New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-04
FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC CANADIANS.
THEIR FITNESS FOR CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED
STATES.

THEIR FINES FUR CITIZENSHIP IN TIE UNITED
STATES.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In The Tribune Of November was a letter b.
Francis Waylanc Glen on the French Roman Catholic
Canadians. Many Of the statements made arc OF
misleading character and ought not 10 pass uncha
legged. The writer claims TO have been for thirty
years q close observer and student Of the French
Canadian Roman Catholics OF Western New-Brunswiek
Quebec and Eastern Ontario and that ne has arrived at
the conclusion that there Is not any valid reason why
We should hesitate to embrace the French. Canadian
Roman Catholics Of Quebec and welcome them as Ct
zens Of the great Republic
Much of what the author of this letter says OF the
genial character and sterling qualities Of the French
Canadians Is true. Born and brought up in the Prov
incc Of Quebec myself II should be strange not
glad to find shch appreciation OF the Canadians In
Ncw-York newspaper But several statements rela
tive to the attitude Of the French Roman Catholic
leaders toward the Protestans one-sded far
from the truth as anything can be.
In the first place. student of the history Of Canada
since the British conquest can fail to recognize that
the clerical teachings under which the French OF
Canada have been for generations have had the ten
dency OF putting the people out of sympathy with
British institutions. They have resisted every attempt
TO bring the province in line with the advanced civil
lizatIOn Of the nineteenth century. Driven, so to
speak, by tyranncal hierarchy to which time serving
pOlllcdDS nave Udue ODelsdnCc, inc fIoNlhCc Va
Quebec has gone on in the old rlts much 10 its detr
ment ard TO that of the whole country. stagnation
has been the result and 100000 French-Canadians
have been obliged 10 abandon their poverty-stricken
homes to seek livelihood in this country.
1t is out of keeping with facts to say that thesRoman
Catholic majority have been unjust 10 the minor
ty Tie politicians of Quebec at the bidding of the
priests, have abused in many instances their power
and every time they have opportunity they do the
oIo f,ro fncta in OOnt ont Of a great
many. In the direction OF taxes and tithes. the
Imperial Act Of 1774, which gave extraordinary
privileges to the Romlsh Church, has been
exceeded in number OF cases. farlshes
have been divided and ones formed contrary To
the act TO the detrment OF Protestants and the ag
grandizement Of the Church Of Rome, and no redress
can be obtained. Again, the distribution OF school
taxes obtained from large corporations Is unfair unjust
In Montreal some $4,000 Of Protestant money goes to
maintain Roman Catholic schools, and the Legs
lature will not allow Professionals to present tlelf
claims, because It would dspease Rome
The fact is that by reason OF the large French Roman
Catholic vote Of Quebec which that Church controls,
the Legislature has become the pllable instrument OF
that pOllticOreglOus organization and no measure can
be passed by it which Rome does not approve.
Your correspondent says: - have no sympathy
with Protestants who arc disposed to make war upon
the Catholic Church in this country II he had be
gun with this sentence the experienced reader could
easily have deducted from It the conclusions which
are found in the article. The author has evidently
not made himself acquainted with the fundamental
principles OF Romanism, otherwise he would not say
The French QRoman Catholic) are naturally Repub-
leans and will adjust themselves TO our institutions
very rapidly after annexation" The ultramontane
teachings which the French Of Quebec have received
for generations have made them anything but repnb
lican They are mOnarchca in their ideas and alto
get'Ier out Of sympathy with our American way oil
thinking on political, ecclesiastical and educational
matters They will change their views, in the meas
ure in which they are removed from clerical DONNA
ton.
Frchch Roman Catholic conventions are held every
year in this country. What arc the leading notices OF
thesel "Our tongue, our nationality, our religion
Every effort IS put forth by the priests and ther sup
poters to prevent the Canadians from learning tho
English language, that they may not imbibe Amer
lean ideas The avowed purpose Of the French Cana
dian leaders Is to keep this population, especially IN
ew-England distinct race, preserving its customs,
manners traditions methods of education, IN fact all
pertaining to French Roman Catholic Canada. The
clergy fear and not without reason, that contact with
American life will make them lose their religion. In
all their newspapers and in the books and pamphlets
they issue the Americans are spoken OF as the enemy
If their religion and nationality.
4 Jesuit priest Father Hammond, has Just issued a
book on the French Canadians in New England. The
object OF the work is TO show his compatriots how TO
act what measures to take, to preserve their identity
I'm this Republic lie warns them again and again
against the dangers Of assimilation" lie urges them
10 remain true to the old traditions of their fathers
lie does not want annexation nor d. tile French
Canadians lie hopes e. the day when quebec VIII
break loose from the confederation Of British provinces
not 10 annexed to the United states, but TO be
come an independent nation, completely under French
French Canadian those States bordering on Claa
constant immigration and the rapid growth OF the
French Canadian race those States bordering on Canada
having bee me almost entirely French, will break loose
from New England 10 unite with French Roman Catholic
Canada Readers may take this for what 1t Is worth
II serves TO show that long the French are under
ihe control of the priests they will be unwilling and
unfit to become loyal American citzenss Tile RepuD-
cans need look far for an explanation OF their
defeat years in succession In Massachusetts, They
NAV thank the Irish and French Roman Catholic vote
FOR il. Defeats will be the order OF the day until the
Republican majority bravcly throws aside the Roman
Catholic and hGur vote. Then will the strong men OF
the grand old party" come back in force and vote the
The discussion Of this vitality important subject
would require q small volume In book have Just
had the honor OF giving to the public, Your Heritage,
or New England Threatened" give my reasons for
thinking that the annexation Of Qucbec to this country
is an dlc dream. | endeavOr to show that we already
have enough do TO digest and aSslmate the million
of French Roman Catholics who have sought home
among Ms CALVIN +. AAlARON,
President OF the French Protestant College
Springfield Mass, Nov. Z, 1871.