Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-21
STILL ORGANIZING.
The French TO Hold a
State Convention.
TO UNITE THEIR FORCES.
Brief Historical Review of Past Con-
ventions.

A new movement Is being organized by
the leaders OF several French Canadian
societies throughout the State whose OBJ
iect IL TO have grand state Convention
where they will discuss the position held
hy them today in Rhode Island, the prog.
ress they nave made, ana adopt plan for
unitod action IN the future.
Many weeks may yet elapse before this
new project Is executed for the organiza.
tion OF such demonstration, To be sue.
cessful, Will necessarily take plenty OF
time, hard work and good sum of
money.
The plan OF the Organization, as far as
known 10 date, Is to get toget her the
Presidents of the different FreHch Cana
dian societies In the state who will act AZ
general executive committee and choose
among themselves tue officers OF the first
state Executive COMMITTEES. Once this is
done, Il Will he the latter's duty to decide
the place where the convention Will be
held, prepare the programme 40 he sub
mitted To the consideration of the dele
gates and fix the date of the meeting The
general opinion which seems 10 prevail
today among the leaders OF this new
movement n IN favor OF Providence az
the Dsst place for the first convention.
Among the questions which Will be
submitted To the delegates for discussion
will be the following Naturalization,
the Federation OF the French societies of
the state, the Preservation OF the French
Language, the Necessity OF the French Pa
roohial Schools, the Utility OF the French
Press aud Temperance. All these sub
jects are most important To the advance
ment OF the French population, not only
In this state, but throughout the Union.
Besides these State Conventions, the
French Canadians haVS held during the
past twenty-five years several National
Conventions. The last one OF these, the
eighteenth, was held In Chicago last Sum
mer. The next will take place In Fall
River In 1896.
At first, these National Conventions
were held annually, but since the crea-
tlon of State Conventions, IL has been
thought preferable TO have them but once
every four years. There Is no question
.oday among the French people but these
meetings Of delegates from all French So
cietioS hayo done much towards their
progress I'm this, their adopted country.
But II IL also generally admitted that they
have not given as good result as was at
first expected. The secret OF this COM
parative lack OF success lies In the fact
that there was more theory than practice.
Many important questions have been
time and again discussed and decided
unanini ously In such manner that no
practical results were obtained.
However, these conventions, both state
and National, have dono much towards
uniting the French people and cementing
their bonds OF union. They have broug ht
their business men into closer relations and
have contributed to develop their lines of
business to their mutual advantage. They
have increased the natural forces of the
different elements which go to make up
the French American contingent by Civ
ing them more confidence in their
strength. The old proverb that In union
there IL strength has once more been
proven true, and the French people living
here I'm the States have come to realize It's
Importance.
The next State convention which will
take place at Taftville, Conn.,, the 18th
and 18th of September next, will give a
new impetus to the national movement
OF the French American population OF
Connecticut and several hundred dele
gates will attend, Many Canadians from
Rhode Island intend to 20 to Taitville
where they will find all the material they
need TO insure the success OF their pro-
posed convention here.