The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
CANADA.
The rrenc. Convention ut Montreal.

nearly all tho week on account OF the annual
meeting OF tho st. jean Baptiste Societies Of
Canada and the United States. Tho congresses
were held in tho hall oftho Monument National
n building erected by the societies at n cost Of
S200O00 There were !. 700 delegates. New
York, New England. Indiana. Minnesota.
Michigan and Wisconsin were represented
Tho hall was decorated with tho tricoor. The
American flag was there too. hut the British
flag was conspicuous by its absence. The re-
ports on the condition of the French Can adians
in the United States wero exceedingly salts
factory. The people are prosperous and we'll
satisfied. On tho other hand. the French in
the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Mani
toba complain OF many things. while the dis
content existing In Quebec. the cradle OF the
race. may DO measured by the fact that popu-
lation Is emigrating across the international
boundary at the rate OF 10000 annually, or
five per cent OF the whole French-speaking
body
The exodus was one OF the principal topics
before tho convention. Mr.. Tremblny. editor
Of La Iatrie, presided over committee which
reported that the prime cause OF 1t Is the ex-
clusion Of Canada by the American tariff from
her natural market in the United States. The
Tories in the convention pretended that the
remedy lies in multiplying local industries by
means OF protection in Canada. The answer
to this Is that Canada has had a protective tar
iff since 1870. and that the exodus has been
greater during tho last ten years than In any
other decade in the history OF the province. not
excepting that In which the war OF the rebel
lion occurred. when the high bounties attracted
thousands Of Canadians to the Northern
armies. Mr. Trcmblay's report was laid over
without action. Although political partisan
ship WAS excluded as far as possible from the
ahofa MT tn ,ivnr 70 nn,,lI nj
the delegates from giving expression to the
feeling OF uneasiness which prevails through
out Quebec in consequence of the enormous
flight OF population. the bankruptcy OF the
Provincial Government, tho attacks that are
being made in Manitoba and tho Northwest
Territoren upon the covenanted rights Of the
French speaking settlers In respect to Lam
guage and education. and the anti French cru
SADIE that is being carried on In Ontario by q
section OF the glish-speakine Tories. A
Tory delegate confessed to the correspondent
Of THE Sun that motion in favor OF the politi-
cal union OF Quebec with the United States
could have been carried by a two-thirds ma
jorty.
had talk at the close OF the Convention
with II Naudr"uil cure who had read the news
nothing for u.s. lie said. But annexation.
The English provinces want to strip us OF our
rights and privileges. and fer one would
81 the
lodges OF Ontario and Manitoba. We hold the
st. Lawrence. and the st. Lawrence is the key
States the rest OF the Dominion mus! follow.
The exodus is simply depopulating the rural
me pSnE o ana his T S9.a s ns h IN
The habi,a"i had the little comm on his Knee
even il It had lived It would have been lost to
me. All our children except crippled boy.
reports rep that tho French Canadians in
ae ss While AND here
will have much Influence with the clergy. !
decide their political future for themsev
She cannot say that confederation has been .
SO far ~ =" the material condition Of Freneh
Gan1ada is conSernSd ait T. iaiure NJ f.
Rrur. a radical paper, said to me: Tho local
f Fornsriy WI they SS Used e run such sstfsrinss,
fluence has proved fatal to their domination.
S hf The d o sfs
manifested itself In the defeat OF a proposal to
exclude from TIE
for a broader feeling on the subject of ,educa-
tiop. Our people are beginning to see that the
an examination or produce any other 6v-
idence OF their fitness to teach. 10 a poor
article; and that 1t Is no crime for the head Of
o family to have his children taught along with
Protestant children In non-sectarian schools.
In Quebec the Clergy rather discounten ance
the teaching OF English. but our brethren in
the United States perceive that q child igno-
rant OF that language is handicapped in after
years. and are glad to see their young folks
obliged to learn it. 1t will be SO here by and by.
AS for the exodus. there is but one remedy and
that Is annexation. Here gain the influence Of
our expatriated brethren Is q power for good.
Annexation is coming and coming fast. Moth
Jug can resist the cry OF the people for admis-
sion to their naturnl market. backed by the
great object lesson in favor Of annex alton af-
f0rded by the presence OF half q million PROS
porous French Canadians In the nelghboring
States"
Mr.. MERCER took part In the convention, and
ask cd to deliver speeches in favor Of Canadian
thirty places in New England during the sum
mer Since the Liberal Convention at Ottawa
many oid-tme Liberals. both English and
French. have declared for political union.
They resented the appointment Of Sir Oliver
Mowat. reactionary. as presiding officer;
They are also disrleased with the Liberal
platform. 1t is a string OF old issues over
which no one but an office seeker can wax en-
thusiastic. Then 1t promises reciprocity Of
trade with the United States. although only n
few months ago Sir oliver, denounced the
Americans In . speech at Niagara. and has
won place In the Tory heart by Diminishing
annex ationists from the provincial service Of
Ontario.