Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
RETURN OF THE ACADIANs.

RETURN OF THE ACADIANS.
Descendants of the ExiIes of Grand
Pre- Celebrate Their National Festival
From the New York Sun
One hundred and sixty-five years after
their eviction from the land of Evangeline
the French Acadians are strong and pros
porous in the lower provinces OF Canada.
and this week, in the little town Of Arichat.
in Cape Breton, 5000 descendants Of the
exiles of Grand Pre- held great festival
in celebration of the survival of their race.
The feast Of the Assumption, the national
festival Of the Acadians, fell on Wednesday.
and on that day the chief observances took
place. opening with high mass. The town
was gayly decorated with flags and bunting,
the trfcolor Of France waving beside the
union jack and upon arches in the street
appeared such notices as these In French:
Our language and our customs; Let us
remain French" "Acadian convention,
1907: Education progress. commerce,
prosperity" Sir Wilfrid Laurier. premier
of Canada. attended the mass and later in
the day Sir Wilfrid made a speech. poem
read during the afternoon exercises pointed
out the utter futility of the expulsion of
the Acadians In 1873 by Gov. Lawrence.
and declared that there are now 100000
Acadians in the provinces.
The burning OF Grand Pre- and the exile
of its people occurred in September, 1135.
The English had possession of Nova Scotia,
and as the AcadianS would not swear al
legiance to the English king. Gov Lawrence
decided upon their complete removal from
the province and dispersal among other col
onies. This undertaking was intrusted prin-
cipally to Col. John Winsow, commander
of the New England forces, and he was as
sisted by Capt Murray. The two leaders is
sued proclamation calling the men and
boys of Grand Pre-, Nina. River Canard,
&c. to assemble at the church in Grand
Pre- on Friday, September 5, that We may
impart what we are ordered to communi-
cate to them" In response to this summons
41S able-bodied men gathered in the church
and were locked in. Then Col. Winslow ad-
dressed them
Gentlemen: L have received from his ex-
cellency, Gov. Lawrence, the kings COM
mission, which 1 have in my hand, and by
his orders you are convened together to
manifest to you his majestys final resolu-
ton to the French inhabitants of this. his
province of Nova Scotia, who for almost
half century. have had more 1ndu! eence
granted them than any of his subjects in
any part of his dOminions. What use you
have made of 1t you yourselves best know.
The part of duty / am now upon, though
necessary, is very disagreeable to my nat
ural make and temper, as l know 1t must
be grievous to you, who are OF the same
species; but 1t is not my business to ami
madvert. but to obey such orders as re-
ceiye, and therefore, without hesitation.
shall deliver you his majesty's orders and
instructions. namely, that your lands and
,tenements, cattle, stock OF all kinds, are
forfeited to the crown, with all your other
effects, saving your money and houSehold
goods. and you yourselves to be removed
from this, his province.
Thus it Is peremptorily his majesty's
orders that the whole French Inhabitants
of these districts be removed, and 1 am
through his maJesty's goodness, directed to
allow you liberty to carry off your money
and household goods, as many as you can,
without discommoding the vessels you go in.
7 oholl r. nrIyfh inp in INV
those goods be secured to you, and that
you are not molested in carrying them on;
also, that whole families shall go In the
same vessel, and make this remove. which
I am sensible must give you great deal of
trouble as easy as his majestys service
will permit, and hope that in whatever part
Of the world you may fall you may be
faithful subjects, a peaceful and happy peo-
pie 1 must also inform you that it is his
majesty's pleasure that you remain In Sc
curity under the inspection and direction
Of the troops that have the honor to COM
mand."
Then the assemblage was declared the
kings prisoners The population Of Grand
Pre- at the time of this eviction consisted or
4S3 men, 337 women 527 boys and 526 girls
When the village was burned go houses,
276 barns, 155 outbuildings, eleven mills
and one church were destroyed by the
flames. On September 10 the prisoners were
drawn up six deep and 16l young men were
forced to separate from their families and
go on board the ships In body. Then fol-
lowed the elder men. and so the whole male
popula ton Of the district of Minas was put
on board five transports. The women and
children were put on board other vessels,
and so 1t will be seen that Col Winslows
promise to keep families together amount
ed to nothing. Thus were the Acadians of
Minas exiled, while more than 5000 others
followed soon from other districts and scat
tered from Canada to the Gulf OF Mexico
1t has never been pretended that many of
the Aeadians were not the simple. HARM
less people that Longfellow represented
them, but there were undoubtedly a few
who violated the conditions of neutrality
and all suffered alike.
Today In Maine, along the banks of the
St. John and the Aroostook. thousands Of
the descendants Of the exiles Of Minas live,
and. keeping alive their quaint and pretty
customs and preserving their speech and
their faith. they Names most pictur-
esque people and among the best Of her
citizens ..-