The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
CANADA AND THE B0ERS
Sympathy with the Transvaa1 Of French
Speaking People in Quebec.

QUEBRC, Oct 13-Sir Wilfrid Laurier's do
lay In rendering Canadian regiment to the British
Government for service In the Transyaal has
caused intense dissatisfaction among tho ultra-
loyal element In the English speaking prov
inoes but the public expression Of this feeling
is so feroely resented by largo part Of the French
Canadian population Of Quebec that intense race
hatred threatens 10 DO aroused. Tho advo-
Gates OF the Imperial Federation in Nova Scotia.
Ontario and the West arc indignant at the Gov
ernments inaction. They argue that Canada
sent q contingent to the Queens Jubilee 10 pa
rade when there was no danger, and thas II is
now the country's duty to show that
the Dominion is prepared TO share the EN-
pire's danger and to illustrate to the world
that whoever would attack the lion must reckon
also with the cuba" These people believe that
the inactton Of the Government at Ottawa has
had the very opposite effect already among Great
Britain's enemies from that aimed at by the sug-
gestion Of an early offer of Canadian troops
1t was not. they explain, that they thought
England to be In need Of a few hundred soldiers,
but they desired to assist her by proving the unity
Of the Empire In the Colonies. and by showing
pire's dangers. not to-day only and not alone in
the Transvaal, but for all time and whenever
the flag is in danger. But now that the appeal
has been publicly made and that no immediate
response has followed ON the part Of the Canadian
Government, Notwithstanding that seveIal English
speaking commanding officers have offered their
regiments at Ottawa Tor the campaign il is felt
by the primo novels In the matter that something
very much akin to negative reply to their propo-
stion has been given to the world by the Dominion
As for Sir wilfrd Lauriers excuse for his
inaetion that constitutional objections intervene;
and that the troops could not be despatched till
Parliament assembled and voted tho necessary
amount for the expenditure, il is well-known that
governments have frequently spent unappro-
prated money In Canada, when confident that
Parliament would subsequently, ratlfy the ex-
penditure and that in this case Sir Charles upper
the opposition leader. hns telcgraphed TO Sir vii
frid urging the sending Of regiment and pledging
the support OF his party TO the Premier in this
very large number Of Sir Wilfrd's fellow.country-
men and political friends are unalterably opposed
TO the sending Of Canadian troops TO Great Brtans
assistance in the coming war, while some Of them
openly sympathze with Engands enemies in
the TIansvaal.
Scarcely a French c anadian newspaper in the
whole OF Canada friendly TO the Iaurier admins
tration has declared in favor of Canadian assist
ance Of Great Britain in this war, and some Of
the other French newspapers, such az the PTeSSe
OF Montreal and Erenemcnt Of Quebec, are de
cidedly hostile 10 the South African policy of the
British Government This Is because that policy
is the policy of MI Joseph Chamberlain the man
who thwarted France in her African policy, who
demanded and insisted upon Major Marchand's
pTicks Of the French GoVerbmcnt nowhere en-.
gendered for the British Colonial Secretary so
much hatred as among the radical element OF
In this very city OF Quebec there are represent
alive French Canadians who openly declare that
they would like To see a reverse Of British arms
in South Africa. II is from the French-CanA-
dian population Of Quebec that Sir Wilfrd draws
his chief political strength. He would evidently
GUS in his Offer Of aid to Great Britain in the pres
ent crisis On the other hand, he endeavors,
though so far without much success, 70 placate
that constitutional grounds stand in the way Of
sending Canadian troops TO Africa.