The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-16
FREE CANADA THEIR CRY.
FRENCH CANADIANS PROTEST
AGAINST IMPERIALISM.

Tho Independence League or tho Dominion
Appeals TO the People to Cast on the Enr.
iish Yoke aud Bccomo n NntIon-Nni-
tnry and Naval Contribution Denounced.
MONTREAL, Quebec, Oct. 15.-The Executive
Of the Independence League Of Canada, which
comprises many conspicuous French Canadians,
has issued an address TO the people OF Canada
urging immediate action toward securing the
complete independence OF the Dominion from
Great Britain.
"Who Is the man who would not he free y
says the address. "In the social and political
order the slave Is but n domestic animal in the
service of his master. Tho colonist is between
the slave and those who command him. Tho
Colonist has no history and does not exist in the
world of Intelligent people. Said IIonoro Nler-
cicr in 1893: To inferior races belongs this in
ferior condition. We declare hat VIC desire to
he something's; that Is why we demand to have
our place among the free people who govern tho
world. To all whose generous hearts the word
country appeals. to all those whose blood
beats quicker at the word liberty, we send our
cry for dclivcrnncc, leaving aside all those who
by cowardice or from other causes accept the
present situation which lowers us in the eyes Of
other people.
Relying on the justice Of our cause we claim
the privilege OF using our inalienablc right to
lrCc ourselves from brltlSn tntcIagc. a tutclaR0
prcsupposcs AN incapable or an in;crdirt. Are
the Canadian people 80 miserable that they will
submit TO such II disgrace {! Will 100000 of
brave and honest mon, occupying n greater
country than the whole OF Europe. continue to
how their heads beneath the British yokel Ger
tainly not, and. as they have q right to do, they
will proclaim their independence. Legally Eng
land cannot prevent them. Great Britain, said
Clarke Wallace in the Canadian Parliament,
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prescribe our allegiance for the future More
over, surprising that England was disposed 10
violate the law and to employ violence to
stranglc our liberty. her own interests would
prevent her from doing so. We may recall the
memorable words OF Lord John Russell: When
the majority in one of our colonies declares by
its representatives that they desire to separate
FROM us it will not be possible in any way to
prevent them The fault committed by Gren-
vile, Townshend. and Lord Worth, who. by
their obstinate actions, brought on the war of
independence on the part of the United States.
can never be repeated. England will, there
fore, bow to the firmly declared wish of the
Canadian people.
THE time to act is now. Not only our dignity
refuses to longer accept the English tutelage.
but the future of our country depends upon tho
energy which we show toward realizing as soon
as possible the great project OF free Canada. To
those who arc not blinded by English fanati-
cism, personal interest, or ignorance. i; is evil
dent that Canada is marching with rapid steps
toward bankruptcy
The address then recalls the warnings OF
Honore MERCER in 1898 describing the situation,
and concludes:
This is the sad picture that our country
presents under the British yoke, and, more
= over, it may be worse under the color of inn
perial federation. Canada, moro securel,
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