New-York tribune., 1899-12-31
CANADA AND BOER WAR.
BITTERNESS AMONG THE FRENCH ELE-
MENT AGAINST BRITAIN.
CAUSES OF THIS DIsAFFDcTIoN-LIKELY TO
PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN DO
MINIo: POLITICS.

Montreal. Dec 30 (speciaD.-The Transvaal Wal
is having a curious reflex action on Canadian poll
tics which may have momentous results. III prom
ises TO blow into flame the race antipathy between
English and French which even in the quetest
times is smoulderng in Canada. 1t Is only too
evident that the recent reverses OF the Briusn
arms in South Africa have not been displeasine
to the average French Canadian. but quite the re-
verse A great majority OF the French Canadians
are, to all appearances. pro-Boer. and they make
secret OF their views. Something much AKIN 10
exutation was displayed by them during the piack
week" and their comments as heard on the suee'
corners and in the cars were OF a nature TO make
one wonder what had become Of the French-Caha-
dian loyalty OF which so much is heard In atter-
dinner sneeches This hostility to the British cause
is all the more extraordinary because 1t is so al
variance with the expressed opinions or those VINO
on other questions are accepted as the spohes'he"
Of the race The leaders OF both parties nave put
themselves on record on the British side IN 'he
most equivocal manner. The head OF the GOV
ernment that sent contingent TO the war ana
Is now arming another Is n Professionalism. ana
with one or two exceptions the course he mas taken
has been approved over their signatures py the
French Liberal members Of Parliament
Some Of the Liberia! leaders have been outspoken
I'm their advocacy of the policy OF Canadas con-
tributing her quota of men to the British army
for the Transvaal war notable among them peih8
Mr. Belcourt NJ p. for Ottawa: Mayor Parent
OF Quebec a member OF the Quebec government
Mayor Prefontaine of Montreal member OF the
Dominion Parliament, and Charles FITZPATRICK,
Solicitor General who. while nomnally an Irish
Catholic is IN reality more French than lrlsh'
The Conservative leaders have been equally en-
phatic Sir Adolphe Caron. r c. Casgrain, NJ. p,
and Mr. Bergeron NJ p. the three most prom-
nent men in the Conservative French Parliamentary
party. have all placed themselves en- record. In
deed they have echoed the complaint or Sir
Charles Tupper that Sir Wilfrid Laurler Is culpa-
bic in having for a single moment hesitated in
making the revolutionary precedent OF participation
by Canada in the wars OF the empire.
AN OPEN FIGHT,
But in this case the leaders have Few followers;
the rank and file Of both parties are either indHer-
ent or openly hostile 10 the British cause and this
feeling is finding free expression. Mr.. Bourassa
Liberal NJ. p. for Iabelle resigned his seat as
protest against the Governments action In sending
the first contingent without first securing the con-
OF Parliament More serious Is the attitude OF
Mr. Monet, Liberal NJ. p. for Laprairie. who says
fatty in effect. that the war is an unjust one In
which Canada should not participate, and an
nounces his intention OF voting want OF confidence
In the Government this question. Mr.. Chauvin
Conservative NJ p. for Terrebonne. at public
meeting o, his constituents. took the same ground
and supported by G. A. Nantel, member OF
the Provincial Legislature and ex-Minster OF
the Crown. A bye election is pending in the
constituency OF Sherbrooke. and In the French sec
tions OF It canvass is being made against the
Liberal candidate account OF the action OF the
Government. Terrible pictures are being drawn Of
the poor habitant dragged away from his freside
to leave his bones in foreign land at the behest
OF Joseph Chamberlain. who s rapidly becom-
Ing popular bugbear here.
This feeling has naturally found free expression
In the press. which II manned q considerable
ext ed journalists VIII
seeking transplant here the anti British preju-
dces OF the boulevards. The only French paper
Of note which has been stanchly British is the
"Sole," OF Quebec. which is edited by a personal
friend OF Sir Wilfrid Laurer: the other papers OF
Quebec City have been violently Boer These
Include the "Evenement," Conservative paper;
the "semane Religeuse," the organ Of the Catholic
priesthood OF the district. and the "verlte" which
speaks for the clerical Conservatives known locally
as the Castors Equally uncompromlsng Is the
country press. without respect to party. In Mon
treal. where the English population has had a mod
Grating effect. the French papers have been more
moderate. although the "Patrie" Liberal paper
owned by the sons Of Mr. Tarte a member OF the
Dominion Government has been guilty OF a good
many indiscretons. which being largely copied and
attributed TO Mr.. Tarte senior have done a grea.
deal Of mischief
This spontaneous outburst Of anti British feeling
astounded the English Canadians: but the aston
spreading rapidly throughout Canada and is GER
tain, unless speedily checked to embitter the rela-
lions or the two races for decade to come so
sharp has the tension become that the cooler heads
OF the French-Canadans are getting alarmed at
the signs OF the rising storm and are urging their
compatriots to more discreet courses At present
they play commanding role in the Government OF
Canada, with man OF their own race at the head
or anairs; and this position is certain TO be lost
beyond any hope Of regalning II for generation II
a solidifcation Of the English vote should result
from the present unfortunate state OF affairs.
The "Sole' in recent article attributed the de-
feat Of the Liberals in Manitoba TO this ground
swell; and appealed earnestly TO its compatrots TO
retrace their steps lest worse disasters should
ensue. L. Q. David. City Clerk OF Montreal lead
Ing man of the race In former years accused of
sentiments. has published an urgent
appeal for an abandonment OF the anti-English
attitude.
CAUSE OF IRRITATION
LA Presse." which is the leading French paper
OF Canada admits that the attitude OF the mass Of
the French-Canadans is enigma: but It at
tempts an explanation In article which has
caused a good deal Of discussion In this II says:
We understand the extreme surprise our English
fellow citizens must have felt more than once on
hearing expressions OF satisfaction of the news OF a
British reverse. and yet is more LOYAL TO the
British Crown. more devoted to the Queen than
easy TO explain. Many of our people withoni Tho If
t%hlnkihg % OF me consequences Of such tactics be-
leVed, while inwardly regrettng these misfortunes
that they were thus taking some sort OF personal
revenge on provoking class OF English nadlans,
who never lose an opportunity Of attacking them
lowering them or quizzing them.
There t. much that Is true IN the contentious OF
the "Presse"; the outburst OF anti British feel
Ing has been In part at any rate the answer
Of the French to the campaign against them be
gun some months ago for political purposes and
still kept up In the old days the French Cana
0anS of he
party Twenty years ago out OF over sixty French
OF Parliament. there less than a
dozen Liberals. To-day the exact opposite il the
case, the changing factor being the remarkable
rise TO the leadership of the Liberal party OF Sir
Wilfrid Laurier The Conservatives have aban-
doned all hopes OF regainng their old strength in
this province while Sir Wilfrid remains in public
life end they set 10 work some time ago TO make
up the deficiency from the other provinces by
encouraging the anti-French sentiment that is
always latent there.
Nothing was too small TO be Of service In this
campaign. For instance. In the Dreyfus affair
the "Patrie, OF this city. a vehement defender
Of the prosecution and this fact was spread over
uaAa from ma and 70 fha sk.rl IL r..