The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-28
Parkman. ia view OF recent American en-

perience."
Colbert went further In his paternal solicit
tudC for New France than tho present Govern
ment docs. He provided wives for the colon
lists aud future mothers for Canada by the
annual shipment OF cargoes OF young women
from France to Quebec. Orders were issued a
little before tho arrival Of the yearly ships
from France that all single men should marry
within "A fortnight after the landing Of tho
prospective brides. No mercy was shown TO
the ohduratc bachelor. Talon issued an order
~forbiddinE unmarried men to hunt, fish.
trade with tho Indians. or 20 into the woods
under any ]prctcncc whatever. In short they
were made as miserable as possible. Colbert
wrote: Those who may seem to have abso-
lutcly ronOuucc1 marriage should be made to
bear additional burdens. and h" excluded from
all honors; it would be well even to add some
marks OF infamy.'
The success Of these measures was COM
p'ctr. Throughout the length and breadth
OF Canada SAYS Parkmau. "Hymcn. II not
Cupid, was whipped into Il frenzy Of activity
Aud tho Venerable Mother Marie de linear
nation. writes: No sooner have tho vessels
arrived than the young men go to get wives.
and by reason OF the great number they are
married by thirties at Il time Park man de-
tends the character Of these mothers OF Canada
against SOM" OF the historians Of the time.
lt hOlncI Mary. Ill lopN, chIlcl them mlAc'l
goods '-"une merchandise ~mpitc"-and La
HOntain. writing fifteen or twenty years later.
says: Ships were sent out frcightcd with girls
Of indifferent virtue under the direction of II
few pious old ducnnas, who divided them into
three classes. These vestalS were. SO to speak.
piled one on the other in three different halls,
whore the bridcsrooms chose their brides as a
butcher chooses his sheep out of the midst OF
the flock. There was wherewith to content the
most fantastical in these three halCnS, Tor
here were TO be seen the tall and the short. the
blond and the brown the plump and the lean.
At the end OF "A fortnight not one was left. |
am told that tho plumpcst were taken first. be-
cause it was thought that. being less active.
they were more likely to keep at home. and
that they could resist the winter cold better
1t will thus be seen that in the matter Of
State encouragement Of III" increase OF Can
ada 5 population from within. the Government
Of Quebec is but continuing the traditions Of
the early French Governors OF the colony. the
policy OF Colbert and Louis XIV. and following
the example Of past centuries.
The Ninerrc. ore of the leading organs of
Frcnch-Canadia public opinion in this prov
incC. forcsces far-rcachinG results from the
difference in II birth rates of Ontario and
Quebec. "MalthuSian IDEAS it says. "unfor-
tunateIy so widely spread throughout the
United States. have invaded Canada by way OF
the largest provinces. Heaven grant that they
may never take II footing among our French
Canadian people. who. alas. are already not en-
tircly free from the contagion, 1t is known
that the ncighboring province is already large
~ populated with French Canadians. We're II
not for our compatriots, who maintain the On
tario birthrato to somewhat the same level as
that Of France. that rate would come dow to
the level and perhaps below the level Of
Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. II the
conditions do not change. IL is certain that
gradually the Province Of Ontario vii! become
populated with our compatriots. and the same
thing may perhaps take place in the neighbour
ing States" An apprehension Of some such
fate. at least so far as Ontario is concerned, is
evident from the remarks OF DIR. Bryce Of the
Toronto Board OF Health. accom- panying his
report Of vital statistics. 1t is manifest, he
says. that II the Anglo-SaXon race is to fulfil
its destiny on the American continent. and
play the dominant part over inferior races in
the march Of progress. the opponents OF itsJ as
sumed superiority will have to preach Il gospel
OF patriotism to which to-day they seem singu-
larry blind. Social dcgencracy has ALWAYS
meant national decay. and it is the simple and
moral citizens of to-day who will hold the SUI
premacy tomorrow