-
So, finances and Anne xntion.

Yco,ctosne. CIR George Cartier, banko'
ard S,ther Leader. The Peasant Consue
ueucy or the Province OF ouebec-Do""
ION Finances and Annexation.
Half n century has passed since the UNION vi
INNER md Lower Canada In lo4o uhue, ny'
tom Of responsible government pro"s". nv
closer sympathy the English and French exc.
monts Of the two provinces. The conquest OF
Canada BY Grcat Britain had been enccteo
,,urscore years earlier. in 100. when Mon
trcol. the last French stronghold. SURRENDERED.
Al first tho lot OF the French settlers was
somewhat hard. but Just before our ow"
Revolution It was improved by tho que
bcc Act OF 1774. recognizing tho fronch
civil laws authorizing tho official use OF tno
French language, establishing religious rights.
and removing various grievances. Nearly nun
n century of comparative political Tranquility
followed, until 1872 when race aud religious
disturbances were renewed ut Quebec. founucu
on the dispute between tho Assembly anu tho
Governor. General over tho desire OF ',o
former for q greater control OF the eNpenoi
lures and tho public offices. In 1881 oceurreu
Papineau's famous movement Tor II oahau'"h
republic, which. however. was soon sup
pressed, and then camc the new privileges
given to the French In tho Act Of 1883 and tho
union Of 1890 which was put on still pettor
basis In 1S4o.
The scandals in Canadian affairs now under
Investigation perhaps lend timclier interest
to the review Of this half century OF union on
the Frcnch Canadian side. which IL made NY
DR.. Prosper Bender in tho Men England Md3d-
zine. He does Justice to tho henrty loyalty ot
tho Fronch element rs expressed by the do
claratlon OF Sir George Cartier that we are
Englishmen. speaking Frcnch:" and OF Sir
Etenno Tach6 that tho last gun fired for
British supremacy In Canada would be fired
by q French Canadian" Yet he shows also
the scource OF appeals to French race sentiment
in practical politics. and tho reason why 1t
can be used rs a destructive force. quarter
OF a century ago Upper Canada contained
nearly half n million moro people than Lower
Canada, and her consequent demands for rep
rescntation by population produced deadlock
In Legislation. out OF which came the Dominion
Of today In ths new E".teffbt s 3 ~ ths
tIsae n Thdg the SncS a'I% ower and
their leaders are usually SO sagacious. cour-
K mako ths aa Valuable Colleagues and powerful
The atest and most distinguished Of these
s4s s sSdafsTy George Ess sf
donald as the most ar:seeing, and practical
q the politicians have known" Cartier and
MucuOnnll WOrkeu III tbOptTUtlpu, tHt
posssssing the courage, determipation. and
fidelity Of the Briton. united with the vivacity
cleverness. md courtesy OF his own racc:
h n sfsH
MIN BY @ s's ana a. ns sS
Hons s the repeal y the naSss"n dersnis
5 The S fSS rs
Ss II y"spse TO e %; have avn
code the code Ur procedure. the cadastre the
syn4 Of Of ns y1SGs G ' SYSTEM
We're other enactments previous to the union
Ct s ss 'is o; the
OF s hawsS 1e Of e
the world were followed by tie purchase q he North
s"STs
a to 9 hss. ss @Syas
Ss 81 s"sfs
@ ~ Ss os BE
treasure to his countrymsn.
Sir Hector Langovn. the Hon. Wifrid Lau-
the Hon. Honor6 Mercier. Prime Minister Of
the prov nce OF Quebec. q. man Of excellent
81 ePs FS Of sasuaS p Sh
That Of late years political friction between
tario has become marx ed Or. Bender fully APP
precates. but he points out that party loyalty
be Il said. even Agricultural consttuencies.
containing French &c. Canadian majority. have
mainly Influenced by political or party mot Ives,
and sometimes despite tho vigorous efforts Of
Z Elecie'r a local Quebec paper. that while tho
Professionals have only about one-tenth OF the
onn ont sna
districts. they have ten mcmbcrs in the local
ve The oronto Gp5e cenced ds tat The
| Protostants Of tho province receive more than
their share by population OF tho appropriations
Educated French Canadians arc easily
INCLUDED Into politicians 10y natural taste for
| ing manners. Many have received excellent
trimming for tho clergy; not = few have been
+ Garnsan AbTa FsEiani. e Bedar rnt Car
tier; and Lctsller began thciT careers as the
show power. tho habitants follow with snthusi.
assn where thcy lead The French Canadian
politics for ali It Is worth oratory possesse c "a
great. power with tho French peasants. and
by %hsS poc sqre Success tSS fo
q ths eapaSiilIty & e mixing N earnest ana
h at2r b}ttonholei Tho toutors Or saGalea.:
hor S In Tva wh f naRs
races. which add to the excitement. Some.
| tlmeS m active tOutor or influential citizen Is
| kidnapped or impri soned 30 as to prevent him
from working, on election day. as In tho case Of
2hccpsifEInIally an appeal to muscle Is made Py
ar, oftsnST apt to be played With tho baIlo,
to. md oven a liberal Distribution Of INDUCE
mcnts to vqto In tho shape OF money do
posted in tho palms Of tho children or Of the
voters, wife, stock breeding privileges pros
breeds" he. But DR.. Bender. makes it cviden
that tho spirit OF party fidelity md proper
| sense OF honor are also exceedingly strong
among tho French Canadians. making O grea
proportion OF tho votes unpurchasabIe.
Tho iinapces and good name OF Quebec have
been much hurt by corrupt politicians Tn,
minion on an equal footing with Ontario. ye
tho latter has now q surplus OF $7.OOO,OOO ant
Quebec debt Of $2O.OOOOOO Had ali In,
statesmen Of Quebec been like Premier Jolly
stato Of things would not have happened. But
mnl2rt4natGly. visionary projects have beef
party benefit while an unfortunate habit o
the people Is that OF looking to tho Govern
ment for everything:
IL bridge IL wanted In parish. a wharf or landin
on hriver bank. or highway or public structure
any kind the Government must be appes to throug
or therl dinu