The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-12
1T Is A NATION APART.
France ON the St. Lawrence Will Not
Assimtlatc With the English.

Pail Mall Gazette.
There is on the banks of the ST.
Lawrence a nationality whose isolation be-
comes more complete. and whose numbers
become surprisingly greater, as the years
pass on.
Talk as We may about the genius OF the
English in conquering and assim.latins
races of great variety; and of our success
in Canada especially, the fact remains
that never were the French of Lower Can
ada more "pationalistic" in character and
aspiration than at the present time. There
has been no fusion of French and English;
and the possibility of there being one
seems as far removed as ever. The senti-
mental connection with old France, broken
off by the revolution, has been renewed
after fashion, and the imperidlistic long
ings of English Canada are regarded with
indifference. if. indeed. they are not treat
ed with open scorn. The trlcolor fiutters
not infrequently from the hagstaffs of
Quebec: and the strains of the Mar
seillaise" are as often heard as those Of
the English crown. They certainly do not
favor annexation, for the Catholic HER
archy know full We'll that il Quebec were
merged into the American republic their
exclusive rights and privileges would not
be worth a years purchase. Echoes OF
loyal speeches from the lips of French
Canadians have been heard more than
lie man In Canada could not be otherwise:
the English speaking population would
not have il. If Sir Wifrid Laurier, OF
whose genuine loyalty there can be no
doubt, were to give utterance to any other
sentiments. all his popularity and all the
strength OF his party would not save him
from an instant snutfing out
The isolation of the French speaking
population had its origin in the terms OF
the Quebec act of 1774. which authorized
the Catholic priests to collect tithes. and
enforce the collection. IL necessary. by
process OF law. The power of this lever
In the hands of an Cltramontane church
may be imagined. In Quebec the affairs
of church and state are practically one.
Priests direct their focks how to vote and
caj0ling and threatening are part of their
mode Of direction. Bishops forbid the
reading of any journal that raises It's voice
in criticism. OF social intercourse be.
tween Protestant and Catholic, between
English and French, there is very little
for il is the church's policy to prevent II.
1ntermarriages are OF rarest occurrence.
Children OF French and English parents
are educated apart, In separate schools:
and thus perpetuate the distinction. The
power of the French priest over the In
habitants. a political and educational
oracle. cannot be understood BY those who
have not witnessed its exercise. The edu-
cational system Is wholly on a religious
basis. or. practically speaking, nationals
isiic basis, the central board consisting OF
thirty-five members including the bishops
and local boards of the inferior clergy.
Protestants in Quebec are like flies on the
wheel as far as their influence on the pro-
vincial policy is concerned. This is. easily
understood when the figures Of some OF
the electoral districts are glanced at For
instance. in Beilechasse there are 1854
Catholics and four Protestants; in kari-
ourska the proportion is ~, 45i TO three: in
L'lslet II is 1881 TO two.
In addition to valuable privileges TO the
Catholic clergy. the Quebec act established
the French law re property and civil
rights which still prevails. 1t counte-
nanced the segniorial system OF feudal
tenure, which survived until some forty
years ago. as a framework upon which
rested the almost medieval civilization Of
the French Canadian Catholic-a civiliza-
ton that is as much opposed TO ours
are the poles to each other. II guaranteed
the continuance OF the French language:
and, as result. that tongue alone is heard
in school. court and market: And very
rarely nowadays is an English speech de-
livered in the legislature. Yet small as
they are In numbers the English speaking
people are proportioaateiy far more
wealthy, prosperous and enterprising than
the French. The bulk OF these latter are
the peasant class. ignorant. slow. clinging
TO old pre- iudices. Many OF the race IL IL
true display a peculiar aptitude for po-
iitlcal life They are especially brilliant az
orators. advocates and journalists AL
though in politics they have frequently
been mixed up In scandals yet many Of
them have been foremost in Canadian po-
liiical life. az the ranes OF Tafonfafne
Letellier, Cartier and Chaplesu testify.
Sir Wilfrd Lanrier. that wn0issouIfsf.
generous spirit. has been generally regard
ed In England as a representative OF the
French Canadian, and a. typifylng he
successful fusion % English and French
in the Dominion. Such an Idea r. a mis-
taken ore. Sir WIifrfa T.aurier f. one
among ter thousand. and would Be in the
same position today We're ne a North