Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-25
TALK WITH DIR. KERR
His Impressions Of Social, Political, and
Business Life In Canada.
FIGHT FOR WoMATS SUFFRAGE.
This thc Great rsaue In the New York
Convention-Alsrmtng Decay OF Rcver-
cncc-Glad 20 To at Homo Again.

10 meet ana talk with the representative
OF the press. and to have the opportunity
OF speaking through them to the pubic
The popular divine said that political
and social science had always been Ia
vori,e subjects with him. and the study
OF them. not only in books. but by
minglng with people wherever he hap
pened 20 be. he had found interesting and
profitable. Il think" he said. that while
the political position OF Canada Is quite
unique. IL being a Colony larger In terri
tory than the United States belonging
70 small island three thousand miles
away, and whereas this dependent posi-
ton may not be calculated TO foster just
the kind OF proud. local patriotism which
our people are noted for, yet II produces
patriotism of another kind, and COM
mendable pride In being IA part of the
vast empire OF Britain. on which the sun
never sets. I was surprised during my
recent sojourn in Canada to find how
great a degree Of autonomy Is enjoyed
by the people of that interesting country.
They make their own laws, subject. or
course. TO the English Constitution. very
much as our States do. under the Con-
stitution Of the United States. but enjoy
a privilege which Is impossible TO the
sovereign States OF the American re-
public. In that Canada can and does enact
tariff laws TO protect herself from com
petition IN the part OF the manufacturing
and other interests OF the other Colonies.
the mother country.
THE GOVERNOR-GENE
"The London government appoints the
President. or Governor-General, as he is
called, man entirely ASSOCIATED from
Canadian politics. and the men who have
filed this position have usually
given great satisfaction by their
ent Governor-General, the Earl OF
Aberdeen. and his noble wife. Lady
Aberdeen. are almost universally beloved.
and revered. The only person / heard
criticize their conduct. objected on the
ground that they were too religious, ana
that Lady Aberdeen was TOO attentive 10
the poorer classes. This was a would-De
aristocrat who desired a more brilliant
court at Ottawa The criticism seemed TO
me TO be the highest praise.
Canadians are generally satisfied with
their political position. ana l met none
who desired annexation to the United
States. When they asked my opinion,
said we had enough territory and enough
population under our flag at present to
make the government OF the United
States most difficult problem. ana
hoped they would remain independent for
their own sakes and ours, but that they
and we should cultivate international
friendship and exchange in commerce. III
every way practicable. and be good neigh
bors"
FRENCH AND ANGLO-SA%ON.
How do the French and Anslo-Saxon
clements % the population feel towards
one another
They get on very we'll together. as a
rule. because they live apart. Ontario
Is English and Protestant. while the
province Of Quebec is French and Catho-
lie OF course, there are many Catholics
and Frenchmcn in Ontario. and many
Protestant English in Quebec, but the
former is Overwhelmingly English. and
the latter as strongly French. In the
city Of Quebec. for example. there are
abs at 1000 French. and perhaps Gv0 or
7.cl9 English. In the province OF quebec
the Catholic Church Is sort of govern
mental establishment and. | am informed
by one in Il position to know that the
income Of the Church in the province is
about $ljC0O.0D0 per annum. | found the
French Catholics usually loyal to the
government, and remarkably sober and
law-abiding people. There Is compare
lively little intemperance among them.
and in many counties prohibition Is main
tanned, and largely through the influence
OF the Church. They have hundreds or
magnificent churches, converts, ana edu-
cational institutions of every kind. ana
/ found the priests whom / met eX-
tremely courteous. \ parish priest in the
of Chicontini gave me most cor
dial and pressing invitation to dine with
him, which | was greatly disappointed at
not being able to do so"
WELL-BUILT CITIES.
What did you think of the Canadian
cities?"
Il found them very handsome, and as
81 rule more substantially built than our
own. Montreal is a city whose public
buildings and private residences Will COM
pare favorably with those of any city in
the world. And Quebec is noted for the
same massiveness OF its architecture.
The latter can hardly be called an Ameri-
can city at ALL 1t seems thoroughly Con-
tinental-European not only in the TACT
that one hears very little English spoken
in its streets, but because the buildings
are marked with that severe plainness
and stability of construction which are
go noticeable in countries east of the
Atlantic"
Can you give us some impressions OF
matters in New York State?'
Eyes, having been in the habit OF spend
ing my vacations in the Empire State
for a number of years, | have become
pretty well acquainted with its affairs.
and with many of its people. While So
journing at Saratoga and Albany / found
that the principal topic of conversation,
besides the tariff bill was the dongs OF
the constitutional convention in session
nffA haf
made to give the citiNs what Is called
home rule. and TO have State elections
held In other than acknowledgements
years The people were also greatly in
terested In an amendment prohibiting
any use of public funds in the interest of
religious or sectarian schools and col
lcges.
SETBACK TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
But the question that elected the
greatest amount of discussion was as to
whether women should be given the right
TO vote and hold office in the State; and l
am happy TO say that the decision OF
the convention was against It. While the
question was pending Albany was in the
hands of the ladies. and as might have
been expected from their well-known
powers of persuasion. they made many
converts among chlvalrous members |
OF the convention. who had gone 10 AL
bany opposed to womans suffrage. i
hope | may offend none of the sex. whose |
esteem | highly prize. when / say, God |
forbid that the day shall ever come which !
shall see woman taken from the safe |
sanctlties OF home and thrown into the
mad whlrl of political ambition and strife! |
II It should come, II would Indeed be a
dark hour for our civilization. One OF |
these ''strong- minded sisters spent two
hours trying to convert me TO her views, |
and In her argument spoke OF matters !
which should not be talked Of between I
the sexes certain social evils. and their /
causes and effects. with as much saTg I
froid as II the topic of our conversation |
had been gardening or housekeeping"
1T MAY YET SUCCEED.
DO you think. Doctor. that woman's |
suffrage will ever be established in this |
countryg'
II do not know. The movement has
means certain that 1t Will not succeed
In the course OF generation or two.
Our people are not so conservative as
they were I'm former days. The most
ominous sign of the times. In my tudg-
ment is the decay of reverence among
all classes OF Americans. Reverence for
law. for parents for the Bible, for the
house Of God. for the Sabbath. and for !
all time -honored institutions and customs,
Is rapidly fading out Of American life.
and when this barrier is removed. II 1t
shall be. nothing can stop radicalism In
all departments"
II suppose you are glad to get home |