New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE FRENCH CATHOLIC CANADIANS.
40 BE WELCOMED INTO THE UNION AS AMEEI-
CAN REPUBLICAN CITIZENS.

TO the EDITOR of The Tribune.
Sir: The fact that the large majority OF the popi-
iation OF the Province of Quebec ara French Roman
Catholics has been offered BY some over-shxious
Protestants seronss objection to the anneAMioh
OF Canada to the United States belong to the cx-
trcme Low Church party OF the Protestant Episcopai
Church, and therefore cannot be charged with haVihs
any lesnings toward Roman Catholicism; while, on
the other hand, i not. hope Protestant oigo''
/ have observed and studied the Canadian French
Roman Catholics OF Western New-Brunswck, quebec
and Eastern ontario with intense interest Tor tnr"
years. / began my investigations with preluoee
against them. There is not more domestic nome
loving family loving. quiet, peaceful, iaw-so""s'
temperate moral, conented, kindly race on thls con'
tlnent than the Roman Catholic Frenchmen OF Canaoa'
There IA not any more faithful u thcr ""'i"'o'
VOWS. In this respect they are inhniteiy our SUI
rlors. Life and property are Just as sacreo i 0ueo
as in ontario or New-Engand They are exue"'p
polite aud respectful 10 those in authority. inc Pr
laon OF the Province Quebec Is at least 81 per cc
French but they never have been charged py 1io
Protestant minority of Quebec with injustice III 'nc
administration OF the law, nor have they Dec" O""e
by the minority in TINT province wiu IoTohs "''
legislation upon them. 1 would lar rather 'us' ~!
life and property with a French CANADIAN hon'''
Catholic majority than with ontario orange Prot
estant majority.
The cry against the Roman Catholics OF Quebec has
been chiefly raised by the Orange Society OF oerio
When Mr. Melcler as Premier Of quebec. sel'iea o
few years ago the long standing claim OF 'ie 1es''s
OF Montreal by paying them 100000 to be dsuiDut1'
among Catholic schools he gave the Protestant minor
ity Of the province their per capita share for Protestant
schools In the event Of annexation, Quebec Will take
her Mace as a State in the American Union, and VIII
have entire control over her own local anairs'
majority OF her population will be French Roman
Catholics. They have not been unjust TO the minority
in the past and what reason is there to suppose thes
rIo D.rfa slant min
OF the province has never appealed to the Dominion
Covernmct since Confederation, against the action OF
tl,e Catholic majority. The Orangemen In ontario
led by Dalton Mccarthy, Member OF Parliament, al
tempted to make trouble over the settlement OF uc
Jesuit claim made by Mr.. MERCER, but failed "mie
large majority Of the electors OF Montreal are FRENCH
Catholics the Mayor Of the city has been more frequent
~ an Notwithstanding Protest nt than French Roman
ist There have been comparatively few scandals In
connection with tho Legislature OF Quebec as compared
TO the Dominion Parliament a. Ottawa
The great corruptonist leaders of Canada are all OF
Scotch English or Irish extraction. and, with the eN-
ception OF the Hon. Thomas McGreevy, Protestan's.
There are no more brilliant or honorable names In the
history of the Dominion Parliament than Tache Doron
Jolv and Laurier all OF them French Liberals Sir
George Cartier, c. B., Sir Hector Langevn, Z. b. ana
Sir Adophe Caron c. b. were mlsei by Sir John MAC
donald and are the French politicians who have
been knghted since federation.
than 100000 ontario onngemeh The crimnai
statistics of Quebec are quite favorable to the French
nomanist those OF Ontario are to the Protestahs
The French are naturally republicans ana VIII ADJUST
themselves to our Institutions rapidly after annexa
uon The French population of Quebec has contributed
It's full quota OF upright and patriotic legislators to the
Parliament of Canada. They may not be as AMBITIOUS
commercially as the Scotch English and Irish citizens
of Canada but they are loyal to Canada as moral,
as peaceful and as faithful to the State ms Their
Protestant brothers. We shall Amercanize them With
out any difficulty. We have Americanzed every race
we have come in contact with, and every institution
not excepting the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic
churches. have no sympathy with Protestants who
are disposed to make upon the Catholic Church Ill
this country II is being steadily AmercaniEed, while
we are not being Romanzed Our Roman Cata t11
We must not forget that in the DARKEST days OF the he-
bellion sent three great men to Europe to educate
public opinion in our favor, viz Archbishop tuenes
fhrrow Weed and Henry Ward Reecher. The great
Roman Catholic preate was no less sincere earnest
and eGectlve behalf than his two great Protestant
associates. The French race gave us substantial ad in
establishing the Republic and maintaining our lnde-
pendence. We never have had occasion 70 charge them
with unfriendiness since 1776. Why sbonld we have
any to dsts their descendants who have been
During the Civil War the Engllshspeah1ng arlsocracy
OF Quebec, Montreal ottawa Kingston Toronto. Hamil
ton London and ST. GATHERINGS welcomed and barbored
comfort. Not 80 with the French srstocracy Of
Montreal and Quebec. Even the most rabd French
Tories have sympathy with The attacks made upon
us By the Engshspealdng Tory leaders and their press
There is not any valid why should hesitate to
embrace the Canadian French Roman Catholics OF
Quebec and welcome them citizens Of the great
Republic dh,., ~, o7 F Fra wAfLAND GLEN