The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
THE IRENCH-CANADIAN DREAM.
Surprising Speech of IA Canadian Onicial mt
tho ChampInin Festivities in France.

Surprising Speech of n Canadian Oficial at
tho ChampIain Festivities I'm France.
QuEBEc. Nov. 1.-THE French Canadian cat
10 out Of the bag at last. and the ultra-loyalists
OF the Canadian dominion who are fond Of
boasting that the last gun In defence of Brit
ish sovereignty in North America Is to be fired
by q French-Canadian have received a strange
awakening. When the late Count MERCER
was at the meridian OF his political power as a
recognized leader OF his French compatriots
in Canada several unsuccessful attempts we're
made to fasten upon him the authorship OF a
desire. said to have been expressed by him
during q visit to France. to see a French re-
public established upon the banks OF the st.
Lawrence.
What was vaguely alleged against the for
mer French-Canadian leader has now been
openly avowed and challenged by a member
OF the existing Government of Quebec. The
Hon. Mr.. 1urgeon. Minister Of Colonization
and Mines for the province OF Quebec. was
delegated by the Liberal Administration to
represent il at the recent demonstrations In
honor of Cbamplain. the founder of Quebec. at
Honteur. in France. French newspapers have
been received here containing reports of a
most surprising speech made by him there.
especially when 1t is borne In mind that he is
i sTSFn G seTTant f Az t sqSfssr II tbs es sqe6Ri0 od tine ne
Of present political and State divisions on the
North american continent. with the establish
.ISht VI a NolI u lilpll III lIo ulltJ VI bIo
Mississippi and a French one upon the banks
OF the st. Lawrence.
is the American continent" he said, TO
civilization in the homogeneity of one single
lossus will crumble and three or four great
States will rise from the ruins. In the pres
ence OF this possibility It is permissible for
whoever knows the tendencies of the Ger
man race and the position which it occupies
In the valley OF the Mississippi to predict that q
German. empire will rise In that valley. which
it already controls by its language. its litera-
ture. and its influence on public affairs. Docs
not this empire. sprinRinR up on the shores Of |
the Mississippi. make us dream of another |
empire on the shores OF the st. Lawrence, |
playing on the American continent the role OF |
France In Europe. the country OF civilization |
and liberty, a generous country. ready to fight \
for a great principle or for the defence Of a
holy cause. making the finest flower of art.
the finest fruits OF the intellect to blossom
forth, manifesting in the New World the fruit
ful initiative and the brilliant virtues Of the
French soul? 1t is a dream. / know, but 1
have faith in this dream. because / have faith
In the vitality OF our people"
All the French papers OF the province. and
even the Semaine Reli1ieuse. the organ OF the
Roman Catholic Church In Quebec. approve the
speech OF Mr.. TurReon, and the paper Just
says OF 1t:
What Mr.. Turgeon has said of our ma
tional figure agrees perfectly with the hopes
which we entertain. Without doubt 1t is an
am bilious dream, but, after all. it seems to us
that the dream is not unrealiZable. French
canadians have only to wish it."