The morning call., 1892-07-07
CANADIAN FRENCH IN NEW ENG
LAND.

Reference was made in this column rev
days ago 10 the large number OF flehcn-
Canadians settled in New England. ana 10
the apprehenstons which had arisen IN the
Yankee mind in consequence. lew addi-
tsouai facts have since been supplied by
Dr. Prosper Bender. 1t appears that the
French Canadians maintain their separate
nationality by holding State and general
conventions, in which the interests of the
race are considered; that they own $780,.
20, 600 of real estate; that they elect repre-
natives of their own race to the Legisla-
tlres Of Maine, New Hampshire, Massa-
81 usetts, Connecticut and New ork; that
LEY keep up 287 French Canadian socie-
tics, with membership OF 43.o51, and that
trey have abandoned their original idea of
returning to Canada when they have made
little money, and now propose to make
New England the land Of their adoption.
Dr. Bender seems TO fear that they will con-
ituie non-assimilating element, which In
urse of time may give trouble.
The apprehension is unwarranted. No
enc estimates the number of French Cana
ans in New England at over $4,000. while
lie six New England States contain some
) 300 0e0 people. The French infusion Is too
light to dilute the whole. III the French
4doption they are far more likely to be abb
sorbed and to cease after couple OF genera
tons TO retain their French char acteristics
IAN TO color the community of which they
fern a part Tie children will learn
English at the public schools and will grow
Mp English-speaking Americans with French
names The colony cannot derive impor-
tant accessions of strength from immigra-
ION. There are less than 800. 600 French
Canadians all told, in Canada; very
ght increase in the present immigration
you'd deplete the colony of labor, and the
lie would most likely turn in consequence
tie demand for workmen In the British
-ovince.
History tells us how the thing works.
louisiana contained q, 600 people when JEFF
ferson bought it from France. These were
mainly French. There were a few Span
iards and Americans among them, but nine
teen-twen.ieths were French, speaking the
French language. praetieing French GUS
'oms, belonging 10 the Catholic church.
The purchased region was created into
Territory under American laws. Ameri-
cans from the upper Mississippi moved to
he Territory of Orleans. and established
themselves there. No coercion was used to
American.ze the creoles. They became
americans imperceptibly through the infiu-
ence OF their surroundings, and nothing but
q few names and parOchial divisions re-
aimed to remind them of their origin.
In the present Province of Quebec. which
s. as formerly Lower Canada, an instance
OF another way of dealing with foreign
race is exhibited. At the time of the pass
age of the Quebec act, in 1774, the French
Canadians numbered $4,000 souls. In order
T.. :.
o. soldiers-whieh was all that England
could spare the British Government
e reed that the Canadians should retaiu
cir language, their laws. their religion
aad their customs. They do so still. JUS
;e IS administered indifferently in either
Dguage. Parts of the old customs of
arts are still the law Of the land. The
lbitS of the peasantry are those Of the
orman and Breton peasantry of the
ghteenth century. The consequence is
al Quebec is almost as French to-day as
hen Wolfe fell on the Plains of Abraham !;
at there has been no fusion of races, and
at the tide of immigration from Great
ritain which has been flowing into Canada
half century has swept past the east
I'm province to strike the English provinces
the west. Whether the Quebec act was
ise or not, it is not now worth while TO in
Qlire. 1t is evident from the German pol
~ iii Alsace that Bismarck thought 1t was
Ut. However this may be, we see its
aits after lapse of century and a quar-
ter.
If the French Canadians in New England
Guild gather ia one Stale and dominate it
as to adopt constitution providing that
official language was to be French. aud
tae laws French, our New England friends
lght have some grounds for uneasiness.
sit is the presence of 100000 Canadians
nong the Yankees is not more alarming
an the growth of the Scandinavian colo
les in Minnesota and Wisconsin.